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I assume all of you who are floating the idea of an Android tablet being the likeliest "iPad Killer" are aware of Google's current policy concerning their mobile OS?

If a device does not make cellular calls, it does not get access to Android Market. I would think that policy is either going to have to change, or it will severely limit the usefulness of Android tablets.

Could you explain what you mean exactly? I would think it obvious that there would be a policy change if there are to be Android tablets. How does that play into your first statement?
 
Could you explain what you mean exactly? I would think it obvious that there would be a policy change if there are to be Android tablets. How does that play into your first statement?

My statement was pretty clear, actually.

As it currently stands, no device running the Android OS can have Android Marketplace installed unless the device can place cellular phone calls. Some have suggested that this policy will not be changed, so that the rumored Google Tablet will have no real competition among Android-based tablets when and if it ever comes to market. The only question then would be if the Google Tablet can become a legitimate threat to the iPad (which will be well-established in the marketplace by that point).
 
My statement was pretty clear, actually.

As it currently stands, no device running the Android OS can have Android Marketplace installed unless the device can place cellular phone calls. Some have suggested that this policy will not be changed, so that the rumored Google Tablet will have no real competition among Android-based tablets when and if it ever comes to market. The only question then would be if the Google Tablet can become a legitimate threat to the iPad (which will be well-established in the marketplace by that point).

Thanks for clarifying. Since you left out the key factor positioning Google's tablet vs others as competition within its own "domain" - I wasn't sure what your exact point was.

I would imagine if Google ONLY allows the marketplace for their own device which doesn't make calls, there would be a huge uproar amongst developers. I'm pretty sure Google won't be that "closed" in their business model.
 
Thanks for clarifying. Since you left out the key factor positioning Google's tablet vs others as competition within its own "domain" - I wasn't sure what your exact point was.

I would imagine if Google ONLY allows the marketplace for their own device which doesn't make calls, there would be a huge uproar amongst developers. I'm pretty sure Google won't be that "closed" in their business model.

What makes you so sure of this? Hopefully, you're going on more than Google's "do no evil" BS. Their first "Google Phone", the Nexus One, is having it handed to it by other Android-based phones on the market, and I'm sure Google doesn't want to see the same thing happen in the tablet arena. Unless, of course, they're just happy making money off licensing the OS, and don't really care to become embroiled in the hardware race. In which case, why bother making a Google-branded device in the first place?
 
What makes you so sure of this? Hopefully, you're going on more than Google's "do no evil" BS. Their first "Google Phone", the Nexus One, is having it handed to it by other Android-based phones on the market, and I'm sure Google doesn't want to see the same thing happen in the tablet arena. Unless, of course, they're just happy making money off licensing the OS, and don't really care to become embroiled in the hardware race. In which case, why bother making a Google-branded device in the first place?

Maybe for the same reason Amazon created an eReader? I honestly don't know. I just believe that if they were to make their OS only available for themselves AND expect the marketplace to thrive, they'd be making a fatal mistake. Much like if Amazon never created apps to read their books on other devices.

I don't subscribe to any "do no evil" BS, as you put it. I subscribe to best business practices + public relation fiasco aversion :)
 
So you think because of a policy that Google can change at will, Google will be locked out of a growth industry forever?

Obviously, they'd change the policy if they iterated a tablet version of their OS.
 
So you think because of a policy that Google can change at will, Google will be locked out of a growth industry forever?

Obviously, they'd change the policy if they iterated a tablet version of their OS.

"Obviously?" Are you on Google's board? Then you don't have a clue as to what they will "obviously" do concerning their mobile OS on tablet devices.

Time will tell, but with each day that passes, Apple sells thousands more iPads, and entrenches themselves in a market that was barely a niche before they entered it.
 
Google really has no clue what they are doing in this space. They will continue to fail.
Google is the new Microsoft.
 
"Obviously?" Are you on Google's board? Then you don't have a clue as to what they will "obviously" do concerning their mobile OS on tablet devices.

Time will tell, but with each day that passes, Apple sells thousands more iPads, and entrenches themselves in a market that was barely a niche before they entered it.

Again - what does one have to do with the other. Not much really. Whether or not Google changes their policy or not has little if anything to do with how many iPads are sold. And YOU aren't on Google's board either (are you?) - so you don't have a clue either. No one does until it happens.
 
Again - what does one have to do with the other. Not much really. Whether or not Google changes their policy or not has little if anything to do with how many iPads are sold. And YOU aren't on Google's board either (are you?) - so you don't have a clue either. No one does until it happens.

Big difference...I'm not the one here claiming to know what business decisions a huge corporation will "obviously" make in a new venture. Other people obviously don't seem to mind speculating and talking out of their hindparts. :rolleyes:
 
This is a mindbending discussion point.

Google may enter the tablet business
Google may not enter the tablet business

But Google is not going to say "hey!! Let's enter the tablet business!! But let's cripple it by not letting it work with our app store! Hur hur hur!!"

This "problem" would take Google 5 seconds to rectify. They don't need to get two thirds of the states to ratify it or something.
 
This is a mindbending discussion point.

Google may enter the tablet business
Google may not enter the tablet business

But Google is not going to say "hey!! Let's enter the tablet business!! But let's cripple it by not letting it work with our app store! Hur hur hur!!"

This "problem" would take Google 5 seconds to rectify. They don't need to get two thirds of the states to ratify it or something.

Wow...you've nicely missed the entire point. If Google "enters the tablet business" with their own device, then yes, OBVIOUSLY it will have access to their Android Market. The question is will they extend that access to other companies' tablets running the Android OS? You might think it's obvious for them to do so, but I contend that they might see benefit in following Apple's lead in this particular arena, given how successful they have been with their "walled garden" ecosystem. Sure, the freetards will cry foul, but Google answers to their shareholders, not the geek legions.
 
So the entire point is that crazed hardware vendors will hack Android and release unauthorized tablets without Google's blessing while Google sits back thinking "man, I hope nobody uses Android to compete with iPad." Ok.
 
So the entire point is that crazed hardware vendors will hack Android and release unauthorized tablets without Google's blessing while Google sits back thinking "man, I hope nobody uses Android to compete with iPad." Ok.

Sorry, I didn't realize you were this dense and needed to have a picture drawn. I'll give up trying to explain things for you in terms I'd normally reserve for my 4 year old niece.

Have a great day. :rolleyes:
 
Articles I'm reading about the WePad say that it will have access to the Android Marketplace.

Just sayin'.
 
Sorry, I didn't realize you were this dense and needed to have a picture drawn. I'll give up trying to explain things for you in terms I'd normally reserve for my 4 year old niece.

Have a great day. :rolleyes:

Please, go ahead and try to explain your point in a way that is humanly comprehensible.

Your point is predicated on the idea that Google either:

1 - will be caught totally off-guard by someone using Android for a tablet and won't have time to adjust their policies to help the product succeed
2 - will willfully attempt to make Android-based tablets fail

Perhaps you should consult your 4-year-old niece on logic.
 
Please, go ahead and try to explain your point in a way that is humanly comprehensible.

Your point is predicated on the idea that Google either:

1 - will be caught totally off-guard by someone using Android for a tablet and won't have time to adjust their policies to help the product succeed
2 - will willfully attempt to make Android-based tablets fail

Perhaps you should consult your 4-year-old niece on logic.

If those are the only two possibilities you can fathom based on where things currently stand, then she certainly possesses more logical ability than you.
 
Please, let's get into your byzantine beliefs. Not that your efforts to defend yourself aren't funny.

I'll start it off for you:

"On a dark and stormy night, Google execs stand near a window as lightning bolts flash through the sky behind them. One of them says "did you hear about that Android-based tablet?" Another laughs maniacally and says ---"

now you pick it up
 
Articles I'm reading about the WePad say that it will have access to the Android Marketplace.

Just sayin'.

Google is going to be SO DISAPPOINTED when they realize that an internal policy will prevent this from happening and therefore prevents their product from being competitive! They are foiled!
 
Not at all "limited". You are thinking old school. CD's, USB's and hard drives are a thing of the past. And remember that this is a wireless device. Like the iPhone you can sync wirelessly to your home computer.

Ken

Nearly 68 years of age but up with the times

No, Apple won't be a leader as long as they're locking the device down like they are. I really think i love my iPad, but it is limited.
 
Articles I'm reading about the WePad say that it will have access to the Android Marketplace.

Just sayin'.

Straight from the WePad's website:

"The WePad is built on the WePad OS Linux-based operating system, which provides support for Android and Adobe AIR applications, amongst others. Numerous applications may be downloaded and installed from the WePad Store (designed as a meta store) or from integrated open stores."

So let's see...it doesn't really run Android OS, and doesn't have the Android Market installed. Hmm...sounds like Google really had a lot of input into this device, huh?

Somehow, I don't think Steve Jobs will be losing any sleep over this thing, and that's if it actually ever ships to begin with. I'll believe it's not just another technology demonstrator when people start buying them by the thousands in July or August.
 
OK, let me see if I have this WePad thing down.

  • It runs Linux, with Android support.
  • You can use a mouse or your finger (you will probably want a mouse for much of the Linux GUI)
  • You can extend storage with SD cards
  • It has an Atom CPU 1.6Ghz
  • In theory, you could run .exe files via WINE
  • It does not appear to rotate
(Yes, I left some stuff out, like camera, ports, etc.)

So one's decision should be based on several questions. How important is it to work close to the OS? How much battery life do you want? How much heat is acceptable? Do you need the security of removable media? Is rotation really important?

My feeling is that Atom is not suitable for this type of device. To get reasonable battery life, you really do need to use ARM. The only thing about WePad that truly appeals to me is the card slot: when traveling, you can stick the card in your pocket so that if your tablet does get away from you, at least your important files will not. But I honestly believe that iPad rev. C (fall 2011) will have a model with a card slot, though it will add significantly to the price.

The time to wait is now (unless you are worried about stuff burning a hole in your pocket).
 
No, Apple won't be a leader as long as they're locking the device down like they are. I really think i love my iPad, but it is limited.

If youre talking from the perspecutive of a developer, economic incentive rules all, moralistic stuff has no place in the equation.

If you're talking about as a consumer, Apple is pushing the concept of the computer further toward an appliance, which - everything else equal - is just broadening their demographic.
 
Tablet Wars: Will iPad remain the leader?

Yes. The iPad will remain the leader in it's own category. What category? All 9"+ tablet devices running the iPhone OS.
 
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