MWC: OMG Google Android Honeycomb is pants

GOOGLE'S ANDROID Honeycomb has been one of the most anticipated pieces of technology since the all-conquering Iphone.

So popular has Google's mobile operating system been that different editions of its Android OS have been loaded on dozens of phone capable and non-phone capable tablet products. But now the tablet-specific version 3.0 of Android, Honeycomb, is here. Well, sort of, many Honeycomb using manufacturers prefer to talk about getting it eventually.

Sadly The INQUIRER must report that, unless there is some Google equivalent of a Service Pack 1, its not looking too good. Our intrepid reporters report that, somewhat surprisingly, it's not an easy OS to fathom.

One reporter, who shall remain anonymous for fear of threats from the legions of Android fans, radioed back to The INQUIRER Towers from the busy exhibit floor of Mobile World Congress, "It's hard to intuitively understand the layout, while the core buttons for going back or returning to the home screen are hidden away."

Our man in Barcelona added that he saw several other journalists getting exasperated with the device, struggling to work out how to return to the home screen or exit specific widgets.

Our man over there adds, "You'd imagine after a short time using the device continually you'd soon be using it as quickly as any other tablet but it seems strange it has managed to become harder to use at a time when easy, intuitive UIs are a must, especially for tablets. So it will be interesting to see how customers take to the new OS."

However The INQUIRER predicts fans will buy Honeycomb tablets simply because the overwhelming brand that is Google is a technological tsunami that isn't going to be stopped any time soon. No more than the numerous quality control issues have dented sales of Apple's outrageous Iphone flaw. µ