The success of the iPad has encouraged manufacturers to offer an alternative to the tablet from Apple. While competition has been slow in its offensive, leaving the field open for Apple to impose its iPad, in this fall 2010, other bars start to arrive, heavily driven by Android.
As Apple’s iPad that sounds like a variation on the iPhone 4 (configuration near the same operating system) some manufacturers have followed the same strategy as Samsung and S Galaxy and Galaxy Pad.
Dell explores him another track with its smartphone / 5 inch tablet that may well offer a niche product, a compromise in its ill-defined target.
Sold 99 499 euros naked with subscription, the Streak Is it a big ultra-compact smartphone or tablet?
Tutorial
With dimensions of 152.9 x 79.1 x 10 mm and 5-inch screen Dell Streak actually resembles more a Samsung S Galaxy (4 inches) than an iPad (9.7 inches).
A great smartphone which comes still in the pocket with its low thickness of 10 mm and weighing 220g. On the touch screen, there are three touch-sensitive keys common to all terminals on Android, a standby button, volume and physical trigger for the photo sensor.
If we find the traditional 3.5mm audio output, no microphone jack on the Dell USB Streak. This decision which is becoming a standard for most manufacturers, Dell prefers connectivity PDMI. Still very marginal, the latter allows the load Streak and delivers a video signal in HD and eight audio channels. For video output, it will go through the optional dock, which benefits from an HDMI output.
The finishes are good and gives an overall impression of solidity. Only the protective metal battery can be improved by closing sometimes badly.
Position requires phone, you will be the Dell Streak to the ear, in this situation shows that the Dell Streak overall size standard (see video). Fortunately, a headset is provided for the less adventurous.
Android 1.6 bridling configuration muscular
The Dell Streak has a configuration of a high-end smartphone. Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz and backed by 512 MB of RAM and a generous 2GB of memory to store applications. As usual, a microSD card slot will extend the storage, a 16GB card is also provided. We find the modules Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b / g, 3G + (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps) and A-GPS.
The capacitive screen 5-inch Dell Streak advance a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Here no conventional TFT AMOLED but logically situating a less flattering picture than S Galaxy, for example …
With its multipoint capacitive screen, the Dell Streak responds well to finger touches, especially during web browsing. Too bad that Google Map is not supported in multipoint will go through the zoom buttons.
With several apps in the background we have not seen big slowdowns, if Streak is the Dell longer to start, it remains relatively fluid in its use. However we felt the Streak slower than a smartphone with a similar configuration.
Probably the fault has an Android 1.6 that operates less resources Streak. To illustrate our impressions we delivered the Dell Streak to play with the application of the Benchmark and Benchmark Quadrant passing reviewed including the processor and graphics performance. The positive result is placing a Nexus between Streak One Android 2.0 and 2.1 but under S Galaxy behind a Nexus One in 2.2.
Version 1.6 is still a bad choice depriving users of new Android 2.1 and bridling the user experience and overall performance.
An Android aging fortunately supported by an overlay Dell thoughtful but not overtake the shortcomings of the outdated version of Android.
The endowment is interesting with Quickoffice software (MS Office doc), speech recognition application with Nuance and e-book with the kiosk Aldiko (electronic books mainly in English).
The update Streak in 2.1 see 2.2 is expected before the end of the year. Hopefully, Dell offers an upgrade directly in 2.2 as we said the manufacturer.
An update to an Android 2.2 will add the config and the compatibility of Flash will be crucial for the Streak.
Dell Streak as web tablet
In the absence of Flash, the Dell Streak loses the argument for the iPad to compete with, or at least get up to a 7 inch Galaxy Tab Android 2.2.
If he can not compete with a web browsing tablet, with its large display screen of 5 inches, the Streak should back off the face of smartphones!
Unfortunately, it is far from conclusive. If the display is larger, the Streak has also appeared slow to display web pages with native browser Chrome Light. If experience is a little better on Dolphin Browser, we expected much better.
He should wait for the update 2 .1 or 2.2 shows an improvement in web browsing but the state, Desire, S Galaxy did not blush.
Dell Streak as portable media
The format of the Dell Streak may have to compete with the Archos portable media players such. But even then the Streak not out enough.
The native manages the Streak MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV formats, downloading Rock Player, improves compatibility with AVI/MKV/FLV/3GP/MOV/DIVX. The 720p HD video playback is often jerky and random.
The audio control is satisfactory and the quality of restoration is correct, the native application interface is simple and it can always download another audio player.
To capture the photo / video, Streak was less efficient than competitive high-end smartphones. Despite a 5-megapixel sensor supported by a dual LED flash, video resolution is limited to VGA (640 x 480 pixels).
For the photo is a little better outdoors, but still passable in intérieur.La next update should make the HD workflow and improve the party photo / video.
Its range has proved satisfactory and despite a small battery of 1530 mAh, the Streak offers six hours under intensive use and nearly two days for the most efficient.
With Streak, Dell would propose a hybrid tablet Android smartphone. A unique concept that could find its audience even if it requires some compromises.
Beyond the debate as to whether the Streak is a tablet or a smartphone, as such, the exercise style does not convince us. Android 1.6 does not take advantage of real resources from the terminal, web browsing is comfortable but does not provide enough value and capture video and photo is deceptive.
If Android 2.2 should greatly alleviate some shortcomings, we can only advise to wait for the update before yielding to Dell Streak promising but not mature enough.
Plus : Size innovative and promising autonomy, finish, screen comfortable pad that fits in a pocket
Less : Android 1.6, some slowdowns, captures photo / video disappointing
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