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DArtagnan
Guest
Is there a decent iPad 2 alternative out yet? I know about the Samsung 10.1 (or whatever) - but is there something more recent and better?
What non-official software would that be?
I don't think there's much that a tablet can't do that there's not an official app for it already, and they are always very cheap. Other than that, I understand jailbreaking is easy and apparently legal too (though it might void the warranty) so you can get non official stuff on the iPad as well.
If you like tweaking the os then Android isn't a good choice either. I think you won't find much openness in a tablet yet unless you go for one that runs windows.
Apparently there are more than 400,000 apps on the android market and even more on the app store for anything you might want. That's quite a few options, enough of them are interesting to keep you busy for a long while. Unless you want unofficial stuff just because they are unofficial.Anything interesting, like unofficial emulators and stuff. I like options.
Yeah it's a bit more open: you can put widgets on your desktop.I wouldn't know. Some people seem to think Android is more open - but I really have no clue.
I don't know… to stick it to the Man?Didn't I already explain that I have no interest in Apple products? Why would I buy an expensive piece of hardware and then risk voiding the warranty?
Apparently there are more than 400,000 apps on the android market and even more on the app store for anything you might want. That's quite a few options, enough of them are interesting to keep you busy for a long while. Unless you want unofficial stuff just because they are unofficial.
I don't know… to stick it to the Man?
It seems to me you just want a tablet that will do whatever it is a tablet doesn't do. Any tablet can handle reading, surfing and some gaming. For anarchic openness you could perhaps get a laptop with Linux?
Rooting an Android device breaks the warranty fyi.
I personally LOVE android. Just stuck a new ROM on my phone for something different. Widgets are pretty awesome as is live wallpaper. Pretty much anything you can think of can be done on an android. I haven't got a tablet yet but will pick up an android one for sure this year. ASUS is rumored to be coming out with some nicely specced ones at a very reasonable price soonish. Whatever you get, make sure it has Ice Cream Sandwich (the latest OS version) on it.
Now I do recommend Apple for nontechy people. But for me getting an apple would be like driving a Camry instead of my fun turbocharged car.
What kind of process must a piece of software go through to be green-lit for the OS - so as to avoid having to "hack" it?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Sony Tablet S, once you've gotten more experience with it.Got a Sony Tablet S today. Too early too say anything yet, except that all kinds of emulators work like a charm.
To allow installing non-market apps in Android there is a simple checkbox in the OS settings - so it requires no hacking at all. All you need is the APK file for the app somewhere on your device. For example this is how the Amazon App Store is installed on most devices (aside from the Kindle), as it isn't listed in the Android Market (being its main competition).
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Sony Tablet S, once you've gotten more experience with it.
I considered getting it, but decided to wait a bit longer and see what the iPad3 shapes up to be (and what it's going to cost). I hear the battery life is quite shortish on the Sony Tablet and it has a tendency to empty the battery even if powered off quite fast. Have you noticed anything like this?