Buying a tablet on a budget: Android or iPad?
There are also rumors that Apple may offer a lower-priced version of the iPad.How low? Some say the price could be as low as $299, which could fit nicely into a budget. I'm not sure how much stock I put into this particular rumor. There are always hopeful Apple fans professing that the company will introduce two products, a high-end model and low-end model, when a new iPad or iPhone is about to be released. But what generally happens is that Apple takes the existing device, such as the iPad 2 and slashes the price on it, making it the lower-end model. My guess is that Apple will do something similar when the iPad 3 is announced. A price reduction would obviously be great for you given your budget of $400, which is actually in a sort of no-man's land when it comes to tablets. You are somewhere in between the 7-inch budget tablets, such as the Kindle Fire, which sell for $200 and the higher-end 10-inch tablets, such as the iPad, Motorola Xoom, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which sell for around $500.If you want a quick guide of some of the best tablets on the market, check out the lists CNEThas put together. There's a list of best tablets in each of the size categories as well as one for budget-minded shoppers.Right now, the only 10-inch tablet that Donald recommends at the $400 price point is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer (16GB Wi-Fi). You may be able to find some of the other Android tablets mentioned in his list running for close to $400, but you may have to hunt for them. And as I mentioned, there could be big discounts coming when the iPad 3 is released. I know you said you don't want to buy an iPad. But you may want to reconsider. And the reason I say that is even though the iPad 2 doesn't meet the same specs as some of these other tablets, it has a much broader set of apps available and it holds its value much more than these other devices, according to CNET's Donald Bell. What's more the iPad 3 is likely to have improved specs that more closely match those of its competitors."I would make the case that in spite of any concerns over specs and storage, there is no tablet on the market that has held its value better than the iPad," Donald told me when I asked him about your question. "Refurbished versions of the first-gen iPad (now almost two years old) are still selling for over $300. It's mind-boggling. You'll be lucky if you can resell the Motorola Xoom as a doorstop in two years."Also, since your main reason for buying a tablet is to get textbooks on it, the iPad is probably the best device for you. Why? The iPad works with the largest number of e-book stores (both big and small), according to Donald. It also is integrated with Apple's iTunes University. And it's got a deep catalog of test-prep apps. "As a college student, I would have a hard time passing it up," Donald said. "For the extra $100 you'll spend, that value will stay in the tablet when you go to resell it, and you'll never have to worry about a lack of access to the best selection of e-book and app content."I completely agree with Donald on each of these points. But even though Android has caught up in many ways to Apple in terms of apps for smartphones, it's still way behind when it comes to apps for tablets. And I think this is a huge issue, because without apps, why even own a tablet? I've also found the Android software to be very buggy with the apps that are available. The browser on the Galaxy Tab that I've been using also crashes pretty frequently. The only benefit I've found in using an Android tablet over the iPad is that Android supports Flash, which means you can reach more rich Web sites and even watch some video on the tablet. This is still something that is lacking on the iPad.Part of the problem with many Android tablets today is that the majority of them still run an older version of Android software called Honeycomb. This version of Android was specifically developed for tablets, and it's notoriously buggy. It was meant as interim software for early Android tablets. And because it's not meant to be a long-term solution for Android tablets, developers haven't spent much time creating apps for it. So what tablet users are faced with are some apps that are made for Honeycomb and some apps that are made for smartphone versions of the software that don't run well on the tablets. In the Android Marketplace it's tough to know if the apps you want are optimized for this OS or not. Android 4.0, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich, is the latest Android OS. It was developed to merge smartphone and tablet software, so that apps could work on either type of device. That software, released initially on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, is only now just starting to trickle out for tablets.So the bottom line is this: First, wait until March when the iPad 3 is introduced. If you need to stick to your $400 budget, you may be able to pick up a new iPad 2 for that price, if Apple drops the price. Or you could get one of the Android tablets listed in CNET's list for a lower price. But if I were you, I'd buy an iPad since I think you'll get better access to more textbooks and apps. And I also think the device is a better investment since it will hold its value better.Good luck!Trading in the iPod Touch for an iPhoneDear Maggie,I am planning on upgrading to a smartphone when I graduate from college in August. I currently own a fourth-generation iPod Touch. I use my current iPod Touch to read a ton of books on iBooks and I listen to music from iTunes. Also, I can spend about $200 with a two-year contract.I have two questions for you:1. Should I go with an iPhone when I upgrade to a smartphone or should I get an Android phone? 2. If I buy an iPhone, will I still need my iPod Touch? Or could I sell my iPod Touch?I really appreciate your advice! Thanks! ViroopDear Viroop If you're already using an iOS device, it will be very easy for you to use an iPhone. You can use all the apps and load all the same music you'd load onto your iPod Touch onto a new iPhone. You will also be able to access all your iBooks that you've already bought on your new iPhone.AppleIf you buy an Android device, you will be able to transfer unprotected music to your new phone. But anything that has iTunes DRM on it, won't transfer to an Android device. Also, all the apps you've bought and downloaded onto your iPod Touch will not transfer to a new Android smartphone. And the iBooks that you've already downloaded for the iPod Touch also won't work on an Android phone. So for these reasons, I'd say you should just buy an iPhone to preserve the investment you've already made in the Apple iOS ecosystem.Since you're not going to upgrade until August when you graduate college, it's very likely that Apple will have a new iPhone on the market. There's no official word from Apple when a new iPhone will be released. But the company generally has a new one every year. And it's typically introduced these devices in the summer. If it doesn't come out this summer, my guess is that by October Apple will have a new product in the market. So in terms of timing, you're in very good shape.The answer to your second set of questions is, yes. An iPhone will replace the need for you to have an iPod Touch, since the iPod Touch is essentially the same device as an iPhone, but without the cellular radio.Since you don't really need both devices, you may want to sell your old iPod Touch. Apple products hold their value pretty well. An 8GB iPod Touch in good condition with all the original cables etc. can fetch you about $66 on the gadget-buying site Gazelle.com. And the 32GB version in good condition will get you about $90 on Gazelle. It won't cover the cost of buying the new iPhone, but it could certainly help defray the cost.I hope this advice was useful. Study hard! And good luck!Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.
Premium-headphone honchos jostle for your ears
Premium-headphone honchos jostle for your ears
Of course, a large part of Beats' success is built on the name and image of Dr. Dre, and as such, has inspired numerous other musician-endorsed headphones. Offerings from Soul by Ludacris, Sync by 50 Cent, and House of Marley have proved to be notable entries into the market. The strategy clearly works.The NPD Group's recent Headphones Ownership and Applications study reports that endorsements from music artists influence one in five premium-headphone shoppers to make a purchase. Compared with other industry data showing that celebrity endorsements do very little to actually spur purchases, this approach for headphones is a definite success.But in an increasingly crowded market, how long can artist or celebrity endorsements provide differentiation?A number of headphone companies have taken to promoting their premium lines in a different way. Harman's new Harman Kardon headphones, released in June, aligned not with a musician but with Apple in their design, engineering, and distribution. Logitech's Ultimate Ears have also partnered with Apple, making the Apple Store the exclusive launch partner for the new line of headphones and wireless audio speakers.And headphone maker Denon has taken a fresh approach, gearing its four lines of headphones to different types of audio listeners ranging from audiophiles (the Music Maniac line) and workout warriors (the Exercise Freak line) to hip-hop bass lovers (the Urban Ravers line). Premium-headphone users own an average of 2.3 pairs, according to the NPD study, an indication that different pairs are used in different scenarios. RelatedCelebrity-endorsed headphones: Some good, some badHeadphone maker 'Beats' marketing rules at OlympicsThe Audiophiliac: A high-end audio blog from Steve GuttenbergDenon might be on to something. With media consumption habits shifting to new devices like smartphones and tablets, headphones are being used for a multitude of activities, and consumers are going to expect better audio quality to maximize their experience. In fact, NPD's study shows 29 percent of premium headphones being used with a tablet, triple the level observed in 2011. Products specifically designed for activities such as watching video, gaming, or even composing music using apps like Garage Band or iElectribe from Korg will provide the next wave of growth in the market.In the end, we're likely to see the premium-headphone market continue to grow, and as more companies chase the opportunity, differentiation will be key. Designs and engineering geared toward different pursuits will certainly provide this, but expect collaborations to emerge with other brands (like Harman and Apple), as well as content services (Monster just recently partnered with Viacom on the Monster DNA line).Delivering quality sound is the new mantra in consumer audio now -- just look at HP and HTC's Beats Audio branding and Apple's Mastered for iTunes effort, but with most headphones brands claiming high fidelity, consumers will need something else to help capture their eyes (and ears).
Of course, a large part of Beats' success is built on the name and image of Dr. Dre, and as such, has inspired numerous other musician-endorsed headphones. Offerings from Soul by Ludacris, Sync by 50 Cent, and House of Marley have proved to be notable entries into the market. The strategy clearly works.The NPD Group's recent Headphones Ownership and Applications study reports that endorsements from music artists influence one in five premium-headphone shoppers to make a purchase. Compared with other industry data showing that celebrity endorsements do very little to actually spur purchases, this approach for headphones is a definite success.But in an increasingly crowded market, how long can artist or celebrity endorsements provide differentiation?A number of headphone companies have taken to promoting their premium lines in a different way. Harman's new Harman Kardon headphones, released in June, aligned not with a musician but with Apple in their design, engineering, and distribution. Logitech's Ultimate Ears have also partnered with Apple, making the Apple Store the exclusive launch partner for the new line of headphones and wireless audio speakers.And headphone maker Denon has taken a fresh approach, gearing its four lines of headphones to different types of audio listeners ranging from audiophiles (the Music Maniac line) and workout warriors (the Exercise Freak line) to hip-hop bass lovers (the Urban Ravers line). Premium-headphone users own an average of 2.3 pairs, according to the NPD study, an indication that different pairs are used in different scenarios. RelatedCelebrity-endorsed headphones: Some good, some badHeadphone maker 'Beats' marketing rules at OlympicsThe Audiophiliac: A high-end audio blog from Steve GuttenbergDenon might be on to something. With media consumption habits shifting to new devices like smartphones and tablets, headphones are being used for a multitude of activities, and consumers are going to expect better audio quality to maximize their experience. In fact, NPD's study shows 29 percent of premium headphones being used with a tablet, triple the level observed in 2011. Products specifically designed for activities such as watching video, gaming, or even composing music using apps like Garage Band or iElectribe from Korg will provide the next wave of growth in the market.In the end, we're likely to see the premium-headphone market continue to grow, and as more companies chase the opportunity, differentiation will be key. Designs and engineering geared toward different pursuits will certainly provide this, but expect collaborations to emerge with other brands (like Harman and Apple), as well as content services (Monster just recently partnered with Viacom on the Monster DNA line).Delivering quality sound is the new mantra in consumer audio now -- just look at HP and HTC's Beats Audio branding and Apple's Mastered for iTunes effort, but with most headphones brands claiming high fidelity, consumers will need something else to help capture their eyes (and ears).
Dragon iPhone app tweaked, search tool released
Dragon iPhone app tweaked, search tool released
Over the weekend, the company updated its Dragon voice dictation app for the Apple iPhone and unveiled a new Dragon Search app to let you find info via voice.The 1.2 version of the free Dragon Dictation app--which was initially released last month--now supports the iPod Touch 2G and 3G. Touch users can plug in an external microphone and dictate up to 20 seconds of speech that is converted to text.Besides adding support for the iPod Touch, Nuance resolved an issue that had created some controversy. In its initial release, Dragon Dictation automatically uploaded your contact list to Nuance, which the company said helped the app better convert those names into text. But that feature generated privacy concerns among users wary of letting the company grab the names of relatives, friends, and colleagues. The new version lets you decide upfront whether you want your contact list uploaded to a Nuance server.Dragon Dictation is quick and simple. After you've delivered your 20-second message, the words pop up on the app's text screen. From there you can load an onscreen keyboard to correct errors or make other changes. Tapping on a word offers you options to delete it or replace it from a short list of alternate words suggested by Dragon. When done, you can e-mail or IM your text or save it to the clipboard where you can paste it into the iPhone's Notes app or another text editor.I dictated several passages and found the text conversion to be surprisingly accurate. Like the Dragon desktop app, you can dictate not just text but also punctuation marks, such as periods, commas, and paragraph returns. Nuance also says the app will adapt to your voice over time, further increasing its accuracy.Dragon Search from NuanceNuanceI wish Nuance had bumped up the amount of time you can talk--20 seconds is fine for a brief thought or quick note but obviously too short for anything substantial. The company's FAQ indicates it may change the time limit in a future release.Nuance has also jumped into the mobile search market. The company's new and free Dragon Search app for the iPhone and iPod Touch lets you run a Web search by speaking a word or phrase. Just record your search query, and a list of links appears on the screen.You can set your default search engine among Google, Bing, and Yahoo. You can also see your results among different types of search engines, including Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, and iTunes. From the iTunes search results, you can jump to iTunes itself on your device to download associated music or podcasts. Dragon Search keeps a history of your last several searches, so you don't need to recreate them.Like the Dragon Dictation app, Dragon Search is fast and accurate. The time limit is not an issue, and I like the ability to see the same results in Google, Bing, Twitter, and other search engines. Both apps are good first starts from Nuance in the iPhone app arena.
Over the weekend, the company updated its Dragon voice dictation app for the Apple iPhone and unveiled a new Dragon Search app to let you find info via voice.The 1.2 version of the free Dragon Dictation app--which was initially released last month--now supports the iPod Touch 2G and 3G. Touch users can plug in an external microphone and dictate up to 20 seconds of speech that is converted to text.Besides adding support for the iPod Touch, Nuance resolved an issue that had created some controversy. In its initial release, Dragon Dictation automatically uploaded your contact list to Nuance, which the company said helped the app better convert those names into text. But that feature generated privacy concerns among users wary of letting the company grab the names of relatives, friends, and colleagues. The new version lets you decide upfront whether you want your contact list uploaded to a Nuance server.Dragon Dictation is quick and simple. After you've delivered your 20-second message, the words pop up on the app's text screen. From there you can load an onscreen keyboard to correct errors or make other changes. Tapping on a word offers you options to delete it or replace it from a short list of alternate words suggested by Dragon. When done, you can e-mail or IM your text or save it to the clipboard where you can paste it into the iPhone's Notes app or another text editor.I dictated several passages and found the text conversion to be surprisingly accurate. Like the Dragon desktop app, you can dictate not just text but also punctuation marks, such as periods, commas, and paragraph returns. Nuance also says the app will adapt to your voice over time, further increasing its accuracy.Dragon Search from NuanceNuanceI wish Nuance had bumped up the amount of time you can talk--20 seconds is fine for a brief thought or quick note but obviously too short for anything substantial. The company's FAQ indicates it may change the time limit in a future release.Nuance has also jumped into the mobile search market. The company's new and free Dragon Search app for the iPhone and iPod Touch lets you run a Web search by speaking a word or phrase. Just record your search query, and a list of links appears on the screen.You can set your default search engine among Google, Bing, and Yahoo. You can also see your results among different types of search engines, including Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, and iTunes. From the iTunes search results, you can jump to iTunes itself on your device to download associated music or podcasts. Dragon Search keeps a history of your last several searches, so you don't need to recreate them.Like the Dragon Dictation app, Dragon Search is fast and accurate. The time limit is not an issue, and I like the ability to see the same results in Google, Bing, Twitter, and other search engines. Both apps are good first starts from Nuance in the iPhone app arena.
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