Where Is My Android Tablet?

By Pedram on August 15th, 2010 3

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We’ve discussed it before but it’s been some time and we’re still waiting like we were back then. When are we going to see a respectable Android tablet? See, Android is based on Linux and it’s very open. Theoritically, you could throw Android on anything and not really have to pay for it. But then there’s the Google Marketplace.

The Marketplace is Google’s own. It’s where you download your apps. So while you can get Android on your brilliant tablet, you can’t get the Market on there without Google’s approval. Now Google seems like they want tablets out there, but their requirements for a device’s Market approval includes many phone and calling capabilities. Maybe they’ve just yet to see something they like and with what has been out so far, I don’t blame them.

Augen Gentouch 78 is one example. A 7-inch Android tablet running 2.1 with a resistive touchscreen sold at non other than Kmart in the US. I have yet to read a review that says they love resistive touchscreens. The main reason it’s used anywhere is because it’s cheap and they got to sell that tablet for $150 USD. Best of all, it had the Marketplace on it! Until it didn’t. Yeah, they went ahead and did that without asking, Google didn’t like it and told them to stop (As far as I’ve read, no one got it working even when it existed.)

Then we have The Dell Streak. 5-inch device running 1.6 with one really special ability, it makes phone calls. However you wanna look at it, it is the biggest device that I know with Google’s approval to have the marketplace on it. Whether you wanna figure out a way to fit it in your front pocket and use it as your daily phone or buy it outright for its other functions. 5 inches is a little too small for my tablet, but if there was only some way I could easily buy this in Canada, maybe I would.

What’s on the market right now? The iPad. Don’t hate me but I think it’s the only “tablet” on the market that is somewhat useful. I don’t own an iPad because I think Android can do better. The iPad works for some people, but not for me. Here are two things that would REALLY make me wanna purchase an Android tablet.

Google Chrome. I use it as my main desktop web browser because it’s simply amazing. Blazing fast in every respect and quite compatible with the sites I visit regularily. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Android browser too but at the end of the day, it’s a mobile browser really meant for phones. It can handle Flash on Froyo and it’s faster than any other mobile browser, but there are those times that something just doesn’t work quite right. It’s a problem I have with the iPad too, I hate being forced to move to a computer because I got stuck on something.

Audio/Video File Compatibility. This is something Android phones should be doing too. If Google is selling Android as an open platform, I should be able to watch all my videos on it, no matter the format. The iPad has this same issue but it fits Apple’s vision. But just because I didn’t buy my content off iTunes, it doesn’t mean I should be punished for it. FLAC and MKV files don’t mean I’ve committed a crime, it means I care about quality and i’ve purchased and converted my media in the format I think is superior. I’ve heard whispers that 3.0 Gingerbread might solve this, let’s keep our hopes up.

So there’s my take. What I really want to see is YOUR wish list for an Android tablet. And if you have some thoughts about this or just wanna tell me I missed your favourite tablet, go right ahead! Oh by the way, have you checked out our forums yet?