Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Maltby
Hmm... I thought that Android 3.0 was to be the first made for tablets version of the
OS? "Honeycomb", I think it was? Is the 2.2 basically a phone OS like all the other
Android versions?
Luck;
Ken
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Pretty much.
But it works well enough if the phone apps are stripped and replaced with tablet-grade android apps. A lot of Android apps are designed with resolutions of 600x800 in mind so they run fine on tablet sized gadgets. Especially the 7in-class devices.
I have an Android 2.0 Pocketbook IQ. Unrooted. US $150. 7in 4x3 screen. Resistive touchscreen.
No Market access without a firmware repack-hack that adds it. But there is no need to hack it to install arbitrary apps like on the Nooks.
The main restriction of Android 2.x is no Android Market access but there *are* third-party Markets available. I'm looking forward to Amazon's entry. Plus a lot of Apps are available for web download.
It runs Kindle, Overdrive, Audible, Aldiko, Coolreader, Fbreader, Kobo, eReader, Repligo, Adobe Reader, plus the work-in-progress PB Reader, Library and Dictionaries Apps. No Stanza, alas. Nook installs but doesn't run. An update to Android 2.2 is promised but overdue. If it materializes then the Sony app might be an option but since the reviews on it at lukewarm at best I doubt I'd bother with it. Nook? Maybe.
In real world use I've been doing my reading in Kindle, Overdrive, and Coolreader (two column landscape modre is useful sometimes).
For browsing the Dolphin HD browser offers up a Flash-capable desktop-equivalent browsing experience (minus Flash video only). The Skyfire Browser App adds Full-desktop Flash support but its a tad slower.
Its a pretty good "Hardcover" ebook reader/webpad, lacking only LIT support to be a universal color reader. Not the greatest video player (limited to SD content) but you do have apps for pandora and Last.FM which can run in the background while reading.
There are a couple of decent Office-wannabe apps but I'm waiting on the incoming SoftMaker Office. Due Real-Soon-Now. From my experience on WinCE and PPC it should be killer.
All-in-all, a pretty good gadget at a pretty good price; the OS itself is lacking when compared to even decade-old Windows CE but the third-party apps are state of the art and the thing is stable. Basically a lean and mean computing experience.
There is actually some concern that in tarting up Android for Tablets, Google might bloating it up and moving the hardware costs out of desirability. The Xoom coming in at US$700+ does nothing to dispel those concerns.
Its an interesting product category; it might be a fad, it might not.
It really is something of a kludge--putting a phone OS on a webpad--but it works.
Because of the Apps.
It can be *very* useful if you know your needs and understand its limitations. Especially on the lower-end models at NookColor-and-under pricing.