The unceasing march of technology never ceases to amaze. Once upon a time, the idea of communicating with friends or family a whole country away would have been seen as a science fiction story, pulled straight from the minds of Asimov, Clarke, or Heinlein. However, today, there isn’t a person around that does not walk about with a smartphone.
Likewise, the concept of a tablet was once thought to be a staple of the revolutionary space opera, Star Trek. Today, however, most people use tablets for mundane activities, such as reading books, gaming, or watching films/shows. Even gamblers can use tablets to play dice games online, and make wagers on their favorite sport.
But, the possibility for tablet-based entertainment has drastically grown in the past few years. To a point where, quite a lot of people don’t actually understand all of the different possibilities. That is why, in this article, we’d like to go over a lot of the different uses for tablets, from professional, to just downright fun.
Get Work Done
Believe it or not, a lot of professionals are actually using their tablets to get some work done. Thinking about it, it makes sense. Tablets tend to have the exact same programs available as most PCs, including all of the Office Documents, which are usually the things necessary to get modern day work done. But, it doesn’t end there.
Digital artists, quite famously, use tablets to touch up their art. Some even use tablets exclusively to draw. The best tablet for performing art is, of course, the iPad. The Apple-exclusive app, Procreate, has gotten a ton of positive attention and criticism from the art world. It has incredible features, allows maximum freedom, and truly elevates the digital art industry as its own, unique art form.
Of course, the professional work that can be done with tablets doesn’t end at digital art. Software engineers, particularly those who work in teams, often need to be able to work on the go. While a PC can do the job, in some cases, tablets are simply much more convenient. Unsurprisingly, plenty of programmers have purchased top-quality tablets, in hopes of getting the most mileage.
Casual Gaming
We briefly mentioned that tablets have opened up an opportunity for people to play games and even gamble. Considering the growing success of both the video game and the iGaming industries, we thought that there would be some customers out there, interested in the possibilities. The simpler one is definitely iGaming, so we will start there.
iGaming, or online gambling, is a relatively new market. It has been around since the 1990s, but only recently did it get the accolades and attention that have placed it so high in the world of entertainment. Part of the reason for the success of online casinos has to do with the inclusion of mobile apps and mobile compatibility.
Up until recently, it was unheard of that a person could gamble on their phone, for real money. Now, it is possible to use one’s tablet to enter a game, in real time, with a human dealer and several like-minded players. In other words, gamblers no longer need to go to the casino. The casino is going with them, no matter where they are.
On the other hand, we have casual video games, which the mobile gaming industry is mostly known for. Simple puzzle games like Candy Crush have managed to attain quite an audience. While they are certainly available on the tablet, the interesting thing is that a lot of game developers are straining their creative muscles, and giving us truly intriguing games.
Complex Games
As we said, mobile games are no longer straight-forward and simple affairs. Gone are the days when retro titles like Pac-Man and Tetris were the only ones available. Today, fans can play complex, strategic, and level-based games, that could even rival the top-tier AAA titles released for PC and console games. One of the most popular mobile games, available on all tablets, is Genshin Impact.
Created by MiHoYo, the game is a fantasy/sci-fi epic, set in the alternate world of Teyvat. Inspired by Japanese roleplaying games, anime, various world mythologies, and even Gnosticism, the game tackles incredibly complex themes. As it takes heavy inspiration from Japanese media, manga readers will certain enjoy this one, particularly those who like Shonen Jump titles like Naruto and One Piece.
In 2023, the same studio also brought us Honkai: Star Rail, another fantasy/sci-fi themed story, that deals with an interplanetary-transportation-ship called the Astral Express. The main character travels on board this vessel, resolving various disasters caused by “Stellarons,” mysterious artefacts that are responsible for most of the lore in the game.
Like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail follows a JRPG-esque gameplay formula. It also features some incredible visuals, with unbelievably advanced graphics, that could be compared to an AAA title. Furthermore, both Honkai and Genshin have won awards for best mobile game, at several game awards worldwide.
Things to Think About
Tablets were, once upon a time, thought of as nothing more than fantastical gadgets, cooked up by sci-fi writers. However, over the years, savvy inventors found that a portable device that works much like a computer is not only possible, but could even outperform the PC in certain aspects. So, if that was the case once upon time, think about what the future of tablets might hold.
Could there come a time, when tablets will become so powerful, that they will be able to fully replace the PC? Perhaps there will be a time when tablets will be able to run pretty much any computer, or even console game? If so, then we might just see a world where all of our favorite forms of entertainment will be able to fit on one, slick screen. If so, then we will never need to leave our house bored again. After all, our favorite hobbies might be able to fit in our bags, or even pockets.
Markus lives in San Francisco, California and is the video game and audio expert on Good e-Reader! He has a huge interest in new e-readers and tablets, and gaming.