Android Tablet PC Performance: What To Look For In No-Brand Tablets

No-Brand Tablets better than PCs?

Apparently, the latest in consumer patterns for Tablets reveal that No-Brand Tablets, now-a-days being called as 'white-box' tablets are growing in sales by a whopping 19.6% (source DisplaySearch a renowned consumer analytics firm). Some of the reasons attributed for this are as varied as slow economic growth to lower prices of these manufacturer-direct tablets, especially from China and local providers. However, what No-Brand Tablets deliver is on the technology adoption, with close to 44 percent worldwide shipments, more so from China, the cradle of No-Brand tablet manufacturers. PCs sales have plummeted drastically while No-Branded Tablets entrench themselves more in expanding consumer base.

No-Brand Tablet Performance is similar to PC performance

PC is yet considered as the measuring dip for most of the modern devices making their debut. PC is perhaps on its last few laps before newer, faster and more capable technology will replace it entirely.

Ever since tablets have debuted, the debate of the end of PCs with the arrival of the final rival has been making the rounds. However, this is likely to happen only in a few years time. This is because the tablet brigade does not yet match the cost-effective hardware and processor capacities available for PCs.

However, the storage, and other core features such as CPU, RAM, screen resolution etc in PCs are considered more powerful, yet the superlative performance of tablets cannot be denied either.

This is largely because of the mobility factor that Tablets have while PCs seem rather restrained. Nevertheless, the present status quo is that Tablets augment core PC computing time by being able to use more conveniently and has greater number of applications are possible in comparison to sedate PCs.

Besides, software delivery across platforms for the PC is higher in comparison to Tablets. However, No-brand Tablets remain favorites as these come with Android 2.1 ver, the latest in tablet OS.

Cutting- edge Android Tablets Technology

Android Tablet PC uses Cortex A-8 and A-9 processors. These are stand-alone chips that any of the Smart Phone/Tablet manufacturers can source and assemble. Even Samsung Galaxy tablet, the present viral smart tablet, uses the same Cortex A-9 architecture to offer those rave features that is increasing its user base by the thousands every week.

No-Brand Tablets are giving you this core architecture, along with the same technology sans the expensive price tag of Samsung Galaxy tablet or a Motorola Xoom and other leading names in the segment.

Lower specifications will further reduce Non-Branded Tablet costs

Additionally, 'Whitebox' Tablet have another advantage, you could choose to own a Tablet that is perhaps at least one version lower than the current version of the OS presently in use and make a substantial savings (almost to the tune of half the cost price). You will continue to experience all the eulogized features of Branded Tablet PCs but without the exorbitant prices.

For example, a Chinese-manufactured Sumixe Android 2.1 Tablet with 7 inch Multi-Touch screen WiFi, HDMI, Camera costs as less as $146.94. There is even a wholesale price for institutional sales at $127.06.

Mobile App Testing Overview - iPhone and Android Testing

The fasting growing area within software testing is the mobile app domain. Applications developed for mobile platforms such as Apple's marketing leading iPhone and also the less popular Android platform are being tested using the same methodology that was used earlier for desktop and web based applications.

There are companies which spend tens of thousands of dollars for mobile app testing projects. This is not only due to the fact that the mobile domain is ever increasing and so companies are feeling the need to contribute, but also due to the sensitivity of data which is a critical factor in the success of any mobile app. People whose data gets stolen or robbed from mobile applications are very unlikely to give it another try, as the data can pertain to personal information with respect to the customer.

For iPhone and iPad applications, we find that the audience tends to be in the young 20s or early 30s. As iPhone applications are primarily related to multimedia, we expect that the graphics will be given a severe and thorough testing. The user in these kinds of applications is generally concerned with what he/she experiences on the screen, with respect to 'viewing pleasure'.

For android applications there is a certain level of 'maturity' or advancement which is also related to the category of audience which uses it. Android apps are commonly used by people who belong to the executive category, and so the applications tend to be more towards the business side of things. For example; business evaluation applications or CRM (customer relationship management), we find that even though they are available on almost all the platforms, they are most commonly used in the android applications. Also, since android apps have more stability to them (no disrespect to iPhone apps), the business people tend to be more comfortable using it. Also since android is open source it makes it that much easier and compatible to be employed for business purposes. Also, we find that the bulk of android applications, users will typically use them as they are easily transferred to other devices, its blue tooth compatibility is also a plus.

An interesting point to be noted, is that even though the platforms might be vastly different, for example the iPhone and Android platforms; the testing theory still remains the same. The overall picture is still the same, even though the domain has changed. The application flow has to be understood, the business requirements reviewed and the happy scenarios executed for the application, be it mobile domain or web domain or any other domain for that matter. There could be arguments that iPhone app testing is easier or iPad app testing is harder, or for that matter, Android app testing is easier but essentially they are different facets of the same domain. If we can understand and develop skills in web based testing it will also work in mobile apps testing.

Android Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab

The new market phenomenon nowadays is called the tablet computers. The release of the Apple's iPad proved to be successful and popular, and so other electronic companies have followed suit. They have started developing and making their own, but actually, the concept of a tablet computer is not relatively new. The mobile Internet connectivity and the demand for an on-the-go productivity tool only gave it a sure footing. Most electronic companies tapped Google's Android OS, and their products can be collectively called Android tablets. Samsung's new tablet computer, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, has just been unveiled to the public. Can it prove to be worthy of iPad's rival?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab looks like battling against Apple's in the aspects the latter isn't doing well. Samsung's Android tablet is significantly smaller than the iPad, measuring 7.4 x 4.7 inches, and this means it is easier to hold and carry. The iPad is little bigger and it needs to be held with both hands, which can be uncomfortable especially when using it in bed.

The tablet computer scale tips off a little in favor of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, because of its dual camera, on the front and at the back. These are 3.0 megapixel auto-focus cameras with LED flash. Though they won't ever be at par with real cameras, this Android tablet is perfectly okay for video-calling and taking pictures with friends. The large viewfinder can be quite a scare-off, though.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab uses Google's Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS, and is sped up by a 1 GHz processor. Similar to the iPad's App Store and iTunes, this Android tablet has access to the Android Market, where various applications can be downloaded. Lastly, it keeps the user always online with its support for HSUPA, HSDPA, EDGE, GPRS and WiFi networks.

Blackberry Platform - Enterprise App Market Place Potential

Not all mobile apps are the same, and choosing the right platform to launch yours on can be the key to your apps success or failure. Some things to think about when considering where to launch your next app are the audience you're attempting to reach and the strengths and weaknesses of the platform. If it's a large market consumer audience you're trying to reach, blackberry mobile is a winner. If you're building a complicated app that users can run in the background while using their phone for other functions, you'll want to use a multitasking platform like the Blackberry applications development platform.

The blackberry app development industry has it far better today than it did when it first launched. As with all new platforms it needed some time to build popularity and start offering different options for users. The blackberry mobile world is always growing and changing, and while some developers are showing rising profits others are declining drastically. Blackberry is still the leader for consumer and business users alike on a worldwide level. BlackBerry App World is an application distribution service and application developed by Research In Motion for the majority of blackberry devices. It provides BlackBerry users with an environment to browse, download, and update third-party applications. The blackberry mobile app service went live on April 1, 2009. RIM's BlackBerry App World is holding strong with 7.7% of app market shares and brought in $165 million in worldwide sales. RIM recently stated they have over 20,000 available apps. Compared to Apple's App Store which has over 250,000 and Google's Android Market which has 100,000 apps, the BlackBerry App World needs work. Of the three major app providers, they have the largest revenue per app compared to the Apple App Store and Android Market.

Customers benefit from having access to integrated apps developed specifically for them, using Blackberry tools, and a much bigger catalog of apps from multiple other developer communities. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about the reliability and flexibility that Blackberry has to offer. For developers, the way to go is the blackberry app development platform mostly because of the tools that are available. Blackberry applications have extremely rich graphics, full multitasking, and ultrafast processing. Blackberry app development is growing with the use of WebWorks which offers leading HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript support on a blackberry mobile platform. They offer developers the ability to package and distribute apps to a broad customer base.

Blackberry app development continues to evolve with their various development technologies used to deliver reliable experiences for developers. Developers using Blackberry platform tools enable top of the line integration with their Blackberry applications. They are the most committed of any mobile platform to providing customers and developers with all the right tools. They continue to offer the best platform for both application users and developers. Your company could be developing great Blackberry applications today. If you're looking for a platform to develop on as a consumer or a business, this is it.

Android Tablets - What Are They and What Products Are the Best Out There?

After the introduction of the iPad, people have fallen in love with the tablet PCs. A tablet PC is not a laptop in the sense that it does not have a folding screen although it is as powerful as a laptop in terms of comparable performance. It is just a tablet with a fully functional touch screen that will allow you to browse, watch videos, listen to audio, play games and even use it for taking notes and reading electronic books. The most important thing about tablet computers is that they are very, very portable. Unlike a laptop that requires a backpack or a laptop bag to carry around, the tablet computer will fit in most coat pockets or women's handbags.

However, the drawback to the iPad and other popular tablet computers such as the Samsung Galaxy is that they can get quite expensive. Most people cannot afford to spend about $400 on the latest iPad and just pass on the thought of owning a tablet PC. However, people with smaller budgets can now still own a tablet computer by buying a cheaper Android tablet.

Android tablets are much cheaper than the iPad or the Galaxy. To understand why they are cheaper, you will need to know a little bit more about the Android operating system. All Android tablets use the Android operating system to run the tablet. This is an open source operating system that is free to use by anybody. In other words, any manufacturer can make a tablet PC and install the powerful Android operating system as software to run the tablet. The latest version of the Android operating system is the Android 2.2 version that is otherwise known as Froyo.

The free Android operating system has allowed many manufactures to come out with Android tablets that are much cheaper than the comparable iPad. Apple charges a premium price for their iPad simply because they were the first to come out with the concept of the tablet PC. Loyal fans of Apple will still shell out $400 on the iPad although most of them do not realize that they can get the same, if not better value by buying Android tablets that retail for a much cheaper price.

There are some Android tablets in the market today that you can buy for even half the price of the iPad or the Samsung Galaxy tab. The best part about Android tablets is that most of them will also use the same hardware that is used by reputed brands such as Samsung. For example, the Samsung Galaxy tab uses the Cortex A-8 or A-9 chip architecture. The Cortex A-8 and A-9 are open source technology which means that it is not just Samsung who has the right to install their chips on their tablet PCs. Many manufacturers of tablet PC's have taken advantage of the Cortex A-9 technology by installing it in their Android tablets.

Products like the iPad and Galaxy tablets are so expensive because the selling price includes a heavy marketing cost that has to be recovered. So, if you are going to buy a Tablet PC, you will be well advised to consider purchasing an Android tablet that will save you a lot of money while giving you the same powerful performance as the leading brands.

How Will the Battle of Apple V Android Affect Mobile Marketing?

Android is devouring market share at an alarmingly rapid pace on its way to the top of the mobile OS world, but, if you're at all interested in mobile trends, you probably already knew that. But while Android continues to conquer, what you may not realize is how significantly this trend could affect what have become common practices among advertisers and businesses that want to take advantage of the new media frontier. As Android's growth outpaces Apple's, even after the release of the iPhone 4 just months ago, the once commonplace question for brands getting started with mobile marketing-native app, or mobile website?-no longer seems fitting for the state of the mobile market.

Those who built iPhone apps (instead of mobile websites) early on to capitalize on the remarkable growth of the market, are now, when it comes to market share, bound to Apple's fate as the competition intensifies. To better articulate the problem with building native apps while the mobile market remains fragmented, let me first provide a little background information. The biggest barrier to Apple's growth at this time, and what is empowering Android to snatch up more of the market, is that the distribution channels for the iPhone are very limited. In the U.S, AT&T isstillthe only wireless carrier that sells the iPhone. After months of rumors of a Verizon iPhone in the works, AT&T remains thesolecarrier to provide service for the iPhone and, therefore, Apple's only distribution channel. Meanwhile, Android devices are available through any major carrier in the U.S., including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, which makes the Android platform available to many more mobile users. That means, despite the wild popularity of the iPhone, unless, and until Apple can work out deals with other major U.S. carriers for distributing the device, iOS will keep bumping into the ceiling when it comes to global market share. And so will advertisers that have hitched their wagon to the iPhone star.

Whether or not Apple takes the steps necessary to recover market share (such as broadening the iPhone's distribution channels), in the meantime marketers need to start re-evaluating their strategies for moving forward on the mobile web. In the past, a device-centric marketing campaign wasn't necessarily a bad approach-prior to the rise of the Android operating system, and its adoption by consumers and carriers alike, iPhone owners were the audience worth targeting, whether through mobile advertising or developing a branded app native to the iOS platform.

But businesses that released iPhone apps early on may not have realized how much that choice would limit their exposure in the months and years to come. Today, it has become critical for advertisers to consider market (and audience) segmentation when weighing mobilization options. And in many cases, unless there is some circumstantial reason to consider iPhone owners a more qualified audience, or one with more buying power, it's hard to make the case for an iPhone app, which will cost more to develop and ultimately reach less than a quarter of all mobile users.

If the current trends are any prediction, the mobile market will remain fragmented, as each platform grows and progresses separately from others. This means, for advertisers and businesses that want to overcome market segmentation and reach mobile users on all platforms, the best option currently available is website mobilization. Though there are some situations where building an app can be advantageous to advertisers, when it comes to today's mobile market, to make your business accessible to the broadest audience, website mobilization is clearly the best solution. With a mobile web site, marketers, businesses and individuals can work around platform fragmentation problems, and start engaging the broader audience.

Pros and Cons in the Battles of iPhone With the Android

2010 witnessed one of the grandest preparations of battles of the mobile operating systems, all the players have been working hard to bring into their arsenal the best available out there. Apple one of the prominent players in the mobile phone industry, since its inception of the Apple iPhone in 2001, launched the fourth generation of the legendary device, and on the other hand the internet giant, which never liked to develop their custom hardware, instead provided the software around which different hardware manufactures could frame their specific devices.

They came out with the 2.3 version of their Android operating system, interestingly called the gingerbread. Rest mobile operating systems seem to have been abandoned by the public, like once very popular the symbian operating system developed primarily by Nokia seems to have lost the game. On the other hand the Microsoft's windows mobile platform is counting its days to the end. Rest all seems to have been wiped out in the competition.

The arrival of all the new players with all new designs and plans, seem to take the market by storm, and we will have to evaluate that how are they doing in the year 2011. Primarily we are seeing only two major players on the scene, the Apple's iOS (found only in the iPhone, iPods and iPads.) and the Google's Android (found in many phones in the market, primarily because its open source and easily implemented)

Cracks in the iOS

Undoubtedly the iOS in the iPhone and other Apple mobile devices have ruled the market, even when the first version with so many bugs and flaws were launched, still it was the favorite amongst the users, some people bought as a style statement, some as loyalty towards Apple, and some found the design too interesting. Still the flaws are as follows:

Inflexibility in the software: the iOS by default does not allow you to tweak or customize the user interface; it's only possible by hacking of the OS, called Jailbreak.

The devices are not productive: they are good for those who are willing to consume information rather than create it. You can easily read a newspaper on any iOS device, but writing a mail could be so more cumbersome.

Limited hardware: the Apple has always been strict in supplying limited hardware with limited software; you will have to suffice your lust for power, with what Apple gives it to you.

Cracks in the Android:

Android was an initiative of a group of companies which named themselves the "open-handset alliance" the operating system has gone through a very high number of transitions in a very short time. Moreover since the operating system is open-source any one can use the source to build his custom Android version. Still there are flaws in this too:

Market fragmentation: any manufacturer can use any version of the operating system and unveil its own device running on the Android, which does not maintain the contingency in the market.

different flavors by the manufacturers: there is a set of buttons that is used by the Android operating system, but keeping the design in mind, each of the manufacturers launch their own specific models, which gives user a different handling while running the same operating system anywhere.

No leads: Google certainly refrains from showing leadership towards the marketing and publicity of the operating system.

What can the consumers expect out of this?

Keeping this war in mind, only the consumer will be the ultimate beneficiary. Not only will they get better priced, but when the rivals start banking on the shortcomings of their enemy operation system, that will ultimately lead to the invention of the refines operating system. The Smartphone market which is already ablaze with the latest entrants in the market, has also sent out sparks to the tablet market, where yet again the guru Apple launched its first tablet the Apple iPad around an year ago, and soon we are to expect tablets based on the Google's honeycomb operating system unveiled at the CES-2011, Las Vegas.

Our verdict

The race is too close, and the winner might come out with just a hairline difference, Apple with its charisma, brand value and consumer likeliness, will remain dear to the consumer. On the same hand the Google's Android is too customizable and adaptable to almost any device, holds much more potential, but requires a leadership at the moment.