subject: Motorola Xoom, Android Smart Tablet to Challenge iPad [print this page] Motorola Xoom, Android Smart Tablet to Challenge iPad
Apart from Motorola's Atrix 4G Android-based mobile phone a competitor of the iPhone 4, Motorola is geared up to challenge iPad with its smart tablet named Motorola Xoom which is the first to run Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb. But it's not as easy as one thinks. During Motorola's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote, Motorola revealed its Xoom tablet with super-powerful dual-core processor, which is being eyed as a possible contender of iPad 2. Apple's iPad 2, which was announced in a special event on 2nd March, is expected to hit store shelves till March 11.
Motorola Xoom delivers a number of solid features that consumers would be quite happy with. Let's draw a detailed comparison of iPad's with its possible contender;
Large Display Motorola Xoom has a slightly larger display than Apple's iPad. The Xoom features a 10.1-inch 1280x800 multi-touch screen, while the iPad comes with a 9.7-inch display.
Upgrade to 4G Although Motorola currently offers connectivity to Verizon's 3G networks. However, Motorola will offer an upgrade to 4G in the coming months. After that, customers will be able to connect to Verizon's ultra-high-speed network but after paying some extra cash for it that is really embarrassing. So, here iPad 2 wins the race.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb Motorola Xoom is the first tablet to be based on Google's tablet-optimized version of Android, the 3.0 Honeycomb with much better browsing, improved multitasking and contains a two-gigahertz dual-core processor. Whereas iPad 2 platform comes with iOS 4.3, an updated version of the mobile-operating system Apple launched last year.
iPad's Price Advantage Yes, this point goes in favour of iPad 2. Motorola Xoom in a 2-year contract with Verizon is at $599.99 but iPad 2 starts at $499 with WiFi.
Best Browsing Experience Apple's iOS 4.3 improves browsing a little by increasing surfing efficiency, but it does nothing to answer the vastly improved Chrome browser in Honeycomb.
Same Battery Life Both the tablets have same battery life as up to 10 hours of life surfing the Web over WiFi and up to nine hours on 3G.
About E-reader The e-reader looks similar to the one offered in the iPad.
Extra Ports The Motorola Xoom comes with an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port and USB port for customers to pump video out of the device, connect other devices and more. The iPad 2, on the other hand, lacks these ports.
Lastly, the success of a product is determined by the number of sales and the facts are; Apple's iPad is the winner with 65,000 iPad applications as compare to the Android market that currently has about 100 applications available to tablet owners.
