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After all this time, here’s what Google still gets wrong about big tablets

Published Nov 17th, 2014 6:15PM EST
Android 5.0 Lollipop Nexus 10
Image: Google Inc.

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Google has certainly released some quality tablets, most notably its smaller series of Nexus 7 tablets. However, Ars Technica has taken a very detailed look at the Nexus 10 with Android 5.0 Lollipop installed and has concluded that Google still can’t get large tablets right.

DON’T MISS: Google Nexus 9 review

The most damning thing about Lollipop on the Nexus 10 is that the device is still loaded up with empty space, as Android still doesn’t scale properly when put on a larger display.

“Our chief frustration with the Nexus 10 is exactly the same as it was two years ago when we reviewed it,” Ars explains. “The tablet has a sharp, expansive screen, and Android and its apps do almost nothing useful with it… Standard Android, while excellent at many things, is too content with the yawning empty spaces that surround whatever it is you’re looking at.”

So where should Google look for inspiration on how to make Lollipop work better on larger displays? Ironically, Ars says that Samsung and its much maligned TouchWiz UI do the best job of scaling the platform for bigger screens. In particular, Ars says Samsung does a nice job with adding “split-screen mode and support for widgets that can float on top of the active app [that] give the screen something to do, since it’s wide enough to fit two phone apps side-by-side.”

Check out the full analysis by clicking the source link below.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.