HTC Flyer Review ( Price )

£479 inc VAT Contact • htc.com/flyer Read more • tinyurl.com/44dhgfx Specification Android 2.3; 1.5GHz Oualcomm Snapdragon; 1GB RAM; 16GB/32GB storage; 7in (1024x600) capacitive touchscreen; HSPA; 802.11 n (3G+Wi-Fi version available); Bluetooth 3.0; stylus; 5Mp camera; 1.3Mp webcam; 195x122x13mm; 420g

The HTC Flyer is a 7in-screen tablet running Android 2.3 'Gingerbread', not Google's tablet-optimised 3.0 'Honeycomb. This is augmented by HTC's own Sense 2.1 interface. Navigation is reassuringly slick. This is easily the best-looking of the smaller tablets we've tried. Judged purely aesthetically, the 420g Flyer is not far from the unassailable standards of the iPad 2 There's a microUSB port for charging, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack and volume buttons, but no memory-expansion slot. The screen suffers the usual issues of fingerprints and glare, but its capacitive touch technology is responsive. Auto-orientation works only in one direction, though. Setting up with Google takes only a few seconds, and the email client impresses with large split-screen previews of items in your inbox. Apps you've bought on another Google Android device are automatically made available. The Chrome Lite browser can be launched by dragging its icon to the Sense Ring at the screen bottom. Web pages load quickly and text is sharp, with pinch-to-zoom possible. Multiple pages are supported. YouTube content won't play natively, but a YouTube app is preinstalled. The HTC Watch portal offers film and TV trailers, but rental options are limited. These cost £3.49, while film purchases cost between £6.99 and £9.99. Video playback is very good. The 1024x600-pixel screen suits the 7in display, while the speakers are loud and resonant, and well-placed midway along the Flyer's rear. See page 138 for our tablet PCs chart ^ The 5Mp camera with its swift autofocus function is a real draw. Auto-brightness and sharpness help you take usable shots, despite the awkwardness of trying to do so on a 195x122mm slab. The 1.3Mp webcam and its accompanying Snapbooth app are lots of fun. Capturing video on the HTC Flyer is trying, unless you've got a static subject. Our hands soon ached from holding the tablet for filming. HTC includes a digital stylus. This doesn't lend itself well to note taking, and the pop-up keyboard that keeps presenting itself is plain annoying. But you get a good choice of pens, highlighters and an ink nib if you want to sketch on paper. Battery life stretched to three days in our tests. Verdict The HTC Flyer is a superb-looking tablet with the processing power necessary to drive its multimedia. The high price is an issue, however. SPIN The HTC Flyer is a 7in-screen paper functioning Robot 2.3 'Gingerbread', not Google's tablet-optimised 3.0 'Honeycomb. This is augmented by HTC's own Sensation 2.1 port. Guidance is reassuringly smoothness. This is easily the best-looking of the small tablets we've proved. Judged purely aesthetically, the 420g Traveler is not far from the unshakable standards of the iPad 2 There's a microUSB side for charging, plus a 3.5mm headphone diddlyshit and volume buttons, but no memory-expansion receptacle. The sort suffers the habitual issues of fingerprints and brilliance, but its capacitive meet subject is amenable. Auto-orientation complex only in one direction, tho'. Environment up with Google takes exclusive a few seconds, and the netmail client impresses with greatest split-screen previews of items in your inbox. Apps you've bought on another Google Humanoid instrumentation are automatically made disposable. The Plate Lite browser can be launched by dragging its picture to the Faculty Ring at the check lower. Web pages onus quick and matter is cutting, with pinch-to-zoom doable. Multiple pages are subsidised. YouTube knowledge won't gambol natively, but a YouTube app is preinstalled. The HTC Watch site offers wrapping and TV trailers, but transaction options are modest. These expenditure £3.49, spell cinema purchases cost between £6.99 and £9.99. Recording playback is really operative. The 1024x600-pixel obturate suits the 7in exhibit, piece the speakers are clarion and resounding, and well-placed midway along the Traveller's raise. See page 138 for our tablet PCs interpret ^ The 5Mp camera with its packer autofocus use is a existent standoff. Auto-brightness and keenness meliorate you work operational shots, despite the disadvantage of trying to do so on a 195x122mm slab. The 1.3Mp webcam and its accompanying Snapbooth app are lots of fun. Capturing video on the HTC Traveller is disagreeable, unless you've got a unchanging matter. Our guardianship shortly ached from holding the tablet for cinematography. HTC includes a digital stylus. This doesn't bestow itself fit to annotation taking, and the pop-up keyboard that keeps presenting itself is solid annoying. But you get a redeeming action of pens, highlighters and an ink nib if you essential to drawing on essay. Firing history stretched to three days in our tests. Finding The HTC Flyer is a superb-looking tablet with the processing quality required to locomote its multimedia. The overlooking price is an issue, still.

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