Android is one of the hottest and fastest growing mobile
operating systems. Last year, Android edged out Apple’s iOS as the market share
leader in smartphones. While the Apple iPhone is the only smartphone using iOS,
countless handset manufacturers have chosen to use the free andopen source
Android platform instead.
In the tablet world, Android still has some catching up to do.
While there are countless models ofAndroid tablets from a wide variety of both
well-known and obscure brands, there are only threeiPad models presently
available. Nonetheless, iPad is nearly synonymous with tablets. Other operating
systems, such as Windows and the short-lived WebOS, have also been seen on
tablets. However, Android remains the number one iPad rival and has a long way
to go in gainingtablet market share.
The Evolution of Android
Android versions 1.0 through 2.3 were designed specifically
for smartphones, devices with a 7” or smaller screen size. Android 3.0,
codenamed Honeycomb, was the first built just for tablets. With the recent
launch of Android 4.0, Google has brought together elements of the previous
versions to create a unified interface and experience across device types.
As more and more smaller manufacturers continue producing
Android tablets, it makes sense to wonder if they will edge out the iPad. Big
names in the e-reader world such as Amazon Kindleand the Barnes and Noble Nook
have both launched Android based tablets that go above and beyond e-book
functionality. On the other hand, budget brands and little known companies are
churning out Android tablets with decent specs and rock bottom prices. However,
these products generally pale in comparison with the iPad.
Why Android?
What is the advantage of buying Android device? Proponents of
free and open source softwareprefer Android because it is built on a Linux
kernel and utilizes primarily open source code. This avoids the costs of
licensing a third-party operating system, such as Microsoft Windows, or wholly
developing their own operating system, such as Apple has done with iOS. As a
result, the Android world is generally much more open and flexible.
Android users are not tied down to a single source for apps,
games, e-books and other digital content, as is the case with iOS users. Tech
geeks and tinkerers like the ability to easily root their Android devices, test
out custom software images and tweak the operating system. Even without advanced technical knowledge,
Android users generally enjoy more options for customizing their mobile
devices.
Looking Forward
Looking ahead to the launch of Windows 8 later this year, some
are speculating that a Windows tablet may finally rival the iPad. Meanwhile,
Google is beefing up its content ecosystem in an effort to make Android tablets
even more useful. For example, an Android tablet will generally offer the most
seamless integration with Google services such as GTalk chat and video
conferencing, Google’s e-book and music stores, online Google Docs office
suite, and the recently launched Google Drive cloud storage service.
In Conclusion
Those who are already happy owners of Apple devices may be
most comfortable sticking with what they are familiar with. Windows fans may
prefer to hold out for the Windows 8 release. Android is often best suited for
tech savvy users who like to have lots of options and maybe get their hands
dirty once in awhile. Nonetheless, as Android becomes more user friendly for
the mainstream consumer, it will likely continue to be a major player in the
mobile device market.
TM : Artikel best.. dikutip dari : BlogoTech
No comments:
Post a Comment