A tablet computer is needed for this. What is a tablet for and what functions can it perform? What is a tablet: operating systems
The last five years have seen a new trend in the development of electronics. Modern ones have come to the fore mobile devices with wide functionality and multidisciplinary scope of application. Based on the size of these gadgets, they can be divided into two “camps”: smartphones and tablets. Often between two specified types devices, the only difference is in the screen size, while all others specifications And software may be identical.
Smartphone vs tablet
The first type of device is used mainly as a telephone for making calls and receiving SMS messages. But if we consider a tablet with the function of a cell phone, the difference between the devices almost disappears. And then the only main advantages of smartphones over tablets are their light weight and small size, allowing them to easily fit into clothing pockets.
At the same time, the display with a larger diagonal and best resolution opens up broad prospects for the user. How bigger screen tablet device, the easier it is to work with images and correct photographs, watch movies and TV series in good quality, it’s much more enjoyable to play games when you can consider all the nuances of high-quality graphics. Also, do not forget that a tablet with an e-reader function is much preferable to a smartphone.
That's how the stars aligned
As many of you have already guessed, this article will talk about what functions a tablet has that make this type of gadget so popular. But first I would like to say a few words about its internal structure and configuration. Many factors coincided for this device in its current representation to be born - development computer equipment, mobile phones, reducing the energy consumption of components and increasing battery capacity. We will try to consider what a tablet is, and we will also describe its functions. Let’s identify the main source of pricing and consider promising development vectors for the coming years.
Is a tablet an evolved laptop?
No matter how strange it may sound, both tablets and smartphones are a logical evolution of an entire class of electronic computers. In order not to delve into the history of the term, let's draw some analogy with conventional computers.
Included system unit with help motherboard V unified system processor, cells assembled random access memory, video, sound and network cards, sources of permanent memory, etc. With the development of microelectronics, some of them no longer needed to be connected as separate components. Controllers have appeared built directly into motherboard chipsets, performing tasks that were previously handled by separately connected cards. In most modern laptops this is implemented exactly this way, which has made it possible to significantly reduce the dimensions of the devices.
With the advent of touch-sensitive screens, laptops were transformed into tablet computers, but the first models were quite expensive. In parallel with this, mobile phones became more complex; the miniaturization of electronics allowed them to increase functionality without a significant increase in weight and size. But something completely different has brought computer and mobile equipment to different shores.
Impact of cell phone development
The answer to the question of what a tablet is and what its functions are is not so simple. It is worth noting that in addition to the development of computer technology, mobile phones have had a great influence on these gadgets.
Earlier models coped well only with the direct functions of receiving/making calls and SMS messages. But the cell phones produced in the early 2000s became the closest to modern analogues. They got color screens high quality sound and the first built-in cameras. New technologies were gradually integrated; towards the end of the 2000s, pocket-sized personal computers. Often their functionality was expanded through the introduction of a GPS module, support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
New communication standards appeared and increased accordingly; cellular networks supporting 3G connections emerged. The growth of mobile Internet traffic has revealed the need for a larger screen to view email and news feeds. But the only drawback was the inconvenient management and scattering of operating systems. Sometimes each device had its own special axis with a limited set of built-in functions. And attempts to expand the scope of application by installing third party programs Sometimes we encountered conflicts between settings and equipment.
Is a tablet a logical continuation of a smartphone?
One of the answers to the request that existed at that time was the first iPhone from Apple - convenient finger control on a capacitive screen, various operating options depending on the position of the device. There is no need for a keyboard, only a small number of function keys remain. All other management has been decided software by implementing multi-touch gestures on a touch-sensitive screen. These and many other advanced technologies were controlled by the proprietary iOS operating system. Naturally, the iPhone quickly gained popularity, but again the problem of cost arose.
Other manufacturers wanted to repeat this success. They only lacked a single platform that would allow them to realize the full potential inherent in the hardware.
Microsoft did not want to lose its leading position in the industry, and promoted its operating system - Windows mobile - in the mobile segment.
But when Google released Android OS, there was a quantum leap in the budget smartphone segment. This mobile operating system is distributed absolutely free of charge; the only thing left for equipment manufacturers to do is to create firmware that matches the configuration of the equipment used in the device.
Thus, everything was ready for the advent of tablets, the only problem remaining was energy consumption. Even now, a tablet is inferior to a smartphone in terms of operating time on a single battery charge when performing tasks of a similar class. The thing is that increasing the display, accordingly, led to faster battery consumption.
The birth of the tablet
Finally, in 2010, technological development reached the limit that allowed the birth of tablets in their modern form of presentation. It was then that the concept was determined, along the development path of which all current devices of this type are moving.
In the spring of 2010, the 9-inch iPad from Apple was released. And already in the fall they stepped on his heels samsung tablets, the functions of which were in no way inferior to the competitor due to being based on the Android operating system version 2.2. In many ways, the first Galaxy Tab was interesting because it was a tablet with a cell phone function, while the first Apple tablet had this feature cut out. program level. Only a subsequent jailbreak made it possible to unblock receiving calls and SMS, and only after installing the appropriate application.
Of course, these features are typical only for tablets that support 3G data transfer technology. While the Wi-Fi-only models of both devices were suitable for performing a similar class of tasks: watching videos, listening to music, surfing the Internet, reading books, working with documents, playing exciting games.
Otherwise, the functions of the Samsung tablet were not inferior to those of the Apple gadget. Pragmatic application developers often duplicated their products for devices on different platforms, for example, the same games about angry birds and the like.
What is a tablet and its functions
We tried to figure out what ideas formed the basis of modern tablets and what technological basis they are based on. To summarize all of the above, the tablet is the result of adapting the evolutionary achievements of hardware components with a wide implementation of the software part. As can be seen from the history of technology development, there has long been a demand for devices that operate on the “all-in-one” principle. A affordable price The electronic content and intuitive interface between humans and technology have made tablets so widespread.
What determines the functions of a gadget
All devices have mandatory hardware that is directly or indirectly responsible for the direct operation of the tablet, and additional modules that expand the scope of their application. The presence of the latter is rather a pleasant bonus than a vital necessity. But they have an important function of attracting buyers, promising multidisciplinary use of the device without any significant additional payment.
There is an obvious need for a processor, RAM and other system-critical equipment for normal operation tablet. But the GPS module, which allows you to use the device as a navigator, is not available everywhere. Here a symbiosis is manifested, in which the presence technical feasibility finds its application for applications such as navigators (Navitel or Yandex.Navigator), area maps (for example, from Google) or a combined function help system(2GIS).
Also a SIM card slot mobile operator cellular communications In networks using 3G UMTS or 4G LTE technology, not all devices have it. But it depends on whether you purchased a tablet with a call function or without it.
Other data transmission technologies are also important. The ability to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi has become practically basic. This was partly due to the spread of free wireless points access in public places: cafes, restaurants, metro and parks.
Bluetooth is now rarely used for direct file transfer between devices, only in extreme cases, in the absence of a wired connection to a computer or the impossibility of connecting to wireless networks. But as a way wireless connection headphones or headsets and it is quite popular. And these are just the most common connected devices. Sometimes it comes to exotic things like scales that transmit information to a smartphone or tablet about how much a person weighs.
Whether the camera has a flash or not determines whether the gadget can be used as a flashlight.
How is a tablet with an e-reader function implemented? Applications take on the main task. Some of them are already installed by the equipment manufacturer along with the firmware, while others can be installed from the application store.
What depends on the type of OS
The number of applications available to you depends on the mobile operating system. Modern tablets are implemented on three platforms; at first glance they may look similar, but they all have their own nuances that determine the differences and advantages. Let's look at them in more detail.
- Android is perhaps the most common. The number of Market applications that expand the functions of the Android tablet is simply enormous.
- iOS is also quite popular among developers mobile programs. But there is a natural limiter: Apple Store Intended for Apple devices only.
- Windows RT, by its architecture, has nothing to do with the desktop operating system from Microsoft. The number of devices running on it is not so large, and accordingly, developers are not so actively seeking to port their programs to this platform.
Tablets now and in the future
We looked at it, and its functions were also not ignored. I would also like to characterize the current technological level of these gadgets, the features of their pricing, and outline development trends.
To consider the first two points, let's take Lenovo brand products. Currently, there is a conditional division between tablets with a screen diagonal of about 6-8 inches and their large counterparts with a display of 9-11 inches.
If we talk about the first type of gadgets, they are mainly intended for constant wear (like, for example, the Lenovo tablet). Functions, as usual, depend on the hardware configuration and the use of applications from the Android Market. It is possible to make calls both in third generation cellular networks and via Skype. The latter are implemented when connecting to the Internet through a mobile operator or wireless technology data transmission.
Check email, search for necessary information, listen to music, play games, work with text documents, read e-books, create and process photos and videos - all this can be done by tablet owners. As a rule, in similar devices No separate keyboard, only some The screen is framed for easy holding. The price, as a rule, is directly proportional to the screen size and the amount of built-in memory.
Tablets with matrix bigger size can be of two types, depending on the architecture of the processor used. The first ones, running on Android, are no different from smaller devices, except for the screen size, which dictates pricing.
Functions Lenovo tablet, running on full-fledged Windows, are much more diverse, they find even wider application. In fact, these are not exactly tablets; here the analogy is closer with netbooks that support displays with touchscreen function. This is a very promising direction of development, in which the most advantageous combinations of mobile and computer technology merge. This good decision for travel, when both size and functionality matter, but the price is comparable to an average laptop. The configuration and cost of the pre-installed operating system affect the final price tag.
If you want to save money first of all, they usually advise you to take a closer look at devices from operators mobile communications. They are interested in selling you a tablet at minimum price, often even slightly below its cost. Their benefit is that together with the gadget you enter into an agreement for communication services. Sometimes this is expressed in the fact that the subscriber’s account is automatically replenished with the amount of the discount; this is how the mechanism for purchasing such a device as the Megafon tablet is implemented. Its functions are somewhat limited, there is no camera, but the low price and stable communication reception more than compensate for all the disadvantages. After installing the appropriate applications, its capabilities are significantly expanded.
The modern world is difficult to imagine without the Internet and computers. Every day, millions of users go online, communicate, exchange information, and every year new computer models appear in all their diversity. We are interested in the tablet, but let's first figure out what exactly we mean, and only then we will tell you what you can do on the tablet.
What tablet functions you need to know about, what you can do on the tablet - read our tips
The very tablet that we see on the counter is a type of tablet computer and is correctly called an Internet tablet. It looks like an enlarged smartphone, in fact, this is its main difference. Tablets tend to be more powerful than their smaller cousins, but that doesn't have to be the case. You need to understand that all the capabilities listed below are the same capabilities of a smartphone, but, for various reasons, using a tablet in some cases is much more convenient and productive.
The main purpose of an Internet tablet, oddly enough, is communication on social networks and instant messengers. All tablets can connect to the Internet via a 3G/4G network or Wi-Fi. This is where the main advantage of small portable devices from desktop PCs or bulky laptops - mobility. A tablet allows you to access the Internet anywhere and anytime: outdoors, in a car, on a train or on an airplane. Even at home, it is much more convenient to lie down on the sofa with a light device than to sit at the computer.
Regarding regular surfing, everything is clear - navigation and control occurs as on a regular smartphone, but a larger screen provides more opportunities for “maneuvering” and, undoubtedly, a more comfortable pastime. You no longer need to enlarge photos to see your friend’s face, everything is clearly visible. Relatively social networks and messengers, everything again depends on the screen size. It is much more convenient to press large buttons, read incoming messages, and make video calls on the big screen.
Reading books
Many people believe that you can only read books from a paper original or a special e-book. Yes, indeed, in most cases, a specialized device provides a clearer picture and does not put much strain on the eye, but tablets in this sector also have their advantages. Firstly, an e-reader is another gadget that will take up space in your bag; a tablet in this sense is a universal thing and can be used for many purposes. Secondly, the tablet can convey color, which electronic black and white books cannot do.
Reading is one of the most useful gadget habits All the owner of a tablet needs is to go online and, in fact, the book itself. Most books are distributed free of charge, but there are also plenty of paid ones; you can find them in Play Market(for Android gadget owners) and App Store(for Apple).
Reading video and audio files
The availability of films and various videos allows you to while away great amount time. In this regard, the tablet can be considered the golden mean - it is large enough to carry on it, and small enough to take it with you. A long trip to another city or a long line at the hospital no longer seems so boring. Many take this opportunity to keep a naughty child occupied.
Watching movies, listening to the radio is a common thing for device owners Games
What else do you need a tablet for if not for games? Many people buy a tablet just because of them. Hardware capacity is growing every year, games are being ported from desktop PCs to mobile devices, and ardent gamers cannot miss the extra opportunity to play their favorite game on the way to school or work.
The Play Market and App Store offer something for every taste and color; the user can choose something special for himself by sorting games by genre.
Job
Last but not least, Internet tablets are used for work. Sales representatives no longer need to carry piles of promotional materials with them, and office workers no longer need to draw graphs on a whiteboard. Showing everything you need on a tablet is an ideal option. For Android and IOS, which are quite convenient to work with. The user can easily write a short text, edit an image or video, draw a graph or fill out a table. Naturally, work in office programs It goes much faster if you use a mouse and keyboard; in this aspect, the tablet is inferior to laptops and PCs.
The tablet is able to connect to cloud storage, which can be an indispensable feature when traveling. The design of the interface of mobile operating systems implies easy-to-manage case management and maintaining statistics on assigned and completed tasks.
Navigation
Lost in the city? No problem, the tablet will help you get to the metro station or cafe. For some reason, many people forget about this method and simply look for the right place on the map. A large number of Drivers, including taxi drivers, very often use a tablet as a navigator.
Creation
What else can you do with a tablet? Developers mobile applications They did a great job for creative people, creating a huge number of programs for musicians, artists and even sculptors.
Composing music, drawing, arranging the interior - everything can be done on a gadget Having installed the desired program, you can play and keep a fresh tune even when you're on the go. If the tablet supports a stylus or a virtual pencil, you are able to sketch a sketch. Naturally, this method is not suitable for professional work, but to make a small note when you need to quickly capture a thought, a tablet is indispensable.
Sport
For people looking after their body, there are also a huge number of applications that can help you exercise effectively and eat right. Some applications perform individual functions, for example, counting calories or distance traveled per day, while others provide a whole range of capabilities. In any case, extra control helps a person achieve his goal and motivates him to practice.
Conclusion
All capabilities of the tablet are limited by the operating system. The majority of the market is occupied by Android and IOS, so all the functions described apply to them. If you want to have the functionality of a full-fledged computer, you can install Windows on your tablet. This means that you can install the same programs and operate the system in the same way as on your computer. If necessary, you can connect a keyboard and mouse, turning your device into almost a laptop.
If you have any questions or suggestions, write them in the comments!
Why you need it: seven reasons to buy a tablet
Before talking about the advantages of tablets, it is worth deciding what exactly this term means. Traditionally, a tablet is a type of laptop that allows you to enter handwritten information using a touch screen. In other words, you can imagine that a tablet is either a much larger smartphone with a touch screen, or a netbook without a traditional keyboard. This is why the tablet is so often compared with the first or the second, but this is not entirely true. Tablets usually run on dedicated operating systems, such as Android, iOS, webOS, and so on.
What reasons prompt us to buy a tablet?
Reason one: it makes the job easier
Tablet computers make simple everyday tasks much easier: checking email, surfing the Internet, viewing and simply editing documents, viewing graphs and drawings, reading e-books. The diagonal of most tablets usually ranges from 7 to 10 inches, which is quite comparable to netbooks. A screen of this size allows you to fully load web pages and view office documents with almost no scrolling. Tablets are quite convenient for displaying, for example, your own portfolio, graphs, diagrams and so on. The presence of a touch screen significantly reduces the time for such small movements as scrolling through files or changing the scale, and the finger-oriented interface is much more convenient than a mouse or touchpad on laptops.
Thanks to the abundance of programs for tablets, it can become a real professional tool. Office applications let you create and edit documents and spreadsheets on the go. Photoshop Express, available for devices based on iOS and Android operating systems, is a great help for mobile image retouching. The well-known Garage Band application for the iPad tablet is a real mini-studio for music lovers.
In a word, thanks to application markets for tablets, you can solve almost any problem. Nevertheless, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs very accurately described the essence of tablets at iPad presentations 2: “A tablet and a desktop computer are like a car and a truck. A passenger car copes with many tasks, but for more difficult work you need a truck.” So the tablet should be perceived as a convenient tool for simple work and not expect more serious functionality from it.
Reason two: it is suitable for home
You can find a lot of uses for a tablet at home. When tablets first appeared, many considered them just a prestigious photo frame, but this is far from the case. It’s much more convenient to read the latest news, check your email or select photos from your next trip while sitting on the couch rather than at your desk. In addition, many tablets today have the function of connecting to a TV via HDMI, that is, it is possible to play videos or photos on the TV screen through the tablet. For example, tablets Apple iPad 2, and others are equipped with similar outputs, but connection will require special adapters and cables. Again, thanks to the application market, the tablet can become a convenient planner of current affairs and purchases, an alarm clock, an adviser and a true friend.
Reason three: it's easy to travel with
Perhaps the main advantage of a tablet is its mobility, the ability to always have it at hand without unnecessary problems. The average weight of tablets ranges from 600 to 900 grams, which is significantly less than most netbooks. The tablet will easily fit into a briefcase or a handbag and will become an excellent companion on the road. The memory capacity of most tablets today is at least 16 GB, which is enough for a collection of your favorite tunes, a good hundred e-books and a couple of videos to pass the time on the road.
Using your tablet, you can immediately create photo galleries (for example, Acer Iconia The Tab A500 has a microSD card reader and a USB slot for flash drives). Time battery life tablets ranges from 6 to 10 hours (for example, the well-known iPad tablet from Apple works for at least 10 hours), which means you don’t need to constantly carry and Charger. In this regard, the tablet is much more like mobile phone, which today you simply cannot do without.
Many tablets are equipped with a GPS navigator and contain maps, which can be convenient when walking or driving in unfamiliar places. Of course, when large size screen, the tablet will not be as convenient to use as a traditional GPS navigator, but in difficult times it will tell you the way.
Reason four: it is also interesting for children
The good thing about a tablet is that there can be many scenarios for its use. However, as practice shows, tablets are much more accessible to children than computers or laptops due to their simple design.
According to numerous user reviews, two-year-old children can easily learn to work with a tablet on mobile system iOS, which runs the popular tablet iPad 2. More and more companies today are developing new educational and developmental applications for children - interactive alphabet books, bright books, fun games. In this regard, tablets provide more freedom for creativity, more interactivity in games and applications due to touch capacitive screens and support for multiple touches (multi-touch). Thus, a tablet can become one of the most original ways of teaching and developing children, especially since currently mobile technologies there's no escape.
Reason five: it is easy to modify
Bluetooth Keyboard Case and Keyboard Dock
The good thing about tablets is that most of them can be easily modified depending on the user's needs. The ability to connect tablets to a TV to watch movies has already been mentioned above. For those who type a lot, a tablet with a detachable keyboard (for example) is suitable. A Bluetooth keyboard is also suitable for many tablet models; in this case, it is worth purchasing a docking station to fix the tablet in certain position. For the iPad 2, for example, there is a keyboard with a docking station that also charges the tablet computer. Accessory manufacturers have even gone so far as to create special cases with a keyboard already built into them, which quite elegantly solves the problem of typing on the road or when moving privately.
Case with notepad
By the way, the range of cases for tablets is incredibly diverse, and you can choose convenient options specifically for your needs. There are even somewhat redundant hybrids: for example, a tablet case contains an additional block for traditional handwritten notes. In a word, with the help additional accessories You can turn a tablet into a truly functional and convenient device for you.
Reason six: tablets are different
HTC Flyer, Asus EEE Pad Transformer and Sony Tablet P
Despite the fact that the tablet market is currently just gaining momentum, many manufacturers are already delighting users with a variety of options that are completely different from each other.
Already mentioned above Asus tablet The EEE Pad Transformer features a detachable keyboard that, when connected to the tablet, makes it feel incredibly similar to a regular laptop.
HTC's Flyer tablet is an interesting combination of mobility and functionality - a seven-inch screen, light weight and a special stylus for taking notes in almost any application. Due to its size, such a tablet is suitable for those who travel frequently and want to be constantly in touch. The tablet is comfortable to hold in your hand and work with it on the move.
A compromise option between and inches is offered by Samsung - the 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablet. Recently, an elegant solution for ladies appeared on the market: the Sony Tablet P tablet in the form of a clamshell with two screens based on the Android operating system.
All this diversity indicates that manufacturers continue to look for new forms and variations of tablets for different categories of users, which means choosing something suitable will not be difficult.
Reason seven: he looks impressive
Whatever you say, a tablet is a fashion device, effective in almost any environment. Undoubtedly, your friends and colleagues will appreciate and envy the convenience and portability of your tablet, and will also feel the benefits of this device when demonstrating its capabilities.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the tablet is not a complete replacement for either a laptop or cell phone, so it can hardly be called one of the most necessary devices. Nevertheless positive sides The features of a tablet are quite obvious, so it can become quite a useful assistant in your mobile family.
It is impossible for a modern person to hide from technology. Newfangled gadgets are coming at us from all sides, designed to make life easier. The tablet is one of them. Such a device has touchscreen, characterized by high performance and wide functionality. A huge advantage of these products is their portability - you can easily take it on the road by placing it in a small bag. Many people know that this device allows you to read documents, watch videos, listen to music. But what else might you need a tablet for? Let's try to figure it out!
Using a Tablet PC can make many tasks much easier
Experts highlight a lot of advantages of this portable gadget. Let's take a closer look at the most important of them.
Multimedia
With this miracle of technology, you can conveniently use various multimedia files. We are talking about videos, photographs, pictures, music. Having Graphics tablet, you can conveniently and easily show your photos to friends. In addition, this option will be useful in your work, especially if you are a seller, insurance agent, architect, artist or decorator. Such people often have to carry out small audience important presentations, and with the help of a graphics tablet you can show your portfolio without lugging around a stack of paper or a heavy laptop.
In addition, these products often come in handy on the road to keep a bored child occupied - show him a funny cartoon on YouTube or download an educational game.
Reading
Another advantage of tablets is ease of reading. Of course, it is very difficult to replace books, because their smell and touch feel are priceless. But by using gadgets, you can solve many practical issues, regardless of the “aesthetics” of the process. One device can fit a huge amount of printed materials, and this, you see, is a significant advantage.
Planning, work
A graphic tablet computer makes it possible to distribute plans and various tasks, draw up a schedule, work with mailers, etc. Today, a mobile phone can also act as a personal assistant, but it is tablets that provide real comfort in this area.
The device is also a great help at work - in particular, at various kinds of meetings. Its participants will pay more attention to you with such an assistant; any question can be described more interestingly and demonstrated clearly. Taking advantage various programs, you can seriously make your work easier.
To understand why you still need a tablet, you can ask designers and architects - such equipment is simply irreplaceable for them. Using a stylus (a special pen for touch screens) you can draw a real masterpiece! It is used to create layouts, sketches, cartoons, to make calculations and create drawings.
Parameters and price
Many users claim that a graphics tablet is a more profitable device than laptops (the latter look very bulky compared to compact gadgets). In addition, tablet computers allow you to work with a large amount of information; they make it possible to use the latest games and utilities.
In terms of cost, such equipment is cheaper than a laptop. To purchase a modern, powerful graphics tablet, $500 is enough (for the same amount you are unlikely to find a laptop with similar characteristics).
Practicality
Why do you need a tablet besides all this? You can take it with you on trips without worrying about its safety. Even after a fall, the device often does not lose its characteristics; the main thing is to buy a case in time so as not to break the screen.
When traveling, such an assistant will provide the opportunity to use 3G, Wi-Fi, many dictionaries, guidebooks, and detailed maps. And the presence of a slot for a microSD card allows you to fill almost unlimited amount useful data!
Terrain orientation is an undoubted advantage of using graphical tablet computers. Many people, due to their profession (courier service, for example), have made their lives significantly easier by using navigation maps on a tablet.