iPad/Tablets

Post by **papaguido** » April 4, 2011, 4:39 pm

I'll take a copy, PM sent.

Post by **BobHelm** » April 6, 2011, 10:39 am

Right I have educated myself a little more on Android.

I don't think anything that I have to say would influence a decision on whether to buy an Android based product - so some can stop reading now

- but I do think it will make a little clearer the 'road' you are on if you do make that decision.

Android was an Operating System designed by Google to control the next generation of mobile phones in competition with the i-phone. The general industry consensus was on its' release that it was a 'nice try' but had been released way too soon & before the bugs had been ironed out.
Eventually Google more or less admitted that themselves & released Android 2.0.
That was viewed as a far better product by both the industry & the customers. Currently the phones being sold using Android operate on either:

Android 2.1 - also known as Eclair
Android 2.2 - also known as Froyo
Android 2.3 - also known as Gingerbread

2.3 was only released in December & is only available on a couple of phones available in the USA.

Last February Google also introduced Android 3.0 - also known as Honeycomb.
This was really a complete reworking of the Android system just so it would use all the capabilities of a tablet, rather than the restrictions that a phone has.

Eric Schmidt (the ex-CEO of Google) has said that the next full release of Android will be a merger of Gingerbread & Honeycomb & will work on both Tablets & Phones.

However before that actually happens the rumours are that Google will actually release a 2.4 version of Gingerbread just for phones that will include some of the features of Honeycomb onto the phone.

It is apparent that Google sees much significance in the combined phone & tablet release of Android.
Not least because the 'name' will start with the "i" letter so loved by major rivals Apple.

Strong rumour has it that (in some sort of Advertising Executive, coke induced, logic) it will be named Ice Cream....bit risky that I feel with the 'melt in the sunlight' analogy ready made if it is not 100% fit for purpose.

Google are also to introduce a Chrome operating system shortly.
However I gather that the major difference between Chrome & Android is that Chrome will be for anything that has a built in keyboard (so net-book up) & Android will remain the Operating System for devices normally used with touch screen capabilities..

Post by **johnwills** » April 6, 2011, 11:17 pm

"Strong rumour has it that (in some sort of Advertising Executive, coke induced, logic) it will be named Ice Cream....bit risky that I feel with the 'melt in the sunlight' analogy ready made if it is not 100% fit for purpose."

Android 2.2 Froyo actually stands for Frozen Yoghurt, so they've already had their 'melt in the sunlight' moment.

Post by **KHONDAHM** » April 8, 2011, 2:32 am

Well, the better half's rinky-dink TV phone finally gave out on her. I was going to replace it with an iPhone 4 (which would be waaaaaay overkill for what she needs), but decided to give a Samsung a whirl loaded up with the latest Android release. Bought it yesterday for THB 10,000 direct from an authorized Samsung dealer and I have to admit I was impressed with Android in the store despite the requirement to register the phone with a gmail account (what was that post I made about history's biggest ever marketing company wanting to sell a phone to the masses?).

The like affair lasted until I got it back home and it started throwing up error codes. A Fonzi (hahaha) hard boot seemed to have "fixed" that problem. So, I handed it back to the panicked Mrs. and she set about getting herself familiar with it. May have been easier had Samsung sold it with a manual, but alas, they said I'd have to download it. Now how would a customer be expected to do that Catch 22 maneuver? Whatever. So, recalling that conversation, I took it back from the Mrs., flipped it to English interface, and proceeded to connect it to our blazing home wi-fi. Oh, but whatdoyaknow...it can't connect unless DHCP is enabled on the router. There is no way for me to set a static IP on the phone. So, iWhipped out my iPhone (because iAm too lazy to walk downstairs and another 15 meters to the laptop) and enabled DHCP on the router - something iLoathe to do. After that, it connected lickity-split.

I then fired up Skype and made a video call to myself on my iPhone. Oh, but wait...Skype does not support video on Android - a serious wtf moment as that is WHY I was going to buy the iPhone 4 (!). She wants to video Skype with her best friend in the States and me. Ok, so after some frantic research, I loaded up Tango which requires knowledge of my real mobile phone number (ugh!) and was able to do a video - BUT there is no camera on the front of the phone (the sales person assured me it had one and it appeared to have one when we both looked at it - apparently that was just an air bubble in the plastic covering it). So, at this point we agreed to pack it up and take it back for a refund or exchange to the latest model which is THB 3,000 more but DOES have a front facing camera.

The saga continues...

Post by **jackspratt** » April 8, 2011, 10:30 am

Excuse the pun KD - but I believe you are comparing apples with oranges.

The cheapest iPhone 4 in Thailand costs more than twice what you paid for the Samsung - you would expect some differences in features, even without taking into account the premium all Apple users pay for the bragging rights.

Post by **KHONDAHM** » April 8, 2011, 3:53 pm

Nah, I think comparing functionality and user experience is valid. Apple makes a very intuitive interface, for the most part. Heck, when I went back to the store to exchange it, I was teaching the reps how to use their product with the fragments of my own learned knowledge as they wanted to waste time verifying the problems I was having (not all of which have been disclosed here). If they have been using the product and can't figure it out in all that time, I would say it is not exactly intuitive. I am talking OS, not apps.

So anyway, leaving out the hour plus of hassles trying to get a refund or exchange for an upgrade, I walked out the door with the latest Samsung Galaxy whatever after forking over another THB 4,000. The wife said she could live without Skype video, so whatever. She took the kids and went for a daytrip back to our house in the old village about an hour or so from Udon city. I may play with it over the weekend to see if I can upgrade the Android v2.2 OS to v2.3.

There is supposed to be a v3.0 release later this year which will marry the phone and tablet OS versions into a cohesive whole much like what Apple has done with release v4.x of their software. I'm looking forward to scooping up an iPad 2, but I could be swayed if Android and Skype's video learn to play nice together by then. I doubt it will happen unless somebody hacks up the Skype app.

Post by **BobHelm** » April 12, 2011, 9:12 am

Acer are introducing an Android 3.0 Honeycomb operated tablet from 24th. April.
$50 cheaper than the cheapest i-pad.
Some interesting 'add ons' available for it as well.
Drawback seems to be no 3G version (not exactly a deal breaker if you are living in Thailand

) & a bit light on built in storage capacity..
Interesting contender (especially on price) though...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/2 ... 0honeycomb

Post by **papaguido** » May 6, 2011, 7:08 pm

It's hereee...don't know about Udon, but launched & sold out in BKK.

The new Apple iPad 2 went on sale in Bangkok on Friday, with prices ranging from 15,900 baht to 25,900 baht -- and quickly sold out.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... in-bangkok

Post by **parrot** » May 6, 2011, 7:38 pm

In a country that doesn't sport 3G!

Post by **BobHelm** » May 6, 2011, 7:48 pm

They are probably the wi-fi only version, parrot, not the wi-fi/3G models - so marginally cheaper.
Agree with the general premise of your statement though...

edit.....
I read that the 3G models will automatically change to EDGE/GPRS if 3G isn't available...

Post by **WhoUrDaddy** » May 7, 2011, 9:09 am

3G is widely available in Bangkok, though it will take a different sim card than what is available in the northeast. For the life of me, besides having the newest electronic junk offered, understand why anyone would pay that much for so little. The specs are rather embarrassing.

Post by **KHONDAHM** » May 9, 2011, 7:13 am

iPad 2 won't be available in Udon until after May 20, according to the Apple store in Central.

Post by **RLTrader** » May 9, 2011, 3:37 pm

Could have swore that I read somewhere where they went on sale in BKK a few days ago and sold out within an hour. Also read somewhere there was a fight in china on the first day of sales, guess someone cutting the line.

Post by **papaguido** » May 9, 2011, 4:23 pm

RLTrader wrote:Could have swore that I read somewhere where they went on sale in BKK a few days ago and sold out within an hour. Also read somewhere there was a fight in china on the first day of sales, guess someone cutting the line.

4 post up maybe

Post by **RLTrader** » May 9, 2011, 4:31 pm

could be. I guess the Udon store didn't get any of the first shipment and come the 20th they will get 2.

Post by **KHONDAHM** » May 22, 2011, 8:03 pm

iPad 2 now available at Central. Scooped my 64GB wifi 3G (yeah, I know) today and syncing it from my iPhone backup as I type this. They've one left - same model. Long wait list for other models and I jumped ahead of some on the wait list because I had a great smile and paid cash. Or maybe it wasn't the smile. Anyway, my wait is over. Cheers!

Post by **Techland** » May 23, 2011, 8:59 am

Not sure what this post was good for. You mention it yourself- the iPad is NOT available in that *~#?%$ shop. It's just wasted time to visit.

I went ahead and ordered it in the Apple online store. Same price, more easy, and you get a free engravement on the back (your name, adress, wahtever you want). Shipped via DHL to your home then.

Post by **KHONDAHM** » May 26, 2011, 2:46 pm

Camera quality is no better than the iPhone. Get a Samsung Android if taking pics is important. Samsung's quality is far superior - especially in indoor natural light environments.

Post by **BobHelm** » October 4, 2011, 3:54 pm

At last a manufacturer seems to have put their mark onto the tablet market based on price.
Amazon have just announced the launch of the new Amazon Kindle Fire in the States on 17th. November. USA price will be $199. OK it is only a 7 inch screen, but resolution per inch is 169 compared to the i-Pad 2 resolution of 132.
Ok there are limitations to the machine & maybe to its' operating system (a special Amazon version of Google's Android OS & not the latest version 3.0) is not the best available but it will be hugely competitive just on a price level. No camera, no mic, no 3G & only 8GB of storage.. but it could be a great entry to people who do not want to splash out double the money just to try a new idea that may, or may not, work for them...

Post by **BIGAL** » October 4, 2011, 10:25 pm

Not sure about you, but I found the service level at the local udon apple store well below par & try getting a refund on any incorrect add ons purchased, mission of note, so I went upstairs & got the ipad2 64GB, slighly more than the apple store, but the guy delivered it to my house & spent 3 hours showing me how to operate it...we go back regularly now for updates, great service!

Oh & great device, I use it everyday, use skype & tango more often now even for a local call, & get my emails all the time while on the move!