New Toys: Sony Tablet S (first days use impressions)

As a man who loves any form of tech gadgetry, I was drawn very quickly towards the new tablet from Sony. It's their first attempt at a device that converges so many of their innovations into one single unit. I was initially wowed by the spec sheet, which combines powerful computing components with a list of some features completely missing from other tablets.


So, what's it for and what's it got?


The most prominent of those features is the USB 2 port on the side. Now it's only micro USB but converter cables will allow you to plug in a host of accessories. That includes a Playstation 3 controller for gaming, which could be heralded as genius with the upcoming advent of complete PSN integration. A huge range of Playstation titles will be adapted to the tablet format, all brought to life by the powerful nVidia Tegra 2 chipset that provides the processing power to deliver full 3D games. At release the only one available is the original Crash Bandicoot game from 1996, but it's a good start!

Another feature ignored by a few tablets, especially Apples iPad, is a memory expansion slot. In this case a full sized SDHC slot for cards up to 16Gb, so you can get even more storage in there if you start running out of your initial 16Gb or 32Gb.

Also not seen on other tablets is the IR remote control capability. I can control any device with an IR remote from one screen. TVs, radios, DVD players, blu ray players, amps, AV receivers and more all from here! Further functionality is available if you already own other Sony hardware like their latest network connected Bravia TVs and hi fi systems, to which you can push compatible audio and video content straight from the relevant players on the tablet.

The Sony tablet also utilises googles Android 3 series OS, currently on version 3.2, and being upgraded regularly with bug fixes and performance enhancements. This is particularly useful to me as an Android phone user. All of the apps I've bought on my phone are completey compatible, and automatically downloadable, after my google account was synced with the app store, so no need to buy again. Google integration is just as seemless as on the phone version too, but with apps designed with the larger screen in mind. The screen is impressive too, at 1280x800, and 9.4 inches corner to corner, and with Sonys TruBlack technology also implemented.

All of these features and more work just as described, with the promise of more features soon, with nVdia correcting issues with Skype compatibility and Sony promising new services exclusive to their pad system with every update. So it's looking like a pretty awesome system so far.

Any Negatives?


So far the only thing I've disliked are very minor niggles that will probably be fixed in updates. The wallpaper selector isn't really very good... Sometimes the scaling for apps designed for phones screws up and crashes the app or causes some graphical glitchiness. Hardware-wise, the wifi could be stronger, and the two cameras could be a little better, considering Sonys heritage and innovation in imaging sensor technology of late.

So far then, great first days impression. I'll update with more niggling problems as they occur and my experience grows with the device. This whole article was typed out in the blogger for android app, on the screen of the tablet and it was a very comfortable experience!

Pictures will be added tomorrow. As I can't be bothered, right now, to go and get my camera...
here they are: