Tablets (Nov. 11/12) Ron Watt

1. What is a Tablet? 2. Where? 3. When? 4. Why? 5. Systems & Terms 6. Dream Machine 7. Reality 8. Products Tablets

What is a Tablet? * They are not the same size and weight as the Tablets used by Moses many years ago. One piece lightweight (300g-900g) computer, small form-factor: cable-less, disk-less, Wi-Fi connected, speaker & camera equipped. Input via finger touch screen & on-screen keyboard Screen sizes: 7”, 10”, 13” diagonal. Apps are downloaded, files are uploaded or locally stored. Optional docking station w. keyboard (for heavy typing), mouse, charging, etc. Wireless internet connection is almost a must have. Optional connection to cell system. Instant-on operating system.

Where? In the house to replace PC, laptop Travelling (small, lightweight) for contact, itinerary, e-tickets, s, video conversations, GPS, Google search School work –at school, at home, in library Small size and weight are important

When?  Now… (25% of adult Americans own a tablet –Sept./12)  A progression of the original Ipad.  Computer pundits claim that the days of the desktop PC are now over.  Today most want and internet access- (communications) rather than data processing or calculations.  Priced at or below a laptop, netbook, ultrabook or smartphone  Tablets are experiencing a 40% growth/year.  Ipad Mini- Nov. 2/12 sold 3M units in first 3 days, Nexus (Asus) sell 1M/month, …  Larger screen size than a smartphone.  A mini TV, an ebook reader, an encyclopedia

Systems & Terms  Operating Systems  -IOS- Apple  - Android Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), Jellybean (4.2)- open ware  - Windows 8RT- Microsoft – not Windows  - Blackberry OS – RIM QNX2  Software - Apps (not programs) (download only -not DVD)  App Store –online website for free/$$ app download (tens to hundreds of thousands available dependent upon OP system. Some mfgrs may not offer the best app store as a default…  Processors – ARM (not Intel, AMD)  Memory – TF/SD micro cards (not hard drives, DVDs)  Display – Capacitive Screen (not mouse)  WiFi – wireless connection thru wireless Router (802.11n) (not hard wired)  Speakers – Integrated (not wire connected)

Systems & Terms (cont’d)  Mouse, keyboard – optional (not mandatory)  GPS –Ground Position System – available online and/or off line (not available in PC)  Micro USB, micro HDMI (not USB, HDMI) (need adapter or special cords)  Reader – to read ebooks – Tablets can replace dedicated ereaders (Nook, etc)  3G/4G LTE – cell phone network system connection  RAM – internal memory in Mbits (non-removable)  G-sensors – detects acceleration (for playing games)  HDMI – High-Definition Multimedia Interface – to hook up to LCD/Plasma TVs

Systems & Terms (cont’d)  Dongle (External Connection for cell network 3G/4G LTE connectivity)  Multi-touch screen – recognition of various finger-count commands (generally 5 points)  Flash (Camera LED light or Flash movie type (.flv.))

Dream Machine  10”, capacitive screen, WiFi ( b/g/n), 4G LTE, 1.5 GHz ARM 4 core processor, Android 4.1 (Jellybean), 4Gb RAM, screen resolution >3840 x 2160px, >4Mp front & rear cameras with LED flash, stereo speakers, HDMI & USB connectors, G-sensors, 8 hour battery, world-wide charger, docking keyboard w. wireless mouse, Bluetooth, ebook reader format compatible, ~1 pound weight, ~0.4” thick, supports flash + HTML5 + Javascript,

Reality  7” or 10” – dependent on needs  Capacitive screen (a MUST) -800x 480 px  ARM 1 GHz  RAM – 512Mb memory minimum  Internal storage – min. 4 Gbit  TF/SD (micro) card slot – min. 16 Gbit  Android – 4.0 Ice Cream min. –(a MUST)  Front camera - 300Mb min.  USB port – standard or micro – a MUST  HDMI port – connector to TV - high priority  Playback time – 4 hour minimum  Apps – lots of selection is best

Products  Rankings (per Consumer Reports –Dec./12)  (9”-10”):  Apple Ipad (version 4 just released) (IOS6)  Motorola Droid Xyboard (Android 4)  Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Android 4)  Asus Eee Pad Trans. Prime TF201 & TF700T (Android 4)  Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (Android 4)  Acer Iconia Tab A700 (Android 4)  (7-8”):  Toshiba Excite 7.7 (Android 4)  Google Nexus 7 (Android 4.1)  Amazon Kindle Fire HD (Android 4)  Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 & 7.0 (Android 4)  Toshiba Thrive 7” (Android 4)

Products (other) (subjective)  Apple Ipads  Reliable, excellent operation, highest resolution screen, large excellent app (300,000) store, expensive in all sizes, proprietary connectors (just changed again for version 4), no USB/microUSB connector, no wired printer or hard drive connection. Can only print wirelessly on a local network to an AirPrint capable printer (some Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Apple) or to a computer with printer attached. No Flash support or storage card slot.  Similar to iMac, iPhone  Blackberry Playbook  Cheap (Futureshop – 7”, 32Gb, $149), limited apps ~15,000, Blackberry phone required for cell connection, ( s?).  MS Windows Surface + Others (w. Windows 8RT (reduced size, ARM compatible Win 8))  Similar to Desktop Windows 8, Windows phones (Nokia, HTC), limited apps at this time, PC software may not run on Windows 8RT tablets, all are expensive, several vendors (Samsung, HP, Acer, Gateway, etc). Surface Mini (7”) coming.

Products (other) (subjective)  Google Nexus (Asus) 7 & 10 (available Nov. 13/12) -best high quality screen resolution, Jellybean, slow rate micro-USB charger issue, wireless connectivity to HDMI TV in 2013 (may require TV adapter box), no memory expansion slot.  For a recent tablet specification comparison chart, see: 

Android (subjective)  Google Android Market apps total 600,000 (20 billion installs). Quality of apps is lower those from Apple.  Google market store-  Amazon Appstore- Android apps total xxxxxx (hundreds of millions of installs). Quality of apps is better those from Google (vetted by Amazon).  Amazon app store-  Other Android app stores are available  Run Android on your PC –  Samsung – proprietary connectors 

Notes  In-built app stores are directly related to tablet maker. Non-maker apps can be downloaded outside app store.  Only 1 window open at a time (except-Samsung Galaxy Note)  Tablets available from local stores (Futureshop, Best Buy, Can. Tire, Factory Direct, TigerDirect, Walmart, etc)  Tablets available on-line, eBay, etc. “Let the buyer Beware.” If seller says yes that 3G/4G is available – does that mean built-in or an extra cost dongle. You must understand what is claimed and what is not mentioned to see if item meets your needs.  $60+ for “no-name” basic units. Quality units from major suppliers with many features, upgrade plans -$400 – $700  Inexpensive tablet mfgrs may not offer an upgrade path.

Typical Prices Today (Nov. 10/12)  Galaxy Note 10.1, 10”, 2Gb RAM, 5Mp rear camera, 32Gb storage - $500  Galaxy Tab2, 10”, 8/16Gb memory$250- $350  Galaxy Tab 2, 7”, 3Mp rear camera, 8Gb storage $250  Blackberry Playbook, 7”, 5Mp rear camera, 32Gb storage $150  Blackberry Playbook, 4G LTE $550  Asus Transformer Pad TF300, 10”, 8Mp rear camera, 32Gb storage $400  Apple Ipad (4 th Gen)(16Gb-64Gb)(WiFi-4G LTE) $499- $829  Apple Ipad Mini (8”) $329- $569  Apple iPhone 5 $180- $380  Google Nexus 10 (Available Nov.13/12) (2Gb RAM, 16Gb memory) $409  Google Nexus 7, 16Gb memory (new lower pricing) $200  Acer Iconia W510 (Win 8RT) (available soon) $600

Typical Prices Today (Nov.10/12)  Asus Transformer TF300, 10”, 32Gb storage $400  Kindle Fire HD, 9”, 16Gb memory, 4G LTE, USA only (Limited functionality in Canada) $500  Kindle Fire HD, 9”, 16Gb memory, WiFi, USA only (Limited functionality in Canada) $300  Kindle Fire HD, 7”, 16Gb memory, WiFi, USA only (Limited functionality in Canada) $200  Accessories: cases, covers, screen protectors, power supplies, cables, dongles, adapters > Ebay.ca using your PayPal account.

Thank You.