Google Reportedly Prepping Android-Based iPad Challenger

[ImaBigD]

I look forward to a Google Tablet. Apple may be "innovating" but mainly I see them as brining to market a capability (multi-touch) that is revolutionary, then milking it for all its worth at the cost of additional innovation.

The iPad is a perfect example. What exactly is revolutionary about this device? What is here that we haven't already seen on the iPhone, and iPod touch other then a scaled up screen?

They refuse to give people what they want, forcing their vision of the devise on their consumers (mostly mac fanboys) who eat anything jobs puts in their mouths.

Where's the camera, HDMI, multi-tasking (really, I have to wait until Fall of 2010 - why - beceause you are releasing a new itteration of the iPad that is better) 16:9, SD card, more memory, OLED display, printing support, Flash,....I'll be here all day.

Innovation is great, but competition drives innovation and product development. I hope Google kicks Apple's ass, because someone needs to. They are acting more and more like Microsoft, with a closed developing system and bullying tactics (Adobe). It's like Microsoft in the early 90's.

Where are the refereshes on their MB lines? How about embracing Blu Ray like everyone else instead of forcing us to only have your inferior quality digitial content?

They are charging people todays prices for yesterdays technology (everything about the iPad, from processor to graphics core to RAM is yesterdays technology) and people willingly eat it up.

Apple is a disgrace with regards to how much money they make off of idiots.

 

[Smith2542]

google may very well become a huge competitor in the computer industry. they most certainly have the resources. IMO sometime within the next decade or so microsoft will lose its long standing majority in the computer market to google or apple.

 

[uberamd]

Where's the camera, HDMI, multi-tasking (really, I have to wait until Fall of 2010 - why - beceause you are releasing a new itteration of the iPad that is better) 16:9, SD card, more memory, OLED display, printing support, Flash,....I'll be here all day.

Oh god, here we go.

• Why does everything need a camera? Maybe a future revision, but this device isn't pointless without a camera. Heck, I could see Apple releasing a dock-connector camera attachment just to shut people like you up
• HDMI.... WHY? This thing doesn't output in HD so what the heck would the benefit of HDMI-out be?
• Quit being impatient. You ARE getting multitasking, so quit crying because it is not coming as fast as you want.
• 16:9? I don't really want a long skinny device, no thank you.
• SD card? Get the attachment.
• More memory? 64GB isn't enough? Are you aware that you cant install Android apps to external memory so it is actually WAY more memory constricted than the iPad?
• OLED? NO! I have the Nexus One with an OLED screen and it is absolutely 100% IMPOSSIBLE to use it outside when there is any sunlight.
• Printing support? Coming in app form im sure
• Flash? Ha... I can't even figure out how to get Flash working on my Nexus One. Flash is overrated. Hulu can easily go HTML5, and flash games are NOT optimized for a touch interface, most require WASD controls, arrow keys, or a mouse.

Any other terrible points you would like to make?

 

[Niko03]

Not as long as HTC is supplying them with the hardware. Those guys are the gold standard in phone hardware as far as I'm concerned. And there are PLENTY of ugly and poorly written apps in the App Store. But I don't see Google becoming anywhere near as powerful in the mobile market as Microsoft was in desktop operating systems. Sure, Apple likes to roll out new features and such at a snail's pace, but I think if faced with a truly serious threat of Google surpassing them, they'd step it up big time. Right now, they don't have to, so they don't.

I don't see a major OS update annually like clockwork for thier mobile OS as at a "snail's" pace. (even if not all of the features you want are included)

While iPhone os 4.0 will exclude first gen iPhones and be limited for 2gen each of them have seen regular major updates.
Has Android done that?
What's thier os update timeline?
Do the majority of the quickly fragmenting Android phone Headsets get these updates?

I'm asking because I really don't know.
And at first glance even the flagship Moto droid got skipped by the new flagship Nexus one on OS releases?

 

[jc46]

I wonder if Google knows....

I wonder if Google knows that Apple is working on their own search engine?

 

[macbook123]

By the time Google will finally release their tablet anybody who can afford a tablet will have already bought an iPad. I'm surprised by the bad timing of their release.

 

[riverfreak]

Good god! Google might release a big iPod Touch? What will all the iPad h8ers say then?

Oh right, it's Android, it's open, it's so much better than a closed environment. Usability is fine for grandmas and chumps.

 

[Mac OS X Ocelot]

Oh god, here we go.

• Why does everything need a camera? Maybe a future revision, but this device isn't pointless without a camera. Heck, I could see Apple releasing a dock-connector camera attachment just to shut people like you up
• HDMI.... WHY? This thing doesn't output in HD so what the heck would the benefit of HDMI-out be?
• Quit being impatient. You ARE getting multitasking, so quit crying because it is not coming as fast as you want.
• 16:9? I don't really want a long skinny device, no thank you.
• SD card? Get the attachment.
• More memory? 64GB isn't enough? Are you aware that you cant install Android apps to external memory so it is actually WAY more memory constricted than the iPad?
• OLED? NO! I have the Nexus One with an OLED screen and it is absolutely 100% IMPOSSIBLE to use it outside when there is any sunlight.
• Printing support? Coming in app form im sure
• Flash? Ha... I can't even figure out how to get Flash working on my Nexus One. Flash is overrated. Hulu can easily go HTML5, and flash games are NOT optimized for a touch interface, most require WASD controls, arrow keys, or a mouse.

Any other terrible points you would like to make?

"You know all that stuff people actually want for their tablets that the iPad doesn't have? You don't need it. You can buy attachments. It's a stupid idea. You don't really want it, and you know it. Apple's way is best."

 

[farmboy]

Apple DID not invent or innovate on tables, we had table for about 10 years now and the OS is part of the original project (iPhone), Amazon was the real innovator (even when they didn't do it right and didn't take advantage of the starting position).

I could be wrong, but tables have been around for thousands of years now, just that one leg was always shorter than the others. The Apple Table fixed that by using machined wood.

 

[Analog Kid]

The Apple Table fixed that by using machined wood.

I believe they refer to it as "unibody construction"...

 

[uberamd]

"You know all that stuff people actually want for their tablets that the iPad doesn't have? You don't need it. You can buy attachments. It's a stupid idea. You don't really want it, and you know it. Apple's way is best."

If a device doesn't have the features you want, don't buy it and buy from a different manufacturer. If it does, buy it. This forum b***hing about features is getting nowhere. People get pissed when a device doesn't have everything under the sun, but you know what, 99% of the customer base could care less about SD card slots, HDMI out, OLED, and the other stuff. Apple doesn't develop for the least common group: power-users like the people here. Can't handle that? The door is right over there, goodbye.

As I have said 1000's of times: MacRumor users do NOT represent the majority of Apple customers and your wants are likely not in line with what the general public wants in the device.

 

[TuckBodi]

How long until Schmidt runs out of ideas he stole while on Apple's board?

 

[MatLu]

News Flash !! Google is out to do whatever it can to bring down Apple,Inc.

This isn't news. It's a disgrace.

A "disgrace"? Really? How about it's competition. This is good for us consumers (unless you are an Apple shareholder, I suppose). The more competition, the better. How is this bad?

 

[currentinterest]

None of these tablets are competitors until they are actually on the market. By the time any of these products roll out Apple will have sold two or three million iPads and will be releasing the new iPhone OS 4.2 for the iPad with even more razzle dazzle than what will be available on the iPhone.

To compete with the iPad the competitors must have the four key killer features that make the iPad stand out.

1) 10 hour plus battery life. Anything less and it is a nonstarter no matter what the feature list is.

2) Very fast start-up & operation. If it lags at all, that will be the end.

3) Seamless and easy touch experience. Non-responsive touch or multiple swipes before detection, or using a menu structure built for a pen or mouse is a loser.

4) It must be thin, sturdy, and weigh 1.5 lbs or less. Anything thicker or heavier than an iPad will be perceived as less technological advanced, no matter the feature list.

And all this must be available for $499 or less.

The companies competing with Apple all know this. This is why one sees references to the products as belonging to different "niches." It is not easy, even when one as the benefit of copying an original, to produce an iPad competitor. Especially difficult, is producing a competing device which will actually be profitable.

 

[francisq]

Mountain View -- START YOUR PHOTOCOPIERS!

 

[Hmac]

This thread is typically reflective of MacRumors forums in general. Fanboys and haters. I think that's all that come here. In the meantime, Apple's actual customer base, the bulk of their revenue, just goes down to Apple store and buys what they need in blissful ignorance...their computers and i-devices "just work" and they're just happy.

The world of Apple is a happy one once we get out of the MacRumors Technobubble. Talk about a "reality distortion field".....

 

[BigJimmyC]

None of these tablets are competitors until they are actually on the market. By the time any of these products roll out Apple will have sold two or three million iPads and will be releasing the new iPhone OS 4.2 for the iPad with even more razzle dazzle than what will be available on the iPhone.

To compete with the iPad the competitors must have the four key killer features that make the iPad stand out.

1) 10 hour plus battery life. Anything less and it is a nonstarter no matter what the feature list is.

2) Very fast start-up & operation. If it lags at all, that will be the end.

3) Seamless and easy touch experience. Non-responsive touch or multiple swipes before detection, or using a menu structure built for a pen or mouse is a loser.

4) It must be thin, sturdy, and weigh 1.5 lbs or less. Anything thicker or heavier than an iPad will be perceived as less technological advanced, no matter the feature list.

And all this must be available for $499 or less.

The companies competing with Apple all know this. This is why one sees references to the products as belonging to different "niches." It is not easy, even when one as the benefit of copying an original, to produce an iPad competitor. Especially difficult, is producing a competing device which will actually be profitable.

Thanks for the ipad commericial. With a post this enlightening you really should have put a at the end of your post to emphasize its awesomeness.

 

[BeakerAndGreg]

If anything

If not for any other reason, competition will keep apple from raising prices higher and producing more and more lock down. I love apple products, but lets remember what the the original iPhone was capable of before developers were allowed in.

 

[*LTD*]

How long until Schmidt runs out of ideas he stole while on Apple's board?

He has size issues when it comes to Apple. I totally understand.

When Eric isn't selling phone operating systems, he's out selling rugs and discount electronics. He's the KING of low prices!!!

 

[John Dillinger]

None of these tablets are competitors until they are actually on the market. By the time any of these products roll out Apple will have sold two or three million iPads and will be releasing the new iPhone OS 4.2 for the iPad with even more razzle dazzle than what will be available on the iPhone.

To compete with the iPad the competitors must have the four key killer features that make the iPad stand out.

1) 10 hour plus battery life. Anything less and it is a nonstarter no matter what the feature list is.

2) Very fast start-up & operation. If it lags at all, that will be the end.

3) Seamless and easy touch experience. Non-responsive touch or multiple swipes before detection, or using a menu structure built for a pen or mouse is a loser.

4) It must be thin, sturdy, and weigh 1.5 lbs or less. Anything thicker or heavier than an iPad will be perceived as less technological advanced, no matter the feature list.

And all this must be available for $499 or less.

The companies competing with Apple all know this. This is why one sees references to the products as belonging to different "niches." It is not easy, even when one as the benefit of copying an original, to produce an iPad competitor. Especially difficult, is producing a competing device which will actually be profitable.

Dude have you seen the hardware that HTC is putting out right now? Selling at the same cost as iphones 3gs (with 256 ram and 600mhsz cpus). If you use any of the new HTC's you will see they are actually sturdier than the 3gs.

And you know how big Apples margins are right?

It would not be difficult at all for HTC to undercut Apple.

I predict that it will not be that much cheaper though, just better/more hardware (probably with *somewhat* less battery life as Apple have some great tech and optimization).

The hardware will not be a problem, and theyve got decent software in Android. Hence the lawsuits....

 

[gwangung]

Personally...

...bring it on.

If the products are good, fine--competition is good. If they aren't, then they'll sink. Either way, irrelevant to most folks.

But, for Google's sake, I hope they pay more attention to usability than to features. As you slide along the curve from technical tool to consumer utility, usability becomes more and more important. Up till now, a tablet is more technically oriented than consumer oriented---but I think that's changing. And companies can't ignore that.

 

[*LTD*]

None of these tablets are competitors until they are actually on the market. By the time any of these products roll out Apple will have sold two or three million iPads and will be releasing the new iPhone OS 4.2 for the iPad with even more razzle dazzle than what will be available on the iPhone.

To compete with the iPad the competitors must have the four key killer features that make the iPad stand out.

1) 10 hour plus battery life. Anything less and it is a nonstarter no matter what the feature list is.

2) Very fast start-up & operation. If it lags at all, that will be the end.

3) Seamless and easy touch experience. Non-responsive touch or multiple swipes before detection, or using a menu structure built for a pen or mouse is a loser.

4) It must be thin, sturdy, and weigh 1.5 lbs or less. Anything thicker or heavier than an iPad will be perceived as less technological advanced, no matter the feature list.

And all this must be available for $499 or less.

The companies competing with Apple all know this. This is why one sees references to the products as belonging to different "niches." It is not easy, even when one as the benefit of copying an original, to produce an iPad competitor. Especially difficult, is producing a competing device which will actually be profitable.

Not ONE mention of software or the App Store ecosystem.

It's what drives the whole show. Software ecosystem, software ecosystem, software ecosystem.

 

[alphaod]

Competition is good; just make good products to compete and not compete in court.

 

[clank72]

Hey has anyone herd of Microsoft anymore? I remember the days when it was Microsoft vs Apple, but now it seems they have vanished out of the picture. I mean, it's not a bad thing. But I just thought that was interesting. What ever happen to the Microsoft Store? Did they really embarrass themselves?

 

[Corbin052198]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.50 (Nintendo DSi; Opera/507; U; en-US))

The more competition the better.
And it better include flash for free hulu streaming!!!!!

Uhm, Hulu is already working on an HTML5 container.

.....which will work on the iPad. And since Android uses the WebKit framework, HTML5 video will be supported too....