The Desi iPAD

Are Tablets really the next big thing in computing? May be, may be not (need to wait for sales figures to answer this)! However, Apple's iPad has surely created a buzz around Tablets. You have HP, Dell and all other PC vendors of every size and shape readying a Tablet PC.

In the content is a Desi Tablet too, Adam. Designed by an alumunus of National Institute of Design, Makarand Kulkarni, Nokion Ink's Adam is being billed as an iPad killer. Here's looking into what Apple's iPad has that our Adam lacks and vice versa. And how the two compare on various specs like memory, display, connectivity, pricing and more.

The key features of Nokion Ink's ADAM

• 10 inch transflective LCD
• 180 degree Swivel Camera
• Dual-Core ARM® CORTEX
  -A9 MPCORE™ Processor
• Full High Definition Multimedia
• Longer Battery Life
• Dual Display
• Ebook Client
• 3G and WiFi Connectivity
• Multi-touch Support.

Dimensions

Measuring 6.3 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches, Adam weighs around 770 gms. Adam has two versions, one is 12.9mm and the other is 11.4mm in thickness. Both versions are slimmer than iPad which is 13.4mm in thickness. 

While Apple's iPad measures 9.56 inches in height, 7.47 in width and 0.5 inch in depth. iPad weighs 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg), the 3G version is 0.1 pounds heavier. 

Display

Adam boasts of a 10-inch Pixel Qi transflective display, a capacitive touchscreen capable of recognizing six simultaneous points of contact. Pixel Qi's technology offers two different modes: full colour LCD for indoor use or in a low-power reflective mode that actually gets brighter when more direct sunlight falls upon it. 

iPad has a 9.7-inch LCD colour screen. The device uses iPhone's multi-touch technology, Apple's Magic Mouse, and the company's trackpad technology found in some of the company's laptops. 

Camera

Adam supports a 3 megapixel swivel auto focus camera. It rotates 180degree. This implies that the device will support video calling. 

However, Apple's iPad lacks camera. Lack of camera being widely seen as a negative in iPad as the device is said to be placed somewhere between a smartphone and laptop.

Output Adam has HDMI-out and 3 USB ports, and can output video at 1080p resolution.

However, there is no facility for HDMI output in iPad. This means users will not be able to view HD videos on a large TV screen even if they have downloaded the same from iTunes. The Apple device can playback at 720p HD video.

Processor

Adam is powered by Nvidia Tegra 2 chip which runs at 1GHz and acts as both a CPU and graphics card in one. It will run on Google’s Android OS.

iPad runs a version of the iPhone's operating system. The iPad has a 1GHz chip that is custom designed by Apple.

Memory

Adam will come in 16GB or 32GB versions.  But it has support for expandable memory.

Apple iPad will come in 16, 32 and 64GB versions.

Multitasking

According to Adam creator Notion Ink, the Tablet will support multitasking. This means the device will be able to run several applications in parallel. 

However, there is no multitasking option in iPad's OS. This means for example users can't listen to FM while they surfing the Web, or switch back and forth between Facebook or Twitter, or write an email while talking on a VOIP call.

Flash

Adam offers support for Flash, video standard used for viewing websites. However, iPad doesn't offer support for Flash. 

This means users will encounter those `big, empty video boxes in the middle of a page' while surfing on the pages which require Adobe Flash. Youtube will be supported just like in iPhone but no Flash games. In iPhone 3GS too when users browse through Web pages with Adobe Flash, it displays empty spaces with missing icons. Adam also supports accelerated JavaScript so the applications taking support of the JavaScripts will run seamlessly on Adam.

Connectivity

Adam packs WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, a pile of sensors and accelerometers and GPS. 

Apple iPad supports both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The WiFi antenna supports 802.11 a/b/g/n. The device also packs GPS.

Battery

According to Notion Ink, Adam will be able to play music for up to 25 days, 16 hours of internet browsing and play high definition video for 8 hours. According to reports, Adam integrates two breakthrough power saving components that promises twice the battery life of Apple iPad. The ink mode of the screen consumes only 250mW so will have enhanced battery life.

iPad offers battery life of up to 10 hours. The standby time is approximately a month.

Apps

Notion Ink has planned an App competition offering $1,000,000 prize money for the best Adam-compatible app. 

Apple's iPad can use virtually all the over 140,000 apps currently available for the iPhone. However, iPad will let you download applications only from Apple's AppStore. iPad doesn’t allow users to download any apps other than from the App Store.

I think iPad wins here with the support of the existing app store. Since Adam is build on Android, it should make use of the existing Android market. So it should support the present apps and for accelerated apps make use of the SDK.

Price

The Adam is expected to cost about $325. 

iPad’s 16GB version of the basic Wi-Fi model will sell for $499. A 32GB version will cost $599, and a 64GB device will be $699. The 3G models won’t be available until April. Those will range in price from $629 to $829.

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