Acer Iconia Tab A500: First Tablet Android Honeycomb

Already some time we reviewed the tablet with the Android operating system. We also have reviewed the Android one tablet made ​​by Indonesian producers. However, all the tablets have not been and probably will never wear the latest operating system from Android, which is Honeycomb. Honeycomb is an operating system designed by Google to work on devices with large screens. Honeycomb, also known as Android 3.0.

A few moments ago, we attended a press conference held by Acer. At the press conference turned out to Acer launched a new tablet device. The name of these tablets is Acer Iconia Tab A500. The first thing that makes this product interesting is that these tablets have been using Honeycomb operating system that came out after the Gingerbread! Naming of the Android operating system is following the alphabet and the name of food. This certainly makes people "hungry" to try it.

"Hungry" was our desire to test the tablet with Honeycomb operating system embodied by Acer to lend us Iconia A500 after its launch event is completed. The tablet has a high level of responsiveness thanks to System on Chip was wearing, the NVIDIA Tegra 2250. SoC uses high-speed dual-core processor, the ARM Cortex A9, with a speed of 1 GHz. Has relieved internal storage space of 16 GB, at least this is the model that we get. For RAM, Acer pair of extra large capacity memory in these tablets, amounting to 1 GB. Dimensions owned this tablet is 260 x 177 x 13 mm and weighs about 730 grams.

Besides the attractive specs, Acer is kind enough to pair three 3D games to its users. The games are already installed by default it is Need For Speed​​, Hero of Sparta, and the Let's Golf. The third game would be able to fill the boredom of its users.

What is different from the Honeycomb is compared to the previous Android operating system? You will not find the menu screen that can slide directly from the top of the screen. Instead, Honeycomb in this Iconia put the menus on the taskbar bottom of the screen. In this Iconia devices, home and back button is integrated directly in his taskbar. So, when an application hangs, you can still press the soft home button on the task bar. This indicates that the Honeycomb supports multitasking.

As already said above, Honeycomb designed specifically for large sailing devices, such as tablets. Therefore, these operating systems may not be found on the smartphone device. User Interface (UI), it also has changed completely from Froyo to Honeycomb. The uniqueness of the Honeycomb by default is the ability to return to the home screen which is often used in everyday life from the menu screen by simply pressing the soft home button. Speaking of soft button home button on the taskbar, next to it there is a new soft button, the button that displays the applications currently running or have ever run before. When you press the new button, a list of applications will be shown there. Then where the soft button menu? The menu will present itself when an application is started, right next to the soft buttons Recent App.

There is again a new facility which was found on Honeycomb, the ability of these operating systems USB peripherals to operate without a special driver. In the USB slot of each tablet, you can use a keyboard, mouse, game controllers, and accessories such as card reader. Google's own promise that the available USB slot to support the use of more than one USB device. Most likely, you can plug the USB Hub to use multiple devices. Unfortunately, because of time constraints as well, we have not had time to test the USB device is anything that can run on Iconia A500, in addition to the keyboard.

Acer Iconia A500 has five default home screen. The first time get it, the main home screen home screen that is used is central or number three. Unlike Froyo, you can move the home screen by pressing the left and right edges of the screen, as an alternative gesture sliding to the left and right. In Froyo or Gingerbread, maybe this can be done by pressing the point that there is on the edge of the bottom or top of the screen only.

Then where is the menu button located? The first time I had seen, I was quite confused to find this button at the bottom of the screen. Apparently, it has changed the place and is positioned at the top right of the screen, adjacent to the search bar of Google. Press the soft buttons and menus with icons sederatan each installed application will immediately appear.

In addition to the home screen, Acer is also giving a homemade tabs on this A500 Iconia. There are four tabs that you can find in Iconia. All tabs are already classified according to the respective category. In each of these categories, automatically (and manually) there is an appropriate application icon also with its category.

Android congenital Iconia A500 is equipped with the Android Market. Thus, users do not have to worry A500 Iconia any application that can run on this tablet. One thing more interesting, Market in Iconia A500 already support paid applications. Uniquely, the prices listed there are not denominated in U.S. dollar, but the amount! Therefore, you no longer need to bother thinking about the exchange rate of U.S. Dollar to Rupiah again. In addition to Android Market, you will also find TegraZone from NVIDIA. TegraZone contains a series of games that have been proven to work well in this NVIDIA platforms. In addition, TegraZone also presents information coming from NVIDIA itself.

Battery Life

Acer A500 Iconia promised to live up to 10 hours by the manufacturer. This course should be tested further. We tested the battery life of the Acer Iconia A500. The result is that this tablet can play video files continuously up to 9 hours 49 minutes and 27 seconds. This proves that battery life is "about 10 hours" was promised by the manufacturer.

Conclusion

Acer has previously issued several smartphones that use the Android operating system. Therefore, the Acer already has experience in concocting an Android device. This is evident through the Acer tablet Iconia A500 which has been using Honeycomb. I've been very interested in the tablet of this one since I first saw it at the launch Iconia A500. No different than when I first saw it, when testing the device on this one, I also discovered a new experience in using an operating system Android. This is different from the Android operating system and Eclair Froyo in tablet and smartphone I've ever tested before.

With the Android Market and NVIDIA TegraZone, users Iconia A500 will not run out of applications for download. There are many applications and games that can be downloaded free of charge. Unfortunately, most 3D games available on the Market and TegraZone require you to break the bank.

Prices are set by Acer for Iconia A500 when this article is derived is Rp5.090.000, -. A high enough price for a tablet device that circulated in Indonesia. However, in view of its functions and capabilities are excellent, which matched the price I think it deserves. Even so, there is an existing shortage in Iconia related functionality. A500 Iconia this one does not have 3G function. I do not know whether the manufacturer will release its 3G version or not, I do not get definitive information. It would be nice, with the price offered, if this tablet can you use for browsing, chatting, and send e-mail wherever you are.

I think Acer Iconia Tab A500 is not glued to the professional market only. One tablet is suitable for everyone. These professionals can certainly helped with the functions that are in it such as office, Gmail, and others. For the individual, you can use the multimedia capabilities, ranging from listening to music, watch videos, take pictures, to make it as a photo album. If an application is less, the Android Market ready to provide free and paid applications to you. Unfortunately, we have not found any one application that can make 1080p video goes well in Iconia A500.
Pros:

+ Honeycomb

+ Tegra

+ High performance

+ Multitasking
Disadvantages:

- No function GSM/3G

- Support 1080p no