Tablets - toys or tools?

[leon_heller]

I didn't know how to get multi-tasking on my Dell Streak, and your tip about the Home icon works. I'd found out for myself that it puts it into a mode where I can select lots of applications, but didn't associate it with that.

 

[fls]

I almost forgot to add these to the list, though they are model-specific:

• Advanced haptic feedback on many models
• Slide-out physical keyboard on some models. Lots of people like those.
• Auto-destruct mechanism that can be used if the phone is lost or stolen.
  Wipes out all personal information stored on it, before disabling one of its own core chips... On some models.

I don't know if you are aware of it, but some of the stuff on your lists are also available on the iPhone. Just saying.

With many Android phones, you can install a longer-lasting battery, than the one it ships with.

I keep thinking about getting one for my Incredible. But, I found that simply carrying my recharger with me, everywhere I go, I don't really need it, for now.

It's cute how you do that. If you have to spend more money to get something you want on an iPhone, the device is hamstrung. If you have to do the same for the Droid, it's irrelevant or trivial.

That is part of what I am talking about. But, once users know "their phone can do that", they sometimes start using that feature.

I once met someone who didn't realize you could multi-task with the Droids by holding down the Home icon. The thin printed "manual" didn't mention it, (nor the fact that a thicker manual was on the phone in digital form).
But, once he knew that, he now uses it a lot.

For some folks, once you show them the WiFi HotSpot capabilities on the Droid, they start wanting it on their iPhones.

I thought about setting it up on my iPhone, but I didn't want to pay the extra fee (same reason why it's not set up on my Droid).

Linda

 

[Wowbagger]

I don't know if you are aware of it, but some of the stuff on your lists are also available on the iPhone. Just saying.

I don't think there are any models of iPhones with physical keyboards, yet.

And, while the iPhone does have basic haptic feedback, it is often not as good as those on many droids, with positioning precision, etc..

Does the new iPhone have self-destruct? I didn't think it did, but I could be wrong.

It's cute how you do that. If you have to spend more money to get something you want on an iPhone, the device is hamstrung. If you have to do the same for the Droid, it's irrelevant or trivial.

Does the iPhone have an option for larger battery capacity upgrade?

If so, you probably can't even replace it, yourself.

 

[Wowbagger]

I didn't know how to get multi-tasking on my Dell Streak, and your tip about the Home icon works. I'd found out for myself that it puts it into a mode where I can select lots of applications, but didn't associate it with that.

I noticed there are quite a few features on the phone that are not well advertised:

• You can multi-task by holding down the home icon
• You can copy and paste text between almost any app.
• You can search most apps, (including the calendar), with the magnifying glass icon. (This should be obvious, but some people miss it, for some reason.)
• There is a stopwatch and countdown timer in the built-in clock app.
• If you have an HTC phone, you don't have to put up with the large clock widget it comes pre-configured with. You can take it off, and replace it with a smaller one.

etc.

I suppose the Droid's biggest flaw, in general, is that it does pay to read the manual for it, more-so than the iPhone.

 

[Wowbagger]

By the way, most of my posts about capabilities also apply to Android-based tablets, not just the smartphones. Just sayin', to keep it all relevant to the thread.

 

[fls]

I don't think there are any models of iPhones with physical keyboards, yet.

And, while the iPhone does have basic haptic feedback, it is often not as good as those on many droids, with positioning precision, etc..

Does the new iPhone have self-destruct? I didn't think it did, but I could be wrong.

I wouldn't want to interfere with your prejudices.

Does the iPhone have an option for larger battery capacity upgrade?

No. It was, of course, hamstrung by coming with a larger capacity battery in the first place.

Linda

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Does the new iPhone have self-destruct? I didn't think it did, but I could be wrong.

Well, you can use "Find My iPhone" and do a "Remote Wipe". That no longer requires a MobileMe account, IIRC.

I found an image of a screen shot of that, but I'm still a little paranoid about posting image links here that are not my own.

Posting the link to the image is still kosher, right?

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/08/FindMyiPhone.jpg

 

[Wowbagger]

No. It was, of course, hamstrung by coming with a larger capacity battery in the first place.

Oh snap! Okay, This is one point I am willing to concede on.

The Incredible does ship with relatively lousy battery capacity. But, it's not like this is an insurmountable problem: I can bring the charging cord everywhere I go, and I could buy the bigger battery if I wanted to.

Otherwise, in my own opinion, the Droid Incredible is superior to the iPhone.

 

[Wowbagger]

Well, you can use "Find My iPhone" and do a "Remote Wipe". That no longer requires a MobileMe account, IIRC.

Ah, so it does. The other points still stand, I think.

 

[nvidiot]

I'm using the jailbreak mywi to give my wireless iPad access to the web via my iPhone 4. Works seamlessly.

The iPad is a groovy little tooly-toy but I would have liked more ram tbh. But easy to pick up and show someone something interesting without having to pull out the lappy.

 

[nvidiot]

Oh and btw there is always this for a physical keyboard if desired.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/e66e/

Gee that list is getting smaller eh?

 

[not daSkeptic]

The iPad is a groovy little tooly-toy but I would have liked more ram tbh.

Just out of curiosity, why?

 

[not daSkeptic]

I guess it depends on your needs. Whenever I demo those points to people with iPhone they tend to go "aww man!". Especially at the ones towards the top of the list.

This is a very typical human response, but it doesn't necessarily mean they need those features. It just means they find the idea of them appealing at that particular moment. Understanding one's needs takes time and self-honesty.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I almost forgot to add these to the list, though they are model-specific:

• Advanced haptic feedback on many models
• Slide-out physical keyboard on some models. Lots of people like those.
• Auto-destruct mechanism that can be used if the phone is lost or stolen.
  Wipes out all personal information stored on it, before disabling one of its own core chips... On some models.

See this thing about models is where you lose apple. their idea of models is 16g or 32g. That is all the choice they can possibly allow.

 

[not daSkeptic]

See this thing about models is where you lose apple. their idea of models is 16g or 32g. That is all the choice they can possibly allow.

Is this a problem?

 

[ponderingturtle]

Oh and btw there is always this for a physical keyboard if desired.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/e66e/

Gee that list is getting smaller eh?

So how many after market products do you need to get basic functionality of many competing devices?

 

[ponderingturtle]

Is this a problem?

I guess not for you. I like to be able to decide what I want, and not be told what I want. That is why I am an atheist and not a christian after all.

 

[fls]

I guess not for you. I like to be able to decide what I want, and not be told what I want.

How on earth is someone offering a product that offers the features some people prefer telling you what you want????

This is baffling to me.

Linda

 

[nvidiot]

Indeed, if you don't like the features the iPhone offers, or the iPad or any device really, then don't buy it.

Re iPad ram mostly I want more to avoid the refreshing of webpages. I usually like to have a few tabs going at once, but once you get more than a couple of tabs open when you switch between them the pages have to be reloaded. Which kinda sucks, because half the reason I'm switching between pages is waiting for them to load.

Re 16 and 32 gb, it would be nice to have more but I seem to get by quite well with several thousand photos and hundreds of songs just fine. Again, if it doesn't meet your storage requirements, don't buy it.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

See this thing about models is where you lose apple. their idea of models is 16g or 32g. That is all the choice they can possibly allow.

Which may be a wise choice.

In the beginning, there was the Mac (I bought one of the 128k (!) 400k floppy Macs in 1985). Then the "Fat" Mac, then the Mac Plus. Basically, if you wanted a Mac you bought a Mac.

By about the early 90's there were so many models of Mac it was totally confusing. From the little I know about sales, offering too many choices can kill a sale.

Steve Jobs got it back in focus. Narrow it down to a few basic models. If I want an Android phone there might be a dozen models in the store. I may very well walk out so I can "think about it", or see what comes out next. Keeping choices simple makes purchasing decisions easier.

Finally, for accuracy, I suppose you can say there are four iPhone models, since the 3gs is still available in two sizes as well.

edited to add: I see the discussion was about the iPad, not the iPhone, in 16g vs 32g. Same logic applies.