Adobe Shows Google Android Tablet as Apple iPad Alternative
We Google Watchers have been writing a lot of about the alleged Google Android Tablet, the answer to Apple's iPad "Jesus Tablet." Now bloggers have seen it in action, thanks to Adobe, which showed off an Android tablet at Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, held May 3 to 6. The images and videos (and laughs) come courtesy of Zedomax, which scored this scoop, noting the device supports Adobe Systems' Flash and Air. See this video of the Google Android Tablet running the Wired magazine application:
The faux exuberance, which may actually be legit in a geeked-up way, is due to Apple CEO Steve Job's swearing off of Adobe Flash and other cross-platform technologies. Google and Adobe later confirmed that Android would support Flash, the ultimate riposte alliance to Apple's snubbing of Adobe. Zedomax editor Max Lee, who said he believes the tablet was running Android 2.1, wrote:
A little needle perhaps, considering the DOJ or FTC may sue Apple over its abandonment of Adobe, which many industry insiders see as an anticompetitive strike against the industry as a whole. In any case, Zedomax's point that he prefers an Android tablet to Apple's iPad because it supports Flash is well met, and likely to be echoed by others who love Adobe, love Google or hate Apple, or some combination of all three. The cool part is that the guy working the Adobe booth said the market will be flooded with Android tablets later in 2010, something that dovetails with what I've heard from analysts. iPad and Android are expected to command 75 percent of the tablet market. |
Comments (15)
I suggest that many will flock to the Google Tablet, for many reasons.
1 Yes Flash/Air
2 Better I/O (no itunes) and USB
3 Open Source App's
4 Camera (most likely)
5 To teach Jobs a lesson
6 Because there is choice
7 Google Fan (like me)
Posted by Phil | May 5, 2010 1:55 PM
Who cares? Tablets suck
Posted by whocarews | May 5, 2010 5:40 PM
More vapor-ware, junk apps and poor battery life. Get over it, Flash is dead! Do you really think that people should cling onto a fading technology and call it a feature?
Please buy my dying horse, the slow ride is comfortable and allows you to walk half the time so you get more exercise.
Why is it that tablets are now even being popularized? The answer is quit obvious.
Posted by Mrcap | May 5, 2010 5:45 PM
Let's not forget that Microsoft has also joined Apple in condemning Flash as well.
Posted by T. Bryant | May 5, 2010 6:53 PM
Yeah right, which is the technology which is better than flash - thats right nothing. Nothing - that makes it THE BEST - learn what you are talking about - no idea. Mrcap
Posted by aristophrenia | May 5, 2010 7:25 PM
Flash isn't dead. Its all about money for apple they lose total control with flash. You haven't got a clue
Posted by jesse harmon | May 5, 2010 7:30 PM
I wonder if it will be nearly the piece of crap my android phone has turned out to be...I suspect it will be and won't make the same mistake of buying a google product twice...They should stick to what they know, which is search and not much else!
Posted by John Davison | May 5, 2010 8:34 PM
@T.Bryant. Flash wasn't on the initial launch of windows mobile 7, because flash 10.1 wasn't complete. But now you can go to the openscreen project a see flash 10.1 running on windows mobile. So Apple will be alone.
Posted by E.Ferguson | May 5, 2010 8:38 PM
Open Source is the reason I'd go for it. And that it's by Google, the real geeks, instead of the faux geeks that are the despicable Apple inc. Apple deserves its arrogant anti-progressive fans.
Posted by bob | May 5, 2010 8:56 PM
I'm still not convinced. We've been waiting for Adobe to release Flash on the mobile devices... All Adobe has done was dodge the question, blame Apple, confuse people that Flash Lite IS Flash.
All I care is if the "NEW" Flash player play my existing Flash content.
If I can't get my hands on it, it is still vaperware.
Posted by winst | May 6, 2010 12:01 PM
Did anyone else catch how THICK that tablet is?
Check the last frame of the video which shows the bottom of the device with what looks like a VGA or 9-pin serial connector. And what's with that 80's style wireless phone antenna?
So this is Flash running on 1st stage prototype hardware? Call me when it's 1.5 pounds and .5 inches thick, K?
Posted by qo | May 8, 2010 2:49 PM
I absolutely HATE Apple as a company, but I love their products. They've got a way with aesthetics and gimmicks... it appeals to my, "Ooooh, shiny..." side.
The iPhone OS may not be perfect, but nor is the Android OS. I can say this with perfect impunity, because I own devices that run both.
I'll say one thing, though: I'll gladly pass up on Flash access if it means I can update all my apps at once. Android's Market is a giant PITA for that.
Posted by Terrance | May 9, 2010 6:26 AM
"Let's not forget that Microsoft has also joined Apple in condemning Flash as well."
@T. Bryant, Microsoft has an obvious reason: it tries to kill successful competitor and promote Silverlight instead.
Posted by Vladimir Kelman | May 11, 2010 8:28 AM
@Terrance,
Why do you fee it's inconvenient just to update apps whenever updates are available (notification is displayed)? I honestly don't understand that. My Nexus One shows available updates once in a several days, so what? I spend maximum 5 minutes clicking on notification area and updating apps. (Yes, Froyo offers automatic updates, but I don't see it as a big deal.)
Posted by Vladimir Kelman | May 11, 2010 8:36 AM
I'm seeing posts and articles around the web about a Google tablet that is still only in the mock-up stages. Are they simply not aware of this progress and demonstration or are there two different products being discussed?
Posted by colodiver | May 11, 2010 6:03 PM