Closing the gap? Google finally unveils Honeycomb tablet software it hopes will take on the iPad(video)

Monday, February 7, 2011



Google has launched an operating system it hopes will break into the tablet computer market dominated by Apple.
The company showcased the first version of its Android software specifically designed to run on tablets yesterday.
Honeycomb has greater computing horsepower than in previous incarnations, allowing for a sleeker and theoretically faster interface with built-in video conferencing.


During a highly-anticipated press event at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, Google also introduced a new way for developers to make money by building applications that run on Android.
The unveiling raised the stakes in the fast-growing tablet PC market, for which Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft are also developing rival software.
Analysts said Honeycomb, while addressing a couple of perceived flaws in the operating system when used for tablets as opposed to smartphones, was unlikely to immediately shift the balance of power.
'It closed the gap quite a bit,' said BGC analyst Colin Gillis. But he said 'there was nothing there that was going to make me wait in line overnight', referring to the lines of customers who waited outside retail stores when Apple introduced the iPad last year.



Google said Android developers will now be able to sell consumers goods from directly within their apps, a key capability Apple introduced more than one year ago.
And it has started a web version of its applications store for Android devices, which will help developers sell their software applications to a larger audience. Previously, Android apps were available only through client software on devices.
    Apple, which some analysts expect will unveil a new version of its iPad later this year, has shipped 14.8million iPads since April.
    But it lost its early lead in the smartphone market to Android, which Google gives away to hardware vendors and which became the number one smartphone operating system in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to research firm Canalys.
    Whether Google can do the same in the tablet market will depend on the support its new Honeycomb gets from manufacturers, wireless carriers, and the armies of developers who build applications like games and productivity tools.
    Google now has more than 100,000 apps available for Android devices, versus Apple's catalogue of more than 300,000.


    Source

    20 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    I'd take that over the iPad any day.

    level85nerd said...

    They did? nice.

    In terms of innovation, it still seems like everyone is eating Steve Jobs' dust.

    Weirdwhirl said...

    If it comes with a pressure sentitive pen, I cant see why not! :P

    Anonymous said...

    Now I know what I'm getting for my birthday:)

    Anonymouse said...

    looks pretty cool to me.

    fadedline17 said...

    Glad to see Apple is getting some more competition.

    Johnny Drama said...

    That looks pretty sweet, I also like the blackberry playbook

    EPIC NEWS said...

    imo, im sick of all this tablet tech. theyre just overpriced screens that are just bound to break =\ still cool tho

    Kitari said...

    I plan on never ever buying an iPad :D

    Unknown said...

    Interesting. I have to admit, i'm a google fanboy :)

    Zakk said...

    I'd love to get my hands on one of those!

    trippinkets said...

    honeycomb looks promising, no doubt it will rape the ipad

    Frosty said...

    I imagine if they just include a camera with it it'll compete very well :p

    Neuro said...

    hope so, the ipad is overrated

    beyondthisall said...

    This looks outstanding!

    Technology is something amazing.

    !sense! said...

    pretty cool do want

    Jaffa_Cake said...

    I would buy that over the ipad any day, you can always trust google to go that one bit extra.

    AWLBlogs said...

    I won a ipad... sold it really quick :P

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