14 DAY TRIAL // The name Ematic chose for its new tablet is either a very clever pun or the result of an uncannily appropriate coincidence. Either way, “Steal” is the perfect moniker.
The full name of the tablet is eGlide Steal, and we say that it is fitting because the product really is a steal for the price it has.
The company only expects its customers to pay $119 for it, which is an outright tiny price compared to the $499 / 470 Euro of “standard” slates.
The part that really got to us, though, is that, even at that price, the device has Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as an operating system, as well as hardware good enough to go with it.
To start off, buyers will find a 1 GHz processor under the hood, plus a full gigabyte of RAM (random access memory).
The NAND Flash storage capacity is pretty modest, at 4 GB, just barely enough for the OS and a few files.
We aren't really broken up over that though. Flash memory is what ultimately adds most to the price of a tablet, so we understand the concession.
Besides, customers will get 5 GB of cloud storage and the possibility to add some gigabytes via the microSD card slot.
Other features include HDMI connectivity, a front-facing camera, Wi-Fi support, a 3-axis gyroscope, an accelerometer and built-in voice recording for taking notes, lectures or reminders.
Finally, the “EDAN” Digital Assistent & Navigator is pre-loaded on the slate, complete with voice-to-text technology.
"We're very pleased to include the eGlide Steal in our growing collection of Android 4.0 tablets," says Roy Rayn, president of Ematic. "We wanted to design a product that provides valuable services for an optimal tablet experience without forcing the consumer to spend hundreds of dollars."
If sales aren't already underway at www.walmart.com, www.jr.com and D&H Distributing, they should start soon.