Nexus 7 screen is it really portrait only?

1cat2fish

I am looking to buy a tablet for xmas gift. I was going to buy a Nexus 7 32gb however after doing some research I have seen reviews that say that apart from gaming and watching movies everything else is viewed in portrait mode, is this correct? And is there a way to get round it. Many thanks.

isabel.h

portrait or landscape .. from the top of the screen there is a drop down menu and on that there is a symbol looks like a mobile phone just touch that and portrait or landscape is activated and will change on rotation

macman

It doesn't automatically rotate as you turn it.

isabel.h

Oh yes it does

macman

Do you have one?
In that case please contact Computer Shopper, as their review is wrong!
It say that the Home screen works only in portrait mode. but it can be unlocked to be used landscape in other modes. 'We'd prefer a rotating home screen'.

isabel.h

on the update to the operating system about 2 months ago the home screen now rotataes portrait and landscape. further update this weekend to jellybean 4.2 and i am now sitting loking at my own nexus double checking while typing this reply.

macman

Thanks, that edition of CS can only have gone to press a couple of weeks ago. Their review version was running Jelly Bean 4.1.

1cat2fish

Thank you very much, that is really helpful. Defo getting the Nexus, I'm off shopping now.

isabel.h

just remember mine did not rotate when getting out of the box until the update so make sure to allow the operating update to the system afetr connecting to the internet

PeterJohnson

Second that

Bought one two weeks ago. It definitely rotates automatically

almillar

It launched without the ability to rotate, Google wanted it to be a portrait device. People didn't like it, it was complained about in the press as macman has seen, and a software update allowed the home screen to rotate. This was a small update during 4.1 and before 4.2. Those launch reviews are now out of date.