SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android 4.0 Gaming Media Tablet PC – 8GB

SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android 4.0 Gaming Media Tablet PC Features

The search for a compact, affordable tablet might take you to some of the lesser known brands on the market. SKYTEX is not a name you will see too much of on the high street. The company’s brand new SKYTEX SKYPAD Gemini 7-inch tablet PC fits both the compact and budget descriptions, with its seven-inch screen and coming in at under $200. It is also a quirky device. This seven-inch tablet is small, has good build quality and is reasonably inexpensive.

It is a pleasure to see Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich running on the tablet, making it feel like a real contender, since ICS is making the tablet experience far easier. With all the talk currently being about ICS, any Android tablet shipping without it is immediately starting off on the back foot. The whole thing looks neat, and there is 8GB of storage. The 7-inch screen delivers 800 x 480 pixels, the capacitive touchscreen can recognize up to 5-points of touch, perfect for effortless navigation of the web, any game, or application. The screen is quite reflective and the viewing angles are not overly wide which is acceptable. This size of screen is unlikely you will be sharing the display with a second person. All in all, the screen is responsive, multi-touch support is fine and overall it is in line with the expectations for the price.

As you delve into the specifications of the SKYTEX SKYPAD Gemini you realise that this is not a leading-edge tablet. The powerful 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor + Mali-400 GPU and its 1GB of RAM helps it move quickly, running apps, browsing, streaming, and gaming like no other tablet, however there are still faster processors around and there is a bit of lag at times.

The SKYPAD Gemini is a little on the thick side, featuring a rubberized slip-proof and protective coating, but the quality is hugely impressive with the device feeling far tougher than you might expect at this price point.

If you are looking for a wireless way to send and receive files between Android devices, then Bluetooth is one the best, and most established ways of doing it. The SKYPAD Gemini connects with compatible Bluetooth devices such as speakers, headphones and keyboard that will function up to 30 feet away from the tablet. Through Bluetooth you can scan for nearby devices, pair with them, select the files you want to send, and wait for the other device to receive them.

There are a few other features of note including a 2MP front-facing webcam and internal microphone for Internet calling and video chatting with family and friends. Download apps for streaming the latest videos, playing games, shopping on-line, or staying in touch with family from 1Moblie Market place. The included family gaming and Recipe Search apps turns the tablet into a great family companion as well as the ultimate cookbook for the kitchen. It also makes a great bedside e-Reader.

Use the HDMI port to connect your Gemini to an HDTV or external monitor, however you have to provide your own lead, the cable is not included. You can enhance your viewing experience and enjoy HD movies, 3D (Stereoscopic 3D images are only viewable when connected via HDMI to a 3D capable monitor or television.), and gaming on the big screen.

The SKYPAD Gemini comes without access to the Google Play Store, which limits your ability to install third-party apps. The pre-installed 1Mobile Marketplace sports a very similar, if not the exact same layout as the stock Android Market app. The main selling point of 1Mobile Market is that it only lists free apps, offering hundreds of thousands of free apps such as Facebook, Netflix, GT Racing, Kindle, and Amazon Mobile, including 1000’s of games specifically made for Android, making it a great tablet that keeps you entertained and coming back for more. The 1Mobile Market is especially useful for those looking to save a few pennies. You can also download the Amazon App Store application from Amazon.com.

The battery is good for six hours of gaming, reading, browsing, movie and music playback. The wireless connectivity is the most common way to connect your tablet to the internet and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n that has been optimized for incredibly fast downloads over the web.

Overall, the SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android Tablet PC is not really a tablet for anyone that just wants to pick it up and use it right out of the box. But if you are willing to do a bit of work, finding and installing the Google Play Store, .APK file to give you access to apps and so on, you can turn the tablet into a perfectly serviceable device. However, at this price point, the core specifications and the lasts OS version make this product worth buying. While this tablet does not do anything especially new, it is still a very solid implementation of a seven-inch Android tablet.

SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android 4.0 Gaming Media Tablet PC: Customer Reviews

SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android 4.0 Gaming Media Tablet PC Specifications

SKYTEX SKYPAD 7-inch Gemini Android 4.0 Gaming Media Tablet PC is now available on Amazon.

Date first available: May 27, 2012
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