Google tablet – the challenges

Good analysis by the Register of the challenges facing Google in trying to create a tablet to rival the iPad.  They make a perceptive point that the real competition is things like TV, books and games consoles, not the rest of the tablet/netbook/ereader market.  This is where Apple’s intensive emphasis on design, familiarity and ease of use make a critical differentiation with the public.

Google’s approach to content is renegade, Apple has courted big business. This difference is critical to the way the tablets will operate.  Apple has defined the Tablet as a consumption/entertainment device.  How would Google define it?  A device for consuming LOL cats on YouTube? The public have conflicting expectations: they expect great writing, music, video and games, but they also prefer to pay little or nothing for them if possible.  Either company can only partially meet those expectations.

The almost unbelievable reports of Android phone outselling iPhones in the US are a counterpoint to the Register arguments, and point to a fascinating competitive environment for the next few years.

And the role of flash in this? The irony may be that, instead of allowing Flash to slowly die by not openly opposing it – by passively allowing Adobe to dither away with it, Apple’s active opposition may eventually re-invigorate Adobe and redefine Flash as the content consumption platform for the rest of us.

But Adobe really have to start delivering more than talk soon.  We’ve got you 388 signatures Adobe, where is Flash 10.1 on mobile that doesn’t crash guys! (oh, sorry, here tis! – the video is a bit jerky perhaps, but a very convincing demo none the less.. and it hits the streets in about a week.)

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