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Tablet FAQ

We've pulled together a selection of the most frequently asked questions about tablets, to help you find the answers you're looking for.

Q. What is a tablet?
A. A tablet is a touchscreen entertainment device that is intuitive and easy to use, with high speed internet access and high quality media playback.
Q. What size is a tablet?
A. Tablets are designed to be very portable and lightweight, most of them between 7-10" in size.
  • 7" tablets are small enough to pop into a suit pocket or handbag.
  • 8.9 - 10.1" tablets have slightly larger screens that let you see more detail in your movies and games.
  • 10.1 - 12" tablets offer full-on entertainment on the go and can be easily carried with you.
Q. What's inside a tablet?
A. Battery, Processor, SIM card, Logic Board, Flash Memory
Q. Can I charge my tablet by connecting it to my computer?
A. No, not with most tablets. This is because they are powerful devices that require a lot of voltage to recharge. Your tablet will come with a special charger that has a higher voltage than a standard wall plug. You should use this to charge your tablet.
Q. What operating system does a tablet have?
A. It depends on the tablet. The iPad runs Apple iOS, BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet runs BlackBerry Tablet OS, a specially developed platform based on powerful QNX technology. Many tablets are powered by Android™, a user-friendly Operating System with Google services from Google Maps™ to Gtalk™. Android™ gives you access to thousands of fun and useful apps, plus later versions of the OS fully support Adobe® Flash web content, so you can view full websites on the move.
Q. Which apps can I run on my tablet?
A. Because tablet screens are bigger than smartphone screens, apps need to be of a higher visual quality in order to display correctly. You can open some existing smartphone apps on selected tablets, but they may look blurry or pixelated. Why not look out for the HD versions of your favourite apps in your tablet's app store?
Q. Can I sync my email and contacts with a tablet?
A. Yes, you can add your email inboxes, instant messenger accounts and contact details to most tablets, then stay in touch on the go. Depending on the tablet, you will have access to push email services and be able to view attachments.
Q. Can I transfer files between my tablet and my phone or computer?
A. Most tablets will automatically sync with your smartphone and computer, wirelessly, over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This makes it easier to enjoy your favourite content across all of your devices. It's a great feature to look out for when choosing a tablet.
For further help & advice visit our tablet help & support pages