Samsung 10.1 the last hope for android

[fertilized-egg]

In reality, Samsung and HP are the only two big name tablets running Honeycomb set to hit the market this year. If both are flops (like the Xoom), it's highly doubtful people will continue to maintain interest.

Didn't HP basically say "Ew, Android, go away" and bought Palm for WebOS?

I just don't see what's special about the Samsung tablet. It's going to be a sleeker, thinner version of the Moto Xoom with a better screen but running the same CPU and the same OS albeit potentially a much faster GPU, depending on whether they go with the Tegra2 or the Exynos. (Not that it really matters in any case. There's very little software that take advantage of extra 3D power in Honeycomb)

Essentially most manufacturers are constrained what can be done by ARM for the CPU speed so there will not be that much of a difference between tablets in the same generation in terms of raw performance other than the GPU but even that should be equalized. Currently it's all about the industrial design and the OS/software and in those two areas, Apple is arguably holding a huge advantage with Honeycomb not making much of a progress yet.

I'm personally much more interested in the HP tablet. I finally got to try the Xoom and the Playbook and both just felt rough. The Playbook was especially disappointing because the UI actually looked very nice and tastefully done, which I couldn't say about Honeycomb. Random slowness was abundant and the rampant checkerboarding in Playbook's browser was very surprising. Not to mention the general weird feeling of touch response - it's speedy but somehow feels out of sync.

(And yes I rebooted the devices, killed all the tasks, made sure the upgrade was up-to-date, and tried multiple devices to be sure it wasn't just one demo device.)

 

[christophermdia]

As Android continues to fail to deliver on tablets, iOS keeps gaining more and more apps. Some popular ones will port, others will not. As iPad grows, so will its integration. Integration with one VERY common product line vs trying to accommodate many different specs of many different product lines is a lot easier for many programmers. So as things like cars, and homes, etc..get integrated, I think you will just see the takeover by apple. Nothing against Android, I think it has to be different from iOS and they sure are different, I played with a Xoom and thought it was horrible, but I am an Apple fan.

 

[MrWillie]

Last hope?

We'll also not likely see the iPod market all over again, because at the very least, Google is a known and successful brand.

RCA (Lycia) is not well known? What about MS and it's Zune ? (Which had a great idea, but they failed to properly implement it.) Sony ? All well known and successful companies. All made portable 'mp3' players.

As a poster mentioned in another thread, it's an iPad market, not a tablet market. (Kinda like the iPods.)

 

[Tarzanman]

A 10" Lenovo tablet was just uncovered by Engadget. Ipad 2 killer it might not be, but its supposed to be priced at $499 and have a bevy of features that users might like:

Stylus pen & digitizer, HDMI, USB, Card reader

Runs android.

Mind you, Lenovo has been making high end laptops and high end tablet PCs for many years (Thinkpads). Its a market they are very familiar with.

My guess is they will offer both Android and Windows tablets when Microsoft finally releases a mobile OS.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

The deciding factor on whether any other mobile OS will succeed or not will be the sales volume at launch. If it's low, most developers are not going to bother developing apps for a device owned by a minority, specially if the sale price has to be close to the $0.99 starting price.

Developers want to see a high volume of potential buyers in order to make sense for them to invest time and money developing apps. Some developers may loose interest if they don't see a future.

The venturous, starting developer may not care, as he or she will do it as a side job. So we shouldn't expect to see many high quality apps on any other mobile OS that is not iOS.

Sadly, all other mobile OS currently are a segregate minority.

I do want to see something else, perhaps a Mobile Linux Tablet, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

 

[fertilized-egg]

RCA (Lycia) is not well known? What about MS and it's Zune ? (Which had a great idea, but they failed to properly implement it.) Sony ? All well known and successful companies. All made portable 'mp3' players.

Yup let's not forget:

Dell
Samsung
Sandisk
Creative
LG (yes they made MP3 players and failed so spectacularly most never heard of LG MP3 players)

These are some of the largest and best known brands in their respective areas of expertise and they tried HARD to gain the MP3 marketshare. (little known fact: back in 2005 Samsung loudly announced that they'll "Overtake the top spot in the global MP3 market by 2007 with a 25%-30% marketshare" that worked out well)

...and some of them succeeded to an extent - I recall Apple falling under 50% - but at the end none of them could've really match the iPod's lead.

 

[AndroidfoLife]

They are already starting to release sub 400$ tablets

16gb wifi only model without the keyboard.

For those of you who believe that apple will control the tablet market only because its apple are mistaken. Apple can not meet everyone's need for a tablet. Some people will want a larger screen, Smaller screen, physical keyboard, Kickstand, HDMI, USB ports, Flash card readers, and Removable battery and dozens of other things that people will find important.

 

[maclaptop]

Android's already dead

 

[AndroidfoLife]

Android's already dead

Please open your eyes. Android is not dead it is far from dead. Android, as much as you dislike is here to stay. It is not going anywhere anytime soon. Please understand that Android is needed just as much as iOS. We need them to compete with each other. Competition breeds innovation.

Yup let's not forget:

Dell
Samsung
Sandisk
Creative
LG (yes they made MP3 players and failed so spectacularly most never heard of LG MP3 players)

These are some of the largest and best known brands in their respective areas of expertise and they tried HARD to gain the MP3 marketshare. (little known fact: back in 2005 Samsung loudly announced that they'll "Overtake the top spot in the global MP3 market by 2007 with a 25%-30% marketshare" that worked out well)

...and some of them succeeded to an extent - I recall Apple falling under 50% - but at the end none of them could've really match the iPod's lead.

Sandisk I think had the best alternative to an Apple MP3 player.

 

[ZBoater]

Android's already dead

Ummmm, ok.

 

[fertilized-egg]

Please open your eyes. Android is not dead it is far from dead. Android, as much as you dislike is here to stay.

Personally I really hate the fact Android is considered the "defender of the public from Apple's evil ways" by default just because it's available to all the hardware makers who can't be bothered make their own software. I'd much rather see the QNX OS and webOS succeed because I feel those OSs (or least the webOS version on Palm phones) are made with much more care toward usability and aesthetics in mind than Android.

Sandisk I think had the best alternative to an Apple MP3 player.

That I agree. But I found their build quality quite shoddy first hand.

 

[Mac.World]

16gb wifi only model without the keyboard.

For those of you who believe that apple will control the tablet market only because its apple are mistaken. Apple can not meet everyone's need for a tablet. Some people will want a larger screen, Smaller screen, physical keyboard, Kickstand, HDMI, USB ports, Flash card readers, and Removable battery and dozens of other things that people will find important.

To be fair, you can buy a new iPad 1 for $300-$350 these days. I'm not a fan of the Asus. To thick and to heavy, plus the wanna-be-laptop image doesn't make much sense IMO. It may for some, but I don't think the sales are going to be there.

For me, my Android device has to be as thin as, or nearly as thin as the iPad, weigh the same or less, have the same type of battery life and have a great OS. So far, the reviews keep pointing me to Samsung. I'll wait and see if HP and its OS come close to these standards.

 

[AndroidfoLife]

To be fair, you can buy a new iPad 1 for $300-$350 these days. I'm not a fan of the Asus. To thick and to heavy, plus the wanna-be-laptop image doesn't make much sense IMO. It may for some, but I don't think the sales are going to be there.

For me, my Android device has to be as thin as, or nearly as thin as the iPad, weigh the same or less, have the same type of battery life and have a great OS. So far, the reviews keep pointing me to Samsung. I'll wait and see if HP and its OS come close to these standards.

I like the design of the ASUS tablet. I personally wanted a light device that I can use as a tablet and if needed use it as a netbook. The Keyboard is also a media hub, and battery. It also is optimized for android honeycomb. In all I can not wait to get this device.

 

[BergerFan]

I wouldn't be sure about that.

With the iPhone vs. Android phone...yes that was bound to happen with carrier subsidies for phones, heavy discounting that cell phone carriers will eat just to get the monthly revenue from a paying customer.

The iPad tablet vs. Android tablet is a completely different ballgame. Since most people do not want to be tied into another forced data plan and thus carriers can't lure customers by discounting Android tablets on contract.

It will likely more like Apple's iPod vs. their competitors. The iPod still holds the majority of the MP3 market (although Apple's iPod division doesn't even generate more than 5% of it's revenue anymore).

Look at it this way, if Apple's competitors wanted to draw market share from for their tablets, they would severely undercut Apple's pricing but to date, only Acer's tablet (which sells for $450) is priced lower than Apple's.

But Apple's iPad is considered "value priced". The $499 price point Apple created as an entry is very hard to beat for their competitors.

+10.
I couldn't agree more.
Consumers generally perceive Apple products to be be premium, and their prices usually confirm that, with regard to laptops, desktops and the iPhone.
That same perception exists with the iPad, but the price doesn't reflect it.
So, if the consumer want a MacBook, he/she will factor in the price, compared to similarly-specced rivals, and will usually choose the rival, if price is the major factor.
No such price worries with the iPad, so for them, it's a no-brainer to choose iPad.

 

[f1restarter]

Android's already dead

Dumbest statement ever!

 

[Steviolol]

16gb wifi only model without the keyboard.

For those of you who believe that apple will control the tablet market only because its apple are mistaken. Apple can not meet everyone's need for a tablet. Some people will want a larger screen, Smaller screen, physical keyboard, Kickstand, HDMI, USB ports, Flash card readers, and Removable battery and dozens of other things that people will find important.

Let's take on some of these "features" shall we.

I'm not usually one for having to buy accessories to fill in gaps that should be included, but a lot of these are no brainers.

Physical keyboard - iPad keyboard dock

Kickstand - really ? Someone would buy a crappy tablet because it has a kickstand, just buy a case that has a stand.

Hdmi - hdmi adaptor readily available.

Removable battery - not a huge issue IMO when you have such a large battery life.

That just leaves USB, which I feel SHOULD be covered by apple integrating Thunderbolt. Flash card reader, yeah I can see that one, and screen size obviously is legitimate.

So if someone wants to choose a crappy tablet based on flash readers and a different sized screen as the only two real legitimate reasons, go for it.

 

[rebubula]

The iPad is Apples chance to grab and hold an emerging market place just like it did with the mp3 players. They're already doing so. As far as marketing goes, Samsung might as well be dead in the water calling there new tablet the Galaxy 2. They should have marketed it under a new name, the campaign, new and improved only works if you had a leg to stand on in the first place, they don't.

Honeycomb might eventually work out in there favor, but the windows crowd is slow to adopt, and this is where there short fall will lie, unless they get some killer marketing, as soon as they undercut their prices below the iPad. Just as mp3=iPod, tablet = iPad, at least in the minds of consumers....

Creative and Zune don't have much market these days..

 

[OSMac]

All tablets except the iPad have been flops.

Galaxy tab, viewsonic models, xoom, Playbook...

The average consumer does not want them,
they are happy with a laptop or want a iPad.

 

[Ccrew]

Google does not make a tablet. They make Android.

Yet. Several months ago you'd probably have said they'll never make a computer, then the CR-48 showed it's face.

It'll be a Google or an Amazon that has the infrastructure already in place and the name recognition that will give Apple a thorn in their side. No one's there yet.

Another lead Apple has is their installed base. Whatever device tries to compete has to be compelling enough to make the faithful abandon the investment already made in hardware and apps.

 

[Piggie]

What will hurt Apple, and IMHO they deserve 100% to be hurt by it, is their lockdowns.

We would live in a horrid "computing world" if Apple had ruled instead of Microsoft over the past 15 ish years.

Microsofts way, in general is, here are all the tools, here are lots of options, now go and do what you want with them.

Some may not think this is ideal, and perhaps a little messy, but at least, it does mimic real life, you buy a toolbox and you get a mass of tools, some, some people may use, some others may use, but they are all there in case you may want them one day. Yes, you have some things you may never want, but they are still there.

Apple's way is very different, they decide what they think you should be using, and take away the things they think you don't need, or should not be using. This, in reality is a very very horrid way, and totally stifles things.

Sure, there are people who don't want to worry about what tool they need, and want mummy to only give them the things mummy thinks they should have.

Now this is fine. Microsoft are massive and Windows is everywhere. Apple and their Macs occupy a small corner for people who want to have things sorted out for them, and this is fantastic, as long as it stays this way.

What we never ever want is Apple using this practice in the main stream.

Sure, let's have Android tablets being bought by the masses and giving the masses the option to go all sorts of things Apple don't approve of, great. Then we can have Apple over to one side, the minority, offering a closed and control safe environment for those who wish to be under their wing.

There should be both options in the marketplace, but I can't really understand the mentality of anyone who is so blind as cannot see that Apple's "controlled" manner of allowing people to only do what they think is right, is the best way for the mass market.

It's such a bad idea. Sure, let's have it as an option for those who want it. Great, but not the mainstream way.

 

[rebubula]

If Microsoft could have created and implemented the model Apple has now from their incpetion, they would have.. As they would have been up to there eyeballs in $$$. Their market share would have ensured that...

Please don't let the open-platform idea get in the way. It's just as much about $$$ for Google and Microsoft as it is for Apple. They just have different way of locking you down and getting their revenue... Apple, also has a tough approval, process, so what? I've had one App in 3 years of owning an iOS device fail me. (Friendly, which now currently works)

In fact a recent poll just showed that PC users are the ones who predominantly like their, 'box' see below. So although what you say may seem correct, on the sub-surface its just wrong.

http://topnews.net.nz/content/214159-mac-users-vs-pc-users

 

[Piggie]

If Microsoft could have created and implemented the model Apple has now from their incpetion, they would have.. As they would have been up to there eyeballs in $$$. Their market share would have ensured that...

Please don't let the open-platform idea get in the way. It's just as much about $$$ for Google and Microsoft as it is for Apple. They just have different way of locking you down and getting their revenue... Apple, also has a tough approval, process, so what? I've had one App in 3 years of owning an iOS device fail me. (Friendly, which now currently works)

In fact a recent poll just showed that PC users are the ones who predominantly like their, 'box' see below. So although what you say may seem correct, on the sub-surface its just wrong.

http://topnews.net.nz/content/214159-mac-users-vs-pc-users

Oh yes, I'm sure they would have if they could of gotten away with it.

But people need to understand, what's in the best interest of the company, Apple. is not in the best interests of the consumer, you and me.
If anything they are at opposites. Having things open, and allowing consumers to flip and change what they want, gives the consumer the most options and flexibility, and totally against what the giant corporation wants, which is to make money.

Yes, it's all neat and tidy to have things controlled, but we'd would be in the computing dark ages now has Apple ruled over the past 15+ years.

Re your link, Hip, Cool, Trendy, Fashion, Design are all the things wrong with Apples way of computing. And are mistakes being make by a young generation who have no idea about what they are doing and the path they are following.

 

[rebubula]

Although I agree about my generation being led like sheep and some of your points. Like I always tell people, its like trying to convince a democrat to vote republican... Just not worth the energy for either of us.

I just wanted to make the point that if given the chance and right marketplace conditions, I believe Microsoft and Google would have went the way of Apple. Sadly this is also the reason I will never have a Blu-Ray player in my macbook.

 

[Piggie]

Although I agree about my generation being led like sheep and some of your points. Like I always tell people, its like trying to convince a democrat to vote republican... Just not worth the energy for either of us.

I just wanted to make the point that if given the chance and right marketplace conditions, I believe Microsoft and Google would have went the way of Apple. Sadly this is also the reason I will never have a Blu-Ray player in my macbook.

Oh yes, I agree, and I know you are right.

I could point out all day long how my T-Shirt is make from the finest quality cotton, the stitching is all double strength and expertly done, US workers are being employed making my super high quality garment, and it will last for a good 10 years.

But, to the youth of today, none of that matters as it does not have a Nike logo stamped on the front!

 

[Mac.World]

Oh yes, I'm sure they would have if they could of gotten away with it.

But people need to understand, what's in the best interest of the company, Apple. is not in the best interests of the consumer, you and me.
If anything they are at opposites. Having things open, and allowing consumers to flip and change what they want, gives the consumer the most options and flexibility, and totally against what the giant corporation wants, which is to make money.

Yes, it's all neat and tidy to have things controlled, but we'd would be in the computing dark ages now has Apple ruled over the past 15+ years.

Re your link, Hip, Cool, Trendy, Fashion, Design are all the things wrong with Apples way of computing. And are mistakes being make by a young generation who have no idea about what they are doing and the path they are following.

Not seeing this piggie. I have an iPhone that is jail broken and I can customize the crap out of it, plus have stable apps that aren't prone to malware. In fact my home screen and active wallpaper mimic the Nexus S. I may not have the great notification system of Android, but I can pretty much do anything I want to my phone.

As for Mac's, how would you consider my Mac controlled or locked down? Not only do I have a 128GB SSD and a 500GB HDD installed in my MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM, I also have Windows 7 Ultimate installed, along with OSX. All on a 13" MBP. How much more can you modify your laptop? I don't know about you, but I don't call any of that controlled. I call that being able to do what I want to my Apple products.

I think you are thinking of Apple pre-2001.