It's Google's turn to move

Yes. The Apple iPad Mini announcement yesterday was indeed Apple's answer to Android smaller tablets such as Galaxy Tab 7.0 and Kindle Fire. Now, Google needs to venture even more, because after Windows 8 announcement, things might get a little more competitive.

Apple products are overly priced, but Apple has its own fan base, thus price is not a problem for Apple. This is a different case for Android. Current casual Windows laptops are now priced around Android tablets (around S$1000). Right now Android tablets have better sales because of the apps. However, with the launch of Windows RT, the whole thing might shift entirely as the apps (and games, and touch controlled apps) in Windows might be growing with upcoming Windows tablet. Now, it is true that for the Windows apps to grow, it will take time. However, the demographic now is really not in favour of Google.

As I mentioned earlier, the price of Android tablet often matches price of Windows laptops now (and of course, non OS laptops which may be filled with Linux such as Ubuntu). But, Windows will soon the mobile market as well with Windows RT for tablet and Windows Mobile Phone. Apple already has its own Mac OS X and iOS. Google has Android, and yes, PC OS of Chromium OS. But, its Chromium OS is not on par with its rival, namely Windows 8, OS Lion and Ubuntu in terms of functionality of content creation and games. Android, for the game functionality, is closer to the three PC OS. That is why I wrote that Android should be developed as a mobile PC OS (since Chromium OS is not used in PC anyway, only laptops). Google has made 3D modelling software before, the 3D SketchUp (though now no longer owned by Google). It could either develop its own content creation software or hold hands with Adobe, Autodesk, Unity and the likes, or independent developers.

To extend this motion even more, Samsung with its creativity makes Android much more powerful in Galaxy Note 10.1. Yes. This is what Google may do. Make a tablet laptop hybrid (like upcoming Windows RT devices) that has a stylus. Why? Because this functionality can't be found easily in Windows devices (don't talk about Macbook here). It could dominate the mobile world with equal-to-Windows OS with extra functionality and portability (I believe Android tablets are thin and easier to carry rather than laptops. Not sure about the coming Windows tablets, though). Well, I am just a commoner, so probably Android will still be smartphone and tablet OS. But yeah, universal OS for smartphone, tablet and laptop (with each having optimized UI for itself and different capability like some apps are restricted for laptop only)  added with unified data across them or lightning fast data transfer might be in the near future. Now, sit back and watch as Samsung probably sues back Apple for copying Galaxy Tab design. Or Apple starts suing Samsung for "copying" iPad Mini design.

Trigger Button on Phone

Yes, I have written about capacitive side on mobile phone to enable more trigger buttons in playing games on smartphone. I came up with new idea, although the feasibility here is less.

Camera can be used as a trigger button. That is, when the user cover the camera with a finger such that the sensor only reads black screen, that means the button is pressed. Indeed, this does not add any more requirement to current phone. However, there are 2 possible damages here.

One is obviously the battery will drain faster as the camera sensor needs to be active at all time during the game. Another is that since the camera sensor needs to be active at all time during the game, it will heat up and the sensor might be damaged.

Well, it is an idea, so I just share it. Maybe it could be made feasible by activating the camera sensor only when the trigger button is needed (for example, when the action gauge is full).

JavaScript

I am picking up JavaScript because apparently Unity Game Engine preferred language is JavaScript. Haha. It's an interesting language, but let;s see if I can pick it up fast.

Zero (Megaman X)

I am a fan of Megaman X. Zero is, of course, the coolest of them all. I had this model all along, but I forgot to upload it. It is half done because I tried to add in my own flavor to the model but then I could not figure out how to do the lower body part. And then now I don't really have time to continue on the model.

Android as a computer OS

Google made Chrome OS (now named Chromium OS) a while ago as a light OS for web browsing. But for a light computer, it needs at least some games. So, why don't they make Android as a computer OS as well?

I believe Android has the capacity to be so. There are a lot of apps in Google Play, many games that can be played even on such a tablet. Just add a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse, then develop some kind of Counter Strike that can be played online and Voila, its tablet may even sell better than Windows 8 slates.

Indeed, Android may have a lack of development environments within it, but that's the point. Add that in, with some 3D modelling apps, sound making apps, and there you go. Even better, probably Google can make a reverse: Windows application Development Environment in Android.

Of course, these are my wishes, as the era of tablet is coming. And you know, action game in Android is better than games running on Windows slate or low-end laptop as the latter's graphic cards may not support such action games. I guess we are left with waiting till that time comes.

Google Rampage

Google Overtakes Microsoft's Market Capitalisation

Apparently, Google is overtaking Microsoft in terms of stock market value as in the article on the link above. I wanted to work for Google, especially after that talk I attended about the company culture. :D