Use

AC Ryan has put a pretty vanilla Android build on the device. You will not get a different interface like Sense on many HTC phones. While is is quite alright, maybe having some sort of media center interface would not have been a bad addition, considering that the Veolo is meant to be used as such as well.


Browsing the web is just as you would expect it from an Android unit. While it is a bit slower than on a real PC, you get flash support built right in. The Techpowerup.com website works well, as does the AC Ryan site - which is set as the homepage right out of the box.


Installed apps work quite well, as long as you are not required to have a touch screen. Apps which display virtual controls on the display will not work properly. Nonetheless, as you can see, Angry Birds looks just fine and runs like a charm.

Playback Performance

Since the Veolo does not have an internal hard drive, it is meant to stream all the files from the network or play them from an attached storage medium. Testing the device with various MKV based files from 20 to 90 mbps, along with various fullHD clips, the Veolo managed to playback everything without issue. In a normal scenario, the weak spot may well be the network itself, as you will need to have an excellent wireless connection to playback fullHD media for example.

Remote Control

Due to the unique input method, let us take a quick look at the remote. For those who have never used a Wii remote before - like me, it requires a bit of getting used to, but once you have the functionality down, the remote control is an incredible input method for a media player. No more clicking left and right, no more selecting single letters from an onscreen keyboard - with the included remote one can do everything in the palm of one's hands.

There are only two things which were a bit annoying: The function button on the keyboard permanently switches the input to the red symbols and letters, so you will have to hit it again to use the white letters. Cell phones use a similar functionality to place a second set of inputs on the keys, but it generally resets back to the main set after one button press. The second is the fact, that the mouse pointer needs to be "reactivated" every time you rotate the remote after using the full keyboard. Both of these factors are not a big deal, but would have gone a long way in reducing the learning curve when using the remote.

Behind the remote is a technology also known by the brand uWand, which is capable of 3D movements. This also includes pinch and zooming by moving the remote forward or backward. Unfortunately, the implementation of the technology in the Veolo does not offer this feature.

Apps

In terms of Apps, the included market place features a fairly large selection to choose from. Interestingly enough, many apps do not work or do not cater to the input method of the Veolos remote control. Instead many apps require a touch screen to function properly. Maybe with a larger user base, some developers will see the units as important enough to start programming apps specifically for the Veolo and remote.

AC Ryan has recently published a firmware update, which gives access to the genuine Android Marketplace. This means that you can download all the apps usually only available on cell phones. This also means, that you can download all the popular games and applications like Angry Birds. This makes the Veolo a fully fledged Android device. The only aspect that is still unclear are future updates and if AC Ryan will be offering such - especially with Androing 4.0 released recently.

Power Consumption

In terms of power draw, the AC Ryan Veolo manages to impress on every front, as it only draws a maximum of just above 8W during use. This number does not vary no matter what you do. In other words, the Veolo is about as effective as an LED lightbulb equivalent of 70W. With such a low power consumption, you can leave the device on 24/7 as there should be no noticeable rise in overall costs.