Economic Research: Android 4.0 Tablet

Android 4.0 Tablet

The only hitch there: There isn't a single version of Android. At Google's last I/O developer conference, the company unveiled Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which adds so many valuable improvements that it's our Editors' Choice for mobile operating systems. It's the best Android yet, especially with improvements in the 4.2 update, and you can get it on Google's own Nexus tablets, but it's not yet widely available on other tablets. Android has notorious problems with timely OS updates. Still, even if you don't have the latest OS iteration—or an Android variation à la Amazon Kindle Fire or Barnes & Noble Nook—Android continues to be the most configurable tablet operating system you’ll find. It's a master multitasker with an excellent notification system, and top-notch integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Maps. There still aren't as many tablet-specific apps as you'll find for the iPad, but slowly, that's changing.