For all the criticism the iPad and other tablets get for
being "just toys", they actually have a lot of qualities that make
them excellent… Read…
Android tablets have gotten better over the years, but it's
still hard to be very productive with them out of the box (though they have certain
advantages). However, with a couple accessories and a few apps, you
can make them feel a lot more like a laptop.
If you're looking for an Android tablet to use this guide
on, our old collection of the best
Android tablets from almost a year ago still holds up pretty well.
Ten inch tablets are typically better for getting work done as they provide
more space for windowed apps, but that's largely up to personal preference.
Also, be sure to check out our essential
pack of Android tablet apps.
If you're looking for a great Android tablet, there are
plenty on the market to choose from—many more than there used to be, and
they're… Read…
Android tablets get a bad rap but there are actually quite a
few apps that have been designed or optimized for tablets. In this follow up to
our… Read…
Connect a Keyboard and Mouse
The iPad is a great tablet for many things, but not all of
us consider it a solid productivity tool. Nothing is further from the truth:
you can get… Read…
Most tablets are pitched as simple touchscreen devices that
don't require peripherals, so you'd be forgiven for not realizing that Android
includes support for Bluetooth keyboards and mice out of the box. A couple of
the keyboards in our iPad keyboard
Hive Five will also work with Android devices, but there is no shortage of options at a variety of price points.
If you prefer to use USB peripherals, you can use a USB OTG adapter to plug . These are typically very cheap,
though not all Android tablets support USB peripherals via this method, so be sure to check on your specific model first.
Assuming your device supports USB OTG, your keyboard or mouse shouldn't require
any additional configuration.
Multitask with
Floating Apps
Of course, your peripherals are only part of the equation.
There are a number of floating apps you can download that allow you to
multitask in much the same way you can on a full laptop or desktop. While there
are many out there, here are just a few of the best:
One of the most important apps on any device is the browser.
While Chrome is fine for most leisurely browsing, Overskreen allows you to create a floating browser window that will hover over your
regular apps, allowing you to take notes or get things done while you take
browse.
Tiny Apps is actually a suite of mini apps that fill a variety of basic needs like a calculator, note pad,
music player controls, and even a rudimentary paint window for scribbling down
miscellaneous doodles. While there are many other floating apps that can
perform these same functions (and in some cases slightly better), Tiny Apps
puts them all in one place and will do the job well enough for most people.
Oh my God, I love this video! Brian McElhaney from BriTANicK
(comedy duo with Nick Kocher) and Michael Swaim (from Cracked).
Some devices like several of Samsung's Galaxy phones have
the ability to float videos while you do other things on your Android device.
Floating … Read…
Floating YouTube is an app we've
featured before that allows you to play a YouTube video over
whatever you're doing. This functionality is similar to what the YouTube app
does natively, though it works outside of the app as well.
Keyboard shortcuts only get you so far. If you really want
to harness the real power of your computer you need to take it to the command
line. This… Read…
It's no secret that we love the
terminal, so why should Android miss out on all the fun? AirTerm creates a floating command line window. While the app itself
doesn't require root, it's worth pointing out that you may be pretty limited in
what you can accomplish without it.
Previously
mentioned Quickly was originally designed to add rows of shortcuts
to your
notification shade, but a recent update brought the ability to
create floating versions of your regular home screen widgets. Any widget can be
launched directly from your shade, which means you can have a floating version
of a calculator, to-do list, device settings, email, RSS, calendar, or any of
the other incredibly
versatile widgets that are available to your Android phone or
tablet.
Android: Previously featured Quickly Notification Shortcuts
received an update this week that added the ability to launch any widget as a
floating,… Read…
Android's notification drawer isn't just for boring emails
and texts. You can use it to launch apps, change settings, and lots more. Here…
Read…
Widgets have been around since the early days of Android,
but it took what felt like a lifetime for them to get any good. Today, not
having any… Read…
Do Everything with
Remote Desktop
Android/iOS: Alongside Windows 8.1, Microsoft released its
Remote Desktop application today for both Android and iOS. This makes it easy
to control… Read…
Of course, sometimes a couple extra floating apps won't
really do the job. If you need a proper laptop operating system, you can use a
remote desktop application to log in to your existing Windows machine.
Microsoft actually has its own version of remote
desktop for Android which is free.
Android has a few great VNC apps, and a few not so great. If
we had to pick the best, we'd choose PocketCloud for how insanely easy to use
it is. Read…
If you prefer something with more options, there are plenty
of other remote desktop applications that will allow you to use your tablet to
work on your Windows machine. PocketCloud was our pick for best VNC app,
but many others like Teamviewer and Splashtop
have seen substantial development.
Your Android tablet probably won't be replacing your laptop
any time soon. However, with much better battery life, more portability, and
features like a touch screen, built-in voice transcription, and deep
integration with all your online services, there are plenty of reasons why you
should give tablets a try as a real productivity tool.
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