Google's Not Going to Make Tablets Anymore

[cardfan]

The iPad is essentially the only tablet worth using (I’ve tried a few Android ones and was unimpressed). I find that odd. It seems like it should be a more competitive market, but it really isn’t at all. The iPad is practically its own market.

Apple has done well at making the iPad a computer alternative. The Android tablets could never get past the "giant phone" stage (which is how many viewed the iPad when it was first introduced. It's moved far beyond that).

Except it hasn’t. Still a big iPod touch to me. What changed since introduction to warrant this praise besides a pencil? Limited iOS. Limited apps.

That’s not a bad thing. Just wouldn’t spend more than 200-300 on one.

 

[Winni]

This is the reality of Android devices. A gazillion dirt cheap throwaway devices with a few flagship devices.

Yeah. That's the reason why people living in second and third world countries are buying Android, not Apple... Android empowers all people to use the Internet. iOS and iPadOS run on fashion gadgets used by people with first world "problems".

Google couldn't care less if their OEMs conquer the high-end market or not. They're an Internet company, and they make their money with their services, not hardware, not operating systems. And guess what? They make a crap load of money through iOS/iPadOS users as well -- about every time you search for something on the web or watch a clip on YouTube.

 

[cardfan]

It’s easy to understand why Google dropped their tablet business: because Android tablets SUCK.
It’s also because their brand new Slate was heavily criticised for performing like a 2006 netbook in the models that were within a tablet’s price range and too expensive for the models that had serviceable hardware.

But if android tablets stink then why these foldable phones that turn into something that stinks? Lol

 

[coachgq]

IMO, the Pixelbook is outstanding. I replaced my 12.9 iPad Pro with it and I haven't regretted it.

That’s interesting. I really like my 12.9. I liked the old ones, but man, the smaller form factor I’ve enjoyed even more. I have a job that isn’t that computer heavy, but I do use a computer daily. I’m able to do all my work on the iPad. I think I could do it all on a pixelbook too but I like getting my iMessages on the iPad instead of having to use my phone.

What do you like more about the pixelbook over the iPad since you’ve used both?

 

[44267547]

With the iPad currently on Amazon at $249 it makes it almost impossible to compete with at that price point.

Not really, there’s a lot of android tablets that are even cheaper than that that will still complete the basic tasks that most consumers would likely need it for. But the best thing about an iPad at a cheaper price, is the ability to have the needed security features and stability to have longer software updates, which is why iPads are so popular amongst how long they survive.

 

[coachgq]

Awesome. They're CLOSE to a laptop. A sandboxed, controlled, limited laptop, by the way. One that can only run software from ONE source. I rather use a REAL laptop instead -- and even save money.
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I don’t disagree with your point about “close to a laptop”, but if you buy a used iPad Pro with AppleCare+ For $650, and 64gb of onboard storage is enough for you and you’re going to use an iPad anyways, isn’t this a good device if you don’t want to have more than one device to lug around? And it’s 1.5 lbs with a keyboard(or maybe 2 lbs).

 

[Winni]

Funny how so many people say android tablets were just big phones.. really that's all iPads have been until maybe the last year and definitely no longer with the new iPad OS.. Apple I think is finally figuring it out.. but by no means did Apple do much in the Tablet space other then bring over a glorified screen and big phone OS... That said I give props to Apple for figuring it out, I really want a new iPad Pro with the new OS!

That new OS that looks and feels almost like macOS -- only in a limited, restricted way? Yeah. They finally figured out that iPadOS has to be... just like the Mac has always been. Only with a touch screen and with the only source for software being a censored App Store. Yeah, that's some awesome innovation, really.

 

[sickoagb]

not surprising - their tablet output post-Nexus 7 2013 was shoddy

 

[coachgq]

If you like all your data stolen for a cheap laptop, sure.

It’s not that cheap.

 

[realtuner]

Yes Android vendors sell cheap models along the flagship models which in many cases (at least for smartphones) cost more than Apple devices. What's your point? What's the point of buying a $1K+ tablet for media consumption? And that's exactly what most tablets are used for. Apple ill advised attempts to position iPad as a PC replacement have mostly failed so far. The fact that so many Apple fans still buy iPad Pros for media consumption is a reflection on the type of the consumers Apple has cultivated. Good for Apple, not so much for many customers (some do have valid use cases for iPad Pros).

The fact remains though, Android dominates these markets. People claiming otherwise are just clueless.

Android dominates the disposable tablet market. Nobody buys expensive Android tablets, and why would you? To run those Fisher Price blown up toy phone Apps?

Where’s Photoshop for Android? Oh right, Adobe isn’t making it. But they have made it for the iPad, and it rips. Curious, is Photoshop for content consumption only?

iPads also completely and totally dominate the corporate/enterprise market with 90% of devices. So much for your “consumption” only FUD.

 

[DNichter]

Smart move. When no one makes apps for a platform, it’s pretty much useless.

 

[Zaft]

Except it hasn’t. Still a big iPod touch to me. What changed since introduction to warrant this praise besides a pencil? Limited iOS. Limited apps.

That’s not a bad thing. Just wouldn’t spend more than 200-300 on one.

Well picture in picture and side by side apps is the major difference.
For a lot of people that’s fine as all they want is to browse the web in the couch.

That’s basically what I do with my Air 2.

Anything else like typing I switch to my iMac.

 

[jerryk]

Google is focusing on the PixelBooks. Hopefully they get their prices down 50% to be competitive, or else they will gone soon. Lots of cost cutting going on at Google.

 

[genovelle]

Has Google finally realised that phone OSs on a large tablet is just a big phone?
Long term Microsoft got it right with the Surface, an OS with desktop power and a touchscreen?

They have been trying to sell this for years. Being chained to legacy windows registry is its biggest problem. It’s a house of cards that always collapses under its own weight.

 

[Abazigal]

Not sure if this would be a good news for iPad buyers in the future. We need competition to calm iPad price increase..

I don’t think the iPad has had much competition in ages. Whether google released their tablet or not is not going to matter to the iPad user demographic. I have been teaching with my iPad in the classroom since 2012 and between the apps, ecosystem and stability, no other tablet comes close to replicating the experience I desire, be it android or windows.

 

[falainber]

Android dominates the disposable tablet market. Nobody buys expensive Android tablets, and why would you? To run those Fisher Price blown up toy phone Apps?

Where’s Photoshop for Android? Oh right, Adobe isn’t making it. But they have made it for the iPad, and it rips. Curious, is Photoshop for content consumption only?

iPads also completely and totally dominate the corporate/enterprise market with 90% of devices. So much for your “consumption” only FUD.

Why would I use photoshop on a tablet? I have a desktop and a laptop for that. I do have a relatively expensive Samsung Galaxy S 2 tablet ((around $500 at release time?) It works better than iPad for me. I use it only for browsing the Internet and watching sports (TNT, ESPN, NBA etc.) It is thinner and lighter than iPads and it has a better screen (OLED).

When you say that iPads dominate corporate market do you know what they are used for? The only use I observed was as sale assistants/terminals. Android tablets would do just fine here too but I understand why iPad may be preferable (software/device developers may prefer them). So, while iPads may dominate this market it's probably not much of a market.

 

[happyprozak]

Android dominates the disposable tablet market. Nobody buys expensive Android tablets, and why would you? To run those Fisher Price blown up toy phone Apps?

Where’s Photoshop for Android? Oh right, Adobe isn’t making it. But they have made it for the iPad, and it rips. Curious, is Photoshop for content consumption only?

iPads also completely and totally dominate the corporate/enterprise market with 90% of devices. So much for your “consumption” only FUD.

I don't own any Android devices so I can't say first hand, but I've read online and a big Android user I know has also agreed that Google's own apps run better on iOS than on Android.

But I have to point out again that Google's Pixel Slate is not an Android device, it is a ChromeOS device that has the ability to run Android apps. The biggest problem with Google's Pixel Slate is that the software is not mature. They had the hardware ready and the software was still beta but it is constantly improving, or so I hear.

On the success and failures of the tech world, software I feel is the biggest differentiator. Developer support is the primary reason why Microsoft's tablet and phone initiative failed, why Microsoft's UWP initiative failed, why Android can't catch up to Apple.

 

[realtuner]

But if android tablets stink then why these foldable phones that turn into something that stinks? Lol

Exactly why they’ll be massive failures.


Android tablets were already dying. This puts the last nail in the coffin. What has Google announced at I/O 2018 or 2019 related to tablets? Bonus points if you can find anything. With Google abandoning tablets and doing nothing to Android on the tablet side it’s only a matter of time before other companies stop making them.
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Why would I use photoshop on a tablet? I have a desktop and a laptop for that. I do have a relatively expensive Samsung Galaxy S 2 tablet ((around $500 at release time?) It works better than iPad for me. I use it only for browsing the Internet and watching sports (TNT, ESPN, NBA etc.) It is thinner and lighter than iPads and it has a better screen (OLED).

When you say that iPads dominate corporate market do you know what they are used for? The only use I observed was as sale assistants/terminals. Android tablets would do just fine here too but I understand why iPad may be preferable (software/device developers may prefer them). So, while iPads may dominate this market it's probably not much of a market.

Ah, yes, the standard reply. When the competition does something you can’t make an excuse why you don’t need it to try and diminish its value.

Why don’t you ask Adobe, who obviously invested significant time & money to make Photoshop for the iPad? Or all the other developers who make very successful
high-end Apps for the iPad that are light years ahead of anything on Android.

But hey, keep living in dreamland where iPads are for consumption only and nobody uses them for anything serious.

 

[noraa]

Yeah. That's the reason why people living in second and third world countries are buying Android, not Apple... Android empowers all people to use the Internet. iOS and iPadOS run on fashion gadgets used by people with first world "problems".

Google couldn't care less if their OEMs conquer the high-end market or not. They're an Internet company, and they make their money with their services, not hardware, not operating systems. And guess what? They make a crap load of money through iOS/iPadOS users as well -- about every time you search for something on the web or watch a clip on YouTube.

So should Apple stop making premium devices because you seem personally offended by it? It's fantastic that there are so many inexpensive and just-useable-enough Android devices out there that nearly anyone in the world can have an internet enabled device. Apple has never had the desire to compete in that market, and there absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

If the only device out there was an experience iPad, you might have a point. As it stands, you're just trolling.

 

[ManualFocusRing]

Google has no future plans to release additional tablet devices and has even canceled two models that were in development, the company confirmed to Computerworld today.

Google has not released a tablet in 2019, but did come out with the Pixel Slate in 2018. Google was working on two smaller tablets, but ultimately decided to stop focusing on the tablet form factor in favor of laptops.

The Pixel Slate was Google's first Pixel-branded tablet offering, and as Computerworld clarifies, Google considers a tablet to be a device that detaches completely from a keyboard base or has no physical keyboard at all. Google considers its two-in-one convertible devices like the Pixelbook to be laptops, not tablets.

Google announced its plans to discontinue work on tablets to employees yesterday, and those working on tablet-related projects will be reassigned.It's not clear why Google has ultimately decided not to pursue the tablet form factor, but the company may be finding it difficult to compete with Apple and Samsung, the top two tablet vendors worldwide.

Apple's iPad is responsible for the most worldwide shipments, and over the course of the last few years, Apple has been aiming to hit all price points with the 6th-generation iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models.

Google plans to continue offering support and updates for the Pixel Slate until June 2024, and the Chrome OS team will continue to focus on tablets and laptops in its software development. Though Google is discontinuing its own tablets, there are other manufacturers who produce Chrome-based tablets.

Google will be shifting focus to laptops, with a laptop-oriented Pixelbook product planned before the end of the year, and will also continue focusing on its Pixel line of phones.

Article Link: Google's Not Going to Make Tablets Anymore

Thank the heavens above because they weren't gaining any traction and the situation was becoming more and more embarrassing with each new release.

 

[mikayla82ca]

For those of you trash talking the Google tablets... they were easy to sync a Bluetooth controller like MadCatz and play every game available in the Android store. This included all of the Final Fantasy games they had. When I got my iPad I was annoyed to find that all of my controllers would no longer work. Apple makes it VERY difficult for things like that. You could also screen mirror from your tablet to your TV to play those games on a bigger screen. While you might not like them, need them or use them, others did. And for those saying "It was like an oversize phone without the phone capability" grow up. The same can be said for the iPad. I may be all in on the Apple ecosystem right now, but the Google tablet was also good.

 

[ipedro]

This doesn’t mean that Apple has no competition and doesn’t have to work hard to gain customer preference and sales.

The iPad isn’t competing with other tablets. There never was any completion. Not even close. iPads are competing with Surface in the consumer space and Chromebooks in education.

 

[sracer]

That’s interesting. I really like my 12.9. I liked the old ones, but man, the smaller form factor I’ve enjoyed even more. I have a job that isn’t that computer heavy, but I do use a computer daily. I’m able to do all my work on the iPad. I think I could do it all on a pixelbook too but I like getting my iMessages on the iPad instead of having to use my phone.

What do you like more about the pixelbook over the iPad since you’ve used both?

I don't want to hijack this thread, but here is a MacRumors thread where we are discussing the Pixelbook. My answer is there.

 

[coachgq]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but here is a MacRumors thread where we are discussing the Pixelbook. My answer is there.

Fair enough. Thanks!

 

[trusso]

giggle is the world's leader in abandonware. No other tech company throws as much crap to the wall and none of it sticks. The Pixel phones are next - you'll see.

There are some experienced Apple customers who would love to disagree with you.

Aperture, iPhoto, iTools, .Mac, iDVD, AirPort Extreme/Express, Final Cut Pro (not X), DVD Studio Pro, iMovie HD, Mac OS X Server (the decent version), upgradable MacBooks, upgradable Mac Pros (that don’t cost the price of an SUV)...

Shall I go on?

And for the record, it’s not as if any of these products were technologically backwater or so arcane as to prohibit updates. Apple just decided they didn’t care to offer them anymore. Which royally screwed many a well-designed workflow without palatable alternatives.

Just make sure you remove those rose-tinted glasses every once in a while.