Asus Memo Pad 8 is pretty in pink and easy on the pocket (hands-on)
The Asus Memo Pad 8 is pretty in pink set to be easy on the pocket, even if it won't actually fit in your pocket.
BERLIN -- Take a memo: this is the Asus Memo Pad 8. It's an affordable 8-inch tablet that expands Asus' plan to make a slate in just about every shape and size.
The Memo Pad 8 was unveiled at technology trade show IFA in Berlin alongside the Memo Pad 10, which measures -- you guessed it -- 10 inches. Asus is yet to confirm release dates or prices, but judging by current Memo Pads, the 8-inch model will be good for your pocket -- even if it is a bit big to actually fit in your pocket.
Also known as the ME180A, the Memo Pad 8 follows up the 7-inch Memo Pad 7. That extra inch gives the new tablet an extra 30 percent extra screen real estate to give you more space for movies, games, Web browsing, and apps.
Hardware
The screen boasts 1,280x800-pixel resolution with in-plane switching. It's clear and bright enough, with plenty of space for apps and entertainment. The touch screen is fast and responsive.
The new tablet measures 127mm across and weighs 350g. It's certainly light and portable, even though an 8-inch slate is probably too big for even a generous jeans back pocket and stretching the limits of a purse or a jacket pocket. The glossy plastic back comes in white, gray, and a dandy hot pink. Under the screen is a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, supported by 1GB of RAM. The 3,950mAh battery claims to last 9 hours.
Camera
There's a 5-megapixel camera on the back that shoots 720p high-definition video, with a 1.2-megapixel front camera for video chat with your buds. The only storage option is 8GB, but with the opportunity to add a capacious SDXC memory card.
The Memo Pad runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, almost but not quite the latest version of Google's software for phones and tablets. It's based around home screens that you can fill with handy shortcuts to your favourite apps, as well as widgets that show you quick information like the weather or your new messages without having to open an app. Other handy features include a quick launcher for apps and quick access to the settings by swiping down from the top -- not to mention the thousands of apps available in the Google Play app store.