Seeing some previews of what Android 3.0 is going to be, it looks like you can do a lot from the home screen beyond: widgets, desktop OS-like functionality, etc. But with all that functionality adds more complexity for the user. I have to admit, I was almost getting lost watching videos of how a user would navigate through the OS. This is a big contrast to iOS' super simple icon grid, though limited, interface.
EDIT: I forgot to mention the Playbook. I think it definitely has promise, taking cues from WebOS, especially with the way it handles multitasking.
Any thoughts?
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Which OS do you think is better suited for a tablet?
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cass' pick
I have to give props to RIM for a very good-looking and intuitive UI for the Playbook and they clearly have the hardware to back it up. But what makes an OS successful is arguably the abundance, or lack of, apps. I feel like Google is getting into a lot of the things that users are immersed in on a daily basis. And since their apps (Gmail, eBooks, Maps, Tasks, Calendar, etc.) are theirs, the sky is the limit. As a result, we see excellent integration of these apps into the OS and whatever innovation there is (I'm thinking about the recent 3D update to Google Maps), are passed along to the user relatively quick. I'm not a big fan of most widgets because they don't look good, but the Gmail widget showcased at the Android 3.0 preview, good stuff right there. I'm not going to mention the UI because that was great (new look for Gmail, 3D effects, unobtrusive notifications, etc.). Honeycomb looks enticing and all this talk about dual-core and Tegra 2 makes me anxious.
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cass' pick
iOS, Android 3, RIMM Playbook OS and WebOS are all good enough with pros and cons: this is however not the most important question. You cannot decide which is the best OS based on the home screen alone.
The most important question is which tablet OS bring the best applications, because a tablet is nothing without good applications.
Currently this is definitively iOS because all other OS are brand new in the tablet world. So we need to wait and see a little bit to know how developers will embrace the new platforms.
All other considerations such as widgets on home screen are mostly a matter of taste: as an iOS user, I don't feel the need to fill my home screen with informations from everywhere (widgets): I use a dedicated app depending on what I want to do right now. Android users will probably disagree: this is just a personal preference.
The most important question is which tablet OS bring the best applications, because a tablet is nothing without good applications.
Currently this is definitively iOS because all other OS are brand new in the tablet world. So we need to wait and see a little bit to know how developers will embrace the new platforms.
All other considerations such as widgets on home screen are mostly a matter of taste: as an iOS user, I don't feel the need to fill my home screen with informations from everywhere (widgets): I use a dedicated app depending on what I want to do right now. Android users will probably disagree: this is just a personal preference.
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Honeycomb will be the definitive way to make a tablet OS. Don't be surprised when IOS adds a tablet widget section in their app store. I think the iPad is great, but feels really limited as a tablet. There is a lot of apps that are so simple, it makes no sense to be on a tablet, and others that show how great the iPad is. I don't know, this is the very beginning of a new shift in computing, it's going to be amazing just seeing the innovation throughout the years, maybe more eventful than the 80's and their computing shift. IPad, Xoom, or Playbook, they're all packed with fantastic OS's, and not one is more suited for a tablet, they're all fantastic choices. But I lean towards Honeycomb, because I am an android fan at the end of the day.
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The Playbook UI looks very cool and very webOS-like, which is definitely a good thing. It'll be interesting to see the ecosystem that follows it, if any.
I think Gingerbread has more promise, simply because it'll be available on multiple devices on multiple carriers across the world. It also seems like it may take the most advantage of a tablet's additional screen real estate by allowing windows side-by-side. That's iOS's biggest downfall IMO: it still relies on one app in focus and a grid of icons.
I think Gingerbread has more promise, simply because it'll be available on multiple devices on multiple carriers across the world. It also seems like it may take the most advantage of a tablet's additional screen real estate by allowing windows side-by-side. That's iOS's biggest downfall IMO: it still relies on one app in focus and a grid of icons.
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I still think WebOS will be a great OS for a tablet, just as it is superior on a phone. Real one-swipe multitasking is such a joy compared to task switching. And the Palm tradition of just doing the right thing -- the very thing you want to do -- is the most worthwhile legacy it has. As long as HP doesn't destroy it or load it down.
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The playbook OS looks really nice, as people have mentioned its similar to webOS which was nice on the pre. Not a big fan of iOS, i know people rave about user friendliness but the minor learning curve of Honeycomb is worth it for what you get out of the device
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