Do You Think The Nexus 9 Will Inspire More 4:3 Android Tablets?

[roninmedia]

Does anyone think the new Nexus 9 may signal to other high-end tablet makers that the 4:3 aspect ratio is the way to go? I think there are two possibilities with the idea of Google and HTC being vanguards with a 4:3 Android tablet.

• Yes, depending how well the Nexus 9 is recieved in the upcoming holiday season and sales it generates this season, cutting into the forecasted sales of the iOS devices and exceeding its own forecast
• No, if other tablet makers made 4:3 a part of the strategy by copying the leader, they would have copied the iPad's aspect ratio a long time ago. Other tablet makers are fine with their line-up of 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratios and the customer segments they represent. Creating a ~10" tablet with a 4:3 just creates a "me too" scenario that consumers will dismiss

 

[jstwondrng]

Does anyone think the new Nexus 9 may signal to other high-end tablet makers that the 4:3 aspect ratio is the way to go? I think there are two possibilities with the idea of Google and HTC being vanguards with a 4:3 Android tablet.

• Yes, depending how well the Nexus 9 is recieved in the upcoming holiday season and sales it generates this season, cutting into the forecasted sales of the iOS devices and exceeding its own forecast
• No, if other tablet makers made 4:3 a part of the strategy by copying the leader, they would have copied the iPad's aspect ratio a long time ago. Other tablet makers are fine with their line-up of 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratios and the customer segments they represent. Creating a ~10" tablet with a 4:3 just creates a "me too" scenario that consumers will dismiss

My guess is, Google and HTC wanted to try and capture the iPad market. Apple uses the 4:3 ratio for their tablets and folks continue to buy their products despite the "black bars" that appear during video viewing. I think it's a good ratio, especially for web surfing, document viewing and gaming.

J

 

[too lame to come up with a good username]

Yeah, it kind of creates a "me too" scenario and 4:3 is still kind of obsolete. Apple is behind the times, after all the iPhone 6's "new" features have been available on Android for years already. Sure, Apple products are more popular but Android needs to be really careful when trying to emulate Apple's success because Apple's an a-hole company. They sued Samsung for "copying" them to the point that part of the lawsuit involved THE ROUNDED RECTANGLE SHAPE of the iPhone. Seriously, what other shape is a smartphone supposed to have? At this point, Apple is just being petty.

The iPhone 6 is exactly like the Nexus 4, but apparently it's okay if Apple copies Android because when Apple steals from Android, they're just giving the public what they want. But if Android borrows from Apple, it constitutes a lawsuit.

I'm surprised that Apple didn't copyright the 4:3 ratio. They already seem to have a patent on rounded rectangles.

 

[NicksGarage]

For me I've held off buying a new tablet because I wanted a 4:3 ratio and none off the choices thrilled me. Watching wide-screen movies is one of the least things I do with my current tablet so occasional black bars won't bother me.

Sent from my HTC One M8 via Tapatalk 4 Pro

 

[Shilohcane]

App developers that run on both Apple a Android want to develop for one industry standard and 4:3 will be that aspect ratio standard. Only Amazon Fire may stay at 16:9 ratio since they are building a tablet for movies with their Prime streaming service.

Other than movies everything is designed for 4:3 that we use our tablets for on the internet. From newspapers to books it has always been a 4:3 aspect ratio.

 

[fm123]

There's a lot of Chinese makers who have them, aside from Xiaomi. I'm thinking many companies will have 64 bit K1 devices soon, as few others will have the same performance. So it should lead to more choices, hopefully by year end.

 

[Naramis]

I hope so.
4:3 is the reason I went to Apple for my tablet.
It's simply better for studying, reading books, articles and magazines, which is what I do most with my tablet.
16:9 is only better for movies, and I have a TV for that..

 

[Timelessblur]

as much as it pains me to say it. Apple was kind of right about making the iPad 4:3. After owning the Galaxy 10.1 I have to say it was to tall and narrow for reading/surfing the web in portrait mode and not tall enough in landscape. Compared to when I use an iPad I can and will switch between horizontal and portrait for surfing the web with little issue and when I am reading threw the kindle app I feel pretty conformable in portrait mode. I kind of feel the same way when I use the Nexus 10.

In terms of usage I say I like the Galaxy Note 10.1 for watching movies/TV shows on a lot but for a lot of my use cases that it mattered the iPad layout is just well better. I am oldly enough really excited for the nexus 9 shape.

I think it is a fine line where flipping to the 16:9 is a good move. The Nexus 7 I feel should be 16:9 as it kind of drops below that magic size. The iPad mini for example I find is in the borderline zone where it could go either way.

One nice thing about being a developer for mobile apps at the company I am at is I get quite a collection of devices to play with/test stuff on to make sure it all works so I do get to use a wider array of items to get a feel for them. I am looking forward to my personal nexus 9 coming in next week as I have been waiting for the new nexus tablet release for the past 7+ months.

 

[Robert Ratskywatsky]

I hope so.
4:3 is the reason I went to Apple for my tablet.
It's simply better for studying, reading books, articles and magazines, which is what I do most with my tablet.
16:9 is only better for movies, and I have a TV for that..

Same here - except I don't watch tv.

 

[Robert Ratskywatsky]

Another vote for 4:3 here.

 

[shanghaichica]

I hope not. 4:3 is horrible for watching videos which is something I do a lot. 16:9 is manageable for reading and Web browsing so I prefer that aspect ratio. I had an ipad air and I ended up selling it and getting a galaxy tab pro 10.1 which I think it's better.

Posted from my nexus 7 2013

 

[jstwondrng]

I hope not. 4:3 is horrible for watching videos which is something I do a lot. 16:9 is manageable for reading and Web browsing so I prefer that aspect ratio. I had an ipad air and I ended up selling it and getting a galaxy tab pro 10.1 which I think it's better.

Posted from my nexus 7 2013

I feel it's the other way around. 4:3 makes viewing webpages, documents (i.e. PDF) and most apps much better. I can deal with "black bars" when watching videos. On my N7, it was perfect for video viewing but you still get black bars. I guess it's a personal preference and to each its own but I'm sick of webpages not viewing correctly on my device.

J