To recap the previous parts of the review click here.

The Z tablet has been a learning experience and a joy of discovery. It’s strengths are its exception audio quality through headphones, it’s media abilities, the FM Radio. I must stress the radio. Until you listen to the Z I doubt you would have ever heard anything so mind blowingly good. The same applies to the Walkman app.

It’s profile. It’s very slim, light (extended periods of use don’t matter due to being so slight) , waterproof too. This adds to its durability. For the first time if I want to take a photo outside and it’s raining I have nothing to worry about. Also the camera is very good with loads of options too.

Access to PlayStation One games which work with the PS3 controller out of the box. Also I have been using the Moga Pro Controller which makes gaming a joy. The 10.1 inch screen is like having a tv with you. The iPad Mini looks so squashed and blurry. It’s not blurry but it just doesn’t compete with the Z.

Battery life is all day. The infra red remote control.

The memory is expandable for media up to 64gb. NFC.

Seriously this Z is one serious bit of kit. I love it. If I didn’t have so many games on ios, about 600, I would have sold the iPad by now.

And Sony have really worked hard to make the user experience perfect and with other devices you can create a superb eco system.

So do I recommend it. One word. Yes.

For the earlier review posts click here.

In this part I am going to look at some of the software included by Sony.

Socialite – this is a social and news gathering service and if you use it before the end of June you can import Google reader feeds. Looks good but lacks the full sharing options for some bizarre reasons.

Alarm Clock – an app to manage your alarms, with a world clock, stopwatch and timer. In the world clock screen you can press the time zone icon and it displays the countries setup as a light to dark shade giving you a pictorial representation if it is night or day.

Backup – this app allows you to back your device to the SD card or USB storage. You can select whatever data you require from the system Apps data, media , and the downloaded apps and it’s data. I haven’t tested this yet but it does look really good.

Calculator – its a calculator

Calendar – Sony’s calendar app is very good. Views are month, week, day and agenda. The month view also displays in the right an agenda view of the days events. Each day of the month has the text of the event. The week view has the days of the week laid out with the text and on the right a small calendar of the month. The day view is the same as the month but just that day and a small view of the calendar on the right. The agenda view is a list, but with the page split in two. List of events in left and detail of highlighted event on right.

Camera – modes for resolution, self timer ,smile shutter, quick launch, geotagging, auto upload, touch capture, shutter sound, data storage, superior auto, normal, video capture, burst (3 speed options), picture effect (9 to choose from), sweep panorama, scene selection (soft snap, landscape, night ,beach, snow, sports, party), front video, HDR, iso, white balance, entering, image stabiliser, exposure value, focus mode. All in all a very comprehensive list of options and being waterproof you can photograph in the rain.

Email – if you don’t use gmail, Sony has its own email app.

Downloads – displays what you have downloaded.

File Transfer – allows you to move the fire from internal to micro SD card. Or USB storage. Hidden files can be shown too. Plenty of options too.

FM Radio – the coolest FM radio app I’ve seen with great sound. Displays station name and have cool visualisations in the background. Also has track ID built in. You can play in the speaker and force mono. You can also change region between default, Japan, Italy and Thailand. Ideal for travellers. I must emphasise the fm radio quality is exception with great separation and more. Stunning!

PlayStation Mobile – play PlayStation 1 games bought from Sony’s store. Most of the games work very well with the PS3 dual shock controller.

Movie Studio – for editing your movies.

Music & Video Unlimited – access to Sony’s stores for music and video.

Notes – a note app that syncs with Evernote .

Mobisystems Office suite viewers. You can upgrade for £15 for full editing.

Play Memories online – Sony’s photo storage offering

Remote – universal remote control app that uses the Sony infra red blaster. Also has macro modes. Great app.

Sony Select – Sony’s app and game recommendation. Worth looking at as some good free apps exclusive for Xperia devices.

TV Sideview – WiFi remote plus programme guide and details

Update Centre – a single app to handle every type of updates from the firmware to apps. Also shown in the settings.

WiFi Checker – does exactly what is says. Ideal if you are having problems .

Walkman – the Sony music app. And its great. Select by tracks, albums, artists, playlists (create your own or use the smart ones) , mood selection, music unlimited, friends Facebook music and a favourites playlist. Music info can be pulled in from Gracenote. Superb sound and equaliser options. But I’ll stress and the stunning sound.

There are many other apps plus the Google standard apps. The only browser installed is Chrome.

Below are a selection of screen shots.

Above is a screen shot from the Socialife app. Below is from the remote app.

Above is the PlayStation Mobile app and below the FM Radio app.

Next up is Track ID and Office suite.


Below screen shots from the Walkman app.


Next up the Backup app and Calculator app.

And now the Alarm Clock app.

Tomorrow I will summarise my final thoughts on this tablet.

To read the previous parts of the review click here.

I took a break from reviewing the tablet at the weekend, not because I wanted a break but because I had to exchange my Z tablet for a new one due to damage to one of the flaps. I must comment the Plymouth Sony Centre for their excellent handling of this problem. The experience was equal to the Apple store and that is saying something.

Anyway, over the weekend I had to reinstall all my apps and start to setup all my services and logins. Bizarrely, this was actually a really good tthing as I discovered a couple of things I previously missed.

First up, I am now using the default keyboard, which is in my opinion the best keyboard I have ever used. To get it into this position I went into the keyboard settings and asked it to auto correct my spelling mistakes, to add symbols to the keys and allow swiping. I also opted to include Google Voice symbol and a smiley key.

Previously, auto correct only adjusted capitalisation and the keys didn’t have symbols on them, no smiley and Google key either. The difference for me with these adjustments is superb. I am super quick across the keyboard. Apple iPad users I feel for you 😉

The other nifty feature I discovered was with the default Sony launcher. The launcher allows for 5 home screens, all of which can be completely different, including the dock icons. So one page could be a business setup, with the respective widgets, apps and sshortcuts. Another for music and entertainment etc.

The other aspect of this tablet I like is its waterproof nature. In the UK it rains a lot. How many of you would feel comfortable using your phone in the rain or tablet? Well now if it is raining I can use my Z tablet and continue taking great photos with its 8mp camera. It is the little things like this that make a big difference.

I am also loving the lightweight feel and glorious 10.1″ screen.

One last setting I found was in the music sound settings. It has an option to level out the volume between different songs. So, right now as I type this, I am using the tablet to llisten to my music, in shuffle mode. With the option switched on, listening to piano or heavy metal makes no difference to volume level. All songs play at the same volume level. Neat!

Tomorrow I will look at more aspects of this Z tablet. All I can say so far is that Sony have created a real gem.