The IT Nerd

Today we have the second of two Alcatel devices from Telus. This one is the Onetouch Pop 8 which is a 8″ tablet running Android. Here’s the specs it comes with:

• 8″ 1280 x 800 IPS screen
• 1.3GHz quad core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 4GB of storage upgradeable to 64GB with a MicroSD card
• HSPA+
• 802.11 A/B/G/N WiFi
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• 2 MP rear camera
• 0.3 MP front camera

Now 8″ for a tablet is an interesting size for me as I find it a nice size that is not too big and not too small. It’s easy to hold in my hand. The 8″ 1280 x 800 IPS screen is bright and sharp. While it does attract fingerprints, they don’t interfere with ability to view the screen. The back does not appear to be removable. So the SIM card and the MicroSD card have to go into the sides of the tablet. The protective flaps that cover those two card slots on both sides come with an unorthodox design. They are completely flush with the metal rim around the phone, with only a small “pimple” protruding at their upper parts. The tablet comes with a tool that allows you to flip the flaps open which is the same as the Onetouch Idol X+. My suggestion would be to never lose that tool. It felt solid in my hand and well built.

The OneTouch Pop 8 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a light and minimalist custom skin on top. It’s flat like iOS 7 and Alcatel’s changes are cosmetic and enhance the look of the user interface. There are also little touches like the e-mail setup wizard which is easier to use than most. In daily use, just navigating around the interface and running basic apps like browser and email, it runs fairly smoothly, almost without a stutter. However, since this tablet has HSPA+, don’t expect to set the world on fire when it comes to mobile Internet connectivity. I managed to get 5.12 Mbps downstream and 1.78 upstream on the Telus network which isn’t bad.

Now, let’s make it clear. The Alcatel OneTouch Pop 8 is not a camera-centric device. It does feature a barebones 2-megapixel main camera, and a 0.3-megapixel front camera. With that in mind, I headed out to Pearson Airport to see what they could do. First, let’s look at the still pictures. Click the picture to see it a full resolution:

It is on the blurry side, but it’s not bad. Now let’s look at the video which maxes out at 1080p. Set the video at full screen and 1080p:

As you can see, the video is kind of blurry. Thus it makes this camera better suited for video chats rather than being a camera replacement.

The OneTouch Pop 8 battery that is not user removable. I managed to get six hours out of a charge which is not bad. But it’s at least a couple of hours off the iPad Mini with Retina display. Having said that, I don’t think the target audience who are budget minded users will care. Speaking of budgets, expect to budget $0 on a two year term or $240 outright to get one from Telus. If you’re in the market for an affordable tablet that gives you the ability to use WiFi and HSPA+, the Alcatel OneTouch Pop 8 is certainly worth a look.

Telus this week supplied me a pair of devices from Alcatel. The one I was writing about today is the Onetouch Idol X+ smartphone. Now Alcatel is a name that you might not be familiar with. But Alcatel-Lucent is a massive French telecom company that’s a more of a player than most people realize. They have interests in networking hardware, IP technologies, software, and services. Oh, and they make mobile phones too.

Here’s what the Onetouch Idol X+ is running under the hood:

• 5” IPS 1920 X 1080 screen
• 2GHz 8-core processor
• 2 GB of RAM
• 16GB Storage expandable to 64GB via a MicroSD slot
• 802.11 A/B/G/N WiFi
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 13 MP Rear camera
• 2MP Front camera
• HSPA+

The Onetouch Idol X+ is plastic with a metal ring around the edges. It’s easy to hold for the most part and it looks classy and feels solid. The back does not appear to be removable. So the SIM card and the MicroSD card have to go into the sides of the phone. The protective flaps that cover those two card slots on both sides come with an unorthodox design. They are completely flush with the metal rim around the phone, with only a small “pimple” protruding at their upper parts. The phone comes with a tool that allows you to flip the flaps open. My suggestion would be to never lose it. The 5” 1080×1920  is pretty bright and has an anti-reflection coating. So when I used it outside, I didn’t get any annoying reflections. Though it did wash out in bright light. The display is also very sharp which is something that I did not expect.

Alcatel supplies a OneTouch Android interface overlay on top of 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with the Idol X+. It’s flat like iOS 7 and Alcatel’s changes are cosmetic and enhance the look of the user interface. There are also little touches like the e-mail setup wizard which is easier to use than most. It’s also fast. The 8 core processor is quick. The interface is fluid, and the phone ran any app thrown at it, including heavy 3D games. I was impressed. However, the phone is a HSPA+ phone. Which means that it’s not going to be speedy when it comes to mobile data. I got  5.61 Mbps downstream and 2.17 upstream on the Telus network which isn’t bad.

Now when it comes to the camera, it’s top shelf on paper. The rear camera is a 13 MP shooter which also does 1080P video. The camera interface allows one to customize the camera to suit their needs in a variety of ways. But it is still simple to use for someone who wants to point and shoot. To find out how well it works, it meant a trip out to Pearson Airport. So, here’s the still pictures for you to look at. Click it to see it at full resolution:

The detail level in the photo is exceptional. Now here’s the video. Set it to full screen and 1080p:

Although it did have auto focus issues, the video is sharp.

The Onetouch Idol X+ is a real winner on the battery front as well. I got almost two days before I had to recharge. That’s impressive by any standard. What’s even more impressive is the price. It’s $0 on a 2 year term and $350 outright which is an outstanding price. Alcatel has come to the table with almost the perfect smartphone. The lack of LTE connectivity is the only area where it falls short, but other than that, I cannot find anything negative to say about it. If you’re looking for a smartphone, and you don’t want to spend a lot, take a look at the Onetouch Idol X+.

Tomorrow, I’ll be reviewing Alcatel Onetouch Idol Pop8 tablet. Stay tuned!