Well, it’s near the end of my Motorola Xoom review, thanks to Optus! As I’ve already covered much of the hardware aspects in my last review, this time I’m focusing more on software functionality and what I’ve found in the past three weeks.
General Interface / Settings
I must admit, when I first started to use the Xoom, I was constantly baffled by various tasks that should have been relatively simple. While I’ve managed to get the hang of it now, I don’t believe it’s as intuitive as it should be. Once you’ve learned how to use it you’re fine, but beginning users can be easily overwhelmed. For example, the buttons on the bottom left hand corner of the screen (those that allow you to switch between applications and perform specific tasks) are hard to understand at first glance.
I was also disappointed to note that there is no SMS/MMS capability from a software point of view. The select support it does have doesn’t even count – it allows you to view a SMS when you receive it, but only for ten seconds. After that, it’s lost forever. This is extremely disappointing, especially considering this is a device from Optus – a telecommunications provider first and foremost.
Aside from this, the overall speed and design of the interface is awe-inspiring. It functions well, and as expected with any Android device, the settings and customisations available are vast enough to suit any user.
Browser
The browser is an almost carbon copy of Google’s Chrome browser on the PC – and it makes considerable sense keeping it consistent as well to match the experience on all systems. I found the touch interface particularly easy to use, and browsing the web was a breeze.
The Xoom also comes with Adobe Flash support, meaning streaming videos online is fairly straight-forward and supported through various television companies.
Maps
As an Android device, Google maps comes integrated with maps and navigation. Whilst I can’t personally imagine it replacing a standard GPS in a vehicle (thanks to the size), it provides an effective way to discuss travel plans with friends and family, especially when you’re on the road.
Music/Videos
The Music and Video capability of the device is very slick – flicking in and out of songs in 3D view is interesting, and watching movies on the crisp screen is wonderfully enjoyable.
Sadly, getting your movies and music on the device isn’t as fun. Though music files are generally fine, it’s hard to find a movie format that is accepted on the Xoom – WMV and AVI (not) included. To play your videos, you need to convert them into accepted filetypes – which is not only time consuming but assumed a level of familiarity with technology that some people simply don’t have.
YouTube
The YouTube interface on the Xoom was majestic, using the full size of the screen to its benefit. And with full capability including commenting and rating, there’s no reason why it couldn’t be a complete replacement to the website version used on a computer.
The home interface shows a semi-3D display of the latest videos, allowing you to glance and go at the entertainment on offer.
Other Galleries
Overall
Overall, the Motorola Xoom is a fantastic device, with only a few flaws. While there is no SMS capability and it isn’t as light as its iPad counterpart, the features it does have puts it way ahead of the game. It’s quick and full of customisable features. A thumbs up from me!
The Motorola Xoom is currently available through Optus – my favourite telecommunications provider.
