When this advantage has eroded (and it's happening everyday), Apple is left with iOS. Is anyone seriously going to argue that iOS has more customization and productivity than windows? FFS, iOS doesn't even have a file manager.
Agree with you on this to a large extent. iOS needs to pick up on some fronts and give us more flexibility in terms of file managing, and customizing our own folders. If iOS can provide that freedom, I don't see it get completely eroding away, on the contrary, it might continue to perform. Restrictions like we can't choose which app, we want to open a particular file with, or files can only be loaded through to one app, and can't be viewed or accessed from another app, is simply not acceptable anymore.
Some of the concepts like the "new" task manager created by individual developers, show there is still amazing potential in the iOS. Let's see how things start to pan out from the iOS 7. I am one of those people who don't want a full blow computer on the tablet, but simple things like what I mentioned above is mandatory. I don't want my iPad to be
JUST a
media consumption device...its more than that.
With hardware improvements in the tablet space, very few would pick iOS. Picture a windows tablet in the current iPad footprint, same 10-12hr battery life, with a full fledged OS, awesome screen, complete with USB ports and such.
The iPhone was released in 2007. Android has crushed it in worldwide marketshare.
The iPad was released in 2010. You really think Android won't crush it by 2016?
Android's large market share is typical because of the range of devices & companies that endorse the Android OS. iPhone reinvented the need & desire for smart phones and has nearly single handed controlled the market, nearly beating out many key players from the market including Nokia, Blackberry, LG, etc.
Yes, Apple needs to embrace and implement some changes. But a full overhaul is unnecessary, as simple changes, will breathe new life into it.
Of course this is all off the table if Apple can innovate. Innovation drives margins, which is all that matters. Innovation gives a temporary headstart, upon which a company can capitalize and try to prevent others from competing. I just don't see it happening at the current pace of things.
Sometimes innovation isn't the only driving force. As seen before, small things can go a long way. Just watch if a new task manager, and a more improved, less restrictive file management system makes it debut in the iOS 7, its going to pull up its market share to where it should rightly belong.
Ports make the device thicker and heavier. All other things equal, an ipad should always be thinner and lighter than an equivalent device with ports. I would personally prefer to carry around an adaptor or 2 for the occasional time I need to connect it to a display, then contend with a bulkier device everyday. Airplay exists for a reason. Android is still a power-guzzler, which manufacturers are able to circumvent in the meantime because larger phones allow for larger batteries.
totally agree with you. An occasional use of adapter should easily solve the problem, although I would like to have a USB port on the iPad. it wont make the device thicker at all.
Has it occurred to you that that certain "productive tasks", you don't really need a full-blown OS or even a file manager? Or that people might actually prefer the ipad exactly because they don't have to contend with managing files or the pitfalls of a full OS?
Like I said above, we don't need a full blown OS. But a file manger that doesn't allow you to open your own files in your own choice of Apps, or require you to separately load up each file INTO each app is not really a good file manager. Shed of some of those restrictions, and its enough. Give us at least that much freedom. FileApp is a key example, they can take a few cues from that itself, and they should be up and running in no time.