Cruz
Cruz Reader
TypeE-book reader and tablet computer
Operating systemAndroid 2.0, 2.2, 2.3, or 4.0
Website

Cruz is a line of Android-based e-book readers and tablet computers by Velocity Micro, a privately held computer manufacturer located in Richmond, Virginia that specializes in custom high-end computers.

History

Cruz debuted in 2010, when Velocity Micro announced the release of the Cruz Reader and Cruz Tablet. These devices are Android-based multimedia gadgets. Both devices feature 7" full color screens. The Cruz Reader utilizes a resistive touchscreen, whereas the Cruz Tablet makes use of the more advanced and responsive capacitive touch screen.

At CES 2011, Velocity Micro unveiled plans to release three new tablets, including 10" and 8" models, as well as another 7" tablet. The specific release dates and estimated retail prices are not currently available. It was reported that these new tablets, operating on Android 2.2 or Android 2.3, would feature dual cameras, Tegra processors, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, and Micro HDMI out.[1] Velocity Micro also announced plans to release in 2011 the Android-based Cruz Watch.[2]

Cruz Reader

The Cruz Reader is an Android 2.0-based e-book reader.[3] It has a 7-inch full color, 800 × 600 resolution resistive touchscreen. The Cruz Reader's pre-installed e-book reading app is the Borders Group e-book reader application. However, because Borders is now defunct, Velocity Micro has released a firmware update that changes the e-book reader application to Kobo Inc.'s. The only models are the R101, R102, and R103.

Cruz Tablet

Cruz Tablets represent Velocity Micro's higher-end Android-based devices. They all use a capacitive touchscreen. The original Cruz Tablet (model T103, 104, or 105) is a widescreen-format (16:9) device. A later version of the Cruz Tablet (model T301) was released in December 2010 with a 4:3 7" screen and Kindle for Android application pre-installed. In addition, the T408 and T410 have refurbished models available.

Models include:[4]

  • Cruz T100 series (Android 2.0, upgradable to Android 2.2)
    • T103
    • T104
    • T105
  • Cruz T301 (Android 2.0, upgradable to Android 2.2)[5]
  • Cruz PS37 (Android 2.3)
  • Cruz T400 series (Android 2.3)
    • Cruz T408
    • Cruz T410
  • Cruz T500 series (Android 4.0.3)[6]
    • Cruz T501 (not yet available)
    • Cruz T507 (not yet available)
    • Cruz T508
    • Cruz T510

The T100 and T301 tablets have a problem where the browser will crash when google.com or websites that use Google Analytics are accessed. Velocity Micro addresses this on its website as a Google JavaScript problem.[7] Attempts at addressing this issue through the velocitymicro.com support receive this response: "The update Google has implemented to their search engine isn't compatible to the T100 series hardware. The device is a legacy model."

Model comparison

R100 T100 T301 PS47 T400 series T500 series
Display 7" TFT LCD resistive 7" TFT capacitive 7"/8"/10" TFT multi-touch[8] capacitive[note 1] 7"/8"/10" LCD multi-touch capacitive[note 2]
Dimensions 7.56" × 5.62" × 0.58" 7.5" × 4.8" × 0.6" 7.5" × 5.6" × 0.6" 7.5" × 5.8" × 0.3" 8.5" × 6.5" × 0.4" (T408)
10.8" × 6.8" × 0.4" (T410)		 7.6" × 4.7" × 0.3" (T507)
7.9" × 6.1" × 0.4" (T508)
9.5" × 7.5" × 0.4" (T510)
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9 4:3 4:3 4:3 (T408)
16:9 (T410)		 16:9 (T501, T507)
4:3 (T508, T510)
Screen resolution 800 × 600 800 × 480 800 × 600 800 × 600 800 × 600 (T408)
1024 × 600 (T410)		 1024 × 600 (T507)
1024 × 768 (T508, T510)
Processor 600 MHz 800 MHz 1 GHz Cortex A8 1.2 GHz Cortex A8
Memory 256MB 512MB 256MB 512MB 1GB DDR3
OS Android 2.0 Android 2.0[note 3] Android 2.3 Android 4.0.3[6]
GPU Yes Yes Yes Yes SGX540 Dual Mali-400 2D/3D Core
Adobe Flash No No No Yes[note 4] Flash 10.3 Flash 11.1
Storage 256MB[note 5] 1GB 2GB 4GB 8GB
Wireless Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
External ports Mini USB, SD/SDHC, DC in, 3.5mm headphone jack Micro USB, microSD, 3.5mm headphone jack Micro USB, Mini HDMI out, microSD, DC-5V,[note 6] 3.5mm headphone jack
Camera No No No Front-facing Front-facing (T507)
Front and rear (T508, T510)[note 7]
Microphone[10] No No No No Yes Yes
Battery life[11] ≈10+ hours, 6 hours of video ≈10+ hours 6 hours of video ≈6.5 hours ≈7 hours 5+ hours

Notes

  1. ↑ The T301 and PS47 each have a screen diagonal of 7 inches. The T408 has a screen diagonal of 8 inches, while the T410 has a screen diagonal of 10 inches.
  2. ↑ The T501 and T507 each have a screen diagonal of 7 inches. The T508 and T510 have screen diagonals of 8 and 10 inches, respectively.
  3. ↑ The T100 series and the T301 are both upgradable to Android 2.2. Currently, all T301 tablets bought directly from Velocity Micro have the update pre-installed.[5]
  4. ↑ Flash is not pre-installed.[9]
  5. ↑ The Cruz Reader has an internal 2GB microSD card (Special-Edition) or 4GB microSD card (regular) as well.
  6. ↑ A DC-5V port exists for at least the T510.
  7. ↑ The T508's and T510's rear-facing cameras have 2.0 megapixels.

Retailers

Cruz devices were sold in several major consumer electronics retailers in the United States including Best Buy, Borders, Sears, QVC, and Amazon.[12]

The model T104 was sold by woot.com on 29 May 2012.

References

  1. ↑ Murph, Darren (5 January 2011). "Velocity Micro intros Cruz Tablet L37, P38 and L510 Android tablets at CES". Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Lai, Richard (11 January 2011). "Velocity Micro Cruz Watch hands-on preview". Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Cruz Reader specs". Archived from the original on 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
  4. ↑ "Cruz Tablets". Velocity Micro. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 CruzAdmin (20 April 2012). "Android 2.2 Now Available on Cruz T301". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 "What are the specs of the T500 series?". 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Why does my browser close every time it loads Google?". 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Cruz Tablet T301 User Guide" (PDF). p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Will Angry Birds, Flash, Fruit Slice, Netflix or Skype work on my Cruz device?". 20 June 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Does my Cruz have a built-in microphone?". 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Cruz Series Comparison"
  12. ↑ "Cruz Retail Page"


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