Why would you buy an Apple tablet over an Android tablet?

[annomander]

If you think that then the whole point of widgets is lost on you. Their primary use is negating the need to launch a series of apps at all. If you don't see how that's useful then there's really nothing more to discuss...

I know what they can do and they don't really offer a significant benefit

share widgets, only phone ones are available unless you pay a couple of quid

Email widgets, I got into my email to read when I get it, I don't need it display small selection on the screen.

Widgets are okay, don't make them to be the Holy Grail of tablet operating systems.

 

[Red Storm]

I know what they can do and they don't really offer a significant benefit

share widgets, only phone ones are available unless you pay a couple of quid

Email widgets, I got into my email to read when I get it, I don't need it display small selection on the screen.

Widgets are okay, don't make them to be the Holy Grail of tablet operating systems.

They aren't the holy grail, but the original post I responded to said iOS had the better UI, which I was arguing against because Android can mimic that UI as well as offer more efficient and/or in-depth methods of information access.

You can't deny that having instant (no app launches or taps needed), visible access to things like email, weather, calendar, social feeds, etc. is not useful, because it definitely is.

 

[Binky]

Fun thread. People need to stay on point and not make up facts.

Android has a far more configurable UI. Arguments that this level of control isn't necessary are missing the point. It's more configurable, and you can do all kinds of crazy things with widgets and live wallpaper. However, there's a reason why people don't load up on widgets and constantly run live wallpaper, they come with a cost in the form of processor power, and widgets can occasionally crash. Still, it's difficult to deny that the Android UI is more configurable, if you choose to use it.

 

[BoberFett]

Holy grail, no, but incredibly useful. Think of widgets as Design Your Own Dashboard, which is even more useful on a tablet than a phone. A phone has a pretty limited area and taking up an entire page with a a full screen media player or email widget is silly. You might as well launch the app.

But when you can put widgets for weather, sports, stocks, new, clock, and anything else you might want on your tablet home page, that becomes incredibly powerful for seeing everything you want at a glance. Apple fans like to talk about how "It's the apps, stupid." and back that up talking about all the apps that Android apparently doesn't have that professionals use. Well professionals also want to see their important information the way they want it. Wouldn't a doctor want to see their patient list, to-do list, weather forecast and available tee times all at once? Without widgets you get to flip back and forth between apps. With Android you can see it all at once.

Of course someday I expect Apple will create some widget like interface that lets you do that, Apple fans will rejoice because it's about time somebody did something so revolutionary, claim Apple invented it, and that Android copied them...

 

[Oyeve]

Do you know how you can make an android phone look and funtion just like an iphone? Take a screen shot of your home screen. Use screen shot as your wallpaper and delete all of the icons on your homescreen.





I am just kidding.

I did this on my son's vibrant just to mess with him.

 

[annomander]

Without widgets you get to flip back and forth between apps. With Android you can see it all at once.

Of course someday I expect Apple will create some widget like interface that lets you do that, Apple fans will rejoice because it's about time somebody did something so revolutionary, claim Apple invented it, and that Android copied them...

See all at once? hmmm I've seen widgets and no you don't see all your information at once, don't make it out to be something it isn't

Hey, a Apple bash, yawn..............

 

[zerogear]

What can android UI interface optiosn really do that IOS can't

Widgets and Live wallpapers?

The UI for both tablets are just launching platforms for apps, thats it.

The UI isn't there to be admired its just to select which icon you want to launch which app and control settings, they both doing it aswell as each other in different, one better at one thing the other better at something else.

Ummmmmm

SPB Shell 3D Launcher anyone --- OR any number of launchers out there that you can use to replace UI/Launcher.

http://www.androidauthority.com/spb-shell-3d-launcher-android-app-review-48192/

 

[Binky]

See all at once? hmmm I've seen widgets and no you don't see all your information at once, don't make it out to be something it isn't

Hey, a Apple bash, yawn..............

A widget can be as small as an icon. You can fill your screen with widgets showing almost anything you want to see. You can replace the shell and add even more rows/columns to place icons or widgets, making one screen show even more information. This would be a very bad idea, but its possible.

 

[Michael]

The notification screen on my 4S does the job I need from most widgets. It is always there, you jest need to swipe down to reveal it and it shows up even when the phone is locked.

I recently bought 2 Onda tablets that I am using to slowly learn Android. so I can't make a good comparison yet. I do find from the higher end tablets that Apple has lead with price to performance. Apple has really worked their supply chain hard to deliver a hardware package that Android tablet makers are having a hard time hitting. On the phone front, there are a lot more Android phones and some are more advanced that Apple on the hardware front.

Michael

 

[Ravynmagi]

I bought my first iPad in 2010. At the time Google telling phones that Android shouldn't be used on anything larger than a 7 inch tablet. And the only 10 inch tablet was the Viewsonic G-Tab which had a really crappy screen. So I went with the iPad despite wanting an Android tablet.

Then in 2011, Honeycomb arrives and a bunch of semi decent 10 inch tablets like the Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1. I also tried out the Xoom. I probably bought 5 or 6 tablets in 2011 and had to return them all. I experienced various hard defects with the Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Xoom was just not comfortable. And even when I got a tablet in satisfactory shape, I really hated the video performance of the Tegra 2 chip (could barely play 720p sometimes) and Honeycomb itself often felt like a half ass rush job.

My favorite Android tablet from 2011 was my HP Touchpad with CM 7 installed on it. That $150 tablet with a custom ROM far impressed me more than any $500 ASUS or Samsung tablet I returned.

I think 2012 is looking better for Android tablets. I bought an iPad 3 though, because it's available now and I love the "Retina" display.

But for Android, I think ICS has finally gotten good enough for tablets that the OS should is no longer a negative factor for the tablet, but a positive now. I'm more or less waiting for good hardware. The Transformer Prime ended up being a disappointment due to it's wifi issues. The TF300 however is looking like an awesome tablet. If this had come out earlier, I might have bought it instead of the iPad 3.

However now to get me to give up my iPad 3, I'll probably need an Android tablet with a 1920x1200 resolution display such ad the Transfomer Infinity or Acer A700.

Another reason I did buy my iPad 3 is because these things really hold their resale value. I got $300 for my iPad 1 that I sold a month before the iPad 2 was released. Android on the other hand, because something better seems to come out every couple months (and other reasons) their value seems to plummet. Probably doesn't matter much if you'll be keeping it a while anyway. But it sure made it easy to buy this iPad 3 now while I wait for the perfect Android tablet to come later.

 

[dagamer34]

I bought my first iPad in 2010. At the time Google telling phones that Android shouldn't be used on anything larger than a 7 inch tablet. And the only 10 inch tablet was the Viewsonic G-Tab which had a really crappy screen. So I went with the iPad despite wanting an Android tablet.

Then in 2011, Honeycomb arrives and a bunch of semi decent 10 inch tablets like the Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1. I also tried out the Xoom. I probably bought 5 or 6 tablets in 2011 and had to return them all. I experienced various hard defects with the Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Xoom was just not comfortable. And even when I got a tablet in satisfactory shape, I really hated the video performance of the Tegra 2 chip (could barely play 720p sometimes) and Honeycomb itself often felt like a half ass rush job.

My favorite Android tablet from 2011 was my HP Touchpad with CM 7 installed on it. That $150 tablet with a custom ROM far impressed me more than any $500 ASUS or Samsung tablet I returned.

I think 2012 is looking better for Android tablets. I bought an iPad 3 though, because it's available now and I love the "Retina" display.

But for Android, I think ICS has finally gotten good enough for tablets that the OS should is no longer a negative factor for the tablet, but a positive now. I'm more or less waiting for good hardware. The Transformer Prime ended up being a disappointment due to it's wifi issues. The TF300 however is looking like an awesome tablet. If this had come out earlier, I might have bought it instead of the iPad 3.

However now to get me to give up my iPad 3, I'll probably need an Android tablet with a 1920x1200 resolution display such ad the Transfomer Infinity or Acer A700.

Another reason I did buy my iPad 3 is because these things really hold their resale value. I got $300 for my iPad 1 that I sold a month before the iPad 2 was released. Android on the other hand, because something better seems to come out every couple months (and other reasons) their value seems to plummet. Probably doesn't matter much if you'll be keeping it a while anyway. But it sure made it easy to buy this iPad 3 now while I wait for the perfect Android tablet to come later.

The problem with Android tablets has never really been the OS, but the lack of tablet apps. And part of that is Google's arrogance of insisting that apps designed for tablets (whether in the same APK or separated) are impossible to find in the Google Play store, decreasing the incentive to make a tablet version of an app. The fact that Apple has a separate section of the App Store dedicated to tablet apps helps immensely because they are easier to find, able to be ranked, and thus more people buy them.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

The notification screen on my 4S does the job I need from most widgets. It is always there, you jest need to swipe down to reveal it and it shows up even when the phone is locked.

I recently bought 2 Onda tablets that I am using to slowly learn Android. so I can't make a good comparison yet. I do find from the higher end tablets that Apple has lead with price to performance. Apple has really worked their supply chain hard to deliver a hardware package that Android tablet makers are having a hard time hitting. On the phone front, there are a lot more Android phones and some are more advanced that Apple on the hardware front.

Michael

Apple copied the pull down notification screen from Android so you can have that functionality on it as well, widgets are just an extra bonus.

Are you using the IRModule?If so, hows that working? I cant find my tv remote and there are tv settings only available on the remote. I was interested in the module cuz its cheap, seems like a fun DIY project.

I'm using the built in IR transmitter on the Xyboard 8.2/Xoom 2 Media Edition, + the Dijit universal remote app. I haven't used it a lot yet but it works very well from what I have tried. Despite all the hate people seem to have for them I think an IR transmitter on a tablet is a useful addition.

 

[annomander]

Apple copied the pull down notification screen from Android so you can have that functionality on it as well, widgets are just an extra bonus.

They actually got it from the Jailbreak community and actually employed the creator of it.

 

[TuxDave]

They actually got it from the Jailbreak community and actually employed the creator of it.

Fascinating. That definitely puts a different view of the whole situation.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/03/ap...d-together-a-better-ios-notifications-system/

 

[Michael]

Regardless of where it came from (maybe space aliens beamed it directly into the OS code), most of the functionality of widgets is right there on the notification screen. So to say that Android OS having widgets is a big advantage is overstating it.

I have been using my two ICS tablets more the past few days. You can't really compare a 7" tablet to an Ipad, but the 9.7" Onda Vi40 Elite I have is more directly comparable. For the $175 I paid for it, as a media viewing and surfing tablet it is fine.

Michael

 

[Ravynmagi]

Besides waiting for more ICS tablets. Another thing that has me in a holding pattern for Android is the Nexus Tablet. I'm pretty sure this is happening. And I think this might be what I really want.

ASUS and Acer seem to be pretty good with updating their tablets (Samsung sucks ass as usual). But an official Nexus tablet though would be killer.

 

[BabaBooey]

Amount and quality of apps,that insane screen and ease of use be my guesses.

Android is cool for those that know how to root / hack them as that is about the only thing it has over apple,half the apps and games I tried to put on my ICS prime would not work,just too frustrating for my liking.

 

[Geekbabe]

Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom android gives us & have happily spent many a night rooting & installing custom roms on my devices. ICS is very smooth & my Galaxy Nexus is a joy to use. Having said all that though I have to give the ipad props. I've had the ipad 3 for a few days now & yes I do love it. I totally understand why the average consumer would prefer this device.

I have friends that are bright, professional people, most of them are fairly tech savvy to boot but the reaction I get when trying to explain how to root & install custom rom's is definitely a deer in the headlights kind of thing. People respond with statements like "do you realize you sound like you're speaking Russian? I don't understand half of what you just said" or "I just want to turn the thing on & get busy doing my work, I don't want to spend my weekend installing custom anything"

 

[MotionMan]

ZOOYUKA,

Let's put it this way:

If you were going to be given one tablet for free (including all necessary cables), that you cannot sell, and have to use as your only tablet for at least the next, oh, year or two, which would you pick, a current android tablet or the new iPad?

MotionMan

Why the crickets in response to this question?

MotionMan

Paging ZOOYUKA.

MotionMan

 

[slackerinabox]

Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom android gives us & have happily spent many a night rooting & installing custom roms on my devices. ICS is very smooth & my Galaxy Nexus is a joy to use. Having said all that though I have to give the ipad props. I've had the ipad 3 for a few days now & yes I do love it. I totally understand why the average consumer would prefer this device.

I have friends that are bright, professional people, most of them are fairly tech savvy to boot but the reaction I get when trying to explain how to root & install custom rom's is definitely a deer in the headlights kind of thing. People respond with statements like "do you realize you sound like you're speaking Russian? I don't understand half of what you just said" or "I just want to turn the thing on & get busy doing my work, I don't want to spend my weekend installing custom anything"

Exactly my experience. I'm not sure if it's an age thing (back in my dorky single days I'd wake up on a saturday, brew some coffee, and spend hours messing with android roms for FUN), or if it's because tech is a hobby for us (even though we don't like to admit it), so roms, widgets, rooting, etc. appeals to us even though the obvious question is "why?" We also don't value aesthetics and simplicity, it's kinda the opposite of our DIY ethos. Apples closed system is honestly a blessing to most consumers but admittedly frustrating to geeks - "I can use widgets!" - So? They tend to be inconsistently designed and suck down battery life (and geeks just get massive battery packs while the normals prefer smaller and lighter).. "I can customize my desktop with launchers!" Why? I want to use my phone, not stare at live wallpapers. "I can load up roms!" ...With apple my device will get upgraded to the latest and greatest, most of you rooters are just doing so because android's FLAWED in that you need to rely on your manufacturer for updates, and many manufacturers abandon hardware 6 months after it's released (which is not a problem for apple unless you have a 3S in a 4S world). "I have the best specs ever!" Yeah, for 3 months until the next superphone comes out.

For phones it's a toss up - Google Play has a nice mix of apps and, with some manufacturers releasing updates at a fair clip (and ICS being robust to begin with), but with tablets google's 2 years behind the iPads ecosystem. Will google get better? Of course they will, I'm sure they'll overtake the iPad within a few years. RIGHT NOW, I wouldn't imagine spending equal or more for a non-iPad tablet. I think android has a chance at the $200 level, but at $500 it just doesn't make sense to go where the apps aren't. Look at the enterprise / education /etc. - Apple simply owns this market and I couldn't imagine a professional like a doctor caring about rooting/widgets/etc. vs. just doing work on the beautifully designed apps that make their jobs easier and their interaction with the tool at a minimum.

 

[alent1234]

Don't get me wrong, I love the freedom android gives us & have happily spent many a night rooting & installing custom roms on my devices. ICS is very smooth & my Galaxy Nexus is a joy to use. Having said all that though I have to give the ipad props. I've had the ipad 3 for a few days now & yes I do love it. I totally understand why the average consumer would prefer this device.

I have friends that are bright, professional people, most of them are fairly tech savvy to boot but the reaction I get when trying to explain how to root & install custom rom's is definitely a deer in the headlights kind of thing. People respond with statements like "do you realize you sound like you're speaking Russian? I don't understand half of what you just said" or "I just want to turn the thing on & get busy doing my work, I don't want to spend my weekend installing custom anything"

my opinion on rooting is that unless you're the person creating them, its nothing more than following someone else's instructions and next to useless for me

 

[Binky]

Rooting isn't necessary on an android device. You can do just about anything without root. Can that be said about iDevices?

 

[slackerinabox]

Rooting isn't necessary on an android device. You can do just about anything without root. Can that be said about iDevices?

Yes.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Rooting isn't necessary on an android device. You can do just about anything without root. Can that be said about iDevices?

Don't know about you but I wouldn't be particularly happy without root. I'd miss out on great apps like Titanium Backup, I wouldn't be able to take screenshots (Google only added this to Android in the most recent version), no removing bloatware, no access to system files, no custom ROMs. Meaning my phone would be stuck on Gingerbread forever and no Ice Cream Sandwich.

 

[Ns1]

Rooting isn't necessary on an android device. You can do just about anything without root. Can that be said about iDevices?

I have never felt the need to JB my iDevice.