Any day now guys *cough*.
why go android when you can have full blown windows 7 on a ruggedized tablet?
I don't see them developing surveying software for devices that can be bought anywhere for less than $500.
They already did that with Windows Based devices. You can install SurvCE on anything running windows mobile. The same goes for SurveyPro I believe.
Trimble will not do that because it wants to sell their $$ TSC2's and others are alike.
But these platforms are great inspiration for someone ambitious to develop his own data collection software.
I have kind of been looking around to see if an Android or even an Ipad tablet might be useful, very little that I have been able to find in way of surveying production tools available, sure they are cool and have some cool apps, but do they pay for themselves?
What I am getting a bit excited about is the upcoming Windows 8 and the coming Windows 8 tablets and mobile devices. Windows mobile has got a mostly bad reputation, especially on phones. I have read mostly very positive reviews about the current windows mobile phones, with many reviews saying it is better than either IOS or Android, the current windows mobile is very close to what Windows 8 will look like when released.
Native windows apps actually make these devices useful in a business and so I think Microsoft might have a winner!
When I replace my current Blackberry that is about 30 months old, I will look real hard at current Windows phones, Blackberry hardware and phone functions are very good, BUT the OS / web browser is extremely dated, they will have to really step it up with their revamped OS due to release late this year if they want to retain customers, in fact it may be too late for them.
SHG
I do not know how much this picture is close to the reality..
One big drawback to a windows 8 tablet is that it won't run native windows programs, they will all need to be re-written (already a large backlash is forming way before release about this.) Same problem with windows phone, it won't run the large amount of existing windows mobile apps or native windows. They are both very different from any flavor of windows, and are working hard to look like android.
To qualify my above post, here is more info about windows 8 tablets. There will be 2 versions:
1. One for x86 processors that will run native windows (but not very well since they aren't designed for the touchscreen,) and it has poor battery life.
2. Another version for arm processors which is what most tablets run, with better battery life, but it won't run any native windows. Most will probably be this version. This will create much confusion and could be another big microsoft mistake.
There will also be windows phone, windows CE, and windows mobile, although the last 2 are dead platforms that have ceased development.
Curt, thanks for the WIN8 scoop. I knew there would be two versions, BUT did not know existing apps would be a problem.
SHG