Five Ways I Learned to Love an Android

Samsung wanted me to spend some time with their new and sexy Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, a svelte Android device designed to give iPad a run for its money. As an Apple guy, it took a few minutes for me to get my head around what made this thin iPad “killer” something to consider. But somewhere between opening the box and learning my way around a new OS, I also grew to appreciate the native brilliance of Samsung’s flagship tablet. I’ve condensed a few days of play down to a handful of compelling reasons I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of Google’s Android platform.

  1. Google is the center of your universe: Clearly if you make heavy use of the Big G (Gmail, Picasa, Maps, etc), being on an Android platform is about as seamless an environment you can imagine. While not nearly where Apple is in terms of its App Store, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one click or swipe away from the very robust Google ecosystem. That alone provides plenty of usable functionality.
  2. Google Maps and Navigation: Who doesn’t rely on this? It’s a navigation staple for the directionally challenged in all of us. But add a big, bright screen and Google Street View and it’s simply surreal. It’s like having high definition movable cameras aimed at every obscure street address you can imagine. But things get very cool when you utilize the Galaxy Tab’s voice activated Navigation. Just say a location and you’re on your way with voice commands and a guided map. To me, this is far better than iPad’s built in navigation tools.
  3. Picasa galleries: I’m an Aperture and iPhoto fan. But I’ve also used Google’s Picasa for several years and it’s a great tool for cataloging and safeguarding your photos and art in the cloud. My Galaxy Tab seamlessly displayed my entire Picasa library with ease. It was crisp and beautiful, and for the first time it allowed me full and effortless use of my entire cloud based gallery.
  4. Video: I’m still on a first gen iPad so the Galaxy Tab’s beautiful video abilities were a new and welcome tool for me. And add a built in Android Movie Studio and it’s light, camera, action. The video (and still camera) really make this tablet a fully powered mobile media making tool. (Just don’t be the jerk who uses it to shoot concerts while blocking out the view for everybody behind you!)
  5. Adobe Flash: I can’t front, there are times when you need to watch Flash video or animation on your tablet. And Apple’s ongoing beef with Adobe software makes life difficult for many. Hop on an Android and it’s clear sailing, Flash and all. Add Adobe Air, a fantastic browser-free Web tool, and you’re floating on a visual cloud.

Something tells me that over the coming weeks, I’ll discover at least another five pleasures of Android ownership (the Galaxy Tab hasn’t left my side yet). Probably not enough to walk away from Apple. But surely enough to make me appreciate what the “other side” has to offer this Cupertino fanboy.

Bonus round: Tell this Apple kid what else he’s missing out on from the land of Android