iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy (Android)

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

So I am going to be doing software development on iPads and tablet computers for work. We can either get an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy, which runs the Android OS. The department is getting a few of each, so I just need to pick which one I get to play with.
I know this falls under best problems in the world to have, but I need to know the strengths and weaknesses of each. Probably a loaded question. :o

I took a look at the Galaxy in a store today. Looked pretty nice but didn’t have the time to really research all the features of it. I have used an iPad a few times and it looks really nice. I’ll have to do the real research on them tomorrow but I figured some GWC folks might have some thots…

EDIT: To clarify, we are not using these devices to actually develop on, we are using them to make sure that our web application works on iPads and Android devices.

#2

Can’t source it right now, but I’ve heard some bad things about the Android tablets.

#3

If it is for development, i supposed once you picked an device you’d be programming for it?

then it’s a choice between Object-C or Java… pick the ipad if you like object-C, pick android if you like Java.

#4

We are developing web applications, so I don’t think we will be using them to do the actual programing, it’s more to make sure everything we do is tablet compatable. Hopefully we will not need to actually make any platform specific code.

#5

General comment: both of those devices are better suited for content consumption, not content creation.

If that’s not an issue (and a Macbook Air isn’t an option), then I think it really depends on the kind of development tools you will want to run and how you want to run them.

#6

General comment: both of those devices are better suited for content consumption, not content creation.

Right, I was sort of unclear at first. Mainly we need one of these things to make sure that our code is iPad and Android compatible, we’re not actually writing the code on these devices.

#7

Don’t know nothing about Galaxies or Androids, but Oh My Crom, the iPad sooo sweet.
Go for the iPad.
Even Mr. Spock prefers the iPad. Just look how happy he is …(uh…happy on the inside)

#8

If your role is just platform validation, then you might as well grab the platform you’ll be able to enjoy in other capacities the most after the testing is done/between rounds of testing.

I haven’t had a chance to try the Galaxy yet, might be worth dropping into a store to see how it feels. I really dig the iPad (I’ll be getting one for my wife for X-mas) and am purchasing a Mac so I can start developing for the iOS platform. The Android platform is really taking off too, and there’s a lot of cross-pollination between the two in terms of popular programs, so the choice in the end will probably end up being more to personal preference of hardware/interface than functionality.

Let us know which direction you take and how it works out!

#9

As your project is a web application, it’s likely going to require you to have both devices available for testing purposes, as they use completely different web browsers. Despite the press (and the fact that I LURVE mine), most people don’t use iPhones, and Android is the fastest-growing mobile OS out there. You’ll need to know your applications work across the board.

Interesting slideshow here, worth a look:

http://www.slideshare.net/learnthemobileweb/standardsbased-mobile-web-development

#10

Even Mr. Spock prefers the iPad. Just look how happy he is …(uh…happy on the inside)

Totally. The senior staff enjoys seeing his crew using iPads.

(IYKWIM)

If your role is just platform validation, then you might as well grab the platform you’ll be able to enjoy in other capacities the most after the testing is done/between rounds of testing.

Yeah, pretty much. I am leaning towards iPad, mainly for the bigger screen and better battery life.
The only big downside to iPad right now is the lack of Flash support. Tablets are such a great way to watch online video it sucks that a lot of it wont be available. Youtube has a good app, Hulu has a service, but you have to pay.
However, CBS.com has a pretty good iPad/iPhone ready website, and they have the Original Star Trek available! :smiley:

#11

My suggestion would be it doesn’t matter if you pick ipad or android, get it and put meego over it. you guys will have to validate meego devices soon enough. for content validation there’s always emulators, why bother.

aside from the web content dev, there are usually at least a app released to the appsotre/marketplace to allow quick entry into your web content. for example, new york times has an app on both android and iphone, even if it does no more than fast linking you to their existing web content.

#12

It’s a feature.

#13

sigh… really; I mean really you wouldn’t simply want a choice to turn on flash when needed and then turn it off when not?

sorry; anyhow to your question i cannot speak much to development, but as for a consumer; i would say despite my view on the company the ipad is the better tablet device for now and the near future. would be careful as new ipads are in all likelihood coming in January so whatever your developing may soon have to add camera like features and you may not have that ipad. As for android development its wild west Samasung has the beachhead. but as with all open source stuff suddenly your all gonna have to program for just about every flavour of device. but I have spoken out of my backside long enough for now. simply if this a work only thing, you’ll need both to test.

#14

Well, we’re starting to see Flash for mobile devices, so it’s going to get interesting one way or another.

#15

Ugh, I am quite satisfied not seeing Flash when I browse the web. It’s so common in advertisements and interstitials, it’s nice to NOT have it. If they bring Flash support to the platform, I hope it will come with fine control over whether it’s enabled or not.

#16

So, four software developers go to the AT&T store at lunch and look at the iPad and the Galaxy back to back. After carefull inspection, and much deliberation, all four developers decide they would rather have the iPad. Myself included.

Both are pretty cool, but the iPad definitly has some intangables that put it way above. Also, a nicer screen, a sharper more responsive interface. The thing is just a blast to use.

Later on in the day we find out you can’t buy the Wifi only Samsung Galaxy yet anyway. The only way to get it is through one of the cell providers, which means you need to get a contract. So we wouldn’t have been able to get those anyway, since they end up being way more expensive. The company is just getting one, which we will all use for testing. Luckly, between us we also have some android equiped phones which we can use as well.

iPad 2.0… probably coming 2-3 days after I get mine I suspect. Shouldn’t matter for what we are doing, because I doubt they will make too many changes to the browser, which is the main thing we care about.

Oh, and at the AT&T store I ran into a rep. from Blackberry, who showed us some video of the Blackberry tablet coming out next year, called the Playbook. We might need one of those too. :wink: