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With new tablets, Sony takes aim at iPad in Japan

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it was not apple that made the 1st tablet anyway it was first introdused by microsoft in 2001

As I said before, tablets didn't become popular until Apple made one. Microsoft didn't introduce the first tablet, but the adapted the OS for it. It failed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

it was not apple that made the 1st tablet anyway it was first introdused by microsoft in 2001 i know sony can do better ..i hate apples because your linited to what you can do for personal choise samsung have run rings round the iphone so wtg sony i look forward to them comming to the UK

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like my Iphone but sorry, this battery sucks crap! Apple has to do something about the crappy battery for its products! I know many people who jumped on the APPLE band wagon, got angry with the shitty battery for their I phones, and RETURNED THEM! So I do hope SONY can at least make a better battery...

Nope they can't. But don't worry, Apple are working on induction charging technology...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

kchoze

I am no fanboy, but I am allergic to fanboys, so when I see one-sided glorification of something, I tend to adopt the other position to reestablish balance.

That's a pity. :-) I agree, I hate it when fans can't see the wood from the trees. I also get sick of Android fanboys that love Android just because they hate Apple.

Bad battery life? Use battery-saving apps and task killers.

This was why Apple were slow to bring out multitasking. You need these extra applications on Android to stop it sucking your battery dry.

Fear of downloading malware? Disable third party apps in your settings and keep to mainstream apps on Google Market.

Easy to say, but the temptation is there to download a few apps that look useful.

BTW, there have been viruses on iOS, notably by using safety flaws in Safari, which is not renowned for its safety.

Ah, true. But you would find that almost all viruses on iOS are on jailbroken phones.

I would say that the main philosophical difference between Apple and Android is that Android is open and opens up the system to USB, memory cards etc. It also allows you to transfer files between your computer and your phone; create directories etc. Tech guys love this. Apple on the other hand is closed. I am a tech person, but I have no wish to treat my phone like a computer. And I know other non-tech people who way prefer Apple because it is simpler.

In balance however, I am glad for competition in the market place and this has spurred innovation on both sides.

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I would take an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab over anything Japanese made, any day of the week.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I like my Iphone but sorry, this battery sucks crap! Apple has to do something about the crappy battery for its products! I know many people who jumped on the APPLE band wagon, got angry with the shitty battery for their I phones, and RETURNED THEM! So I do hope SONY can at least make a better battery, Android HTC etc..cellphones also seem to have shitty batteries so they all need to come up with some thing that will will, LAST and keep us in touch say IN THE NEXT BIG EARTHQUAKE! Where if you at least have SKYPE then you can communicate with your friends and family back home overseas etc..even if all the land lines are down here in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

2020hindsights

Short battery life? Android has that due to their multitasking methods. Viruses? Android has that (Apple doesn't). iCloud to sync iTunes music? Not so much. (Not for Apple either yet, but will be soon.)

I've no problem admitting that iOS does some things better than Android. I am no fanboy, but I am allergic to fanboys, so when I see one-sided glorification of something, I tend to adopt the other position to reestablish balance. Still, the truth remains that iOS 5's main new features are almost all features that Android has been offering, sometimes for years. To hear Apple fanboys claim that iOS 5 is a great innovation and that Apple is so far ahead of everyone else is a joke.

BTW, there have been viruses on iOS, notably by using safety flaws in Safari, which is not renowned for its safety. The fact that iOS doesn't install third party applications does mean that malicious apps are much less likely on iOS than on Android, where you can download an APK and install it, no matter where it comes from (though there is an option to disable third part apps in Android). Much of the problems of Android vs iOS can also be at least partly solved by users who have a bit of technical know-how. Bad battery life? Use battery-saving apps and task killers. Fear of downloading malware? Disable third party apps in your settings and keep to mainstream apps on Google Market.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

kchoze

Widgets on homescreens? Android has that. New notification system? Based on Android's own. Over The Air updates? Android has that, and has for 3 years! Twitter integration? Android has been there, done that. Tabbed browsing in default browser? Android has that since Honeycomb. Not to mention other features Apple has added in the past that Android offered before, like multitasking.

Short battery life? Android has that due to their multitasking methods. Viruses? Android has that (Apple doesn't). iCloud to sync iTunes music? Not so much. (Not for Apple either yet, but will be soon.)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Apple (American tech) passed up Japan a long time ago.

Sony had it's day. I confess to having Walkmans and Playstation. Then something happened. Not sure what happened but Sony folded like a bad hand in Poker.

For me the kicker was when my PS2 and PS3 broke(x3). It's hell to get them fixed too. TBH, Sony upset me so much I dropped the brand completely. I have a Sony free home. Apple dominates all things small tech.

I think the problem is mindset at Sony. Sony (Most Japanese companies) expect their customers to adjust to their products. Apple (Most American companies) make their products to fit the modern day customer's lifestyle and needs.

I bet there are quite a few Japanese CEOs that are celebrating now that Steve Jobs is out. We'll see what happens.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Sony takes aim at iPad in Japan " They are NOT trying to take market share from Apple globally, just in Japan for now. they have a good chance of doing that, just because of their name. but of course this is AntiJapanToday, we gotta be negative at all times , LOL

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'm sorry, Japan and SONY - this "war" is going to become your Vietnam. Unwinnable. The Yanks, Mr.Jobs and Apple are a generation ahead.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

johninnaha

Contrary to rumors, you can print from an iPad. You can also attach an external hard drive.

And in a matter of weeks, iOS 5 will be upon us.

And iOS 5 with iCloud frees the iPad from any computer.

To be honest, Apple is so far ahead of everyone else, I wonder if they can ever catch up.

Yeah, Apple is so far ahead of everyone else that most of the major features announced for iOS 5 are features that Android has been offering for months, if not years.

Widgets on homescreens? Android has that. New notification system? Based on Android's own. Over The Air updates? Android has that, and has for 3 years! Twitter integration? Android has been there, done that. Tabbed browsing in default browser? Android has that since Honeycomb. Not to mention other features Apple has added in the past that Android offered before, like multitasking.

Apple's advantage is in how hardcore their fans are, promoting Apple's products with semi-religious fervor and jumping on any new competitor's product and insulting it without even trying it.

As to Sony's own products, as I said on another page, I don't see what makes them stand out. OK, the tablet P has an interesting concept, but it is a bit pricy. I don't see what the tablet S has over other Android tablets.

The Asus and Acer tablets are cheaper and are made to have keyboard docks attached to them, making them into small laptops. The Toshiba Thrive has full-size connectivity, like a very rare for a tablet full-size SD card slot. The Samsung Galaxy has the best screen available and is very thin and light. The Motorola Xoom was first... yeah, they have to find another schtick.

What does the tablet S offers that is better than these competitors? A 4% angle and a weird design? I'm not sure that's enough.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

forget Sony, Samsung have made a superior tablet - galaxy tab 10.1 - more grunt, far better cameras, thinner, plays flash, better resolution screen, full 1080Hd record and viewing. Apple are crying about and going to court to "claim" infringement, and block it's sale around the world esp the EU, to which Samsung is countersuing as apple , because sanctimonious apple has done plenty of copying and infringing of their own. Yeah the Ipad has a gazililon apps - 99.9% of them I don't need, Android has all the apps I want and need. I want a tab 10.1. yet I cant get one because Apple suck.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Will not succeed. Apple is the global standard, for better or for worse.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Galaxy Tab 10.1 is already better than iPad. Why can't Sony put out a tablet of similar quality?

iPad is hamstrung by its belligerent Apple-ness. Still can't use Flash, still can't transfer music, photos, etc to the iPad without iTunes (which is a HUGE negative). These new Sony's stand a chance just because of that.

Of course, being Sony they will probably just use some proprietary crap like they always do and shoot themselves in the foot. Their recent offerings always seem to be hamstrung by some quirk of proprietary formats or design...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I truly wish it were not so, but SONY is dead.

After the Walkman (which was AMAZING!), they haven't produced anything of note.

However good the SONY tablet hardware is, it's based on Android.

Need I say more?

Android is horrendously fragmented.

Like Windows, it's beginning to need and use antivirus and anti-malware protection.

Also, I wouldn't advise any company to position their product with one that has failed miserably in the market, i.e. "tablet."

Bill Gates tried his hardest to push "Tablet PCs" but no one wanted them.

The iPad is something entirely different.

Contrary to rumors, you can print from an iPad. You can also attach an external hard drive.

And in a matter of weeks, iOS 5 will be upon us.

And iOS 5 with iCloud frees the iPad from any computer.

To be honest, Apple is so far ahead of everyone else, I wonder if they can ever catch up.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I would agree with the analysts I've seen quoted on various sites that Amazon.com could probably take the tablet market away from Apple if it were to offer a Kindle with color screen and tablet functions. Probably just a matter of time until they do.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Asagao

If it could connect to any printer, to an external hard drive, work without needed a computer and run software, then it will outdo Apple.

An external hard drive isn't really necessary with a tablet. The iPad can connect to a printer and doesn't need a computer (with iOS 5) and of course it runs software.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If it could connect to any printer, to an external hard drive, work without needed a computer and run software, then it will outdo Apple.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What is the point of i-pads/tablets in general? I have a nice Vaio laptop and an android phone (a Regza with Docomo). Why would want/need a tablet?

Tablets never took off when you had to use a stylus to use it. The beauty of tablets is direct multitouch interaction. It's so intuitive. Compare that to a laptop that you have to open and use a trackpad.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sony need to work more on compatibility. A friend sent me a DVD recorded on Sony equipment; my Mitsubishi DVD player didn't recognise it. Neither did my Mac. After trawling the Internet looking for help and downloading a pile of software none of which gave me any joy, I mailed Sony customer support asking what I needed to play the darn thing. Their answer? "Dunno - it should play on the equipment it was recorded on. Ask your friend."

I finally got it to play on a Windows PC, and I will not be buying any Sony equipment in a hurry.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Serious question:

What is the point of i-pads/tablets in general? I have a nice Vaio laptop and an android phone (a Regza with Docomo). Why would want/need a tablet?

Serious question, remember.... :)

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The boat left without you Sony...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I love Apple products too but think consumers should reserve judgement until the Sony products are actually available to play with. I was hoping to get the next iPhone but instead got a Sony Xperia Acro. I'm surprised just how good it is - I love it. On a hardware and feature level, it's got the iPhone beat (for the Japanese market).

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Sony may be fooling themselves, but they certainly aren't fooling us users! I love my iPad2 I think I'm going to marry it, and my iphone 4 is going to be best man, and my 1st generation ipad matron of honor. My iPhone 16gb and iPhone 3GS 32GB will be the witnesses, and my iMac will be in charge of proceedings!

Sony is not invited!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Keep dreaming, Sony...Love my iPad 2 and all my other well designed Apple products (computers, phones). I don't feel that Sony products are that great in terms of design or quality. Last Sony product I purchased was a Walkman way back in 1982. Since then I have found the competition (e.g.. Apple, Sharp, Hitachi, Pentax) to be far better.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sony will catch up, just like they did with digital music players! ;-) BTW iPad 2 is about to get a whole lot better with iOS5 and iCloud. Soon you will never have to sync with a computer again.

Sony said that they will win the race against Apple, because they are a content producer and Apple aren't. I see this as a negative. Plenty of content available for Apple. They don't need to create it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'm with Leggy. iPad 2 is pretty close to witchcraft. Sony have got a job on if they hope to get any of Apple's ground. This tablet is going to have to be pretty astounding. Judging by the standardised insipid launch pic of the day today, I'll not hold my breath.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@greatlegs

I love my iPad 2. No way will SONY catch up.

Doesn't work like that. I love my wife, but Ryoko Yonekura caught up years ago!

4 ( +6 / -3 )

I love my iPad 2. No way will SONY catch up.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

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