AppsThe Apple App Store leads the way when it comes to app count. Out of the 650,000 apps available, around 140,000 are specifically designed to work on the iPad at present.
Security is tighter on the iOS platform. Apple locks down its ecosystem, vetting every app before releasing it to the public, so there is next to zero chance of employees downloading malware after deployment.
The Apple App Store is still the most comprehensive source for mobile apps
There are a wide range of business and productivity apps available, from word processing to expense tracking and remote desktop clients. The iPad has the edge when it comes to the availability of digital magazines and newspapers too, with all the major newsstand titles available to download.
Whilst Android has gained plenty of ground in terms of smartphone apps, there's still work to be done when it comes to tablets like the Nexus. The Google Play store hosts 600,000 apps. In theory all smartphone apps can run on the tablet but this isn't ideal. By its own admission Google recognised the quality of apps for the tablet platform isn't up to scratch. Android chief Andy Rubin spoke at Mobile World Congress in February and said that his staff need to "double down and make sure we're winning in [the tablet] space".
IT admins should also be wary about Google Play. Apps are not vetted before being made available and Google relies on automated detection after apps are live, so malware can be an issue. The threat can be kept to a minimum by installing anti-virus software, but this is an extra step for admins to take and will also add to the cost of deployment.
Disappointingly, UK users cannot access the Google Music service at this time and availability of magazine and newspaper titles is also limited.
Winner: iPad
This would be a close-run battle if we were comparing smartphones, with Android possibly taking the crown, but the gap is much wider on tablets. iOS is still the lead development platform for many apps, with Android users have to wait for a port.
Strong sales of the Nexus should encourage more development for Android tablets, but this could still take time.
