SOMM Soapbox

In December of 2011, Google chairman Eric Schmidt let out a big announcement in an interview, “In the next six months we [Google] plan to market a tablet of the highest quality”. I had a long discussion awhile ago with good friend and fellow blogger (Lasha of Onefusedlife.com) during the release of the first wave of Android powered tablets that Google, itself would have to enter. Google would have to do for Android tablets, as they had with Android smartphones with their Nexus line. Do them justice.

Samsung, with its bestsellers thus far in the Galaxy S II smartphone series, is now openly mocking Apple and its sub-culture through a funny new commercial.

I am a strong advocate of Google’s Android mobile operating system, but I assure you I’m not a totally blind zealot. Android has matured but still features its fair share of problems. Some of these problems are nerve wracking and could have caused me to leave the Android ecosystem if there were any viable alternatives (in my eyes).  From bugs to security, Google has a lot of issues to solve and here’s hoping that Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) does that. Until I get ICS in hand, here are five things I hate about Android.

Apple, Inc has more ammo to use against Android in the mobile war and it’s a feature almost all smartphone users are familiar with, ‘Slide-to-Unlock”.

The Apple iPhone 4S has been released to much fanfare and 4 million units sold, not bad. One has to think, without the virtuoso Steve Jobs, will future iDevices still retain their top spots? According to a report from CNET, the Apple iPhone 4S was not the last iDevice Mr. Jobs worked on. Steve’s last hand’s on project is the iPhone 5. What comes after that is just “another” iPhone and without Steve’s genius at the helm, I sense trouble for Apple.

I have been untethered to a mobile contract since August of 2009. During that span, I had a Samsung A900, and then multiple flavors of Blackberries and finally, my HTC EVO 4G. My EVO has taught me to love touch based phones as I have been previously an introvert when it came to any phone without a QWERTY keyboard. Blackberry spoiled me.

Now it all makes sense. It is made completely clear. With the announcement of the iPhone 4S by Apple yesterday morning, we can see why Apple has gone after Samsung and its Galaxy S II (and Tab tablets) smartphones. Is it because Apple truly believes Samsung copied its designs? Or. Did the Galaxy S II surprise the hell out of Apple?

With the introduction of Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire, the already flooded tablet market is looking like a dam on the verge of collapse. Although, the Kindle Fire is set to break away, using something out of Apple’s own playbook. I’m speaking of services, which Toshiba, Samsung, RIM, Motorola and other Android OEM tablet makers can’t match. On paper, Amazon has the clout and services to potentially take the hearts and minds of the mainstream consumer.

Stop! Everyone about to purchase or thinking about purchasing a new PC, just STOP! A PC is so yesterday according to Steve Jobs of Apple, Inc. Never mind that iDevices like the iPad will never offer the same precision control as a keyboard/mouse combo in most applications. Never mind that there are hundreds of millions of smartphone users who STILL purchase and rely on notebooks and desktop computers for their everyday computing needs. Yes, stop all of your purchases of PC’s because iOS 5 with all of its revolutionary features has finally cut the need of wired connections (never mind that most phones – even featured phones – already have most of what iOS 5 offers).

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) was demonstrated by Google on Wednesday, showcasing why an OS developed exclusively for tablets is better than an OS retrofitted for them. In the up and coming months, companies like Motorola (Xoom) and LG (G-Slate) will be releasing their “vapor” and Apple will be attacked from all sides.

If rumors are correct, the iPad 2 is merely an upgrade to the original (i.e. iPhone 3G to 3GS). While I believe Apple has the right to be comfortable (they have sold over 14 million iPads), small incremental upgrades won’t do, especially with powerhouses like the Motorola Xoom on the horizon.

To quote my good friend (and Apple faithful), Lasha at www.onefusedlife.com, from one of our many tech debates “it’s not about the hardware, but the software”. I agree with him on this. Yet, I also agree with Google on developing one OS for phones and another for tablets. Google is making real use of all of the real estate provided by larger screens, not just rows of app icons made famous by Apple.

If Google can successfully produce an OS that will allow for entry level to high end tablets, Apple will lose market share. The tablet market is only going to become more cutthroat as Microsoft and HP introduces their offerings. With Honeycomb, I think Google is ready to take on all challengers.

Many of my friends, family, clients, and colleagues knew I was a stark defender of all things Blackberry. Due to RIM’s inability to keep up with the times and their underwhelming smartphone offerings through Sprint, I did the unthinkable. I picked up an Android phone without a keyboard (gasp!). I went with a completely touch based phone and I fell in love.

This is a huge contrast to my previous anti-touch phone stance and loathing of all things iPhone. What did Google Android offer me over what Apple and their iPhone couldn’t? Freedom. The freedom of open software and the dictation of what I can and cannot do with my phone.

Far forward to the present and my allegiance is now with Google and Android. While I know Google isn’t perfect (especially when they made a deal with Verizon in regards to Net Neutrality), they are not trying to force me to stick within their confines. If I want to use the Google Market, I can. I can also, directly download and install, apps without it (yeah, yeah, at my own risk). Try doing that on your iPhone without it being jailbroken (that word really fits Apple’s grasp of their customer’s phones).

Android is now powering millions of phones, from entry level to the high end smartphones and Apple has the nerve to call Google’s next conquest, “bizarre”. On January, 18^th, Apple’s COO Tim Cook called current Android tablets bizarre and labeled the up and coming Android tablets as “vapor”. More so, Mr. Cook liken Android tablets to oversized smartphones. These comments come from a company that released a “revolutionary” tablet in the iPad. Which itself is nothing more than a bigger iPod Touch. Someone needs to stop calling the kettle black.

I cannot predict the future. Will the Android tablets take over the Tablet market as the Android smartphone did to the cellular phone industry? Time will only tell. What I will say is that there is no other company outside of Google, in the position to challenge Apple in the tablet market. Apple has the right to pop shots at Google but don’t rest too much on those laurels Apple or you’ll once again see Google take first.