BlackBerry PlayBook Coming April 19th at $499, Samsung Intros 8.9" and 10.1" Galaxy T

[JAT]

Actually if you look at Xoom and Samsung 10.1 are both 16:10 ratio ... perfect for movies ... the iPAD is 4x3 old TV ratio ... creates the need for filler top/side bars... I think that is called letterboxing ... CRS?

If you want to watch movies, there is no perfect ratio. Movies have been made in too many ratios. And none of them are 16:10. There's only one good answer to avoid any sort of letterboxing, and it doesn't fit in a tablet, not even close.

I'd worry about some other spec when shopping for a tablet.

LG and others had semi-smartphones with 3.5" screens back in 2006 and early 2007

Know anybody still using one?

 

[Gatesbasher]

If you want to watch movies, there is no perfect ratio. Movies have been made in too many ratios. And none of them are 16:10. There's only one good answer to avoid any sort of letterboxing, and it doesn't fit in a tablet, not even close.

I'd worry about some other spec when shopping for a tablet.

I worry more about how much interpolation has to be done and what percentage of the original pixel values have to be thrown out.

Actually, the iPhone Retina Display is the best in that regard—you could watch HD movies at 960 x 540, just throwing out every other pixel in both directions. I think "Half HD" used to be sort of a standard thing, at least for projectors, and that's what that $2500, 11" OLED TV was, IIRC.

Edit: I remember how God-awful those 768-line "HDTVs" they were trying to sell a few years ago were. 1920 x 1080 actual physical pixels was a prerequisite for me, so you can see I was a "late adopter". Probably will be for tablets, too.

 

[dba7dba]

Yes 2 tenths of a millimeter thinner and 6 - 12 grams of weight difference... I'm sure the "apple apologists" are losing a lot of sleep over that one

But but Steve can't say ipad2 is thinnest and lightest and best and magical anymore...

 

[JAT]

Edit: I remember how God-awful those 768-line "HDTVs" they were trying to sell a few years ago were. 1920 x 1080 actual physical pixels was a prerequisite for me, so you can see I was a "late adopter". Probably will be for tablets, too.

Used to? Most "720 class" LCDs are still 1366x768 actual these days. You probably have to drill a little deeper into the marketing to find that. Unless you mean the 1024x768 plasmas, that sucked.

Half-HD was briefly around, when 1080 panels for LCDs and DLPs were prohibitively expensive, and there was hardly any content, anyway. Certainly no 1080p content. Oh, and a few CRTs were made like that to simplify the processing. Orig CRTs were all 480p/1080i dual-resolution-capable, but 540p/1080i makes a lot more sense in design terms.

 

[dba7dba]

I know about Samsung & the company's size. Yes, Samsung does manufacture parts for Apple; the parts they manufacture are according to Apple's R&D specifications & are designed by/for Apple only. Apple holds the license for specific parts (ie. the A5/A4 chip designs). Therefore even though Samsung manufactures the parts, they cannot put these parts in other hardware unless deemed so by Apple. Apple pays Samsung a fee to utilize their production facilities, which is a profit for Samsung. This profit is small compared to the margin of parts/production to MSRP that Apple reaps on each iPad. Apple controls hardware development, OS development, & UI development by keeping everything in house. Samsung utilizes a third party OS, & third party processor technology. I don't feel their user experience is as good as it could be. Samsung ultimately controls the manufacturing of the Tab but they leave money on the table as opposed to Apple's business model.

So you haven't heard of Orion dual-core ARM Cortex A9 I assume?

 

[mullman]

This is just a preview of the future, Android based tablets will clean the iPads clock. Apple made the so-called iPad 2 as a 1.5. Low res camera, not enough RAM, and low res screen. It's going to be a verrrry long 2012 for Apple. Sure it's selling like hot cakes now, but when buyers see tablets that they don't have to stand inline for, that have better equipment and are cheaper ... Apples house of cards will come crashing down around them.

The only strength that Apple has is the app ecosystem; which is why they are going after Amazon for spiting on the sidewalk. They know the world of hurt coming their way.

I'm saving this post...

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I think anyone programming above assembly language and/or on a device with more than about 16K of memory, gets lazy



Where does Apple's horrible iTunes for Windows fit into this myth?

LOL, they must be getting lazy as well...

Maybe it's Microsoft making it run horribly so users ditch it for MediaPlayer and the Zune. Ever heard of Lotus 1-2-3 performance going down and crashing every time M$ updated DOS and the Windows?
It was well known that M$ was doing it on purpose to make them look bad.

 

[LagunaSol]

Where does Apple's horrible iTunes for Windows fit into this myth?

It proves that Apple aren't great Windows software developers.

Of course, Microsoft aren't either.

 

[ConceptVBS]

Samsung can say all they want about their products. There are the following glaring issues:

1. Has anyone realize how much less Samsung's profit margins will be on the Galaxy Tab versus the iPad2? (ie. Apple retains a high profitability based on inhouse product development rather than contracting to third parties like other hardware developers)

2. Given what I perceive to be an extremely small profit margin, I find it difficult from an investor standpoint to endorse Samsung's business model.

3. It is next to impossible from a longterm business perspective that Samsung can price match Apple in this respect. It's an unsustainable business practice.

Are you suggesting that Samsung outsources its development to OEM partners? Are you kidding? Samsung does everything including development AND production in-house.

Apple on the other hand only does development and outsources production to third party OEMs.

Mobile phones isnt the only business Samsung is in. If you are somewhat of a knowledgeable so called "investor" you would've known this fact by now. Apparently you dont. Samsung earns the majority of its profits from its chip business. They are in the CE business for mainly name recognition. Yes, profit is still emphasized in CE area but not as much as its chip business.

Profit margins? When Apple gave Samsung $8.9 billion in contract for steady supply of components, it already got its share of profits.

The big picture: Successful Apple = Successful Samsung. They go hand in hand, whether you like it or not. So from an investor perspective, why isnt an investment in Samsung good again?

I know about Samsung & the company's size. Yes, Samsung does manufacture parts for Apple; the parts they manufacture are according to Apple's R&D specifications & are designed by/for Apple only. Apple holds the license for specific parts (ie. the A5/A4 chip designs). Therefore even though Samsung manufactures the parts, they cannot put these parts in other hardware unless deemed so by Apple. Apple pays Samsung a fee to utilize their production facilities, which is a profit for Samsung. This profit is small compared to the margin of parts/production to MSRP that Apple reaps on each iPad. Apple controls hardware development, OS development, & UI development by keeping everything in house. Samsung utilizes a third party OS, & third party processor technology. I don't feel their user experience is as good as it could be. Samsung ultimately controls the manufacturing of the Tab but they leave money on the table as opposed to Apple's business model.

You know that the A5 is based off of a "third party processor technology" no? ARM Cortex A9. So it isnt entirely Apple design. They only design the SURROUNDING accessory components to the SOC.

The same thing happens over at the Samsung camp, except they actually manufacturer the thing.

Also a little FYI, Samsung and Apple have a mutual patent trade where they dip into each others patent portfolio. Ever notice why Apple never sues Samsung?
Samsung had the 2nd largest patent portfolio after IBM in 2010 according to the US patent office. Apple was far behind.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Palm was founded by Apple employees who worked on the Newton.

Not exactly true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm,_Inc.

They worked on the first Palm device at the same time the Newton came to market, but they didn't work on the Newton, then leave to go found Palm at all.

History revisionist ahoy!

Please name us one single phone that the original iPhone is a direct copy of....

You missed my post from 6 pages back, but the truth is, there were many devices that did what the iPhone does and doesn't do now. One of the last PDAs released by Palm was the Palm TX which was essentially a 4" widescreen PDA with no phone features, but all the technology and more of the first iPhone.

Apple did two things: 1.) beat Palm to market with a device that combined the best of the iPod, PDA, and phone. 2.) (the greatest of all) developed an OS to control all of that tech in one shell.

That's all. The form, design, concept, touchscreen etc. were already in existence in many devices that did many things. Even the form factor existed for phones before the iPhone:

Circa 2005

iOS doesn't suck in terms of true multitasking because it doesn't use "true" multitasking. iOS excels at using a form of multitasking that is appropriate for the hardware it is running on.

Well, let's leave the marketing hype out of it. If an underpowered Palm Pre running at 867MHz can do true multitasking what's stopping the iPhone from doing it?

We could explain it away like Microsoft does with it's issues, or we can just cut to the facts: Apple doesn't program it that way because the OS can't handle it.

Hardware is hardware, all Apple users should know that the software is the key when it comes down to usability. There's no multitasking in OS because the OS wasn't built for it from the start, and it'll take a some serious changes to get it to do so.

 

[BaldiMac]

You missed my post from 6 pages back, but the truth is, there were many devices that did what the iPhone does and doesn't do now. One of the last PDAs released by Palm was the Palm TX which was essentially a 4" widescreen PDA with no phone features, but all the technology and more of the first iPhone.

Apple did two things: 1.) beat Palm to market with a device that combined the best of the iPod, PDA, and phone. 2.) (the greatest of all) developed an OS to control all of that tech in one shell.

That's all. The form, design, concept, touchscreen etc. were already in existence in many devices that did many things. Even the form factor existed for phones before the iPhone:

That's pretty funny. That's all Apple did was develop the OS. Like that's some sort of throwaway part to the equation. Revisionist history indeed. All inventions are based on things that already exist.

Well, let's leave the marketing hype out of it. If an underpowered Palm Pre running at 867MHz can do true multitasking what's stopping the iPhone from doing it?

Apple's decision to prioritize the benefits of limited multitasking over the benefits to more extensive multitasking.

We could explain it away like Microsoft does with it's issues, or we can just cut to the facts: Apple doesn't program it that way because the OS can't handle it.

What can't it handle?

Hardware is hardware, all Apple users should know that the software is the key when it comes down to usability. There's no multitasking in OS because the OS wasn't built for it from the start, and it'll take a some serious changes to get it to do so.

No multitasking? What year is this? Maybe you should define what you mean by multitasking. Otherwise this makes no sense.

 

[KnightWRX]

But but Steve can't say ipad2 is thinnest and lightest and best and magical anymore...

Sure he can. He'll just say "We're the thinnest and lightest and best and magical.... to ship in volume".

 

[Digital Skunk]

That's pretty funny. That's all Apple did was develop the OS. Like that's some sort of throwaway part to the equation. Revisionist history indeed. All inventions are based on things that already exist.

Yes, that's all they did. Not revisionism, truth, which you did not refute because it's the truth.

As you've said, all progress is made on what was done before, so Apple was only revolutionary in terms of the OS for the iPhone, not the features.

Where you trying to say something else other than what I already said?

Apple's decision to prioritize the benefits of limited multitasking over the benefits to more extensive multitasking.

Correct!

What can't it handle?

What I guess is full on multitasking or at least the form that Palm is using. Apple's is middle of the line, with Android at the bottom, but for all it's worth the Palm Pre was an ideal form of multitasking regardless even on a phone that was no where near as powerful as the iPhone or any HTC.

No multitasking? What year is this? Maybe you should define what you mean by multitasking. Otherwise this makes no sense.

Well. . . . it does for just about everyone. It's not exactly hard to grasp a device that can run a task or tasks in the background while a user starts another one.

Then have said user switch back and forth to the other tasks. . . . like you know . . . . doing more than one thing at a time without having to pause the other tasks, etc. etc.

 

[antbikerjl]

The great thing about the new Samsung Tab line-up is that they are now using PLS LCD Panels instead of IPS Panels. PLS panels offer greater viewing angles, better color reproduction, better contrast, and more "pop." So Samsung really went all out for this one trying to compete with the iPad. Not only is it just as thin, but it is lighter, higher resolution, better LCD panel, and a competitive cost. To top it all off, for once, Samsung actually has a user friendly and worth-while interface overlay!

 

[Kane08]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

Actually, being that the screen is measured diagonally, a 7 inch screen is roughly 43% smaller, so for roundings sake it is fair to say it is half the size.

As far as flash goes, haven't missed it one iota in the 3 years I have been using my iPhones/iPads, so I say good riddance to it

 

[BaldiMac]

Yes, that's all they did. Not revisionism, truth, which you did not refute because it's the truth.

As you've said, all progress is made on what was done before, so Apple was only revolutionary in terms of the OS for the iPhone, not the features.

Where you trying to say something else other than what I already said?

You are just talking in circles. You said "there were many devices that did what the iPhone does and doesn't do now." That's not true. There were device that did some of what an iPhone does. There was not any device like the iPhone before the iPhone. Primarily because of the OS! You can't just take the OS out of the equation.

And, of course, there was not any other phone with the same hardware features as the iPhone before the iPhone.

What I guess is full on multitasking or at least the form that Palm is using. Apple's is middle of the line, with Android at the bottom, but for all it's worth the Palm Pre was an ideal form of multitasking regardless even on a phone that was no where near as powerful as the iPhone or any HTC.

What makes you think iOS couldn't handle it if Apple chose to implement it?

Well. . . . it does for just about everyone. It's not exactly hard to grasp a device that can run a task or tasks in the background while a user starts another one.

Then have said user switch back and forth to the other tasks. . . . like you know . . . . doing more than one thing at a time without having to pause the other tasks, etc. etc.

It seems to be hard for grasp for you. Since the iPhone can do everything that you just described.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Nevermind

Don't worry about it.

Let's just move on.

 

[BaldiMac]

Nevermind

Don't worry about it.

Let's just move on.

I appreciate the advice.

Guess I can't argue with your strategy though.

 

[diamond.g]

...snip...
What makes you think iOS couldn't handle it if Apple chose to implement it?
...snip...

I had mentioned in another of the posts here that Apple should change the default behavior of the home button to not take you back to the application chooser/launcher, but to open up an expose view of running applications and have the application chooser/launcher as one of the panes. My idea was derided as being too confusing, yet that is pretty much exactly what webOS does and I feel pretty dang intuitive once you actually use it.

I would suspect Apple is not ready or easily able to give up the Application Launcher/Chooser paradigm (much like the old PalmOS/NewtonOS). Otherwise I think they would have done that first.

 

[Big Dawg 23]

Everyone should check out Crackberry.com discussion. Anyone with any questions on the ability of the iPad to Playbook is considered a troll. Who cares if it is true or not. I have used Blackberry and they are way out of date. I have since slowly transitioned to Apple. First I had a iPod Nano, then 2nd Gen Touch followed by 4th Gen Touch and now the iPhone.



In the end this will not impact Apple sales. They have a proven product.

 

[marksman]

Everyone should check out Crackberry.com discussion. Anyone with any questions on the ability of the iPad to Playbook is considered a troll. Who cares if it is true or not. I have used Blackberry and they are way out of date. I have since slowly transitioned to Apple. First I had a iPod Nano, then 2nd Gen Touch followed by 4th Gen Touch and now the iPhone.



In the end this will not impact Apple sales. They have a proven product.

I am slightly tempted to check out crackberry.com but I so don't care about blackberry products, I can't see how I could justify the time spent reading forums for products I don't care about and don't want to buy.

 

[weespeed]

History revisionist ahoy!

Please name us one single phone that the original iPhone is a direct copy of....

That's right, there isn't one....
.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/02/12/lg-says-apple-copied-prada-phone/

Summary of the features & specifications:
Features:
• Capacitive Touch Screen
• Music Player (MP3, ACC, ACC+, WMA, RA)
• Music Multitasking (Messaging)
• Video Player (MPEG4, H.263, H.264)
• Macromedia Flash UI
• Document Viewer (ppt, doc, xls, pdf, txt )

Specifications:
• EDGE Tri-Band (900/1800/1900)
• 98.8 × 54 × 12 mm
• 2M CMOS Camera / LED Flash
• External Memory Slot (Micro SD)
• Innerpack Battery 800mAh
• Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, USB Mass storage

Came out 4 months before the iPhone. Also Won the IF award in 2006 for design etc.

Just saying....

 

[eye]

Y'all can talk specs and blabber about apps all day long but nobody will buy these products. No, I don't have an argument for you, but I'm sure I'm right.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I appreciate the advice.

Guess I can't argue with your strategy though.

Don't worry about it. I know that I have to work on my communication skills. These conversations usually end up with both of us arguing the same or similar points.

Or I do a bad job explaining my stance and people get caught up over some syntax error I have or something.

Y'all can talk specs and blabber about apps all day long but nobody will buy these products. No, I don't have an argument for you, but I'm sure I'm right.

The good part is that at the very least we know that you don't have an argument.

Personally, I agree with you. The iPad 2, with it's terrible camera, etc. etc. will still outsell these pads by the millions. I am saving up for one myself.

 

[silentnite]

When it boils down, people just want a decent tablet that works and at a price that won't break the bank. I think Samsung has a very nice product but the price is ridiculous and no real apps behind it. So you to have something to help market the product. Apples ipad got it all & the app store to back it up.