Android Tablet Apps: A Critical Look at Quality
The Android Tablet App Ecosystem: A Closer Look
Apple frequently points out perceived shortcomings in Android tablet applications while promoting its iPad line. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the Android tablet app landscape is necessary. The question arises: are Android tablets, such as the Nexus 7, genuinely less desirable due to app availability?
App Quantity and Optimization
The iPad undeniably boasts a larger number of applications specifically designed for tablet use. Furthermore, certain well-known applications, especially those focused on touch-based gaming, are exclusively available on the iPad platform.
However, this doesn't represent the complete picture. The situation is more nuanced than a simple comparison of app counts suggests.
Beyond App Numbers: Functionality and Alternatives
Many Android apps are designed to be responsive, meaning they adapt to different screen sizes. This allows them to function adequately on tablets, even if they weren't specifically optimized for the larger display.
While a dedicated tablet version might offer a superior experience, the core functionality remains accessible. Users often find suitable alternatives within the Android ecosystem when a specific, optimized app is missing.
The Expanding Android Tablet App Library
The Android tablet app ecosystem is continually evolving. Developers are increasingly recognizing the growing user base and are responding by creating more tablet-specific applications.
This ongoing development suggests that the gap between Android and iPad in terms of app quality and quantity is gradually narrowing.
Considering Your Needs
Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose an Android tablet or an iPad depends on individual needs and preferences. If access to a handful of iPad-exclusive apps is critical, the iPad is the clear choice.
However, for users who prioritize flexibility, customization, and a wider range of price points, Android tablets offer a compelling alternative. The app situation, while not perfect, is often sufficient for a positive user experience.
Fundamentals of Android for Content Consumption
Let's begin by outlining the core features that make Android a strong platform for enjoying digital content.
- A robust web browser is essential. While Chrome has faced performance challenges on Android in the past, it performs admirably on devices like the Nexus 7 (2013).
- Google provides well-designed, tablet-optimized applications for its core services. This includes popular options such as YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps.
- A wealth of reading options are available. These range from Amazon’s Kindle app for eBooks to news aggregators like Flipboard and Feedly, alongside services like Pocket for saving articles for later.
- Most major media services offer Android apps. You’ll find options for video streaming like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, as well as music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify, and Rdio. However, some services are absent; Apple’s iTunes is not available, and Amazon does not currently provide an Amazon Instant Video app for Android, despite offering it for iPad and their own Kindle Fire tablets.
Android boasts extensive app support for content consumption, encompassing websites, eBooks, videos, and music. The platform also supports a vast library of Android smartphone games.
Compared to operating systems like Windows 8, Android excels in content consumption due to its broader app availability, including applications for Google services like YouTube and popular media platforms like Spotify and Rdio.
Android provides a comprehensive ecosystem for accessing and enjoying a wide range of digital content.
Android's Approach to App Scaling on Diverse Devices
The process of how Android accommodates smartphone applications across a range of devices will be examined. While the term "scaling" often receives criticism, particularly in reference to Apple's iPad handling of iPhone applications, the Android implementation is demonstrably different.
Apple's method, when executing an iPhone application on an iPad, primarily involves pixel duplication and magnification. For instance, a Twitter application displaying five tweets simultaneously on an iPhone would, on an iPad, simply enlarge those five tweets without altering the content density.
This contrasts with Android's more adaptive strategy. Android devices exhibit a wide variety of screen dimensions, necessitating a more sophisticated approach to app compatibility. Consider the same Twitter application, initially designed for smartphones to show five tweets at a time.
When deployed on an Android tablet, the application doesn't merely zoom in. Instead, it intelligently adjusts to display a greater quantity of content – potentially ten or more tweets – leveraging the larger screen real estate. This occurs even without specific tablet optimization by the developer.
Although smartphone-designed applications aren't always perfectly suited for larger screens, their adaptability on Android significantly surpasses that observed on iPads. This is notably evident within the gaming sphere.
A vast majority of Android smartphone games are playable on Android tablets, and these games typically adjust well to the increased screen size. This provides users with access to an extensive library of gaming options.
This capability presents a compelling advantage, especially when contrasted with Microsoft's Windows 8, and the potential benefits of allowing Windows Phone games to run on Windows 8 devices, thereby expanding the available touch-based application and game selection.
7-inch versus 10-inch Tablets
The instance with Twitter, previously mentioned, wasn't merely illustrative. The official Twitter application for Android currently lacks a user interface specifically tailored for tablets. Consequently, users may encounter this issue when utilizing an Android tablet.
On the widely-used Nexus 7, Twitter serves as an example of a smartphone application that functions reasonably well. In portrait orientation, a greater number of tweets are visible simultaneously, and screen space isn’t significantly underutilized.
This aspect is crucial to contemplate. Smartphone applications, such as Twitter, frequently scale effectively to 7-inch displays. This is because a 7-inch screen more closely resembles the form factor of a smartphone compared to a 10-inch screen.
However, when considering 10-inch Android tablets, which are comparable in size to an iPad, the scenario shifts. While the Twitter app performs adequately on a Nexus 7, its appearance is suboptimal on a Nexus 10 or other 10-inch tablet. Utilizing numerous smartphone-designed applications – with the possible exception of games – on a 10-inch tablet can be a frustrating and unsatisfactory experience.
The interface often contains excessive empty space. It creates the sensation of employing a smartphone application on a larger screen, diminishing the intended benefits.
A tablet-optimized Twitter app for Android is anticipated, but similar situations are likely to arise with other applications. For instance, Facebook does not provide a tablet-optimized interface, yet it remains functional on a Nexus 7. However, the experience on a 10-inch screen would likely be considerably less appealing.
It’s noteworthy that both Facebook and Twitter offer iPad applications featuring interfaces designed for tablet-sized screens.
The official Yelp app for Android presents another challenge. Even using it on a 7-inch Nexus 7 may yield a suboptimal experience, which would be further exacerbated on a larger 10-inch tablet.
It is true that a significant portion – perhaps even the majority – of popular applications are currently optimized for Android tablets. Nevertheless, when examining applications like Twitter, Facebook, and Yelp, it becomes evident that Android still lags in a significant manner.
Pricing Considerations
The primary advantage of Android tablets, and the catalyst for their increased market presence following Apple’s iPad’s long-held dominance, lies in their significantly lower cost.
Google’s Nexus 7 (2013) model is currently offered at a price of $230. Apple’s iPad Mini, lacking a retina display, is available for $300, representing a $70 premium. Despite this higher price point, the iPad Mini features older, less powerful components and a screen with a lower resolution.
The visual experience for reading or video playback is diminished on the iPad Mini, and reports suggest performance issues when running Apple’s iOS 7. Conversely, the new Nexus 7 boasts a high-resolution display, rapid processing capabilities, and delivers a smooth Android experience with minimal lag during typical use. We have not observed the issues previously experienced with the initial Nexus 7 iteration.
To achieve a comparable user experience to the current Nexus 7, one would need to purchase Apple’s new retina iPad Mini, which carries a price tag of $400 – an additional $170 compared to the Nexus 7. Furthermore, the Nexus 7 is frequently available through sales, potentially dropping the price to $200, effectively half the cost of the iPad Mini with similar screen and internal specifications.
While the iPad undoubtedly possesses superior hardware, these differences are often imperceptible for common tablet activities such as web browsing, video streaming, and casual gaming. This positions the Nexus 7 as an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a high-quality device for everyday tasks.
Our focus on the Nexus 7 is deliberate. Its combination of affordability and compact size makes it particularly appealing. The device delivers a remarkably high-quality experience for its price, and the 7-inch screen ensures that even apps not specifically optimized for tablets often function adequately.
However, more expensive 10-inch Android tablets present a more challenging proposition. At a price range of $400-$500, they approach the cost of Apple’s full-size iPad, while the Android app ecosystem remains less robust than that of the iPad. Recommending a high-end, 10-inch Android tablet over a full-size iPad is difficult for the average user.
In conclusion, the Android tablet app landscape has improved considerably in recent years. The success of the Nexus 7 demonstrates the potential of Android tablets to provide compelling experiences, supported by a growing selection of quality applications.
Nevertheless, pricier 10-inch Android tablets competing directly with the full-size iPad remain a less sensible choice for many. If you are considering a 10-inch tablet with a budget exceeding $400, an iPad is often the more logical recommendation, unless you have a specific preference for the Android platform.
Image Credit: Christian Ghanime on Flickr, Christian Ghanime on Flickr