10 things the Motorola XOOM can do the iPad can't
Do you have an iPad? Or a Motorola XOOM ? Frankly, they're both awesome devices. But personally, I prefer the XOOM. Here's why: POWER... you can do more on the XOOM. Here are 10 things you can do on the XOOM that you can't do on the iPad 2.
Firefox !!
Mozilla's latest Firefox 5 mobile web browser is the best tablet browser yet. The slick new mobile tabs implementation is a splendid UI innovation. And the bookmark syncing feature, that enables you to sync bookmarks with a desktop computer or any number of other computers and devices - is a must have.
Live Wallpapers
On the XOOM, I can go to the Android Market and download any kind of wallpaper imaginable. Including Live Wallpapers, the kind that animate in the background. Or change depending on the time of day.
And even if you don't want a Live Wallpaper - the wallpaper functionality in Android is generally better all round. Find a cool looking wallpaper on the web? On the XOOM, simply tap and press “Set as wallpaper”.
The iPad has no such “Set wallpaper” feature. And it definitely does not have Live Wallpapers.
Complete access to your files
With the iPad, there is no removable storage. No SD card you can swap in and out. Heck, it's a pain to even try accessing the storage without using iTunes - let alone getting new files on it. With the XOOM, it's easy. Plug it in - and it will show up just like an external hard drive - giving you full access to the built-in 32 GB of internal storage.
And now, as of the latest Honeycomb 3.2 update, SD card functionality is fully working. Which means it's even easier to transfer files to and from your XOOM. With up to 32 GB of external storage.
By the way, as of mid 2011, manufacturers are slowly rolling out 64 GB SD cards. While I can't confirm if it's possible yet, XOOM owners may in the near future have the potential to use these cards - for up to 96 GB of total space - a massive amount for a mobile device.
Real browser tabs
This one is closely related to my first point. Yet, although Firefox 5 has sweet new tabs, the default Honeycomb browser (which is basically Chrome mobile) has awesome browser tabs too. In fact, they work just like you would expect, like tabs on a desktop browser. In other words the XOOM has real browser tabs.
The iPad Safari browser has mediocre tabs. In fact, they're not really browser tabs at all. They can be more accurately described as 'browser thumbnails' that are no where near as convenient as real tabbed browsing.
Command it with your voice
Anywhere you can type text - you can speak into the XOOM. And Google's voice-to-text technology will take over.
In addition, you can use Google's Voice Actions app to perform basic commands. For example, say "map of Seattle" and it will automatically open a Google map of your desired city. Say "listen to Alice in Chains, Man in the Box" and it will start playing the music you want.
Watch HD movies in any number of formats
Goodluck playing HD movies on an iPad unless you're buying them from iTunes.
With the XOOM just copy any HD movie from your existing collection to the device over USB, get RockPlayer - an awesome media app - and play any number of file types, formats and codes including AVI, MKV, OGG, DivX, Xvid, or H.264
The XOOM is an HD movie machine in disguise - and performance tests have shown it capable of up to 1080p at 30 fps (with a reasonable bit rate at around 15 Mbps). Which leads me to my next point...
Watch native 720P HD video on the device, or the big screen
One of the coolest features on the XOOM is the inclusion of Micro-HDMI port - which you can use to connect to an HD TV and mirror what you see on the device as you use the tablet in real time.
Of course, you can do this on the iPad. With a catch. The iPad has a screen resolution of just 1024 x 768. Which is a 4:3 aspect ratio, unlike the XOOM's 16:10 widescreen ratio. So when you view the iPad on your big screen TV, there are going to be 2 big black bars on the side.
Now recently, Apple released a separate product called the Digital AV Adapter - which is a sort of a solution to prevent the black bars. I say 'sort of' cause it only will do this to certain content. For example, the Homescreen still does not fill up the entire width of your HD TV. Not to mention that you have to buy the adapter separately.
On the XOOM, the screen resolution is 1280 x 800 out of the box; higher than the iPad. So when you plug it in with HDMI, the 80 pixels tall Android taskbar disappears and you're left with a resolution of 1280 x 720; exactly the resolution of a true widescreen 720 HD TV. Genius!
Add Widgets (now re-sizeable!)
On the XOOM, or any Android device, you can add a ton of things to your home screens: folders, widgets, shortcuts, apps, and even photos. On the iPad, your limited to just icons of apps. The only thing you can do with the extra sliding screens of an iPad is to show more icons of apps. Icons, icons, icons.
The highly customizable home screens of Android look amazing on the XOOM. What I like about it is that you can create screens that are 'themed' for specific purposes. For example, you could reserve one as a 'social media screen'. With widgets and icons from Twitter, Facebook, or any other of your favorite networks - all on one screen.
And as of the latest Honeycomb 3.1 update, widgets are now re-sizable - giving you an even greater level of customization for each of the home screens.
Multi-task (the right way)
The Multi-tasking on iPad is a lot like their implementation of browser tabs... linear and mediocre.
On the XOOM however, multi-tasking is the real deal. Your most recently kept apps are available at the tap of your finger - allowing you to easily switch between apps on the fly. While it would be cool if Honeycomb supported an unlimited number of apps in this list - the system is definitely an order of magnitude better than using one app at a time like on the iPad.
Play Flash content
The most heavily debated lacking feature of the iPad is definitely on the XOOM.
Enjoy smooth playback of Flash content on the web and on the countless blog posts and web pages that embed Flash powered YouTube videos. Rather than hoping they have HTML5 versions.
And no Steve Jobs, Flash is not 'buggy'. In fact, it works just fine on the XOOM.
Conclusion
The XOOM is an expandable powerhouse with the freedom and control that nerds want and need. Not surprisingly, it is my tablet of choice.
Where to get the XOOM
For US customers, the XOOM is available directly from Motorola.com
For my Canadian buds, check for the XOOM at your local Best Buy, Staples, Future Shop, Sears, London Drugs or Telus Store.
Schwabe is an Android app designer and business nerd with a passion for technology, startups, and free market capitalism.
if you use your tablest mostly for internet browsing and videos, get a XOOM (or any Android / honeycomb tablet). Surfing the web is 10x better than on an iPad 2. but if you use mostly apps iPad is the way to go.
The multitasking and notifications are getting overhauled in Apple's iOS 5. I dunno the exact release date, but the beta is already out so shouldn't be much longer.
- firefox: I did not try myself, but opera and FF are available for ipad
- Live wallpaper: I never and will never use a live wallpaper on any device i own
- Complete access to your files: That would be nice, but will never happen on the iDevices :-(
- Real browser tabs: same as your first in the list: depends on browser.
- Command it with your voice: I'm really no fan of voice controlling. I'd be interested to know how many tablet and smartphone owners use this feature
- Watch HD movies in any number of formats: Playing any number of format is really a big score for android.
- Watch native 720P HD video on the device, or the big screen: Does tablet users store huge videos on their tablet to see theses videos on TV? 720P HD really necessary on a tablet (if not connecting to the TV)?
- Add Widgets: Widgets are really nice! iOS drawback
- Multi-task: that's a much more complex subject than just the way you describe it. As of android 2.3, I prefer iOS4 way to handle multi-task
- Play Flash content: I'd like to say that not playing flash is really a BIG advantage to iOS as I never liked flash technology. Nowadays you can acheive almost everything that flash does without flash. Flash games: so heavy and resource consuimg that will fry your tablet: use a real computer.
I have a Xoom and I have my own webpages with embedded flash content. Flash on Xoom using default browser is not perfect. Flash navigation buttons don't all display, but they are invisibly functional. The flash banners appeared but eventually disappeared forever. I hope Adobe tries to improve the current 10.3 flash player. Also I have a bone to pic with Xoom's default email app with limited POP3/SMTP controls (i.e. need to be able to disable SMTP authentication). Regardless the Xoom is awesome!
Forget about the overpriced Xoom. The way to go is the Asus Transformer 2 that is coming to market soon. It should be the first one on the shelves with a Tegra 3 Kal-El processor and Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. For 399 bucks it can't be beat. Add the keyboard dock for 150 more bucks and you get a keyboard/mouse trackpad/extra battery life/screen protection combo. I love Asus. I will never buy another non-Asus product ever again. My $699 Asus laptop blows away most of my friends' pieces of crap HP/Toshiba/Dell/Lenovo/Whatever. Off subject, my recycled craptop Dell which I overhauled with Ubuntu 11.04 runs like a champ, a $50 non-crashing, open-source, do whatever I want and take it champ.
The iPad's biggest faults are its lack of flash and that there's no external memory! I would hate being confined to 32 GB and not being able to put flash drives/usb memory in.
I'd have to agree with what @luke said... even rooted and overclocked @ 1.6Ghz the xoom doesn't score high on the antutu benchmark the first 5 are rooted transformers best tablet of the moment! Even my Samsung Galaxy SII is not even close to asus transformer... although rooted and overclocked at 1.6Ghz... ipad I won't even talk about... it's so lame and useless that it has a lot of catching up to do!
i've used a xoom and an iPad 2.... my quad boot (WebOS, Ubuntu, Debian, & Android) 32GB HP Touchpad is DESTROYING EVERYONE ELSE.... watching Real Madrid kill Ajax in true HD WHILE i am downloading torrents, listening to pandora, and chat on irc with some buds
check & mate
@Nick, would that be the HP touch pad that they have now discontinued lol check and mate yeah for XOOM you lost.
@everyone else if your an isheep then stick to your iphones and ipads as for app and os has anyone noticed that android is now the market leader out selling apple as apple looks like it did when pod touch 1 first came out, if you want a well made solid tablet for a great price plenty of customization media options gallore even play games using your xbox controller wirellessly add to that fantastic onlive game play thousands and thousands of app with more useful or fun app that apple I mean come on apple has a ridiculous amount of app but how many are actually worth having mmmm maybe 20 at a push.
I've used apple an android and every operating system in between and android wins and XOOM running android was a winner from day 1 shame about XOOM 2 that does seem to be an epic fail sent mine back after 1 days use and got a second XOOM instead :)
I am interested in a ipad or zoom, not sure, I am a writer so something which will let me speak into it and record text as i would on speech recognician on my computere would be awesome and the deciding factor "probably". Can you put word on an ipad or zoom or similar tablet?
Add a comment