Motorola Xoom 2 hands-on review

As well as a microUSB port, Motorola has added a microHDMI port. It's always nice to have the option to hardwire, even if the device does have digital living network alliance (DLNA).

One addition is a stylus pen that you can use to navigate the tablet rather that just doodle on it like the HTC Flyer. This worked perfectly well and will be sold separately from the tablet. However, the stylus only works on the larger 10.1in model. There will also be a media dock called the HD Multimedia Station. Motorola was unable to give us pricing for any accessories.

Both tablets have the splash guard coating that we saw on the Razr smartphone, which protects the device from accidental spills. Motorola was reluctant to demonstrate this on the models we saw today.

Both Xoom 2 tablets come with a bunch of pre-loaded apps including the 'Twonky' DLNA app for media streaming and 'Motocast', which the firm announced with its Razr smartphone. It allows you to access files on a PC or laptop remotely over a WiFi connection.

Motorola has jumped on the infrared band wagon that Sony was the first to put on a tablet with its Tablet S. The Xoom 2 comes with the 'Dijit' app so you can control devices such as your TV from the tablet.

We didn't see the infra red or DLNA functions demonstrated today but the Motocast application is a nice idea for accessing files, as long as you have WiFi access.

Overall the Xoom 2 didn't set our pulses racing. The weight loss and thinner design are significant changes from the original Xoom but a lack of outstanding features, no Android Ice Cream Sandwich and some strange downgrades mean that there is no real reason to buy a Xoom 2 over any other Android tablet.

The Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition tablets will be available in the next few weeks priced at around £390 and £360, respectively. µ