Most people neglect backing up their devices. Normally this isn’t so much of a problem as contacts and calendar events are automatically stored in the cloud, and Google can backup device settings too. To the other extreme, we have the likes of Titanium Backup, a comprehensive backup application for power users with root privileges.

If you find that the built-in Google Backup isn’t comprehensive or reliable enough for you and that Titanium Backup is overkill for you, then Carbon App Sync and Backup, made by the same team who made ClockworkMod Recovery, can provide an excellent intermediate-level solution. Bonus — it doesn’t your device to have root access, but it helps.

In this post, learn how to use Carbon App Sync and Backup for creating backup copies of your data and files, as well as for syncing two or more Android devices. You may also watch the video tutorial towards the end of this post.

To root or not to root

Carbon Backup offers advantages to those who are brave enough to root their device. However, this route isn’t for everyone. Some devices are easier to root than others, and it usually means wiping your device. On the other hand, if you are feeling competent or brave enough then advantages await the beholders of root privileges.

Having a rooted phone means you can go on to try alternative firmwares like CyanogenMod or Paranoid Android. You can also expert apps like Titanium Backup and apps that will over or under clock your CPU. If you use Juice Defender to extend your battery life, extra features are available to rooted users.

Similarly, Carbon Backup offers advantages to rooted users. Without root, users will need to install the Carbon Backup desktop agent to enable the app to work at all. This makes Carbon Backup much more inconvenient to use, and pretty much rules out scheduled backups. Furthermore, having root lets you backup all of your Wi-Fi profiles.

If you do not root your device, you’ll need the desktop agent (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) which can be downloaded from http://www.clockworkmod.com/carbon. To enable the Carbon Backup client on your device, start the agent on your desktop and connect your device via USB. Once the green tick appears on the desktop agent, Carbon Backup is ready to go and you can disconnect the cable.

Going Premium

Note that most of the features discussed in this guide are unlocked when the premium version of Carbon Backup. Specifically these features are device to device sync, backup schedules, and backing up to cloud locations. Therefore, it’s recommended if that you go for the premium option. Even if you don’t like paying for apps, this comes with our recommendation.

Backing up

Carbon Backup has two tabs, “Backup” and “Restore and sync”. Each has a list of all the applications installed on your device, with a tick box to select which items will be backed up. As of version 1.1.0.0 of Carbon Backup allows you to backup settings for your Launcher, SMS store, user dictionary and Wi-Fi profiles (requires root). Carbon also features a control panel that resembles an upside down notification shade. Swipe it upwards to reveal its options. You’ll see you can “Select All” and “Deselect all,” along with a preview of all the apps you’ve selected. Also note that there’s an additional section at the end of the backup list of applications that do not allow their data to be backed up, even if you do have root privileges.

When Carbon Backup creates a copy of your apps, it also saves the APK files so that you don’t have to revisit the Play Store to reinstall everything. However, that creates a sizable backup (i.e. gigabytes). However, the control shade has an option to backup ‘App Data Only’. This will dispense with saving all of the installation files and only save the personal configuration data for each application. This will create smaller backups which makes transfers quicker ­– whether over a cable or uploading to the cloud. You can also save sets of backed up applications by giving a name to your selection – this option is also found in the control shade.

Once you are ready to begin backing up, tap the “Backup” button.

Where and how to save backups

When beginning to backup you are given a list of destinations to save your backed up files. The options include the internal storage of your device, or cloud accounts: Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box (premium only). There is also an option to schedule this backup you’ve configured – even though it seems counter intuitive to create a schedule from a menu of places to save your data.

When setting a schedule, specific the time and day of the week, then you may opt to have the scheduled backup only run when the device is connected to Wi-Fi, and/or when the device is charging. The schedule settings also features an icon (to the right of the backup icon previews) that indicates to the backup destination, and tapping this allows you to edit the destination.

Note the clock icon in the upper toolbar of Carbon Backup – this allows you to review the schedules you’ve already set up. From this list you can also delete schedules via long press gesture.

Once the backup begins, an Android system screen appear for a few seconds where you can add a password to encrypt your data. You’ll have to act quickly as this screen is soon gone, and make sure to save the password safely as there will be no way to recover to the password if you lose it.

Restoring

Swiping over to the “Restore and Sync” tab gives a list of all the cloud locations you have backups stored on, and all of the devices you have backups stored in – i.e. your internal storage and other Carbon Backup clients running on your WiFi network (more on this below). Note that Carbon Backup recently implemented support for multiple devices after having saved to the cloud from multiple devices into one shared pool. To handle this change over you’ll find a drop-down list at the top of the screen after selecting a given cloud backup location. The list will have an entry for the device you’re currently using and for your shared backup storage. Note that on Dropbox you’ll find the Carbon Backup files in the Dropbox\Apps\ClockworkMod Carbon subfolder of your Dropbox folder and in Google Drive, files are stored in a folder called com.koushikdutta.backup. I confess I’m not a Box user, so I appeal to you to advice in the comments as to where backups are stored on that service.

As with selecting what to backup, you can select some or all of the items available for restoration, with the same control shade for selecting or deselecting all options. Just tap the ‘Restore’ button and things Carbon will begin restoring the backup.

As when backing up your device, a system screen will appear briefly for you to enter the password you used if you encrypted your backup.

Backing up and restoring from a PC

Carbon Backup comes complete with a web interface that allows you to view the installed apps and settings on a given device via your desktop browser. To enable this, tap the menu button (“…”) and select “PC Download”. The app will then show you a screen which gives you the IP address you’ll have to enter into your desktop browser to view the web interface. You can also quickly enable and disable the server via the large on-screen circular button.

The web interface allows you to select some or all of the installed apps (including system settings as described above, e.g. launcher, Wi-Fi, etc). Once the selection is made and you have clicked the blue “Start Backup” button in your desktop browser a zip file will be transferred from your Android device to your desktop computer via your home network. Note that if you wish to encrypt your backup, you’ll have to enter a password on the Android device as before, i.e. you cannot set an encryption key from your desktop.

Restoring works similarly, you’ll need to locate the zip file you previously downloaded from your Android device and drag it onto the web page or select via file navigator. The file will be copied from your desktop to your Android device. If the backup is encrypted, you’ll have to be quick and enter the password on your Android device, as described above.

Be aware that it can take a while to transfer the backup file from your device. Even if you only backup application data, the backup file can be hundreds of megabytes. If you do a full backup, the file will be gigabytes in size and would probably be best left working overnight. When a PC backup is complete, the server will automatically turn off.

Synchronizing apps between Android devices

In addition to viewing the apps on your device that can be backed up via your desktop browser, the Carbon Backup client can browse the contents of other devices via a Wi-Fi network. In the Restore and Sync tab, tap “Refresh Device List”. This will cause your client to check your LAN for other Android devices that are running the Carbon Backup server. Tapping on any of the devices that appear allows you to browse the list of installed applications. Items in the list of items on another device can be selected and restored to the device you’re currently using.

Note, therefore, that the device to device restoration model is a Pull method rather than Push. This is good from a security point of view as you have to deliberately copy data form another device to yours, rather than anyone else having the ability to inject (i.e. push) app data to your device.

This is useful, for example, if you’re playing a game and have it installed on multiple devices. You can maintain your progress by manually pulling data from the last device you played on. Also, you can quickly install an app on your device by restoring it from another device, which may or may not be more convenient than looking for the device in the Play Store. I have not tested this with two devices configured with different Google accounts, but I expect that DRM limitations will apply if you try to copy a paid app from another device to your device.

Video Guide

Conclusion

If you want a reliable way to backup your apps, backup your data, or to sync app data and settings among your various Android without having to root your device, Carbon App Sync and Backup may be the solution that you’re looking for.

What method do you use for backing up your Android phone or tablet? Have you tried Carbon App Sync and Backup — and did it work well for you? Share your thoughts and stories about Carbon App Sync and Backup.

My regular life has me working from home, using a heterogeneous set of mobile platforms. Recently though, I’ve been travelling, which coincided with starting to use the Nexus 4, in complement to my Nexus 7. This is my story of going from familiar surroundings and being platform agnostic to living on the road and having Nexus devices being my front-line tech. 

Choosing apps and transitioning from Windows Phone to Android

Prior to the Nexus 4, I had not used Android as my phone for quite a while. My main use of Android was with the Nexus 7, where I found Android’s widgets and the extra real-estate of the 7″ screen made much more sense. At the risk of raising the ire of the Android Authority readers, I had been using Windows Phone 8 as my phone operating system (on a Lumia 920). Without making the case for Live Tiles here, I’ll just say that it took me awhile to figure out how to best configure the discrete phone homescreens for my needs. I’m glad to say that six weeks later, I’ve fine tuned things to something that makes sense to me.

It was that building of homescreens that I found the hardest part of the transition to using Android as a phone again. As for apps, it will come as no surprise to hear that for every app Windows Phone has, there are several alternatives on Android. The hardest substitute to find was an office suite, an area in which Windows Phone has a natural advantage. Having spent a good deal of money on several office suites for Android I decided, somewhat ironically, that the free of charge Kingsoft Office was the best all-round office app for both phone and tablet. With that out of the way, adapting a largely Microsoft dominated workflow to Android was easy given that it has OneNote and SkyDrive clients.

Nexus 4 vs Lumia 920

When living in an unfamiliar city, the smartphone is a great aid to finding your way around. As someone who spends his working life talking about mobile devices, I felt obliged to pit the Lumia’s Nokia Maps against Google Maps Navigation for walking directions (I don’t drive). While Google Maps was able to route me through the footpaths of nearby municipal areas, Nokia Maps’ walking directions were limited to roadways. Also, while Nokia Maps has a good set of local search results for most areas, it’s no substitute for being able to overlay a Google search onto a map. This was demonstrated when searching for local branches of well known UK stores, rather than the prescribed tourist attractions and places to eat. On the other hand though, the user interface for all of the Google Maps products need some work. It’s not always obvious where to find options and the presentation of results are somewhat basic.

Curious directions from Google Maps walking navigation

One way in which both navigation packages fell down was with a niche of public transit navigation. While both Nokia’s and Google’s offerings could suggest bus routes, neither were aware of the tram system in the city I was visiting.

Another phone function that is particularly important to me is the camera. I think most Android watchers would agree with me that the Nexus 4 camera is acceptable but definitely average, this meant that the Lumia 920 was often kept at hand for camera duty. I also found that the Jelly Bean camera application was continually losing focus lock and starting to hunt for a focal spot all over again, which made it difficult to quickly take an in-focus photo.

An example of a Microsoft PhotoSynth

An Android Photo Sphere

An area in which Android did surpass the imaging capabilities of Windows Phone was with Photo Spheres. Microsoft has its own implementation of these Street View like wrap around images, known as PhotoSynth. However, I found the results to be much less impressive with distinct distortions and visible joins between images, whereas Android’s Photo Spheres, if taken carefully, produce much smoother and convincing results.

Dealing with limited connectivity

While travelling in the UK, I had unlimited mobile data but the signal coverage was often poor. To save going over the restrictive bandwidth cap of the place I was staying, I made use of mobile data via the Nexus 4 as much as possible. While using the (WiFi only) Nexus 7 as a substitute laptop, it was a cinch to set up the phone as a WiFi hotspot. Furthermore, SMS communication could also be handled on the tablet thanks to the “Tablet Talk” app, which allows the phone to synchronise with the tablet and send real time notifications of messages – most importantly it allows you to reply to messages on the tablet without having to get up and fetch your phone!

Things got more complicated when I wanted to get online with my Windows 8 laptop via the Nexus 4. Setting up a WiFi hotspot should have just worked, but there were frequent issues where the laptop reported a “Limited” connection, meaning while they were connected, I couldn’t get online. Fortunately, Android has a trick that Windows Phone is still lacking, that is USB tethering. I find this to be a much better way of getting online via a phone as relaying data between two different radio systems is a power hungry activity, and so it’s good for the phone to leech some power from the laptop it’s serving.

Android data monitor

The data counter that was included from Ice Cream Sandwich made it far easier to keep a track of my usage. While I was on an allegedly unlimited package, it was still reassuring to keep track just in case I was dinged with a fair usage penalty.

The next leg of my journey took me to Nova Scotia, Canada. There, mobile data is prohibitively expensive, and so any smartphone is suddenly restricted to only working at its full potential while in range of a WiFi hotspot. This means staying at home or stopping off at somewhere like Tim Horton’s or Starbucks. Otherwise, my shiny new Nexus 4 felt somewhat hobbled when out and about.

Google Now is changing how phones might work

As I was using a Nexus 4, I thought I ought to adopt Google Now as much as I could, even going so far as to place its widget on my primary homescreen. Prior to going off on my travels, I bemoaned Google Now for only providing information about weather and stock prices. Many Android users will readily point out that Google Now will give you navigation tips for getting from home to work and back – that’s great but I typically work at home and so never benefited from that.

However, once I started moving around, I began to see these transit hints popping up and even though they weren’t relevant to me, I saw how they could be useful. While visiting a friend in London, he showed me how that even though he had not informed Google Now as to where he worked, it had eventually learnt his work location based on where he was going and spending his time. Moreover, it even started to suggest that he wasn’t taking the most optimal route and suggested better routes. Given his local knowledge of the London transport system, I am not sure Google knew best in this case, but still it was impressive to see what Google Now was doing on its own initiative.

Another transport feature Google Now occasionally displayed to me was showing me how far I had walked around while exploring the areas I’ve been living in. However, it has only shown the pedometer card once, and I would like to know how to see it again!

Public Transport advice from Google Now

Things got more interesting as I approached railway stations and airports. Not only did Google Now display a card of photos taken nearby, but it also started to show departure times. However, the departure times were always for buses leaving the station, not the trains or planes that were coming and going.

I can see how bus times for getting connecting transport could be useful, but I’d have much rather have seen a card appear showing a departure board so I could see whether the train or plane I’d just arrived for was on time or not. While in London, Google Now did exactly that when approaching tube stations. It fetched data directly from the Transport for London web service and let me know when subsequent underground services were due.

On the other hand, Google Now excelled in the case of handling flight information. I’d booked a flight from London to Halifax (NS) with Air Canada. Google detected that email, and the night before my flight, the Google Now widget started showing me a card to reassure me that my flight was on time. I loved this, but the night before seemed a little premature to let me know one way or another.

I’m writing this feature from Nova Scotia, but Google Now knows that the UK is my home country. As such, the widget always shows me up to date exchange rates. In the Google Now app, it constantly shows me the exchange rate, nearby attractions and the time at home. The latter is great for working out what friends and family are doing and whether it’s too late at night to phone home.

Google Now is clearly in an early state, I don’t feel that it has reached its potential, for me at least. However, there is nothing else out there that offers useful information before you even think about needing it. While the iPhone has a great virtual assistant in Siri, Google Now is working to give you what you want before you realise you need it.

Google Now offers useful information while abroad

The story so far

So far, the Nexus devices have been excellent companions for travelling. The Nexus 7, when combined with the nifty little Bluetooth keyboard we’ve seen before, is a great substitute for my laptop in many cases and has the advantage of fitting into my coat pocket.

As for the Nexus 4, this is obviously the reference model for Jelly Bean, and does a great job of embodying all the new features. The downsides of the Nexus 4 are that it has a non-replaceable battery (forcing me to carry a portable charger) and it’s fragile without the bumper case (I have two).

If you can’t find an official Nexus 4 bumper, GenX make some colourful options

Don’t forget your Nexus travel charger!

The other downside to the Nexus 4 is its average camera. Especially when travelling you want to capture precious memories and sights. I’m loathed to entrust the Nexus 4 to be the device I use to photograph the things around me. I have been using it to a limited amount, but the twitchy focusing of the Android camera app simply makes it a chore. It’s for this reason that the Lumia 920 is sticking around in my tech bag.

When the HTC G1 appeared in 2008, there was no suggesting that Android could run anything but a phone. Since then, Android has dominated the smartphone market and begun to appear on other types of devices. While Android is far from market saturation, it’s time to wonder whether it’s captured as much of the market as it’s going to. Therefore, what should Android be used for next?

The battle for the living room

Coming up with an effective interface for a so-called Smart TV has been the holy grail of most tech companies, but so far nobody has developed a system that has truly taken off. Various companies are already experimenting with Android dongles for the TV (see our feature) which is a step in the right direction. The problem is that these devices are for a niche market – and that niche is made up of the people who would actually seek out such a device – otherwise these dongles are not well known. Most of them also suffer from the age old problem that has plagued all home theatre PCs (HTPCs), i.e. controllers.

The only groups that seem to have got this right are the people who only make media server software such as XBMC and Plex, who put the remote control in an app for your tablet or phone. Most people have their phones at their side all the time, and so it makes sense that the phone should be the controller. A touch device can have a completely configurable interface (i.e. not restricted by physical buttons) and there would be no issue with connecting or pairing the two devices, as they would presumably be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Controllers aside, Android is well placed to be the basis for a smart TV system because of its open environment. This would also be an area in which custom skins would be more acceptable, as consumers are used to different TV brands having different menu designs, and so there wouldn’t be quite the same push-back as there is by smartphone enthusiasts.

There would, of course, be an advantage in standardising the device to a certain degree so that the Play Store may still be used, as the app ecosystem is Android’s other big advantage. Being able to run apps on the TV, whether it be 3D games or content delivery applications such as BBC iPlayer, NetFlix or even a podcast client, is what will hook users into actually wanting to buy in the first place, and staying engaged.

There is of course, the problem with a multi-user environment. With third party services, it is going to be the user’s job to create family accounts and to authenticate them. However, Google could should create a structure for ‘account groups’, so that content purchased from Google Play Music or Movies purchased by one member of the family would be available to others (not just trial plays as is currently the case). I’m sure this idea would send rights holders into conniptions. However, I don’t see this as any different from spouses sharing a book or DVD. Alternatively, an Android Smart TV system could support the same multi-user system as found on Android 4.2.1 – this would be easier but less elegant.

Android Smart TVs are going to have to be gaming-capable too. The idea of stand-alone games consoles is going away (unfortunately for the likes of Ouya). This is evidenced in how the established games consoles have become home media centres too. Consumers want as few devices underneath their televisions as possible, and consequently as few cables as possible. Why have a separate games console when you can have something that will fetch all your content AND play games?

Staying on the theme of minimising the number of boxes beneath the TV, there is the dilemma of whether an Android Smart TV should be a separate device that connects to the TV set or whether everything should be built into the TV itself. Manufactures would love the latter as it would inevitably speed up the upgrade cycle for TVs. However, flat panel displays do not come cheap, and so – sadly – having the Android ‘brains’ in a separate (and changeable) box would be the most pragmatic solution. The best of both worlds would be to have a standard card slot on TVs for an Android ‘brain’ to dock into, but it’s unlikely we’ll see manufacturers cooperating to that extent.

Smashing Windows

I recently questioned whether Android could replace Windows, and concluded that it wasn’t a realistic possibility given the massive user base and industry acceptance of Windows. There was a caveat to that defeatist conclusion in that there are many individuals for whom using an Android system is a realistic alternative to a Windows machine. This is because less technically inclined users are simply living in a browser, and so wouldn’t know or care what operating system they’re using as long as they can launch a browser.

Furthermore, the app environment is more controlled in Android than desktop Windows, however Windows 8 and RT are catching up in that regard, but there isn’t the same breadth of apps as on Android. With the multi-user support present on Android tablets, the idea of an Android desktop, or at least an ‘Android family computer’ becomes much more realistic.

Google is also pursuing Chrome OS – see our feature on the potential of Chrome OS. The problem here is that Chrome OS and Android are too different – they are totally different ecosystems – the fact that they both run the Linux kernel is irrelevant. Does Google really need to be putting resources into two ecosystems?

Android is perfectly able to run in a desktop context, one could argue more so than Chrome OS. While Google may be following the same pattern as Apple’s OS X and iOS, Microsoft is the target to take on. While Google is dividing its efforts between two operating systems, Microsoft is working to unify its platforms. So far it has succeeded in getting its PC, tablet, and smartphone operating systems running the same kernel and sharing many APIs, and there are hints that Windows Phone will ultimately share the same app store as Windows 8 and RT.

This isn’t about what’s best for the companies concerned, but about user experience. Android is in healthy a position to fend off Windows RT and Windows Phone 8, but is Chrome OS taking attention away from the already thriving Android ecosystem at the cost of effective competition against Windows?

Suggesting that another operating system could fill the shoes of Windows sounds crazy, it certainly isn’t going to happen in the near future, desktop Linux still hasn’t managed it. What about the much longer term though? Android is surprisingly well-placed to take on the mantle of the Redmond behemoth. Don’t believe me? Keep reading to see why.

Convergence

The idea of a mobile operating system replacing a desktop operating system would have been ludicrous just a few years ago. However, Microsoft has firmly pinned it colours to the mast with Windows 8. It, like everyone else, sees that the future is mobile, and has started morphing the world’s staple operating system into something more mobile-friendly. The new tiled interface of Windows 8 is made for touch input, has an app store and sandboxes all of its apps. That looks pretty much like a mobile OS to me. However, unless you’re using a Windows RT device, all of that touch interface is glued on top of the traditional desktop interface.

Meanwhile, Google is moving toward the desktop with Chrome OS, and Android is finally taking off as a tablet operating system. Of all the mobile operating systems, Android is the most Windows-like. It has an easily accessible file system (unlike iOS or Windows Phone). It as the most accessible development environment, and the most friendly terms for OEMs, i.e. it’s free of cost. Furthermore, Android is appearing on an ever wider range of devices, from the Galaxy Camera, to Smart TVs and the Ouya gaming console.

Compared to other platforms

Ironically, for Microsoft, Android is more Windows-like than Windows Phone. The similarities can be seen more from the OEM and developer side than the consumer side, though. Any OEM can build an Android device, unlike iOS, and Windows Phone requires a royalty. It’s cheaper to get into developing Android apps and it’s just as hard to diagnose problems in Android due to the heterogeneous hardware landscape – just like the PC world. Also, Android is much more affordable than other mobile platforms. iOS devices are beyond the financial reach of many people and while there are some reasonably priced Windows Phone handsets, they are in the minority of the range.

What’s more, Android has enabled OEMs to experiment with innovative hardware formats. Remember that the Asus Transformer and Motorola Atrix laptop dock were available long before the current crop of Windows 8 convertible Ultrabooks.

Tablets are the new PC

Sales figures show that tablets are becoming ever more popular with some analysts suggesting tablets will overtake PC sales in the near future. This makes sense, as someone who exclusively used Linux for a long time then transferred back to Windows for work reasons, I know just how complicated Windows actually is. To do anything more than web browsing, Windows is an overwhelming maze of menus and dialogues, it’s certainly no easier to use than desktop Linux. Whenever I see my non-tech literate friends and family proudly showing off their new Windows laptop, I cringe when I think of all the things that are going to go wrong for them.

The comparatively simplified and controlled user interface that we find on all mobile devices, including Android, is far more suitable to the majority of consumers who are not tech-literate and have little inclination to learn. For the record, I disagree with such attitudes, it’s as irresponsible as owning a car and not understanding how it works, but that’s just me, I know most people will never subscribe to that point of view.

The future of Windows

The factor that has always been in favor of Windows is inertia. Windows is the de facto operating system across the world. However, Microsoft’s way of getting everybody into a touch interface has been with the tiled (formally known as ‘Metro’) interface. Not only has the market reaction to this been lukewarm, but many OEMs have not gotten behind the drive, as evidenced by the number of laptops that lack touchscreens.

Disclosure, I have been using and preferring Windows 8 (to 7) since its release preview.

Reluctance to adopt the tiled interface, combined with the meteoric rise in popularity could start many people thinking about turning to Android tablets with keyboard docks as alternatives to Windows Ultrabooks, especially when most Ultrabooks cost marginally more than Android tablet and keyboard combinations.

The other advantage that Android currently has over Windows 8 and Windows RT is that of apps. Unless the app catalogue volume for Windows RT explodes over the next year or two, Android will still offer a great advantage for apps that people may need for personal and work uses.

Microsoft has been touting the vision that using Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 will offer the best integrated experience between ‘PC’ and phone. However, as someone who regularly uses Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, I have yet to see any meaningful integration. The most effective integration I’ve experienced is SkyDrive and OneNote – both of which are available for Android.

Moreover, look at the user interface of Android phones and tablets. There is far more similarity between the two, and most apps will run on phones and tablets. Meanwhile, the difference with Windows 8, Windows RT and Windows Phone gets tricky to explain to the non-techies in our lives.

On the entertainment side, Microsoft’s Xbox music matching service is an appalling mess, whereas Google Music has been up and running for a long time. Its maturity has made it possible third party developers to create Google Music clients on Windows 8/RT and Windows Phone.

Problems with this vision

There are clearly good reasons for Android to take over from Windows. For example, I’d feel much safer recommending an Android tablet to members of my family than a full blown Windows laptop. However, there are always going to be desktop class applications that people need for their work, such as video or image editing, etc.

Furthermore, Microsoft’s commitment to the tiled touch interface will mean that everyone who owns a home computer will probably end up using, and getting used to Windows 8. Inertia wins again.

Also, the Windows 8 and Windows Phone shared kernel could yet provide a virtuous circle for developers to create apps and games that will run on mobile and on desktops. Even so, Microsoft are not pretending Windows Phone will go any further than third place in the smartphone wars.

Ultimately, waiting for Android to take over from Windows is wishful thinking, but there are an increasing number of individual cases where doing so actually makes a lot of sense.

Blackberry, formally known as Research In Motion (RIM), announced today its much anticipated BlackBerry 10 operating system in a press even that was streamed on the Internet. RIM claims that its Blackberry operating system has been “Re-designed. Re-engineered. Re-invented”, as it announced two devices the Z10 and Q10 that are sporting BB 10 on which the Canadian company’s hopes are so urgently pinned on. Here are the facts fresh from the stream, let’s see how well it compares to our first look.

The Blackberry 10 release has suffered delays, and is seen by most in the industry as a last-ditch attempt to keep the once enterprise-focused smartphone platform afloat. Blackberry has seen numerous setbacks in recent years. It’s much valued end-to-end encryption of email and its proprietary Blackberry Messenger (BBM) system were seen as being compromised when the company had to comply with draconian demands for access by Middle Eastern governments. Further to that, the Blackberry name was on the tips of many in the UK after the London riots where it was claimed that young rioters had used the BBM system to coordinate criminal activities.

The new Blackberry operating system is a complete makeover of the old OS, which was largely based on candy bar form factor devices with front facing full QWERTY keyboards. Whereas the new devices are touch slabs, as has become standard by every other smartphone manufacturer.

Early looks at the new operating system suggests it’s a completely touch-based OS, and a cursory look at the new operating system seems to borrow elements from from existing mobile user interfaces. For example the ‘Flow’ feature for swiping between different applications is reminiscent of WebOS and MeeGo Harmattan, while the emphasis on tasks rather than apps and the social and contact Hub is very much like what is seen in Windows Phone.

The new operating system may be enough to retain existing users, to whom the new touch interface will be new and fresh. However, RIM needs to introduce a new unique innovation that might tempt users away from Android and iOS.

CEO, Thorsten Hines, emphasised productivity and business, and alluded to true multitasking and mobile computing.

Two devices were announced, the Z10 and Q10. The flagship Blackberry Z10 is a 4.2-inch touch slab device sporting an 8MP camera. The Blackberry Q10 is essentially the same device as the Z10, but equipped with a 3.1-inch AMOLED screen and full physical keyboard, as demanded by Blackberry customers and supporters.

Blackberry say that its new devices will ultimately be available via 650 global carriers.

BlackBerry Z10

• 1.5GHz dual-core CPU
• 2GB RAM
• LTE, HSPDA, EDGE, GPRS
• 4.2-inch 1280 x 768, 356 ppi, LCD screen
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n dual-band
• Camera, 8MP autofocus. LED Flash
• Front Camera, 2MP, 720p, 30fps.
• Battery: Li-Ion 1800 mAh

Blackberry’s CEO, Thorosten Hines, stated the following availability details for the Z10, as the company is lab testing the Z10 with 110 carriers globally.

• USA – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile announce pre-orders and price plans today
• UK – Available tomorrow from EE, O2, Phones4U, and more.
• Canada – February 5 retails $149.99 on 3-year contract
• UAE – February 10
  

BlackBerry Q10

The Q10 is essentially the same device as the Z10, but is restructured to accommodate a full QWERTY keyboard – a feature much loved by Blackberry fans. The differences to the Z10 specifications are as follows:

• 3.1-inch AMOLED screen
• Biggest battery in a BlackBerry smartphone (according to an official video, but size not confirmed)
• Physical QWERTY keyboard
• Glass weave body for strength and weight reduction.

No availability details were announced by Blackberry for the Q10 during the media event.

The Nexus 7 is a landmark device in the world of Android tablets. Rather than being a productivity tool though, it was touted as Google’s content consumption device. Despite the release of the Nexus 10, the Nexus 7′s value for money has ensured its long term sales success, as evidenced by the newer 32GB and 3G versions of the device. Just because the Nexus 7 was intended for one purposes doesn’t mean we can’t turn it into something completely different though. Join us as we show you how to turn your Nexus 7 into a mobile office.

Productivity Apps

The easiest way to switch your Nexus 7 into work mode is to load it up with apps from the Play Store. We’ve already written about Nexus 7 productivity apps, but let’s have a quick recap.

Online Notes

Whether you prefer Evernote or Microsoft’s OneNote for online note taking, both of these apps allow you to take notes with text and images that synchronise to the cloud for viewing on your browser and other mobile devices. If you already use one of these services, then check out how to switch from one to another. See our guide for other Android note taking apps too.

Mobile Office Suites

The default option for working on documents and spreadsheets in Android is Google Drive (formally Google Docs). However, sometimes a completely offline office app is a better option. OfficeSuite Pro 6 + (PDF & HD) is a great option if you want direct access to editing files in several cloud services, including Dropbox and SkyDrive, even if it does suffer from some text rendering problems on the Nexus 7. If you want a slicker ‘whiz-bang’ user interface, then try Smart Office 2. It accesses files on DropBox and Google Docs, but not SkyDrive. However, it has a much more enjoyable user experience than OfficeSuite Pro 6.

Miscellaneous

If you are serious about password management, then you should invest in a LastPass subscription which entitles you to use its free mobile clients. The app gives you a secure browser environment too – great for doing your banking.

For blogging, check out the Android WordPress client.

For collaborative project management, try Asana. I’ve been using the unofficial client, but you can also get a native client for around $5.

If you’re a developer, then you must check out DroidEdit Pro which gives color coded syntax and direct editing of files on DropBox.

If you want to get files from other phones or USB drives, then you should install Nexus Media Importer, or if you have root access try Stick Mount.

Accessories

It’s not just software that can transform the Nexus 7 into the perfect mobile office – hardware matters too. Don’t worry though, none of the accessories listed here need be very expensive, with some very cheap accessories you can turn your Nexus 7 into your own little Android Netbook.

USB Host Cable

Picking up where we left off on the apps section, let’s talk about getting files from other devices into your tablet. Neither Nexus Media Importer nor Stick Mount are any use to you unless can connect a USB drive to your Nexus 7. For this, you’ll need a “USB Host Cable”, which has a Micro USB connector for your tablet, and instead of a USB plug on the other end, it has a USB port for connecting USB cables or thumb drives. These cables are inexpensive and easy to pick up ­– run a search on eBay.

Desk Stands

Even though we finally know the release date and price of the Nexus 7 dock, there are simpler alternatives thanks to the huge third party market of iPad accessories. If you look on eBay or Amazon for tablet stands you’ll find a range of designs for very little money. If all you want is to have your Nexus 7 upright on your desk as a second screen, then pretty much any iPad stand will do.

Note that if you want to charge your Nexus 7 while standing on a generic tablet stand, you’ll need to make sure you have screen rotation enabled.

Portable Chargers

Even though the Nexus 7 has a capacious 4,325mAh battery, it can still run down quickly – especially if you’re using Bluetooth and/or GPS. You travel a lot, you should carry a portable charger, which is basically a huge battery, about the size of a phone. There are portable chargers out there with capacities as large as 8,000mAh – enough to charge the Nexus 7 twice. My personal choice is the Proporta TurboCharger 7000 (mAh).

Keyboards

The Pièce de résistance of Nexus 7 accessories are Bluetooth keyboards. While there is a huge market of Bluetooth keyboards, it’s best to buy something that has been designed specifically for your Nexus 7. There are plenty of leather cases with integrated keyboards designed for the Nexus 7. These are good options as long as you will be using the tablet in ‘laptop mode’ while on a desktop, but not on your lap given that they rely on a small stand that flips out from the back of the case.

The best keyboard I have found for the Nexus 7 doesn’t actually have a name, but if you search Google or eBay for “Nexus 7 keyboard stand” you’ll soon find the keyboard shown in the photos there. This keyboard provides a solid base, meaning that you can easily sit it on your lap as a (very) small laptop. It has a narrow trough that allows the Nexus 7 to slot in and sit at a slight angle.

In addition to being a keyboard, it also acts as a case. Its base is covered in a similarly rubberised material as the Nexus 7′s back, and the keyboard has clasps that allows it to clip onto the front of the tablet.

The best of all is that this keyboard is amazingly cheap. There’s no official distributor – it’s not even clear who makes this keyboard, but they’re fairly easy to find if you know what you’re looking for.

I highly recommend this keyboard if you want to turn your Nexus 7 into the Android equivalent of a Chromebook or Netbook.

A lot can happen in a year, and it’s probably foolish to predict what might happen, but we’ll have a go anyway! Android has been doing incredibly well the last few years, and 2013 is set to be no different. As the New Year begins, there’s still time to make some predictions about what might happen in the coming months of 2013. Also, see our article on Technologies we’re looking forward to in 2013.

1. Android in the living room

2012 saw the announcements of the Nexus Q and Ouya console, these followed Google’s seemingly unending efforts to make the Google TV system gain traction with consumers. Given Android’s versatility, we may see Google scrap Google TV and work with OEMs to create more Android powered Smart TVs and set top boxes. While the Nexus Q didn’t live long, it was more of a marketing failure (including pricing) than a technical failure. Given Google’s efforts to get movies available in the Play Store, having Android take over the living room makes more sense than Google TV.

2. Google Wireless

Google’s history with carriers has been something of a Faustian Pact as at the time of its launch, OEMs and carriers alike were looking for a platform that they could have more freedom to control – e.g. custom skins and carrier bloatware. The Nexus 4′s lack of LTE showed that Google, for whatever reason, was unable or unwilling to work with carriers on developing an LTE device. Therefore, we may see Google creating its own wireless network, either by buying an entire network in the USA or (more likely) creating its own MVNO.

3. Android 5.0 features

It’s a safe bet that at this year’s Google IO, we’ll see the Android 5.0 release, but what will it bring? It’s likely we’ll see even more performance updates, and that there will be a significant user interface update. To keep up with the social integration of Windows Phone, we should expect to see better social integration with the People app in Android.

4. More wireless charging

The Nexus 4 came with Qi wireless charging – contrary to Google’s PMA wireless charging deal with Starbucks. Despite that, Qi still looks like it will become the de facto standard, especially since Nokia has adopted it in its latest Lumia devices. However, OEMs need to agree on the implementation – The Verge recently found devices made by different companies weren’t fully compatible yet. We can hopefully see Android OEMs follow the example of the Nexus 4 and include wireless charging as standard.

5. More colors

Nokia’s Lumia devices are notable for the range of bright colors they are available in. HTC has followed this trend with its Windows Phone 8X and 8S phones. The Android may also see a splash of colour if OEMs decide that the Windows Phone makers are setting a trend that is worth capturing.

6. Android tablet sales overtake iPad sales

This prediction is more of a gamble but we have already have data suggesting that Android tablets will outsell iPads by mid-2013 (source). The tablet market is growing, and as it does the section of the market that can afford Nexus 7s but not iPads is going to grow. Further to this, tablet sales are replacing eReader sales (source). Again, the section of people who are expecting prices lower than offered by Apple is going to grow. This has all happened before in the smartphone market – it’s what we call commoditisation.

7. Bigger batteries

In light of the capacious batteries on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Motorola Razr Maxx, we might just start to see a new trend towards larger batteries besting the trend of thinner and lighter devices. One of the biggest geek complaints with smartphones in general is battery life. The fore mentioned devices show that extra battery life need not make a device too much like a brick. If you disagree, how many tweets have you seen with people complaining that a phone was too thick, versus the number complaints you’ve seen about battery life?

8. Xenon flash

Since the first Android phone to have Xenon flash, the Motorola XT720, was released over two years ago, we have seen precious few phones out there with this superior photo flash technology. Xenon flash allows for much faster exposures, cutting down on image blur, really allowing your phone to freeze a moment of time. Of course, we do now have the Samsung Galaxy Camera, but this is not a phone. Samsung may take its experience with the Galaxy camera and import some of its technology into Galaxy S phones in an attempt to take the attention away from Nokia’s imaging prowess.

9. Drop in activation rates

I have no data for this one. However, the amount of daily Android activations, as reported by Google, has been growing to insane levels. The last reported figure was 900,000. On the grounds of economics and finite populations, I predict that this growth is not sustainable, and the growth rate will decline this year, possibly plateauing. This is on the basis that Google does not make a change to how it claims to count activations.

10. Nokia uses Android

This prediction is all but certain to not come true. However, with the constant uphill struggle faced by Windows Phone to gain market share, and Nokia’s struggle to actually turn a profit, the question of whether it should have replaced Symbian and MeeGo with Android never seems to go away. Stephen Elop was recently misquoted (well, mistranslated really) as saying “Today we are committed and satisfied with Microsoft, but anything is possible”. The actual quote from the Nokia CEO can be found here. This prediction makes it into the despite, not because of, that original news story.

2013 has begun, and the mobile industry is looking as much like a soap opera as ever. Despite Apple and Samsung viciously fighting it out in the courts, they’re both sitting pretty with a healthy market share. Meanwhile, HTC is still trying to gain traction with one foot in the Android world and the other in the Windows Phone world. RIM and Nokia are both fighting to ensure the security of their highly uncertain futures. Then we have the newer players, Huawei and ZTE nibbling at the toes of the Android incumbents. All the while, Motorola Mobility just wants everyone to know that it still exists.

Apple

As Tim Cook sits in his office contemplating the year gone by he has a heavy heart. Despite Apple’s huge profits, a few market analysts gave an AVOID rating on Apple stock simply because it wasn’t growing as quickly as anticipated. Even worse, Apple’s public image took a beating after its appalling Apple Maps release with iOS 6.

Mr. Cook resolves that his watch as Apple CEO will be marked not by exercising the company’s frustrations in the courts, but by pushing the company’s technology even further. He’ll make Sir Jony Ive create a whole new mobile operating system, doing away with skeuomorphic design, and Apple will spend some of its huge war chest on mapping the globe.

HTC

HTC CEO Peter Chou faces an intangible problem. HTC is a well-known brand, and has been around for a long time. So far, HTC has concentrated on mid- and lower-tier phones where conventional wisdom says there is the greatest potential for large volume sales, and has started to target the high end with “hero” devices like the One X and Windows Phone 8X. Despite this, the company still has haemorrhaged market share. What are they doing wrong?

HTC should resolve to turn things on their head and concentrate even more on high end devices, and create MORE phones to challenge the Samsung Galaxy and Nokia Lumia ranges. Not only that, but it should resolve to make both Windows 8 and Android tablets to further eat away at Samsung’s sales.

Nokia

Nokia has been doing its best to get out of the spin it got itself in as iOS and Android came out of nowhere and left its Symbian platform in the dust. Having bet the farm on Windows Phone, the company is doing all it can to cut its losses and return the company to profitability.

Its problem is that Windows Phone has not yet gained the traction is needs – so will Nokia run out of time and money? CEO Stephen Elop (formally of Microsoft) says that Nokia’s plan B is to make sure plan A is “very successful”, so hopes of an Android toting Nokia are pretty remote at best.

In its favour, there are other things Nokia can do very well, like maps and cameras. Perhaps Stephen Elop might be making a New Year’s resolution to start producing devices other than smartphones? Executive Vice President of Design, Marko Ahtisaari has already hinted that time is being spent on designing a Windows tablet.

Samsung

Samsung is sitting pretty in the mobile industry, having won the majority of market share 2012 and overtaken Nokia in mobile phone shipments. It has even diversified into putting Android on a camera. Is there anything the company can do wrong?

Given that Samsung also makes TV sets and other home entertainment systems, it’s best bet to fortify its position is to make a massive marketing blitz for Miracast enabled devices (Google’s open alternative to Apple’s Airplay).

RIM

Then we come to RIM. The Canadian stalwart has been visibly struggling for a while now. It has attempted to assuage doubts by promising big things from its BB10 operating system. For 2013, RIM’s obvious New Year resolution is to stay alive and deliver on its promises.

If it can do that, it has a fight on its hands with Windows Phone for the third place in the mobile phone world, while Android and iOS sit back and take bets on which will survive the dog fight!

Android may be our favorite operating system, but it’s certainly not perfect. If you are someone who uses multiple devices with different operating systems, there are no doubt features you miss as you switch from one platform to another. We’ve taken a long hard look at other mobile operating systems and picked out the features that we wish could make their way into Google’s mobile OS.

1. Cleaner widgets

Android’s widgets are great, and were a key differentiator to the stark grid of icons on the iPhone. However, Microsoft’s entrant into the mobile world – Windows Phone 7 and 8 ­– brought the live tile design pattern where icons and widgets became a hybrid object that acted as a launcher and information display. While it would be nice if live tiles displayed a little more information than they do, they do offer a very clean look and feel. Meanwhile, Android’s standard widgets often make homescreens look too cluttered, which is why we recently suggested Android is better suited to tablets.

Windows Phone 8 tiles look cleaner than widgets

2. Notification counts on icons

While iOS lacks the widgets we know and love on Android, it does have a way of instantly feeding information back to its user. It does so by displaying numerical indicators on app icons, letting you know how many items require your attention. While there are third party apps on Android that simulate this feature, it isn’t baked into the operating system. Having similar icons on an Android homescreen would be a good substitute for some widgets, thus using space more efficiently.

Notification counts in iOS

3. A better notification center

When the iOS notification center was introduced it was a blatant copy of the Android notification shade. However, Apple’s version of the pull down notification center does a much better job of grouping notifications. In Android, message previews are only shown for each app if there is only one message, otherwise there’s just an unread count. In iOS, previews are shown for all unread items, grouped by application.

The iOS notification center

4. Better social contact integration

While certain Android apps support contact synchronisation, the People app does a pretty poor job of integrating the social accounts of people in your address book. Conversely, the Windows Phone ‘People Hub’ does an excellent job of matching your address book entries to your social contacts, and presenting an integrated contact view, blending together all available details and social activities. Not only that, but the Windows Phone People Hub also shows the history of your communications with a given contact, and allows you to quickly contact them on social networks too. With Windows Phone 8, Skype has been added as well.

Social contacts in the Windows Phone People Hub

5. Hardware silence key

One of the unique hardware features of the iPhone since the iPhone 4 is a physical silence switch, which is very useful if you frequently need to keep your phone quiet. With the iPhone’s physical switch, silencing can be achieved quickly and without looking. That’s handy when you don’t want to be seen fiddling with your phone! With Android, silencing is more problematic.

The iOS silence switch

6. Easy TV-Out

Some Android handsets can be connected to a TV. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2, for instance, can connect via its MHL functionality, but this is not standard to all Android handsets. On the other hand, the iPhone and most Symbian handsets are TV-Out ready – all they need is the right cable. We would love to see a TV-Out become a standard of Android.

iPhone TV Out cable (source)

7. Microsoft Office

Android has plenty of Microsoft Office-compatible office suites, but all of them have their quirks. Meanwhile, Windows Phone comes complete with a free mobile version of Office. Microsoft already has released OneNote for Android and there are credible rumours that it will release Office for Android. With the release of Android tablets that convert into small laptops (e.g. Asus Transformers), more people are depending on Android as a mobile productivity platform. Google Drive is great for collaboration, but doesn’t work well offline and doesn’t support editing Microsoft Office files. Therefore, Android needs an office suite that is more reliable than the current third party options.

Microsoft Office in Windows Phone 8

8. Consistent back button behavior

A consistent gripe with Android is the inconsistency of its back button. The back button still does not behave as expected and routinely drops you into the homescreen or closes the app when all you wanted was to get back to the previous screen. Meanwhile, the back button in Windows Phone 7 and 8 behaves much more like a web browser, taking you through your history of pages from app to app.

Switching back through app pages in Windows Phone 8

9. App folders

I know, I know, Android already has folders for apps. Unfortunately, those folders are only for homescreens. No matter how much organisation you put into your homescreens, your app grid will still be the same flat alphabetical list. This is in contrast to various other mobile operating systems that include folders on their app launcher grids: Symbian, MeeGo Harmattan, and iOS. Most of us have ‘crapware’ applications on our Android devices that we cannot uninstall. If we had folders on the app grid, we could at least hide these annoyances.

 iOS App Folders

10. Better text input

The standard keyboard introduced with Ice Cream Sandwich was a great step forward, bringing it closer in quality to the much loved SwiftKey keyboard. However, Windows Phone seems to have the best combination of input speed and prediction ability. Things have improved with Windows Phone 8 as it has incorporated next word prediction, just like the Ice Cream Sandwich keyboard. One of the subtlest features of the Windows Phone correction system is its deft clean-up of spaces that precede punctuation marks.

The Windows Phone 8 keyboard

What features from competing operating would you like Android to “steal”?

Android began life on phones, marked apart from the iPhone by its homescreen widgets. That trend has continued to this day – even Android 4.2 has lock screen widgets. The advent of Android tablets has put a different slant on things by giving widgets more space to shine. Once you’ve used Android widgets on the expansive screen of a tablet, is it possible to be satisfied with the same widgets on a phone screen?

The great benefit of widgets, as espoused by Android fans during debates with iPhone fans, is that they present information without opening an app. The logical extreme of this has been seen in devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with floating video players, side by side windows, and vast amounts of pixel space to show large widgets. At this point, you begin to see that Android is closer to a desktop experience than any other phone operating system (perhaps with the exception of Nokia’s Maemo user interface).

Take the Nexus 7, it has all the standard widgets that we squeeze onto our phone screens – they take on a whole new life on a with that tablet’s pixel density and size. They can be expanded to show a much greater amount of information, showing us much more of the daily information that matters to us. Overall, the quality and immediacy of the user experience is vastly improved.

While many recent Android phones have resolutions in the realm of 720p, there are millions of handsets out there which have the lower 800 x 480 (WVGA) resolution. Laying out any of the regular widgets on such a screen look extremely cramped when compared to what we see on an Android tablet. Android widgets look so cramped on WVGA screens that it’s only really practical to have one widget on a screen at once. Then, spreading widgets out across multiple homescreens is common in Android, but doing so obscures the information that one would want widgets to show.

A typical Nexus S homescreen

Of course, one could argue that I’m overstating the importance of widgets, and that Android homescreens are just as good when used to hold a grid of frequently used applications. This is true, but – and feel free to call me obsessive – it seems like a waste to use homescreens as an app launcher when there is a dock and the entire application menu which even sorts apps alphabetically. If homescreens are not used to host widgets things quickly become too similar to the iOS experience.

Take a look at the competition, iOS and Windows Phone. These phone interfaces seem to suit their medium slightly better. They don’t try to show as much as widgets do, because they can’t. iOS has icons with unread counts, and now has the notification drawer which one might argue Android had prior art on. The alternative, Windows Phone, doesn’t yet have a notification centre, but its live tiles give unread counts, and thanks to their flipping behaviour they can show a limited amount of preview content too. Still though, Windows Phone is limited in that live tiles only preview content from the very latest item in each app, but it does integrate people better into the user interface than Android does – and iOS doesn’t even come close to that.

The greater dimensions of the Nexus 7 gives widgets room to breath

To be clear, the common theme I look for in user interface design is having the maximal amount of personal information on show for the least amount of effort and least time spent looking at the screen. While Android and Windows Phone easily beat iOS in this department, a poorly configured Android homescreen would not be as effective as Windows Phone. However, an Android tablet will perform eminently better than any of the phone interfaces because of the extra space per homescreen.

As computers and tablets begin to slowly converge (e.g. the Asus Transformer range and the Microsoft Surface), Android could be facing a new range of usage scenarios – what with the trend of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) in enterprise, and even more so if Microsoft release an official Office client for Android. If Android offers an experience is more desktop like than is offered than iOS – in as much as having an accessible file system and widgets that offer a similar experience to desktop Windows – then we could perhaps see a similar swing in the tablet market as has been seen in the smartphone market.

The wildcard in this assessment how well will Windows 8 and Windows RT perform? Microsoft is seemingly moving away from the desktop experience that the whole world is accustomed to. However, the desktop is still there, beneath the Metro surface (no pun intended), on the x86 variants, while on Windows RT the desktop isn’t accessible to third party developers, but there is still a file system. Given that Windows 8 and its tiled interface will eventually end up on all consumer PCs, Windows 8 and RT tablet sales could benefit from a virtuous circle of familiarity.

Despite all of my idealistic user interface design values, the market has spoken and it is seems to be happy, or making do, with the Android user interface as it is.

What sort of information do you prefer to be on display and how do you have your Android homescreens set up? We’d love to see your phone and tablet configurations in the comments.