It's a success. A quad-core SoC, Android 4.42, a Full HD display, and all that for only 200 Euros (~260 USD). The 8-inch Acer Iconia Tab 8 tablet offers a lot of good hardware at a low cost. As our review shows, what looks good on paper looks good in practice too.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Iconia-Tab-8-A1-840FHD-Tablet-Review.126448.0.html
does it have a compass (magnetic sensor)?
No magnetic sensor according to sensor box
Stay away from this tablet. It has serious design flaws with its sound system and screen. These issues occur on all a1-840 tablets. The beginning of sounds through the speaker are cut off. Crackling can be heard through the headphones while the WiFi radio is turned on. And the screen flickers. Shame on reviewers for not noting these flaws.
the reviewers made a mistake, the HDMI port is the new MICRO HDMI... not the mini