Don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t just a special edition of the original Xoom. This is a new tablet that comes loaded with a bunch of family apps.
The specs are similar to the original: Android 3.1, a 10.1-inch IPS screen, dual-core 1GHz CPU, 5MP camera and 16GB of storage. The casing is different this time around though. The tablet is decidedly downmarket wherein the original clearly aimed at the high-end of space. Motorola clearly learned a thing or two from its first tablet. This time around it’s all about the software and user experience.
The Xoom Family Edition is packed with $40 worth of apps. Kid Zone Zoodles locks down the tablet and allows your youngsters access to only the apps you deem acceptable — like the preloaded SimCity Deluxe and Asphalt 6. Then there’s Netflix, Quickoffice Pro HD, all the Google apps, several Amazon apps, Motorola’s app showcase portal called MotoPack.
I’m still not convinced that the Android tablet scene is large enough to support special editions. For the most part they’re still niche products and the flagship products are barely selling. Still, despite the name, this is more of a new tablet than a special edition of the original.
Best Buy is the exclusive retailer for the Xoom Family Edition where it’s hitting at $379. Look for it in stores on October 16th.
