Unlike Apple, Android tablet makers have a problem to differentiate their products from the rest of the pack. Asus is already doing this with the Transformer series, while Samsung is working on its own “Hub” services like Gaming Hub, Social Hub and Learning Hub. However, I’m not sure that’s enough. People go for the iPad because of two reasons: 1) it’s an Apple product; and 2) there are more apps to choose from.
Android tablet makers can’t do anything about the first point but can definitely do something about the second one. For instance, they should pay and work in co-operation with popular iPad app makers to have some apps exclusively available (at least for some time) for their tablets. Nvidia is helping companies selling Tegra-powered processors by working with game publisher on exclusive THD titles, but tablet makers should do something on their end, too.
There are quite a few applications that are iPad exclusive and contacting all those app makers shouldn’t be a problem. Few apps I would like to see converted to Android tablets are Fotopedia, which makes awesome lookin’ photo apps; and Flipboard, the single most popular magazine-like news reader that aggregates data both from popular sites and blogs as well as people from your social network. The resulting product could be an Android tablet with “Flipboard inside” or “Fotopedia inside.” Of course, the tablet makers would get some exclusive launch window after which these apps would be available to the general public via Google Play…
Are there any other apps you would like to see ported to Android tablets? And what do you think about this strategy/approach? Will it help propel Android in the tablet space?