Android phones, apps and tablets

1 Star.

Outside? Are they mad?!

Google is launching it's own wireless data network in the USA, I imagine the pricing will pretty aggressive and with a load of dirt cheap Nexus 4s on the ground they could really fuck the existing carriers.

And how to root a Nexus 4

Good to hear they're rolling their own network. Networks are scum.

I was looking at the Kindle Fire HD until I read this review.

Do not buy it, it's about as useful as an iPad.

Nexus 7 is the best choice despite flimsy build quality.

Ed, knower of all, has spoken... You must obey...

I am beginning to be quite disillusioned with the woeful state of Android tablet-specific apps. There basically aren't any.

Software is key in all this, hence my dedication to nexus hardware. The ipad has a whole load of tablet optimised apps that are a joy to use and get the most out of the form factor. The android device community has not (yet?) stepped up to that standard. I wonder if Google are not encouraging it, in a way that Apple are. Maybe the fact that iphone apps looked so bad on a full ipad forced the hands of the devs.

Anyone have any insight?

Ed will know.

Apple chose top developers and made sure there was a decent range of tablet apps to go live when the first iPad was released, and then many other devs followed due to the quick adoption of the iPad.

Until recently there hasn't really been a massive uptake in android tablets, meaning that developers haven't been willing to invest the time to develop tablet specific versions of their apps when there would be relatively few people downloading them compared to phone versions. With the nexus 7 and now the nexus 10 google has been trying to push the android tablet market by offering more compelling devices at lower price points than apples competition. Along with this they've also released new developer guidelines for tablet apps in a push to try and get developers to start increasing support for tablets, which again will eventually make android tablets a more interesting option to consumers.

tldr: hopefully better apps will start to pop up now the nexus 7 and 10 are out and google appears to be taking the android tablet market more seriously.

Fingers crossed.

Indeed. Hopefully it'll be like the change in quality of general android applications, I remember when I got my HTC hero there a few very innovative apps out there, but the overall quality and range wasn't anywhere near that of iOS, things have definitely come a long way since then.

Couldn't agree more Fade. When I got the G1 there wasn't even an offical facebook app!

ha! I had completely forgot about the wait for that one.

Easier to code for the iPad in some ways- 2 form factors, 2 sets of hardware, same OS release.

Compare that to the range of operating system releases, hardware configurations and screen sizes in Android land.

I am going to guess that it's easier to design for what is, essentially, one platform than it is to design for the fairly fragmented Android environment.

You might be able to make good money making Apps for Android- but can you keep it?

By which I mean that if your app runs great on 20% of the tablets then 80% of your customers might want a refund after they get frustrated.

Ha. Just installed newest Cyanogen Mod on my Arc S, tried to get the verification code for my google account, but it wouldn't show up (it did after I'd got it installed), slight WTF moment :/

No flash player for nexus 7?!

Ed, knower of all...

Because the Fire is shit, you don't need to go to university to know that old man.

I was looking at the Kindle Fire HD until I read this review.

I was then considering the Nexus, but the Kindle application (although since updated, which has made it better) has been amazingly frustrating- not working, working but crashing, refusing to sync etc etc, which put me off the idea.

I'll see how the iPad mini works out.

I was considering the Fire HD too.

Came to the conclusion that the extra cost, size, weight, and reading discomfort over a paperwhite just wasnt worth it. Smart phone for out'n'about, 10" laptop for sofa surfing, and kindle for reading.

Which makes me wish someone would work out how to integrate something like an e-ink display into something like a Galaxy note. Then I'd get rid of all of the above, and have my ultimate device.

Currently have kindle on my OneV. Having a book on my phone has been a revolation for me. I'm just not keen on the screen for long reading stints.

Nexus 4 uses micro SIM Fuxxake. Anyone ever cut one down?

yup but you can just goto a store and they should cut it for you

^ cheers - probably will get shop to do it

phone is nice and heavy in the hand - glass back looks like potential finger print/scratch nightmare though

No flash player for nexus 7?!

You can install the .apk and run Firefox to use flash as not supported by Chrome.

Or give Dolphin browser a go. There's a flash plugin for that.

Fuck you 8ball. Where's the pics??