Kindle Fire loses ground while Apple and Samsung gain, latest report suggests

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Ignoring app updates is like ignoring Windows Update notifications.

hardly. It is extremely rare that an app has a bug that compromises the entire system... Windows Updates almost always correct a security hole.

Rule of thumb:
Operating System : keep up-to-date with all fixes
Apps : update only after fully understanding what is fixed, what gets broken, and what is lost.

[m00min]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

That's why I couldn't buy the iPad mini after having an iPad 3 and and iPhone 5.

I upgraded to an iPad Mini from an iPad 3. I'm quite happy reading on the Mini's screen. Yes, I can see it's not as crisp but it's nowhere near as bad as the iPad 1.

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Umm, yes it does.
Just don't use the update tab in the iTunes store, and you'll remain on the same version of an app forever.

Whilst doing this in combination with backing up the app files will protect you from any accidental upgrades it's getting harder to stay at a specific iOS version. If you need to reinstall your device for any reason you're forced up to the latest version. A disaster if you're jailbroken.

Jailbroken iOS > Android, the combination of freeing your device and actually having some apps that aren't Twitter clients, movie players or web browsers wins by miles. Unjailbroken and it's harder to argue that point.

I have WordPress running on my iPad. I can use the GitMongo app from the AppStore to check out my code and edit it in Textastic (essentially a Sublime-like editor). I'm sure I could run PHP/mySQL on Android but there just aren't the polished Git/Text editors/etc. it's that combination that keeps me on iOS.

I've got a couple of Android devices but the software side is still lacking, if you want to use a tablet to do some actual work the software plays a much more important part in choosing a platform than the hardware.

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by m00min

Jailbroken iOS > Android, the combination of freeing your device ...

... and preventing that you can get in-app purchases.

[m00min]

Originally Posted by Mivo

... and preventing that you can get in-app purchases.

Can you explain that please?

[Mivo]

When I looked into jailbreaking my iPad, all methods to do so would also prevent me from performing in-app purchases. For me, that was a definite dealbreaker. Have newer jailbreaking methods changed that? Can jailbroken iOS devices use the regular AppStore and get in-app purchases?

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by m00min

Jailbroken iOS > Android, the combination of freeing your device and actually having some apps that aren't Twitter clients, movie players or web browsers wins by miles. Unjailbroken and it's harder to argue that point.

I disagree. My jailbroken iOS device is better than it was prior to jailbreaking, but it is inferior to my Android device. With a jailbroken device, you still have to go through hoops to maintain the jailbroken system in terms of themes and GUI customization as it's just an overlay over the iOS one. Android lends itself naturally and easily to GUI customization. Then there is the difficulty of jailbreaking in the first place, and also backing up and reinstalling the system, once jailbroken. My jailbroken iOS Touch also runs slightly slower (laggier) than before it was jailbroken.

And I don't understand what you mean by "some apps that aren't Twitter clients, movie player or web browsers"????? There are currently more apps on Android than there are in the Apple store, and some like Calibre Companion and other reading apps are Android-only. I haven't found any significant apps on iOS that I couldn't get the equivalent of on Android.

It's the reading apps that actually drove me to android initially. The options for those on iOS have always been paltry by comparison. Marvin is helping to close the gap, but it'll only be available for non-iPad iOS devices for the first time this Fall, and then not even for iOS5 users. Even with Marvin, I believe the overall options for reading apps are more plentiful with Android. Without Marvin, no contest.

I have WordPress running on my iPad. I can use the GitMongo app from the AppStore to check out my code and edit it in Textastic (essentially a Sublime-like editor). I'm sure I could run PHP/mySQL on Android but there just aren't the polished Git/Text editors/etc. it's that combination that keeps me on iOS.

That sounds like a specialized need. I don't know whether Android does or does not have the equivalent apps. But I believe for most people, Android will offer more choices than iOS.

I've got a couple of Android devices but the software side is still lacking, if you want to use a tablet to do some actual work the software plays a much more important part in choosing a platform than the hardware.

What flavor of Android? Maybe your device is running an older Android version that isn't compatible with most of today's current apps.

Personally, I don't do much work on a tablet. I need a real keyboard for real work so I stick to a laptop for anything work-intensive. I view a tablet as primarily for reading and entertainment.

--Pat

[pl001]

Originally Posted by m00min

I've got a couple of Android devices but the software side is still lacking, if you want to use a tablet to do some actual work the software plays a much more important part in choosing a platform than the hardware.

Absolutely. Neither Android or iOS even come close to Windows RT for my productivity needs. No platform is perfect or everything to everybody.

[m00min]

Originally Posted by Mivo

When I looked into jailbreaking my iPad, all methods to do so would also prevent me from performing in-app purchases. For me, that was a definite dealbreaker. Have newer jailbreaking methods changed that? Can jailbroken iOS devices use the regular AppStore and get in-app purchases?

Hmm, I've never encountered that problem, I'm able to buy and install "official" apps without any of those problems.

Originally Posted by PatNY

I disagree. My jailbroken iOS device is better than it was prior to jailbreaking, but it is inferior to my Android device. With a jailbroken device, you still have to go through hoops to maintain the jailbroken system in terms of themes and GUI customization as it's just an overlay over the iOS one. Android lends itself naturally and easily to GUI customization. Then there is the difficulty of jailbreaking in the first place, and also backing up and reinstalling the system, once jailbroken. My jailbroken iOS Touch also runs slightly slower (laggier) than before it was jailbroken.

Some of the theming stuff will slow a device down, I don't use any of that, I don't experience any slow down but I don't install loads of apps from Cydia, just the few useful ones: SSH, PHP, mySQL, MyWi, BiteSMS and iFile.

There isn't a lot of difference in the number of hoops to jump through for jail breaking iOS compared to rooting and installing CyanogenMod.

Originally Posted by PatNY

And I don't understand what you mean by "some apps that aren't Twitter clients, movie player or web browsers"????? There are currently more apps on Android than there are in the Apple store, and some like Calibre Companion and other reading apps are Android-only. I haven't found any significant apps on iOS that I couldn't get the equivalent of on Android.

Ok, I was being a little facetious there but I have been unable to find a decent code editor which supports adding my own plugins (similar to Sublime, iOS has Textastic) or a good task management app similar to iOS's OmniFocus, that's just the two examples I can think of off the top of my head, there are more.

Originally Posted by PatNY

It's the reading apps that actually drove me to android initially. The options for those on iOS have always been paltry by comparison. Marvin is helping to close the gap, but it'll only be available for non-iPad iOS devices for the first time this Fall, and then not even for iOS5 users. Even with Marvin, I believe the overall options for reading apps are more plentiful with Android. Without Marvin, no contest.

Fair enough, I'm not gonna argue as I've not really looked into reading apps for Android, I'll take your word for it, I will say you can pry Marvin out of my cold, dead hands though.

Originally Posted by PatNY

That sounds like a specialized need. I don't know whether Android does or does not have the equivalent apps. But I believe for most people, Android will offer more choices than iOS.

What flavor of Android? Maybe your device is running an older Android version that isn't compatible with most of today's current apps.

I've got a device running 2.3 and another running CyanogenMod 9, which is essentially Android 4.

Originally Posted by PatNY

Personally, I don't do much work on a tablet. I need a real keyboard for real work so I stick to a laptop for anything work-intensive. I view a tablet as primarily for reading and entertainment.

--Pat

That's another advantage of an iPad, there are a lot of clip-on keyboards. Whilst there are keyboards for Android tablets they aren't quite the same, seamless fit, that won't bother a lot of people but I like that my keyboard fits over the front of the tablet exactly.

Originally Posted by pl001

Absolutely. Neither Android or iOS even come close to Windows RT for my productivity needs. No platform is perfect or everything to everybody.

I'm curious, how easy is it to find anything to run on RT?

[pl001]

Originally Posted by m00min

I'm curious, how easy is it to find anything to run on RT?

That depends on what you want to run, but it continues to improve each week. They have the basics covered and almost everything else I need can be done within IE, which is a PC-level browser. The biggest weakness is games, you usually won't find the latest and greatest on Windows.

[m00min]

Originally Posted by pl001

That depends on what you want to run, but it continues to improve each week. They have the basics covered and almost everything else I need can be done within IE, which is a PC-level browser. The biggest weakness is games, you usually won't find the latest and greatest on Windows.

Ah ok. I quote like the idea of the other Surface (the full-fat one that runs standard applications). Being able to run "proper applications" like Photoshop by using it with a USB 3 dock, or removing the keyboard and surfing on the sofa would be awesome. If Apple would allow their OS to be virtualised like MS does Windows I'd be sold.

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by m00min

There isn't a lot of difference in the number of hoops to jump through for jail breaking iOS compared to rooting and installing CyanogenMod.

I've rooted my Nook and flashed mods to it as well. The whole process was considerably easier and quicker than jailbreaking my iOS device. Part of the problem may be that there doesn't seem to be one main website or forum to get all the fixes and assistance for jailbreaking. The XDA forums, OTOH, serve as both a main source for the various fixes, as well as for guidance and assistance.

Now if you're a developer or otherwise have a heavy tech background, then none of this may matter. But for the average person, it makes a big difference.

That's another advantage of an iPad, there are a lot of clip-on keyboards. Whilst there are keyboards for Android tablets they aren't quite the same, seamless fit, that won't bother a lot of people but I like that my keyboard fits over the front of the tablet exactly.

How a keyboard "fits" with a tablet is very secondary to how it feels. I've tried Logitech keyboards with both an iPad and a SGT 7" and just couldn't get comfortable with the thinness and lack of tactile feedback that I get with a regular keyboard. These portable keyboards are much better than a touchscreen version, but they still come up short for me for any extensive typing jobs.

--Pat

[m00min]

Originally Posted by PatNY

Now if you're a developer or otherwise have a heavy tech background, then none of this may matter. But for the average person, it makes a big difference.

I wouldn't recommend jail breaking or rooting to anyone who didn't have a tech background to be honest.

Originally Posted by PatNY

How a keyboard "fits" with a tablet is very secondary to how it feels. I've tried Logitech keyboards with both an iPad and a SGT 7" and just couldn't get comfortable with the thinness and lack of tactile feedback that I get with a regular keyboard. These portable keyboards are much better than a touchscreen version, but they still come up short for me for any extensive typing jobs.

--Pat

I like that my keyboard fits on my iPad because it doesn't move across the screen when it's closed and in a bag, it protects the screen. The tactile feedback is totally subjective, I find shallow travel keyboards much nicer to type on. You can't really call either 'better'.

I do find the size of some tablet specific iPad keyboards to be a problem. I had to replace a Logitech with a Zagg because the slot prop-up system of the Logitech kept the iPad too vertical for the taller person, I couldn't see the screen.

[simon89]

So I wonder whether the Kindle will catch up when Jeff Bezos will be offering the Washington Post on it. Maybe this will give it a small boost.

[PatNY]

Originally Posted by m00min

I wouldn't recommend jail breaking or rooting to anyone who didn't have a tech background to be honest.

I do not have a tech background. Making these changes to devices is easy IF you have average reading skills, a decent amount of patience, and access to a source such as XDA which spells out how to do things step by step. That's what makes tweaking Android relatively easy. Also, you shouldn't try to be one of the first or take on the riskier or newer things, which is common sense if you don't have a tech background. Usually at XDA it's clear what is very experimental and what is more tried and true.

--Pat

[talaivan]

I have a Nexus 7 (2013) and an iPad Mini. For reading, there's no comparison -- the Nexus is MUCH better because of the resolution. For everything else, the iPad is better. For example, Netflix hardly works on the Nexus but runs perfectly on the iPad. The Adonit Jot stylus works absolutely perfectly on the iPad (with Notes Plus, a great program), but is almost impossible on the Nexus (Lecture Notes, which is an excellent program, by the way). I even tried the Samsung Note 8, but its stylus, while it works well, is not as good as the iPad + Adonit + Notes Plus. The thing is, everything on the iPad just works, while on Android you never know. HBOGO still doesn't work on the Nexus, and of course Amazon Instant is not available on Android. I'm really looking forward to the mini retina, and will sell my Nexus as soon as I get it.