Hudl – the family-friendly 7-inch tablet

[Neil O'Loughlin]

This really does look like the tablet to beat for the kids. Will he sub £100 with our employee discount. That's 2 tablets for less than one iPad mini. 

Tesco launches Hudl – the family-friendly 7-inch tablet

Supermarket chain and digital services provider Tesco wants to make tablet computing accessible in every household in the UK and, to do so, it has built its very own family-focused tablet.

The 7-inch Hudl tablet has been designed and built from scratch by Tesco in partnership with a manufacturer based in China. The supermarket brand says Hudl is tailored to its customers’ needs in that its focus is on accessibility and convenience.

The Wi-Fi-only device packs a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and its battery will power up to nine hours of video viewing.

The device specifications make it a worthy competitor for similar small tablets on the market. The scratch-resistant HD display claims higher pixel density than the iPad mini at 243ppi and accommodates 16:9 widescreen picture. There’s 16GB storage inside, which can be expanded up to 48GB via micro-SD, and the whole thing runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2.

Competitive on all fronts

The Hudl forms part of a multi-channel strategy by Tesco to make sure its customers always have easy access to its online shopping service. As well as that, the interface offers quick access to Blinkbox, Clubcard TV and other digital services by Tesco through a dedicated launcher button.

Hudl specifications:

• 7-inch HD screen with a resolution of 1,440 x 900
• Quad-core 1.5GHz processor
• Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
• 16GB storage (expandable to 48GB via micro-SD)
• Nine hours video battery life
• Micro-HDMI port
• Dual band Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 4.0
• GPS

Tesco is targeting the three-quarters of UK households that do not currently have a tablet, as surveys indicated that high prices and intimidating technology are deterring these consumers. “Customers are quite rightly very discerning about the technology they buy so we knew we had to be competitive on all fronts,” said Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke.

“Being online is an increasingly essential part of family life and, while tablets are on the rise, usage is still quite limited,” he continued. “We feel the time is right for Tesco to help widen tablet ownership and bring the fun, convenience and excitement of tablets to even more customers across the UK. The digital revolution should be for the many, not for the few.”

With more than 20m customers, Tesco has a wide market base to start from by offering a tablet consumers can pick up with their weekly shop.

Hudl will offer first-time users advice on how to protect children using the device, and a range of compatible accessories includes child-friendly headphones.

^{The screen users see on first starting up the Hudl tablet}

Hudl will be available in four colours (black, blue, red and purple) in 1,000 UK Tesco stores, as well as on Tesco.com and Tesco Direct sites from 30 September. It will cost stg£119 or less than stg£100 with Clubcard Boost.

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/digital-life/item/34273-tesco-launches-hudl-a-the

[Jono]

It'll only be interesting when we see more than a regurgitated press release.

I have also seen many reports that cheap tablets haven't lasted - in particular that after a year the Nexus 7 battery isn't holding charge.

[Neil O'Loughlin]

Beg to differ. £500 for 2 iPad minis, £400 for 2 nexus 7s or £200 for 2 hudls is a no brainer for me.

--
Neil O'Loughlin
Tel # : 0044 (0)7894088352

[Falin]

I'll wait for the Tesco Value one  ;)

[Alatar]

This IS the Tesco Value one :)

[Sharkwald]

I'll be absolutely stunned if it's not complete garbage. We know that the Kindles and Nexuses are being sold at pretty much cost, and in both cases there are other revenue streams for their manufacturers (selling Amazon digital content on Kindles, use of Google services/display of Google ads on Nexuses). What's Tesco's alternative revenue source? I don't think they're in the content or services businesses, so they must have a razor thin margin on each unit sold. Going that low priced means that they must have seriously compromised on component quality.

£200 for 2 pieces of garbage is still a waste of £200.

[Neil O'Loughlin]

Well all the reviews are pretty positive. 

http://mobile.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/tablets/3470163/tesco-hudl-hands-on-review/

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/tescos-hudl-tablet-is-cheap-kid-friendly-and-i-like-it-photos-50012314/

Sniffy teenagers may turn their noses up at it -- their rich iPad-toting friends might make fun -- but for younger kids I reckon it's perfect

Considering the purpose I have in mind they will be perfect (assuming nothing else  comes along). 

[Falin]

Importantly there is full access to Google Play Store which means the Hudl one-up the Amazon Kindle Fire range of budget tablets which is limited to accessing Amazon's own Appstore.

For me, this is crucial. The availablity of free apps is what makes a Tablet. Having played with Silvia's Kindle Fire, the restrictiveness of apps can be very apparent. You even have to pay for a map app on the Fire... (Even if it is like 45p or something).

[Armand]

On Tuesday, 24 September 2013 12:49:04 UTC+1, Falin wrote:

For me, this is crucial. The availablity of free apps is what makes a Tablet. Having played with Silvia's Kindle Fire, the restrictiveness of apps can be very apparent. You even have to pay for a map app on the Fire... (Even if it is like 45p or something).

 

Your not wrong. Looking at the new Kindles, which are really nice pieces of hardware by the looks of it, Amazon content is front and center. You cant use widgets, any Google apps or services or Google play. The Amazon store is really just a sub set up the Play store and by all accounts  not a quick to be updated or have apps released on it. I'm sure you can side load apps but thats a pain for the simple things.

[Alatar]

I sideloaded one app, which is a sort of App Store shortcut.  Once that's installed you can treat it pretty much like any other Android tablet.  Its not rocket science!

[Armand]

Pretty sure you need to root your Kindle fire to get access to the Offical Google play store. Which is not so trivial for the average user. I know you can load up other non "Play" stores but that not really much use when you already have a Google account, nor is it that safe.

 

[Alatar]

How many people want access to the "official" Google play store?  They want access to the Apps, and they can get them.

Also, if you choose to Root your Kindle you can install full Jellybean if you like, not just Google Play.

[Armand]

On Thursday, 26 September 2013 15:35:10 UTC+1, Alatar wrote:

How many people want access to the "official" Google play store?  They want access to the Apps, and they can get them.

Hmm..maybe the milions of people that already purcahsed apps in the Google Store?

 

Also, if you choose to Root your Kindle you can install full Jellybean if you like, not just Google Play.

sure but why are you buying a Kindle fire then?

[Sharkwald]

Hmm..maybe the milions of people that already purcahsed apps in the Google Store?

That cuts every way though -- there's a number of different ecosystems at the moment; Base Android, Forked Android, iOS, Win 8... If you jump from any one to any other, there's a software cost involved. 

[Alatar]

 

Also, if you choose to Root your Kindle you can install full Jellybean if you like, not just Google Play.

sure but why are you buying a Kindle fire then?

Cause until the Nexus 7 arrived there was no other decent tablet in the price range.

But all of this is moot, I bought two Kindle fires because thats what Clare and CLio wanted.  Book readers that they could play Bejewelled and Facebook on.

Hate to keep harping on about this, but most people just don't fucking care!  They want a "good" brand, and after that they just want it to work.

[Armand]

On Thursday, 26 September 2013 16:01:55 UTC+1, Sharkwald wrote:

That cuts every way though -- there's a number of different ecosystemsat the moment; Base Android, Forked Android, iOS, Win 8... If you jump from any one to any other, there's a software cost involved. 

Totally agree. And if your happy in the Amazon eco system thats cool for you. But I'm just agreeing with what Falin original said, the Amazon store is way more restricted (not as many apps, slow to update, no google apps) and access to the Play store is crucial when looking for a tablet.

On Thursday, 26 September 2013 16:25:02 UTC+1, Alatar wrote:

Cause until the Nexus 7 arrived there was no other decent tablet in the price range.
But all of this is moot, I bought two Kindle fires because thats what Clare and CLio wanted.  Book readers that they could play Bejewelled and Facebook on.
Hate to keep harping on about this, but most people just don't fucking care!  They want a "good" brand, and after that they just want it to work.

Easy tiger....I'm talking about buying a tablet today..not 2 years ago or even when you bought personally. My point was that today you have the choice of rather good budget 7" tabs that run stock or close to stock android. If thats important to you (which it is to alot of folk) you dont need to buy a Kindle and rely on rooting & sideloading.

[Sharkwald]

Stock Android means diddly squat outside of geekdom. Case in point, the only profitable Android phone manufacturer is Samsung, who don't ship stock; the Galaxy brand has way more cachet than the Android one, which is why Google are moving up the stack with a focus on Chrome and Play Services.

[Neil O'Loughlin]

Which is why I said "close to". Samsungs android is still mainly a skin. 

[Armand]

Managed to pick one of these up and a protective bumper cover for £40.

[Alatar]

Saw on Facebook you're impressed.  Care to give a review?

[Armand]

On Wednesday, 2 October 2013 14:59:26 UTC+1, Alatar wrote:

Saw on Facebook you're impressed.  Care to give a review?

 

Only managed a couple of hours on it last night  But here are some first impressions:

 

·         Packaging is right out of Apples play book but is even nicer. It has a magnetic flap so no fighting to get it open. It’s a simple thing but really nice touch.

·         Build quality is great. (Made by Archos). It’s still budget so were not talking iPad here but it’s right there in the Kindle Fire ball park. Feels really solid as hell and feels like it will take the battering it will get from the kids.

·         The screen is really really nice. I’m used to the iPad2 screen and this most definitely trumps it by a massive margin.

·         It’s basically as close to stock 4.2 Android as you can get with the exception of a “T” in the bottom left...for me thats a big  big plus.

·         XBMC works brilliantly though I did install the “re-Touch” skin which makes it much nicer & easier to navigate

 

Simply put , I’m very impressed. Even had I paid full price it would still be a steal. And putting my money where my mouth is I have a second on the way.

[Sharkwald]

I can concur on the quality of the screen -- I had a 10 second go on one at the weekend. Only 10s though, as Tesco have no idea how to sell them. Ambled up to the demo stand, swiped about on the home screen; very crisp, with vivid colours, then thought I'd see how snappy the browser felt, so I tapped Chrome. A wee message popped up "Unavailable in Demo Mode". OK then, lets see the mail app. "Unavailable in Demo Mode". Anything at all except swiping around the home screen was "Unavailable in Demo Mode".

They might be jolly nifty tablets, but Tesco seem pretty keen that you don't find out!.

[Neil O'Loughlin]

That's  a shame cause it's pretty good experience.  When I was in they had someone demoing ..note sure if you would see more though. Since Tesco offer free wifi in store you think it would not be hard to at least allow surfing or run a movie for folk to try. 

I did mini stress test last nite on it. It managed 2 HD (720p/1080p) movies via xbmc (steamed from wifi) with plenty of battery left, which is pretty impressive since that is software decoding(I've not installed a hardware decoding version yet). I'm betting that VLC with the files local will yield much better results. 

[Sharkwald]

So Sheila's checked our clubcard vouchers and we have enough to get a Hudl with some left over to spare.  I take it at a price point of effectively free, you'd recommend it Neil?

[Neil O'Loughlin]

Hard not to for £60 worth of vouchers. Unless you are jumping up to a Nexus 7 price range (£200) it's as good as you get. 

Even if your a Kindle owner and in that Eco system you can install the Amazon App Store and still get access to everything you've already bought so it competes easily with the Kindle Fire HD (plus the hudl have frint and rear cameras...which ain't great but at least are there). 

[Alatar]

Interesting!  I wonder are these available in Ireland also?

[Alatar]

Answering my own question:

Right now, the intention appears to be to offer these devices in the UK market only, which is Tesco’s biggest, with nearly half of its 6,784 stores; over 310,000 of its 530,000 employees; and most of its profit. Indeed, Tesco points out that in the UK right now some 75% of households do not own a tablet; and the market for these is still in its early days, even in developed markets, and it is there for the grabbing.

But I suspect the sights are bigger. Just as Tesco has plans to take its various online services out to other markets (those include China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Czech Republic, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey), it would make sense to bring Hudl along for that ride.

“Currently there is nothing specifically planned outside the UK, but that’s not always going to be the case,” a person close to the company told TechCrunch on the occasion of its Blinkbox digital content launch earlier this year, when the company also made a big point of hinting hard about a tablet launch.

Today, a spokesperson echoed that sentiment. “We wouldn’t rule out other markets in the future,” he said, in response to questions about what will come after the UK.

So, I guess my next question is, would it be worth getting one shipped over, or is it locked somehow to the UK?

[Neil O'Loughlin]

I guess it depends on what the alternative is and the price difference. It's an easy thing to get back if someone was over here if you ditch the packaging. 

They ain't locked in anyway so you have no worries there. It's the straight up google play store so any google account should work. 

[Alatar]

Well, I'm thinking it might be a good present for Conor for Christmas.  Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 are a bit too expensive.

[Neil]

I'd offer to get one but I'm not home before Xmas (27th is when we fly in) so thats not much use to you. 

[Alatar]

No worries.  If I decide to go that way you can just redirect the package and I'll pay the extra shipping! :)

[Neil O'Loughlin]

Let me know. I get 10% and if you time it right you can get extra off at certain time when you order via Tesco direct.  I'll let you know if or when Ian offer pops up. 

[Armand]

This physically looks better than the Hudl but I think I'd still be recommending spending the extra £20 given the spec difference on almost all fronts.

 

 

Retail giant Argos has developed its own low-cost tablet for the market in time for the holiday buying season, with lower specs and a lower price than its Tesco rival.

The Argos MyTablet features a 7-inch LCD with a resolution of 1,024 x 600. Inside is a 1.6GHz dual-core processor and 8GB of storage expandable up to 32GB via micro-SD. The tablet also features basic cameras, with 2MP at the rear and 0.3MP facing front.

Joining the wide range of Android tablets on the market, MyTablet runs Jelly Bean version 4.2.2. Internet connectivity is Wi-Fi-only and the tablet is also Bluetooth-enabled for pairing with other devices and accessories.

Priced at stg£99.99 (€129 in Ireland), MyTablet undercuts the recently launched Hudl from Tesco by stg£20. While the Hudl offers slightly higher specifications, Argos’ MyTablet fits neatly in with similarly priced tablet computers.

According to Argos managing director John Walden, around 75pc of the UK population doesn’t have a tablet computer – and perhaps that’s because mammy and daddy haven’t bought them one yet. With a low price, basic features and built-in parental controls, MyTablet has been built with teenagers’ Christmas wish lists in mind.

According to The Guardian, 8m tablet computers are expected to be sold in the UK during the holiday buying season and consumers are certainly quick to pick up low-cost devices from value retailers, with 35,000 Tesco Hudls snapped up after just two days on the market. 

MyTablet will be available in pink or silver from 16 October through argos.co.uk and argos.ie, via the Argos app or from over 700 stores in the UK and Ireland.

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/digital-life/item/34507-argos-targets-teens-with-a