Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year and a half you will have no doubt failed to avoid the growing popularity of the ‘tablet’.
Tablets are mobile computers that act in a similar manner to smart phones, except for the fact that they are larger and in many ways bridge the gap between a mobile phone and a laptop.
Uses for a tablet vary depending on the version, however generally uses include reading books, answering emails, browsing the Internet, catching-up on television programmes and playing games.
With the popularity of the tablet steadily increasing by the day, more and more versions of the tablet are becoming available. Here at Virgin Digital Help we have investigated some of the most popular tablets around at the moment and below we have provided our thoughts.
iPad
Released in April 2010, Apple’s iPad went on to sell an extraordinary 3 million devices in 80 days, paving the way for a huge number of copycat devices to go on sale.
With the release of the iPad 2 in March 2011, the iPad is still the bestselling tablet thanks to its wealth of apps and 10 hours of playtime.
• Recommended for: Apps, aesthetics.
Galaxy Tablet
Many tablets run various variations of Google’s Android operation system, an example being Samsung Galaxy Tablet.
The first Android powered tablet, the Galaxy has a 7 inch TFT-LCD touch screen and supports phone call functionality, as well as offering 7 hours of playback time and 10 hours of call time.
• Recommended for: Apps, face to face calls, travelling (thanks to its slim frame).
Blackberry Playbook
A tablet computer created by Research in Motion, the Blackberry playbook boasts a 7 inch screen, with a clear and easy to use interface that makes multi-tasking extremely easy.
Although the tablet has a significantly less amount of apps available in comparison to its competitors, RIM claims that at its time of release there were an additional 3,000 apps submitted to the Blackberry App World.
• Recommended for: Emails, viewing spreadsheets and word processing files.
September 2011
4 posts
We’re very pleased to announce the launch of our brand new US website!
Our new site aims to help you with your unruly tech stuff fast. Whether that’s your smartphone, your computer, your email or your PS3, our team have got the answers.
If you live in the US, you can get in touch with our team in two ways. Give us a call day or night on our 24-hour number 1.886.805.2448, where one of our friendly team will be on hand to guide you through fixing the problem. Or you can talk with one of the team online in our live chat. Not only that, keep up to date with the latest tech news and tips on Facebook and Twitter.
We can’t wait to be able to help with your queries!
Although we hate to admit it, the nights are slowly drawing in. There are some benefits though - cold, dark and miserable evenings offer the perfect excuse to spend plenty of time guiltlessly snuggled up on the sofa, phone in hand, keeping yourself entertained with the latest in mobile fun! But what to choose? Fear not, as it’s time to count down our favourite apps of the month. This month our choices are certain to keep your spirits up and ensure the Autumn transition is as painless as possible.
Take a look at the BBC News app, now available for the Android market as well. This smart app will keep you up to date with all the latest world news - and its simple design means that using it is a dream. This app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android.
Calling movie buffs - this next app will have you searching for that obscure 80s B-list film late into the night. If you’ve used IMDB (Internet Movie Database) online, then this app puts its functionality into the palm of your hand. You can also search for film showing times on the move, perfect for those last minute decisions. IMDB is available for the iPad/iPhone, Android and Windows phone.
Travel to work? Regular commuters will be all too aware of how boring these daily trips can be. Step forward Bubble Blast. In this puzzle game you have to pop multicoloured bubbles in order to set off a chain reaction. It’s not quite rocket science, but it’s suitably perplexing to make long journeys fun! Bubble Blast 2 is available for the Android only.
There’s nothing worse than your computer feeling unwell. That’s why our PC Mate software is the perfect prescription - looking after your system and offering you protection against viruses. Download it here, or for full peace of mind upgrade to PC Best Mate with AVG Internet Security for only £3 a month, available here.
