Annoying Android Bugs

Android market:
Can't see it in portrait orientation.  How can this be? The application is set to landscape mode even if you add currently in portrait mode.
Many apps won't install, sometimes have to use Amazon app store to be able to purchase an app that in the Android Market saya can't be installed. Other times is better to go to the web based Android Market Street which at least have a section for tablets apps. ( Update: no longer there)

Perfect example: The official blogger application. I searched in the android market, found it and tried to install but the market application couldn't find it, really?. I then go to the market using the web browser and it installed without issues.

iOS vs Android Honeycomb

There are several points for comparisons between iOS and Android. I will try to compare the default applications found on each device. These are mostly the email, calendar, contact book and web browser. There are also other applications such as the default music player and documents reader that really round up the experience.

Emails, contacts and calendar applications are a plus in Android. They are based on Google services. If you are a user like me whose primary email account is Gmail, then it is a better choice for reading your emails than the offering of iOS. Plus you have a built in video chat because Google has video support in Honeycomb.

Probably the main point of comparison will be the web browser. The Android browser allows you to see almost any web page because it provides flash support, provided you download it. One excellent feature of the Android browser is its full screen mode. It allows the browser to take all available space in the application area and provides a smart control panel designed to be used with your thumbs. This panel switches to the side where a thumb is detected.

However when you start to browse web pages you will notice the truly polished experience of iOS. IPad's browser might not be as feature packed, but is much more responsive to the gestures. Pinching in or out in any page feels very natural.

First impressions on Android tablets

User Qualification:

I have been a user of iPad1 and iPad2 which I purchased mostly for work, for the past year. On the smartphone front I own an HTC Evo 4g which today runs on a custom ROM, Cyanogenmod 7.0.3 (Android 2.3.3). I now own an Asus EEE Pad Transformer TF101 (tablet only) which I intentionally purchased to try and test Android on tablets, it is now running Honeycomb 3.1.

My intention is to record my experiences on the newcomer android tablet and intentionally draw comparisons to the other devices I own. I do not intend to be objective, but rather record my subjective experiences so if asked by a friend or relative for an opinion I can share these as if I were talking to them. This blog will be written continously until either I am satisfied or I loose interest.

Gingerbread 2.3.3 vs Honeycomb 3.1

iOS 4.3.3 vs Android 3.1

iPad vs. TF101