subject: Android Tablets Vs. Blackberry Playbook: Android Email Gets A Push [print this page] One of the biggest considerations when purchasing a smartphone or tablet PC is whether or not the device supports so-called "push" syncing, meaning that changes are downloaded and uploaded as soon as they are made. In the case of Android's phones and tablets, push syncing has been included since day one and it has only gotten better in the time that has followed.
Android's native tablet email application is a full-screen experience that integrates all email accounts into a single, unified email inbox. It also pulls in data from the operating system's calendar and contacts application when required, providing a seamless email experience that doesn't require switching between applications to complete a complex task. Unlike the BlackBerry PlayBook email app, which only supports BlackBerry Enterprise Servier, the line of Android tablets fully supports Exchange ActiveSync's email, calendar, and contacts data sets. This feature alone is enough to make the PlayBook a thing of the past -- before it's even had a chance to break out into the market.
Android's email application supports other technologies in addition to Exchange email. Users of traditional email accounts will find it easy and straightforward to setup accounts using POP, IMAP, and SMTP servers. And as with all of Android, these services are "push" technologies. IMAP updates are instant on both the tablet and the server, and pop emails are downloaded as soon as they arrive in the inbox -- no delays, no waiting.
But the unified inbox isn't the only push email feature on the phone. If you would rather not combine your work email with your personal email (which might be a smart choice, depending on how you use your personal email account), you can set up push email for Exchange in your Android Email application, and then setup the other email applications to handle your personal account. This keeps work and play separate, so you never inadvertently send the wrong email to the wrong person.
While the BlackBerry PlayBook email application integrates with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is a solid alternative to hosted Exchange email and the Exchange ActiveSync policies, it simply isn't enough. Combine this with the PlayBook's tentative support of 4G, versus Android tablets already shipping with chips that can pick up a 4G signal, and what you get is a less-than-stellar tablet experience from RIM.
Android has had ample time to mature; it's true that the initial releases of the operating system had lackluster support for Exchange accounts. But in the world of enterprise business, there is no time to wait around for RIM to release a product or operating system that supports both BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Exchange. In this regard, Android is far superior.
