My Initial Observation of Android and iPad
7 Jul 2010
So, for the first time in my life, I’ll be brief.
As many of you heard, I’m now the proud owner of an HTC Incredible phone on Verizon and an iPad. I’ve been so busy that I’ve hardly had time to do anything with either, but I will say this…
1. I don’t get what all the fuss about Verizon’s voice network is. I’m still at 1 bar in NYC most of the time. Though, I do hear everyone else’s crappy connection (and can tell it’s them).
2. Data is fast, and the browser on Android is nice.
3. Android is annoying, though in many cases it has more functionality that the iPhone (I had the 3G for a while), the UI is horribly inconsistent. For example, in Gmail there are three separate places to go for mail commands (like delete, reply, new message). And, it’s hard to figure out what it’s doing sometimes so takes quite a few clicks to do some simple things. And, it’s impossible to click mid-word… they need the magnifying glass thing that Apple has. That said, I freaking love Swype.
The biggest differentce between the two devices however is the most important.
I’m sure I’ll be OK with my phone, learn how to use it, and configure it exactly how I want it. HOWEVER, I believe the tablet market is different. I think for a tablet to be successful it needs absolute simplicity. Android on a tablet wouldn’t hold a candle to the iPad, and the market, I suspect, isn’t willing to twiddle it’s way there. They’ll wait… We need phones, we need laptops… but the fact that the tablet is an emerging/new market means that until it’s stupidly-easy to use, most people will just pass until vendors get it right. I believe Apple has in a big way.
The iPad is wicked fast, easy to setup, and for the time being, fun to use.
[disclosure: Long AAPL]
Jul 07, 2010 @ 09:51:38
Interesting review.
On the bars on the Andriod, are you sure your holding it right?
On the iPad, I like it but not enough to buy it! Now if I could win 1 (and I believe I have a better then 1 in 200 (perhaps as low as 1 in 100 or better) of doing that) that would be a different story!
Keep up the good work
Molly
PS. How was your trip down to Oz?
Jul 07, 2010 @ 09:54:28
Actually, the bars get better when I hold it, unless I’m on a call.
I’m not in the running to win that iPad. The internal thing they just deployed doesn’t work so well on Safari (duh!).
Sydney was great. Cold spell. But a really great vibe in the city. And the RPM training went great (as usual… the sound you hear is me patting myself on the shoulder).
Jul 07, 2010 @ 11:26:50
I am running the iPad wifi version using a 3G Mifi router, and it is a really is a great traveling companion.
I can’t comment on the phone, I have just moved to the iPhone 4, and I think it is great (yes the bumper case helps!).
I am however totally in awe with the iPad. I love the fact that I can use Skype on the iPad, which in essence replaces the need for a desk phone when I am on a decent network. While in Australia recently I was using the iPad on a coffee shop wifi network to call home (UK) for free.
Jul 07, 2010 @ 11:42:24
Jeff
That’s one where Android is quite nice as well. Skype works seamlessly, though I haven’t tried it so can’t comment on the experience relative to the iPad/iPodTouch.
However, Google Voice is slick on the Android phone. I have it set to intercept all international calls, so I dial internationally just like I would any other call, but it knows to route it over GVoice, to keep my costs down. It’s totally transparent, tells me it’s doing it so I have confidence, and so on.
David