Connectivity benefits of having an Android phone and tablet combination

[Brandorak]

The new Nexus 7 is coming out, and I'm trying to find an excuse to sell my iPad 3 and buy one But when there are so many great Google apps already on iOS that sync my data, what's the point of having an Android tablet and phone? How do they uniquely connect to one another to work together? I just have email and notifications turned off on my iPad because they're annoying when my phone is right there. I know Android now syncs notifications across devices. I know the benefits of an android tablet from this thread:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/an...-my-journey-ios-android-tablet-pros-cons.html

I like the iPad 3 hardware, and kinda feel like the Nexus 7 is a downgrade. I can't afford both right now, and don't really want yet another device anyway lol :-\

TL;DR - What are the benefits of having both an Android tablet and phone? Specifically, how do they connect to one another better than my Nexus 4 and iPad 3?

 

[Diknak]

Well, I have a WiFi version of the 2012 N7 and that is what I am getting for the 2013 version as well.

Android allows you to tether devices to share internet connection, so I do that quite frequently with my N7 and my N4. I have a car mount for my N7 and although I have an offline GPS app, I prefer google maps, so I tether them so I can get internet on my N7. I also do that to stream iheart radio (it plays through my car speakers through bluetooth) since it is safer to have the radio controls mounted and always on instead of having to deal with the phone.

Also, there are shared notifications with Android. For example, if I get a notification about a hangouts message, as soon as I read that message, the notification goes away on both devices. The same thing happens with Gmail emails. This is a newer API, so not all apps use it yet, but it is very convenient not having to dismiss notifications on both devices.

 

[mitc5502]

Don't forget NFC...you can beam photos, contacts, etc from one to the other without any special apps. I use this quite a bit to transfer photos from my wife's phone to mine, or vice versa, as it's much easier than sending an MMS or attaching them to an email.

 

[TroyBoy30]

Don't forget NFC...you can beam photos, contacts, etc from one to the other without any special apps. I use this quite a bit to transfer photos from my wife's phone to mine, or vice versa, as it's much easier than sending an MMS or attaching them to an email.

you can do this with iphone as well in ios7 without nfc. its called air drop

 

[bearda]

you can do this with iphone as well in ios7 without nfc. its called air drop

Only with recent devices. My (and the OP's) iPad 3 and iPhone 4S need not apply.

 

[snookasnoo]

Well, I have a WiFi version of the 2012 N7 and that is what I am getting for the 2013 version as well.

Android allows you to tether devices to share internet connection, so I do that quite frequently with my N7 and my N4. I have a car mount for my N7 and although I have an offline GPS app, I prefer google maps, so I tether them so I can get internet on my N7. I also do that to stream iheart radio (it plays through my car speakers through bluetooth) since it is safer to have the radio controls mounted and always on instead of having to deal with the phone.
All of these things are on iOS too. Op good article in the other thread. I just bought two of the new Nexus 7's as gifts but for me the 7 inch screen is too small. I prefer the iPad Mini size screen with 30 % more viewing area. . But really the 10 inch tablets are my favorite size.

Also, there are shared notifications with Android. For example, if I get a notification about a hangouts message, as soon as I read that message, the notification goes away on both devices. The same thing happens with Gmail emails. This is a newer API, so not all apps use it yet, but it is very convenient not having to dismiss notifications on both devices.

 

[snookasnoo]

Only with recent devices. My (and the OP's) iPad 3 and iPhone 4S need not apply.

There are many apps that do this.

 

[Diknak]

All of these things are on iOS too. Op good article in the other thread. I just bought two of the new Nexus 7's as gifts but for me the 7 inch screen is too small. I prefer the iPad Mini size screen with 30 % more viewing area. . But really the 10 inch tablets are my favorite size.

I was under the impression that WiFi only iPads didn't have a GPS.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

The new Nexus 7 is coming out, and I'm trying to find an excuse to sell my iPad 3 and buy one But when there are so many great Google apps already on iOS that sync my data, what's the point of having an Android tablet and phone? How do they uniquely connect to one another to work together? I just have email and notifications turned off on my iPad because they're annoying when my phone is right there. I know Android now syncs notifications across devices. I know the benefits of an android tablet from this thread:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/an...-my-journey-ios-android-tablet-pros-cons.html

I like the iPad 3 hardware, and kinda feel like the Nexus 7 is a downgrade. I can't afford both right now, and don't really want yet another device anyway lol :-\

TL;DR - What are the benefits of having both an Android tablet and phone? Specifically, how do they connect to one another better than my Nexus 4 and iPad 3?

To be honest, if you're happy with your iPad 3 and Nexus 4, I really don't see a compelling reason to switch to the Nexus 7. In fact, it seems to me that you've got the best of both worlds right now. I also have a Nexus 4 and will be picking up a 7, but only because I don't want to drop a ton of cash on an iPad (and the iPad Mini looks terrible to me).

 

[jerrykur]

I don't think the Nexus is any slower than my iPad3. The biggest difference to me is the form factor and weight. The iPad is huge and heavy by comparison. This is fine when you are seated but is a real issue when you are lying on your back trying to watch a movie or read a book.

Also, any apps you have bought, or buy in the future, for your Nexus 4 can be automatically installed on your Nexus 7 (or 10).