Apple iPads competitor?!

[kdesign7]

Just came across an article about Google's Future Tablet. More information here - http://dev.chromium.org/chromium-os/user-experience/form-factors/tablet

I know this is a Forum about the Apple iPad, but I felt it had some slight releavance.

Not much specs, or even concept images provided, but I guess this would work well for their Cloud based Services. Who knows what the specs would be.

Thought I'd share!

Whats your thoughts? Do you think Google will be able to match Apple's iPad in performance and price value, and market?

 

[jav6454]

It was bound to happen. Google and Apple have become rivals, although in Apple's defense, Google did enter Apple's territory.

 

[drjsway]

If Google can't even get multi-touch right on their Android phones, they are years away from perfecting a touch tablet.

 

[jav6454]

If Google can't even get multi-touch right on their Android phones, they are years away from perfecting a touch tablet.

Multi-touch is possible on Android, there are multitouch flavors of Android all around the web; however, officially, Google needs to get the proper licenses from Apple or anyone else that holds patents for multi-touch... they can't just jump in.

 

[drjsway]

Multi-touch is possible on Android, there are multitouch flavors of Android all around the web; however, officially, Google needs to get the proper licenses from Apple or anyone else that holds patents for multi-touch... they can't just jump in.

I've played with both Droid and Nexus and there's no multi-touch I can discern, which makes fast typing impossible (you can't hit another key without taking your finger off the first.)

 

[jav6454]

I've played with both Droid and Nexus and there's no multi-touch I can discern, which makes fast typing impossible (you can't hit another key without taking your finger off the first.)

Those multi-touch enable phones are because they carry a home brew solution. Officially, Android doesn't have it, but it has the frameworks for it. All people do is enable that thru some software mods (android jailbreak to put it in easy terms).

 

[Chaos123x]

If Google can't even get multi-touch right on their Android phones, they are years away from perfecting a touch tablet.

Actually they hold back on USA phone because Apple has so many patents on multi-touch in the U.S.

But all the multi-touch functions are there, they just need to be unlocked.


Still I don't think I would ever buy a Android phone while the iPhone is still around.

 

[iWoz]

As above, I think Google could be a strong competitor due to there current infrastructure!

And maybe..Acer?

 

[kdesign7]

If Google can't even get multi-touch right on their Android phones, they are years away from perfecting a touch tablet.

I completely agree.. Multitouch is a key factor.

 

[gibbz]

Eh, talk to me once it actually exists. This thing can join the Courier right now ... although I give Google a better shot of actually following through.

 

[drjsway]

Actually they hold back on USA phone because Apple has so many patents on multi-touch in the U.S.

Then why does the Palm Pre have multi-touch?

 

[kdesign7]

Eh, talk to me once it actually exists. This thing can join the Courier right now ... although I give Google a better shot of actually following through.

Ya, whatever happened to this so COURIER??

Strange... lol but, I believe I did see something VERY similar (dual touch screen, book style) @ CES 2010. If I find the photos, I'll upload em... but it was a Lady who was presenting... and it was a prototype, and it had VERY limited functionality.

But, I agree.. Google will make it happen more so than Microsoft.

 

[rdowns]

It was bound to happen. Google and Apple have become rivals, although in Apple's defense, Google did enter Apple's territory.

Normally, I couldn't care less about this despite being a long time AAPL shareholder. What gets me is that Schmidt sat in Apple board meetings and then stole their stuff.

 

[4DThinker]

Then why does the Palm Pre have multi-touch?

Apple's multitouch patents are likely to break down if challenged, and Palm is willing to meet them in court over it. Many Palm employees used to work for Apple and have inside knowledge, and Apple knows that. Google, on the other hand, isn't (yet) willing to challenge Apple's patents.

 

[master-ceo]

I'm glad steve and them waited to release the ipad. Gave me some time to really tink about this thing. The lack of usb connection to other devices like my MPC, might kill it for me. Hopefully that cam connection kit will do the trick.

Still optimistic tho.

 

[MacModMachine]

there are conceptual drawings....

they would have to build it...which im sure will look nothing like conceptual drawings....unless they find a way to cool a atom down or use some type of arm based chip.

there all talk no walk.

 

[poseidon84]

It is just drawings so I don't really trust it much until I actually see real products and pricepoint. If they can deliver cheap and good stuff then compared to a awesome GUI they might be some competition.

 

[colmaclean]

You might as well call some tech shown in Star Trek an "iPad killer", as it probably has as much grip on reality as this creation.

 

[rdowns]

I wouldn't worry about competitors. They won't get it. They will rush to put all kinds of things into a tablet that Apple doesn't have while ignoring why Apple is so successful.

 

[ikimasu]

I wouldn't worry about competitors. They won't get it. They will rush to put all kinds of things into a tablet that Apple doesn't have while ignoring why Apple is so successful.

I wouldn't be so sure. So far, in many respects, that is true - they haven't gotten it. No one has made an mp3 player that can compete with the iPod. I think the Droid has a lot of potential though, although the problem will be coming in so late after the iPhone. But every business has its hay day, and Apple is currently having that. Eventually someone is going to step up to the plate though and Apple isn't going to be able to strike them out. I think Google is a very good candidate for that position, but I suppose we will see. Besides, as much as I am excited about the iPad and personally look forward to getting one, I have to admit Apple seems to have gotten lazy on this one. They could have really blown the cover off of things like they have with so many other devices, but instead they essentially chose to stick with an old model. That's never a good sign for a company's future.

Google, on the other hand, isn't (yet) willing to challenge Apple's patents.

Maybe because they have a mantra that says something about being evil?

 

[GeekGirl*]

Sorry guys the Nexus One is a much better phone then my last iPhone, I welcome the google tablet.

 

[iphonegeek786]

But its only a concept.

 

[ikimasu]

Yeah, certainly ... I'm just saying I think Google has the potential to give Apple a challenge, unlike everyone else who has stepped up so far. Microsoft, for example, has repeatedly shown they can't do it. The question in my mind is whether Google, or anyone else for that matter, can get up to the plate in time. That's what Apple has done a great job of - they kind of sneaked ahead with the iPod and have just kept it coming since then. They always stay a step ahead, so people don't even know what they have to compete against until it's too late. If I were another company such as google, I would look at the iPad as a window of opportunity. But again, I just don't know if anyone can get a solid product out in time.

I should add that Microsoft might be realizing their inability to compete with Apple when it comes to the general populous. What I've seen of the Courier, among other things, suggests they are going to try to meet more of the business world's computing needs. I mean, they already are doing that anyway, but perhaps they're going to really start putting more focus and resources into that arena and considerably less on trying to please the average person - being more a tool for professionals than the layman.

 

[pubwvj]

Those are computer renders.
The iPad is real.
Big difference.
They're dreaming and way behind.
Good news is they'll keep Apple on their toes and moving forward.
I would like to see MacOSX on the iPad.

 

[r0k]

The fact that Google went to the trouble is a complement to Apple. Nothing more. Pure vaporware. Even if the Courier and the Google Tablet Concept are only vaporware for now, it's nice to know two things: 1) There are other companies looking at this space and competition is always good. 2) Those other companies think this form factor is worth bothering with, or should I say it's worth saying they are thinking about bothering with it. Acer offhandedly dismissed the tablet form factor. (I'm sure Acer is secretly working on a tablet prototype right now!)