(Page 2 of 2)
A Boston-based technology and design firm called Tap 'n Tap is partnering with undisclosed OEMs to develop a customized interface for Android-powered tablets. Dubbed "home Internet devices," they should be available in the second half of 2010. One device will have a seven-inch LCD touch screen and will cost about $299. Some versions will have 3G and GPS, while others will have just Wi-Fi, according to Tap 'n Tap founder Javier Segovia who demonstrated the seven-inch prototype for Technology Review.
Rather than a blank screen with a list of icons, Tap 'n Tap's prototype has a home page with "portlets"--customizable areas that can showed weather, news and pictures. "A mobile phone spends most of the time in your pocket, but these devices are on the kitchen wall or a table in your bedroom, so we want the screen to be useful other than just being a launcher," says Segovia.
The prototype has a web camera, can play Flash, and can run more than one program at once. The user interface is smooth and intuitive. A bar at the bottom of the screen can be used to launch applications: web browser, calendar, contact book and a Facebook app. "Tap 'n Tap's bet is similar to Apple's in that we also believe in the power of the third-party app developer ecosystem and the consumer dynamic of downloading apps," says Segovia.
Yankee Group's Howe says the issue for all these touch-screen devices will be how much consumer demand there is. "The real questions are, what is the consumer use for these devices, and what essential need do they fulfill," says Howe.
Developers and analysts agree that this new class of device will most likely be used around the home, and primarily for entertainment rather than work or communications. "We expect there will be around four million devices shipped this year," says Orr. About 100,000 media tablets were shipped from vendors last year. In comparison, four million e-readers and 35 million netbooks were shipped.
The latest Android tablets and Chromebooks suggest different "post-PC" worlds, both more complicated than the one Apple is going for.
Tablets on show at CES may be hampered by Google's unfinished OS.
The Chinese-made tablet falls short, highlighting problems with the Android ecosystem.
Android is a serious competitor to Apple and everyone else with proprietary systems (Apple, Palm, RIM, Microsoft, Nokia, etc.). This is why Steve Jobs decided to use the patent infringement card against HTC. And with great fury, I might add. They will lose in the end because Android is a highly disruptive technology. Why? Because it's open source.
You are correct. I predict that within 11 days, Apple will be no more!
I see no interface improvement from one to the other
Rubbing technology is very painful to me. I can only rub a screen for 15 to 20 seconds before I am in significant pain. I can not use the iPad, and now I won't be able to use the Android. So what's the difference? Both machines are useless to me. There have got be be others like me. I can't be the only one.
Re: I see no interface improvement from one to the other
Putting aside all the naughty comments that come to mind, I will be serious:
1) So, you can't use a mousepad either, I suppose. That stinks.
2) Perhaps you could use a sheer nylon finger guard. Cut the legs off tights for dolls.
Re: I see no interface improvement from one to the other
You might try the Nexus One if you can get your hands on one. The sapphire coated screen is a lot smoother and more durable than the plastic (polycarbonate?) screens most phones have.
But I'm sure these touchscreen units will have USB ports which you can plug real keyboards and mice in to. Android phones also have roller balls which allow you to do less finger dragging if that's an issue.
Yes,It's just before the war Apple vs Android.
Like previous case [JVC's VHS vs Sony's Veta],Some people guess Androids will win Apple. But in my point of view, it's not simple case. In case of encoding video file, we didn't need culture variable, it was just choice of technology. But, now the rule of game is influenced by culture. Steve Jobs said to rival Microsoft "They don't bring much culture into their products" in 1996. Despite Android's being open to every hardware, it is difficult for hardware manufacturers to collaborate together with same culture. Diversity is important but we need to focus on "Design and Story".
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
This document is part of the “How-To Guide for Most Common Measurements” centralized resource portal. This tutorial provides a detailed guide for measurement and device considerations to take temperature measurements using thermocouples. Get an introduction to thermocouples, which are inexpensive sensing devices widely used with PC-based data acquisition systems. Also review some specific thermocouple examples and learn how thermocouples work and ways to integrate them into a data acquisition measurement system.
View full PDF >
Listen to story > 
On Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
Subscribe to the Feed
StevenDuque
2 Comments
If the iPad has a built-in camera, it still has a big comparative advantage to Androids
A recent Harvard grad's thoughts on the potential impacts of the iPad having a camera:
http://stevenduque.com/2010/02/the-ipad-3-reasons-why-a-built-in-camera-will-make-it-a-must-have-device/
Reply
Gaetano Marano
246 Comments
>>> a new OLPC design blog >>>
.
the OLPC project is a great idea that, unfortunately, haven't had enough success in its early five years of life, with a selling of less than 1.6 machines, so far, despite, the potential number of persons that might need this PC is of over two billion, worldwide, so, before the OLPC project fails, I've decided to start a new project called "MY Low Cost PC" to try to develop MY version of an affordable computer for poor countries and poor peoples, hoping to have the support of the OLPC team and of the PC industry, to develop, produce and sell my idea more quickly
and here is the blog where my project starts: http://www.olpcdesign.com/
.
Reply
GaryB
119 Comments
Re: If the iPad has a built-in camera, it still has a big comparative advantage to Androids
Who the hell sez that iPad has no camera? It will have a camera. The fact that Job's didn't demo it probably just meant is wasn't working like he wanted it to. Note the delay in release of the iPad -- probably for just this reason.
Reply