After Samsung Galaxy Tab’s moderate success, it is natural to expect that similar devices will be introduced soon. eLocity A7 is a tablet that is designed to integrate computing power, connectivity and portability. The tablet is released by a Philadelphia-based start-up, the Stream TV Network Inc. that seek to reshape the media landscape with the A7, to create an environment which allow faster accessibility to on-demand content. Just like Samsung Galaxy Tab, it is also powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo), the table comes with a variety of mobile apps, including Adobe Flash, a common document format, that isn’t available in the iPad.
Unlike Galaxy Tab, which uses the 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, the eLocity A7 has NVIDIA Tegra 250 1GHz dual-core processor, which ensures faster 3D performance and computing power. The tablet uses 3-axis accelerometer which is useful not only to adjust screen orientation but also games. The 2-cell Lithium Polymer battery is claimed to be able to run 100 hours of music or 5 hours of video on a single charge.
Just like the Tab, eLocity also sports a 7” capacitive display and multi-touch support. But unfortunately, with 4GB of internal storage, it is much less than other tablets that have at least 16GB, however, thankfully, this drawback is redeemed by the availability of a MicroSD slot that can support up to 32GB of memory card.
Unlike both Galaxy Tab and the iPad, the eLocity A7 has a 1080p HDMI output and a USB port that can support an additional 64GB storage. The tablet has a dimension of 8.2” by 4.8” and weighs just over a pound, slightly bigger and heavier than Galaxy Tab, but still less bulky than the iPad.
The tablet offers two standard connectivity options, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth. It can be safely used during a flight, as the Airplane Mode can eliminate all emissions. The 1.3 Mp webcam is for quick video call with family and friends.
One huge drawback of the tablet is the absence of 3G technology, which severely limits its connectivity option, because sometimes, it is easier to find 3G Internet access than Wi-Fi hotspots. And if you’re in a rural area, you may even consider a GPRS/EDGE connection useful.
Owning an eLocity A7 should be appropriate if you have set up a wireless network at home or can share internet connection through tethering from a 3G and Wi-Fi capable cellphone.
The tablet is now available in major online stores such as http://Walmart.com, http://BJs.com, http://TigerDirect.com, http://Sears.com, http://Newegg.com, http://MicroCenter.com and http://Amazon.com. The tablet is currently sold for less than $370 in Amazon, far cheaper than both Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPad.
Specifications:
| Form Factor & Case | Tablet Type |
| CPU | NVIDIA® Tegra |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® ULP GeForce® |
| Operating System | Android |
| Memory | 512MB On-Board Memory, Supports 1.8V DDR2 667 MHz |
| Storage | 4GB eMMC Module via HSMMC Interface for System Boot and Storage |
| LCD Display | 7-Inch WVGA (800×480), 16 Million Colors, TTL I/F Brightness: 60 Nits ~ 220 Nits, 8 Scales, User Adjustable Panel Backlight Brightness is Adjusted Automatically by Ambient Light Sensor |
| Touch Screen | Capacitive Touch Panel 1 Point + Zoom-in/out Gesture |
| Audio | 1 x Built-in Microphone 2 x .5 Watt Stereo Speakers 1 x 3.5mm Stereo Headphone Jack (Combined with Mic) |
| Communication | WLAN – 802.11b/g and Bluetooth® 2.1 SIP Module SDIO(Wi-Fi) and UART (BT) Interface 1 Internal Antenna for Wi-FI and BT |
| Camera | Front-Facing 1.3MP CMOS Webcam via Parallel Interface |
| Keyboard | Software Keyboard |
| I/O Ports | 1 x Standard USB 2.0 Host 1 x HDMI Output for 1080p True HD Viewing 1 x 3.5mm Headphone Out Audio Jack 1 x Micro SC card, Push-Push Type DC-in Connector Docking Port |
| Video Codecs | Decode: H.264 MP, H.263, VC-1 Encode/Decode: MPEG4 SP, H.264 BP |
| Audio Codecs | Decode: AMR-NB, AMR-WB, eAAC+, BSAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA 10 Encode/Decode: PCM, AAC LC, AAC+ |
| Audio/Video Containers | AVI, MP4, 3GP, ASF, MP3, OGA, QT |
| Streaming Protocols | RTP, RTSP |
| Image Formats | JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG |
| Applications: Internet | Android Default Browser, Flash Plug-in |
| Applications: Communication | SMS Messaging |
| Applications: Entertainment | Photo Gallery – Viewing, Rotation, Slideshow, Photo Album, Photo Editing Music Player – Play/Pause/Next/Previous/Time Slider/Shuffle/Repeat/Playlist, Sort by Album, Artist, Type Video Player – Play/Pause/Fast Forward/Rewind/Time Slider/Full Screen/Enlarge Camera – Photo Snapshot/Video Recording |
| Applications: Personal Tools | Contact – Add/Edit/Delete Contacts, Integrated SMS, Phone Number, Email Calculator – Basic and Advanced Alarm Clock E-Book Reader – FBReaderJ Memo – Text Memo |
| Sensors | 3-Axis Accelerometer Ambient Light Sensor (for adjusting LED backlight) Vibrator |
| System Status Indicators | 1 Dual-Color LED for Power Status: Green (Fully Charged or DC-in) / Tangerine (Battery Low) / Orange (Charging) |
| Universal AC Adaptor | Output: 19V 1.57A 30W DC-in / Input: 100~240V |
| Battery | 2-Cell Li-Polymer Battery Pack (3.6V x 1500mAh x 2) |
| Dimensions | 8.2″ (W) x 4.8″ (H) x .5″ (D) |
| Weight | 1.02 lbs. |
After reading reviews here and at http://NookvsKindle.Info, I bought an eLocity A7 on Amazon.com and I think they are pretty good for the money.
I did have a hard time finding a simple case for it as I like to put in a sleeve and then put it in my bookbag, purse, locker, whatever. However, found a small company that makes a pretty good case for this unit and sells them for only $8.95 with free freight at http://nuvo-tek.com.
By the same token, if anyone knows of where I can buy a good hard case (not a soft onw) that is not too expensive, please let me know.