Windows 8 Tablets: What you need to know

No one wants windows on a tablet. That’s what I believed a few years back when manufacturers tried making windows 7 tablet prototypes. Clearly windows 7 wasn’t touch friendly. However, when Windows 8 came out, the Metro UI screamed for a touch device. Windows 8.1 is already out and a couple of refinements have been made to make the OS a joy to use on tablets. It has come to a point that Windows 8 is now annoying on regular laptops. That is a win for windows 8 tablets but there is more to the equation.

First of all windows 8 cannot run on ARM architecture. I don’t know exactly what this means but it turns out you still need Intel or AMD (wherever they are) to run full windows. This brings about a number of issues. Regular laptop processors are big as compared to phone/tablets ones and they use a lot of power and also because they are more powerful they produce a lot of heat hence the need for cooling. This means that you need a larger tablet to accommodate the processor and a cooling mechanism. You also need a big battery to power the processor. This also adds to the weight and size. Well, at least that is how things used to be. However, Intel, believe it or not, has geniuses and these geniuses came up with smaller, low powered processors which in turn are power efficient. At first they had low performance but now things have changed and quad core processors are available. These processors can finally compete with the beefiest ARM processors like the Snapdragon 800. Core i Intel processors are also being fitted into tablets. You get a better performance but you have to sacrifice a bit on the battery life.

Another issue is price. Windows 8 tablets are expensive. You spend an upwards of USD 800 to get a proper tablet like the Surface Pro. For that price you can get a decent laptop and a good android tablet. Again things are starting to change. The Asus Transformer T100 is a full Windows 8.1 tablet that comes with a keyboard dock and sells for less than USD 400. The Dell Venue 11 Pro is a Surface Pro 2 competitor which sells for about USD 500. But the greatest deals so far are two very similar tablets; Dell Venue 8 Pro and the Lenovo Miix2. These sell for about USD 300. I know more windows 8 tablets will show up with attractive prices.

Lenovo Miix 2

The last issue is windows 8 itself. Windows 8 has two “parts”, the Metro UI and the Desktop. The Metro UI looks great on tablets but the desktop part has never really looked great on a tablet and it doesn’t provide the best touch experience. However, this is where much productivity is done such as word processing, tweaking a few settings and also installing legacy applications. That means that the desktop part must remain in order for windows 8 to excel. However, work can be done to ensure that the desktop part on a tablet is customized for touch. It’s more of a design work really and it should not be a big deal.

As for those of you who yap about apps the windows store is growing really fast and most of those important apps are there. So do not worry, you will still instagram your “githeri” and tweet about it. In any case you can always use the reliable legacy apps as you wait for the touch optimized versions from the windows store.

Things are looking up for Windows tablets. They only need to keep Intel close and find a way to appeal to the giant phone manufacturer Samsung and also turn the Lumia RT tablet into a full blown windows 8 version like the Surface and the Surface Pro. Only Microsoft can ensure the success of Window 8 tablet. Oh, and find a way to run windows 8 on ARM, the more the chipset makers the better.

Android Tablets not there yet

When the iPad was released in 2010 it became an instant hit. The same cannot be said about its android counterparts. The android experience feels like a really long experiment with few positive results. Despite the many different android brands on the streets the overall sales are nothing to write home about. So what’s the problem and how can it be fixed?

The iPad Air

The software is the one of those issues. At first android tablets used the same version of android found on the phones. Later on Google developed a proper tablet OS, Honeycomb. Honeycomb was slow and buggy but it was a proper tablet OS. People looked forward to subsequent updates that would aim to fix the bugs. There were two updates; Honeycomb 3.1 and Honeycomb 3.2 and that was it. That was the end of Honeycomb. ICS merged the phone and tablet experience and that is how it has always been since that time.

Motorola Xoom running Honeycomb

Due to the similar software in phones and tablets, buying an android tablet feels redundant. Really what you can do on a tablet you can definitely do it better on a phone (phablet). Where the tablet has an upper hand is web browsing and video watching due to the bigger screen and maybe a few productivity tasks like typing a document but only if you have a physical keyboard.

It is true that an iPad is an overblown phone but in the Apple arena there are no phablets. So if you find the iPhone screen too small you could always switch to your iPad mini or iPad. Apps like iBook come alive on the bigger screen.

While there are many apps in the Google PlayStore for android devices the tablets section feels neglected. Android tablet apps are few. It’s never about the numbers but the functionality but in this case the day to day apps are missing. The day to day apps that are available for example the twitter app is just a phone app that when installed on a tablet looks really horrible. You will almost always find yourself going back to your android phone for some basic tasks like social networking. Since Apple is still the benchmark for tablets, there are so many tablet optimized apps in the app store. So you pick up an iPad because you know you won’t use a phone app but a tablet app.

Android tablets do not enjoy the same marketing as android phones. The Galaxy Note adverts are everywhere but where are the Galaxy tablets? Asus makes incredible android tablets but the availability of such is an issue. Sony developed an outstanding Xperia Tablet Z but it is really overpriced. LG have the LG G-Pad 8.3 which is a direct competitor to the iPad mini but is also overpriced. The Galaxy Tablets are numerous serving almost every user base but they are either overpriced (Tab 3 10.1) or underpowered like most of their 7 inch tablets. The nexus 7 and Nexus 7 (2013) are fairly priced but they are not widely available in the country and if you find them you may pay double the price.

Xperia Tablet Z

So in the end tablet oriented software is needed and surely Google can increase the apps if they want to. Packing the fastest processors on tablets before fixing the above issues will only result in a super fast overblown phone and we already have phablets in that category.

Windows RT: Misunderstood platform

Windows RT is the watered down version of full windows that can run on ARM architecture. Phones and tablets are based on this ARM architecture hence the need for a windows version that can be supported by such. However, the geniuses at Intel have been able to develop low powered tablet friendly SoCs that can support full blown windows. This of course means that we can now have tablets running full version of windows. So, should Microsoft forget about Windows RT or keep working on it. I should also mention that Windows RT does not support legacy full windows applications and as such you have to rely on the Windows Store for apps which are not so many. Naturally people prefer full windows on tablets because of functionality but I believe Windows RT still needs a chance.

You see, tablets are entertainment devices and only little productivity is done. It is really difficult typing articles like this one on a tablet because of the virtual keyboard. Hence you need to introduce a physical keyboard. Introducing a keyboard transforms the tablet into a mini netbook and you probably have laptop so what’s the use? Don’t get me wrong I prefer Asus Transformer-like tablets but mainly because of the added battery life since the only typing I do is replying to emails and tweeting. I update the blog on a laptop since the mobile application is a bit limited.

So what do I really do on my tablet? Well, I browse the web, check my twitter, occasionally watch videos, catch up with different news through flipboard and lots of gaming. All that can be done on Windows RT. I probably don’t type a lot due to the lack of a physical keyboard. I never try to edit videos or photos on the tablet hence no need for the Adobe applications.

Windows RT already gives you more than your conventional android tablet. I believe RT only needs a few more apps. Actually, it needs a lot more apps. In any case android tablets still lack applications. You can even count the tablet optimized applications. The secret to android tablets at the moment is buying a 7” tablet and running phablet apps on it.

Most full windows applications are not optimised for touch and you will really straggle hitting that “X” button to close the app. This is what Microsoft is trying to avoid by disabling legacy windows applications on the Windows RT. They want you to go the Store and pick an app that will support your violent swipes. The apps are still few but the demand for these apps will only make Microsoft react quickly. I recently leant that Android tablets have few apps because the demand for the apps is low (due to lower tablet sales as compared to phones) hence no need to waste resources. In any case this is all business. Anyways, Windows RT can also be hacked to run some legacy windows apps.

While some consumers are swayed by functionality, the rest (I included) are motivated by the price. Windows 8 tablets are generally more expensive than their Windows RT counterparts and so if money is an issue Windows RT may be what you need. However, the geniuses at Intel have again come up with cheaper and more powerful Intel SoCs that have enabled Windows 8.1 tablets to be really affordable. 299USD gets you a mouth watering 8” Dell Venue Pro. Add about 50USD and you get yourself an Asus Transformer T100 which is a 10 inch Windows 8.1 tablet with a keyboard dock that adds more battery juice. The T100 is really complete to the point of handling a few intensive games. I wonder if it can play FIFA 14 smoothly. I have since fallen in love with these two tablets.

dell venue 8 pro and Transformer T100

Nokia have however released a Windows RT tablet which is one of the sexiest tablets in the market. The tablet is priced at 499USD which is more expensive than my two lovers above but this may be due to LTE radios, the full HD display and the Snapdragon 800 processor for bewitched performance.

Lumia 2520

If I had to choose I wouldn’t know whether to take the sexy Lumia 2520 or get the Asus/Dell. But maybe that’s the point. Microsoft is supporting both platforms on tablets because people have different needs and hence the Microsoft Surface and the Microsoft Surface pro. Also, Microsoft has room for both the Microsoft Surface and the Lumia 2520 because they need to prove to people that Windows RT is still here.

Should You Flash a Custom ROM?

A custom ROM is an unofficial firmware usually created by independent developers. A similar case is “remixed” windows operating systems. Custom ROMs aim to make phones faster or they try to give you features that stock ROMs don’t provide but also they give you a later version of the operating system if the manufacture doesn’t intend to update or if the update will be delayed. But is custom ROM usually the best option? Let’s find out.

If you have a device that is stuck on Gingerbread or ICS you can do a research and see if custom ROMs with a later version of android are available. Even if such ROMs are available you need to first find out whether they are stable since custom ROMs tend to have lots of bugs. In this situation a custom ROM may be what you really need given that lots of apps and features are missing out on Gingerbread. Always make sure you follow the instructions precisely or otherwise your device may be damaged and your warranty will be void. Also, if you have a friend with experience on such situations you can let him/her do it for you.

What if you have a Galaxy Note 2 which currently runs on android 4.1.2? The latest from Google is android 4.3 and there are so many android 4.3 ROMs available for the Note 2. This is a challenging situation. The Galaxy Note is unique mostly because of the S pen but also the software (Touchwiz) comes with added advantages such as the multi window mode. Upgrading to android 4.3 will probably improve the speed of the phone and a couple of other things but depending on the custom ROM the S pen may be rendered useless and that beats the purpose of the Note. Android 4.1.2 is alright on the Note and upgrade to 4.3 has been promised by the manufacture. In this case it may be best to just wait for the official update. Yeah, I can’t believe I have just defended Touchwiz as I have not always been a fan of it. But anyway, most flagship devices fall into this category as the manufacturer will always try to support them for a long period of time.

For those who love stock operating systems you can still tweak the OS a bit to suit your need. Root your device and look for kernels that aim to improve on ram usage and processor efficiency and this will be as good as having a custom rom. You also have the option to flash official ROMs that have been stripped down and made to run faster on your device.

Customs ROMs are great and I usually flash one almost every week but you must know what you really want instead of just jumping into it. Do your research well, read comments from people who have used the ROM and more importantly make sure you are happy in the end.

What makes the iPhone 5S tick

Apple like to be secretive about the internals of their devices and so it was only known that the iPhone 5S ran on a dual core processor of an unknown clock speed. However, things have recently come to light after tearing down the iPhone 5S. It runs on a 1.3GHz dual core processor. The GPU is a quad core PowerVR chip. The RAM is still 1GB but it’s a different kind- LPDDR3.

The PowerVR GPU supports Open GL 3 and Direct X 10 so gamers should keep that in mind.

iPhone 5S

The specifications appear underwhelming but they turn the iPhone 5S into a beast which is all that matters. It is the same case with current Windows Phone 8 devices but the performance is still incredible if not mind blowing. So, it’s never about the specifications. The end result is what matters and Apple continues to deliver.

Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro

Windows RT is still alive. Microsoft has announced the Surface 2 which runs on the Windows RT. This should give OEMs an assurance that Microsoft is still focusing its attention on RT and that more apps and support should be expected. Anyway the Surface 2 is a 10.6” slate with 1080p display, Tegra 4 chipset with a 1.7GHz quad core Cortex A15 processor and 2GB ram. That makes the Surface 2 4 times faster than the original Surface and there is also better battery life. There is a 5MP camera at the back and it’s expected to retain at USD 449 a month from now.

Microsoft Surface 2

The other tablet announced by Microsoft is the Surface 2 Pro which runs on Windows 8.1It also features a 1080p 10.6” display, a fourth generation Intel core i5 clocked at 1.6GHz dual core, 4 or 8GB RAM. Oh and the processor has a turbo boost of up to 2.6GHz in case you are a power user.

Microsoft Surface 2 Pro

The usual accessories are also available and they have been improved in one way or another like the 2 stage back stand instead of previous one position.

While it’s great to have these tablets from Microsoft I can’t stop wondering about the role that the rumoured Nokia tablet will play. All in all it will great to have variety from Microsoft.

iPhone 5S and 5C

I know this post comes decades later but I needed a better assessment of the latest Apple products. Apple is known to announce a major product each year but this time they announced two, the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C. As expected opinions were divided, iOS faithful defended the new devices while fans from opposing platforms had a field day bashing the products. Phone manufacturers were not left out. Here’s a brief neutral assessment of the two products.

The iPhone 5S was definitely the star of the show and the new flagship device from Apple. There are minor improvements all around. The processor has more cores but the main processing unit is still a dual core. I believe 2GB ram is on board for better multitasking as demanded by the latest iOS7. The retina display is back after missing out on the iPad mini but the biggest hardware change is the fingerprint sensor meshed into the home button. It is a great addition that aims to keep thieves at bay.

iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor

The other big hardware change is that the processor is now 64 bit. The iOS7 will now support the 64 bit architecture. While 64 bit is useless at the moment it will become mainstream in 1 or 2 years from now. Apple is already developing apps and games to take advantage of 64 bit so you should expect more details on new apps and games. Without a doubt 64 bit takes mobile computing to a whole new level and now we should turn our attention to developers to take advantage of it.

The iPhone 5S will also come with the latest iOS version, the iOS7. IOS7 is pretty much the same iOS from 2007 but there is a noticeable UI improvement. It is more of a cosmetic change really. I am really struggling to find new things to say about the new flagship device. But maybe that’s just me. You see, iOS fans always want more of the same. They never really complain about the same iPhone year after year. It is an android thing to want something different each time.

The iPhone 5C is basically the iPhone 5 with more colours. The internals of the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5 are identical. You get the same processor, the same RAM, same screen technology (resolution etc). I guess the only major thing that is different is that the iPhone 5C will ship with iOS7. However, the iPhone 5 just received the iOS7 update. The C in the iPhone 5C probably stands for cheap so it will boil down to pricing.

colourful iPhone 5C

In the end the new Apple products have been designed to appeal to current iOS users and to some extent android users with the latest iOS7. If you are an iOS fan and have the resources the iPhone 5S will keep you happy for the next one year. If you are low on cash you have two choices, stay with the iPhone 5 or if you are coming from a previous version get yourself the iPhone 5C. There is no point in getting the iPhone 5C if you have the iPhone 5. Also, if you are a low end android user, it won’t hurt to try out the iPhone 5C due to iOS7.

Goodbye Nokia

And just like that the greatest phone manufacturer is gone. We can all say we saw it coming but that doesn’t prevent the emotions. Even if you are an iOS or Android fan you must admit you’ve died a little inside. As a Nokia fanboy I will try and look for the positives if at all there will be any. Perhaps the greatest positive would be to buy the last ever Nokia device which is likely to be kick ass and hope it will serve me for a few years until I can finally move on.

The first time things became thick was in 2011 where the demise of not only Meego but also Symbian was made known. You see, the plan was to reserve Meego for high end phones and continue with Symbian on midrange phones while also developing a series 40/Asha alternative called meltemi. This was indeed a great plan. Symbian had a large market share while Meego would have received the market percentage currently enjoyed by windows phone or even higher since Meego is way better than Windows Phone. Anyway, most symbian die-hards jumped ship and found solace in Android. After the N8 I was also forced to get myself a Galaxy device as I waited for Windows phone to mature. With the release of Windows Phone 8 I, like many other Nokia fans, decided to go back to Nokia. For a brief moment we knew things were looking up and next year would be significant due to the next major windows phone 8 upgrade. Things now appear blique and all hope lost.

A company selling its soul to the OS maker isn’t such a bad thing. On the android front the Nexus devices are loved by many, I included. Therefore the Motorola deal with Google can only be seen as positive especially given Motorola were struggling. A nexus device from Motorola will turn things around for the device makers. Already the Moto X is receiving positive reviews from consumers and things appear to be destined for the best. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about Microsoft. The Microsoft Surface did not do too well and not having the Nokia name in future Lumia series will hurt sales.

The only positive thing I can think of right now is timely updates. I am still waiting for the Amber update on my Lumia device but I am sure with Microsoft there will be no more waiting. Perhaps the other positive thing is the financial backing. Microsoft has the resources and that means that packing the greatest gadgets on future Lumia devices will not be an issue. But that beats the Nokia philosophy. We like Nokia because Nokia products are cheap and are for the masses. If you cannot afford the best Nokia device you have a alternative. If you cannot afford the soon to be launched (in the country) Nokia 925, then you can always choose the Lumia 520/620/625 without worrying too much about performance.

Lumia 520

So where exactly does a Nokia fan go from here? Wait for the Note 3 and jump ship without thinking twice or wait for the rumoured Nokia phablet? I will probably wait for the phablet since the great android devices will always be there waiting. Chances are that some Nokia employees will lose employment or walk out. The long term dream is that these employees will join the Jolla community and we will finally have the Meego that eluded us. I can only hope.  Goodbye Nokia.

Like an Ipad

Practice makes perfect especially if you cannot make a good first impression, well, that has always been the case with most tablets. The only exception is the iPad. The first iPad became an instant success when it was released. The main competitors, android, started off with the Xoom and eventually refined the line up with the Nexus 10. Of late however the obsession has been the 7-8 inch tablets. Here again Apple released one product, the iPad mini, and it was an instant hit. Android may have finally got it with the 2013 Nexus 7 and the Galaxy Note 8 but so many 7 inch android slates have fallen short. So, what does that say about Android and Windows tablets and is Apple that good or is there more to it?

The simple answer is that Apple knows its customers and when they make a product they anticipate what the customers want and therefore give them exactly that. That does not mean that Android/Windows OEMs do not know their market. They do and actually they know the market too well. You see, when Android OEMs make tablets they make several to carter for the different demands. As such we have budget tablets like Galaxy Tab 2 and Tab 3 series and high end tablets like the Sony Xperia tablet Z. As a result one tablet is only used by about one third of the customers while every iOS fan will use one tablet.

2013 Nexus 7 on the left

Windows 8 tablets are still new in the market but so far things don’t look too good. The surface RT registered low sales while Asus, who are responsible for popularizing Android tablets with their transformer line up, have decided against making Windows RT tablets due to the low sales. I believe quickly developing apps for windows RT will persuade people. Apps shortage is an issue even on Android tablets so maybe Windows RT will only do well if FULLY supported by trusted OEMs like Samsung and hopefully Nokia.

Marketing is also a big issue. Apple products are available in almost all countries. Locally, I cannot find any Asus or Nexus tablets. The Nexus 7 was able to find its way but prices were grossly exaggerated while the Nexus 10 has never made it. So in the end you want to buy an android tablet but end up buying an iPad (never mind the price).

Android tablets need refining. We talk so much about Android phones but never about the tablets. The phones are almost perfect but you will always find something to complain about the slates. However the 2013 Nexus 7 is great. Let’s hope it does well.

Portable Gaming on Android

Serious gamers would have the most powerful machines to their disposal or the latest consoles. Casual gamers would make a gaming machine out of any machine by occasionally playing FIFA and last decade racing and mission games like NFS most wanted (not NFS most wanted 2012). These are the same people who appreciate gaming on phones and tablets. I don’t know which category PSP/PS vita falls but I’ve always thought that’s the direction future gaming should take.

Console gaming requires that you stay indoors as you have to connect the game console to the Television. Portable gaming means that you can fire up your game any time. You can go outside and enjoy the cool breeze while you are at it. However, having a portable gaming device is a waste of your pocket since you still have to carry your phone. But what if you can turn your android device into your ultimate portable gaming device? Actually the ultimate gaming device at the moment is the iPad and specifically the iPad mini. Apple has the largest collection of games. However, android can make use of gaming controllers meaning that you don’t have to be frustrated by the virtual controls.

One such controller is the Moga gaming controller. This is a controller that pairs with your android device and also hooks your android phone to the controller. The whole setup looks like an advanced PS Vita (see the picture below). Android now has an overwhelming number of games meaning that you will definitely replace you PS Vita or PSP Go.

Moga gaming controller attached to a phone

The good thing about android is that a dual core processor and 1GB of Ram is sufficient for most games meaning that you don’t have to spend so much for your gaming device. Screen size should be anything above 4.3 inches.

Game titles like shadow gun and dead trigger will make you give android gaming a chance. Racing addicts will enjoy Asphalt 7 (Asphalt 8 is coming soon) and Real Racing 3. As usual more games are available in the play store.

The only downside to this is that such gaming controllers are limited in the country. I am yet to see one, but it could be because I haven’t actually searched for them. I bet you could turn your wireless PS3/Xbox controller into a similar setup. All you need is a way to attach your device to the controller. That doesn’t seem like a lot of work now, does it?