Discussions around HTC’s possible release of a tablet started in the second half of 2010. We had to wait until February 2011, at the World Mobile Congress when the Taiwanese company finally announced the nice looking tablet, named HTC Flyer. It features a 7 inch screen, Android and a totally rebuild HTC Sense.
It wouldn’t be fair to compare the first tablet from HTC to Samsung Galaxy Tab II, given the fact that, obviously, Samsung had the chance to fix possible errors from the first edition and to improve; and, nonetheless, the display and the range are seemingly different. Also, not to mention that we have a difference of more than six months between these two; with the rate at which the gadget tech is evolving and high competition, time is a huge deciding factor.
| Tablets Technical Description |
HTC Flyer | Samsung Galaxy Tab |
| Screen | 7 inch, Super LCD, 1024×600 pixels resolution, 16,7 million colors | 7 inch, TFT, 1024×600 pixels, 16,7 million colors |
| Hardware and OS | 1,5 Ghz processor, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB internal memory + microSD up to 32 GB, Android 2.3 Gingerbread | 1 Ghz processor, 512 Mb RAM and, 16/32 GB internal memory + microSD up to 32 GB, Android 2.2 FroYo |
| Connectivity | 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 | 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS |
| Camera | 5 Megapixels(shoots HD) and additional 1.3 MP camera for video-calls | 3 Megapixels (30 fps) and additional 1.3 MP camera for video-calls |
| Other features | accelerometer, 3,5 mm jack | accelerometru, geo-tagging, jack de 3,5 mm, redă clipuri full HD |
| Battery, weight, thickness | 4000 mAh, 415 grams, 13.2 mm | 4000 mAh, 380 grams, 11.98 mm |
| Price | 669 Euros (900$)* | 500$ |
The European price for the HTC Flyer isn’t decisive for the rest of the world, the Korean company didn’t announce yet the final price. We can see that the HTC Flyer has several pluses over Galaxy Tab I (1,5 Ghz processor, 1 GB RAM, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 5 Megapixels). But, being given the big time difference between these two, it is fair to assume that these changes are common-sense and were expected to be made. Therefore, the price may seem a little too “spicy”.
If you take a good look at detailed hardware description, you’ll see that Flyer has almost double power, but both of them use the same 4000 mAh battery. What does it mean? There’s a chance that the autonomy of the HTC tablet could be a problem.
Why didn’t HTC put the latest Android version, the 3.0? It is already optimized for Galaxy Tab 10.1, Motorola Xoom or Optimus Pad.
In 2011, we have already tablets on webOS, Android, Windows 7, iOS, BlackBerry Os. Economy principles tell us that diversity is good and it will help lower the prices, which most of possible buyers want. The Android concept is a catchy one, it has the possibility of offering services to multiple types of consumers, while, let’s say, Windows 7 will focus more on the business environment, because of the price and the absence of applications system that Android offers.
Raju PP is the founder-editor of Technically Personal. He holds an Engineering degree in Electronics & Communication, and has previously worked as a Technical Specialist in Banking Software domain.
