Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0)

The latest tablet in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab series comes in an unfamiliar size.

Looking for an Android tablet can be quite a daunting task, as the market for tablets running on Google’s operating system is so crowded that you will be spoilt for choice.

Samsung is the biggest hardware manufacturer for Android smartphones, and it has a healthy tablet lineup. The Galaxy Tab series, Samsung’s main product line in the Android tablet market, has reached third ­generation. This time Samsung has added in an 8in ­version of the Galaxy Tab 3 to its current mix of 7in and 10.1in devices.

We take a look at the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and see if the additional 1in sets it apart from the rest of the 7in tablets in the market.

Sizing it up

Samsung has made an excellent choice in including an 8in version, as 7in tablets are a little too small for comfort, while those at 10.1in are cumbersome to carry around. The Tab 3’s 8in size is the best of both worlds: Big enough yet still portable.

The Tab 3 sports a very thin bezel, unlike the first 8in tablet released by Samsung, the Galaxy Note 8.0. This makes the overall device a little easier to hold with one hand, although there is a slight setback — the narrow edges surrounding the screen makes it harder to hold the device without accidentally touching the screen.

As with other Samsung devices, the Tab 3 has a plastic build. The design is also unmistakably Samsung, with the same structure as what you would expect from any of its other devices.

A notable change from previous Galaxy tablets is that the Tab 3 comes with a physical home button accompanied by the Menu and Back capacitive buttons, just like the Galaxy smartphones. Whether the physical home button is a good thing or not is pretty subjective — we were a little annoyed because we kept accidentally pressing the Back capacitive button.

Another notable change is that the Tab 3 uses the more commonly found micro USB port. This is great news as almost every other smartphone uses the micro USB port so your wallet can heave a sigh of relief as all your cables and chargers should be compatible with this device.

The Tab 3 uses a TFT screen — while not as vibrant as the Super Amoled screens used in the high-end Galaxy smartphones, the screen has its advantages as the colours are not overly saturated.

The 5-megapixel camera is one of the best we’ve tested on a tablet but it doesn’t have an LED flash.

Feature-packed

The Tab 3 ships with Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. This puts it on par with Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

Specs-wise, the Tab 3 is not much of a powerhouse with only dual cores. The user experience is fluid most of the time but do expect the occasional lag. Worry not as the lag is not to the extent where it will frustrate the user.

Multi windows, now a staple feature in Galaxy devices, is also present in the Tab 3. The feature allows two apps to be opened simultaneously on the screen. The list of compatible apps is also slowly growing and it is now pretty respectable, compared to when it was first introduced.

One thing that we would like to highlight is the Group Play feature which has been improved. This new version allows one Android to become the main device that blasts out its portable WiFi hotspot for other devices to connect to.

Once connected, the devices can either share music, images, documents, or even play multiplayer games. It is extra impressive when sharing music, as the different devices can be assigned to be either the left or right speakers for an entertaining surround sound experience.

This tablet works as a full-fledged phone and even has a earpiece for you to put up to your ear to talk like on a normal phone.

The Tab 3 that we reviewed is the LTE-enabled version, making it one of the few Samsung devices released here thus far to offer LTE connectivity. There is also a cheaper WiFi-only version available.

Final note

Samsung has been flooding the market with way more products compared to their competitors and ultimately it gives consumers a broad range of options to choose from.

We feel that at 8in, this version of the Tab 3 is an interesting option for those who find the size of 7in tablets a little too cramped, while not willing to sacrifice mobility with a 10.1in device.

In addition to that, the size is also more optimised for reading as it is shaped very similarly to the size of a regular notebook.

In terms of usability, the device is still fluid despite only having dual cores. This can be attributed to the stability that comes with Android Jellybean 4.2.2.

All in all, it is a device meant for those who felt that 7in devices were too small while not wanting to be burdened by a huge 10.1in tablet.

Pros: 8in is a good size for a tablet; light; not too wide, making it easy to hold with one hand; runs on Android 4.2.2 Jellybean.

Cons: Bezels too thin to hold the device comfortably without accidentally touching the screen; no NFC.

GALAXY TAB 3 (8.0)
(Samsung)
Android tablet
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/ 1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/ 2100, LTE 800/850/900/1800/2100/2600
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
PROCESSOR: 1.5GHz Exynos 4212 dual-core
DISPLAY: 8.0in TFT display (1,280 x 800-pixels)
CAMERA: 5-megapixels with autofocus; 1.3-megapixels (front facing)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless 802.11 abgn, dual-band, DLNA, WiFi Direct, WiFi hotspot, microUSB 2.0
MEMORY: 16GB internal memory, 1.5GB RAM
EXPANSION SLOT: MicroSD (up to 64GB)
FEATURES: GPS, stereo speakers, multiscreen, Group Play
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 209.8 x 123.8 x 7.4mm
WEIGHT: 314g
WEBSITE: www.samsung.com.my
PRICE: RM1,499
RATING: 3.5 stars
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd, 1-800-88-9999

- Donovan Quek, The Star

Review: Google Nexus 7

Finally, the Nexus 7 is here in Malaysia, albeit at a higher price that is out of everyone's expectation, but for sub-RM1,000, you can land your hands on a 7” tablet from Google that is manufactured by Asus with pretty good specs – Android Jelly Bean and all the latest offerings from Google, Tegra 3 processor for a snappy performance to make the tablet fast enough for your most demanding games or all your work related apps, 1GB of RAM, a front camera for all your camwhoring and video conferencing needs, and 16GB of internal memory that may seem little but hey, without a rear camera, I'm sure you'll use a lot less space compared to your phone.

I have to admit, this is my first time handling a 7” tablet device and boy do I like it. It's small enough for you to use comfortably – you can hold on to it with one hand and even fit into the big pocket of your pair of cargo pants, heck, it even fits into the rear pocket of Chapree's jeans – and it's not too heavy to handle like a typical 10.1” tablet. I don't know how the 7.9” iPad mini is “better” according to some, while it may be thinner and lighter than the Nexus 7, I don't think it'll fit as nicely, into my palms at least. Of course, I'll need to get my hands on one to be sure but for now, I think I've fallen in love with the Nexus 7.

 

Check out our preview of the tablet and hit the break for more.

Just to touch a little more on the design before moving on, in the Apple iPad mini presentation earlier this week, it was mentioned that the iPad mini is lighter and thinner than the Nexus 7 but I love the design on the Nexus 7. With a rubbery material at the back, it actually feels more rugged and less fragile. Its thickness of 10.45mm is very good to hold on to, plus, you get a good grip which is very important for me – I like to play games and read on the bed next to my sleeping toddler and it's not fun how my phones tend to slip out of my hand and land on him.

 

You've seen an introduction to the Nexus 7, so what's the next best thing to do with this 7” tablet from Google and Asus? Put the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor to a test of course and thanks to the pre-installed TegraZone, you can download the apps that makes the best out of your Nexus 7. Playing games like Dead Trigger and even Bad Piggies is so smooth though, I think I need to work on my skills a little bit when trying to kill zombies using on-screen buttons.

 

Watching HD videos on the Nexus 7 is a bliss as well thanks to the processor and topped up with the HD display and a very good battery life, who needs a big and bulky 10” device when you can get all your entertainment needs in a 7” frame? That said, the speakers could be a little louder for a more immersive effect though of course, if you want to be completely into your game or video, using a headphone would be a better option.

 

In case you did not click into the previous post, here are the benchmark scores.

So to wrap this up, did we like it? Yes of course we did, everything from the design to what's inside of it. Unfortunately though since this is supposed to be an affordable tablet, it lacks in some way like how it doesn't have 3G connectivity (please Google, surprise us that way on your event on the 29^th of this month), no rear camera, though, it isn't that big of a problem for me because I cannot comprehend the idea of taking pictures with a tablet and I have a phone camera for that, and finally it could do with more storage space so you can fully enjoy its capability – install all the apps you can find and load all your favorite HD videos in.

We just got our hands on the 7” Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 at the time of writing and yes, I can conclude that I love what Asus has done with the design to give the Nexus 7 a thinner frame, the rubber material at the back along with a much thinner panel around the display to make it look much, much nicer.

Will I get it? Well, yes, but of course, this will all depend on what Google has up its sleeves for its upcoming event.

The Google Nexus 7 is available immediately at a recommended retail price of RM999, check out our very ownstorekini to get one for yourself today.

We've also updated it to Android 4.1.2 that features some bug fixes as well as the ability to use the device in landscape mode on the home screen. It may not be a major haul over, but it does make the tablet a lot more friendly to use, for me at least. Plus, you can use the device in any orientation you want.

 

- Huei (lowyat.net)

Review: Samsung Note 10.1

 Samsung brings the S Pen experience to its tablet.

BEING the top Android ­smartphone maker in the world, Samsung is trying hard to make its mark in the tablet arena. Its latest attempt comes in the form of the Galaxy Note 10.1.

First of all, the Note 10.1 is not to be confused with the Galaxy Note 2. Instead of being a "phablet" (a hybrid of phone and tablet) like the original Note, the Note 10.1 is actually a tablet which makes use of an updated version of the Note's S Pen stylus, hence earning its name.

Over the past year, Samsung has launched a range of tablets under its Galaxy Tab series, with the ­latest being the Tab 2 10.1. The Note 10.1 aims to be different from the rest of the pack with the use of the S Pen.

Riding on the worldwide ­success of the Note and being Samsung's ­flagship tablet in an already crowded tablet market, the Note 10.1 definitely has high expectations to live up to.

Look and feel

The Note 10.1 that we got for review has a nice white body with silver metal frame. It is a welcome change of colour from the usual black for its Tabs.

For a device with a premium price, it would have been a lot more reassuring if the body didn't feel so plasticky. It felt a little cheap in the hands and creaked a little when excessive pressure was applied on the sides.

SLIM: The metal frame houses the stereo speakers on either side of the screen, which really enhances the audio experience, be it for watching movies, listening to music or playing games.

The metal frame houses the stereo speakers on either side of the screen, which really enhances the audio experience, be it for watching movies, listening to music or playing games.

There isn't anything out of the ordinary with the design. If you have handled the Tab 10.1 before, you will find the same buttons and slots. The only difference is at the bottom of the device where the S Pen nests.

The Note 10.1 is a 3G device and has a SIM card slot so it can be used as a phone as well. It does not have an earpiece, so calls will have to be made either through the loudspeaker or with earphone accessories.

This is all for the best, as it will be social suicide to be seen with a device this large being placed against one's ear!

The device comes with 16GB of internal memory. If that isn't enough, there is a microSD slot that can handle up to 64GB more of ­external memory.

The 10.1in screen comes with a resolution of 1,280 x 800-pixels, which is rather disappointing for a flagship device.

Other top players in the tablet market are already having HD displays and those will put the Note 10.1's screen to shame. It is by no means bad, as the colours and viewing angles are good, but you just can't help expecting more from a device that is competing to be in the top tier of the market.

The Note 10.1 is a real powerhouse in terms of hardware, sporting a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2GB RAM.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is unsurprisingly fast and smooth - swiping between screens and lists were very fluid and hardly showed any slowdown. If that isn't enough, the Note 10.1 is set to receive an upgrade to the latest of version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean, which ­promises to be even smoother.

LETDOWN: The 10.1in screen comes with a resolution of 1,280 x 800-pixels, which is rather disappointing for a flagship device.

Just like any other Samsung Android product, don't expect to receive the vanilla Android ­experience with the Note 10.1, as Samsung has ­intertwined it together with its TouchWiz user interface.

The latest incarnation of TouchWiz blends in well with Ice Cream Sandwich and gives users fanciful features, such as Smart Stay and video Pop-up Play that were first seen in Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III smartphone.

With Smart Stay enabled, the screen will not go off as long as the front facing camera is able to detect the user's eyes looking at the screen.

Video Pop-up Play enables users to minimise a video that is being watched so that they can do other stuff in addition to watching clips.

Smart Stay worked like a charm for us, provided there was sufficient lighting for the sensors to detect our eyes.

Another handy addition that TouchWiz has brought to Samsung's tablets is Mini Apps, which can be accessed by clicking on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. This brings up a list of utilities, which are condensed versions of actual apps.

For example, clicking on ­calculator in the list will pop up a small, ­independent calculator that can be moved around.

The tablet comes with a 5-­megapixel rear camera and a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera. The camera quality is nothing to shout about but it's understandable since cameras aren't exactly a forte for tablets. The cameras are suitable for video calling, and not much of ­anything else.

The battery life of the Note 10.1 is decent, being able to last a whole day of use which involved watching ­videos, playing games and web browsing on a WiFi network.

Mighty Pen

The main highlight of the Note 10.1 is, of course, the S Pen. The first Note gave the stylus a new lease of life, and the trend continues here.

The S Pen

The S Pen is not just any ordinary stylus, as it has built in sensors and a function button. It also supports a host of gesture abilities for capturing screenshots and opening up apps.

The Note 10.1 comes pre-installed with a handful of apps which are specially designed to be used with the S Pen. These are mostly the same apps as those that were introduced in the ­original Note but with interesting improvements.

The app that received the biggest upgrade is the S Note, which is an enhanced version of the memo app. Here, it works like a charm together with the S Pen, simulating the experience that you will have when using an actual pen and paper. This is due to the Wacom technology used by the S Pen as well as the 1,024 degrees of pressure points that the stylus has.

The S Note comes with a range of new interesting features, such as Shape and Formula matching. Shape match detects geometrical diagrams that you sketch, and corrects them to be as perfect as if you had used proper utensils.

Formula match detects ­mathematical equations and gives you the answers. The Note 10.1 uses Wolfram Alpha search engine to scan for the answers. The writing detection was very accurate but was a little slow in coming up with answers.

The Note 10.1 prides itself with its enhanced multitasking abilities through a feature called multiscreen.

You don't have to limit yourself to either work or play, as multiscreen is capable of allowing you to do both at the same time. How it works is that two applications can be used at the same time, sharing half of the screen.

AT THE BACK: The Note 10.1 comes with a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus.

This works very well with minimal lag. The only drawback is that the feature is only limited to a number of apps, some of which will hardly see much use at all. Multiscreen only works with the video player, web browser, gallery, e-mail, S Note, and Polaris Office.

Couple multiscreen with video Pop-up play as well as mini apps and you can actually have more than four different apps running on the screen at the same time.

Multiscreen gives us the closest experience we can get to desktop multitasking that a tablet can offer thus far. It's a step in the right ­direction for ­tablets in terms of multitasking.

Another cool upgrade for the S Pen is that it doesn't have to be touching the screen for the Note 10.1 to know where you are pointing at. When you hover the S Pen a few ­millimeters away from the screen, you will see a pointer appear on it.

Such a feature is especially useful for certain apps, such as the Adobe Photoshop Touch that comes with the tablet.

This app is a really elaborate and useful photo editing tool that will be appreciated by both beginners and professionals alike.

It also came with a comprehensive tutorial to teach users how to use the app. Combined with the precision of the S Pen, it was that much easier to edit pictures.

This tablet also comes pre-installed with Polaris Office, which is a full-fledged suite for creating and ­editing various files including Excel and PowerPoint.

Also, the quad-core processor gives it enough power to run all sorts of resource hungry games that we threw at it. It handled games such as Dark Knight, FIFA 12 and Asphalt 7 without a hitch.

Final thoughts

The Note 10.1 aims to be different in the crowded tablet market by having the S Pen.

The stylus is truly a game changer if it is utilised to its full potential. However, the problem is that there aren't enough apps that can fully take advantage of it.

Also, it is unlikely to be fully ­appreciated by everyone. It will only appeal to a niche market, mainly designers and artists, as well as those who want to have something different.

All in all, the Note 10.1 has a relatively low screen resolution and plastic build quality, but is still a decent tablet to own for the S Pen and multiscreen features.

Pros: Multiscreen brings multitasking to a whole new level; S Pen works well; Jelly Bean update coming soon.

Cons: Screen resolution disappointing; multiscreen works with only a few apps.

Galaxy Note 10.1 (N8000)
(Samsung)
Android tablet
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradeable to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
PROCESSOR: Exynos 4412 Quad-core 1.4GHz
DISPLAY: 10.1in PLS TFT display (1,280 x 800-pixels)
CAMERA: 5-megapixels with autofocus; LED flash; 1.9-megapixels (front facing)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, microUSB 2.0
MEMORY: 16GB internal memory, 2GB RAM
EXPANSION SLOT: microSD (up to 64GB supported)
FEATURES: Stylus (S Pen), GPS, stereo speakers, multiscreen, pop-up play, Adobe Photoshop Touch app
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 262 x 180 x 8.9mm
WEIGHT: 600g
WEBSITE: www.samsung.com.my
PRICE: RM2,199
RATING: 3.5 stars
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999

QUICK SPECS

Editor's Rating
Users' Rating
Manufacturer	(Samsung)
Class	Android tablet
Other Features	NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100, CAMERA: 5-megapixels with autofocus; LED flash; 1.9-megapixels (front facing), Stylus (S Pen), GPS, stereo speakers, multiscreen, pop-up play, Adobe Photoshop Touch app
Dimensions (WxDxH)	262 x 180 x 8.9mm
Weight	600g
Price	RM2,199
Processor	Exynos 4412 Quad-core 1.4GHz
Memory	16GB internal memory, 2GB RAM
Display	10.1in PLS TFT display (1,280 x 800-pixels)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, microUSB 2.0
Operating System	Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradeable to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Contact	Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999

- Donovan Quek (The Star)