{"id":654848,"date":"2013-04-27T10:15:59","date_gmt":"2013-04-27T14:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=635627"},"modified":"2013-04-27T10:15:59","modified_gmt":"2013-04-27T14:15:59","slug":"android-this-week-galaxy-s-4-reviewed-hp-slate-7-arrives-mailbox-for-android-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/654848","title":{"rendered":"Android this week: Galaxy S 4 reviewed; HP Slate 7 arrives; Mailbox for Android coming"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Galaxy<\/a>The Samsung Galaxy S 4 reviews hit this week and it appears the consensus is that Samsung added a boatload of features to help it keep its smartphone crown. I spent several days using a review unit of the Galaxy S 4<\/a> and found it to be a high performing device that looks much like its predecessor. Along with many new Samsung-specific functions, however, the company was able to boost the screen size to 5-inches while keeping the phone at roughly the same size as the Galaxy S 3.<\/p>\n

That display is wonderful to look at all day. And why not when it’s a 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED screen? The quad-core 1.9 GHz chip and 2 GB of memory keep things humming while the battery should last all day for all but the heaviest power-users. Of course, you can always remove the back cover and replace the battery with a spare if needed; most probably won’t.<\/p>\n

Samsung’s secret sauce is on the inside, however: It’s the software. The company’s TouchWiz interface is improved while a number of special features round out the package.<\/p>\n

\"Galaxy<\/p>\n

Hovering over the screen with a finger dives deeper into more information without opening an app, for example. You can swipe through gallery images with a wave your hand. And you can pair multiple Galaxy S 4 phones to wirelessly play a single song, with each handset acting as an independent speaker.<\/p>\n

All of this makes for solid, but sometimes complicated experience. I don’t think it will hurt sales, however. Folks will either use the Easy Mode — which hides some of the advanced functions — or simply ignore the features they don’t want to use.<\/p>\n

Speaking of which: HP has largely ignored the tablet market ever since it’s $1.2 billion investment in Palm and webOS backfired in the form of the TouchPad. That changes with the HP Slate 7, a $169 Android 4.1 tablet now available in the U.S\u00a0I took a look — on paper, that is — at the HP Slate 7 compared to Google’s Nexus 7 tablet<\/a>, which costs $30 more. Some will surely opt for the HP, but I see a number of reasons to pay the extra money for a Nexus 7.<\/p>\n

\"HP<\/a>The main one is the difference in displays: HP chose a meager 1024 x 600 resolution display while Google uses a 1280 x 800 screen. You’re going to be looking at and using the screen more than any other component on a tablet, so I think you should get the best one you can. Having said that, the HP does offer some features not found on the Nexus 7: micro SD card expansion, Beats Audio support and a rear camera.<\/p>\n

One of the things I use my tablet for the most is email management. I’m a Gmail app user on all Android devices, but on iOS I prefer the new Mailbox<\/a> app. It’s very useful in how you can set reminders for various emails; they disappear from your inbox only to reappear at a time more appropriate for you. You can also send emails to a “to-do” list with a tap. Most every function is done with a simple swipe: Mark as read, delete, postpone, etc…. take a look:<\/p>\n