[HIB]Want an iPad alternative? Wait for Android 3.0

Google’s Android OS has done wonders for companies looking at competing with Apple’s iPhone. It has applications, a strong web browser and allows manufacturers to focus on device hardware or and other ways to differentiate their products. When rumors began solidifying around Apple’s iPad, which runs on the same OS as its popular iPhone products, many manufacturers quickly began working on iPad competitors. Competing manufacturers (Asus, Dell, MSI, Samsung and more) decided that they would also adopt a strategy of using the one OS on multiple devices. But the truth is that Android simply isn’t ready.The first issue with Android on tablets is that there isn’t a reference hardware design for Android tablets, meaning that applications have to be designed with a large range of hardware configurations in mind (a problem that also exists with Android on phones). Tablets running Android do not have access to the Android marketplace, and so far manufacturers have opted to create their own marketplaces for their devices – but with developers already being flooded with marketplaces and devices to develop for, this is not an ideal solution. Even standard Google applications aren't available on Android tablets, such as Google Maps and Gmail. Although Google is not encouraging Android tablets at the moment, it has noticed the tablet-trend and appears to be answering those demands with Android 3.0.

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