6 ms·

And this is why Steve Jobs sees Android as a direct attack against Apple: these devices (which Apple would like to sell at a high margin) can be made really che

by andreyf 17y ago

And this is why Steve Jobs sees Android as a direct attack against Apple: these devices (which Apple would like to sell at a high margin) can be made really cheap in a world of commoditized hardware (thanks, Microsoft!) and free software (thanks, Google!). Edit-reply: while Apple can try to split off a premium market as it did with PC's, this is going to be a lot harder (and the premium market will be lot smaller) when then OS provider isn't trying to make a profit.

jacquesm 17y ago
Absolutely, and there will be plenty of them: http://www.androidtablets.net/ http://www.androidtablets.net/ Not a week goes by without another announcement.
- light3 17y ago
  The second item is a 4.8" $100 'ipad killer': http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/android-tablet-news/65-100-android-tablet-ipad-killer.html http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/android-tablet-news/65-1...
  - jacquesm 17y ago
    There is a 7" screen sized one as well: http://hott.net.cn/EN/Channels/Products/showDetail.asp?objID=2809 http://hott.net.cn/EN/Channels/Products/showDetail.asp?objID... video of the device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmWFn2m4Rk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmWFn2m4Rk (bad video, but it still gives a good idea of what it can do) That's $92 without flash, import duty and so on, so the price will go up considerably by the time you have one in your hands.
    - light3 17y ago
      So how well can you type on these things, is it possible to do some coding?
      - jacquesm 17y ago
        I figure for a small email, you could probably use the screen. Anything beyond that and you'll have to find a way to graft on a keyboard. Usb or bluetooth ? For real coding I'd do it with a cross development kit, which is how most phone software development is done.
        jrockway 17y ago
        Android supports bluetooth keyboards and mice. I've tried it with my Archos 5 device... it's quite usable for web browsing.
        coconutrandom 17y ago
        it'd be cool if you could keep the keyboard physically attached, maybe with a hinge mechanism of sorts.
      - adelevie 17y ago
        http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2155544/ipad-as-programming-platform-what-future-do-touch-screens-have-with-programming http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2155544/ipad-as-programmi...
Groxx 17y ago
From the specs, it's not multitouch (a significant feature). From the video, it was stuttering on just scrolling the application lists. It may be a competitor to the iPad / iPod Touch, but it's not a serious competitor. Apple still has the "premium" edge on it, their market doesn't seem likely to be overly affected. An Android tablet definitely appeals to me more than an iPad, for software purposes, but I'm not one of the iPad's target consumers. Though I'm not interested if it doesn't have multitouch.
- jacquesm 17y ago
  You are correct, it does not have multi-touch, and I think that the panel it is built around doesn't support that. The mobile network connectivity is handled through a dongle. The price seems to have dropped from $189 two weeks ago to $155 now.
  - rimantas 17y ago
    And you can bet that is not IPS matrix. I am amazed that so few mention this feature of iPad, especially that IPS matrix a hard to find even on high-end notebooks.
- peteysd 17y ago
  No accelerometer either. I'm not sure how it knows whether to display in landscape or portrait. Says that it's "controlled by software".
  - travisp 17y ago
    Might just have a button that you have to press, which after trying to use my iphone while laying on a couch might be nice.
    - defenestrator 17y ago
      I wish this was easily turned off in teh settings or other method natively. Until I jailbroke my device, reading in bed wasn't very easy.
mortenjorck 17y ago
I don't think a free operating system in the mainstream is going to make it any harder for Apple to keep their premium market. Yes, it allows manufacturers to cut their prices even lower, but, just like in the PC market, Apple isn't competing at the volume end. It won't be hard for other manufacturers to enter the tablet space. Competing with the iPad's integration, build quality, and usability, though, will be.
- bad_user 17y ago
  Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more freedom to tinker. Google coupled with HTC/Motorola can deliver that quality. Their only option is to keep innovating and keep infusing mass-media with Stevey-juice ... but that's not sustainable. I don't get why they haven't learned anything from their past mistakes. Lock-down, patent threats (it was copyright in the old days) ... do they really think these will work?
  - ptomato 17y ago
    "same quality" would be the key word there. Google has yet to show that they can deliver anywhere near the quality of the iPhone OS as far as user experience is concerned.
    - bad_user 17y ago
      Yeah, but Google is not know for poor quality of its software. And as far as hardware quality goes ... there are mobile manufacturers that can deliver it (HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia). Surely Apple has control of the full stack, but it's not like history isn't repeating itself :-)
      - swernli 17y ago
ThomPete 17y ago
I have said it before and I will say it again. What apple sell is not the device. They make money on the device but that is not what they really sell you. What they sell is easy access to content and the experiences you can have with it. Apple will never be the most sold product in the world and they don't and shouldn't care. They are and will continue to be on of the most profitable companies and that they both do and should care about. No one cares about the tech specs. They care about the price. Those who can afford it will buy one but most people wont be able to afford the iPad let alone willing to spend that kind of money on it but they will all dream of it. And that is why Steve Jobs have nothing to worry about. Completely different market segments.
- thewileyone 17y ago
  You're wrong. Apple does care and does want to sell the most products in the world. If it didn't, it wouldn't challenge technology that another company develops that's similar to their own; they'd let it go because they build the better product anyway.
  - ThomPete 17y ago
    If it wanted to sell most products it would not only lower it's prices significantly it would also produce much more products. Challenging competitors is among some of the things companies do. That doesn't mean they fear them.
    - deleted 17y ago
      [deleted]
    - gridspy 17y ago
      Decreasing your price will usually increase quantities sold but often does not increase your profit.
      - ThomPete 17y ago
        Which is exactly why Apple don't need to go there.
jsz0 17y ago
Or it could be another Linux on the desktop situation which is an interesting parallel since it enjoys the same set of advantages/disadvantages against the competition.
ugh 17y ago
I’m very happy about that: Cheaper and better iPads for everyone.
DannoHung 17y ago
On the other hand, the absolute glut of really shitty iPad knock-offs flooding the market could cause a flight to quality. I was playing with a co-worker's Nexus one today who is very Apple-skeptical and the thing was just... bleh. They can't even get scrolling to work right on their premiere phone?
deleted 17y ago
[deleted]

by andreyf 17y ago

jacquesm 17y ago

Absolutely, and there will be plenty of them: http://www.androidtablets.net/ http://www.androidtablets.net/ Not a week goes by without another announcement.

light3 17y ago
The second item is a 4.8" $100 'ipad killer': http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/android-tablet-news/65-100-android-tablet-ipad-killer.html http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/android-tablet-news/65-1...
- jacquesm 17y ago
  There is a 7" screen sized one as well: http://hott.net.cn/EN/Channels/Products/showDetail.asp?objID=2809 http://hott.net.cn/EN/Channels/Products/showDetail.asp?objID... video of the device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmWFn2m4Rk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmWFn2m4Rk (bad video, but it still gives a good idea of what it can do) That's $92 without flash, import duty and so on, so the price will go up considerably by the time you have one in your hands.
  - light3 17y ago
    So how well can you type on these things, is it possible to do some coding?
    - jacquesm 17y ago
      I figure for a small email, you could probably use the screen. Anything beyond that and you'll have to find a way to graft on a keyboard. Usb or bluetooth ? For real coding I'd do it with a cross development kit, which is how most phone software development is done.
      - jrockway 17y ago
        Android supports bluetooth keyboards and mice. I've tried it with my Archos 5 device... it's quite usable for web browsing.
      - coconutrandom 17y ago
        it'd be cool if you could keep the keyboard physically attached, maybe with a hinge mechanism of sorts.
    - adelevie 17y ago
      http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2155544/ipad-as-programming-platform-what-future-do-touch-screens-have-with-programming http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2155544/ipad-as-programmi...

Groxx 17y ago

From the specs, it's not multitouch (a significant feature). From the video, it was stuttering on just scrolling the application lists. It may be a competitor to the iPad / iPod Touch, but it's not a serious competitor. Apple still has the "premium" edge on it, their market doesn't seem likely to be overly affected. An Android tablet definitely appeals to me more than an iPad, for software purposes, but I'm not one of the iPad's target consumers. Though I'm not interested if it doesn't have multitouch.

jacquesm 17y ago
You are correct, it does not have multi-touch, and I think that the panel it is built around doesn't support that. The mobile network connectivity is handled through a dongle. The price seems to have dropped from $189 two weeks ago to $155 now.
- rimantas 17y ago
  And you can bet that is not IPS matrix. I am amazed that so few mention this feature of iPad, especially that IPS matrix a hard to find even on high-end notebooks.
peteysd 17y ago
No accelerometer either. I'm not sure how it knows whether to display in landscape or portrait. Says that it's "controlled by software".
- travisp 17y ago
  Might just have a button that you have to press, which after trying to use my iphone while laying on a couch might be nice.
  - defenestrator 17y ago
    I wish this was easily turned off in teh settings or other method natively. Until I jailbroke my device, reading in bed wasn't very easy.

mortenjorck 17y ago

I don't think a free operating system in the mainstream is going to make it any harder for Apple to keep their premium market. Yes, it allows manufacturers to cut their prices even lower, but, just like in the PC market, Apple isn't competing at the volume end. It won't be hard for other manufacturers to enter the tablet space. Competing with the iPad's integration, build quality, and usability, though, will be.

bad_user 17y ago
Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more freedom to tinker. Google coupled with HTC/Motorola can deliver that quality. Their only option is to keep innovating and keep infusing mass-media with Stevey-juice ... but that's not sustainable. I don't get why they haven't learned anything from their past mistakes. Lock-down, patent threats (it was copyright in the old days) ... do they really think these will work?
- ptomato 17y ago
  "same quality" would be the key word there. Google has yet to show that they can deliver anywhere near the quality of the iPhone OS as far as user experience is concerned.
  - bad_user 17y ago
    Yeah, but Google is not know for poor quality of its software. And as far as hardware quality goes ... there are mobile manufacturers that can deliver it (HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia). Surely Apple has control of the full stack, but it's not like history isn't repeating itself :-)
    - swernli 17y ago

ThomPete 17y ago

I have said it before and I will say it again. What apple sell is not the device. They make money on the device but that is not what they really sell you. What they sell is easy access to content and the experiences you can have with it. Apple will never be the most sold product in the world and they don't and shouldn't care. They are and will continue to be on of the most profitable companies and that they both do and should care about. No one cares about the tech specs. They care about the price. Those who can afford it will buy one but most people wont be able to afford the iPad let alone willing to spend that kind of money on it but they will all dream of it. And that is why Steve Jobs have nothing to worry about. Completely different market segments.

thewileyone 17y ago
You're wrong. Apple does care and does want to sell the most products in the world. If it didn't, it wouldn't challenge technology that another company develops that's similar to their own; they'd let it go because they build the better product anyway.
- ThomPete 17y ago
  If it wanted to sell most products it would not only lower it's prices significantly it would also produce much more products. Challenging competitors is among some of the things companies do. That doesn't mean they fear them.
  - deleted 17y ago
    [deleted]
  - gridspy 17y ago
    Decreasing your price will usually increase quantities sold but often does not increase your profit.
    - ThomPete 17y ago
      Which is exactly why Apple don't need to go there.

jsz0 17y ago

Or it could be another Linux on the desktop situation which is an interesting parallel since it enjoys the same set of advantages/disadvantages against the competition.

ugh 17y ago

I’m very happy about that: Cheaper and better iPads for everyone.

DannoHung 17y ago

On the other hand, the absolute glut of really shitty iPad knock-offs flooding the market could cause a flight to quality. I was playing with a co-worker's Nexus one today who is very Apple-skeptical and the thing was just... bleh. They can't even get scrolling to work right on their premiere phone?

deleted 17y ago

[deleted]