Tesco announces the Hudl 2

[Arthur]

The tablet will be available to buy from 9th October for £129 (or £65 with vouchers).

 

Source: Tesco (via MoDaCo)

 

When Tesco announced they were making an Android tablet, everyone assumed it'd be rubbish. After all, supermarket tablets usually were. Surprisingly though, it wasn't - the hudl got the low cost device formula just right, good where it needed to be, cost saving elsewhere, and it was a sales hit, shifting over 750,000 units. Today Tesco announced it's successor, the cleverly named hudl2!

 

What does the hudl2 have in common with it's predecessor? First up, a bargain price - the tablet will cost £129 when it launches on 9th October and will be included in Clubcard Boost, meaning it can be picked up for as little as £65 worth of Clubcard vouchers. Almost everything else about the tablet has been overhauled.

 

The hudl2 is bigger, the 7" screen grows to an 8.3" 1920x1080 full HD panel. The sound is better with Dolby optimised audio from 2 rear speakers. The Wi-Fi now supports the 5GHz band. The CPU is better - out goes the Rockchip processor, replaced with Intel Inside, probably in the form of the Atom Z3735D. RAM is bumped to 2GB. It's slimmer and more colourful, with 8 shades now offered. Finally, the new hudl2 is safer, with preloaded enhanced parental controls for up to 7 users - a big concern for the target market.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbVIMxgGE

 

Specs

• 8.3 inch 1920 x 1200 (Full HD) screen
  
• Intel Atom quad-core processor up to 1.83 GHz
  
• Android Kitkat 4.4.2 operating system
  
• Stereo speakers with Dolby optimised audio
  
• Super slim design
  
• 5MP rear facing camera and 1.2 MP front facing camera
  
• 16 GB storage which can be expanded to 48 GB
  
• 8 hour battery life
  
• Dual band Wi-Fi
  
• Available in 8 colours: Jazzy Blue, Zesty Orange, Slate Black, Rocket Red, Tropical Turquoise, Dreamy White, Perky Purple and Bubblegum Pink.
  
• Pre-loaded with Parental filter
  
• Access to over a million apps via Google Play
  

 

Edited October 3, 2014 by Arthur

[Norphy]

Hmm, Intel CPU. That's interesting. The first real mainstream tablet I've seen with one. How much is this likely to affect app compatibility? I know that most Android apps run on a java variant but there must be some native arm apps loaded as default too?

[Dos_Box]

Does it have GPS still? I use the Hudl one as a sat-nav and in-car entertainment device for music

My only gripe being is that keeping it charged via a car power socket is sometimes hit and miss the power hungry sod it is!

[Arthur]

Hmm, Intel CPU. That's interesting. The first real mainstream tablet I've seen with one.

Another x86 Android tablet to look out for next month is Dell's Venue 8 7000. It has amazing specs (8.4" 2k OLED screen) and a very cool party trick (the Lytro-style depth camera).

 

 

How much is this likely to affect app compatibility?

It shouldn't be an issue since this tablet is running the x86 version of Android and most apps are built with the Android SDK, rather than the NDK.

 

Back in 2012, Intel claimed that over 95% of Android apps would work on smartphones that used its x86 SoCs, so the figure is likely higher today.

 

I know that most Android apps run on a Java variant but there must be some native arm apps loaded as default too?

The Dalvik runtime automatically converts Java bytecode into native code at runtime so technically all apps should be native x86.

 

With Android L, Google are completely ditching Dalvik and switching to the brand new Android Runtime (a.k.a. ART). This should improve compatibility even further since apps are compiled on the device itself from uncompiled code.

 

Dalvik used JIT, or just-in-time compilation, meaning that an app was compiled every time it was run. ART switches to Ahead of Time (AOT) compilation, meaning that the app is compiled once. Traditionally, JIT takes longer to start up but can be more aggressively optimized because it has information about the device it is running on. AOT will start up faster, but it usually has less information about the hardware it's running on.

 

With ART, Google ships uncompiled code through the Play Store and compiles it at install time. ART uses AOT compiling, but it is compiled on the device, meaning it has much of the information JIT has about the hardware it is running on. This, combined with a modern, complete overhaul with a focus on speed, means that ART should be a lot faster than Dalvik. The only downside is longer install times and maybe a few incompatible apps from developers who didn't take advantage of the KitKat preview. (Source)

 

Does it have GPS still?

I think so. Other Atom Z3735D tablets do.

 

The following table shows what's different compared to your Hudl. Battery life is a little worse, but that shouldn't be a problem if you have it plugged into your car.

 

 

I wonder if it supports 128GB microSD cards if you reformat them from exFAT to FAT32?

Edited October 4, 2014 by Arthur

[Arthur]

Tesco's keyboard case for the Hudl 2 looks good.

 

[Dos_Box]

I see the reviews are coming in as very positive:

 

Son of Hudl: Tesco flogs new Atom-powered 8.3-inch Android tablet • The Register

 

Tesco Hudl 2 review: One of the best budget tablets you can buy - PC Advisor

 

I still can't find if it has GPS like the orginal Hudl though. This would be the big plus point for me.

[plexer]

Yes it does have GPS according to http://www.techienews.co.uk/9718527/tesco-hudl-2-tablet-set-october-3-launch/

 

Ben

[plexer]

@Dos_Box Just spoke to Tesco tech support and they've said yes it does have GPS.

 

Ben

[Dos_Box]

*starts to get itchy wallet*

 

I have the first Hudl and use it in the car as a GPS and entertainment system in which it excels, but it is a little laggy when it comes to general home use and the screen is a little small for home browsing etc.

The Hudl 2 looks like it would fit the bill nicely as a 'coffee table' tablet.

[IrritableTech]

I got two for Christmas presents on Thursday expecting stock issues - haven't had a chance to give them a go yet. We doubled up our vouchers and also got two cases which were included in the offer.

[Mr_Jiminy]

The Hudl 2 looks like it would fit the bill nicely as a 'coffee table' tablet.

 

Cablet doesn't quite have the same ring as phablet... Shame!

[Arthur]

Does it have GPS still?

My blue Hudl 2 has GPS.

 

[Dos_Box]

Cablet doesn't quite have the same ring as phablet... Shame!

 

I do think that it has now got to the point where the features, capability and price make it viable to have a tablet that you can simply leave lying around in the house for anyone to use 'my tablet' in much the same way we used to with TV guides. The smaller tablets that were formally at this price-point weren't, IMO, of a suitable screen size for this to be useful, but now I think so.

At least that's what I'll be telling Mrs Dos_Box when I get one.

[Johnathan]

You are right it looks very good.

 

But where can you purchase the case from and how much does it cost?

I have checked out Tesco.com and no keyboard case is listed for the hudl 2. Other sites have a variety of offerings but they don't look as promising as this case.

 

I had a hudl and now have a hudl 2. Compared to the first hudl the new hudl 2 is better able to cope with a weak wifi signal and has no problem with displaying uninterrupted video on your tv via the hdmi socket.

 

Johnathan

[Johnathan]

More information regarding the Tesco Hudl 2 keyboard case. I spoke to a Tesco employee sporting a hudl 2 tea shirt in the technical section of our local Tesco yesterday. He told me that the Hudl 2 keyboard case would be coming out "before Christmas, probably" (I note the probably), that it had a rechargeable keyboard and that it would sell for about £50. This sounds rather steep to me considering the Hudl 2 only costs £129. Perhaps the case will be a good quality leather one.

 

Think I will wait a bit longer before shelling out on one of the cheaper alternatives to see if Tesco's own offering sees the light of day.

 

Johnathan

[Johnathan]

The Tesco Hudl 2 Bluetooth keyboard case is now available on Tesco direct for £40.00 you can find the details at

 

Buy hudl2 Bluetooth Keyboard case from our Cases & Covers range - Tesco.com

 

I have one on order and will post a quick review once I get my hands on it.

 

Johnathan

[Arthur]

@Johnathan. It might be too late, but if you use the code TD-HFTP at the checkout you can get the Hudl2 Bluetooth keyboard case for £26.67 (or £29.67 with P&P).

[Johnathan]

Thanks for the info. I did not know about the code offer. However the keyboard will only cost me £10.00 in real money as I was able to double up on some Tesco vouchers to fund the remaining £30.00.

 

I should collect the keyboard today. I will post a review once I get it charged up and can give it a try out.

 

Kind regards

 

Johnathan

[Johnathan]

I am now the happy owner of one of Tesco's Blue Tooth keyboard cases for their hudl 2 android tablet. The keyboard case appears to be only available in black and is made of what Tesco describe as "soft PU". So no leather for your £40.00. But then if you have the Tesco vouchers available you can buy one for £20 worth of vouchers as they are offering a "double up" deal. Despite not being leather the case has a nice soft matt finish and appears durable enough.

 

The keyboard is about the same size as the hudl 2 with the area covered by keys being about 18.5 cm by 8cm. The keys are a reasonable size given the space available, but people with large finger tips may find the keyboard a little harder to type on. The keys have a positive action so with a little practice it is possible to use it for touch typing, though it is easier to accidentally duplicate a character during typing than it would be with a standard computer keyboard. I found the small size format lead me to overreach and hit the wrong key occasionally, but I am sure that this will improve with a little practice.

 

One of the better features of the keyboard and case is that they are specifically designed for the hudl2 and the UK market. So most of the keys contain the symbols where you would expect them to be. For example the £ sign is shifted 3. However to achieve the small keyboard footprint the character keys to the right of the "p", ":", and ">" have been lost. So characters like "{ }" "[ ]" "@" "#" etc. are available but located where you would not normally expect to find them. The keyboard also features a number of android keys, many accessed in combination with a "fn" button, offering actions to facilitate editing, play back of music / video, and access to the Home Screen, Search, Mail, Lock and Back actions.

 

The case extends just far enough beyond the edges of the hudl2 to provide adequate protection. When closed the case is about 2.2cm deep at its deepest point. So a hudl2 in this case provides a lot of functionality in a small convenient package. Being designed for the hudl2 the rear facing camera is not blocked, even when the case is closed. However the case will block the rear facing speakers unless the case is folded open into the typing position. Battery life is claimed to be around 90 hours of operation with the charge lasting around 4 weeks if the keyboard is left switched off. Connecting the keyboard to the hudl2 is covered in the supplied instruction sheet and is a simple matter of turning on the hudl2 and the keyboard and then going into the hudl2 settings to make the connection.

 

There are a couple of issues that concern me a little. The hudl2 is secured in the case by two "L" shaped brackets which grip the bottom left and right corners of the hudl2. They appear to do a good job of holding the tablet securely, even having a hole so that the microphone is not blocked. However there is also a bracket attached to the top half of the back of the case that clips over the hudl2 top edge. This clip will have to be clipped on the hudl2 every time you close the case and unclipped whenever you want to fold the case back for typing. I suspect that this may mark the hudl2's case after a while.

 

The second issue is the micro usb slot and supplied cable. No charger is supplied, but you can use the one that comes with the hudl2. However on the hudl2 the micro usb slot is positioned with the shorter edge facing downward, whilst the keyboard has the shorter edge facing upward. Both the keyboard cable and the hudl2 cables look like they should fit in either slot, but they only fit readily in the slot they were intended for. So you are going to need to keep both cables handy and be careful that you always select the correct cable for the device you are charging. Since both cables are black and look extremely similar mistakes could be easily made, which might lead to a damaged usb slot. It would have been better if the two usb slots where installed with the same orientation and with readily interchangeable cables.

 

Overall I am impressed with the keyboard and case. I am not sure I would have paid £40 for one, but given the opportunity to purchase one with doubled up Tesco vouchers I think the case is excellent value and will prove extremely useful.

 

I hope you find this review helpful.

 

Kind regards

 

Johnathan

[jinnantonnixx]

Is the Hudl2 still regarded as the best all-rounder in the £100ish area? I saw a couple of Acers which looked OK.

I'll probably end up getting the Hudl if nothing amazing pops up before Christmas. The only thing that bothers me is the battery life with the Intel chips. ARM have always been masters of low power consumption. @Johnathan, how do you find the battery life?

[Johnathan]

The only tablets I have owned are the original hudl and hudl2, so I can't compare it to other tablets on the market. My gut feel, as its been a while since I owned the original hudl is that the battery tends to run down a little quicker on the hudl 2. I also feel that the hudl2 battery takes longer to charge than my old hudl used to. However I tend not to use the hudl2 over extended periods of time, I read the papers over breakfast, log in off and on during the day and maybe watch something on bbc Iplayer before going to sleep. On the occasions when we have wanted to use the hudl2 to watch something on the full size TV, by connecting the hudl2 to the hdmi socket on the TV, then we have always plugged the hudl2 charger in. Incidentally this streaming to the TV has always worked faultlessly, unlike with the original hudl. I tend to charge the hudl2 up every other day. I should also add that I virtually never leave the hudl2 in sleep mode, instead I always power it fully off when I have finished using it.

 

When I was looking into the early reviews of the hudl2 I remember one reviewer commenting that they had used it to watch a trilogy of star wars movies during a cross atlantic flight. PC Pro quoted a battery life for the hudl2 of 6h 51m in a looping video test.

 

Now I have the keyboard it will be interesting to see how my usage pattern changes and how the battery responds.

 

I hope this is of some help to you :-)

 

Kind regards

 

Johnathan

[Arthur]

No more Hudl tablets!

 

www.engadget.com/2015/10/15/tesco-no-hudl3-tablet/

[Gatt]

Not overly surprised.. and wasn't over impressed with the Hudl2 - specifically around the fact that they didn't make any form of replacement parts for it..

We have one with a broken screen that is only partially usable now..

[Arthur]

I suppose the other reason is that Intel have stopped offering massive discounts on its Atom SoCs to tablet manufacturers.

 

www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/makers-of-tablets-eager-to-get-cheap-atom-bay-trail-while-discounts-last/

[Arthur]

It's official now.

 

www.engadget.com/2015/10/22/tesco-no-more-hudl/

 

"We have sold out of Hudl2 tablets and will no longer be selling it in our stores or online. We would like to assure customers that we will continue to provide technical support and help to all of our customers who have purchased a Hudl."