Motorola launches Xoom 2 tablets

Motorola is hitting the market with all new Xoom tablets.

Dubbed the Xoom 2, the new Android tablets are making their initial debut today for consumers in the U.K. and Ireland. The tablets come in two flavors--a traditional 10-inch Xoom 2 with built-in options for business users and an 8.2-inch Xoom 2 Media Edition.

Both tablets are powered by dual-core 1.2 GHz processors, run Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The displays are strengthened with Corning's Gorilla glass and come with a special splash-guard coating designed to make them more durable and stain resistant.


The two tablets sport a 1.3 megapixel camera in front and a 5 MP camera on the back, both with digital zoom, auto focus, and LED flash. Both come with 1 gigabyte of RAM and 16 GB of storage.

Each tablet inclues a new MotoCast app that allows users to wirelessly stream music, photos, videos, and other content between their tablets and their PCs. A special "Work and Play" kit lets people connect the tablets to an HDTV and control them via a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.




Motorola's new Xoom 2 tablet
(Credit: Motorola Mobility)
The larger Xoom 2 is similar to the original Xoom in size and shape, but with a brighter and more vibrant display, according to Motorola. The edges have been designed with a flattened edge that's supposed to make the tablet easier to hold. The battery on this model promises more than 10 hours of life on a single charge.

And with a nod toward business users, the Xoom 2 comes preloaded with data encryption, VPN support, and Active Sync for synchonizing e-mail, contacts, and calendar appointments. It also includes both USB and Ethernet ports.

The smaller Xoom 2 Media Edition is geared more toward entertainment. The screen offers a 178 degree viewing angle to let more than one person watch movies or videos at the same time. Motorola claims a 20 percent improvement in graphics performance and has added virtual surround sound, turning the Media Edition into a gaming device. This model can also double as a remote control for TVs and other equipment courtesy of a pre-loaded remote control app. Battery life is rated at only around six hours per charge.

Rumors about the new tablets popped up recently but had pegged them as offering 64 GB of storage and 4G access.

"Tablets are quickly becoming a must-have tool for staying connected, getting work done and having fun at home and on the road," Victoria McManus, marketing director U.K. & Ireland for Motorola Mobility, said in a statement. "We are very excited about these two new additions to our tablet portfolio that build on the success of the original Motorola Xoom to now deliver more powerful tablet experiences to the European market."

Both tablets will sell at Carphone Warehouse in the U.K. and Ireland, as well as Best Buy, PC World, Dixons, and Currys in the U.K.

We've reached out to Motorola to find out when the new tablets might be available in other countries, including the U.S.



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Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57317576-93/motorola-launches-xoom-2-tablets/?tag=mncol;cnetRiver