Let's be honest. Isn't Android 3.0 more what you would expect from a Tablet OS?

[faith4more]

Maybe I should have said 10 year olds. My daughter is 10 has an ipad and it is perfect for her. She would have no use for extra stuff in honeycomb. Even though she is quite capable of using more advanced features in a tablet she would not use them. Now my son who is 13 most likely will like Honeycomb much better.

Do you know any 12-year-olds?

 

[shen]

I agree with the first line of the OP.

Let go of your fanboyism a moment...

Android, every time it is brought up, is described as this incredible OS.

I find it awkward, painful, cluttered, unintuitive, and sloppy. Each time I find a friend has bought a new Android phone I ask to have a look. Each time I wonder what on earth people are smoking to even want that garbage in their pocket.

On the plus side, watching a friends phone crash repeatedly when he tried to launch a camera app was kinda fun....

And google is all "open" (they keep using that word, i don't think it means what they think it means...) too right?

To be a fanboy again for a moment: Look, I am glad they have found a market. I hope they sell a lot of tablets, I hope they keep working on it, and maybe start pushing out updates rather than leaving people on old software. I hope some other systems come out too, maybe 4-6 different OSes, and that it forces some interoperability. I hope tablets keep getting improved until they are the default portable system some 8-10 years from now.

Fanboyism aside again, for my money, android looks like someone puked cheap linux icons onto a sheet of glass. I am not interested.

 

[miles01110]

I find it awkward, painful, cluttered, unintuitive, and sloppy.

Interesting. Sometimes I think the same way about iOS. Notifications, for example.

Each time I wonder what on earth people are smoking to even want that garbage in their pocket.

Perhaps they don't want the content on their phone to be dictated by iTunes.

On the plus side, watching a friends phone crash repeatedly when he tried to launch a camera app was kinda fun....

Watching iPhone users try to do simple things like play a flac file on their iPhone is fun.

 

[shen]

Most of that, miles, go back to what I said about it being a choice. Again, I am glad they have an audience. It just isn't me.

As for flac, well, if you have a collection of music in "nerd format" you might not want your device to be an Apple device. Since I have never had, seen, wanted to use, or cared about flac, I have a hard time caring.

The fact that you compare playing a format most users will never see to using a camera is exactly why I left the linux world. You are living in a bubble that only .5% of the population of tablet users will ever care about. That is why the iPad will keep getting used by a ton of people. Hopefully a lot of people developing Android have a better sense of priorities so that Android is actually relevant outside geek circles.

 

[ditzy]

Between iOS and Honeycomb, for me iOS wins it. But then I'm really not a fan of android. Web OS on the other hand, is a different story. I don't think that web OS is going to win it, due to the lack of apps, but I am genuinely wanting to buy one.
But to the question is Honeycomb what I would want or expect from a tablet? No it really isn't.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Rubbish.

• The stock browser on iPad is perfectly adequate. No, flash is not a requirement these days.
• The only notification I need is when an e-mail arrives, which plays an audible sound and shows a counter. I don't see the problem with that.
• If you need more than 20 icons on a single page, you are disorganised. The simple folder structure and multiple screens in iOS are more than adequate.
• Who cares about the bar at the top - it's a tablet device, not a computer replacement.

Perhaps in your opinion. It seems that flash is important to many here judging how it is brought up several times a day. For some, the stock browser is lame, so what? And you are not qualified to judge what anyone's needs are besides your own. Ditto for organization. Perhaps your needs are simple and others would like something with a bit more muscle?

 

[SteveKnobs]

Most of that, miles, go back to what I said about it being a choice. Again, I am glad they have an audience. It just isn't me.

As for flac, well, if you have a collection of music in "nerd format" you might not want your device to be an Apple device. Since I have never had, seen, wanted to use, or cared about flac, I have a hard time caring.

The fact that you compare playing a format most users will never see to using a camera is exactly why I left the linux world. You are living in a bubble that only .5% of the population of tablet users will ever care about. That is why the iPad will keep getting used by a ton of people. Hopefully a lot of people developing Android have a better sense of priorities so that Android is actually relevant outside geek circles.

I appreciate this post immensely. I agree completely, and I think it's hilarious that people quote things such as "flac" files or the ability to custom root a device as reasons why iOS sucks. I'm as nerdy as anyone when it comes to tech, but this type of dialogue is nerd-speak for "I live in my parents basement."

 

[gatearray]

...
Reading things like this, it seems Honeycomb would be first OS in history where you can get more productive shuffling things on desktop and playing with widgets instead of working inside actual applications.
...

Yes, THANK YOU for stating my feelings exactly.

Hardly anyone can ever say what they willactually do with a Xoom that they can't do with an iPad.

To read the threads in this, the iPad forum, would leave any casual observer left with the idea that Android Honeycomb users will mostly be gratifying themselves to their home screen and widgets, ironically, not doing much of anything in particular.

Imagine this type of user on a desktop computer. They have no software installed, but just have an Outlook or AIM window constantly open (on their desktop where they spend most of their time), their dashboard widgets are arranged "just right," they have a really cool wallpaper, and of course, an obtrusive and obnoxious analog-style clock.

And of course, a 13 year old boy would like Honeycomb, it looks like a screen on a prop from any random SyFy Channel B-movie that went straight-to-cable! Andy Rubin basically stated that making it look like something out of Star Trek was their general intent with the design.

 

[Piggie]

I can see the use of sensible Widgets.

If you have them set up on your screen well.

Say you mate said come on, we're leaving now, you look at your one screen, see nothing that's important just come in and off you go.

With the iPad, you'd have to say hang on I'll just open up my email, app, then I'll open my calendar app, then I'll run my facebook app, Perhaps then run my twitter App, I'll Be with you in a moment.

I can't see it being a bag idea to have things like this in some easy to glance at areas on your home screen, so that just one look and you can see nothing important needs your attention.

Seems a reasonably good idea.

 

[QCassidy352]

Come on, guys. iOS5 had better be more of a desktop like experience for the iPad or Apple is officially not in the game anymore.

You had a nice, reasonable post until you ended on this. Could iOS for ipad more a little more towards a desktop OS? Yes. Would doing so make it a better experience? Yes. Will a failure to do so "officially" put apple "out of the game?" Um... no. The ipad will continue to be a major, if not the dominant, player in the tablet market for some time even with no changes to the OS let alone the exact changes you want.

 

[newdeal]

...

I would be happy with the ipad if they allowed widgets on the desktop so I could see things like weather and stocks without going into an app (ala dashboard on osx only there all the time) and if you could use flash (yes some videos are still flash only that I like to watch, if those changed I wouldn't need flash either). Definately the ubtrusive notifications and lack of imagination with the desktop are the only things I can think of that I would change. If you want a better browser but iCab its 99 cents and awesome

 

[jealousguy86]

i didn't vote because i think there's more of a gray area than the two choices listed for this poll.

i think that iOS is great, but they should tweak iOS for the iPad more. i think android has some ideas with honeycomb, however, i think their execution of that OS is pretty terrible. if apple added some widgets, did something to make the apps not look retarded on the wallpaper and some other fancy things that apple is known for, then i think iOS for ipad would be excellent. i think right now it's just pretty basic and bland compared to what it could be.

basically, i get why apple likes having iOS the same for iphone, ipod touch and ipad, but it really doesn't make that much sense from a user's point of view to have the same iOS for the three, when the ipad is much larger and used differently from the others, which are more mobile. that doesn't mean the ipad needs an OS that's more like OSX or a desktop OS or anything, just something more streamlined for use on the iPad, specifically.

 

[Phil A.]

1) The browser is better and more intuitive.

In what way?

2) The notification system is way ahead.

I won't disagree with that, but you don't know what iOS 5 will bring

3) The way you can change your home screen around with widgets and icons to your leisure in that big 10 inch playground of a screen, while iOS has all that empty space.

I couldn't care less about the home screen on my iPad - its sole purpose is to give me access to my apps and it does that brilliantly simply. I would prefer more flexibility on my phone though because I'm more likely to want "at a glance" info on my phone

Come on, guys. iOS5 had better be more of a desktop like experience for the iPad or Apple is officially not in the game anymore.

Couldn't disagree more - the reason tablets have failed in the past (i.e. before iPad) is because they've tried to bring a desktop like experience to a tablet

 

[McGilli]

Perhaps they don't want the content on their phone to be dictated by iTunes.


Watching iPhone users try to do simple things like play a flac file on their iPhone is fun.

If you think people who buy ipads and iphones are looking to play FLAC files then you are out of touch with reality. 2% of the population knows what FLAC is, and only 1% actually uses them. If you use them, great for you, you love audio clarity. I am guessing anyone that buys an Apple product has more features than one particular audio type in mind.

FLAC is like vinyl records. Amazing stuff - but no one turns down buying a great home theatre these days cuz it won't play vinyl.

Tied to iTunes. Do you ever read how many songs itunes sells? How many apps? Billions?

again - the amount of people who buy Apple products that actually know more than iTunes exists, is a small percentage. Remember - we are talking imac, macbooks, iphones, ipods, appletv and ipads when it comes to iTunes.

There is only a tiny fraction of 'us' who go beyond "it just works".

You can't think the public knows as much as you - otherwise you make false blanket observations like in your post.

 

[Cha]

Watching iPhone users try to do simple things like play a flac file on their iPhone is fun.

There's an app to play FLAC files, Flac Player. So it is easy to play flac files. But I also just convert my flac files to ALAC which only takes a few seconds to play the songs through the iPod player.

 

[Winni]

If anything,they`ll make the Mac more iOS like.

So far people still seem to be voting for the iPad with their wallets.
I`m curious to see what happens with android tablets over the next year it could be really good.

People have so far been voting for the iPad because Android 3 is not even on the market yet. Google and the remaining industry are still catching up, but they are running very fast to get there. I doubt that Apple will stay ahead of the pack for much longer.

And I think you're right about the Mac becoming more iOS-like. Everything that Apple does lead to an inevitable conclusion: The company is killing its traditional computing platform. It's now all about delivering content (and services) to restricted mobile gadgets. There's no future for the Mac in that picture, and I doubt that there will be another version of Mac OS X after Lion. Expect iOS-based Macs around 2014 (or whatever the common successor of OS X and iOS will be called).

Yes, I do believe that they will kill the Mac platform. If you still want something that remotely resembles a Mac, the day will come where you have to sign up for an expensive edition of the developer program where you can buy a developer machine or a special version of the operating system that can host the development environment.

It's not a question of if, it's only a question of when. You'll see it happen.

 

[MrWillie]

To Clarify.

I don't mean running unmodified OS X.
I would not want that.
Any OS would need to be radically changed to allow for touch input.

Problem we have right now is that a small screen, with inaccurate touch control makes it very hard for major apps to be written.
In fact that is another problem that it would take years before companies felt it was worth investing in a complete rewrite of any major software.

I'm guessing it would cost millions and a nightmare to get something like Photoshop into a workable state on something like an iPad, there just is not the screen room being a fundamental issue, that combined with having to have controls so large they are suitable for finger input.

How about Win XP Tablet Edition ?

Isn't IOS a modified version of OSX ?

Why would Apple try to copy Microsoft's failures by using a less modified version of OSX ?

 

[Mitchrapp]

Apple at one time was geared more for the pro user. They now more cater to mainstream mom, pop, grandma under 10 market. Nothing wrong with that as they are making many hands over fist and are producing some highly usable tech to the masses. However, they are slow to add features and won't add other things because don't want to confuse that demographic. This is a departure from what made Apple different. They used to more appeal to to the high end pro crowd.

Whereas Google with Honeycomb should appeal to both the pro crowd and mainstream. Apple would say to complicated but come on if you know how to use a desktop windows or mac surely you can handle a little more sophisticated tablet OS.

Easy to say more sophisticated OS is not what people want. But really only thing tablet decent so far has been iOS on ipad. That may be about to change with Honeycomb. People may find they want more than iOS offers.

I find it interesting when Apples tablet was originally rumored blogs, messages boards etc were full of fanboys saying would not buy a tablet unless it was full featured mac OSx tablet. But now that same crowds defends stripped down iOS on a tablet. Say what?

I preface all I have said with fact that I love iOS on my iphone but on tablet I found it limiting.

If you want 10 year old simple on a tablet iOS is perfect go for it. If you want something that does more looks like Honeycomb may be the ticket.

You make some good points. I like my iPad, I use it way too much. But I want more, people around here say specs don't matter, ha! When you buy your macs they matter, when you by your iPhone or PC, they matter. I want to be able to do more and I'm hoping the Xoom will get me there. POWER!!

 

[AppleGoddess]

I came to the conclusion I am very intresed in at the motorola xoom which is coming out price is great 600 for wifi and I love android. Aim still waiting to see what apple does, as I have almost 800 bucks in gift cards....

 

[Mitchrapp]

I was hoping apple would come up with "what is new" on the iPad 2 already. Nice to be able to compare. But I like Android so that's where I am going.

 

[fertilized-egg]

Interesting. Sometimes I think the same way about iOS. Notifications, for example.
...
Watching iPhone users try to do simple things like play a flac file on their iPhone is fun.

The notification of iOS is awkward and painful but it's not scattered, cluttered or unintuitive. It's consistent throughout and very intuitive to use. It's just too much "in your face" and very inelegant.

On the other hand as an Android user I can give you one prime example of the UI problem of Android: the copy and paste. On one application, the Android browser, you have three different interfaces for copy and paste, all in one program window. There's one for the main content text, another for the HTML text boxes and another for the address/search box, where sometimes you long-press to bring out the dialog menu box to select copy and other times you just do it the iOS style, some with arrow indicators, some without. That's truly awkward, painful, scattered, cluttered and unintuitive.

Plus and I haven't even mentioned the usual problem of Android in usage: scrolling that's not smooth, inconsistent speed, app reliability, ugly menu structure and lack of polish in aesthetics and UI, lack of transition animation that makes things feel disjointed in use, long click everywhere, etc, I can go on.

Of course in a more credible argument, there are many things that cannot be done straight in iOS such as FLAC and OGG support, file system, etc but often there are work around for that through programs like FlacPlayer, MediaMonkey(which will automatically convert&transfer those files), and I personally never use the file system even on my Android nor on my jailbroken iPod Touch. It's Dropbox, Air Video and AudioGalaxy all the way for both my Android phone and iPod Touch.

If having the full freedom was that important, everyone would be using the good old Nokia N900 or better still, the Open Pandora. But alas, that's not true for most users.

 

[faith4more]

I find it interesting many people I know switched from ipad to macbook air when new airs came out. I also have seen where a few Apple bloggers did the same. Why? Because they want a more portable full featured experience than ipad provides. Very different devices but they were willing to give up touch because they wanted something with file system etc where they could manage work better.

I for one prefer touch devices but want a more desktop like management system on tablet.

 

[newdeal]

...

personally I wish iOS was more like the webOS 3 demo. That looked like everything I wish iOS was and if it were out now I would buy a touchpad. Android doesn't touch webOS from the demos I have seen

 

[Mitchrapp]

personally I wish iOS was more like the webOS 3 demo. That looked like everything I wish iOS was and if it were out now I would buy a touchpad. Android doesn't touch webOS from the demos I have seen

Of course the webOS isn't out ATM and the touchpad has it's own problems. I watched some YouTube video and some of the apps on a touch pad didn't seem to run that smoothly.

Everyone has problems, just depends on what one you decide on.

 

[ozred]

It seems to me that comparing a car to an airplane is just not right. That's what one is doing when comparing Android to iOS. Anyone who has some technical knowledge knows these are two very different Mobile Operating Systems.

I say "why compare"?

Does there always have to be a winner and a loser, why be immature?

Instead why not choose to review the pros and cons of each, choose what works best for you, and stop the grade school level bickering.