Android In Retrospect

When the article below was written back in 2010, the idea that either Android phones or tablets would ever be able to compete with the iPhone or the iPad seemed a bit of a pipe dream.

The Android 3.0 honeycomb operating system was the beginning of Android tablets being able to even enter any reasonable facsimile of competing with the iPad. Suddenly Android tablets were able to get product reviews where they actually exceeded the iPad in some areas.

Apple, of course, did not just sit back and do nothing, only they seemed little slow with the uptake, and there soon was iPad II and eventually and iPad III, although that wasn’t its official title.

For a while the site was making daily posts, keeping tabs on this “Clash of the Titans”, but currently we post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Still if you’re looking for Android news now this is the most comprehensive site available, and featuring the most up-to-date posts. Most of these posts will be found in the Android News category, and these make a strong attempt at keeping you informed with the very latest information. It is a fact that you can read it here, before you’ll be able to read it in some of the major publications.

The site is called Android 3.0 Tablet, because with the release of this OS, the battle for supremacy in the mobile communications sector actually began in earnest. Currently we are at Jellybean, with rumors popping up frequently about the release of a Android 5.0.

Google has become more hands-on, with the release of their Nexus product line, but still the open source operating system which has hundreds of manufacturers putting out Android phones and tablets, may still be the reason that android controls about 75% of the global smartphone sector at this point.

Below is my original post from back in September 2010:

Anrdoid 3.0 Tablet, Should Apple Be Concerned?

With the release of the Android 3.0 Tablet, there is a great deal of interest in just how this technology will compare to the ultra popular Ipad. The iPad 2 is a hard act to beat but if it can be beaten it just might be by an Android 3.0 unit like the Motorola Xoom. With the Android 3.0 Tablet, Does the iPad have competition?  It might just be the Clash of the Titans, Google and Apple.

Familiarity Is A Factor

There has been a bit of controversy about Android 3.0 Tablet vs the iPad 2 and opinions seem to be influenced by the type of phone the reviewer is familiar with.  Those with iPhones tend to lean towards the iPad and those with Android phones lean towards the Android 3.0 units like Xoom.

Some feel the iPad is faster and lighter and the Xoom has sharper images but the final decision seems to be based on familiarity.  This is a bit like the battle between the IBM clones and the Macs of old.  The Mac was a more user friendly unit but all the software was being developed for the clones because they were open source, and as a result Macs have had a cult following for decades but PC’s were everywhere.

Apple Has Been Through This Before

Can Apple win this time against the Google Giant’s open source platform? Currently the iPad has far more software available, but the Android 3.0 tablet is a developing system and Android 3.1 with USB capability is already giving Android an edge.  Being open source there are an abundant number of developers looking to get their piece of the pie by creating what they hope will be the next big “app” that everyone wants and, which will run on an Android.
Here is a pretty extensive review of the Motorola Xoom

What is the history of Android and why did Google “give  it away”?  IBM probably made a big mistake but Google doesn’t make mistakes and they stand to gain a great deal by doing what they do best – marketing.  The platform may be open source but Google reserves the right to advertise, a task for which they have no rival and they maintain tight control.

Only time will tell how the Android  Tablet vs iPad will turn out.  Both companies are very competent and creative so there is no way to predict with any certainty the outcome. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the consumer will have an exciting time trying to choose between all if the features useful technology that is bound to result from this competition. Android  phones, Tablet phones, who knows.

At the rate things are going it is possible that tablet PC’s and hand held devices might replace or at least take a large market share away from laptops and possibly even desktops. For a “dinosaur” like me this seems almost impossible, but then I would have voted against cell phones replacing home phones for many people – yet I know many who have done just that.

Who will win the “war” is anyone’s guess but I love gadgets and I for one will have a good time just seeing what is developed.  Let the games begin!