There is certainly a great deal to like about Honeycomb-and a good deal which is annoying. Here are five points Google wants to address to make its tablet running method a star.
Make no error: Google's tablet-optimized Android three. represents a vast enhancement total in excess of past versions of Google's cell operating model. But that's not to say it will get anything ideal. Following comprehensive use across different tablets, I've identified 5 matters that Google desires to address in Honeycomb.
1. Advance Image Rendering
Pics viewed in Android 3.0's Gallery app seem fuzzy and washed out when compared to when you see them on other gadgets As I photographer, I noticed this obstacle immediately on loading my individual photographs on the Motorola Xoom. Finally, the problem comes down to Honeycomb's obvious inability to appropriately render pictures in the image Gallery-and elsewhere. Just after weeks of back again and forth, a Google spokesperson acknowledged the issue, but couldn't give a timeline on a repair. Thus much, there hasn't been 1.
The challenge is striking when you look at the similar image displayed on the Honeycomb tablets side-by-side with Apple's iPad 2 and even the Android two.two-centered Samsung Galaxy Tab 7-inch. On the Honeycomb tablets-Motorola Xoom, T-Cellular G-Slate, Acer Iconia A500, and Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101-the photos lack sharpness and detail. Colours seem off , as well they appear muted and absence vibrance. While some of this can be attributed to distinctions between the actual shows themselves, I also have the feeling that something is off-kilter with the colour temperature and white harmony in Honeycomb. it lowered the default colour temperature in Android 2.three.3 to result in muted hues. The reasoning for messing with Honeycomb's defaults would possible be the very same, as well: Just as in Gingerbread, the interface is darker, so also does Honeycomb have a darker interface. But the end consequence continues to be unsatisfactory.
two. Make the Keyboard Better
The stock Honeycomb keyboard is significantly improved over that in Android two.x, and it comes with a satisfying QWERTY style and design and valuable context-sensitive keys (like as .com and @). But there is certainly no range row-a sport-changer once you have tried using it on tablets like the Asus Transformer (which has a custom Asus keyboard) and forthcoming HP TouchPad (which runs WebOS). And that color scheme has acquired to go: light gray characters inset on darker gray keys just will not pop, so the keys do not stand out adequate. The subtle blue highlight that demonstrates you've pressed a critical is a fine touch, while I personally like the pop-up letters that appear when you choice on the Apple iPhone keyboard as a substitute. Nevertheless, the blue tint influence must have to be widened as it stands, you can barely see the blue glow for the reason that it's covered by your finger that is on the key.
three. Tweak the Interface
People a few core navigation buttons at the bottom left of each individual Honeycomb display? Let us deliver them back again to the graphic designers for an overhaul. Of the 3 light trace models, only one-the home button-is in reality distinct enough in its purpose. And even which is debatable: An individual colleague admitted to me he imagined that the default property icon was an up arrow at initially.
Over, the Exit, Home, and Current Apps buttons.
From the outset, that "exit" button has been a obstacle. It seems like a sideways bookmark, but is meant to be an exit or back again button. It behaves like a back button to move you back again to the formerly seen display screen, but only does so in some applications and, in accordance to Google, it will genuinely near you out of an app if you use it to back again out of an app). Meanwhile, the in recent times accessed button at most suitable is neither apparent in its purpose, nor very easy to check out as a light tracing.
I considerably opt for the thicker, clearer redesign applied by Asus on its Transformer and that business isn't the only an individual I've viewed re-skin all those buttons on its tablet. If even more than just one maker sees it as a dilemma level, Google would do very well to handle a the difficulty alone.
4. Clear Up the Root Directory
As compared to other cellular running programs, Android lets you have freer access to your files from inside apps. This capability is critical to interoperability with other personal computers and apps, and it allows a tablet to have the maximum doable flexibility in what it can do, and how significantly it can problem a lot more established desktop operating techniques. It implies that you can transfer files to the tablet by way of e mail, by way of an app, by means of a memory card, or even a direct connection to your Pc and then access all those files by using an additional app on the unit to in fact do one thing with them. It is really about development, and not just intake.
Take this genuine-universe use case in point. When by using the Asus Eee Pad Transformer as it was docked in its Cellular Docking Station keyboard, I attached a USB flash generate, opened a Phrase .docx file in the Polaris Business office 3. software preinstalled on the tablet, edited the document, and then saved it with a new identify immediately to the directory of my alternative-be it on the flash generate, or back to the tablet. I selected to resave it to the tablet, and then I opened the Gmail app and was capable to attach that newly edited file to an outbound e-mail.
Here is the rub, nevertheless: A quantity of file supervisor apps will allow you entry the Android file process, but by default, the file/folder corporation seems to be like a mess. You have to be a developer to know wherever files are saved, and what is in what directory. For case in point, on that Transformer tablet, the file supervisor showed that the USB push folders had been buried underneath the Removable directory, within the root directory.
The bottom line is that discovering files manually continues to be a cluttered and arcane practical experience offered Android's plethora of put in files and folders, and absence of obvious, authentic-entire world hierarchy to individuals files and folder. A little housekeeping in presentation the following can go a very long way in the direction of generating tablets additional practical.
5. Enhance Dealing with of External Storage
A number of of the Honeycomb tablets have, at the least, a microSD card slot for expanding storage. And some have USB ports, possibly straight created into the tablet, or built into a docking station that connects to the tablet. That's a whole lot of exterior storage possible choices. Regrettably, Honeycomb appears sick-equipped for managing external storage. For starters, all time you insert a card or device, the Android OS requires to mount it-and that quite often looks to get forever. Not that Microsoft Windows achieves this instantaneously, possibly, but then yet again, I shouldn't experience the desire to evoke comparisons to Windows when I'm conversing about the lighter, theoretically a lot more nimble Android OS on a cell, flash-centered tablet.
I've had Android 2.2 choke on an SD card I inserted, and return an error stating the card was corrupted (encountered on Dell's Streak seven). On Honeycomb, I haven't expert that choice of issue, but I have had to clear away and reinsert media many different periods to get it to be acknowledged. And if I dare to remove the card devoid of very first unmounting via the Android running product, Android three. gets especially cranky (both offering a "drive close" error, or not recognizing the following media plugged into that port or slot).
Unmount media? Is that certainly a phase Google has to insist on? The reality is cards and USB drives get inserted and yanked out all the time, and insisting on that additional move just bogs factors down. A single of Android's significant differentiators is the simple fact that in can give end users file-level manage (see position 4). But if Google are unable to get the OS to play perfectly with people files, that is heading to be an Achilles' Heel, and an individual that limits regardless of whether the tablet can aspire to grown to be an interoperable replacement for a laptop.
Where's the Update?
The OS has however to have a lot more than a small point update, so presumably the programmers at the Googleplex are working on how to offer with these factors, and even more. Once all, I've only pinpointed a handful of weaknesses. Other individuals difficulties I know about: Honeycomb also has to be capable to superior offer with conventional Android 2.x apps on a tablet (also generally, I am going to see these types of applications crash) it has to end up being a great deal more secure (the code must have to get cleaned up so "Drive Near" mistakes on core, integrated apps are a point of the previous) it must have to permit HDMI output to assistance full 1080p output, and dual video streams, so you can do just one matter on the machine though outputting a separate stream by way of HDMI and it requires to enable complete quick charging through USB. And that's the just a quick checklist I'm conscious of.
Hopefully these points, and quite a few additional, are on the docket to be addressed. And possibly, we'll hear a bit about them at Google I/O this week.
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment