Updated Product Review: Nexus 7 Tablet

I really should title this one, part TWO of my original review of my new Nexus 7 Tablet (can I get a shout out to Staples for having an excellent electronics department?), as now that I've had time to play with use it. Now that I've gotten alot of use of it, I wanted to share some of the really cool things that I LOVE about it. 

First, it has really make me MISS my Android phone intently! For those who have not used Android, it is much more intuitive and user friendly of a platform than iphone. Everything has been simplified to one step, versus the 3-4 of iphone. Ever try setting a song from your computer as a ringtone on iphone? 2 programs and 5 steps, versus move from computer to phone and set in Android.  The Nexus 7 has the new Android Jellybean and it is uber fast, responsive and beyond easy to use! 

I'm going to show you some screen shots (which you can take by merely depressing the power and down volume buttons at the same time, the device clicks and see the small screenshot to make sure you captured what you wanted to) and show you what wonders are on this phone!

Starting when you turn on the phone, you can set a password lock or a facial recognition lock. I love the facial lock, but with other family members using the tablet, I opted for a password. It only takes a couple of seconds to enter, but it keeps strangers from accessing my data, when I'm in a public place!

You can set your screensaver to how ever you want it, including your favorite picture. I've kept the recent entertainment (Google books, music and magazines) tab as a front cover, for now. After I really involved in the tablet, I will probably change them. When you slide the screen left, you get the second home screen (see above picture), with the Google Play recommendations. You can click to like the suggestion, or to remove it, and a new one will come up. Google takes this info and the next time you log on, offers more content for you.

Or you can open the Google Now cards, by simply swiping up from the bottom bar and get your local weather, traffic, sports news, public transit and flight info (picture above)! Yup, all at one swipe! Perfect for getting what you need to know BEFORE you get dressed for the day! This is perfect for those who are always on the go for business! 

When you hit the app button, all your apps are shown (picture above). This makes it really quick to go to one of your apps, say Gallery (photos) or Game (say Mah-Jong), without having to put them on one of your home screens. They are all alphabetical, so it's quick to find them!

But say you downloaded an app, and want to open it, but you just got a call about an email you need to open? Up on the top bar on the left, you'll see small icons pop up as email comes in, you download an app, update an app, or publish say a post to Blogger (see picture above) . All you have to do to open one of them is to swipe the bar down, find the item you want and click it. Yup it's THAT simple to switch from an app to your email. Want to go back to the app? Repeat with the bar, OR you can go to the previous apps bottom 'go' button. And there are all your recent apps (picture below) ! You can scroll up and down and find the one you want. And BAMM, you can be back where you were before you went to check the email! Easy peasy! 

The Google voice search has been really amazing. It is a super time saver and I've found myself using the voice type command ALOT. Say you have a blog post idea, but are at the school waiting on your child's basketball practice to end. if you've got wifi access, all you have to do is start a post, click on the microphone on the keyboard, and start talking. Your text will appear, you can save the post, and later you can edit it at home and publish it. AND you can use the Google voice wherever you use a keyboard, including email and Facebook! 

While having no removable SD card gives the tablet some limitations. By buying a USB OTG (On The Go) cable (on the left, which allows you to connect ANY usb device to your tablet), and Stickmount and ES File Explorer apps (both free in Google Play store), you can transfer files back and forth from the tablet and any USB memory device, like a thumb drive or back up hard drive. 

You can also bluetooth files VERY easily. I've transferred numerous files back and forth to my laptop, with no problem! If you have a bluetooth printer, you can also send files to it, when you go to share. This has worked wonderfully so far! I also have a Brother computer label printer, and the tablet works great with it, and the Brother app, so I can print out labels in any room, and not be tied down to the computer! Can I get a woo-hoo?

The other items you will need for your tablet will be a screen cleaner or film cover, and a carrying case. Though I have found I'm still debating on type of case, but I definitely want something I can put into my purse easily. Regular headphones work great with the tablet as well, for covert listening, but I highly recommend stereo Android ones, for better sound.

Additionally, if you will be working off-line on business documents, then you need to download one of the office apps, so you have word type document makers, as the Google Drive is great, but only accessible with wi-fi. It really comes down to doing a little research to see what apps you should download for YOUR needs. And naturally there is some trial and error, to see which ones you prefer. Luckily most of them have free trials, or free apps, to save you money! When you purchase the Nexus 7, you do get $25 credit to the Google Play store, as soon as you set up your account! That was pretty cool to me, as it enabled me to download a genealogy app that work with my Legacy Family Tree program on my home computer. It is so easy now to take the tablet with me, and if a genealogy questions comes up, I can pull up my ENTIRE genealogy file! 

Seriously, I use my tablet around the house ALL the time- it is easier than lugging around the laptop, and easier to read than the smart phone. The iphone has been relegated to pretty much a phone and alarm clock. I only use the laptop for loading pictures into blog posts, or if I have to cut and paste alot of info (the tablet and I haven't quite worked out the clipboard to my satisfaction- it works, but I can never get clipboard to clear when I need it to, I know it's operator error, just need to figure out the right app to help! 

If you are a busy mom on the go, busy professional, or technology craver, then the Nexus 7 tablet is definitely for you! Check it out, you'll want your own too!




Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this product, free of charge, from Staples, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or other, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it