Friday, 31 January 2014

Megafeis continued

Megafeis M709
http://store.megafeis.com/tablet-pc/megafeis-m709-3d-tablet-pc.html

Far as I can tell, the following 7 " glasses free tablets are the same as the WiFi Megafeis I have here. I conclude this having examined the very similar hardware specs and that they seem to share the same silver earpiece at the front (if the images can be trusted). Note that some distributors (such as Marvel Digital) also offer a version with an additional internal sim slot for 3G voice and data. Otherwise its the same tablet as the WiFi only unit.

Potsworld M08
http://dx.com/p/portworld-m08-7-dual-core-android4-2-3d-display-3g-tablet-pc-w-1gb-ram-8gb-rom-tf-otg-white-244665#.Ut_AlnqwrqA

Kings ASIN:B00H1X9NI4
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00H1X9NI4/ref=mw_dp_mpd?pd=1

Marvel Digital T3D07-AD01
http://www.marveldigital.com/glasses-free-3d-tablet/

An Allwinner A20, a dual core Coretex A7 at 1.2GHz, 1GB DDR3 SDRAM memory and a Mali-400 MP graphics chip. This means very little to me. All I really care about is the resulting functionality. Ideally it would be using part of the graphics chip for more energy efficient hardware video decoding rather than a battery draining software codec with just the main processor. So how well can it playback 1080p SBS half width 3D video files without dropped frames. Fortunately with the included 3DV Player, it manages just fine. The reference file is downloaded from YouTube via TubeMate. A 1080p SBS half width 3D video in MP4 format at MB lasting 1min so MB/S. How about playback of 3D video that you may have recorded yourself? Can it playback W3's uniquely formatted 3D video recordings. Note that if it can't, this counts as only a minor fault since to date, neither can any other 3D screened tablet.
How about the more standard video formats output when recording from a Panasonic 3D1, a Sony Bloggie 3D, both at 1080p SBS half width MP4. And how  about 3D video from a sharp SH12-c, an LG Thrill, AKA the Optimus 3D phones, and the HTC Evo 3D all at 720p SBS half width MP4.
Need a table to show the fps, bitrate, file format and resolutions.

The 5 point capacitive touchscreen was proven to work with the pre-installed Fruit Ninja.
The screen, In 2D mode there is nothing to tell it apart from any other "normal" 2D tablet. It looks fine to me. Visibility, colors, contrast and brightness are quite consistent when I tilt the screen at a wide range of angles. One tell tail sign that this is a glasses free screen is the noticeable 2mm or so air space between the glass front and the surface LCD display itself. I personally like that many modern 2D smartphone displays glue the LCD, the touch panel layer and glass front into a single combined unit. However this tablet's screen is not built like that. To be fair, it is of a similar construction to all the other switchable parallax barrier screens I have encountered so far (including the Truly and Marvel Digital 10" 1920x1200 3D tablets). Perhaps such an assembly is required for current switchable parallax barriers to work their 3D magic... Who knows? Let me have your insights if you have any.

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Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Megafeis M709 7" glasses free 3D screen tablet M709 8G review

Started 29th Jan 2014

This post is a work in progress and will be updated often...

Specs highlights:
7" 1280x800 switchable parallax barrier screen
334g (weighed by my own digital scales, the Magafeis site incorrectly indicated 309g)
3000mah internal battery
WiFi b,g and n flavours (n works fine in my house)
Android 4.2.2
8G internal memory (16G option available)
Empty MicroSD slot (works fine with my 32G class 10)
Micro USB socket for data transfer with a PC, support for OTG (tested fine with USB card reader) and charging (tested fine)
Mini HDMI out socket (Magafeis site does not mention this port!)
Headphone socket 3.5mm
Dedicated 2.5mm DC charging socket for the supplied 2 pin wall charger 100-240v 50-60Hz 5v at 2A (works fine)
Bluetooth 3
0.3 mp front camera and a 2.0 mp rear facing camera (both work but are not neither are great performers)
Physical buttons for power and volume up / down

Interesting to me mostly for it NOT merely being an 8" Gadmei 3D direct re-brand. Something "newer" perhaps? With more up to date hardware?
Purchased this device without really knowing anything about it as there were zero related product reviews to be found on the web at the time. All I could find were some very similar 7" glasses free 3D tablets with different branding. However, I was willing to take a leap of faith, given they offered me a no questions asked return policy within a month. Additional was the 12 month guarantee... which is certainly comforting, even if I would need to pay for the return shipping out of my own pocket. They told me in advance they ship from Shenzhen, mainland China, which isn't too far from Honkers, so would not cost me an arm and a leg to return it if need be. Note I am not at all sponsored by Megafeis for this review... I am a 1st time buyer at their site. Ordering direct from the Megafeis on-line store pagewas remarkably quick and easy, it arrived by courier to my door in a little less than a week. Just in time before the Lunar New Year holidays.
Considering the original price of 199.95USD, I'd caught it on discount and paid a much more reasonable 150USD via PayPal with their worldwide free shipping option. To put this in perspective... A Gadmei 8" e8-3D tablet at the same resolution costs 236USD with standard shipping. So the M709 presents itself as a bit of a bargain right?

Packaging
The tablet travelled well protected in a cardboard carton with foam sheets and further corrugated packing inside.
Within was nestled a sturdy, if generic white box with large Megafeis logo printings and fresh sticker on one side with text indicating the contents which were:
1 x tablet
1 x travel wall socket tablet charger (not USB type)
1 x micro USB to full size USB data cable
1 user manual

Physical build, fit and finish:
Fairly well put together. Not too creaky. No sharp edges. No gaps in the seams between the outer case and the outer bezzel rim and the glass front. I've held much worse tablets in hand. Nothing to write home about it's design looks. Not the ugliest tablet I've set eyes on either. Feels noticeably lighter in a good way vs the Gadmei 8" 3D tablet, but the screen is smaller by an inch and the battery is smaller too. As per most tablets, there's no screws in the casing so I've no idea how to open one of these up to replace the battery myself should I ever need to.

Glass fronted with a black bezel
Small strip of metalic grill for a front "earpiece". There is a small front facing microphone hole in the glass and the bezel rim too. Placement appropriate for the sibling model that has a sim slot and built-in 3G radio so it can double as an oversized cleverphone for making voice calls and data. Just hold the tablet to your face to talk. I have confirmed, the front earpiece on my WiFi only model is not enabled for voice only WiFi Skype type calls... Tested at the same time, plugging in an iPhone wired headset with in-line mic, it was only able to relay the sound to the ear buds but Skype still used the tablet's own built-in mic. Results are similar for the included dedicated sound recording app.
White plastic back with semi-gloss pearl finish (not rubberised)
Perforations on the back at one corner for the speaker
Rear web camoffset on one corner
All ports and buttons are clearly labeled with unambiguous black text/icons
Black plastic power and volume +- buttons on the side near one corner

Out of the box:
A fully charged tablet!
The Android 4.2.2 OS was in Chinese language by default but I managed to switch to English within a few minutes.
WiFi was hooked upwithin a couple more minutes.
Had Google Play Store app pre-installed! (Despite their website stating otherwise)
3 x pre-installed apps focussing on 3D
3DP View, a 3D photo viewer
3DV Player, a 3D video player
3D Games Converter

Note that the image of the wall socket charger is taken by the M709's 2mp rear facing camera in daytime indoors.
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