“Motorola Mobility dropped the price of its poor-selling Xoom tablet device by $100 today,” Chris Lau writes for Seeking Alpha. “The Wi-Fi model is now $499. The price drop will not only eat into profit margins, but is unlikely to boost unit sales.”
Lau asks, “This begs the question: why do all android-based tablets touted as an Apple ‘iPad killer’ fail?”
1) Apps: [Hundreds of thousands vs. hundreds]
2) Android User Demographics: Android is popular because it is a cheap smart phone alternative to any other offering. BOGO (buy one get one free), 99 cent and free (with contract) offerings are popular. The same user base is unlikely to spend an additional $400, let alone $499 for Motorola Xoom tablet. The demand side for android-based tablets is not there.
3) Specifications Matter Little, Ease of Use Matters Most
4) Android not Truly Open Source
Lau writes, “Until Android evolves to be more user friendly, less buggy and offers a more fluid experience for consumers for tablets, the next Android “iPad killer” will be yet another mirage.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “JES42” for the heads up.]
It’s the Android/phone vendor “walled garden”. They’d be much better making it “open” (to the end user). (/sarcasm)
Hey wait a minute!
Android has trojans and can be easily converted into a BotNet tool in your pocket if it is a phone or briefcase if it is an Android tablet.
That ought to count for something among those who want to have something different than an old Apple iPad or iPhone.
Spread the word, Android is the leader in mobile botnets!
Apple can not brag that they are leading in this area which is almost a Google exclusive.
See what you are missing you Apple fanboys! Google Android leads the way in a post Microsoft Windows World.
My local Walgreens and CVS have trojans as well. I feel like I’m pretty well protected. 🙂
Mobile botnet? Isn’t that what Bruce Wayne used to locate the Joker? So, they can’t be all bad, right?
This guy hit the nail on the head! Most Android phone buyers are cheap ass basement dwellers who are too cheap to even pay for apps.
Or they were on Verizon, wanted an iPhone but couldn’t get one. Until now, which is what Verizon’s sales data is showing – iPhone sales are outpacing Android handily now that Verizon users have a choice.
Wrong. Many iOS enthusiasts share your view, but it’s just not true. I switched from an iPhone to the first dual-core Android phone back in February. I’ve bought more software for my Android phone that I ever did for my iPhone. I don’t know exactly how many apps I’ve bought, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-50.
I’m very happy with my Android phone — it was a very good upgrade from my aging iPhone 3G. This said, I wouldn’t consider buying an Android tablet. iOS is still miles ahead in the tablet market. I don’t believe Android will be even remotely colse until Ice Cream Sandwich comes out at the end of this year. And who knows, maybe Ice Cream Sandwich won’t even be able to compare favorably with iOS on tablets. I guess time will tell. For now, though, iOS on tablets has a huge advantage. Let’s see if Apple’s pace of innovation can keep it that way.
I find it tremendously hard to take any company seriously when their upcoming major technological breakthrough is called ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’.
I couldn’t agree more.
Yes indeed, project names should be professional, rigid names with no real inspiration beyond the addition of a number.
Something like “Version 4” or “Version 5” – NOW that is some sh*t I can get behind and take seriously.
lol
Or perhaps, just *perhaps*, there exist more inspirational terms that could be used. You know, ‘Dude’, somewhere in that claustrophobic, narrow crevice between the neighbouring worlds of version numbers….and frozen children’s desserts.
Yes, ‘lol’.
Google uses sweets as their naming theme, since they give away free candy to lure in their prey just like in Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. They start with A and now are up to “I”. They had “E”clair, “F”royo, “G”ingerbread, “H”oneycomb”, and “I”ce Cream Sandwich. I don’t know what came before, but you can see, they have a theme, just like Apple, and their theme, free candy to lure in the prey, fits their purpose.
I take ice cream samitches veeeery seriously!
That’s why I said “most Android phone buyers,” not all. To me, the iPhone 4 is not just about the software and the ecosystem. Just look at it! It looks like it belongs in the Met. Most Android phones look like pieces of crap not pieces of art.
Dude. You bought over 40 apps? You actually care that your phone is “dual core”?
You are not representative of the majority of smartphone buyers in general, much less Android buyers.
Sorry, but BillyJack is right that Android buyers, on average, spend a lot less on their phones. Statistics bear that out. Surveys consistently show that it’s easier to make money on iOS, because iOS users are more willing to pay for apps.
——RM
“Motorola Mobility dropped the price of its poor-selling Xoom tablet device by $100 today . . . . The Wi-Fi model is now $499.”
CORRECTION: The Motorola XOON tablet is selling for $449 at Staples where I live, an additional $50 off so they can dump their overstock. It’s the Zune sales phenomenon all over again. So much for competition and quality. FAIL FAIL FAIL. 🙄
So now the POS is the *same* price as an iPad. Gee, they’ll sell like hotcakes.
Apps are the only reason. Most good Android phones are at least the same price as the iphone.
Hmm… I was using iPhones for years, since its first appearance and until iPhone 4, I have 4 Mac computers, so no one would accuse me of been Apple hater.
I switched to Android (made by HTC) because it offers so much more. iPhone was revolutionary product, but time goes by, and my Android 2.3 device is a real information age weapon. My iPhone is a toy compared to it. I still have tender fillings to it, but it is simply can’t compete.
I’m also iOS developer and I have few apps in iTunes store, and now we are moving to Android development.
Now about a tablet. As a buyer, I would DEFINITELY by Android for the following reason:
1. Adobe Touch applications are not available (yet) on iOS.
2. Much more capable device for less money.
3. Plenty of cheap nice software.
4. 32 Gb device with 3G support starts little over $400.
5. I can choose from different models and manufacturers.
6. The OS itself incomparably much more sophisticated, cool, cyber-super-duper.
iPad is just a oversized, hypertrophied iPhone, nothing else.