The Chinese company Onda announced a tablet computer, the design of which completely repeats the appearance of the iPad Air 2. The manufacturer himself does not find anything in common between the products, apparently not wanting to become a participant in patent proceedings with the Americans. A characteristic feature of this model, in addition to top-end features, is support for two operating systems, Android 4.4 and Windows 8.1.
The Onda V919 3G Air model largely copies the flagship full-size iPad: a similar design in a metal case, a 9.7-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. At the same time, the device is built on an alternative platform - a 64-bit processor. Intel Atom Z3736F clocked at 2.16GHz with 2GB of RAM. 64 GB is provided for data storage. It is also possible to install memory cards up to 128 GB.
The configuration of the novelty includes cameras with a resolution of 5 and 2 megapixels and a battery with a capacity of 6200 mAh. The dimensions of the device are 240 x 170 x 7.85 mm with a weight of 496 g. There is a slot for microSD memory cards (cards up to 128 GB are supported).
The main feature of the device is Insyde H2O – BIOS modification, which allowed the manufacturer to implement the ability to switch between operating systems "in one click".
The cost of a tablet equipped with a 3G modem and allowing you to make calls is only $200.
In the range of Onda there is another modification of this model. It runs Android only and is based on the MediaTek MT8392 platform, backed up by 16GB of flash storage. For this version, you will have to pay only $ 150.
Updated at the beginning of summer iPad Pro received a single-chip A10X Fusion system, increased screen refresh rate to 120 Hz and narrower near-screen frames. The tablet is still one of the most desirable models on the market. True, not everyone shares the company's policy with its closed ecosystem and high prices, and competitors are not asleep. Best Alternatives"Apple" tablet got into the next ZOOM selection.
The best iPad Pro alternatives. ZOOM selection
Why the iPad Pro is attractive potential buyers? First of all, it is, of course, a corporate design, a stable operating system and a high-quality display. The performance of the tablet is one of the highest on the market - it is enough for games, work with sound, graphics or video editors. Last Apple time positions its product as a convenient tool for creating visual content, so the camera is also on good level, and optionally you can purchase a stylus or a keyboard. You can get acquainted with all the advantages and disadvantages of the new iPad Pro 10.5, but we are moving on to its main competitors.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Perhaps, best android tablet today can be considered presented by the Koreans at the beginning of the year Galaxy Tab S3. The model is based on SoC Snapdragon 820, paired with 4 GB of RAM. In terms of power, the bundle is inferior to the iPad, however, to notice the difference in practice, you will have to try hard. The amount of built-in storage is fixed - 32 GB, but, unlike the brainchild of Apple, it can be expanded with a MicroSD card. The 9.7-inch screen resolution is 2048 x 1536 pixels, the same as the iPad Pro 9.7. The pixel density is also the same - 264 PPI.
The main camera received a 13-megapixel sensor, autofocus and support for shooting 4K video. At iPad resolution a little less, but there is optical stabilization - a definite advantage. The sensor size of the front module Galaxy Tab S3 is 5 megapixels versus 7 megapixels for a competitor. The battery capacity is 6000 mAh: slightly less than the iPad 10.5, but the tablet lasts longer, and it charges faster. The maximum time, of course, depends on the load, but you can safely count on 8-9 hours. The advantages of the Galaxy Tab include the included stylus, for which Apple asks for an additional 7490 rubles. It has the best sensitivity on the market, recognizing 4096 pressure levels (the Apple Pencil has 2048), and besides, the pen does not need to be charged, which is clearly more convenient. A keyboard case is optionally available.
Microsoft Surface Pro
Fifth generation Microsoft tablets, which we decided to call simply Pro, without an index, provides best-in-class performance, comparable to laptops or stationary PCs rather than classic tablets. Depending on the build, the model can be equipped with Intel m3, i5 or i7 processors belonging to the Kaby Lake family, and up to 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, leaving both Samsung and Apple far behind. With the built-in drive, everything is also very good here. The SSD used in the design in the maximum configuration can reach a volume of 1 TB, and for expansion there is a full-size USB port 3.0, allowing the connection of external hard drives and various peripherals, as well as a microSD slot.
The 12.3-inch display has a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels. and a pixel density of 267 PPI. The large screen size is comfortable to work with, especially professional work, which is what the Surface Pro is designed for, but increases the size and weight, making transportation less comfortable. With cameras, everything is not so rosy: 8-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front. Both with maximum resolution Full HD video, but the rear is additionally equipped with autofocus.
Windows 10 Pro is used as the OS, which allows the installation of full-fledged desktop programs, which is also a significant plus. The battery life of the tablet is about 13 hours. There is the possibility of using a branded stylus and keyboard, purchased separately. In general, in all respects, except for the camera, Surface Pro confidently leads. The only significant drawback is the price, starting at 74,000 rubles and exceeding 200,000 rubles in the top assembly.
ASUS Transformer3 Pro
Next in line is the Transformer 3 Pro presented by ASUS at Computex 2016 - powerful tablet with a keyboard, made by analogy with the Microsoft Surface Pro. The device is equipped with a 12.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2820 x 1920 pixels. and high pixel density (275 PPI), comparable in quality to competitors. User comfort is also taken care of - Eye-Care technology reduces eye strain when working behind the screen. The proper level of performance is provided by the seventh generation Intel Core i5 or i7 to choose from, up to 16 GB of RAM. For data storage, a built-in drive up to 1 TB is provided.
The set of ports here is solid: USB Type-C and USB 3.0, HDMI, microSD slot and audio jack. There is also a fingerprint scanner. There are two cameras: the rear shoots with a resolution of 13 MP, the front - only 2 MP. Also to strengths The tablet can be attributed to the battery, which should provide a whole day of battery life and can charge up to 60% per hour. The branded ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard with 1.4 mm deep key travel is released in four colors at once. Also, the tablet is equipped with a stand on a hinge that can rotate up to 155 °. It is proposed to buy a branded stylus on your own, however, its accuracy leaves much to be desired: 1024 pressure levels versus 2048 for the Apple Pencil.
Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0
The MediaPad M2 10.0 has a 10.1″ IPS display that is almost the size of the iPad, but it has a lower resolution and pixel density: 1920x1200 pixels. and 224 PPI. The tablet is based on the eight-core SoC HiSilicon Kirin 930, which is own development company, and comes with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. To whom this seems not enough, they can expand the disk space with a MicroSD card. Despite the impressive number of cores, a bunch of A10X Fusion and 4 GB of RAM will be more powerful, but the MediaPad copes with most tasks perfectly.
The rear camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels and is equipped with autofocus, front - 5 megapixels. The numbers are comparable to the iPad, but the latter wins in terms of shooting quality, and the recording of Full HD video from Huawei versus 4K from Apple does not look very convincing. The device comes with an M-Pen stylus that recognizes up to 2048 pressure levels and is powered not by a battery, but by AAAA batteries. It is noteworthy that the leader in production is engaged in its manufacture. graphics tablets- Wacom. The OS used is Android 5 with EMUI 3.1 shell. There is also a dedicated audio path using the Asahi Kasei AK4396 DAC. The battery life of the tablet is 7-8 hours.
HP Elite x2 1012 G2
Fresh "hybrid" Hewlett-Packard in its concept is analogue of Microsoft Surface, which means that its performance is impressive. The tablet comes with Intel i3, i5 or i7 processors and up to 16 GB of RAM. For data storage, it is proposed to use a built-in SSD up to 1 TB. There is a full-size USB 3.0 port and a microSD slot. The preinstalled operating system is Windows 10 Pro.
The resolution of the 12.3-inch display is 2736 x 1824 pixels and the density is 268 PPI. The cameras here are rather an additional function, therefore they are not equipped with the largest sensors (5 megapixels - front, 8 megapixels - rear) and lose to Apple in quality. The Elite x2 comes with a keyboard, but the stylus, which recognizes up to 2048 pressure levels, will have to be purchased separately. Complements the design of the battery, the charge of which is enough for an average of 10 hours of operation. The tablet will go on sale in the Russian Federation in the near future - the cost is projected from $ 1,100 (65,000 rubles).
Xiaomi MiPad 3
Able to compete with the giants of the industry and Chinese company Xiaomi, and primarily the cost of its tablet. For a price of 17,990 rubles, the manufacturer offers a MediaTek MT8176 six-core processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory without the possibility of expansion, as well as a 7.9-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. and a high density of 326 PPI - the indicators are more than decent, but working at such a small diagonal is not so convenient. The computing power of the MiPad 3 is very good for its level, but below the iPad Pro, Galaxy Tab S3 and Surface Pro.
The main camera uses a 13-megapixel sensor, is equipped with autofocus and supports Full HD-video recording, the frontal resolution is limited to 5 megapixels. In terms of quality, they significantly lose to the iPad Pro 10.5. The capacity of the built-in battery, which is 6600 mAh, with an average load is enough for 12 hours of operation. The operating system used is Android 7 with MIUI 8.2 add-on. Working with a stylus and a branded keyboard are not provided by the manufacturer. Thus, for all its merits, the MiPad 3 should be considered more of a tablet for entertainment rather than professional use.
|
|
Screen |
CPU, Inner memory |
Dimensions and weight | Price |
| Apple iPad Pro 10.5 |
2224x1668 pix., |
A10X (3x 2.4 GHz) Up to 512 GB |
250.6×174.1×6.1mm, |
From i 46 990 |
| samsung galaxy Tab S3 |
2048×1536 pixels, |
237.3×169×6mm, |
From i 39 990 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro |
2736x1824 pix., |
Intel Core m3, Core i5/ i7 4/8/16 GB up to 1 TB |
292x201x8.5mm, |
From i 73 990 |
| Xiaomi MiPad 3 |
2048x1536 pix., |
200.4x132.6x7mm, |
From i 17 990 | |
| ASUS Transformer3 Pro |
2880x1920 pix., |
Intel Core i5/i7 |
211x299x8.8mm, |
From i 74 385 |
| Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 |
1920x1200 pix., |
Hisilicon Kirin 930 |
239.8x172.8x7.4mm, |
i 39 990 |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2 |
2736x1824 pix., |
Intel Core i3/i5/i7 4/8/16 GB Up to 1 TB |
300x220x9.1mm, |
From i 65 000 |
I have many positive memories and impressions associated with the iPad. It's one of those dream devices that the iPhone is, and one of the few that didn't disappoint at all after the dream came true. And it's also a real revolution that happened before our eyes, no matter what they say about Microsoft with its Tablet PC and all sorts of early experiments in this area. Xerox was also the first to develop GUI, but it was brought to mind and implemented by Apple. So, since 2010 iPad is the best multimedia tablet on the market, and successfully took over from its predecessor. I'm not talking about 7/8-inch "babies", but about full-size 10-inch models. I'm not writing as an insane Apple fanboy, but as a person who has worked with a lot of different tablets on different platforms and owned several alternatives, including the flagship (and actively felt the larger 10.5-inch brother).
Impulse buying
For a long time, my main tablet was the iPad mini, and then - (that is, the small model of the second generation), but there came a point when eyes demanded mercy. For the most part, the device was used for web surfing, and on many sites the font was small for the portrait orientation of the tablet, and I was not very comfortable working in landscape. Mobile Safari great for rendering pages, it does everything accurately and beautifully, like a desktop web browser, but at the same time base size The font in it is too small and cannot be changed. I discussed this point in detail in. By the way, one of the reasons for my Android marathon with the participation, in addition to the mentioned gadget, was also the uncomfortable work in Safari on a 7.9-inch screen.
Yes, there are alternatives for iOS, but in terms of quality and speed of work, they did not lie next to Safari, including Chrome for mobile platform Apple. But in the Android environment, the Google browser works great and allows you to specify the minimum font size, however, the layout of sites often broke down. There is no ideal in this world, unfortunately, or is there? We'll talk about this a little later, but for now let's get back to the hero of the article.
So, having played enough with Android devices, I again began to look in the direction of tablet iOS, remembering along the way that I had no problems with small fonts in Safari on large Apple tablets. In addition, the appearance of the personal made the return to the iPad mini pointless, but immediately there were thoughts about the iPad Air 2, which so inspired and surprised me during the September presentation (which readers could clearly feel while reading the site). However, the device was not an essential item, and in the face of an unstable situation in the country, everyone hesitated to purchase. A serious impetus to it was a sudden jump in the dollar, while Apple did not have time to raise prices for its products in Russia. Having made an order on time, I got the device in top configuration even cheaper than in the USA (and we are talking about the price without tax included, which in most states is 10%). On the one hand, the crisis and instability are difficulties, on the other hand, they are prospects, the main thing is to catch the moment in time.
That's how I became the owner of the coolest Apple tablet and the best device of this kind at the moment in principle. But instead of pleasing the owner in a calm home environment, the novelty immediately went!
iPad Air 2 adventures in Thailand, hardware and impressions
Before leaving for Thailand, I spent a day in Moscow, where I managed to restore my data from a backup on the tablet (the iOS backup system is incredibly pleasing), stuff the tablet with movies, software and toys. Naturally, in the process, I actively felt it, listened to my feelings and noted various small details. After almost six months of operation, the impressions from, let's say, physical contact with the device have not changed and they are wonderful.
The first thing that strikes is lightness and thinness of the body. Even I, a lover of the thinnest devices, had doubts during the announcement of the device regarding the thickness of the already thin iPad Air reduced by 1.4 mm, they say, why did it have to be done, it would be better if they inserted a more powerful battery. But Apple employs notable specialists in WOW effects and they know their business poorly. You take this thin plate in your hands and do not believe what lies in your palm, in fact, powerful computer capable of doing hundreds of different things. This is a window to the world of entertainment and the Internet, it is a typewriter, a DJ console, a game console, a receptacle for thousands of glossy magazines, books and other content. In general, it is not in vain that Apple made its flagship tablet so thin and light, but here is what it is in technical terms:
- Dimensions- 240x169.5x6.1 mm.
- Weight- 444
- Display- Retina IPS, 2048×1536 pixels (264 ppi), laminated with oleophobic and anti-reflective coating.
- CPU- Apple A8x 3-core, 64-bit, 1.5 GHz with performance on par with today's basic desktop models.
- coprocessor- Apple M8.
- RAM- 2 GB LPDDR3.
- Storage device- 16, 64 or 128 GB of flash memory.
- video chip- PowerVR GXA6850 (8 clusters, 256 compute units).
- Camera- 1.2 MP front and 8 MP rear (close to the camera in quality).
- Wireless interfaces- Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) with dual band support (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and MIMO technology, UMTS/CDMA/LTE.
- touch ID.
As you understand, the tablet feels great in the hands - light, monolithic, metal, it is convenient to hold quite long time even in one hand. When I sit at the table during tea or snacks, I often hold the iPad in one hand, resting it on the palm of the corner and even manage to scroll the web page or Tweetbot feed with my thumb.
Although after the appearance of a hardware keyboard, I often use it as a stand.
True, there is a traditional gripe that is relevant for all Apple tablets, and now also for iPhone latest generations - case is very slippery, so you have to be careful when removing the tablet from the bag, so as not to accidentally drop it on the floor. In addition, it is very thin and differs in shape from the iPad 4Gen and other predecessors, which is why now the tablet can not always be taken from the table with one hand, picking it up by the edge with your fingers. People with small hands have to use two hands. I manage to do it alone, resting my thumb on the display closer to one edge of the tablet and picking it up with my fingers behind the second.
Unlike other iPad models, the Air 2 has lost the silent mode lever (it could also block the automatic rotation of the image), but I personally did not even notice this. Almost never used this item.
As for others hardware controls, then, in general, there are no complaints about them. The Home button with a built-in Touch ID sensor is pressed clearly, with a well-perceived click, does not play or jam. The click on the power button is similar, although it has a slight backlash (I didn’t notice it until I just paid attention to it on purpose). The volume buttons have the same minimal backlash. In my first iPad Air 2, there were no questions at all about them - both were pressed clearly and worked perfectly. In the second instance, one of these buttons is pressed softer and does not always work if you press it lower part. Not critical, but when buying a device, be sure to check all the buttons - they can be different from instance to instance. Why did it happen that I visited two tablets? In the first, Touch ID suddenly failed, but I will talk about this separately.
Liked it a lot sound output from the built-in speakers. It is loud, bassy, mids and high frequencies, and wheezing does not occur even at maximum volume. Acoustics cope with any music, including heavy. Probably, he is even bassist and louder than the speakers in. The only pity is that they are located on one side, and not on the front panel on both sides. In this regard, the tablet and tablet phone were the standards for me.
I also want to draw attention to one funny effect that many reviewers noted as a minus of the iPad Air 2 - if you set the volume up and there is a lot of bass in the track, then back panel vibration is transmitted. It is felt by the fingers, but does not have any negative effect on the sound quality, that is, the tablet does not ring or wheeze. I personally can't call it a minus. It's fun to feel a slight vibration, but it's not annoying. By the way, the ultrathin tablet phone had the same effect.
I noticed one more thing related to the sound in the iPad. In my first instance, I sometimes heard a loud click from the speaker- as if a sound interference slips. A similar effect can be heard when you connect a microphone to the speakers or connect the speakers themselves to an active sound source. In the second copy for a couple of weeks of operation, such clicks have not yet slipped.
The tablet was very actively used in Thailand. Working materials were typed on it and travel notes were kept, for which I used a very good editor for typing on the on-screen keyboard. I especially liked the support for shortcuts and the virtual joystick for moving the cursor. By the way, the whole thing was printed exactly on the iPad Air 2 in the mentioned editor.
tablet camera I rarely use it (there is one in the iPhone), but in Thailand it came in handy, and I was surprised by the excellent result even in low light conditions.
The first photo was taken through the glass of the bus. The originals can be downloaded from here
And also with the iPad Air 2 there there was a poltergeist I don't know how else to describe what happened. The background is this: to get on an erotic show Cocknut you had to hand over all your electronic devices to the guide (it is strictly forbidden to take pictures inside). Gadgets were collected in bulk in a large bag. Since Arthur and I had a lot of our devices, we put them in a separate bag, which then anyway ended up in a common bag with fifty smartphones, phones and tablets. Having seen enough of the Thai exotic, about an hour later we took our electronic toys from the guide and went to the hotel, where I found strange behavior on the tablet display. Small colored dots “dancing” all over the screen, like interference when bad reception television signal. There were quite a few of them, but they did not distort the picture (small ones). That is, it is quite possible to use the device, but it was impossible not to pay attention to these “interferences”. And they were visible even during the reboot of the tablet.
At first, I decided that the guide probably hit the device when he was dragging a bag with phones from place to place, or crushed it and something inside was soldered. But literally an hour later, the strange effect disappeared and I have not observed it since then. I didn’t understand what it was, I didn’t find any intelligible explanations on the Web either. But such a case took place.
Since we are talking about display, it is worth discussing it in more detail. Even in the previous model iPad Air, the screen delighted the public and professionals with its natural color reproduction and overall picture quality. In the iPad Air 2, it has become even better, although this is noticeable only in direct comparison. The picture in the new product is slightly juicier due to the disappearance of the air layer between the glass and the matrix (full lamination), while it glares much less. More specifically, the iPad Air 2 has 56% less glare than its predecessor. And that's really the way it used to be.
But numbers are one thing, and personal feelings are another. The effect is really there and it is clearly noticeable. Firstly, in almost any lighting and location conditions, you can’t see your own reflection in the tablet if the picture is not too dark, which cannot be said about others. iPad models when even on a completely white background (for example, in a browser) you can see your physiognomy and the surrounding interior. Secondly, even if a glare from a point light source is caught, it is muffled, blurry, does not irritate and does not interfere with perceiving information from the screen.
It is also worth noting that the display is bright enough even to work under the sun - the image fades, of course, but you can make it out without problems. The minimum brightness is comfortable for reading in the dark, although you will not see the perfect black color like AMOLED screens in the iPad Air 2, of course. Still, it glows a little, and more than the display of the iPhone 6 Plus in the same conditions (dual-domain pixels help out the smartphone).
When comparing the display of the iPad Air 2 with Retina display iPad mini of the second and third generation, the result will not be in favor of small tablets, the screens of which are inferior even to the iPad Air first generations. The picture on 7.9-inch devices looks faded compared to a large tablet, the colors are not as bright, the image is faded. Although iPad mini users should not worry too much about this. The noted effect can be seen only with direct comparison and the presence of a certain amount of techno-fanaticism. I specifically asked my wife and children to compare the image on the Retina iPad mini and iPad Air 2, but they just shrugged their shoulders and said that the picture was good on both and did not see much difference. Let me remind you that they use the iPad mini all the time - this is, so to speak, a family tablet.
As for the complaints of some people about the case being too thin, which causes color streaks to appear on the display when you press on the back panel, I did not notice such an effect in any of my copies. Moreover, even with fairly strong pressure on the glass in front, there are no streaks, although the thicker first-generation iPad Air suffers from this.
Touch ID sensor- an extremely useful thing. So useful that some people who want a compact tablet buy a very expensive third-generation iPad mini for it, although it differs from the cheaper second-generation model only in this very sensor. With it, you unlock the device even faster than doing it in the traditional way with a swipe. In addition, many applications support Touch ID and do not have to enter passwords again. In my case, these are Evernote, a WebMoney client, 1Password and MoneyWiz 2.
Truth, in mid-April, the biometric sensor in the iPad Air 2 suddenly died. It happened very routinely and without any effects. I took the tablet from the table, tried to unlock it, and it hung, and for the first time in the entire period of operation. Rebooted the device known way(hold down the Power + Home buttons for a few seconds), unlocked it digital code(mandatory operation after reboot, even if Touch ID is configured), then turned off the screen, turned it on again, and again saw the slider " Unblock", although at activated Touch It shouldn't have an ID. I unlocked the tablet again with a digital code, got into the "Settings", saw that the sensor was disabled, tried to turn it on, but saw the following error:
As you understand, no body movements, including full reset Devices with memory cleaning did not help. The sensor has failed. And then I tensed up. The tablet was purchased online. Apple Store in Russia, and I live in Ukraine. The company has a worldwide warranty on laptops and there are no problems with them. On the iPhone, the warranty is local and there may be problems. But what about tablets? It turns out that everything is fine with them and Apple has a great warranty. I gave the whole set to the local shop" America", which is official reseller Apple. The guys sent the tablet to the official service center in Kiev and there they changed my gadget to a new one. It took a week for everything. Bravo Apple and special thanks Yura Pinsky who dealt with my problem. If something like this happened, for example, with the Galaxy Tab S, then I suppose the Samsung service center would send me to Moscow to deal with my problem.
Summing up regarding the hardware stuffing of the tablet and general impressions From the device, I note that this is the most powerful tablet on the market, the most beautiful and the most perfect in terms of the combination of characteristics. It has no analogues and alternatives.
Well, now it's time to talk about software and the role that the device plays in my life.
Use of iPad Air 2 in work and life
Typewriter
When I had an iPad 4, it was often used as a typewriter when I needed to disconnect from the outside world and just work. Naturally, the main component of this was a hardware keyboard, even two: and . But with the transition to the iPad mini, I abandoned this practice, because there are no normal portable hardware keyboards for a small tablet. Although this is just my personal opinion, confirmed. Thus, the small tablet was mostly used only for content consumption, sometimes for mail and RSS.
Even Logitech failed to make a comfortable keyboard for the iPad mini, they came up with a solid compromise, which is difficult to get used to.
To a certain extent, a large tablet has replaced an 11.6-inch tablet for me Macbook Air, to which I moved from a 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro. But the baby lived only six months, after which circumstances (switching from iMovie to Final Cut Pro X) forced him to change to a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, and this is already a much larger and heavier device that is not as convenient for working on the go as a MacBook Air 11.6 "or a bunch of iPad + keyboard. Where am I leading all this? To the simple conclusion that one of the main reasons iPad shopping Air 2 had a need for a typewriter that allows you to go headlong into the text in any conditions, completely closed off from the outside world. Anyone who writes a lot will understand what I mean and why all these difficulties.
The iPad Air 2 is thin, light, and very comfortable, even for two-finger typing on the on-screen keyboard when held upright in portrait orientation. Actually, almost the entire report on the trip to Thailand was typed in this way, like many other texts. As I mentioned above, I use . I chose it because of the built-in custom keyboard, which has additional characters like a comma in the Russian layout, plus you can assign your own frequently used values to several buttons. The built-in virtual joystick for moving the cursor over the text is also useful in work.
When I got a hardware keyboard, happiness generally came. In principle, for typing it turns out complete replacement laptop. There is support for most keyboard shortcuts and shortcuts from OS X, there are additional buttons for iOS that allow you to quickly switch between applications, and the keyboard is almost the same size as a standard laptop. The keys took a little getting used to, but it took no more than a couple of hours to adapt. I described all the nuances of working in such a bundle in the review, the link to which is a little higher, but here I will only mention the main points related specifically to the tablet.
On an iPad Air 2 with a hardware keyboard, I type great amount texts, including the one you are currently reading. The typing speed is the same as on the MacBook, and the use allows you to create almost ready-to-publish texts with styles, built-in lists and links. The speed of the tablet also contributes to this. There are no slowdowns or delays when switching keyboard layouts, switching between browser, email client, dictionary, and text editor. Feels like when working with a personal MacBook - everything is very fast. At one time, I wrote the same about, but then the minimum delays were still present, although they were invisible in comparison with the previous model. In this case, there are no complaints at all, at all.
In general, there is nothing surprising in this, since the performance used in the tablet Apple processor A8x is close to the x86 Intel processors targeted at ultrabooks. In addition, the fact of having 2 GB of RAM is also important - for iOS, this is just a huge amount of RAM. Skeptics who now think that there are Android devices with 3 GB and even 4 GB of RAM, I want to read here, or even better, where the guys note that iOS uses RAM four times more efficiently than Android on average. That is, for the same operations iPhone memory or an iPad needs four times less than an Android device. Of course, not everything is so simple and beautiful in reality, but the same 2 GB of RAM in the iPad Air 2 could well be compared with 8 GB of RAM in an Android tablet. But we will talk about this a little later and in another section.
Here I would also like to mention the autonomy of the tablet. According to Apple, it is the same as its predecessor, but still more powerful stuffing and more RAM take their toll, plus a thinner chassis. In typewriter mode, when I also actively use the browser and a number of other programs, the device can work 5–7 hours, no more. The same iPad 4 was more tenacious in this regard. Unfortunately, miracles do not happen, and for the minimum thickness and power, you still have to pay with autonomy. We wait .
Content management
I also use it as a browser on iPad and iPhone safari. It is faster than any competitors and I like its interface. In addition, all bookmarks and tabs open on different devices are instantly synchronized between them - this is very convenient. By the way, Chrome also has a similar feature, tied to account Google, but on OS X I also prefer Safari. Although in the past for a long time in iOS used because of plugins and full screen mode. But the first ones are now not particularly needed, but full screen mode It's been built into Safari for a long time.
Pages on the iPad Air 2 are loaded almost instantly, and completely. There are no moments when you load a long article, quickly scroll, and it starts to load in the process. Well, or I didn't notice them. The only thing that annoys Safari is the problems with finding a word or phrase on a page in the WordPress admin panel, which appeared with the advent of iOS 8. Previously, these were only on Android, but now, on the contrary, the “Robot” has no problems, mobile browser Apple is. In particular, when trying, for example, to fix spelling mistake in the news, you enter the word you are looking for in the search bar (it is also the address bar in Safari), click on the result found on the page and ... the browser throws you anywhere, but not to the desired word. If, however, you accidentally get to the right place or scroll through the text with your hands, after which you try to correct the word, then the cursor will behave randomly, and putting it in the right place will be problematic. This issue exists on both iPhone and iPad.
There is a solution, albeit a tricky one. Found it by "poke method". As it turned out, the problem is in the word search interface on the page. To get around it, you need to do everything described above until the browser scrolls the page somewhere (supposedly for the search word), marking the desired part of the text with a yellow square (in fact, it can stick out anywhere, including the WordPress interface).
After that, you need to click on the button " Ready" in the lower right corner, turning off the search interface. Then zoom out with a pinch and scroll up the page - the word or phrase you need will be highlighted. Now it can be safely changed, when the search interface is disabled, the cursor behaves normally.
2 GB of RAM also have an effect- you can open at least a dozen pages of varying complexity in Safari, go between them, and they will not be reloaded. But don't expect a miracle. It is worth switching to some other resource-intensive application or toy, launch mail client, Twitter, whatever, then go back to Safari and the pages will start reloading. This is natural and a similar moment is present on Android devices too. Modern web pages are very complex and filled with content compared to those that were 3-5 years ago, they consume a decent amount of RAM and the operating system simply automatically unloads data that is not currently used from it.
Safari is both a work tool and entertainment application for me. Likewise with Twitter. As a client, I use and really look forward to when Tapbots will release . I like the built-in browser, support for Tweet Marker (synchronization of the position in the feed between devices) and the interface as a whole. somehow official client does not attract, and alternatives too. In my Twitter feed, I often find topics for news or articles, which gives this service the title of not only entertaining, but also working.
I actively use RSS in my work, namely the application, which exists only for the iPad, but at the same time I consider it the best RSS client for all platforms. A very high-quality interface, a built-in translator, a lot of functions for working with tapes, the ability to mark as “read” materials of a certain age, support for a lot of relevant services, etc. This is a whole working combine, which has no analogues on any platform so far. Recommend.
Sometimes I have to edit images for news directly on the tablet, and for this I use Photoshop Touch [download from the App Store], although I recently bought an iOS version, but so far my hands have not reached it.
I have veteran set as unit converter The Converter[download from the App Store], which lives and develops on iOS yet since iPhone OS 2.x.
My main email- this is Gmail, with which the Apple branded client never learned to work normally (no Push support), so you have to use the application of the same name from Google at the same time as inbox[download from the App Store]. The latter is the main one, although it does not have all the necessary functions (for example, there is no possibility to mark the letter with an asterisk). Maybe I wouldn’t bother with Inbox, but I like its interface, but for development appearance Gmail client, the Internet company scored, unfortunately. I only use Mail.app for iCloud mail.
As dictionaries / translators I have installed Slovoed[", plus there are a couple of auxiliary applications for learning English. V this case I will not sing the praises of the iPad, since there are similar applications for Android, but on iOS miscellaneous there are still more kinds of tutorials and often they are of better quality.
The essence of this section of the article is to show that the iPad is not only a working or entertainment tool, but also an excellent gadget for studying and improving certain skills. In addition, the iPad is best gadget for kids. Android tablets are still very far from that huge assortment of fairy tales, encyclopedias and various kinds of tutorials that are on the iPad.
Content consumption
iPad Air 2 is not only work, but also entertainment. The ratio is somewhere 50 to 50. I already mentioned Twitter and web surfing. In addition, I use Facebook and Vkontakte clients, I haven’t gotten sick with other social networks yet, and I’m only present in the latter, as they say, for show.
Flipping through the Facebook or Twi feed on iPad is very convenient. And I would like to point out that the font in Facebook is comfortable on a large tablet, but on the iPad mini it is small. In fact, there is no adaptation for a 7.9-inch display. The application is simply reduced to this size and that's it. Similarly with Safari, which I mentioned above. It was when I got the iPad Air 2 that I only then understood the people who loudly declared that the iPad mini is an unfinished tablet that Apple released only under market and consumer pressure. Unfinished not in terms of hardware stuffing, everything is in order with him. The company simply did not do a thorough adaptation of the interface for the baby, and this is felt, starting with the fact that you have to increase the system font, continuing to dance with "fonts" in third party applications, allowing you to change the size of the font size, and ending with the mentioned small test on Facebook and on many pages in Safari. Tablet iOS interface thoroughly sharpened only for a 9.7-inch display. You can agree with this, you can disagree, these are the realities of life, unfortunately. In general, indirect evidence that for Apple a small tablet is just a temporary toy, with which it does not particularly bother, is the third generation of iPad mini, which differs from the previous one only in the presence of Touch ID.
But back to entertainment. In addition to social networks, the iPad is actively used by me to watch videos. I use the official YouTube client and ProTube for Internet video (the latter allowed you to save videos in the cache, but Google banned it, so you have to look for alternatives). Serials and others downloaded from different sources I watch movies without first transcoding through . The program has a terrible, spartan interface, but it is made with a big reserve for the future. It perfectly reproduces video of any current format, supports AC3 and even 10-bit video stream. Importantly, it does not put the movies downloaded into the device into backup iTunes. There is only one complaint - there is no support for external audio tracks, but external subtitles picks up without problems.
Of course, the iPad for me is also gaming gadget. This is basically the best and most powerful gaming tablet on the market. Any toys fly and there are a lot of them in my personal collection. I'm ashamed to admit, but I haven't even finished most of them, and I haven't even played some of them yet. I buy and save until the future. Although, even the children are cut and the wife too, so the content is not wasted.
iPad Air 2 is lightweight and thin for gaming. It became comfortable for me to play scroll shooters on it and now I continue to often snipe enemies in . Finally, he began to pass, although the family had long mastered all three parts. From time to time I play Bastion, plus dozens of toys are still waiting in the wings.
I did not notice any special heating of the tablet during games, slowdowns or freezes. In principle, there are no complaints.
Finally, it is worth mentioning reading. I do not change a long tradition and use it on iPhone and iPad. For big articles there is Pocket. Just in case, they stand i2Reader(This reader is for FB2 and other exotic formats for iOS, I have been using it since iOS 1.x and Installer).
No alternatives
In terms of characteristics, there are no alternatives to the iPad Air 2 right now. Yes, it is relatively expensive compared to many competitors, but for the money the device offers you the maximum of what you can get from a tablet today. On the other side, iPad owners Air can not strain - there is no point in changing it to a new product, if you are not a very big fan of games.
On the other hand, the need for a particular gadget is determined by needs. In my case, the device works and works out 100% of investments - it is both a home entertainment gadget, and a working tool, and a means for developing skills that are important to me. If you needed a tablet only for children, the iPad mini would be enough, and even the first generation. If I don’t often print on the road, the iPhone 6 Plus could be quite enough for entertainment. By the way, I mainly use it during some trips to watch videos, surf the web and other entertainment topics. The Apple tablet replaces the iPad mini in this regard completely. The only pity is that it discharges rather quickly. While I was without an iPad for a week, the poor iPhone had to be plugged into an outlet a couple of times a day.
Generally a bunch big iPad with iPhone 6 Plus I consider it the most convenient for active users Apple products. Still, for web surfing and many other operations, the iPad mini is not so comfortable because of the too small font, which is quite common. And for toys, videos, and web surfing on the go, a big iPhone is the best fit, and you don't have to carry two gadgets with you. Well, Apple did not bother with a thorough adaptation of the iPad mini interface - this is noticeable and sad.
And while it may seem like it couldn't get any better to Apple lovers, some tablets are quite seriously superior to the iPad in certain aspects. Although on the other hand, it all comes down to personal tastes and preferences, however, we decided to pick up 5 excellent, in our opinion, alternatives to an Apple device.
More for less:GoogleNexus 10
The appearance of the Google Nexus 10 tablet can compete with the Apple tablet and be a good alternative to the iPad 4 with Retina display. If the diagonals of the tablets are the same 10 inches, the resolution of the Nexus 2560 by 1600 pixels with 300 ppi exceeds retina display with a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels and a density of 264 pixels per inch. The Google Nexus 10 is powered by a dual-core processor and a quad-core graphics chipset, matching the iPad's hardware. However, the Nexus 10 has 2GB of RAM, while the iPad only has 1GB.
Great stylus:Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy Note will be good iPad alternative in the event that you want two features for your tablet - memory expansion and a multifunctional stylus. Thanks to the microSD slot, Note 10 can use up to 64 GB of memory, providing the user with enough space to store a variety of files and photos. As we know, iPad's memory cannot be expanded. But what really sets Samsung apart from other tablets is S Pen stylus. It offers pressure-sensitive text input and convenient use thanks to the icons on the device itself. At $500, you'll find high-resolution screens or impressive performance in a tablet, but you won't find a stylus this comfortable anywhere else.
Tiny office: Microsoft Surface Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro can be considered more computer than a tablet thanks to its Intel Core i5 processor, 2GB of RAM and a USB port. But him touch screen and great portability makes it a strong competitor in the tablet market. With Surface Pro, you can install Microsoft Office and any other programs familiar from working with personal computer. This can be very useful when you need reliable software, and not just the functionality usually provided by applications. But the Microsoft Surface Pro costs $799 for the 64GB version, more than $100 more than the 64GB version of the iPad, and weighs nearly 300 grams more.
Specifications: Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
With a 1.6GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, microSD and Micro HDMI ports, a 1920x1200 Full VRHD display, and rugged Gorilla Glass, it's clear that the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is betting on its specs. In addition, you can add a keyboard, trackpad, SD card reader and USB port to the tablet and you practically have a full-fledged computer in the palm of your hand. For $500 you will not find a second tablet with such specifications.
Economy Class: Kindle Fire HD
Most premium tablets start at $500 and up, but if you don't have too many requirements for such a device, then the Kindle Fire HD needs to take a closer look. This tablet is specified for playing media files, which is helped by a screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels with a density of 254 ppi. It's also powered by a dual-core processor, so if you need to watch videos and surf the web from a tablet, the $269 price seems more reasonable than what other expensive tablets offer.
For the actual work of an engineer, designer or scientist, the Apple platforms are not yet sufficiently developed. Those who want to bet, put Wolfram Mathematica, COMSOL or a full-fledged NX / Catia on any Apple device- there are a lot of examples of popular software without analogues on iOS and OS X.
Main advantages new Apple worth mentioning is the screen diagonal, excellent display, powerful processor, a sufficient amount of RAM and support for working with a high-quality stylus. In certain market segments similar functions are in demand, but it cannot be said about the uniqueness of the iPad Pro. Many of its competitors, operating at a much more convenient Windows work 8/10 have been around for a long time and are not going to give up their positions. Devices under Android control we will not seriously consider it, since so far most of the working software has not been ported to this platform, and in the future the situation is unlikely to change.
So, let's see what the market offers today.
Cube i7 Stylus
w3bsit3-dns.comFirst class tablet made in China. It has it all: an excellent 10.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 and a substrate for working with Wacom's signature stylus (suitable for professional drawing), Intel processor Core M-5Y10c with Intel HD Graphics 5300, 4 GB DDR3. Internal memory is implemented in the form of a full-fledged SSD-drive with a capacity of 64 GB. As a workhorse at a cost of about $300-$350 - just a song! Few entrances and exits full USB 2.0 is only available in the branded docking station (it's also a keyboard). There is microHDMI, a slot for memory cards and microUSB-OTG 3.0. True, the weight “pumped up” - as much as 690 grams. Stylus and docking station sold separately.
There are cheaper and simple modifications tablet without stylus support: 10.6 and 11.6 inches. Of these, the most interesting is the version on Remix OS - android variant, you can also upgrade to Windows 8. The $200 Cube i7 Remix is one of the cheapest tablets in its form factor. You can also buy your own dock to it. But you have to put up with a low-powered Atom Z3735F processor, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory.
Cube i11
ainol-novo.com In appearance, the tablet is very similar to the previous one in the Remix version, it is equipped with the same screen and runs on a single-chip Intel platform Z3735F, however it is equipped with Wacom pen support. RAM is also 2 GB (however, the internal memory is already 64 GB), which for basic tasks on Windows it is enough. Among the interfaces are: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 3.0, microSD slot, microHDMI. Weight Cube i11 - 700 grams. The cost of the device reaches 290 dollars.
Teclast X16
itnovosti.org.ua This tablet can be called a direct competitor to the iPad Pro. Latest processor X7-Z8700, 11.6" IPS display (1920×1080), 8 GB RAM, stylus support. According to the company's tradition, the novelty is equipped with a dualBoot-loader: you can use both Android 5.1 and Windows 10. The internal memory is 64 GB. Peripheral interfaces are represented by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB-OTG, microHDMI, USB 3.0 and a slot for memory cards. It is possible to connect a branded docking station (aka keyboard). Among other things, Teclast X16 is equipped with a very capacious battery. The weight of the novelty is 600 grams. The price of the tablet at the pre-order stage fluctuates around $390.
Onda V116w
onda-tablet.com Another version of the Chinese tablet for relatively little money: 11.6 inches diagonal with the usual resolution, the ability to connect a keyboard, 4 GB of RAM. Of interest is the platform on which the model from Onda works - Intel Core M5Y10C with the Intel HD 5300 video core. The usual interfaces for communication with the world include a slot for a SIM card with 3G support. There is Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and a couple of full-size USB - 2.0 and 3.0. There are microUSB and miniHDMI. True, the mass of the Onda V116w is as much as 790 grams, and this is unacceptably much at a cost of $440.
Teclast X2
aliexpress.com Perhaps the most interesting device after the Cube i7 Stylus. The same as most of those considered, the screen, core processor M5Y10C. There is a keyboard and a stylus. A nice addition will be two full-size USB 3.0 and a 3G slot (other interfaces are similar to Teclast X16). By the way, inside is a real SATA, to which it is connected conventional SSD, which will have a very positive effect on the speed of the computer. Weight - as much as 880 grams. Very interesting design, and for only $400.
