Tablets – OS
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Many of Jelly Bean’s new functions benefit
both phones and tablets, so the changes you’ll see on your phone will extend to
your tablet too. Good for bigger screen are the new Chrome browser, which uses
pre-caching to speed up page loading and syncs tabs across devices, the
near-psychic keyboard, and Google Play’s magazines – although for now, they’re
US-only.
Pros:
Customisable; Chrome browser; the slickest Androids yet; Google Play improving
Cons:
Comparative lack of app support for tablet-size screens
TouchPad
gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Special Skill – Customisation: Android still owns its rivals when it comes to screen
customization. You can set Jelly Bean up almost any way you want – no two home screens
are the same. Unless you set up two to look identical, Plainly.
Apple iOS 6
Like Android, many the iOS upgrades are
designed to improve all devices. But with iOS 6, iPad 3 owners can now take
advantage of Siri’s subservience to launch apps, post to Twitter and Facebook,
and ask what the football score is – or how far it is to The Offie. However,
iOS’ tablet superiority is down to apps. Nothing can compete with its creative,
productive or mag app roster.
Apple
iOS 6
Pros: Seamless
iCloud Syncing; FaceTime over 3G; stunning array of apps and media
Cons: Siri
still very US-centric; lacks customizability; still no widgets
Special Skill – 3G FaceTime: One of the most fulfilling things you can do with an iPad is video
chat – and with iOS 6 that’s possible over 3G using FaceTime. Just remember:
raising your chin during conversation is not flattering.
Windows 8 RT
Microsoft’s tablet OS is much closer to its
desktop counterpart than the other systems. Unlock it by drawing patterns on to
a photo, just like in Windows 8 Pro, and you’ll be taken into the Metro Live
Tiles Inferface, where the same Win 8 gesture controls apply: flip through
running apps, bring up Charms icons, or zoom out through menus. Oh, and the
full office suite comes free. Neat.
Pros: Attractive
and easy to use; MS Office bundled; updates feeds when asleep
Cons: IE10
is only browser; Windows Store currently limited; no Windows Media Player
Microsoft's new tablet OS, Windows RT
Special Skill – Internet Explorer 10: A pretty slick reinvention of the browser. IE10’s full-screen
approach means that unless you’re typing in the URL or search bar, menu bars
will melt away, leaving pure website behind. Oh happy internet.
