AmneonX
Android Enthusiast
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Android vs IOS(don't panic) for education
- Thread starter AmneonX
- Start date
Thank you. Your information was very helpful. If you have any other useful info, feel free to message me.
Short answer:
iOS devices may look smoother and easier on the surface but they focused on entertainment and distraction. They are terrible in connected work environments because they require a hard-cabled connection to iTunes in order to be activated and maintained. iOS has the appearance of a more robust platform because it's been on the market twice as long as Android has. Having the Apple gatekeeper makes the platform a risky investment since Apple could prevent the platform from meeting any of your future needs (example: A 3rd party app enabling wireless syncing with iTunes was blocked by Apple almost a year ago and they still haven't brought Wireless syncing to the platform. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Zune software will wifi sync with Zune HDs and Windows Phone 7 devices out of the box and Google has allowed apps like Winamp and Doubletwist to add wireless sync functionality to Android devices.).
Android devices are completely autonomous. OS Updates are OTA. Content is predominantly cloud-based and the devices do not require any "motherships". Workflow is far easier in the Android ecosystem and has a better chance of meeting any future needs since Google won't roadblock any platform advancement via 3rd party ideas.
Long answer:
The emerging technology you probably want to look at is a multi-modal device like the Motorola Atrix.
Multi-modal devices are something I've been dreaming about for years. We're starting to realize this evolutionary path thanks SOCs like the nVidia Tegra 2 and TI OMAP 4 coupled with the deployment of "4G" networks.
The handheld is your core device which uses inexpensive peripheral "docks" to become your Desktop, netbook, and tablet (amongst other things).
One key implementation I'm expecting to see hit the market by 2013 (Windows 8 release) is a Windows Phone that, when docked, allows for a "full windows" experience. Since Windows 8 is gaining ARM support, I believe that this will be a launch feature for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. I think this is what Microsoft is aiming for because it seems that they've already prepared their other products and services like Surface, Office, Zune, and Xbox to fit this kind of evolution in their ecosystem.
I expect Google to allow for Chrome OS to be used as the "Docked mode" OS for future Android devices within a year or two. We'll also probably see an "iPad" looking dock for the Atrix or an Atrix-like device within a year. I think Motorola is holding that back in order to capitalize on "iPad/tablet" fever with the similarly-spec-ed Xoom tablet.
An Apple-only ecosystem has a major weakness ... convergence. Syncing content between an iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and a Mac is much more of a hassle than it is in other modern tech ecosystems (especially Google's). For example, keeping documents synced and up to date between an iPad and a Mac by using Apple-only software is maddening. You either have to do it via email or constantly cable your iPad to your Mac and use iTunes. Apps like Dropbox make it a little easier but nowhere near as simple as the Microsoft and Google solutions. Android devices are completely autonomous. OS Updates are OTA. Content is predominantly cloud-based and digital media distribution does not require any "mothership" devices.
Multi-modal devices will really cut back on security concerns, maintenance, convergence, overall cost, energy usage, and usability. A company could equip each employee with a multi-modal device setup (a phone and peripheral docks that would cost under $800 up front and have a phone + data plan costing ~$1200 per year to operate) instead of having to spend thousands of dollars to purchase a phone, office desktop, notebook/netbook/tablet, data plan for the notebook/netbook/tablet, office internet connection, phone plan+data, and pay for electricity/security/IT staff/training for every employee. A similar setup could benefit students as well.
The desktop PC/Mac is probably going to disappear from the consumer and office/enterprise market within 10 years.
iOS devices may look smoother and easier on the surface but they focused on entertainment and distraction. They are terrible in connected work environments because they require a hard-cabled connection to iTunes in order to be activated and maintained. iOS has the appearance of a more robust platform because it's been on the market twice as long as Android has. Having the Apple gatekeeper makes the platform a risky investment since Apple could prevent the platform from meeting any of your future needs (example: A 3rd party app enabling wireless syncing with iTunes was blocked by Apple almost a year ago and they still haven't brought Wireless syncing to the platform. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Zune software will wifi sync with Zune HDs and Windows Phone 7 devices out of the box and Google has allowed apps like Winamp and Doubletwist to add wireless sync functionality to Android devices.).
Android devices are completely autonomous. OS Updates are OTA. Content is predominantly cloud-based and the devices do not require any "motherships". Workflow is far easier in the Android ecosystem and has a better chance of meeting any future needs since Google won't roadblock any platform advancement via 3rd party ideas.
Long answer:
The emerging technology you probably want to look at is a multi-modal device like the Motorola Atrix.
Multi-modal devices are something I've been dreaming about for years. We're starting to realize this evolutionary path thanks SOCs like the nVidia Tegra 2 and TI OMAP 4 coupled with the deployment of "4G" networks.
The handheld is your core device which uses inexpensive peripheral "docks" to become your Desktop, netbook, and tablet (amongst other things).
One key implementation I'm expecting to see hit the market by 2013 (Windows 8 release) is a Windows Phone that, when docked, allows for a "full windows" experience. Since Windows 8 is gaining ARM support, I believe that this will be a launch feature for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. I think this is what Microsoft is aiming for because it seems that they've already prepared their other products and services like Surface, Office, Zune, and Xbox to fit this kind of evolution in their ecosystem.
I expect Google to allow for Chrome OS to be used as the "Docked mode" OS for future Android devices within a year or two. We'll also probably see an "iPad" looking dock for the Atrix or an Atrix-like device within a year. I think Motorola is holding that back in order to capitalize on "iPad/tablet" fever with the similarly-spec-ed Xoom tablet.
An Apple-only ecosystem has a major weakness ... convergence. Syncing content between an iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and a Mac is much more of a hassle than it is in other modern tech ecosystems (especially Google's). For example, keeping documents synced and up to date between an iPad and a Mac by using Apple-only software is maddening. You either have to do it via email or constantly cable your iPad to your Mac and use iTunes. Apps like Dropbox make it a little easier but nowhere near as simple as the Microsoft and Google solutions. Android devices are completely autonomous. OS Updates are OTA. Content is predominantly cloud-based and digital media distribution does not require any "mothership" devices.
Multi-modal devices will really cut back on security concerns, maintenance, convergence, overall cost, energy usage, and usability. A company could equip each employee with a multi-modal device setup (a phone and peripheral docks that would cost under $800 up front and have a phone + data plan costing ~$1200 per year to operate) instead of having to spend thousands of dollars to purchase a phone, office desktop, notebook/netbook/tablet, data plan for the notebook/netbook/tablet, office internet connection, phone plan+data, and pay for electricity/security/IT staff/training for every employee. A similar setup could benefit students as well.
The desktop PC/Mac is probably going to disappear from the consumer and office/enterprise market within 10 years.
Think about it though... multimodal device-based desktops that use 1/300th of the power to operate and require less maintenance and security. Lower software licensing costs. Notebooks/netbooks/tablets that have an all day battery life with reduced upfront cost, always-on use-anywhere highspeed internet connection, and one monthly bill per employee/person. Best in-class work collaboration and sync.
It's a given. The cost-benefits alone guarantee that.
Won't the technologies just migrate to those same laptops and desktops with the same benefits?
A keyboard and hard disk are mighty nice to have.
And then there's the dockable tablets shown a few weeks ago at CES - tablet plugs in to dock with keyboard.
I think the only safe bet you can make is that tablets and laptops of today will be obsolete in 10 years.
In my opinion.
A keyboard and hard disk are mighty nice to have.
And then there's the dockable tablets shown a few weeks ago at CES - tablet plugs in to dock with keyboard.
I think the only safe bet you can make is that tablets and laptops of today will be obsolete in 10 years.
In my opinion.