Motorola debuts Wi-Fi Xoom tablet with Android 3.1

The Android Honeycomb 3.1 home screen

Nearly two months after it announced the first Xoom tablet to the Australian market, Motorola has followed it up with the release of a Wi-Fi-only version running Android 3.1 ‘Honeycomb’.

The Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi will launch in Australia on July 1, 2011 and be available from JB Hi-Fi and other retailers for $689.

The first Xoom supports 3G and Wi-Fi, but shipped with the 3.0 release of Honeycomb.

The Xoom Wi-Fi shares much the same specs as its 3G counterpart with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, microSD card slot, front-facing (2MP) and rear-facing (5MP) cameras, HDMI-out and a 10.1-inch touch screen.

For peripheral connectivity there is a Bluetooth and USB.

The Android 3.1 update will be available to existing Xooms in July as a download over 3G, Wi-Fi or via the Motorola website. With the 3.1 update, Motorola will activate the microSD card slot on the Xoom, upping the storage capacity from 32GB built-in to a maximum of 64GB with a 32GB card.

New features of Android 3.1 include improved multi-tasking; resizable home screen widgets for Gmail, Calendar and Browser; simultaneous input for Bluetooth devices (like keyboard and mouse); support for most PC joysticks (USB or Bluetooth); and one touch picture transfer from a camera.

For more information about the 3.1 release, see the developer page on Android.com.

A new Wi-Fi lock allows apps to maintain Wi-Fi connections when the device screen is off.

Timo Brouwer, managing director of Motorola Mobility for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific said the Android 3.1 update provides users with an extensive range of innovative features that deliver even more ways to “stay productive while on the go”.

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