Monday, May 19, 2014
Why do Apple and Google hate flash memory cards?
My kids got iPad minis for Christmas. Although I am firmly a fan of Android tablets, I bowed to their wishes based on the old standard argument that "all of their friends have them." To some extent, that argument carries more weight in this context since collaboration, use of the same apps and games often requires being on the same platform.
My experience with Apple in this limited context has only reaffirmed my wish to stay as far away from Apple as possible. All the accessories are overpriced. Repairs (one cracked his screen already) are impossible. Access to many very cool, innovative, and free apps seems much more limited. Also, the Apple "Geniuses" at the Apple store have not lived up to their name.
But one frustrating limitation of the iPad that annoys me most is the lack of a micro SD port. This omission makes it impossible to add additional storage space to your device. You re stuck with the limited amount of space you purchased with your device.
One might expect this sort of thing from Apple, since the company has always been averse to including any technology which Apple did not develop and does not control. It also does not like the possibility that owners might find a way to use the device that Apple did not anticipate. It's just Apple being Apple.
But I am also bothered by Google's refusal to include a Micro SD reader on its Nexus tablets. Google seems to be drifting from its traditional view of "make something the consumers will love" following the trend of Apple, to "make something which customers will accept but which benefits us more."
Both Apple and Google's refusal to include Micro SD creates real problems for users. It makes it much harder to transfer files between the tablet and other devices. It makes it much harder to recover important documents, pictures, music, etc. if the device fails. It limits users' ability to carry around media with them for offline use.
Similarly, the failure to have a full size USB port on the device which would allow for the easy connection of flash drives causes the same limitations. I'm not sure why some industrious manufacturer hasn't developed a flash drive with a micro USB interface to get around this problem. Update: Kingston has a solution to this with its Microduo line.
There are some ways around this, at least with Android. You can connect your tablet directly to your computer using a USB cable for transfers and backups. But it still doesn't help with carrying around extra data.
All of these limitations benefit Apple and now Google's apparent strategy to keep everyone connected to the Internet all the time. This allows both companies to track how customers use their devices and to gather more data on usage. It also keeps the user inside the company's sphere of influence, making them more dependent on the company's services for online storage, online documents, online backup, etc. If a user is working happily offline it is almost seen by the manufacturer as a failure. Further, it forces users to pay more for devices that have more base memory, which are sold at a huge profit by the manufacturers.
Fortunately, most third party manufacturers who build Google products included the Micro SD reader. This is the number one reason I am using them rather than the Nexus. I will continue to stay as far away from Apple as possible.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
How Microsoft Could Win the Tablet War
How Microsoft Could Win the Tablet War
Apple defined the tablet market with its release of the iPad in 2010, only three years ago. It continues to dominate with about 1/3 of the tablet sales, more than any other single manufacturer. That is 1/3 of all tablets sold in the most recent quarter. Since its market domination has been much higher until now. It is fair to say that the vast majority of tablet users today are using iPads.
Its main competitor is Google which provides the free Android OS used on almost all competing tablets sold in a whole range of prices, sizes, and customizations. If you add up all these manufacturers, it is clear that Android is the new tablet power to beat.
Smaller competitors such as Blackberry and HP using the old Palm technology have faded quickly without making much of any impression. Only Microsoft's Surface remains a distant third place tablet OS. Even this entry probably would have died if not backed by a company able to sustain billions of dollars in losses in an attempt to gain a foothold. At this point analysts do not think Microsoft is even a serious contender in the market.
While the Surface OS has gotten relatively good reviews, its sales have been disappointing, despite spending a Billion dollars on advertising. How can Microsoft find its place in this highly competitive market?
In the short term, Microsoft needs to slash the price of its devices. How many consumers will pay $800 plus for a Surface if they can get an iPad for half that? The Nexus 7 exploded in market share when it sold for $200. If the Surface went on sale for that price, it's market share would also explode. You could even bundle tablets with free subscriptions to Office365 for several years, helping to build that market share as well. Selling at a loss is a good idea. Don't spend all that money on marketing. Sell at a low price and build market share.
But longer term, Microsoft cannot satisfy shareholders by selling devices at a loss. It has to find its place in the market. For that, ask yourself where Microsoft is strongest. Clearly the answer is the office enterprise environment. While Apple and Android are popular among consumers, few enterprises have adopted their technologies. Business still runs on Windows. Some iPads have found there way into the office, but mostly because Microsoft offers no serious alternative.
To put its tablets into the enterprise environment, Microsoft needs to offer employers and employees something useful which is not available from Apple or Google. Make a device that is much more user friendly for working with e-documents.
First, make a larger tablet. When I hold a piece of paper in my hand it is 8.5" by 11" about size of a 15" computer screen. Why then must I view this document on a 10" screen? That is too small.
Don't try to build a whole PC into a tablet. Make a smaller leaner faster OS that can boot up in less than 15 seconds. The tablet can essentially be a "dummy terminal" that connects wirelessly to the Enterprise server. Almost all apps can be run from the server, with the tablet simply containing some very basic code to view documents save for offline reading and basic editing. This means a less powerful (cheaper) CPU and other hardware as well as longer battery life.
Tie these tablets into Windows servers. Allow users to log into a tablet and have immediate access to all of their documents. You could even tie it into Sharepoint or Office365 for out of office use.
Make it easy to share documents. Have an easy interface so that one tablet with the push of one button can share a document with all other tablets within 20 feet. This would make it very easy for conference room meetings. If you want to make it frendlier for teleconferencing, tie in Skype. Users connected via Skype could also be tied into the one button document share.
Users could mark up the shared document in a collaborative way at the same time. Sure, Google already allows this feature in Google Drive, but by tying it to your local file server, you make this collaboration accessible to existing libraries, rather than having customers abandon you for the cloud. It also allows for greater document security, which leads to my next point.
Make it secure. Unlike many of your competitors, you already own the infrastructure of most offices. Your servers and software are already being run. Make these tablets a secure extension of the documents available on their PCs, giving users the flexibility to go paperless but carry their documents around with them. Most IT departments would be happy to have a much more secure option that gives users freedom to move about with documents. They would be much more willing to ban the BYOD ethos that users are demanding today.
Don't try to be cool. You ceded that market to Apple and Google already. Don't try to personalize the device and appeal to consumers. Show IT departments why your tablet makes the most sense in an Enterprise environment. You can lock down the device to approved apps so users are not using them to access Facebook, Instagram, or Netflix. Many employers are still very concerned about employees being distracted and wasting time on the Internet. Offer the boss a tool that can be used for work. If you want, you can make a different device for end user consumers who want to have fun. But as you have seen, breaking into that market is a tough one. You are focused here on a separate market for business.
You are the grown up in the room, with stable, professional, enterprise ready devices. Doing away with bells and whistles makes your device faster, cheaper, and more reliable. Combine that with a simple easy to understand user interface focused on business use, and you have found a place in the market for years to come.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Getting the most for your money on an Android tablet
My ongoing experience with tablets has led me to a number of conclusions, the primary one for this article is that if you don't have a tablet yet, now is the time to get one.
Loyal readers of my blog (ok, there aren't any of you, but I'll pretend) may recall back in 2011, I posted an article where I said it was not time to buy a tablet. They were too expensive and much better things were coming along shortly. In the intervening two years, things have changed and now the options are much better.
I have long been a fan of Android over the iPad. In earlier posts I have discussed why I think Android is superior to iPad and I continue to believe that. I have now owned five different Android tablets (and four Android smart phones).
My first tablet, the Toshiba Thrive, was probably my favorite. Although it is old now, the fact that it had a full size HDMI port made it very easy to connect to a TV. It also had a full size USB port which made it easy to connect my flash drive for access to files. A full size SD card reader also made it incredibly simple to transfer files from my laptop, which also has a full size SD card reader. The price for all of these ports was that the Thrive was a little thicker and heavier that most people would like, but well worth it to me. Combine that with nice graphics and a good battery life and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, this model is an older one running Android 3.1. Newer versions of the Thrive did away with all the full sized ports, leading me to move in other directions.
My next tablet was an Arnova 10b g3. This was a 10" tablet that I purchased probably two years ago. The draw for me was its price. At under $200, for a 10" tablet, that price was practically unheard of at the time. But unfortunately, it had some real drawbacks. First, Arnova made some basic changes so the Android OS that prevented users from accessing the Google Play store. This is apparently a practice that several low end Android manufacturers employ. They try to push you to their own stores instead (Amazon does this with the Fire too). Unfortunately, the Arnova store was extremely limited and denied me access to most of the basic Google tools I wanted (e.g. no Google Maps, or Gmail). I was able to find a hack that wiped out these limitations and installed a version that would give me access to the Google Store. But the hoops I had to jump through to get there would be beyond most users.
If that was the end of my dissatisfaction, it would be tolerable, but there were more. The main one was battery life. I could not get through even one day of moderate usage without the battery dying on me. It was only good for a few hours of use. Further, even when the tablet was in sleep mode, it completely drained the battery in a few days. By comparison, the iPad can be in sleep mode for weeks without needing recharging. So I had to keep the tablet turned off when not using it. This meant having to go through a power on process that took a few minutes every time I wanted to use it.
Another major limitation was the 4GB drive that ran the tablet. This left almost no room for any apps at all. I think I could install just over a dozen apps before being warned I was out of space. Apparently, only a portion of the available free space was reserved for Apps. Even though it had a mini SD card port, Apps had to be installed on the very limited internal space, so that was a serious limitation. Finally, the cheap plastic casing and low end video graphics were tolerable for such a cheap tablet, but certainly didn't add anything to my enjoyment.
The Arnova had a micro SD reader, which was convenient, although I needed an adapter to move the card to my full size SD reader on my laptop. This was one small step backward from my Thrive, but it seems no tablets have full size SD readers anymore, so I've learned to live with that.
My two important lessons from this tablet where these: Just because a device is an Android does not mean you have access to all the standard Android features. Manufacturers sometimes create serious roadblocks to usefulness. Second, internal memory matters. Don't rely on the ability to add external memory.
Not having completely learned my lesson, I bought a Coby Kyros 4.3 "tablet". I put tablet in quotes because with a 4" screen, it looked more like a cell phone. I bought this device for $50 mostly because I wanted a cheap device for voice dictation and little else. I knew the Android 4.1 on the device was capable of good voice dictation so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, even that limited use did not seen to work right. The device was complete junk and I gave up on it in less than a week.
Having been burned by low end devices, my next tablet was a Nexus 7. I was drawn to this by the fact that it installed the Android OS as Google intended, without some third party interfering with it. It also seemed to have good hardware specs. Most of all, I was happy to see such a good tablet under the $200 mark, although I ended up paying a little more than that for the 32 GB version. My experience with the 4 GB Arnova told me, don't skimp on space.
There were two things that made me hesitant to go with the Nexus 7. The first, was the "7" part. I really liked the 10" screens on my earlier tablets. In fact, I would really like a larger screen so I could look at full size 8.5 x 11 documents on my screen. When I want smaller size and mobility, I have my 4" smart phone for such things. My eyes strain on smaller screens, so I was not crazy about losing three inches. That said, once I got it, I got used to the 7" screen pretty quickly. It was not as bad as I thought and I could actually fit the tablet in most of my pants pockets. While I would still prefer a larger screen, the 7" was tolerable and since 7" tablets seem to be less than half the price of 10" ones, it seems a reasonable compromise for now.
The second thing that made me hesitant was the lack of any sort of memory card port. This meant no expansion. It also meant that I could not easily transfer pictures, documents, and music back and forth from my computers using an SD card. Yes, I could connect the tablet to my laptop with a USB cable, but this was not always convenient. Also, Windows has an annoying practice now of showing the tablet as an external device. While I can move files back an forth, I could not assign a drive letter to the tablet. I have several utilities (including my favorite sync utility) that require a drive letter, so this was a big disappointment.
One other limitation I discovered after purchase was that the Nexus charges via the micro-USB port. All the other tablets I had up until this point came with their own adapters. The micro-USB charges more slowly. If the battery was very low, it could take 8-10 hours to recharge. My other tablets could charge in a couple of hours. Still, even with this limitation, I think I prefer having the micro-usb charging. I carry around about half a dozen other devices that all use micro-USB. I like having to carry just one charging cable for all my devices rather than a different charger for each device. For me, the convenience of carrying just one cable for everything outweighs the slower charge time.
Those limitations aside, I really liked the Nexus 7. It worked very well. the battery lasted through a whole weekend of moderate use without recharging. The screen graphics were great and I never experienced any speed or lag issues.
Overall, I grew to like the Nexus 7 and was pretty happy with it. I really thought the addition of a micro SD reader would make it nearly ideal. Almost all other Android tablets have this feature so I still don't understand why this one does not. I thought it might have to do with cutting as many hardware costs as possible to get to the $200 price point. But since Nexus just released its next generation device for $229 and still no card reader, I guess that wasn't it. They spent extra money upgrading the screen pixel rate and cameras, but no SD. What a disappointment.
I would still be happily using my Nexus today if I did not somehow manage to crack the screen on it while carrying it in my briefcase. Even though the crack was rather small, it caused the touch screen to stop working, making the tablet worthless. I started using my Arnova tablet again, only to crack the screen on that, also causing the touch to fail on that one too. I should mention the reason I stopped using my Thrive was also because I dropped it and cracked the screen, although the touch does still work on that one. For my next tablet, I am definitely getting a cover!
For my next tablet, I really gave a lot of thought to the new Nexus 7. But the increase price and, more importantly the lack of an SD reader, drove me back to trying a different low end brand. I read good things about the Asus MeMo pad and decided to give it a try. The fact that Asus is the same company that makes the Nexus gave me some faith in its ability to make its own good tablet.
I have had it for about a week now and am really enjoying it. It is almost exactly the same size as the Nexus 7. The Android 4.1 OS is not the latest (4.3) but it does everything I need it to do. I have access to Google Play and all the apps I want. The device even "remembered" many of the settings on my Nexus because I had backed them up through Google. Battery life is very good. I can get through the weekend on one charge with moderate use. It has a front facing camera for video chats, but not a rear facing one for easily taking pictures. But I don't take pictures with my tablet. I use my phone for that. All the apps I use run well. It does not have GPS, but I mostly use that on my phone, not my tablet. All my tablets have been Wifi only as I'm not paying another monthly data charge to AT&T. In short, I notice little difference with my MeMo Pad from my old Nexus 7 with one key difference: it has an SD reader! Yes, I can now transfer files back and forth easily via the reader. That alone makes is superior to the Nexus.
Oh, and did I mention the price? Because the new MeMo Pad HD was just announced, I picked up what is now last year's model for a mere $106. Less than half the price of a Nexus 7. The new MeMo Pad HD will retail for $150, which is what the old one had been selling for, still significantly cheaper than the Nexus. The new device will add a rear facing camera. So if that is important, go with the new one. So far, however, I am very happy with my purchase.
Two years ago, my blog post complaining about tablet prices was on the mark but a little too pessimistic. I predicted that within 10 years you could get a great tablet for under $150. The industry has met and beaten that challenge in just over two years! There is great functionality in these low priced devices. I think just about anyone can afford one now.
I would recommend the MeMo Pad to anyone who asks. But if you want something different, a few things to consider:
Loyal readers of my blog (ok, there aren't any of you, but I'll pretend) may recall back in 2011, I posted an article where I said it was not time to buy a tablet. They were too expensive and much better things were coming along shortly. In the intervening two years, things have changed and now the options are much better.
I have long been a fan of Android over the iPad. In earlier posts I have discussed why I think Android is superior to iPad and I continue to believe that. I have now owned five different Android tablets (and four Android smart phones).
My first tablet, the Toshiba Thrive, was probably my favorite. Although it is old now, the fact that it had a full size HDMI port made it very easy to connect to a TV. It also had a full size USB port which made it easy to connect my flash drive for access to files. A full size SD card reader also made it incredibly simple to transfer files from my laptop, which also has a full size SD card reader. The price for all of these ports was that the Thrive was a little thicker and heavier that most people would like, but well worth it to me. Combine that with nice graphics and a good battery life and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, this model is an older one running Android 3.1. Newer versions of the Thrive did away with all the full sized ports, leading me to move in other directions.
My next tablet was an Arnova 10b g3. This was a 10" tablet that I purchased probably two years ago. The draw for me was its price. At under $200, for a 10" tablet, that price was practically unheard of at the time. But unfortunately, it had some real drawbacks. First, Arnova made some basic changes so the Android OS that prevented users from accessing the Google Play store. This is apparently a practice that several low end Android manufacturers employ. They try to push you to their own stores instead (Amazon does this with the Fire too). Unfortunately, the Arnova store was extremely limited and denied me access to most of the basic Google tools I wanted (e.g. no Google Maps, or Gmail). I was able to find a hack that wiped out these limitations and installed a version that would give me access to the Google Store. But the hoops I had to jump through to get there would be beyond most users.
If that was the end of my dissatisfaction, it would be tolerable, but there were more. The main one was battery life. I could not get through even one day of moderate usage without the battery dying on me. It was only good for a few hours of use. Further, even when the tablet was in sleep mode, it completely drained the battery in a few days. By comparison, the iPad can be in sleep mode for weeks without needing recharging. So I had to keep the tablet turned off when not using it. This meant having to go through a power on process that took a few minutes every time I wanted to use it.
Another major limitation was the 4GB drive that ran the tablet. This left almost no room for any apps at all. I think I could install just over a dozen apps before being warned I was out of space. Apparently, only a portion of the available free space was reserved for Apps. Even though it had a mini SD card port, Apps had to be installed on the very limited internal space, so that was a serious limitation. Finally, the cheap plastic casing and low end video graphics were tolerable for such a cheap tablet, but certainly didn't add anything to my enjoyment.
The Arnova had a micro SD reader, which was convenient, although I needed an adapter to move the card to my full size SD reader on my laptop. This was one small step backward from my Thrive, but it seems no tablets have full size SD readers anymore, so I've learned to live with that.
My two important lessons from this tablet where these: Just because a device is an Android does not mean you have access to all the standard Android features. Manufacturers sometimes create serious roadblocks to usefulness. Second, internal memory matters. Don't rely on the ability to add external memory.
Not having completely learned my lesson, I bought a Coby Kyros 4.3 "tablet". I put tablet in quotes because with a 4" screen, it looked more like a cell phone. I bought this device for $50 mostly because I wanted a cheap device for voice dictation and little else. I knew the Android 4.1 on the device was capable of good voice dictation so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, even that limited use did not seen to work right. The device was complete junk and I gave up on it in less than a week.
Having been burned by low end devices, my next tablet was a Nexus 7. I was drawn to this by the fact that it installed the Android OS as Google intended, without some third party interfering with it. It also seemed to have good hardware specs. Most of all, I was happy to see such a good tablet under the $200 mark, although I ended up paying a little more than that for the 32 GB version. My experience with the 4 GB Arnova told me, don't skimp on space.
There were two things that made me hesitant to go with the Nexus 7. The first, was the "7" part. I really liked the 10" screens on my earlier tablets. In fact, I would really like a larger screen so I could look at full size 8.5 x 11 documents on my screen. When I want smaller size and mobility, I have my 4" smart phone for such things. My eyes strain on smaller screens, so I was not crazy about losing three inches. That said, once I got it, I got used to the 7" screen pretty quickly. It was not as bad as I thought and I could actually fit the tablet in most of my pants pockets. While I would still prefer a larger screen, the 7" was tolerable and since 7" tablets seem to be less than half the price of 10" ones, it seems a reasonable compromise for now.
The second thing that made me hesitant was the lack of any sort of memory card port. This meant no expansion. It also meant that I could not easily transfer pictures, documents, and music back and forth from my computers using an SD card. Yes, I could connect the tablet to my laptop with a USB cable, but this was not always convenient. Also, Windows has an annoying practice now of showing the tablet as an external device. While I can move files back an forth, I could not assign a drive letter to the tablet. I have several utilities (including my favorite sync utility) that require a drive letter, so this was a big disappointment.
One other limitation I discovered after purchase was that the Nexus charges via the micro-USB port. All the other tablets I had up until this point came with their own adapters. The micro-USB charges more slowly. If the battery was very low, it could take 8-10 hours to recharge. My other tablets could charge in a couple of hours. Still, even with this limitation, I think I prefer having the micro-usb charging. I carry around about half a dozen other devices that all use micro-USB. I like having to carry just one charging cable for all my devices rather than a different charger for each device. For me, the convenience of carrying just one cable for everything outweighs the slower charge time.
Those limitations aside, I really liked the Nexus 7. It worked very well. the battery lasted through a whole weekend of moderate use without recharging. The screen graphics were great and I never experienced any speed or lag issues.
Overall, I grew to like the Nexus 7 and was pretty happy with it. I really thought the addition of a micro SD reader would make it nearly ideal. Almost all other Android tablets have this feature so I still don't understand why this one does not. I thought it might have to do with cutting as many hardware costs as possible to get to the $200 price point. But since Nexus just released its next generation device for $229 and still no card reader, I guess that wasn't it. They spent extra money upgrading the screen pixel rate and cameras, but no SD. What a disappointment.
I would still be happily using my Nexus today if I did not somehow manage to crack the screen on it while carrying it in my briefcase. Even though the crack was rather small, it caused the touch screen to stop working, making the tablet worthless. I started using my Arnova tablet again, only to crack the screen on that, also causing the touch to fail on that one too. I should mention the reason I stopped using my Thrive was also because I dropped it and cracked the screen, although the touch does still work on that one. For my next tablet, I am definitely getting a cover!
For my next tablet, I really gave a lot of thought to the new Nexus 7. But the increase price and, more importantly the lack of an SD reader, drove me back to trying a different low end brand. I read good things about the Asus MeMo pad and decided to give it a try. The fact that Asus is the same company that makes the Nexus gave me some faith in its ability to make its own good tablet.
I have had it for about a week now and am really enjoying it. It is almost exactly the same size as the Nexus 7. The Android 4.1 OS is not the latest (4.3) but it does everything I need it to do. I have access to Google Play and all the apps I want. The device even "remembered" many of the settings on my Nexus because I had backed them up through Google. Battery life is very good. I can get through the weekend on one charge with moderate use. It has a front facing camera for video chats, but not a rear facing one for easily taking pictures. But I don't take pictures with my tablet. I use my phone for that. All the apps I use run well. It does not have GPS, but I mostly use that on my phone, not my tablet. All my tablets have been Wifi only as I'm not paying another monthly data charge to AT&T. In short, I notice little difference with my MeMo Pad from my old Nexus 7 with one key difference: it has an SD reader! Yes, I can now transfer files back and forth easily via the reader. That alone makes is superior to the Nexus.
Oh, and did I mention the price? Because the new MeMo Pad HD was just announced, I picked up what is now last year's model for a mere $106. Less than half the price of a Nexus 7. The new MeMo Pad HD will retail for $150, which is what the old one had been selling for, still significantly cheaper than the Nexus. The new device will add a rear facing camera. So if that is important, go with the new one. So far, however, I am very happy with my purchase.
Two years ago, my blog post complaining about tablet prices was on the mark but a little too pessimistic. I predicted that within 10 years you could get a great tablet for under $150. The industry has met and beaten that challenge in just over two years! There is great functionality in these low priced devices. I think just about anyone can afford one now.
I would recommend the MeMo Pad to anyone who asks. But if you want something different, a few things to consider:
- Battery life is very important. Tablets are mobile. You don't want to be attached to an outlet or constantly looking for a recharge. At least 7-8 hours of running time is easily available.
- I would be reluctant to get a tablet with only 8 GB of internal memory (4 GB is out of the question for me). Most tablets come with at least 16 GB which seems a good level. If you carry lots of media, there is room for plenty of music or pictures. If you plan to create or store video, 32 GB may be better.
- .Card readers are very useful. These cards are much cheaper to buy than the extra money you will pay for extra internal memory on the tablet. It also makes transfers between your tablet and PC much easier.
- Make sure your tablet can access Google Play so you can download the apps you want. Some cheaper no-name manufacturers, as well as the Amazon Fire don't give you this access. If you don't have Google Play, you will not have a real Android experience.
- Don't fall for the HD hype. I have had no serious video quality complaints with any of my screens. HD is important when you are buying a 70" TV. It is not at all important on a 7" tablet screen. You are spending extra money for nothing.
- There is a big difference between Android 4.0 and Android 4.1. I would not get anything lower than 4.1. Android 4.0 was known as "ice cream sandwich." Android 4.1 is "jelly bean."
- There is not much difference between Android 4.1 and 4.2 or 4.3 All three of these versions are part of the "jelly bean" line. If a device has at least 4.1, I would not worry.
- And finally, as my three cracked screen can attest, buy a cover for your tablet!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
iPad 3 vs. Android 3.1 when using media
Several months ago, I purchased a Toshiba Thrive running the Android 3.1 OS. A few weeks ago, I got the new iPad 3 for work to test how tablets could work with our system. I have to say that in my opinion, the Android beats the iPad hands down, no contest. I know everyone works differently, and if sales are any indication, my view is well in the minority. That said, here are the reasons for my views.
Let me say at the outset that I have long been a fan on Google and relatively hostile to Apple. Apple turned me off in the early 1980s when they refused to let users upgrade memory in their computers (or do anything else). As a PC person, I was used to making upgrades myself and didn't want a manufacturer thwarting my efforts. Over the last three decades, Apple has only gotten worse with it's OCD attitude that no one can do anything any different way than Apple wants. Much of this leads to unnecessary complication and expense. Google gives you just about everything free. Apple seems to go out of its way to make all of its products, upgrades, add-ons and service much more expensive. Those attitudes are why I have become a big fan of Google.
I also want to say that this review does not discuss the basics (graphics quality, physical weight, battery length, etc.). Those things are readily measurable and have been discussed in other reviews far more professional than mine. I've also skipped things that were similar on both (such as my use of Kindle or Netflix). My focus here is on my experience ease and range of use.
I bought the Thrive over several competing Android Tablets because of its ports. I liked that it had a full size and a mini USB port as well as a full size SD flash port. I also have found the full HDMI port handy for hooking the tablet up to my TV. Anytime I want to add any media, I just copy the data from the SD reader on my laptop and stick it in my tablet. From there, I'm good to go. Many other Androids only offer a micro SD and may not have a full USB, so pay attention to that when buying if you find those important.
Setup and customization was relatively quick easy and painless. Within a few days, I was quite comfortable with everything. I have hit a few snags, such as the fact that the tablet cannot read RTF or WordPerfect documents. Also, the camera does not seem to work with Skype. But other than that, I've been quite happy.
Compare that with my iPad 3 experience. Since many employees at my work were buying iPads and asking me for help using them, I decided to purchase a new iPad 3 so I could help with them. Apple has a well crafted reputation that everything "just works" without having to do a great deal of setup. My experience has been that for an advanced user, this is not the case and is very frustrating.
First, music: I don't listen to music all the time, but like to have my tunes handy. Most of my preferred selections are oldies that I have ripped from my CDs. With my Android, I simply copied a list of my music onto a flash card and stuck it in my tablet. It's there whenever I want it and can play right away. With iPad, there is no such option. The only way to play music is through Apple's iTunes. I had installed iTunes on a computer many years ago. It was incredibly intrusive, taking over all sorts of functions automatically without asking me. I have no desire to go through that again. Since there is no other option on the iPad, I'll just have to do without. My other option would be to spend hundreds of dollars repurchasing on iTunes, all the songs I have already purchased several times, no thanks.
Second, video: As with music, most of my videos I want to watch on my tablet are personal videos I have made myself. On my Android, I again simply copied them onto the tablet and accessed them. No problem. Again, with the iPad, there is no way to do this. As a work around, I have many of my videos uploaded to Youtube. I can simply watch them that way on either device, but often I have my tablet somewhere without Internet access. In that case, my iPad is useless.
Third, documents: If I want a cloud based solution for any documents, I just upload them to Google Docs and then access them on my tablet. I also have the option to connect my tablet directly to my Windows computer and have it show up as a drive. From there, I can copy, move, add, delete documents. I also keep many important documents on a flash drive in my wallet. I can just stick that drive into the USB port on my tablet and have immediate access to them. There is also the option of moving files via my SD Flash card. In short, there are a wide variety of methods to move files back and forth, even when Internet access is not available. With iPad, no such luck. I can go to Google Docs and use that. But if I'm without Internet, I'm out of luck. There is no apparent way to save a document locally to my tablet.
Fourth, email: On the Android, I entered my Gmail address and password. The tablet automatically synced my address book and multiple calenders, as well as my email inbox. I can select what calendars I want to show, as well as import or export calendar or contact info. The iPad made things much more limited or complicated. I still have not figured out how to sync my contacts. There is an account setting to sync contacts which is turned on, but not syncing anything. With my calendar, it syncs my main calendar, but I have half a dozen calendars (different activities and things shared with different people). Only the main calendar can be shown. I spent a few hours yesterday working through some work arounds for this. But so far, nothing has worked. I expect there is a solution, but it is not easy or intuitive as it was with my Android.
Fifth, photos: I have for years stored family pictures on PicasaWeb. The Android found these right way and showed them to me in my picture gallery. I have the option to cache selected pictures in case I want to view them when not connected to the Internet. With iPad, it appears I have to move my whole collection to iCloud -- not worth the hassle.
Admittedly, my experience is biased by the fact that I have used many Google products for years (such as Gmail and Picasa) and one might expect that Google built the Android OS to be more amenable to interaction with its other products. If I had been using iTunes and iCloud for years instead, perhaps my experience would be different.
One place I would think Apple has the advantage is with Apps. It's well known that Apple has many more apps available than iPad. But I have to say, Android wins my pick there too. I tend to be cheap. Android gives me a wide variety of free apps that do just about anything I want. Apple seems to charge more for just about anything, with far fewer free apps. I think this has to do with the difficulty of App makers getting into the Apple store. Because of the complication, many people who want to give away a free product just don't bother.
Apple also has an advantage when it comes to downloading movies or music. There is a much broader selection and it seems to work easily. That said, Apple charges a real premium for streaming. I looked up a few movies that were selling for close to $20 for a digital copy. That's more than I pay for a DVD where the manufacturer had to burn, package, and ship the product to a store. On top of that, if you are watching video regularly using a cell connection rather than wifi, you can find yourself saddled with hundreds of dollars in download costs each month.
I should also add that the iPad comes with a "USB" cable that doubles as the charging cable. However, connecting it to a computer does not give you access to the iPad hard drive and you cannot copy files back and forth. I also put "USB" in quotes because rather than having a real USB port on the iPad, you get some special proprietary port. This means, you will have to spend $30 to buy a replacement if it breaks or gets lost, compared to $1 or $2 for a replacement USB cable that uses standard connections. I was a little annoyed that I could not charge my Android via the USB port, but had to use the special adapter which came for that purpose, so Android did not win any points on charging hassles.
There are many out there who enjoy the iPad and other Apple products. If you are already invested in iTunes and iCloud, your experience will probably be much less painful. If you don't mind paying big money for apps and media, as well as streaming costs, the iPad may be quite enjoyable for you. But if you are not already fully invested in Apple, or don't want to continue paying premium costs for everything you do, I strongly recommend going with Android.
Let me say at the outset that I have long been a fan on Google and relatively hostile to Apple. Apple turned me off in the early 1980s when they refused to let users upgrade memory in their computers (or do anything else). As a PC person, I was used to making upgrades myself and didn't want a manufacturer thwarting my efforts. Over the last three decades, Apple has only gotten worse with it's OCD attitude that no one can do anything any different way than Apple wants. Much of this leads to unnecessary complication and expense. Google gives you just about everything free. Apple seems to go out of its way to make all of its products, upgrades, add-ons and service much more expensive. Those attitudes are why I have become a big fan of Google.
I also want to say that this review does not discuss the basics (graphics quality, physical weight, battery length, etc.). Those things are readily measurable and have been discussed in other reviews far more professional than mine. I've also skipped things that were similar on both (such as my use of Kindle or Netflix). My focus here is on my experience ease and range of use.
I bought the Thrive over several competing Android Tablets because of its ports. I liked that it had a full size and a mini USB port as well as a full size SD flash port. I also have found the full HDMI port handy for hooking the tablet up to my TV. Anytime I want to add any media, I just copy the data from the SD reader on my laptop and stick it in my tablet. From there, I'm good to go. Many other Androids only offer a micro SD and may not have a full USB, so pay attention to that when buying if you find those important.
Setup and customization was relatively quick easy and painless. Within a few days, I was quite comfortable with everything. I have hit a few snags, such as the fact that the tablet cannot read RTF or WordPerfect documents. Also, the camera does not seem to work with Skype. But other than that, I've been quite happy.
Compare that with my iPad 3 experience. Since many employees at my work were buying iPads and asking me for help using them, I decided to purchase a new iPad 3 so I could help with them. Apple has a well crafted reputation that everything "just works" without having to do a great deal of setup. My experience has been that for an advanced user, this is not the case and is very frustrating.
First, music: I don't listen to music all the time, but like to have my tunes handy. Most of my preferred selections are oldies that I have ripped from my CDs. With my Android, I simply copied a list of my music onto a flash card and stuck it in my tablet. It's there whenever I want it and can play right away. With iPad, there is no such option. The only way to play music is through Apple's iTunes. I had installed iTunes on a computer many years ago. It was incredibly intrusive, taking over all sorts of functions automatically without asking me. I have no desire to go through that again. Since there is no other option on the iPad, I'll just have to do without. My other option would be to spend hundreds of dollars repurchasing on iTunes, all the songs I have already purchased several times, no thanks.
Second, video: As with music, most of my videos I want to watch on my tablet are personal videos I have made myself. On my Android, I again simply copied them onto the tablet and accessed them. No problem. Again, with the iPad, there is no way to do this. As a work around, I have many of my videos uploaded to Youtube. I can simply watch them that way on either device, but often I have my tablet somewhere without Internet access. In that case, my iPad is useless.
Third, documents: If I want a cloud based solution for any documents, I just upload them to Google Docs and then access them on my tablet. I also have the option to connect my tablet directly to my Windows computer and have it show up as a drive. From there, I can copy, move, add, delete documents. I also keep many important documents on a flash drive in my wallet. I can just stick that drive into the USB port on my tablet and have immediate access to them. There is also the option of moving files via my SD Flash card. In short, there are a wide variety of methods to move files back and forth, even when Internet access is not available. With iPad, no such luck. I can go to Google Docs and use that. But if I'm without Internet, I'm out of luck. There is no apparent way to save a document locally to my tablet.
Fourth, email: On the Android, I entered my Gmail address and password. The tablet automatically synced my address book and multiple calenders, as well as my email inbox. I can select what calendars I want to show, as well as import or export calendar or contact info. The iPad made things much more limited or complicated. I still have not figured out how to sync my contacts. There is an account setting to sync contacts which is turned on, but not syncing anything. With my calendar, it syncs my main calendar, but I have half a dozen calendars (different activities and things shared with different people). Only the main calendar can be shown. I spent a few hours yesterday working through some work arounds for this. But so far, nothing has worked. I expect there is a solution, but it is not easy or intuitive as it was with my Android.
Fifth, photos: I have for years stored family pictures on PicasaWeb. The Android found these right way and showed them to me in my picture gallery. I have the option to cache selected pictures in case I want to view them when not connected to the Internet. With iPad, it appears I have to move my whole collection to iCloud -- not worth the hassle.
Admittedly, my experience is biased by the fact that I have used many Google products for years (such as Gmail and Picasa) and one might expect that Google built the Android OS to be more amenable to interaction with its other products. If I had been using iTunes and iCloud for years instead, perhaps my experience would be different.
One place I would think Apple has the advantage is with Apps. It's well known that Apple has many more apps available than iPad. But I have to say, Android wins my pick there too. I tend to be cheap. Android gives me a wide variety of free apps that do just about anything I want. Apple seems to charge more for just about anything, with far fewer free apps. I think this has to do with the difficulty of App makers getting into the Apple store. Because of the complication, many people who want to give away a free product just don't bother.
Apple also has an advantage when it comes to downloading movies or music. There is a much broader selection and it seems to work easily. That said, Apple charges a real premium for streaming. I looked up a few movies that were selling for close to $20 for a digital copy. That's more than I pay for a DVD where the manufacturer had to burn, package, and ship the product to a store. On top of that, if you are watching video regularly using a cell connection rather than wifi, you can find yourself saddled with hundreds of dollars in download costs each month.
I should also add that the iPad comes with a "USB" cable that doubles as the charging cable. However, connecting it to a computer does not give you access to the iPad hard drive and you cannot copy files back and forth. I also put "USB" in quotes because rather than having a real USB port on the iPad, you get some special proprietary port. This means, you will have to spend $30 to buy a replacement if it breaks or gets lost, compared to $1 or $2 for a replacement USB cable that uses standard connections. I was a little annoyed that I could not charge my Android via the USB port, but had to use the special adapter which came for that purpose, so Android did not win any points on charging hassles.
There are many out there who enjoy the iPad and other Apple products. If you are already invested in iTunes and iCloud, your experience will probably be much less painful. If you don't mind paying big money for apps and media, as well as streaming costs, the iPad may be quite enjoyable for you. But if you are not already fully invested in Apple, or don't want to continue paying premium costs for everything you do, I strongly recommend going with Android.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
iPad 3 - Disappointing
Apple announced its latest iPad yesterday. Many are singing its praises, but I continue to be disappointed.
The biggest new feature on the new device (Apple doesn't officially call it the iPad 3, but also does not give it any distinctive name to distinguish it from the last two) is the HD screen. Perhaps it sounds good, but was anyone really complaining about the graphics quality on the old iPads? Of course not. HD makes a difference when watching a movie or playing a video game on a 50" TV, but not on a less than 10" screen like the iPad. That extra detail is pretty much wasted. In exchange, we are stuck with a heavier device that demands more battery power.
The other big "improvement" is 4G support. This allows for faster download times for people who pay for 4G internet access from one of the big cell phone companies. Of course, such service is expensive. If you are really planning on making full use of streaming over a cell network, you will end up using many GB of data per month, leading to bills from your cell provider that could top $100 in charges on top of your normal cell phone charges. That is assuming you even travel in an area that has 4G. Most places don't. And many places that have 4G also have metro-wifi available anyway, which is faster and much cheaper, if not free. So what do most people get for 4G access? Well, your battery will drain about 10% faster.
Still missing from the iPad are any USB ports or ports for adding external memory. This makes it virtually impossible to add to the limited memory provided. It also makes it virtually impossible to add or remove photos, songs, or anything else unless you use the wireless connection. You also get no HDMI port so you cannot connect to your TV, where the HD might actually be useful. (Apparently, you can buy cables that convert the iPad's proprietary ports for use with other devices, but these are needlessly expensive - with the extra cost based on the fact that they are proprietary and not subject to competition).
Also still missing is flash support. Although I've never been a big fan of flash either, many web sites use it and rely on it. If you want to use any of those sites, your only choice is to dump your iPad and break out your laptop.
Why is Apple so hostile to interoperability? The main answer is that Apple wants you to use the device only they way they want. Apple has decided the best way to control media is to force you to stream it over the Internet. By limiting device memory and refusing to add input ports, it becomes very inconvenient for a user simply to store media on the device and view or listen to it even when not connected to the Web. That is the most cost effective way to use the device since you avoid paying expensive download fees to your cell phone provider. It is also usually the most convenient since wireless streaming viewers will tell you that they face regular interruptions caused by slow downs or interruptions in Internet access. The 4G technology attempts to address this but will prove inadequate as access is limited, and where available will likely be overwhelmed.
Having said all this, I am sure many people will enjoy the new iPad. Apple's reputation for making the user interface easy and bug free still gives it great appeal to many people who are willing to pay for that experience. But for me? I remain much happier with my year old Android Tablet from Toshiba.
The biggest new feature on the new device (Apple doesn't officially call it the iPad 3, but also does not give it any distinctive name to distinguish it from the last two) is the HD screen. Perhaps it sounds good, but was anyone really complaining about the graphics quality on the old iPads? Of course not. HD makes a difference when watching a movie or playing a video game on a 50" TV, but not on a less than 10" screen like the iPad. That extra detail is pretty much wasted. In exchange, we are stuck with a heavier device that demands more battery power.
The other big "improvement" is 4G support. This allows for faster download times for people who pay for 4G internet access from one of the big cell phone companies. Of course, such service is expensive. If you are really planning on making full use of streaming over a cell network, you will end up using many GB of data per month, leading to bills from your cell provider that could top $100 in charges on top of your normal cell phone charges. That is assuming you even travel in an area that has 4G. Most places don't. And many places that have 4G also have metro-wifi available anyway, which is faster and much cheaper, if not free. So what do most people get for 4G access? Well, your battery will drain about 10% faster.
Still missing from the iPad are any USB ports or ports for adding external memory. This makes it virtually impossible to add to the limited memory provided. It also makes it virtually impossible to add or remove photos, songs, or anything else unless you use the wireless connection. You also get no HDMI port so you cannot connect to your TV, where the HD might actually be useful. (Apparently, you can buy cables that convert the iPad's proprietary ports for use with other devices, but these are needlessly expensive - with the extra cost based on the fact that they are proprietary and not subject to competition).
Also still missing is flash support. Although I've never been a big fan of flash either, many web sites use it and rely on it. If you want to use any of those sites, your only choice is to dump your iPad and break out your laptop.
Why is Apple so hostile to interoperability? The main answer is that Apple wants you to use the device only they way they want. Apple has decided the best way to control media is to force you to stream it over the Internet. By limiting device memory and refusing to add input ports, it becomes very inconvenient for a user simply to store media on the device and view or listen to it even when not connected to the Web. That is the most cost effective way to use the device since you avoid paying expensive download fees to your cell phone provider. It is also usually the most convenient since wireless streaming viewers will tell you that they face regular interruptions caused by slow downs or interruptions in Internet access. The 4G technology attempts to address this but will prove inadequate as access is limited, and where available will likely be overwhelmed.
Having said all this, I am sure many people will enjoy the new iPad. Apple's reputation for making the user interface easy and bug free still gives it great appeal to many people who are willing to pay for that experience. But for me? I remain much happier with my year old Android Tablet from Toshiba.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Fire Follow up
It looks like Amazon is pushing even harder on price than originally anticipated. The new Fire is selling for $199, apparently even below the cost of its manufacturing. It is selling as a loss leader. As I have said in previous posts, this makes good sense. Amazon will gain market share with its aggressive pricing and will make money selling media to its customers. This is the strategy I have been advocating. Amazon is well poised to take advantage of it.
As others have pointed out, the Fire is not really an iPad Killer. While the iPad is much more expensive, it offers a lot more than the Fire ever will. Still, the Fire will appeal to a large market segment. Further, it force other Android makers to reduce their prices as well, thus leaving iPad remaining only for those willing to pay a premium price.
There are also rumors that Amazon may be interested in buying Palm from HP, presumably to use WebOS on its devices. This makes little sense to me. First, Amazon has already developed a highly customized version of Android. Forcing early adopters to change to a new OS will only cause problems. Second, Android has become a popular OS. Moving to WebOS would prevent customers from having access to any significant third party Apps.
If Amazon does move to a WebOS platform, it will incur not only the purchase cost but the cost of developing the OS to its own device. Further, customers will be turned off by the lack of third party apps available. Amazon would be moving more toward the Apple model of trying to maintain complete control over its device. That is not something customers want.
As others have pointed out, the Fire is not really an iPad Killer. While the iPad is much more expensive, it offers a lot more than the Fire ever will. Still, the Fire will appeal to a large market segment. Further, it force other Android makers to reduce their prices as well, thus leaving iPad remaining only for those willing to pay a premium price.
There are also rumors that Amazon may be interested in buying Palm from HP, presumably to use WebOS on its devices. This makes little sense to me. First, Amazon has already developed a highly customized version of Android. Forcing early adopters to change to a new OS will only cause problems. Second, Android has become a popular OS. Moving to WebOS would prevent customers from having access to any significant third party Apps.
If Amazon does move to a WebOS platform, it will incur not only the purchase cost but the cost of developing the OS to its own device. Further, customers will be turned off by the lack of third party apps available. Amazon would be moving more toward the Apple model of trying to maintain complete control over its device. That is not something customers want.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Will The New Amazon "Fire" finally spark a Tablet Price War?
It looks like Amazon is poised to announce the release of its new tablet, reportedly called the "Fire" tomorrow.
The biggest news is that Amazon plans to sell the tablet for $250, about half of what most other major manufacturers are selling. Customers who buy a tablet will also supposedly get a free membership to Amazon Prime, which gives discounts on shipping for Amazon purchases, and free access to Amazon's ever expanding video streaming library.
The tablet will run the Android OS, although it will apparently be limited in features. It will also have a mere 7" screen, rather than the preferred 10" screen. There is supposedly a 10" version in the works, but that may be a year away, and will likely come with a significantly higher price tag.
This is a smart move for Amazon. A year ago, Jeff Bezos said he had no plans to release an Amazon Tablet. He wanted to focus on the Kindle. But intervening events apparently changed his mind. The Kindle, while great for reading ebooks, was a one trick pony. It could not run many other apps, play video, or even display color images. Because people could read their books on a tablet, and do so many other things, it became clear that would be the choice for many.
Amazon likely got scared by Apple's policy of requiring a 30% cut of all sales made through it's iPad. This is a direct threat to Amazon's ebook revenue as Apple seeks a cut from all those book purchases. That clearly must have focused the attention of Amazon on the need to have its own hardware to sell books. Since consumers wanted more than the Kindle, Amazon turned to the Fire.
By offering a low price and the Amazon name and marketing prowess to the product, the Fire should become a real player in the Table market, assuming the device works well. Amazon can afford to sell the device at cost, or even slightly below cost if necessary since it will make its money selling apps and ebooks to tablet owners. Amazon is also making a big move into video streaming, which it will no doubt market heavily to its new tablet customers. By using the Tablet to steer customers to Amazon Stores, the tablet is not a profit center in itself, but rather a marketing tool for other sales.
I suspect other tablet makers, especially those with the Android OS will fear Amazon's entry, primarily because Amazon's lack of need to make a profit on tablet sales will undercut prices for all competitors. As competitors cut prices to do battle with Amazon, and as the hardware to make them becomes cheaper, Amazon will lower its prices further. I would not be surprised to see tablet costs fall to half of what they are today in the next year or two.
Apple, of course, will not succumb t the price wars. It will seek to retain its dominant position by continuing to innovate and to wow customers with cool features. This will work to maintain a profitable product and significant market share, but its overwhelming control of the market will shrink as price conscious consumers settle for cheaper tablet options.
Consumers should rejoice, however, Amazon's entry will mean lower prices for almost all tablets. Just as Henry Ford made cars cheap and popular, the Amazon Fire may do the same thing for the tablet market.
The biggest news is that Amazon plans to sell the tablet for $250, about half of what most other major manufacturers are selling. Customers who buy a tablet will also supposedly get a free membership to Amazon Prime, which gives discounts on shipping for Amazon purchases, and free access to Amazon's ever expanding video streaming library.
The tablet will run the Android OS, although it will apparently be limited in features. It will also have a mere 7" screen, rather than the preferred 10" screen. There is supposedly a 10" version in the works, but that may be a year away, and will likely come with a significantly higher price tag.
This is a smart move for Amazon. A year ago, Jeff Bezos said he had no plans to release an Amazon Tablet. He wanted to focus on the Kindle. But intervening events apparently changed his mind. The Kindle, while great for reading ebooks, was a one trick pony. It could not run many other apps, play video, or even display color images. Because people could read their books on a tablet, and do so many other things, it became clear that would be the choice for many.
Amazon likely got scared by Apple's policy of requiring a 30% cut of all sales made through it's iPad. This is a direct threat to Amazon's ebook revenue as Apple seeks a cut from all those book purchases. That clearly must have focused the attention of Amazon on the need to have its own hardware to sell books. Since consumers wanted more than the Kindle, Amazon turned to the Fire.
By offering a low price and the Amazon name and marketing prowess to the product, the Fire should become a real player in the Table market, assuming the device works well. Amazon can afford to sell the device at cost, or even slightly below cost if necessary since it will make its money selling apps and ebooks to tablet owners. Amazon is also making a big move into video streaming, which it will no doubt market heavily to its new tablet customers. By using the Tablet to steer customers to Amazon Stores, the tablet is not a profit center in itself, but rather a marketing tool for other sales.
I suspect other tablet makers, especially those with the Android OS will fear Amazon's entry, primarily because Amazon's lack of need to make a profit on tablet sales will undercut prices for all competitors. As competitors cut prices to do battle with Amazon, and as the hardware to make them becomes cheaper, Amazon will lower its prices further. I would not be surprised to see tablet costs fall to half of what they are today in the next year or two.
Apple, of course, will not succumb t the price wars. It will seek to retain its dominant position by continuing to innovate and to wow customers with cool features. This will work to maintain a profitable product and significant market share, but its overwhelming control of the market will shrink as price conscious consumers settle for cheaper tablet options.
Consumers should rejoice, however, Amazon's entry will mean lower prices for almost all tablets. Just as Henry Ford made cars cheap and popular, the Amazon Fire may do the same thing for the tablet market.
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