CNETAnalysis: When the Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook hit the market, we’ll have two serious challengers to the iPad. And, perhaps most interestingly, all three will be running different operating systems. So let’s compare how the two newcomers stack up against the hottest tablet yet released. In terms of releases, Motorola won’t say anything about the Xoom’s UK release date, though it is pencilled in for the first quarter of 2011 in the US. However, it depends on when Google is planning on getting Honeycomb out the door. iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know Likewise we should be seeing the PlayBook arrive in the Spring or early Summer. And, of course, around that time we’ll also be expecting iPad 2, so we’ll be updating this piece when we know more about that new device. OS This is the biggest difference between the three tablets. The iPad runs Apple’s own iOS, the Moto Xoom Android 3.0 Honeycomb and the BlackBerry PlayBook runs RIM’s own bespoke Tablet OS. The Xoom was the main unit used to demo Android 3.0 Honeycomb, at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, though we only saw videos of OS features running on the new device. Android 3.0 rumours and latest updates There will also be no Motorola MotoBlur interface overlaying Android 3.0 – this could be part of a bigger move by Google to stop having so many variants of Android. We’ve got a proper hands-on with the PlayBook at CES a few weeks ago and it’s a serious threat to the iPad’s dominance of the sector. TechRadar’s Reviews Editor James Rivington says the PlayBook “could well be the tablet that changes the game. In a word, it’s a triumph.” ANDROID 3.0: This Xoom was just running a video, but the real Honeycomb looks special Processor All three units use ARM-based silicon. The iPad runs Apple’s own A4 processor clocked at 1GHz (it’s less in the iPhone 4), while the Xoom plumps for a dual-core Nvida Tegra 2 processor, capable of 720p video or sending 1080p full HD to your TV via HDMI. The PlayBook is also running a dual core 1GHz Cortex-A9-based processor, though there are no more details on who has manufactured it. It’s probably an Nvidia Tegra 2. Touchcreen The Motorola Xoom has a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 display. The PlayBook is only a 7-inch tablet and to us it can feel small. The touch on the PlayBook does extend right across the bezel though, which is a nice touch and pretty important for navigating around the OS. The screens on both the PlayBook and Xoom look pretty spectacular even under the bright show lights where we checked them out. The PlayBook’s size gives it an advantage though, as we said in our hands on : “The PlayBook’s 1024 x 600 resolution isn’t far off the 9.7-inch 1024×768 iPad, but because of the Playbook’s 7-inch display, the increased pixel density makes all the difference. It’s sharp and crisp, and 1080p HD video looks fabulous.” CRISP: The PlayBook’s screen is quite pixel dense – largely because it’s only a 7-inch tablet Storage The Xoom has a Micro SD slot, but Android 3.0 doesn’t yet support it (apparently). However, Moto says that as soon as the OS permits it, you’ll be able to use up to 32GB of removable storage. As you’ll know, the iPad doesn’t have any kind of slot – though it has 16 or 32GB on board flash storage of course. Memory The PlayBook has 1GB of RAM, as does the Xoom. Remarkably, the iPad lags behind in this department, though you’d scarcely notice it. It has 256MB of system memory. Camera While the iPad doesn’t have a camera, the iPad 2 will change this. The Xoom has two cameras front (2MP) and a 720p capturing back 5MP camera with a dual LED flash. The Playbook packs two cameras – a 3MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing one. Connectivity All three are designed for use with 3G networks. However, we may well get a Wi-Fi version of the PlayBook before we see a 3G-enabled variant – obviously this is speculation currently. The base iPad is also Wi-Fi only of course. It looks like there will also be two versions of the Motorola Xoom. Another version will work on 4G networks in the US, though we’ll only get 3G here of course. All have 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The Xoom and PlayBook also support HDMI output to a TV – the iPad supports AirPlay for wireless streaming via Apple TV. All have Bluetooth 2.1 plus GPS support. The Xoom and PlayBook also have Micro USB which the iPad sticks with the trusted Apple dock connector. All three tablets have 3.5mm headphone jacks. The PlayBook can be paired with a BlackBerry phone via Bluetooth for full interaction with its Email, Calendar, Docs and BBM. Location and sensors All three also have an accelerometer and compass and Assisted GPS in their 3G variants. The Xoom also features a gyroscope as well as a barometer for measuring the atmospheric pressure. Details seem sketchy on whether the PlayBook will have a gyroscope, so we’re keeping an open mind. GYRO: Will the PlayBook have a gyroscope like the Xoom? Cost Rumours abound that the Motorola Xoom price is £720 and we shouldn’t expect to pay much less: the firm’s VP of international marketing, Andrew Moreley, says “the Motorola Xoom is clearly a premium device with premium prices inside. This will show in the cost.” All of which makes the iPad look like a steal. The Wi-Fi version was £429 at launch of course, but the VAT rise has seen this increase to £439. Bulk The 7-inch PlayBook is 9.7mm thick and weighs just over 400g. The weight of the 10.1-inch Xoom has been reported to be around 730g, with a 13mm thickness. That’s the same weight as the Wi-Fi + 3G iPad, which is 13.4mm thick. Compatibility As most of the world’s population knows, the iPad doesn’t support Flash. Android 3.0 does though, as does RIM’s Tablet OS, with full Flash 10.1 and Adobe Air. All have HTML 5 compatibility. Will Android 3.0 and RIM’s new OS really lay down the gauntlet for iOS and the iPad? Time will tell. Related Stories MSI WindPad: what you need to know Dell Streak 7: what you need to know Gary Marshall: Happy birthday, iPad Android 3.0 preview SDK released to developers The Daily for iPad to launch on 2 Feb Posted by: Maryum
