Introduction

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Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

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Most of the budget Android tablets run this OS, or different versions of it. Click to explore the world of Gingerbread, Android 2.3.

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Android 3.x (Honeycomb)

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This OS is the mainstay of the litany of 10.1-inch tablets running Android. About to be replaced by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), click to explore Android's tablet OS.

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Android 4.0.x (Ice Cream Sandwich)

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Next up in the line of Android operating systems is Ice Cream Sandwich. Adding a slew of new features across smartphones as well as tablets, this OS brings a lot to the table(t).

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Android 4.1.x (Jelly Bean)

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The latest version of Android, Jelly Bean launched in July 2012 as the latest-and-greatest of Android. Boasting Google Now, an improved voice search, smoother animations and responsiveness, this is now the OS to beat, as it is more feature-laden and customizable than any other OS on the market currently.

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Page 2 Overview

Gingerbread? Does my tablet bake cookies?

No, sadly. Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is a version of Google's tablet software that is commonly found on smartphones and older tablets like the Dell Streak 7 and the Coby Kyros. On the date of release, this version of Android introduced us to While it isn't the most advanced operating system (OS) in the tablet world, there are more people using this piece of Android software on their phone or tablet than any other iteration of the Android operating system.

While it doesn't have the same polished look as some of the newer versions of Android, it is the last in a long line of smartphone operating systems that were intended for mobile devices and not tablets. This doesn't stop some manufacturers from using it for bargain-bin tablets, so it's helpful to explore the user experience before you buy to know what you're getting into.

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OS and Controls

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The home screen allows you to access your favorite apps and functions, use the widgets that your device manufacturer added to make them stand out, or access your settings, notifications, and USB storage options. Typically, devices running the full version of Gingerbread will have 5 screens that you can tap or swipe through to organize your apps with, but sometimes the lower-end tablets will only have one.

If you're sitting down with a Gingerbread-running device right now, you've probably already figured out that many of the controls are virtually identical to every other tablet out there; tap to click, swipe to turn pages/change homescreen, pinch to zoom in and out where applicable. If you are so inclined, the double-tap will also zoom in a bit, though it is less precise than pinching.

Depending on the specific skin of Gingerbread your device is running, there will be an icon that will allow you to look through all your apps in a huge flow list. If you'd like to place certain apps on the different home screens for quicker access, simply tap your finger on the app you want to move, and hold until the icon expands and moves with your finger. Then simply drag and drop to the position you want, and you're done!

Making sure your settings are optimized for you is important, as you can sometimes squeeze extra battery life out of your device by turning down the backlight, or disabling wireless connections. In the apps menu, or if you've placed the icon on the home screen, there will be a settings "app" that will allow users to change anything they want about their main settings. Things like wireless connections, display settings, sound, location and security (where applicable), Google accounts, security, etc. are all accessible through this menu.

Perhaps one of the cooler things about Android is that there are far fewer restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your device. There's support for flash (unlike iOS), and there are available drivers and applications to run peripheral devices on your machine, even the ability to use a Wiimote to play games if you elect to do so. Really, the capabilities of your Gingerbread device are limited only by what exists in the Play Store, as file format issues are only a minor inconvenience for Android devices because you can almost always find away around it.

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Music and Video

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The media playback functions of Android 2.3 are relatively simplistic and straightforward, even if it doesn't allow for the same options you'd get in Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich. As you can see from the music interface below, you will be greeted by the standard play/pause options, track forward/back icons, playlist options, shuffle and repeat. The scrub bar at the bottom is also helpful if you're looking for a certain point in a track, or a chapter in an audiobook.

As we will continue to mention ad nauseam, if there's a feature you don't like about your operating system, nine times out of ten you can replace it with another from the Play Store. This is especially helpful if the particular codec you need is not installed on your machine ahead of time.

There's also incredible streaming support for all Android devices running anything at or above version 2.3 in the Play Store. You can choose between all yoru favorite services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu+, etc to stream content to your tablet, and in some cases where your device actually allows it, to your TV.

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eBooks and Periodicals

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Because the market for eReader apps is largely cornered already, you will probably find yourself downloading apps from Amazon et alius even though most Android devices have their own eReader pre-installed in the software. Much of this is due to the fact that most eBook outlets online have their own proprietary file format, and it is a pain to either break the DRM or convert the files you have just so they can be used on another platform.

That being said, the apps are more or less identical across all platforms. What you see from the Amazon Kindle app on the Kindle Fire and the iPad will be roughly the same as it is on any Android device.

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Apps and Marketplace

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Speaking of apps, Now would be the time to tell you that the Play Store is second only to the Apple App Store in terms of total apps. What does this mean for you? Well, because the market is somewhat friendly for developers to market their (soft)wares, there are quite a few more apps that walk the line of questionable, but that unlocks a lot of the functions that nerds have been hoping for: emulators and bluetooth devices can really fly if you get the right apps.

In addition to that, most of the really important or popular apps that are available across other platforms are usually available in the Play Store. Apps like Angry Birds, Netflix, Skype, Facebook and the rest are all there, plus hundreds upon hundreds of other must-have apps for people looking to coax the best experience out of their devices.

Users be wary: If your device is not a "Google-blessed" device that runs an unlicensed version of Android will not be able to enjoy the full support of Google apps, like maps, navigation, or any service that requires access to the Google servers for data. It doesn't seem like much at first, but the Google suite of apps cannot be oversold, as many of these (especially in smartphones) can turn your tablet from simple media platform, to GPS unit, on-the-go office assistant, music streaming platform, virtual credit card, and more.

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Internet and Productivity

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Included in the selection of apps for every Android device (that isn't artificially pared down) is a web browser, email app, and the option to download different programs to read and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations. If you spring for a "Google blessed" device, you'll also be able to make full use of the location services, that will allow you to use your tablet to navigate streets and paths via the maps or navigation applications. You'll also be able to use the "Docs" application that will allow you to download, edit, and share your Google Docs from your device to your coworkers.

Examining the browser for Gingerbread, you'll notice that it's a very pared-down and basic browser that doesn't have many bells, whistles, or otherwise flashy features. It's a basic browser. Really, that's all that could be asked of it. You can open new windows, add bookmarks, and access the basic browser functions like "back/forward" etc., but not with only one tap.

If you're unfortunate enough to have a resistive screen, there are often problems with the keyboard in the browser, but because most tablets use a capacitive touch screen, there isn't any cause for worry for name-brand models.

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Honeycomb? What's this? Are there bees?

Released in 2011 with the launch of the Motorola Xoom on the tails of the wildly popular Gingerbread Android operating system, Honeycomb (Android 3) is the first tablet-oriented OS released by Google to make the most of the new hardware platform available to developers in hopes that it could help support new tablets to compete with the iPad. While Honeycomb didn't exactly catapult the Apple competitors to the desired "market leader" status, it enabled third-party companies who wanted to release their own tablets to the market to out-muscle Apple's tablet with a lower cost of entry to the market, and superior hardware.

Needless to say, this didn't work quite as planned, but this version of Android did allow consumers a much broader range of choice when shopping for tablets, which changed the game for the new market. While this version of software is slowly getting replaced by the newer "Ice Cream Sandwich," most Android tablets on the market today are running some version of Android 3, so let's meet the second major OS in the Android line.

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OS and Controls

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When Honeycomb was released, there was great fanfare from Android fans, because of the great user interface overhaul not only made things a bit sexier on full 720p tablets, but also because the somewhat maligned browser and internet features were well-updated and, well, better.

All of the same controls still apply, like pinching to zoom, swiping, and tapping. In fact, most of the main elements of Honeycomb are mainly different in hardware support and design, outside of the browser and internet features. The added capability for the multi-core processors is huge, as it enabled tablets such as the Motorola Xoom to employ dual-core processors (the Asus Transformer Prime even uses a quad-core) to handle a bunch of information at once. Batteries still have a long way to go to catch up, but the computing power of tablets is steadily increasing as their operating systems and hardware allow.

There are the same five home screens, the same app flow list, similar widgets and functions as Gingerbread tablets have, but all are re-done to look far better, and even employ the use of 3D and translucent graphics here and there. Also new is the ability to add widgets to the homescreen, which is probably best left to the 7" and up tablet crowd, as they take a certain amount of system resources and screen area to run properly.

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Music and Video

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This is a huge upgrade from Gingerbread, but it's mostly a formal upgrade, not a functional one. Many of the same features are there, but the most easily noticeable difference is how both the music player and the video player look.

Notice that the boxy, ugly black interface is gone, and instead replaced with a very detailed adaptive background with very attractive options like cover flows, smooth-scrolling lists and cover art. All of your basic functions are laid out well and are very intuitive.

What's probably not as obvious is the fact that Google has merged this music player with its Music application to become something more than just a media player. If you install the program on your home computer, you can actually upload a large portion of your library to Google's servers, and you can stream your music wherever you have a stable connection just by hitting "play" on the track you'd like to listen to.

The video player follows the same design principles, though the HUD disappears very quickly so you won't have to look at it for the entire movie, and make the best use of the full screen of the tablet to watch your clip or movie.

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eBooks and Periodicals

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Because tablets with the Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system mostly have full access to the Play Store, you can pretty much download any eReader interface you'd like to use. Download the Kindle App, the Nook App, the Aldiko app or even use Google's stock eReader app.

Once you've found an app you like, you can read your eBooks, subscribe to auto-updating periodicals, or even share your favorite passages on social media sites from your tablet. Most apps will allow you a natural-feeling interface that takes a tap or swipe to turn the page forward or backwards, and you can most often change the font, font size, and color. You should have a rather rewarding experience with any app, but pay mind to the fact that having a lot of white area on the screen can bleed your battery dry fast if the backlight is cranked.

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Apps and Marketplace

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Tablets running Honeycomb will have access to the Play Store which is rapidly gaining ground on Apple's App Store. In contrast to it's main fruit-branded competitor, Android apps include many independently-made apps to maximize the potential of your tablet's secondary capabilities like bluetooth, accelerometers, and IR blasters with off-label uses and off-the-wall programs. For example, you can even use apps to enable your tablet to use a Wii controller to play games.

If you can't play your media files back due to your tablet not supporting the file, there's codecs and alternate media players for that. Same goes for music and eBooks. There is such a huge wealth of content, applications, and other programs to make your tablet fly, so if you get a chance, check it out. Not all apps are free, but it's nice to support your indie developers, right?

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Internet and Productivity

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Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich have the best browser we've seen in the labs so far, as it's essentially very close to Google's existing Chrome browser. It has a different skin, but you can use many tabs, multiple windows, incognito tabs (that don't save personal data), and bookmarks like you normally would on your computer.

Not only is it very familiar and easy to use, but unlike iOS and many other proprietary systems, it supports flash animations. While it may not be such a huge deal to many people currently, it's still a nice thing to have if you like to browse independent animations.

Productivity software for Android devices varies, but there are several apps that allow you to read and edit documents and spreadsheets on the go available for purchase in the Play Store. Many of the higher-profile tablets will usually have one of these apps pre-installed, but it can never hurt to check ahead of time.

Page 4 Overview

I scream, you scream.

In October 2011, Google released its fourth major version of Android, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, to marry the smartphone and tablet operating systems into one sleek platform. Originally released with the Samsung Galaxy S, it wasn't long before it came to tablets like the Asus Transformer Prime showing how seamlessly well the software worked on both phones and tablets.

While ICS doesn't do too much to separate itself from Honeycomb in terms of functionality, the real innovation offered by Android 4 is the ability to own several mobile devices that all run on the same, well-polished software across each platform much like iOS does for Apple products. In this respect, Android 4 is the first serious competitor to iOS fielded by Google. Let's explore a bit, shall we?

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OS and Controls

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Here it is, the ultimate Android experience that marries the functions of smartphones and tablets that can be used cross-platforms... Until Jellybean comes out to compete with Windows 8.

Users of Honeycomb should rejoice, as the controls for ICS are largely the same, but there are a few differences like range of widgets and appearance that you should be aware of. For example, the homescreens and controls are virtually identical, but the settings and clock are accessed through a different type of pop-up window, and the master apps list is manipulated horizontally, not vertically. Most apps are compatible with ICS as well, so don't worry about losing them if you upgrade.

The main function buttons in the OS are basically the same, although now you can swipe away recently used applications in the history bar to terminate the record of them being open forever. On top of that, widgets can be resized on the desktop, and there is a task manager available to dispatch your unwanted services running in the background. In addition, you can create folders much like you would in iOS by dragging apps on top of one another. Overall, it's an experience that greatly rivals every other OS out on the market in functionality and appearance.

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Music and Video

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Music and video playback is largely the same as it is on Honeycomb with few differences. Mainly, after the marriage of the music player and Google's Music app, both operating systems have the same, identical music player and management systems unless you use a competing application through the Play Store.

Video playback too is largely similar, although the aesthetics are fit to the ICS style, which is a bit more minimalistic than Honeycomb's. Beyond that, there isn't much difference.

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eBooks and Periodicals

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Because tablets with the Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system mostly have full access to the Play Store, you can pretty much download any eReader interface you'd like to use. Download the Kindle App, the Nook App, the Aldiko app or even use Google's stock eReader app.

Once you've found an app you like, you can read your eBooks, subscribe to auto-updating periodicals, or even share your favorite passages on social media sites from your tablet. Most apps will allow you a natural-feeling interface that takes a tap or swipe to turn the page forward or backwards, and you can most often change the font, font size, and color. You should have a rather rewarding experience with any app, but pay mind to the fact that having a lot of white area on the screen can bleed your battery dry fast if the backlight is cranked.

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Apps and Marketplace

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Tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich will have access to the Play Store which is rapidly gaining ground on Apple's App Store. In contrast to it's main fruit-branded competitor, Android apps include many independently-made apps to maximize the potential of your tablet's secondary capabilities like bluetooth, accelerometers, and IR blasters with off-label uses and off-the-wall programs. For example, you can even use apps to enable your tablet to use a Wii controller to play games.

If you can't play your media files back due to your tablet not supporting the file, there's codecs and alternate media players for that. Same goes for music and eBooks. There is such a huge wealth of content, applications, and other programs to make your tablet fly, so if you get a chance, check it out. Not all apps are free, but it's nice to support your indie developers, right?

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Internet and Productivity

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Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich have the best browser we've seen in the labs so far, as it's essentially very close to Google's existing Chrome browser. It has a different skin, but you can use many tabs, multiple windows, incognito tabs (that don't save personal data), and bookmarks like you normally would on your computer.

Not only is it very familiar and easy to use, but unlike iOS and many other proprietary systems, it supports flash animations. While it may not be such a huge deal to many people currently, it's still a nice thing to have if you like to browse independent animations.

Productivity software for Android devices varies, but there are several apps that allow you to read and edit documents and spreadsheets on the go available for purchase in the Play Store. Many of the higher-profile tablets will usually have one of these apps pre-installed, but it can never hurt to check ahead of time.

Page 5 Overview

Introduced to the world in Google's 2012 I/O conference, Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) is the latest and greatest version of Android to date. Building upon the advances of Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean offers a smoother experience overall, loads of new features like Google Now, and a wealth of Google services not available to anyone without Android. Shipped with the new Google Nexus⁷, Jelly Bean is making a big splash in the tablet market to start, but will come to smartphones later in 2012.

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OS and Controls

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Google's decision to make Jelly Bean Android 4.1/4.2 instead of Android 5 should be a hint as to how they envisioned the latest Android OS to be less of a revolutionary upgrade from Ice Cream Sandwich, but somewhat of a more incremental one. If you were to look at the home screen of Android 4.1 and 4.0 side-by-side, you wouldn't notice a lot of differences right off the bat, though under the hood there is a lot more power with Jelly Bean.

Where Jelly Bean truly shines is in its control interface. While the vast majority of the controls and screens look the same, and there are certainly some new features that bring Android more into iOS arch-nemesis territory, Jelly Bean's most important upgrade comes in the smoothness and responsiveness of the OS itself (which is a gigantic upgrade over previous iterations of the Android OS).

Aside from that, widgets stuck around, voice search is still there, and you can customize your 5 home screens any way you'd like them. Much like iOS and Ice Cream Sandwich, you can create folders of apps, which is a plus for organizational purposes. There are also loads of peripheral features that you won't find on any other OS, including many of the experimental Google apps, like Photo Sphere image-taking, gesture typing, and multiple user login. The latter of which is very helpful if you have many people who use the tablet and are liable to change things up on you.

What is very different about the interface mainly resides in the notifications bar at the top. Unlike in previous versions of Android operating systems, you can swipe notifications away, reply to emails with canned responses, control your music, and a whole host of other functions with smart notifications. This is a radical new way to handle notifications that will serve users well in the future.

In terms of consistency, you'll notice that no matter what app you're running, you'll have the same three system controls available to you in the same place: at the bottom of the screen. Where iOS has only one button (Home), and Windows RT has too many, Android has Back, Home, and Recent Apps.

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Music and Video

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Same as it ever was, the Play Music app and the video player in Jelly Bean are largely similar to their counterparts in Ice Cream Sandwich. The layout is a bit different in some instances (like the main control screen), but the same functions are still available. Both the music and video control interfaces have a scrub bar to quickly find a spot in your file, a play/pause icon, and a disappearing overlay.

As you can see here, the video playback has basically the same format, but with updated graphics to fit the Jelly Bean aesthetic.

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eBooks and Periodicals

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Because tablets with the Android Jelly bean OS have full access to Google's Play Store, you can download just about any eReader application you want. Download the Kindle App, the Nook App, the Aldiko app or even use Google's stock Play Books app, which has fantastic page turn animations.

Once you've found an app you like, you can read your eBooks, subscribe to periodicals, or share your favorite passages on social media sites directly from your device. Just about every app nowadays will give you a natural-feeling interface that takes a tap or swipe to turn the pages accordingly, and you can most always change the font, size, and color of text. Now that there are so many other apps like Google Currents and Flipboard are polished and ready for primetime, there is a huge range of options here.

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Apps and Features

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Tablets with Jelly Bean have access to all the latest features from Google, including a service called Google Now, which learns as much as it can about you and your daily habits, tastes, and even your commute to provide you with up to date information that can assist you in your daily activities. As always, Android devices have a rather wide array of hardware options depending upon which tablet you buy, so you can potentially make use of apps that enable NFC tag use, an IR blaster, or bluetooth.

Much like in Ice Cream Sandwich, the app drawer can toggled by tapping the circular icon at the bottom of the screen with six dots in it. Once inside, you can swipe through a list of your tablet's apps, place them on the home screen, or browse widgets to use. New apps will be placed in the app drawer, and you can do with them as you please. If you'd like to consolidate them into folders on your home screens, just drag them on top of each other. You can even name these new folders.

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Internet and productivity

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Jelly Bean is the first Android OS to ship with Google's vaunted Chrome browser. You can use multiple tabs, multiple windows, incognito tabs that don't save personal data, and bookmarks like you normally would on your PC, Mac or Linux computer.

There's a bunch of productivity software for Android devices, and there are several apps that allow you to read and edit documents and spreadsheets available for purchase in Google's app the Play Store. Many of the more expensive tablets will usually have one of these apps pre-loaded, but it's good to know they're available for all.