"Though I suspect it's not a popular opinion, I have long felt that the software design ecosystem for Android tablets has been stuck in a rut since the early days, and as a result users have struggled to find good, modern applications that really excel at the tablet experience."
I suspect that's actually a very popular opinion and justifiably so. :)
Personally, I can't tolerate anything but a x86 Windows tablet. I feel much more comfortable knowing that I can do anything and everything that I need to do from work or play without being trapped by a walled garden. If I have to, I can emulate Android with BlueStacks (like I did to play games like Fallout Shelter) and the experience is so much smoother and better than any other native Android device that I have used.
I really like the 1280x800/1366x768 10" format that most budget tablets use. My preference is 1080p in a 12-13" as it strikes a great balance, but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money for something that I throw around and abuse like I do. Even my large fingers can type quickly and close browser tabs with ease. It's a much better experience to me than iOS/Android.
For $250 you can buy a 2K 10" Android tablet that will, as a matter of fact, provide you with a vastly better screen for video, reading, gaming(touch-oprimised games, you know) and browsing.
But yeah, go enjoy your "superior tablet experience" with a 1280x800 screen.
There is nothing wrong with 1280x800 screens. An 8" or 7" IPS screen at that resolution works very well. But I have a 12" Dell with that res screen that looks just fine. A 10" 2k screen is very nice looking, sure, but the GPU has to work harder to push that many pixels which drains that battery. So all in all that a good resolution. Don't be so spoiled.
I guarantee you that once you have a truly pixel indistinguishable screen device, you'll never look at those low res devices the same again. You'll find it rather hideous (assuming you do not require reading glasses).
Why don't you get a Surface 3 or wait for a Surface 4 (non-pro) if/when it comes out? I'm in the same boat as you: my preference for tablets is a Windows x86 tablet, like the Surface 3 I'm using to type this comment. I used to have the Acer Iconia W4, which was 1200x800 and admittedly a pretty decent Windows tablet at the time, but the 1920x1280 Surface 3 is a vastly superior experience. The Microsoft built keyboard cover also makes a great addition, as it makes typing for longer bouts much better, but if you don't need to type too much, detaching the keyboard and stowing it away is easy. With the Acer and other 3rd party Windows tablets, you'd need a separate Bluetooth keyboard, which I also had for a time, but it wasn't as convenient as the Microsoft type cover. Some OEMs also provide their own keyboards, but I still feel like none have matched the quality of the keyboard from Microsoft. The full sized USB 3.0 port is also a godsend, as you don't need a micro USB to USB-A connector and you can just plug in anything and everything that already works in normal Windows. It's just much better and worth the little bit of extra money over the really low end budget Windows tablets. Not quite Surface Pro level, but a great middle ground between too cheap and high end.
@Lolimaster: "Sorry but 16:9 is pure sh*t aside from media consumption. 16:10 or even better 3:2 all the way."
Or 4:3. I'm not a fan of Apple because of their business practices, but credit where credit is due. I personally like 16:10 for desktops and 3:2 for tablets, but I 4:3 is also pretty good and I'd have no trouble adjusting to it if it meant a superior display. 16:9 is only favorable to me for phones, ... , maybe, ... , I'd have to check out a 16:10 phone to make that judgement for sure and I haven't ever seen one.
You realize they have apps and such on Win10, as well as a Tablet Mode that's touch and small-display friendly. It ALSO has the capability to do conventional Windows tasks, and usually I only run conventional software when docked or otherwise connected to a larger display via HDMI.
I'm the opposite. I'd much rather use my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 than any Windows tablet. Android offers a better "desktop" and apps and games that run correctly with touch. I own a Windows tablet (with pen) and a Windows phone, and I always go back quickly to Android. I might get an iPad Mini for better games selection and compatibility, but I can't see myself using a Windows mobile device that isn't a laptop.
There is nothing worse than the cesspool that is Windows on a tablet. How people can use these old archaic non touch and tablet optimized apps and still say it's a better experience is delusional.
I was running tomb raider on my old SP3 i3. 720 30+ fps. What more gaming would you want? Sure you can get unlimited amounts of crappy games on mobile but real gaming only happens on PC or consoles. Keep your cute "gaming" tablet. Playing Final fantasy 14 on my surface pro 4 among other games.
And you were doing it with touch or with keyboard/mouse? If you weren't doing it with touch then you're not talking a tablet experience, you're talking a laptop experience. I'd be surprised if you could show me one thing that Windows does better when not paired with a keyboard/mouse.
@ET: "If you weren't doing it with touch then you're not talking a tablet experience, you're talking a laptop experience."
I submit XCOM: Enemy Within for your consideration. Not perhaps the best touch implementation, but it is possible and for fans of the game, a grand addition to the tablet gaming list.
Yes. I believe that few people buy pure Windows tablets, because it's an inferior experience to other tablets. A Windows tablet (IMO) is only worth it as a 2-in-1, and even then I think that most people who spent significant time using tablet mode will get a better experience with a Windows ultrabook plus an Android tablet.
That's my view too. I have never seen something like a Surface Pro x being used in a pure tablet mode. Always with keyboard attached. Most of those "windows tablet" users, are using them as a netbook. At this point, I think those Surface Pro users would be better served by something like a Lenovo Yoga type ultraportable notebook.
@UtilityMax: "I have never seen something like a Surface Pro x being used in a pure tablet mode."
I have. Works just fine. Not something I'd call superior to the competition, but better than many give it credit for. It's as ET said above, for most people it is only worth it as a 2-in-1 device. For a tablet only experience, it isn't compelling enough to pull people from competitors.
@ET: "A Windows tablet (IMO) is only worth it as a 2-in-1, ..."
I don't disagree. If you are getting a windows tablet that isn't 2-in-1 in some fashion, then you are missing out on the primary advantage of windows tablets.
@ET: "..., and even then I think that most people who spent significant time using tablet mode will get a better experience with a Windows ultrabook plus an Android tablet."
It really depends on if you have the luxury of bringing two devices with you and what you are doing in tablet mode. If seamless integration is beneficial, then two devices may not be the best bet. That said, I have to agree, most people don't fall into these caveats and would probably be better served by separate devices.
@ET: "I'd much rather use my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 than any Windows tablet. Android offers a better "desktop" ..."
Wow. My Nexus 7 (2013) doesn't provide anywhere near the the quality desktop of a windows device (tablet or otherwise). Is this a Samsung specific improvement. I've heard so many terrible things about TouchWiz from so many people, but if it can really provide a superior desktop, then I need to check it out. Or is it that you have third party software that makes the difference.
Why anyone would buy an iOS or Android tablet for anything more than $200 is beyond me. For anything above that you can find a windows tablet that is so much more useful. And even more ridiculous is $500-$1000 for a non windows tablet.
Fortunately, the majority disagree with you. Anyone who buys a Windows tablet over an iOS or Android tablet is just looking to run their old clunky windows apps on a tablet. The OS and apps are no where near optimized for tablet use and you really need to be a hardcore windows fan to even tolerate it, No wonder windows tablet sales continue to suck.
"Anyone who buys a Windows tablet over an iOS or Android tablet is just looking to run their old clunky windows apps on a tablet. "
Or....simply has a different use case than you do. Everyone thinks that whatever they have is the best. And it probably is...for them. Not necessarily for eveyone
For one, a larger screen makes it worth to pay more for an android tablet. It is indeed true you can find very good 8 inch tablets for 200-250 these days, but if you want 10 inch screen, then the price is 300-500. I use my tablet as a protable TV/video screen I can take everywhere, and Android works well enough for that. Windows tables are much bigger and heavier, and basically feel more like netbook or notebook without a keyboard attached.
Speak for yourself. I love my Android tablets! iOS and Windows are craptastic on tablets in my opinion. Windows 10 is only useful in standard desktop mode, but with it's privacy and security problems, it's just not worth it. Then again, Android 5.x is ugly as and a backtrack from KitKat. 6.x fixes a few of those issues but it's still very unappealing to the eye.
I feel you have not used Android tablets in a while - they have gone a long way. Personally iOS devices feel very archaic to me compared to Android, especially the lack of soft touch buttons at the bottom. iOS' super simple single button is now just an anchor dragging it down.
People have long griped about the software situation, with still a lot of blown up Android phone apps.
It's a bit of an odd one since Android tablets actually have the lions share of market now, but devs still aren't incentivised for it. Maybe because the average Android user spends less on apps?
Plus the timing may be gone for a correction, as tablets are now in decline as we've reached "good enough" tablet and people don't need to upgrade every two years.
I've got no issue with Android tablets. I actually love the dashboard functionality of homescreen widgets: my home screen is full of them, during the day my tablet sits next to my PC screens and I monitor incoming IM/mail and news. I even added a mouse for my tablet, next to my PC's mouse, so messing with the tablet doesn't break my flow. The apps are fine too: browsing, rss reader, video player, google docs, maps, mail all are reasonably tablet-optimized, and the rest (IM, music) probably can't be anyway.
On an iPad, the two main features I care for (homescreen widgets and mouse support) are missing. I tried a Windows tablet, I can't find satisfactory Universal apps, especially missing the Google ones. Plus LiveTiles are cuter, but not nearly as functional, as widgets, and a lot are broken or missing.
In the end I don't understand all the Android/Tablet hate. Not only does it work very well for me, but it does things no other OS can do.
While I don't know exactly what he means by ecosystem (either the apps that target tablets, third party tooling, or tablet APIs) the APIs to provide a top notch tablet experience have existed for years. The problem is getting developers to use them.
Hmm, after all this work they've released a split screen mode that is inferior to Windows 8.1's much more flexible splitscreen. Meanwhile Win10 allows you to split it up even more ways, even in tablet mode.
Not impressed. Sure, it's a step forward, but it's still just a (very) limited form of the multitasking we've known and used for years. I don't see reasons to rave about this, just as I don't see reasons to rave about "doing X on a smartphone" (where X = something that's been done before on other devices).
It's weird that arbitrary splits aren't supported as long as the small app is above some minimum width. Windows (even RT) has had no problem with that. I wonder if it's because it has the most recent app model of the three. Anyway, glad to see Android making steps to become as good a tablet OS as Win RT.
One can assume so but was looking for confirmation. The ability to adjust res in gaming would be a huge deal as the vast majority of Android phones have insufficient GPUs - the vast majority of Android phones being mid and low end.
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the option to reply directly via the notification panel already exist on android? I don't know if its a Zen UI only feature but I can reply to hangout messages directly via the notification shade on my Zenfone . The device is running lollipop.
I'm not sure about all phones, but both my S6 and Nexus 6p allow quick reply. I'm using Marshmallow on my 6p.
This article states accessing toggles like the flashlight has been improved by allowing a single swipe instead of two, but on Marshmallow you can single swipe to access more icons like the flashlight by using two fingers instead of one. Just FYI!
No, I was also talking about an in line field. In fact the reply field on my phone looks quite similar (if not exactly the same) to the screenshot posted in the article. Again, I am not sure whether this feature existed on stock android. But it sure is present on Zen Ui in lollipop.
It didn't exist in that form in Google's Android. Hangouts is one exception where it opened that kind of ugly looking overlay for a moment, but apps like Skype just took you to the app where they now allow you to just type your response right in the notification itself.
Is that Hangouts? I only ask because Hangouts actually has had that for a while in general, but it's not in line because it closes the notification drawer and opens an overlay. I actually have a similar screenshot on page three.
Yes, that is hangouts. I actually saw that screenshot on the 3rd page and mistook it for the "new" in line reply feature being talked about in the article. I guess that's what happens when you try to go through an article in a hurry. My apologies.
I like what they've done with Android N. The notification shade replies are pretty useful, having an API that will let a developer make easy replies instead of having each individual app have their own is a good idea and should help spur its adoption. I'm looking forward to the beta being good enough to run daily!
Outside of some developer flags and the new power saving elements, everything "new" you brought up has been in Android for years. Multi window baked into the base OS is nice, but that option has been around for a long time. Working with apps directly from the notification window- again- been around for years now. Battery icon not displaying a percentage- change it- I have an Android 1.5 device kicking around here that has numerical representation.
I think AT should really just decide if they want to cover only iOS devices all the time, or if they actually want to continue with their Android articles. People seem to think your iOS coverage is great, your Android coverage is abhorrent to be as kind as possible.
You come across like much a Windows user who does every single task in Windows, and then tries to provide useful information on a new build of Linux.
"If I were to make any recommendations for Google, it would be to make it a bit more obvious to the user that you can hold down the multitasking button inside an app to instantly get into split view mode."
That's how we've been accessing all levels of Android multi tasking for more then half a decade now, but Google should change that.....? I could nit pick this article to death, you don't like Android, that's fine. You should find someone who does to handle these types of articles.
Well, do you have any? Note that N is going to come out a year after iOS 9, which already added multitasking and windowing improvements, for example, as well as having the nominally better sleep and memory behavior mentioned as improvements in the article. iOS doesn't broadcast changes to wake up apps, so doesn't need to remove that. Thanks to having support for multiple binaries and a fixed number of CPU configurations, iOS also allows for per CPU optimization to improve performance and memory optimizations.
You need to qualify your statements. First, Android N multi-windows works on all devices - phones and tablets and whatever else that runs N. Additionally, apps already work with Android's multi-window without any modification whatsoever.
As for iOS - multi-window support is only available on 2 or 3 iPad models and is not available on phones. Additionally, to support the multi-window functionality in an iPad the app must be modified to support it.
Android does not publicly have a built in battery percentage nor the ability to use Multi-Window apps. It doesn't matter what you can do with adb or system UI tuner, it's effectively not accessible for 99% of users. To claim that all of these features "has been in Android for years" is simply incorrect and ridiculous.
Also, you're misunderstanding what I've written about the multitasking button behavior. Holding down the multitasking button has absolutely no effect right now. Holding down a button and tapping it are not the same action. In Android N depending on whether you hold or tap it you get a different response due to the new Multi-Window features. However, because that interaction hasn't previously existed, Google should make it clearer to the user that they can do that.
But the most popular Android OEM, Samsung, implements these features in their phones and tablets. So it's probably a bit more commonly used than you might think?
In Samsung phones you hold the back button to bring up the multi window menu, not the app-switcher button, so it is different. You can also swipe from the top right to make an app into a window on Samsung devices, and that may be different too, so he made a perfectly valid statement.
Doubling down on your extreme iOS perspective, OK. iOS doesn't have a 'built in' YouTube app- would you honestly try and pass off YouTube on iOS as a new feature? I have here an old CupCake Android phone with the battery indicator as numeric- it has been around as I stated, for many years. For side by side multi tasking on Android- *YOU* wrote an article last year about this functionality on a *second generation* Tab S device last year(the one where you went all iOS even in the specification chart, listing the originals as running 4.4 when 5.0 had been over the air for *six months* prior to your article). You want screenshots of these things, or are you going to explain to people that iOS can't view YouTube because it isn't actually part of the OS?
Holding down the multitasking button has absolutely no effect right now.
I read this article for the first time on an OPO. I hit the multitasking button and it brought up the browser options- I held the multitasking button down and it opened up a view of every application I had running. That interaction has existed, on Android, for a long time now- as have the other features as others have already mentioned.
This isn't iOS- one size doesn't fit all, devices are free to do whatever they want- including rebuilding the entire OS- Amazon's Fire line is a good example- still Android. They exacting build you have on one particular device does *NOT* mean "Android". This isn't iOS. Seriously, if you could read yourself from an enlightened perspective you would realize how absurdly foolish you sound. Your world revolves around iOS, that's fine, get someone who knows what they are talking about to handle Android.
For the record- Your excluding Slingshot and Car Chase is getting embarrassing, we are coming up on a year now for Slingshot.
No, Brandon is correct. None of my Nexus devices with base Android have any of the multitasking features that you claim exist. They simply aren't there.
Once you start talking about customizations of Android with various vendor flavors, including custom ROMs, all bets are off. I could fork Android and implement some crazy feature with my fork, but I can't claim that Android supports my crazy feature.
Brandon is absolutely wrong. You claim your Nexus devices don't have multitasking features that I claim exist? First, I would point out that older iPads aren't Nexus devices, then I could point you to hundreds of different places-
Yeah, even the four year old Nexus 7 has had multi window multi tasking available for years. That is a straight from Google device using a straight from Google build of the OS and multi window support is available. Not exactly your highly customized fork. Brandon doesn't like Android, we all get that, he is very devoted to iOS, again, no problem with that. Someone who actually is an Android user should probably cover Android devices to avoid looking completely ignorant.
Hell, I think Google should address why their crap services keep causong wakelocks. A lot of it is the damn thing phoning home for bullcrap reasons and turning it off breaks a lot of Google apps and phone functionality. Android is becoming worse with each iteration.
Phoning home? Do you have a source for this claim which proves that "a lot" of the wakelocks address caused by "phoning home" (and, specifically, dealing with Google services without receiving any benefits like informing you of events/places nearby, weather updates, etc).
Haha! You mean two years from now, when Android N hits 35% market penetration? Lollipop, in March, just finally beat KitKat (so a 2014 release has higher market share than a 2013 release) in 2016. While iOS 11 (with three years of multitasking and other enhancements) will hit 80% as well has having had multiple developers releasing multiple updates to support all those enhancements? I agree Android is promising, but they have to contend with two dominant powerhouses, Apple and Microsoft, in the tablet space. Apple gets to ride on iPhone sales and Microsoft gets a ride on PC sales.
Yep, that is still the problem... The os upgrades to Android devices are scarce and come late. Not Googles fault, but the problem is also guite severe to them. The apps are made for those very old versions of os, because most Android devices use those versions, so Android apps will be behind iOs and Windows apps in that aspect.
You clearly do not understand how Android apps are developed. To imply that Android apps are made for "those very old versions of os" was a very silly comment. Most features in the new SDK are backported to previous versions via the app compatibility libraries. Do some research next time.
As for windows apps...well that is so hilarious I'm not even going to go there.
>but they have to contend with two dominant powerhouses, Apple and Microsoft, in the tablet space.
LOL, did you just say Windows was a dominant powerhouse in the tablet space? LOL You were joking right? Windows tablets are right down there with windows phones.
You're ignoring PCs, which currently still dwarf tablets about 5:1 (45m to 246m in 2015). Gartner also lists Microsoft in the top 5, behind Samsung, Apple, Lenovo, and Huawei (in that order) in the tablet space. So, no, actually, not a joke. Microsoft is always free to screw up, though.
I was looking at a quarterly report by Gartner, which will show seasonal variance not seen in an annual report. The Gartner report was also focused on tablet-hybrids and detachable PCs (they call them ultramobile PCs), which is a smaller subset of the tablet space. I thought that relevant because I was comparing PCs to tablets that would replace PCs.
Ah yes, I remember people saying that about Microsoft Pocket PC in 2000, then Windows Mobile, then MS Smartphone later, etc. etc.
Markets can and do change ofcourse, it could happen. Having said that I like both Android and iOS, I use both and have versions of the same apps on them. However Windows on tablets is still an uncomfortable hybrid, just like Windows 10 on my PC have both a classic and a modern control panel with different settings.
They said the same about windows phone and look where that is now. All of the new apps come out on Android and iOS. Windows isn't even a factor and never will be.
Meh, the multitasking is not up to scratch with Windows 10, or even 8.1. Microsoft has really nailed it with the arbitrary scaling, UWP apps scale wonderfully no matter what you do with them. Even desktop apps usually play well in tablet mode.
Yeah, lets compare a desktop OS to a mobile OS. Microsoft never nailed anything besides being the worlds largest vector for viruses, malware and ransomware.
The good part about it is how people like you get angry at how Microsoft is doing a much better job making a "desktop OS" do tablet stuff better than any other "tablet OS", and more fluidly and intuitively so...
I've installed Windows 10 on an Atom based Acer tablet with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of MMC storage. I was astonished on how much more fluid and responsive the *full version* of Windows 10 runs on hardware far less superior than last years iOS and Android tablets. Battery life was stellar. It's not even a comparison. Tablet Mode takes the tablet experience to a whole new level.
Oh, and Windows 10 won't be suffering from planned obsolescence. If the latest RS1 Insider build is any indication, it's just going to get faster with each major update.
Again, don't worry, Windows 10 dominating tablets is just a matter of time.
I like it when Windows people feel threatened about Android. It brings out their true character. It must be hard for Microsoft to come to grips that the OS they once sold and made billions from is now a commodity OS. Android sure pulled the rug out from under them. But, then what would you expect from a company that didn't even see the Internet coming. And now they're scrambling to give their products away and put them on any platform they can just to stay relevant. Microsoft is a has been and the lack of developer support for their platform is just another nail in their coffin. Those idiots once marched around carrying an iPhone coffin when they heralded the arrival of Windows phone. Little did they know it was their own coffin they were carrying.
Windows tablets are good for nothing but running old windows apps on.
You only need to see the pathetic sales number for Windows tablets to see how futile they really are. People don't want a tablet to run clunky windows apps that need a keyboard and mouse just to work.
Windows 10 is both a desktop and a mobile OS. It has a tablet mode and works great on tablets. Windows tablets don't just run old software. As trane said, they multitask and scale better. That's a simple fact. Even 8.1 has better multitasking than 'N', and 10 improves that further. You don't own one so you have no idea what they're actually capable of in practice. But feel free to keep selling those drivelcakes.
The flip side of that is that the Windows OS for the desktops has been a pile of inconsistent rubbish since version 8.0. There are now two separate and sometimes conflicting ways to configure the OS, with Control Panel and the Settings app, with all settings randomly spread between the two, and sometimes you have to use BOTH to setup just a single aspect, such as wifi settings. It's basically a mess now, but oh so great on tablets..
Good to know they're working more on efficiency regarding UI rendering. I was just complaining about that a couple of days ago. I also wonder why Doze didn't work immediately when the screen was off in the first place, it should have been that way from the start. Android needs a much more efficient way to handle notifications and background tasks which are the major culprit in Android's relatively bad standby time.
I've had an LG G3 since it came out, and it already had split-screen multi-tasking built in. This was back in Lolipop (which the G3 is still wearing like an anchor neck-tie), and I can count on one hand how often I used it. The huge screen (for the time) and QHD resolution means that there are enough pixels to put 2 apps on screen at once, but even with the smallest system font size, most apps are too crowded to be effective. The best use was to do something like email in the bottom half while a youtube video played in the top half of the screen. Sounds great, but once you open the keyboard in the mail app, there's precious little space between the keyboard and the middle of the screen. It reminded me of using an old electric typewriter that had one of those LCD displays showing your line before it types it out. Except it had a youtube video playing above it. :P
"The ability to quickly access certain toggles like the flashlight is a great improvement too, as it puts them only a single swipe away instead of the previous model which required you to first swipe to open the notification drawer and then swipe again to get to your shortcuts."
I can't speak for OEM-modded skins, but on my trusty old Nexus 5 a two-fingered swipe down brings the fully opened toggle pane (it's the same thing as single-fingered swiping on the notification bar twice.)
Having used an iPad and a Windows 10 tablet with the split screen mode, I'm not convinced that it's useful on tablets smaller than 10". You end up getting squeezed layouts for both apps. It's better to have a single fullscreen app that shows data properly, even with the mental context switch needed when switching apps.
I would prefer small applets that pop over the current app, like a quick chat window or a calendar view. That saves time instead of having to fire up another app.
Maybe Google should map a button to go back to the previous app, like Alt-Tab. I have this custom config on my phablet with CM12 and it feels almost as fast as multitasking on a desktop OS.
Horses for courses. I hate my Android tablet with a passion because Google hasn't done much to use all that screen real estate. My Windows 10 tablet is fast, has good battery life and runs desktop Windows programs - but the quality and number of Modern touch apps is seriously lacking. I use it mainly as a tiny laptop when I travel.
My Android phablet is still my go-to device for 90% of my daily computing. I don't want splits screens on a small 5.5" screen but I do want a fast way of switching apps.
I can't speak for the WiFi API but removal of the API to notify of photos taken is pretty stupid. Say you use ownCloud and have it set to upload pictures you take to your server (almost everybody wants this - dropbox and Google Drive offer similar functionality). Now on Apple iOS there is no notification for this so apps have to use tricks like listening to GPS events instead and then check for new pictures - often checking while nothing is new, wasting power. On android there was no need to waste power: only upload what is new when you get notified. Why in $DEITY's name does Google think removal of this API will SAVE power?
I can't speak for the WiFi API but removal of the API to notify of photos taken is pretty stupid. Say you use ownCloud and have it set to upload pictures you take to your server (almost everybody wants this - dropbox and Google Drive offer similar functionality). Now on Apple iOS there is no notification for this so apps have to use tricks like listening to GPS events instead and then check for new pictures - often checking while nothing is new, wasting power. On android there was no need to waste power: only upload what is new when you get notified. Why in $DEITY's name does Google think removal of this API will SAVE power?
Another big change they made is to include a jit along with the aot. The jit is used almost exclusively for gathering profile data during app usage so the aot can use pgo during downtimes. This is apparently something that is continually happening with an eye on two optimizations: execution efficiency and memory size.
The interest in tablets is so low because for most people, a tablet is their third device at best, after a notebook and a smartphone. Tablet is lousy for productivity work because with no keyboard, or with tiny keyboard, it's clumsy to work on. Yet, it's big enough that you won't carry it in your pocket all the time, like you can the smartphone. Even with better multitasking, I find it hard to believe that being able to split a small 8-10 inch screen into separate app areas will really find a killer application.
For me, the number one tablet uses are web browsing, reading, or being a portable tv/streaming screen. And for those, the current apps seem to work pretty well (my favorites are adblock browser, uverse, netflix, and the MX Player).
I don't think the scenario you're describing applies to everyone. But if you fall into such a category, why not use a 2-in-1 that covers both tablet and notebook usage?
I am very interested in Doze mode when the screen is off but not stationary but I guess I wont be seeing any of that on my aging but still great HTC M8...
My phone has 2GB of RAM, yet it cant handle a music app and a web browser at the same time, even though the memory usage of the two apps is 400MB and there is nothing else running. Given this sad reality, what faith should I have that this new feature will actually work?
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arsjum - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
"Though I suspect it's not a popular opinion, I have long felt that the software design ecosystem for Android tablets has been stuck in a rut since the early days, and as a result users have struggled to find good, modern applications that really excel at the tablet experience."I suspect that's actually a very popular opinion and justifiably so. :)
ImSpartacus - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Yeah, no one like android tablets.People can tolerate oversized phone-like devices like the Nexus 7, but not legitimate tablets.
nathanddrews - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Personally, I can't tolerate anything but a x86 Windows tablet. I feel much more comfortable knowing that I can do anything and everything that I need to do from work or play without being trapped by a walled garden. If I have to, I can emulate Android with BlueStacks (like I did to play games like Fallout Shelter) and the experience is so much smoother and better than any other native Android device that I have used.ddriver - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Cuz nothing beats the user experience of a classical windows desktop application on a high resolution small screen tablet :)nathanddrews - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I really like the 1280x800/1366x768 10" format that most budget tablets use. My preference is 1080p in a 12-13" as it strikes a great balance, but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money for something that I throw around and abuse like I do. Even my large fingers can type quickly and close browser tabs with ease. It's a much better experience to me than iOS/Android.darkich - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
For $250 you can buy a 2K 10" Android tablet that will, as a matter of fact, provide you with a vastly better screen for video, reading, gaming(touch-oprimised games, you know) and browsing.But yeah, go enjoy your "superior tablet experience" with a 1280x800 screen.
lexluthermiester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
There is nothing wrong with 1280x800 screens. An 8" or 7" IPS screen at that resolution works very well. But I have a 12" Dell with that res screen that looks just fine. A 10" 2k screen is very nice looking, sure, but the GPU has to work harder to push that many pixels which drains that battery. So all in all that a good resolution. Don't be so spoiled.djayjp - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I guarantee you that once you have a truly pixel indistinguishable screen device, you'll never look at those low res devices the same again. You'll find it rather hideous (assuming you do not require reading glasses).metayoshi - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Why don't you get a Surface 3 or wait for a Surface 4 (non-pro) if/when it comes out? I'm in the same boat as you: my preference for tablets is a Windows x86 tablet, like the Surface 3 I'm using to type this comment. I used to have the Acer Iconia W4, which was 1200x800 and admittedly a pretty decent Windows tablet at the time, but the 1920x1280 Surface 3 is a vastly superior experience. The Microsoft built keyboard cover also makes a great addition, as it makes typing for longer bouts much better, but if you don't need to type too much, detaching the keyboard and stowing it away is easy. With the Acer and other 3rd party Windows tablets, you'd need a separate Bluetooth keyboard, which I also had for a time, but it wasn't as convenient as the Microsoft type cover. Some OEMs also provide their own keyboards, but I still feel like none have matched the quality of the keyboard from Microsoft. The full sized USB 3.0 port is also a godsend, as you don't need a micro USB to USB-A connector and you can just plug in anything and everything that already works in normal Windows. It's just much better and worth the little bit of extra money over the really low end budget Windows tablets. Not quite Surface Pro level, but a great middle ground between too cheap and high end.Lolimaster - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Sorry but 16:9 is pure sh*t aside from media consumption. 16:10 or even better 3:2 all the way.5th element - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Unless the vast majority of the media you consume is video based.Meteor2 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
I have a TV for that.Alexey291 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
You carry a tv in your bag every day eh? Or sit with it in your lap? Nice niceBurntMyBacon - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
@Lolimaster: "Sorry but 16:9 is pure sh*t aside from media consumption. 16:10 or even better 3:2 all the way."Or 4:3. I'm not a fan of Apple because of their business practices, but credit where credit is due. I personally like 16:10 for desktops and 3:2 for tablets, but I 4:3 is also pretty good and I'd have no trouble adjusting to it if it meant a superior display. 16:9 is only favorable to me for phones, ... , maybe, ... , I'd have to check out a 16:10 phone to make that judgement for sure and I haven't ever seen one.
ninjaquick - Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - link
Thank God for loli, master. 4:3 is best girl.Alexvrb - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
You realize they have apps and such on Win10, as well as a Tablet Mode that's touch and small-display friendly. It ALSO has the capability to do conventional Windows tasks, and usually I only run conventional software when docked or otherwise connected to a larger display via HDMI.ET - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I'm the opposite. I'd much rather use my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 than any Windows tablet. Android offers a better "desktop" and apps and games that run correctly with touch. I own a Windows tablet (with pen) and a Windows phone, and I always go back quickly to Android. I might get an iPad Mini for better games selection and compatibility, but I can't see myself using a Windows mobile device that isn't a laptop.Michael Bay - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
>android offers a better "desktop"Nice joke. Duarte sure painted the turd in ranbow colors, but still a turd it is.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
There is nothing worse than the cesspool that is Windows on a tablet. How people can use these old archaic non touch and tablet optimized apps and still say it's a better experience is delusional.Alexey291 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
And then we come to the matter of viruses and malware that windows instantly attracts. Hell comes preinstalled with...Meteor2 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
It's 2016, not 2006.lexluthermiester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Quote: " Android offers a better "desktop" "Agreed.
Meteor2 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Unless you need to work with files, in which case it's no use at all.raptormissle - Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - link
That's funny considering Android has better file managers than Windows.SaolDan - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I was running tomb raider on my old SP3 i3. 720 30+ fps. What more gaming would you want? Sure you can get unlimited amounts of crappy games on mobile but real gaming only happens on PC or consoles. Keep your cute "gaming" tablet. Playing Final fantasy 14 on my surface pro 4 among other games.ET - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
And you were doing it with touch or with keyboard/mouse? If you weren't doing it with touch then you're not talking a tablet experience, you're talking a laptop experience. I'd be surprised if you could show me one thing that Windows does better when not paired with a keyboard/mouse.BurntMyBacon - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
@ET: "If you weren't doing it with touch then you're not talking a tablet experience, you're talking a laptop experience."I submit XCOM: Enemy Within for your consideration. Not perhaps the best touch implementation, but it is possible and for fans of the game, a grand addition to the tablet gaming list.
lilmoe - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Really?ET - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Yes. I believe that few people buy pure Windows tablets, because it's an inferior experience to other tablets. A Windows tablet (IMO) is only worth it as a 2-in-1, and even then I think that most people who spent significant time using tablet mode will get a better experience with a Windows ultrabook plus an Android tablet.UtilityMax - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
That's my view too. I have never seen something like a Surface Pro x being used in a pure tablet mode. Always with keyboard attached. Most of those "windows tablet" users, are using them as a netbook. At this point, I think those Surface Pro users would be better served by something like a Lenovo Yoga type ultraportable notebook.BurntMyBacon - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
@UtilityMax: "I have never seen something like a Surface Pro x being used in a pure tablet mode."I have. Works just fine. Not something I'd call superior to the competition, but better than many give it credit for. It's as ET said above, for most people it is only worth it as a 2-in-1 device. For a tablet only experience, it isn't compelling enough to pull people from competitors.
BurntMyBacon - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
@ET: "A Windows tablet (IMO) is only worth it as a 2-in-1, ..."I don't disagree. If you are getting a windows tablet that isn't 2-in-1 in some fashion, then you are missing out on the primary advantage of windows tablets.
@ET: "..., and even then I think that most people who spent significant time using tablet mode will get a better experience with a Windows ultrabook plus an Android tablet."
It really depends on if you have the luxury of bringing two devices with you and what you are doing in tablet mode. If seamless integration is beneficial, then two devices may not be the best bet. That said, I have to agree, most people don't fall into these caveats and would probably be better served by separate devices.
BurntMyBacon - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
@ET: "I'd much rather use my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 than any Windows tablet. Android offers a better "desktop" ..."Wow. My Nexus 7 (2013) doesn't provide anywhere near the the quality desktop of a windows device (tablet or otherwise). Is this a Samsung specific improvement. I've heard so many terrible things about TouchWiz from so many people, but if it can really provide a superior desktop, then I need to check it out. Or is it that you have third party software that makes the difference.
shadarlo - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
This x1000Why anyone would buy an iOS or Android tablet for anything more than $200 is beyond me. For anything above that you can find a windows tablet that is so much more useful. And even more ridiculous is $500-$1000 for a non windows tablet.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Fortunately, the majority disagree with you. Anyone who buys a Windows tablet over an iOS or Android tablet is just looking to run their old clunky windows apps on a tablet. The OS and apps are no where near optimized for tablet use and you really need to be a hardcore windows fan to even tolerate it, No wonder windows tablet sales continue to suck.Ratman6161 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
"Anyone who buys a Windows tablet over an iOS or Android tablet is just looking to run their old clunky windows apps on a tablet. "Or....simply has a different use case than you do. Everyone thinks that whatever they have is the best. And it probably is...for them. Not necessarily for eveyone
ET - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
That argument goes both ways. I'd say that for most tablet use cases Windows is inferior.UtilityMax - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
For one, a larger screen makes it worth to pay more for an android tablet. It is indeed true you can find very good 8 inch tablets for 200-250 these days, but if you want 10 inch screen, then the price is 300-500. I use my tablet as a protable TV/video screen I can take everywhere, and Android works well enough for that. Windows tables are much bigger and heavier, and basically feel more like netbook or notebook without a keyboard attached.darkich - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
.. Wait, did you just said that Android apps run better via bluestack on a windows device, than they do on actual Android devices?!?lexluthermiester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Speak for yourself. I love my Android tablets! iOS and Windows are craptastic on tablets in my opinion. Windows 10 is only useful in standard desktop mode, but with it's privacy and security problems, it's just not worth it. Then again, Android 5.x is ugly as and a backtrack from KitKat. 6.x fixes a few of those issues but it's still very unappealing to the eye.Demiurge - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I like Android tablets, just not the Kindle ones.avp2306 - Sunday, March 13, 2016 - link
I feel you have not used Android tablets in a while - they have gone a long way. Personally iOS devices feel very archaic to me compared to Android, especially the lack of soft touch buttons at the bottom. iOS' super simple single button is now just an anchor dragging it down.tipoo - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Yeah I suspect that's a fairly popular opinion :PPeople have long griped about the software situation, with still a lot of blown up Android phone apps.
It's a bit of an odd one since Android tablets actually have the lions share of market now, but devs still aren't incentivised for it. Maybe because the average Android user spends less on apps?
Plus the timing may be gone for a correction, as tablets are now in decline as we've reached "good enough" tablet and people don't need to upgrade every two years.
StormyParis - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I've got no issue with Android tablets. I actually love the dashboard functionality of homescreen widgets: my home screen is full of them, during the day my tablet sits next to my PC screens and I monitor incoming IM/mail and news. I even added a mouse for my tablet, next to my PC's mouse, so messing with the tablet doesn't break my flow.The apps are fine too: browsing, rss reader, video player, google docs, maps, mail all are reasonably tablet-optimized, and the rest (IM, music) probably can't be anyway.
On an iPad, the two main features I care for (homescreen widgets and mouse support) are missing. I tried a Windows tablet, I can't find satisfactory Universal apps, especially missing the Google ones. Plus LiveTiles are cuter, but not nearly as functional, as widgets, and a lot are broken or missing.
In the end I don't understand all the Android/Tablet hate. Not only does it work very well for me, but it does things no other OS can do.
darkich - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I'm with you on this.Heck, I bought an 8" Android tablet to my 61yo mother and she actually loves using it.
solnyshok - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
if you are rooted, you can use Synergy to control several PC and tablets with one mouse, with clipboard sync between all of them.tuxRoller - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
While I don't know exactly what he means by ecosystem (either the apps that target tablets, third party tooling, or tablet APIs) the APIs to provide a top notch tablet experience have existed for years. The problem is getting developers to use them.Alexvrb - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Hmm, after all this work they've released a split screen mode that is inferior to Windows 8.1's much more flexible splitscreen. Meanwhile Win10 allows you to split it up even more ways, even in tablet mode.bug77 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Not impressed. Sure, it's a step forward, but it's still just a (very) limited form of the multitasking we've known and used for years. I don't see reasons to rave about this, just as I don't see reasons to rave about "doing X on a smartphone" (where X = something that's been done before on other devices).xthetenth - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
It's weird that arbitrary splits aren't supported as long as the small app is above some minimum width. Windows (even RT) has had no problem with that. I wonder if it's because it has the most recent app model of the three. Anyway, glad to see Android making steps to become as good a tablet OS as Win RT.bug77 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Arbitrary splits is probably a feature left for Android O or later. Just so that we get to read another 50 articles just for that ;)jjj - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Just checking, the DPI scaling doesn't work in gaming does it?tipoo - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I don't imagine; it would only work for 2D windowing/elements, not 3D graphics. Same on any OS.
jjj - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
One can assume so but was looking for confirmation.The ability to adjust res in gaming would be a huge deal as the vast majority of Android phones have insufficient GPUs - the vast majority of Android phones being mid and low end.
Alexey291 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Technically there is a way but its clunky and requires root.Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the option to reply directly via the notification panel already exist on android? I don't know if its a Zen UI only feature but I can reply to hangout messages directly via the notification shade on my Zenfone . The device is running lollipop.bug77 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
You're not wrong: http://developer.android.com/design/patterns/notif...This is probably an enhancement on top of what was already in place.
Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
How is the implementation of Android N different from what already existed in Android lollipop?piker84 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I'm not sure about all phones, but both my S6 and Nexus 6p allow quick reply. I'm using Marshmallow on my 6p.This article states accessing toggles like the flashlight has been improved by allowing a single swipe instead of two, but on Marshmallow you can single swipe to access more icons like the flashlight by using two fingers instead of one. Just FYI!
Ratman6161 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Its also been available on Samsung devices for quite some time - though it was and is Samsung's own implementation of it as far as I know.raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
The Samsung hack/implementation only worked with a relatively small number of apps - the majority being the ones you never used like Samsung apps.Brandon Chester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
All that is is a link that takes you to the app to reply. This is an in line reply field.Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
No, I was also talking about an in line field. In fact the reply field on my phone looks quite similar (if not exactly the same) to the screenshot posted in the article. Again, I am not sure whether this feature existed on stock android. But it sure is present on Zen Ui in lollipop.Brandon Chester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
It didn't exist in that form in Google's Android. Hangouts is one exception where it opened that kind of ugly looking overlay for a moment, but apps like Skype just took you to the app where they now allow you to just type your response right in the notification itself.Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Okay, I get your point. Thanks.Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Here is a screenshot to back my claims.http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx20/ayushde9/M...
Brandon Chester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Is that Hangouts? I only ask because Hangouts actually has had that for a while in general, but it's not in line because it closes the notification drawer and opens an overlay. I actually have a similar screenshot on page three.Le Geek - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Yes, that is hangouts. I actually saw that screenshot on the 3rd page and mistook it for the "new" in line reply feature being talked about in the article. I guess that's what happens when you try to go through an article in a hurry. My apologies.Drumsticks - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I like what they've done with Android N. The notification shade replies are pretty useful, having an API that will let a developer make easy replies instead of having each individual app have their own is a good idea and should help spur its adoption. I'm looking forward to the beta being good enough to run daily!BenSkywalker - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Outside of some developer flags and the new power saving elements, everything "new" you brought up has been in Android for years. Multi window baked into the base OS is nice, but that option has been around for a long time. Working with apps directly from the notification window- again- been around for years now. Battery icon not displaying a percentage- change it- I have an Android 1.5 device kicking around here that has numerical representation.I think AT should really just decide if they want to cover only iOS devices all the time, or if they actually want to continue with their Android articles. People seem to think your iOS coverage is great, your Android coverage is abhorrent to be as kind as possible.
You come across like much a Windows user who does every single task in Windows, and then tries to provide useful information on a new build of Linux.
"If I were to make any recommendations for Google, it would be to make it a bit more obvious to the user that you can hold down the multitasking button inside an app to instantly get into split view mode."
That's how we've been accessing all levels of Android multi tasking for more then half a decade now, but Google should change that.....? I could nit pick this article to death, you don't like Android, that's fine. You should find someone who does to handle these types of articles.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Have they ever given Apple "recommendations"? I'm on the side they haven't. Ars must think Apple is beyond reproach.michael2k - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Well, do you have any? Note that N is going to come out a year after iOS 9, which already added multitasking and windowing improvements, for example, as well as having the nominally better sleep and memory behavior mentioned as improvements in the article. iOS doesn't broadcast changes to wake up apps, so doesn't need to remove that. Thanks to having support for multiple binaries and a fixed number of CPU configurations, iOS also allows for per CPU optimization to improve performance and memory optimizations.raptormissle - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
You need to qualify your statements. First, Android N multi-windows works on all devices - phones and tablets and whatever else that runs N. Additionally, apps already work with Android's multi-window without any modification whatsoever.As for iOS - multi-window support is only available on 2 or 3 iPad models and is not available on phones. Additionally, to support the multi-window functionality in an iPad the app must be modified to support it.
Brandon Chester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Android does not publicly have a built in battery percentage nor the ability to use Multi-Window apps. It doesn't matter what you can do with adb or system UI tuner, it's effectively not accessible for 99% of users. To claim that all of these features "has been in Android for years" is simply incorrect and ridiculous.Also, you're misunderstanding what I've written about the multitasking button behavior. Holding down the multitasking button has absolutely no effect right now. Holding down a button and tapping it are not the same action. In Android N depending on whether you hold or tap it you get a different response due to the new Multi-Window features. However, because that interaction hasn't previously existed, Google should make it clearer to the user that they can do that.
ThisIsChrisKim - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
But the most popular Android OEM, Samsung, implements these features in their phones and tablets. So it's probably a bit more commonly used than you might think?extide - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
In Samsung phones you hold the back button to bring up the multi window menu, not the app-switcher button, so it is different. You can also swipe from the top right to make an app into a window on Samsung devices, and that may be different too, so he made a perfectly valid statement.ThisIsChrisKim - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I was referring to battery percentage and multi window existing in Samsung's software. Not the way you interact with the multitasking button.BenSkywalker - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Doubling down on your extreme iOS perspective, OK. iOS doesn't have a 'built in' YouTube app- would you honestly try and pass off YouTube on iOS as a new feature? I have here an old CupCake Android phone with the battery indicator as numeric- it has been around as I stated, for many years. For side by side multi tasking on Android- *YOU* wrote an article last year about this functionality on a *second generation* Tab S device last year(the one where you went all iOS even in the specification chart, listing the originals as running 4.4 when 5.0 had been over the air for *six months* prior to your article). You want screenshots of these things, or are you going to explain to people that iOS can't view YouTube because it isn't actually part of the OS?I read this article for the first time on an OPO. I hit the multitasking button and it brought up the browser options- I held the multitasking button down and it opened up a view of every application I had running. That interaction has existed, on Android, for a long time now- as have the other features as others have already mentioned.
This isn't iOS- one size doesn't fit all, devices are free to do whatever they want- including rebuilding the entire OS- Amazon's Fire line is a good example- still Android. They exacting build you have on one particular device does *NOT* mean "Android". This isn't iOS. Seriously, if you could read yourself from an enlightened perspective you would realize how absurdly foolish you sound. Your world revolves around iOS, that's fine, get someone who knows what they are talking about to handle Android.
For the record- Your excluding Slingshot and Car Chase is getting embarrassing, we are coming up on a year now for Slingshot.
erple2 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
No, Brandon is correct. None of my Nexus devices with base Android have any of the multitasking features that you claim exist. They simply aren't there.Once you start talking about customizations of Android with various vendor flavors, including custom ROMs, all bets are off. I could fork Android and implement some crazy feature with my fork, but I can't claim that Android supports my crazy feature.
BenSkywalker - Sunday, March 13, 2016 - link
Brandon is absolutely wrong. You claim your Nexus devices don't have multitasking features that I claim exist? First, I would point out that older iPads aren't Nexus devices, then I could point you to hundreds of different places-http://nexus7.wonderhowto.com/how-to/extreme-multi...
Yeah, even the four year old Nexus 7 has had multi window multi tasking available for years. That is a straight from Google device using a straight from Google build of the OS and multi window support is available. Not exactly your highly customized fork. Brandon doesn't like Android, we all get that, he is very devoted to iOS, again, no problem with that. Someone who actually is an Android user should probably cover Android devices to avoid looking completely ignorant.
UtilityMax - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
I haven't seen an Android ROM, including among generic AOSP-based ones, that did not have an option to turn the battery percentage on.zeeBomb - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Very niceOmega215D - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Hell, I think Google should address why their crap services keep causong wakelocks. A lot of it is the damn thing phoning home for bullcrap reasons and turning it off breaks a lot of Google apps and phone functionality. Android is becoming worse with each iteration.tuxRoller - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Phoning home?Do you have a source for this claim which proves that "a lot" of the wakelocks address caused by "phoning home" (and, specifically, dealing with Google services without receiving any benefits like informing you of events/places nearby, weather updates, etc).
darkich - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
.. and just like that, Android becomes the most promising OS for tabletsmichael2k - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Haha! You mean two years from now, when Android N hits 35% market penetration? Lollipop, in March, just finally beat KitKat (so a 2014 release has higher market share than a 2013 release) in 2016. While iOS 11 (with three years of multitasking and other enhancements) will hit 80% as well has having had multiple developers releasing multiple updates to support all those enhancements? I agree Android is promising, but they have to contend with two dominant powerhouses, Apple and Microsoft, in the tablet space. Apple gets to ride on iPhone sales and Microsoft gets a ride on PC sales.haukionkannel - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Yep, that is still the problem... The os upgrades to Android devices are scarce and come late.Not Googles fault, but the problem is also guite severe to them. The apps are made for those very old versions of os, because most Android devices use those versions, so Android apps will be behind iOs and Windows apps in that aspect.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
You clearly do not understand how Android apps are developed. To imply that Android apps are made for "those very old versions of os" was a very silly comment. Most features in the new SDK are backported to previous versions via the app compatibility libraries. Do some research next time.As for windows apps...well that is so hilarious I'm not even going to go there.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
>but they have to contend with two dominant powerhouses, Apple and Microsoft, in the tablet space.LOL, did you just say Windows was a dominant powerhouse in the tablet space? LOL You were joking right? Windows tablets are right down there with windows phones.
michael2k - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
You're ignoring PCs, which currently still dwarf tablets about 5:1 (45m to 246m in 2015). Gartner also lists Microsoft in the top 5, behind Samsung, Apple, Lenovo, and Huawei (in that order) in the tablet space. So, no, actually, not a joke. Microsoft is always free to screw up, though.BenSkywalker - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Tablets sold over 200 million units globally in 2015- wherever you got your numbers, they aren't even close.https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS409...
michael2k - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
I was looking at a quarterly report by Gartner, which will show seasonal variance not seen in an annual report. The Gartner report was also focused on tablet-hybrids and detachable PCs (they call them ultramobile PCs), which is a smaller subset of the tablet space. I thought that relevant because I was comparing PCs to tablets that would replace PCs.lilmoe - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Windows tablets *will* dominate. It's just a matter of time.michael2k - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
I wouldn't bet either way. They certainly didn't defeat Android, iOS, nor BB before dwindling to its current state in phones!Hyper72 - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Ah yes, I remember people saying that about Microsoft Pocket PC in 2000, then Windows Mobile, then MS Smartphone later, etc. etc.Markets can and do change ofcourse, it could happen. Having said that I like both Android and iOS, I use both and have versions of the same apps on them. However Windows on tablets is still an uncomfortable hybrid, just like Windows 10 on my PC have both a classic and a modern control panel with different settings.
raptormissle - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
They said the same about windows phone and look where that is now. All of the new apps come out on Android and iOS. Windows isn't even a factor and never will be.trane - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Meh, the multitasking is not up to scratch with Windows 10, or even 8.1. Microsoft has really nailed it with the arbitrary scaling, UWP apps scale wonderfully no matter what you do with them. Even desktop apps usually play well in tablet mode.raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Yeah, lets compare a desktop OS to a mobile OS. Microsoft never nailed anything besides being the worlds largest vector for viruses, malware and ransomware.lilmoe - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
The good part about it is how people like you get angry at how Microsoft is doing a much better job making a "desktop OS" do tablet stuff better than any other "tablet OS", and more fluidly and intuitively so...I've installed Windows 10 on an Atom based Acer tablet with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of MMC storage. I was astonished on how much more fluid and responsive the *full version* of Windows 10 runs on hardware far less superior than last years iOS and Android tablets. Battery life was stellar. It's not even a comparison. Tablet Mode takes the tablet experience to a whole new level.
Oh, and Windows 10 won't be suffering from planned obsolescence. If the latest RS1 Insider build is any indication, it's just going to get faster with each major update.
Again, don't worry, Windows 10 dominating tablets is just a matter of time.
raptormissle - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I like it when Windows people feel threatened about Android. It brings out their true character. It must be hard for Microsoft to come to grips that the OS they once sold and made billions from is now a commodity OS. Android sure pulled the rug out from under them. But, then what would you expect from a company that didn't even see the Internet coming. And now they're scrambling to give their products away and put them on any platform they can just to stay relevant. Microsoft is a has been and the lack of developer support for their platform is just another nail in their coffin. Those idiots once marched around carrying an iPhone coffin when they heralded the arrival of Windows phone. Little did they know it was their own coffin they were carrying.Windows tablets are good for nothing but running old windows apps on.
lilmoe - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
"Android sure pulled the rug out from under them"Nodding slowly....
Ignoring all your silly hate slogans, Android on phones is a different story, but on tablets... eh....... Just ask all the OEMs running away from it.
raptormissle - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
You only need to see the pathetic sales number for Windows tablets to see how futile they really are. People don't want a tablet to run clunky windows apps that need a keyboard and mouse just to work.Alexvrb - Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - link
A keyboard and mouse required to use Windows apps? Wow. Sweet, tangy, drivelcakes.ciderrules - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Windows 10 dominating is just a matter of time?Thanks for the laugh.
Speedfriend - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
We are going all windows tablets at work now. No more iPad toys....Alexvrb - Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - link
Windows 10 is both a desktop and a mobile OS. It has a tablet mode and works great on tablets. Windows tablets don't just run old software. As trane said, they multitask and scale better. That's a simple fact. Even 8.1 has better multitasking than 'N', and 10 improves that further. You don't own one so you have no idea what they're actually capable of in practice. But feel free to keep selling those drivelcakes.UtilityMax - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
The flip side of that is that the Windows OS for the desktops has been a pile of inconsistent rubbish since version 8.0. There are now two separate and sometimes conflicting ways to configure the OS, with Control Panel and the Settings app, with all settings randomly spread between the two, and sometimes you have to use BOTH to setup just a single aspect, such as wifi settings. It's basically a mess now, but oh so great on tablets..lilmoe - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Good to know they're working more on efficiency regarding UI rendering. I was just complaining about that a couple of days ago. I also wonder why Doze didn't work immediately when the screen was off in the first place, it should have been that way from the start. Android needs a much more efficient way to handle notifications and background tasks which are the major culprit in Android's relatively bad standby time.knightspawn1138 - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
I've had an LG G3 since it came out, and it already had split-screen multi-tasking built in. This was back in Lolipop (which the G3 is still wearing like an anchor neck-tie), and I can count on one hand how often I used it. The huge screen (for the time) and QHD resolution means that there are enough pixels to put 2 apps on screen at once, but even with the smallest system font size, most apps are too crowded to be effective. The best use was to do something like email in the bottom half while a youtube video played in the top half of the screen. Sounds great, but once you open the keyboard in the mail app, there's precious little space between the keyboard and the middle of the screen. It reminded me of using an old electric typewriter that had one of those LCD displays showing your line before it types it out. Except it had a youtube video playing above it. :Pboeush - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
"The ability to quickly access certain toggles like the flashlight is a great improvement too, as it puts them only a single swipe away instead of the previous model which required you to first swipe to open the notification drawer and then swipe again to get to your shortcuts."I can't speak for OEM-modded skins, but on my trusty old Nexus 5 a two-fingered swipe down brings the fully opened toggle pane (it's the same thing as single-fingered swiping on the notification bar twice.)
Brandon Chester - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Swiping down from the top of the display to past the middle with two separate fingers is not very useful when you're holding the phone in one hand.serendip - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Having used an iPad and a Windows 10 tablet with the split screen mode, I'm not convinced that it's useful on tablets smaller than 10". You end up getting squeezed layouts for both apps. It's better to have a single fullscreen app that shows data properly, even with the mental context switch needed when switching apps.I would prefer small applets that pop over the current app, like a quick chat window or a calendar view. That saves time instead of having to fire up another app.
Maybe Google should map a button to go back to the previous app, like Alt-Tab. I have this custom config on my phablet with CM12 and it feels almost as fast as multitasking on a desktop OS.
Gobbmeister - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Doesn't double tapping the overview button switch to the previous app like Alt-Tab in Windows?serendip - Thursday, March 10, 2016 - link
Horses for courses. I hate my Android tablet with a passion because Google hasn't done much to use all that screen real estate. My Windows 10 tablet is fast, has good battery life and runs desktop Windows programs - but the quality and number of Modern touch apps is seriously lacking. I use it mainly as a tiny laptop when I travel.My Android phablet is still my go-to device for 90% of my daily computing. I don't want splits screens on a small 5.5" screen but I do want a fast way of switching apps.
jospoortvliet - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
I can't speak for the WiFi API but removal of the API to notify of photos taken is pretty stupid. Say you use ownCloud and have it set to upload pictures you take to your server (almost everybody wants this - dropbox and Google Drive offer similar functionality). Now on Apple iOS there is no notification for this so apps have to use tricks like listening to GPS events instead and then check for new pictures - often checking while nothing is new, wasting power. On android there was no need to waste power: only upload what is new when you get notified. Why in $DEITY's name does Google think removal of this API will SAVE power?jospoortvliet - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
I can't speak for the WiFi API but removal of the API to notify of photos taken is pretty stupid. Say you use ownCloud and have it set to upload pictures you take to your server (almost everybody wants this - dropbox and Google Drive offer similar functionality). Now on Apple iOS there is no notification for this so apps have to use tricks like listening to GPS events instead and then check for new pictures - often checking while nothing is new, wasting power. On android there was no need to waste power: only upload what is new when you get notified. Why in $DEITY's name does Google think removal of this API will SAVE power?tuxRoller - Friday, March 11, 2016 - link
Another big change they made is to include a jit along with the aot. The jit is used almost exclusively for gathering profile data during app usage so the aot can use pgo during downtimes. This is apparently something that is continually happening with an eye on two optimizations: execution efficiency and memory size.UtilityMax - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
The interest in tablets is so low because for most people, a tablet is their third device at best, after a notebook and a smartphone. Tablet is lousy for productivity work because with no keyboard, or with tiny keyboard, it's clumsy to work on. Yet, it's big enough that you won't carry it in your pocket all the time, like you can the smartphone. Even with better multitasking, I find it hard to believe that being able to split a small 8-10 inch screen into separate app areas will really find a killer application.For me, the number one tablet uses are web browsing, reading, or being a portable tv/streaming screen. And for those, the current apps seem to work pretty well (my favorites are adblock browser, uverse, netflix, and the MX Player).
Alexvrb - Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - link
I don't think the scenario you're describing applies to everyone. But if you fall into such a category, why not use a 2-in-1 that covers both tablet and notebook usage?Badelhas - Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - link
I am very interested in Doze mode when the screen is off but not stationary but I guess I wont be seeing any of that on my aging but still great HTC M8...Shadowmaster625 - Thursday, March 17, 2016 - link
My phone has 2GB of RAM, yet it cant handle a music app and a web browser at the same time, even though the memory usage of the two apps is 400MB and there is nothing else running. Given this sad reality, what faith should I have that this new feature will actually work?jacksonjacksona - Thursday, March 17, 2016 - link
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Hammerfest - Monday, March 21, 2016 - link
Android M has been here for a while, now N is up and coming..Any chance anandtech still has a Nexus 5 and 6 and the new 5x and 6p and can follow up on device performance with/without encryption?
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8725/encryption-and-...
Thanks!
nunocordeiro - Tuesday, March 22, 2016 - link
@Brandon: Try to use two fingers to drag down the notification window.