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2010-11-21
, 18:04
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#1212
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Originally Posted by SD69
Android is well capable of 'tablet apps' though it has been confined to smartphones of late, which is likely why app interfaces are almost unanimously built for phones. This has already begun to change, however, with a smattering of Tablet devices hitting the market shortly.
The real awkwardness is that there is no good software for a 7" tablet, just varying degress of success in adapting Android designed for cellphones, windows designed for laptops, or multi-purpose linux disto.
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2010-11-21
, 18:06
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#1213
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Here's a great looking game called 'Touch Racing Nitro' for Android that would rock on the Tab:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nw1F6myCCQ&translated=1
http://openfeint.com/android/1632-Touch-Racing-Nitro
It's released by openfeint, and looks like a lot of fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nw1F6myCCQ&translated=1
http://openfeint.com/android/1632-Touch-Racing-Nitro
It's released by openfeint, and looks like a lot of fun!
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2010-11-21
, 18:43
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Joined on Sep 2006
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#1214
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Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt
Capable, but not really designed to be used in that way. I read that the maximum resolution supported by Android is limited, but it should be expanded with the Android Honeycomb release. At that point, and assuming Android sort out their Market fragmentation, I imagine we'll see many more high-end tablets.
Android is well capable of 'tablet apps' though it has been confined to smartphones of late, which is likely why app interfaces are almost unanimously built for phones. This has already begun to change, however, with a smattering of Tablet devices hitting the market shortly.
I guess it would be the same problem if people were trying to install Maemo on 7" tablets - the interface is not really designed for it, but would work.
I just think it's a real shame that there aren't any Meego tablets available. That's down to the immaturity of the software I assume, but it still doesn't help those of us who might want a larger screened device.
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2010-11-21
, 18:54
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#1215
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Originally Posted by lardman
I think the absence of maemo tablets is due to Nokia's unwillingness to support its own operating system. Hopefully we should see a high quality 7 inch meego tablet next year. Unfortunately, by the time that happens there will probably be like 8 android honeycomb equivalents.
Capable, but not really designed to be used in that way. I read that the maximum resolution supported by Android is limited, but it should be expanded with the Android Honeycomb release. At that point, and assuming Android sort out their Market fragmentation, I imagine we'll see many more high-end tablets.
I guess it would be the same problem if people were trying to install Maemo on 7" tablets - the interface is not really designed for it, but would work.
I just think it's a real shame that there aren't any Meego tablets available. That's down to the immaturity of the software I assume, but it still doesn't help those of us who might want a larger screened device.
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2010-11-21
, 19:26
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#1216
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Originally Posted by lardman
What makes you say it's the same problem? There are plenty of people more knowledgable about this than me, but my understanding is that Android is more tightly tied to 800x480 resolution than Maemo.
I guess it would be the same problem if people were trying to install Maemo on 7" tablets - the interface is not really designed for it, but would work.
Originally Posted by lardman
Nokia should have put out a tablet during the last couple years.
I just think it's a real shame that there aren't any Meego tablets available. That's down to the immaturity of the software I assume, but it still doesn't help those of us who might want a larger screened device.
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2010-11-21
, 19:34
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#1217
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Originally Posted by lardman
The maximum resolution of Android is a popular misunderstanding as far as I can tell. The Android SDK's emulator is limited in resolution, though the OS guidelines have three distinct 'sizes' and 'densities' that are allowed, one of which is 'large screen' that has been supported since v1.6 (IIRC). In any event, I'm quite certain that no special hackery has been required for the Galaxy Tab to display at 1024x600, or the Toshiba AC100 for that matter.
Capable, but not really designed to be used in that way. I read that the maximum resolution supported by Android is limited, but it should be expanded with the Android Honeycomb release. At that point, and assuming Android sort out their Market fragmentation, I imagine we'll see many more high-end tablets.
I would argue that Android's 'market fragmentation' is much lower than that of Apple's, in that up until this point Apple's support across devices is largely limited to the device itself. Android binaries on the other hand span multiple OS's, and multiple devices quite well. It's clear that the OS design bore this in mind from the outset. For example, properly developed apps display work flawlessly on the Tab, though often with phone-esque UIs.
It's true that there are not many UI elements that are specific for 'tablets', however, creatively used, multi-pane displays can be easily crafted with the stock API, and what's more, they have been supported since verision 1 of the OS -- or before the first public release. Few apps have done this, though, Twidroyd, uses multi-pane quite effectively, supports all android devices and works flawlessly on the tab.
I suspect that Gingerbread/Honeycomb will feature a more flexible UI for larger screens, but ideas like 'fragmentation' and android not being 'tablet ready' are ideas popularized by modern media, but are no moreso than any other OS out there. In fact, I'd argue that due to Android's design, it's far less subject to 'fragmentation' than other mobile OSs.
EDIT:
Just to follow up, it's also possible to dictate different layout schemes in the apps application manifest based on screen size (as reported by the device). Basically you can have a tablet-UI and a phone UI rolled into the same binary.
http://developer.android.com/guide/p...tml#qualifiers
Last edited by Capt'n Corrupt; 2010-11-21 at 20:19.
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2010-11-21
, 19:42
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#1218
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Originally Posted by SD69
Simply not true. Take a look at this document:
What makes you say it's the same problem? There are plenty of people more knowledgable about this than me, but my understanding is that Android is more tightly tied to 800x480 resolution than Maemo.
http://developer.android.com/guide/p...ort.html#range
From the site:
Starting from Android 1.6, the platform provides support for multiple screen sizes and resolutions, reflecting the many new types and sizes of devices on which the platform runs. If you are developing an application that will run on Android 1.6 or later, you can use the compatibility features of the Android platform to ensure that your application UI renders properly across the range of supported screen sizes and resolutions.
To simplify the way that developers design their user interfaces for multiple devices and to allow more devices to participate without affecting applications, the platform divides the range of actual supported screen sizes and resolutions into:
- A set of three generalized sizes: large, normal, and small, and
- A set of three generalized densities: hdpi (high), mdpi (medium), and ldpi (low)
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2010-11-21
, 20:17
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#1219
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Originally Posted by Capt'n Corrupt
Umm, the document says the opposite of resolution independent -
Take a look at this document:
http://developer.android.com/guide/p...ort.html#range
Android is designed to be resolution independent, and cleverly achieves this.
"To simplify ... user interfaces ..., the platform divides the range of actual supported screen sizes and resolutions into: a set of three..."
"The objective of supporting multiple screens is to create an application that can run properly on any display and function properly on any of the generalized screen configurations supported by the platform."
I recognize that 800x480 is not the only resolution supported by Android, but it is the only one even remotely suitable for a 7" tablet.
This is not the situation with Maemo (or vanilla GTK+) AFAIK.
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2010-11-21
, 20:27
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#1220
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Originally Posted by SD69
But this is the essence of resolution independence. Instead of hard pixels, they use 'dips' and instead of screen resolution, the UI uses three generalized screen sizes and three generalized densities. Even the UI widgets are designed to flow/stretch to fit different screen dimensions.
Umm, the document says the opposite of resolution independent -
"To simplify ... user interfaces ..., the platform divides the range of actual supported screen sizes and resolutions into: a set of three..."
"The objective of supporting multiple screens is to create an application that can run properly on any display and function properly on any of the generalized screen configurations supported by the platform."
The 'screen sizes' are not hard-coded values but rather 'loose' definitions of small screens (think tiny PMPs), medium screens (think smartphones), and large screens (think tablets). Additionally, the pixel density is accounted for with three generalized denominations.
Originally Posted by SD69
You'll have to explain this point as it doesn't make sense to me. This implies that the Galaxy Tab's 1024x600 resolution isn't suitable for it's screen size. How does Maemo tackle this issue?
I recognize that 800x480 is not the only resolution supported by Android, but it is the only one even remotely suitable for a 7" tablet.
This is not the situation with Maemo (or vanilla GTK+) AFAIK.
Just to follow up:
It's worth looking at this discussion on the Tab and Android's UI:
http://groups.google.com/group/andro...ad1666dacb3647
See my previous post. There is no compatibility issue with running the UI at a higher density than the normal bucket for its actual density. It just means you want to have a larger UI for the user.
The big thing we don't want to have happen here is for developers to have to tweak their UI to account for this. You should *not* do that. Let the manufacturer do this, and if it results in an absurdly large UI for apps, well that is what the made for their device. (In this case I believe it is fine.)
Last edited by Capt'n Corrupt; 2010-11-21 at 21:02.
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| Tags |
| android envy, buzz..buzz buzz, core failure, crapdroid, galaxy fap, galaxy tab, ipad killer, samsung, tab trolls, tablet envy |
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The real awkwardness is that there is no good software for a 7" tablet, just varying degress of success in adapting Android designed for cellphones, windows designed for laptops, or multi-purpose linux disto.
O Maemo tablet, where art thou?
3-time Maemo Community Council Member
Co-Founder, Hildon Foundation
Last edited by SD69; 2010-11-21 at 19:36.