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Samsung, Not Google, Is Why I'm Confident About The Future Of Android Tablets
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
Rita El Khoury
Opinion Post
The future of Android tablets is looking brighter these days. For more than a decade, Google tried, failed, retried half-heartedly, abandoned its large-screen projects, pivoted to Chrome OS then reverted that decision, all with the attention span of Finding Nemo's Dory. Despite all of that, both Android on tablets and Android tablets are in a good place now.
The operating system is better adapted for big screens, Google apps are looking good on them, and there's enough traction to get more third-party developers involved. From a hardware perspective, your choice spans from budget tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite all the way to the high-end Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, passing by Xiaomi Pads, the OnePlus Pad, and Google's very own Pixel Tablet.
So yes, as someone who's had an Android tablet since 2011 and championed them for years only to lose faith in 2020, I can't resist feeling giddy about this redemption arc.
Is this an illusion, though? Another short upward spell before we trudge through the next stagnation phase? I don't believe so, and the reason I am optimistic about the future of Android tablets is not Google. It's Samsung, in spite of Google. And my argument is threefold: Samsung's persistence, the economy of apps, and foldables.
Do you think the future of Android tablets is bright?190 votes
Yes, for sure.
62%
It's... Average.
28%
No. Google will soon abandon this project.
11%
Samsung's persistence with tablets paid off
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
Over the course of Android's history, Samsung has bulldozed its way through many upgrades, forcing Google to react and add features to the stock operating system. Quick setting toggles, multiwindow, dual-SIM support, stylus compatibility, and more came to Samsung's devices before they launched on the Nexus or Pixel line-up or in any official stock Android version. Even though Samsung wasn't the absolute first to implement each of these, it did it before Google and insisted. Google had no choice but to standardize the feature and provide official APIs for everyone.
The same thing happened with tablets. Again, Samsung wasn't the first Android tablet maker, but it launched the first Galaxy Tab in 2010 with Android 2.2 Froyo, way before 3.0 Honeycomb was a thing. A year later, Google announced Honeycomb.
Samsung's insistence on some features has forced Google to add them to stock Android. It has a more focused, less capricious strategy than Google, especially with tablets.
Since then, Samsung hasn't let up, releasing one new tablet after the other, insisting on providing a better large-screen experience, even if it had to implement it on its own through One UI. Galaxy Tabs have gotten better despite Google's on-again, off-again commitment, culminating in the fantastic productivity and multimedia powerhouse that is the Tab S9 series.
So even if Google decides to change focus again in the future, even if it abandons the Pixel Tablet line-up, I trust Samsung will keep its head in the game. The company is more focused and less capricious than Google, and it'll keep pushing for more improvements to the underlying operating system. After all, the two companies must cooperate if they want to tackle the iPad-sized elephant in the room.
Everyone follows the money
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Samsung knows how to sell products. It is one of the best-positioned tech companies in the world with an official presence in nearly every country, logistics to make any competitor envious, and sales numbers that speak for themselves. That's leverage.
So when Samsung decides to stick with a product or a feature, it shifts the entire industry along with it. By occupying the second spot in the tablet market and selling more than 20 million tablets a year, the Korean giant puts itself in a position where it can't be ignored. Developers flock to users, and Samsung has users; it's as simple as that. Even if Google decides that its own tablet sales numbers aren't enough to justify sustained development, it can't ignore Play Store profits from people who've bought Samsung tablets.
Samsung's leverage is its sales numbers. Users bring developers, which is beneficial to the entire ecosystem.
That's another reason why the future of Android tablets is in good hands. If more developers are interested in making great tablet apps and games or in adapting their existing software to a larger screen, that can only be beneficial to the ecosystem as a whole. Granted, we're still far from Samsung having an Apple-like stranglehold on tablet developers, but we're closer to it now than we've ever been.
The future is foldable
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
All of the good things we're seeing with Android on tablets today are owed to foldables. Just think back to a few years ago; Google was all about Chrome OS on tablets then poof! None of that mattered anymore. The introduction of the first foldables and Samsung's Galaxy Z line-up forced Google into a different path. It renewed the company's dying interest in Android development for larger screens and kickstarted the Android 12L project, which was later merged into stock Android.
It's easy to see that we're moving towards a future where more of the devices we carry will fold in some shape to become smaller and more portable. Whatever form these foldables take, Android will have to continue adapting to their larger screens to survive. So unless Google wants to drop the ball on the next evolution in personal computing, it has to keep investing resources in foldable and tablet development. It just can't afford to ignore that market.
Foldables have forced Google to renew its interest and commitment to developing Android for larger screens.
The future of Android tablets is bright, though they may not be tablets in the traditional sense. They might be large slabs, they may fold in half, or they may fold on two or more axes to become smaller phone-like devices. Oh, they could even be wearable or projectable!
That is to say, I feel like we've reached a turning point in the story of Android on larger screens. And the future of the platform is no longer solely linked to Google's capricious whims. There are bigger forces at play and their name is Samsung.
CommentsAndroid Studio Giraffe Is Now Stable
Android Studio Giraffe is now stable, bringing in the new IntelliJ 2022.3, a new IDE look and feel, improved Live Edit, Compose animation previews, and more.
Ten years after its initial release in 2013, Android Studio remains the IDE to go for Android development. Its latest release introduces a number of changes in distinct areas, including IDE enhancements, coding productivity, and build system improvements.
Android Studio Giraffe sports a new opt-in IDE look and feel aimed at reducing visual complexity. It strives to simplify access to the most commonly used features while making more complex functionality easily accessible when needed but less prominent in normal use. In addition, it provides a new theme that makes the IDE visual look more modern:
With the Giraffe release, we've started adopting the new UI, with several Android Studio specific changes, such as optimizing the default main toolbar and tool windows configurations for Android and refreshing our iconography in the style.
The new IDE also includes an updated Device Explorer, which enables inspecting files and processes of any connected device, including the possibility of copying or deleting files, killing processes or attaching the debugger to a running process.
On the front of code productivity, Android Studio Giraffe offers the possibility of previewing UI changes in composables without re-deploying the app to the simulator or physical device. This feature can be enabled via Settings / Editor / Live Edit and requires the Android Gradle Plugin (AGP) 8.1 or higher and Jetpack Compose Runtime 1.3.0 or higher.
Related to preview facilities, Compose animation preview has got support for a number of additional Compose APIs, including animate*AsState, CrossFade, rememberInfiniteTransition, and AnimatedContent. Animations can be played, paused, scrubbed, and so on.
A final help to code productivity comes from the new Android SDK Upgrade Assistant.
The new Android SDK upgrade assistant lets you see the steps required to upgrade the targetSdkVersion, or the API level that your app targets, directly in the IDE.
The assistant will show all information related to the upgrade option you select, so you won't need to browse that information separately and is able to highlight the major breaking changes for each migration step.
Speaking of the build system, you can now use Kotlin DSL in Gradle build scripts and leverage its compile-time checking as well as consolidate all of your project code under one single language.
Additionally, we've also added experimental support for TOML-based Gradle Version Catalogs, a feature that lets you manage dependencies in one central location and share dependencies across modules or projects.
As a final note, Android Studio Giraffe can show dependency download info while Gradle is syncing. This will allow you to detect inefficiencies in your repository configuration.
There is much more to Android Studio Giraffe than what can be covered here. If interested in the full detail do not miss the official announcement.
The Advantageous And Progressing World Of React Native Mobile App Development
In today's digital-fuelled era, the landscape of business operations has drastically shifted, with mobile apps emerging as a pivotal game-changer. The surge in the usage of mobile apps can be chalked up to their convenience, user-friendly interface, and the engaging experiences they equip customers with. However, the journey of creating potent mobile apps is a complex one, with choosing the right development technology forming its backbone. In this landscape, React Native app development services are gaining significant momentum.
React Native, a brainchild of the social media giant, Facebook, is a sought-after framework for mobile app development. Its reliance on JavaScript and the React.Js library enables the creation of truly native mobile applications. Celebrated for its efficiency, high performance, and cost-effectiveness, React Native has become the go-to choice for several businesses spanning the globe.
Demystifying the React Native Strengths
React Native makes use of the same core UI building blocks as those employed in standard iOS and Android applications. Developers can encapsulate the code into native components, which are subsequently translated directly into the native language of the device. This unique feature allows the creation of apps that remain virtually indistinguishable from an app built using Objective-C or Java.
Adding further value is React Native's hot-reloading feature. It ensures all changes made are rapidly and accurately reflected in the application. This feature not just saves precious time but also considerably enhances the efficiency and enjoyment of the development process.
Discovering the Benefits of React Native App Development
However, even with these innumerable benefits, selecting a dependable React Native app development service can be a challenging affair. There are a handful of reputed react native mobile app development companies that provide an experienced team proficient in building efficient, scalable, and cost-effective mobile apps.
Specific pioneers in the field offer react native app development services that ensure your mobile app aligns seamlessly with your business objectives. These top-tier companies offer a sturdy track record of delivering robust apps across a variety of industries, such as retail, logistics, healthcare, and more, thereby bringing an ocean of knowledge to the table. With a team of industry-leading coders, they are skilled at using cutting-edge tools and technologies to design superior mobile applications. Driven by meticulous planning, flawless execution, and unwavering support, they ensure the creation of durable and effective mobile apps.
To encapsulate, the transformative power of mobile apps is undeniable, and React Native offers a smoother, faster, and cost-effective pathway to mobile app development. Regardless of whether you are an enterprising startup or an established multinational, leveraging the prowess of React Native can endow you with a competitive edge.
Remember, partnering with the right React Native app development service forms a critical determinant of your digital journey's success. Therefore, it is prudent to invest wisely, unlocking the unmatched potentiality of this revolutionary, cross-platform technology.
This article was written in cooperation with Devboat Technologies
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