FPse PlayStation emulator debuts on the Android Market

by Samuel Gibbs on February 14, 2011 at 04:00 PM
While we wait for the official Sony-created PlayStation emulator to hit the Android platform, one of the best mobile PlayStation emulators, FPSeCe, has made the jump from Windows Mobile to Android.

Available for just under $5, and having dropped the CE (for Windows CE), FPse brings another PSOne emulation option to your Android smartphone. It's able to take ISO backups from your PSOne discs, something Sony's own PlayStation app for Android is very unlikely to let you do, and supports Android 2.2 and up.
So if you've been dying to get in on some Tony Hawk Pro Skater-action on the move, but haven't found other options to your liking, then check out FPse in the Android Market. Just make sure to have a look at the compatibility list before plunking down your hard-earned cash, just in case your favorite game isn't supported yet.


Tags: android, apps, cellphones, emulation, FPse, PlayStation, PSOne

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Google Reader for Android updated to include widgets, more syncing

by Matthew Rogers on February 16, 2011 at 06:35 PM
It's now been a couple of months since Google Reader hit Android, which didn't quite live up to expectations. Luckily, developers at Google seem to have been listening to the innumerable complaints, and the app received its first big update today, bringing with it a choice of widgets, more syncing, and more overall functionality.
The widgets are probably the first thing that users may be interested in, and they're not disappointing. There are two options available; one is a small, single-icon widget that simply displays the unread count for a particular feed or folder, and the other is a larger widget that acts as a news ticker for any feed or folder. Using multiples of either widget can make for an extremely informative homescreen, to be sure.
Looks-wise, it's still the same minimalist Reader, but it's now much more useful than it used to be. Hitting up the app settings is sure to put a smile on your face, because along with choosing to always use HTTPS, you can have the app synchronize your most-read feeds on an hourly basis for offline viewing, and you can also opt to have the app make use of multimedia plug-ins like Flash.

Other small touches have been added to simply make using the app easier. Chief among those, as simple as it may be, is a new button that pops up as you scroll down your feed that allows you to mark all items that have scrolled past your screen as read. Basically, the app is now useful.
You can download the app through the Android Market, or use the handy QR code below to hit it up at AppBrain:
Tags: android, apps, cellphones, feed reader, FeedReader, google, home screen, HomeScreen, mobile, productivity, widgets

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Android 3.0 Honeycomb SDK now available for all

by Matthew Rogers on February 23, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Right now's a pretty exciting time for Android users, but even more so for tablet-lovers. Google's finally released Android 3.0 Honeycomb's SDK, which means that not only will we soon see a whole new round of slab-centric apps make their way to the Android Market, but also that the toolset used by Android developers and enthusiasts alike has been updated with a few goodies and improvements as well.

Basically, the SDK has all the nifty new tidbits needed to make apps fit into Honeycomb's sexy new UI, and to take full advantage of the ridiculously-overpowered devices that it targets. It's now just a matter of time before existing smartphone apps get the Honeycomb treatment from their loving devs, too.
Then there's this; the API level has now been bumped to 11. If that doesn't mean anything to you, just know that Gingerbread began as Android 2.3 with an API level of 9, spent a few weeks becoming Android 2.3.3, then somehow earned the API level of 10. What does that mean for future phone-sized Android version numbers? Schmidt only knows, but I hope they find a way to bring some of that Honeycomb UI fluidity to the smaller, handheld devices. That stuff is hot.  

Tags: android, android 3.0, Android3.0, cellphones, dev, developer, gingerbread, google, honeycomb, mobile, sdk, ui

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CyanogenMod 7.0 now stable, released for over 30 Android devices

by Matthew Rogers on April 11, 2011 at 04:00 AM
It's official, folks! CyanogenMod 7 is now deemed stable enough to be called, well, stable. The ROM is available now for your flashing pleasure on over 30 devices -- including some tablets. Don't worry, it doesn't disappoint; I've been using it through the development process for months and it's well worth the wait.
If you haven't been following the updates on its progress, here's a quick recap: It's based on Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread, it's got built-in root access with all the command-line goodies, Apps2SD capability (built-in), Incognito Mode for the Android Browser, built-in CPU frequency adjustment and scaling (including overclock and choice of governor), loads of UI improvements and interface tweaks, OpenVPN and SIP calling settings, USB/WiFi/Bluetooth tethering, FLAC support, an FM Radio player, and loads of other features and enhancements.

It's even got a one-click UI theme-switcher that T-Mobile helped develop (open-source, no less).
Even if you aren't into flashing custom ROMs on your expensive new smartphone, you have to admit that this release is a pretty great thing... After all, it means a fully-functional version of Android 2.3.3 is now running, with loads of bells and whistles, on about 30 devices whose manufacturers and carriers are simply too lazy to update.
Alright, enough jabbering. You can learn more about the ROM at CyanogenMod.com, or jump straight to the download mirror if you already know what you're doing! Tags: android, cellphones, custom ROM, CustomRom, cyanogenmod, gingerbread, mobile, open-source, tablets

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Android 2.3.3 hits latest CyanogenMod 7 builds, expands NFC capabilities

by Matthew Rogers on March 2, 2011 at 01:43 PM
As if getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread out to the public months (or years) ahead of carriers and manufacturers wasn't enough, the CyanogenMod team just upped the ante. The latest nightly builds of CyanogenMod 7 now come packing Android 2.3.3 heat, less than a month after Google announced the update itself.

At this point, most users wouldn't notice the difference between Android 2.3.3 and earlier iterations of Gingerbread as it's primarily meant to expand near field communication (NFC) capabilities. Those lucky few who do own an NFC-toting device, however, can rest assured in the knowledge that there is a full-featured custom ROM out there that can take advantage of it.
New NFC tech wasn't the only thing that got upgraded in 2.3.3, though. Bluetooth also got some added functionality, allowing capable devices to use it in more ways than was previously possible due to the addition of nonsecure socket connections.

As always, you can see how well CyanogenMod 7 plays with your specific device by checking out the XDA Developers forums. We should also note that flashing custom ROMs on your expensive handheld device is risky business, so buyer beware!
If you're sure you know what you're doing, head on over to the nightly build repository and grab a copy.


Tags: android, android 2.3.3, Android2.3.3, bluetooth, cellphones, custom ROM, CustomRom, cyanogenmod, gingerbread, google, mobile, near field communication, NearFieldCommunication, NFC

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Google Shopper for iPhone: fast, accurate product search and price comparison on the go

by Samuel Gibbs on February 2, 2011 at 04:15 AM
Google Shopper has made the jump from Android to the iPhone and is now available as a free download in the iOS App Store. Currently only available to US and UK-based shoppers, Google Shopper brings the best bits from the Google Mobile app and blends it with price comparison. You can scan barcodes, take photos of cover art, or voice search for what you want. Then all you have to do is select the product you're after and hey-presto you've got product details, reviews, and not only online price comparison and stock check, but local too. You can even browse the site of your online merchant of choice from within the app, or locate the nearest brick and mortar store that's selling your item using Google Maps.

The product cover art scanning seems to work a lot better for books than video game boxes, but the barcode scanning worked incredibly fast and accurately. The voice search is also up to Google's usual standards, but isn't activated by placing the phone to your face like the Google Mobile app for iOS.
It's strange that Google Shopper wasn't just built straight into the original Google Mobile app like Google Goggles was, but it's fast, free and handy, so there's no reason not to have this on your iPhone next time you go shopping.
Google Shopper for iPhone [iTunes] - Free Tags: apps, cellphones, Google, iOS, iPhone, reviews, search

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CyanogenMod 7 is testing in the wild, bringing Gingerbread to 14 more Android devices

by Matthew Rogers on January 20, 2011 at 10:15 AM
It's no secret that Android users are getting a bit testy these days when it comes to OS updates for their phones -- but who can blame them? Only half of them are running recent versions, and Gingerbread is only officially running on one phone.
It sounds pretty dire at first, but where the carriers fail, the Android community tends to pick up the slack. CyanogenMod, one of the most popular alternative Android ROMs out there, has crossed deep into Gingerbread territory with version 7. That means your seemingly ancient 6-month-old phone may actually be able to keep up with the times after all.
CyanogenMod 7 hasn't been fully released yet, but nightly builds are freely available for intrepid users to test to their hearts' content. At the moment, a total of 15 phones have working builds, with one of them being the Nexus S. I've been running it myself for about 2 weeks now on a T-Mobile G2, and I can honestly say that it doesn't feel or act like something that's technically RC0 (usually thought of as there be dragons) status.
Now, if you haven't yet played with a Nexus S (or otherwise used Gingerbread), you may still be curious as to what exactly is different. To be honest, it won't seem all that different from Froyo. A somewhat decent comparison might be OS X Snow Leopard and OS X Leopard: Leopard was a very solid base, and Snow Leopard basically reworked all the parts that users don't see, while adding only the smallest visual improvements. This is more or less the case with Gingerbread and Froyo -- you might not see massive differences in how it looks, but you'll be able to feel how much quicker it is at just about everything it does.
The only caveat, of course, is that your phone must be rooted. So if you haven't yet taken the leap and freed your device, you won't be able to partake in any Gingerbread goodness until your carrier decides to update you, or until you simply give up and buy a new phone (which is probably the most likely eventuality).
So, if a healthy amount of beta-sized bugs don't scare you -- and you've got a rooted Android device on hand -- then you may be in for a pleasant surprise.
These are the devices that currently have working builds of CyanogenMod 7 out in the wild, but don't lose hope if you have a popular device and it isn't listed. The CM team still has some kinks to work out for some phones before open testing can begin, and even then -- you might get lucky since new devices are supported with every iteration of the ROM.

HTC Glacier (T-Mobile MyTouch 4G)HTC Vision (T-Mobile G2, or Desire Z in the UK)Samsung Nexus SHTC legendHTC WildfireHTC Espresso (T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide)Motorola DroidHTC Passion (Nexus One)Commtiva z71 (Motorola XT502)HTC Intruder (AT&T Aria)HTC Incredible (Droid Incredible)HTC Supersonic (Sprint Evo 4G)Motorola BravoHTC Desire HD (AT&T Inspire 4G)GeeksPhone OneRegular modders and ROM-flashers will know what to do at this point, but if you're new to the game you should definitely hit up your phone's section on the XDA Developers forum. For one, you'll need your phone to be fully rooted, unlocked, and free as a bird. That part's easy enough to accomplish if you follow the right instructions (which can be found in your phone's forum section), but usually entails a sizable risk should you make a mistake. Once you're rooted and in full control of your phone, just look for a thread in your section that's likely titled something along the lines of "CyanogenMod 7 Nightlies!!!1" -- and remember, always make a backup before flashing. Tags: android, cellphones, cyanogen, cyanogenmod, CyanogenMod 7, Cyanogenmod7, gingerbread, mobile phones, MobilePhones, ROM

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Angry Birds flies in with new levels, hidden Super Bowl special and Rio premiere competition

by Samuel Gibbs on February 7, 2011 at 04:40 AM
While you were watching the Super Bowl, Rovio's been busy. First up, Angry Birds for iOS was updated with 15 more Western-styled levels, while the Android version got 30 more levels to bring the two platforms more or less into line. The Android version also got a low-res graphics switch, which should address any gameplay slowdown on lower powered handsets. It wasn't all good news on Android however, as Rovio somehow added a errant requirement for SMS access, which revolved around the addition of in-app SMS payments for Android users in Finland.

True to their word, the Super Bowl saw an Angry Birds cameo in an advert for Fox's incoming animated film, Rio (embedded after the break). In the cameo we were shown how to get a special hidden golden egg, cunninly shaped like a football, which would unlock a hidden Super Bowl-themed level. For those of you who missed the fleeting instructions, see the image above for the clue. All you have to do is go to level 13-12, fire a white bird backwards and drop a bomb. This will present you with the fabled golden football, which gives you access to the hidden level. Complete the hidden level to unlock the opportunity to enter a contest to win tickets to the Rio movie premiere in March.

If that wasn't enough Angry Birds action for you, you've not got long to wait for the two previously reported special editions of Angry Birds that are right around the corner. First up we've got a Valentine's Day update to Angry Birds Seasons, which will be taking flight sometime in the next week for both iOS and Android. And of course that movie tie-in, Angry Birds Rio, which should be crash-landing around the end of March.
Tags: Android, Angry Birds, AngryBirds, apps, cellphones, gaming, iOS, Rio, Rovio, valentines day, ValentinesDay

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Google Maps for Android updated to bring Latitude home, keywords to Hotpot ratings

by Matthew Rogers on April 5, 2011 at 03:30 AM
  Barely one month after an update that brought Latitude and Hotpot closer than ever, Google's updated Maps for Android again to further sweeten the deal.

This time around, Latitude seems to have gotten the most attention, but Places a.k.a. Hotpot hasn't been left entirely out of the mix. For Latitude, Google's added a feature for setting a "home" location, as well as the ability to check into it. For the folks who chose to enable it, they can now view their Location History dashboard straight from the app.

As for Places/Hotpot, you can now add keywords of your own choosing for places when you rate them, like food, music or entertainment. Google calls these "aspects," but hey, it's a search company, and these things are bound to count for something (so let's call them what they are). Sarcasm aside, adding little descriptive keywords for places makes perfect sense, and may actually end up being the most useful thing to come out of this update -- if only more people used Places. I mean Hotpot.

The only potentially bad thing here is that the option to check in at home is a public act. Very public, in fact. When you go to add a "home" location in Latitude, you're warned right up front that the address is going to be visible to anybody who can see your check-ins (so buyer beware). You do have to love Google for at least including the warning, though.
The update's live now and available in the Android Market. Tags: android, apps, cellphones, check-in, google, maps, mobile, search, utilities

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Android text messaging bugs acknowledged, fixes in the works

by Samuel Gibbs on January 6, 2011 at 04:30 AM
Google has come out and officially acknowledged that Android has two SMS messaging problems, but that a fix is in the works. The bug, which can take two forms, essentially revolves around the miss co-ordination of contact-to-message linking. While the first issue -- opening a text message from one contact and getting an entirely different message being displayed -- is annoying, the second one -- sending a message to a contact and having it delivered to a totally separate one -- is much more critical. Imagine sending intimate text messages to your spouse only to have them routed to your boss -- how are you going to explain that one?

While Google works on a fix, we're advising caution when messaging for all Android users -- because you never know who's actually going to receive that saucy sext.

Tags: Android, apps, bugs, cellphones, Google, sms, text messaging, TextMessaging

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Fix Google Voice broken after Nexus One Android 2.3.3 update

by Samuel Gibbs on March 1, 2011 at 04:40 AM
Reports are coming in that the latest Android update for the Nexus One is breaking Google Voice for some users. The over-the-air update brings the Nexus One in line with the Nexus S with Android 2.3.3, and is currently rolling out to users across the globe.

If you happen to be affected by Google Voice disruption after the update, there's a hacky, but swift way to get things working again. You have to download and install an old version of the Google Voice application onto your Nexus One, and then update to the latest version via the Android Market. That should solve your problem.

Head on over to the Google Support for the files and more information.  

Tags: Android, apps, cellphones, Google, Google Voice, GoogleVoice, Nexus One, NexusOne, productivity, troubleshooting, utilities

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Google Maps for Android updated, Latitude and Hotpot now cozier than ever

by Matthew Rogers on March 3, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Google Maps for Android got a small but worthwhile update today, which seems to be part of an effort to socialize Latitude while tying it in closer to Hotpot.

Hotpot, which most people just call "Places" at this point since it's never referenced by name in the app itself, now allows users to post their reviews of establishments to Twitter. It's also now meshed in with Latitude much more tightly than ever before, since users checking in at places with Latitude can now "earn status" by doing so. No further information is given up front, so it's probably going to take a while to find out what kind of "status" is given for high check-in numbers.

You can now also invite Latitude friends to check in at Hotpot locales by sending them a request directly from the app. In other words, if you don't feel like actually texting or calling somebody to ask them to meet you at Starbucks, you can just check in there with Latitude and have the app start nagging them for you. As silly as it sounds, I'll admit that this is something I'd probably do.
Last but not least, in an effort to make Latitude more usable users can now search for places to check into when the location they happen to be at inevitably fails to show up on the check-in list.
It's a small update with no visual bells or whistles, but every step forward in Google's quest to make both Hotpot and Latitude viable social tools is a step in the right direction. The update is live now, so be sure to grab it at the Android Market.  

Tags: android, apps, cellphones, google, google maps, google places, GoogleMaps, GooglePlaces, hotpot, latitude, mobile, places, search, social networking, SocialNetworking, utilities

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Kongregate Arcade for Android gets a new UI, Honeycomb tablet compatibility

by Matthew Rogers on March 16, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Kongregate Arcade, the one-stop shop for Flash games on Android, has been updated with a new welcome screen and Android 3.0 Honeycomb compatibility.
Every screen in the updated app supports landscape-mode, the welcome screen sports a "hot new games" carousel and huge buttons that allow quick access to just about every part of the Arcade, and users can now earn badges in games without signing in (and save them once they do sign in). Other changes in the update include bug fixes, performance increases, and notifications for new badges or games.

A cleaner look and easier access to sections of a somewhat sprawling app are nice, but the biggest news here is Honeycomb compatibility. Android tablets are quickly rising in popularity, but most apps have been slow to update for the new UI guidelines. With the impending release of a Honeycomb-compatible Flash player, Kongregate Arcade is about to become one hot item for Android-loving, slate-happy early adopters.

You can update or download Kongregate Arcade right now at the Android Market. Tags: adobe flash, AdobeFlash, android, apps, cellphones, flash, games, gaming, honeycomb, kongregate, mobile, tablet

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Facebook for Android update improves images, security (in theory)

by Matthew Rogers on March 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Facebook updated its official app for Android devices last night, bringing significant image-posting improvements, bug fixes, and a promise of "improved security using SSL."

Changes for the app's handling of images include users now being able to upload photos to their friends' walls and also to groups. Photos are now supposed to always maintain their correct orientation when uploaded, but that won't help the people who are notorious for knocked-over portraits (we all know one).
As for the bolstered usage of SSL, it wouldn't normally be a big deal. You may, nowever, remember recent rumblings about the app sending huge amounts of data in the clear. That news caused plenty of users to be more than slightly perturbed -- and rightly so, given the importance of a secure connection in the world of social networking. It's good to see the devs at Facebook working to correct this problem, but nothing's really final until the updated app has been run over a packet-sniffed network.

Now the bad news. Within an hour of the update's release, over 10 pages of shriekingly bad reviews were posted, reporting that images (which were supposed to be a plus) weren't showing up at all, and that the app was crashing almost immediately upon opening it. Several reviewers noted that they were using older versions of Android, so it could simply be an issue of OS fragmentation since it works for me on Gingerbread (2.3.3).
So, as usual, buyer beware, and if you're not scared off by the reviews then you can grab the update at the Android Market. Tags: android, apps, cellphones, facebook, mobile, photography, security, social networking, SocialNetworking, ssl

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IMDb Android app update brings major redesign, trailers, global showtimes, and more

by Matthew Rogers on February 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM
The official IMDb app for Android just got a big update, and it does not disappoint. Along with a complete design-overhaul, the app has been stuffed full of IMDb goodness to the point that it's now more enjoyable to use than the actual website itself.
The redesign is very sleek. They've basically taken the original palette and layout, expanded it all, and turned up the sexy. As nice as it looks though, the biggest thing I noticed was that everything about the app is blazingly fast. It's so fast that it's a bit off-putting, because using IMDb.com has always felt to me like an exercise in extreme patience.
Movie trailers now take center stage, literally, which makes sense since they're one of the big reasons that people like going to IMDb in the first place. The fully revamped app makes trailers, and other media, a priority now with the very first screen you see a springboard for viewing trailers of upcoming and top new movies. The trailers themselves play better than I had anticipated, and like the rest of the app, they load quickly.
Between the design and the new features, including international movie showtimes, the app is extremely functional. I was able to sprint through several movies, TV shows, actors, and news stories in seconds -- which is far more than I can say for trying to load the website in a mobile browser.

There's also a news widget included in the update, which looks decent enough but only shows the top new story (and doesn't include any way to scroll for more). I could see a major movie buff using it to fill space on their home screen, but I wouldn't personally want to spend the memory to display a single story. The IMDb News feature itself, however, is nothing short of fantastic. It's very well-organized and extremely comprehensive (and multi-sourced), so it can definitely act as a one-stop shop for all the movie, TV, celebrity and Hollywood-centric news that most could want for.
Displaying galleries is lightening fast (signal permitting, of course), and I really liked how they went very no-frills with them -- a gallery is just a wall of thumbs. As pretty as they are, fancy scrolling 3D galleries are the bane of efficiency, so it's nice to see something kept simple. Because of the speedy-loading gallery, looking for that quick picture of Gary Busey takes a fraction of the time than it would have taken while using the website. Trying to justify your interest in a gallery of Gary Busey, on the other hand, may not be so quick or easy.
Another cool feature displays movie showtimes using your location, either automatically (set by GPS) or user-defined. You can find showtimes by film title or by venue not just in the US, but across the globe.
Overall, the app has become more or less capable of fulfilling most, if not all, of your average film buff's needs while out and about. At the very least, it's now far more capable of settling a bar stool debate in less than a minute, which is probably more relevant for most of us anyhow.
You can download the app at the Android Market, or hit up the QR code below for its page at AppBrain:
Tags: Amazon, Android, Apps, Celebrities, Cellphones, Handson, Imdb, Mobile, Movies, News, Reviews, Tv

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VMware put an Android in your Android, so you can VM while you VM

by Matthew Rogers on February 15, 2011 at 06:30 PM
So apparently VMware heard you like virtualization (or at least, that corporations do), so it made an Android virtual machine that can run inside Android's own Dalvik VM. The idea being, of course, that busy corporate types could play all night on their nifty new Android superphones, but still be able to dive into a minimalist, business-first environment with one tap when it's time to go to work. Judging from the video that our cohorts at Engadget posted earlier today, the whole thing seems to be pretty awesome, even if it is only working on an LG phone for the time being.
But the ability to run a second Android instance inside your already-running Android OS isn't just for dividing work and play; the system that VMware's cooked up is secure enough to be functional for enterprise use. While inside the VM, all data is encrypted, and the whole thing can be externally or even remotely managed. The idea of a managed system might dredge up bad memories of using an enterprise-managed BlackBerry (if you've ever had the displeasure), but the upside in this case is that it's not your whole phone -- just a VM that's stored on it.
Another nice thing about this is that it won't necessarily have to kill off space you may otherwise use for personal apps, since according to the VMware rep in the video, the guest OS can be housed either internally or on the SD card, and the demo was running surprisingly fast off the SD card.
While it's all well and good that Android phones may be one step closer to completely replacing BlackBerry phones in enterprise environments, the really interesting thing that the VMware rep touched on was that this isn't a one-trick-pony sort of virtual machine setup. When this tool is finished and available on more devices, we may be seeing Androids running instances of just about anything in the next few months, and that's what really gets me excited. Tags: android, apps, cellphones, mobile, productivity, security, utilities, virtual machine, VirtualMachine, vm, vmware

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Android tablets must balance freedom with functionality

Who'd have predicted that overpriced slivers of silicon, covered in oleophobic glass trying its best to repel your sticky fingers, would become the first great technological innovation of the 21st century?
Most of us thought this would happen decades ago. We were promised by those mouldy second-hand sci-fi books of our youth, and I've since wasted far too much time and money pretending the time has already come.
It started with a calculator watch in 1983 that played Eine kleine Nachtmusik on my birthday, and it's going to end in tragedy. I'd spent those intervening years memorising the Palm Pilot character input tables, squeezing my handwriting into small squares on a Windows CE Jornada and strengthening my arms to hold up a WristPDA, all in preparation for the future.
Those 30 minutes of battery life, a lost stylus, volatile memory and even a broken screen wouldn't stop me. I was ready for the future.
But why did it have to be Apple? That purveyor of the proprietary. The creator of a world where we all pretend there's no file system, no operating system, no user access or modifiable code. If you get to the files, they're encrypted and hidden.
It's a world where you need something called iTunes, and where software comes from a package repository called the 'App Store'. It's a world where, if you want to develop software, you have to accept an open source-repelling licence and a business model that gives you little ownership and no freedom to share.
Third-party APIs were banned, then befriended, then adopted, then replaced. Some new apps were accepted, then removed, then reinstated, then quickly forgotten, all at the whim of Apple. But it's too late.
iPhones and iPads have already won, and they're so much better than the competition, people don't care about the consequences. Its touch devices are the closest yet to those mythical devices of my youth.
Their user-interface is almost latency free. Their brilliant use of global gestures and a new touch-based widget toolset have transformed our expectations of such devices. It's Minority Report in your pocket.


Hard to swallow

The main problem is, that, despite the dozens of touch devices being touted, Linux tablets are going to be a bitter pill for most purchasers to swallow. That's going to put people off the platform in the future, and the challenge facing these devices in the face of Apple's overwhelming success is the same for both Windows and Linux.
Apple has had too much time to push its advantage, and that advantage is usability. Building usability into these shiny new things can't be done while you're chasing a runaway success. It needs to be done outside of scrutiny, and it needs enough time to develop without the pressure of a release.
Android tablets often feel like badly fitted clothing. They look the part and they're priced competitively, but they're uncomfortable to use, they chafe and they tear at the seams. They were designed to fit something else.
Android is a mobile phone operating system that's only just started to find its feet in the usability game. It's the same problem with Windows-based devices, albeit without the mobile phone bit, and short of copying what Apple has done, it's difficult to see a way out that's not going to take either platform another two years to catch up. And that's another two years for Apple.
But there's still a lot that can be done that doesn't need massive innovations on usability. Google should start with a standard specification for its phone and tablet platforms - one that includes a minimum CPU capability, an amount of memory and an equally divisible screen resolution. Only by doing this can the user interface be tailored for a single layout that will make working with Android intuitive and predictable.
It's so much harder when every Android device is different, because it means we'll all have to learn how to use each separately. That's not the future I was sold.
Google also needs to negotiate with the manufacturers so that Android updates, for both phones and tablets, are universal and free. At the moment it's usually down to the manufacturer or the network provider, and this is unpredictable and unacceptable.
But most of all, Android tablets have to succeed if people are to avoid the temptation of the forbidden fruit.
Android needs to balance freedom with functionality, because Apple has made an executive decision and freedom wasn't part of it. Only then can we avoid a tragedy of science fiction proportions.

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