Last week, I wrote about streaming media, an entertainment option that's been taking off the past two years and is garnering a lot of questions. It fit in perfectly with the product I've been testing, which is designed to take advantage of streaming media.
One of the problems with streaming media is being able to access it on the go. Many services have apps for Apple or Android smartphones, but you end up having to watch movies or TV shows on tiny screens. Televisions can use receivers such as the AppleTV or Roku players, but you may not want to take those everywhere or may not have a compatible television available.
Samsung is attempting to solve these problems with the Galaxy View, a giant tablet computer that offers 18.4 inches of HD-quality screen, 2GB of memory and 64GB of storage space -- at least, those were the specs on the model I tested. It also offers quick access to streaming media services.
I'm going to start with the design. In short, I love it.
The basis of the View essentially is one giant tablet computer. The clever addition is what looks like a big clip on the back. In fact, it's a kickstand. Flip it up, and it holds the tablet upright so it can be viewed like a television. Flip it down, and it allows the tablet to lay horizontally but with a slight elevation, making it a lot easier to type and work with the touchscreen. The kickstand even has a hole cut out at the top that serves as a handle, making it a lot easier to carry the View from one room to the other. Magnets embedded in the plastic keep the kickstand in place. The screen even has little feet on the bottom to help it stand up.
My only concern is that the kickstand is made of plastic, and I could see it breaking fairly easily if the View ever fell onto a solid surface. That said, it's held up fairly well so far. It still leaves me a bit concerned.
The tablet part works like a tablet, so it can connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi or a 4G LTE signal.
The real key to the view is the quick interface with streaming media apps and services. The View is set up so that swiping from left to right brings up a screen of tiles with various streaming services on it, so you have quick access to whatever service you use. At least, that's how it's supposed to work.
Unfortunately, the model I tested only gave me the option of streaming DirecTV. That wasn't too surprising, given how AT&T and DirecTV teamed up last year. But I do wish I had the regular screen, which provided quick access to other streaming media services, such as Hulu, Netflix and M-Go.
The work-around to this was easy, though it took some time. I was able to download the Android apps for these services and access them that way. It didn't take much time at all to watch a movie on Netflix or a TV show on SlingTV.
That is one of the great advantages of this product. Because it is a tablet, it can run Android apps like a smartphone. So streaming media services, games, even books are right at your fingertips on this device.
I must admit, one of the things that really surprised me most about the View was the battery life. Even running streaming video, the battery drained very slowly. The website brags that the View has up to eight hours of battery life, even when streaming media over the Internet. It did quite well in this area and came close to the 8 hours before I had to plug it in again.
The View is a bit big to take around just anywhere, but it isn't a bad option for a vacation where you need an extra television for yourself or the kids. The only deterrent may be the price. The tablet retails for $599, though AT&T offers it with a two-year contract for $499, or for $30 a month for 20 months. The question is whether the convenience of having several devices in one is worth the price tag.
For those willing to take the price plunge, the Galaxy View does have a lot to offer. The large, sharp, 18.9-inch screen means it can double as a television, and the instant access to streaming media services means it can serve as a full entertainment system on the go.
Products like this demonstrate that watching television isn't what it used to be. It will be interesting to see where the industry goes from here.
SundayMonday Business on 01/11/2016
Source: Galaxy View tablet a top-notch media streamer
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