Please can we have an Android (or iOS) version of Xara

[shiphen]

Dear Xara

Please can you port/write a version of Xara Designer Pro for Android (or iOS?)

Background:
I have been looking at a high resolution, lightweight ultra-portable laptop and I can only conclude that the future of Windows is screwed.

I have been looking at the best resolutions and weights for laptops and clearly the Apple iPad is WAY ahead of anything that runs Windows. But personally I hate the closed 'big brother' world of Apple with a passion. I particularly hate not being able to upgrade your RAM, or replace your battery (dont get me started)... But I am thinking that it can only a matter of a few months before the spec of Android tablets catch up.

As you will no doubt know, the latest iPad has *1 million* more pixels than the highest resolution laptop that money can buy. AND it weighs less than half the weight, AND it is less than half the cost. (!)
i.e. The New iPad (v3) weighs 662g, has a screen of 3MP (2048x1550) and only costs GBP 559. Moreover the iPad has an "instant on" facility that makes Windows devices look like dynosaurs!

Whereas the majority of existing lightweight Windows-running laptops on the market tend to only run 1366x768 screens and frankly your're doing extremely well to beat 1.2 Kg!
e.g. Dell XPS 17 L702X has a screen res of 1920x1080, but weighs 3.6Kg
e.g. Sony Z also do 1920x1080 but they cost well over GBP1,500 as well as weighing about twice the iPad.

But how hard can it be for tablet manufactures to catch up?

I'm not sure about iOS... - even though I notice that most blue-chip corporates now use them regularly - but I reckon Android will eventually replace Windows completely. So go on Xara - are you going to be ready?

J

[steve.ledger]

I could never work with Xara on such a tiny screen that I have to stick my fingers all over to make things happen

-1

(though there's more chance you'd see Xara DP for Apple desktops and laptops than any pad OS)

[qmr]

absolutely agree with android version request. Think a simple cut down basic version of Xara for drawing would be popular.

I once had a palm tungsten E and bought a simple vector drawing app for it and could import the vector files straight into Flash as files were svg, from there into Xara via ai. I found it extremely useful and sketching graphics ideas with actual rgb colour is very useful away from computer. I dont carry a laptop around and like to sketch in the outdoors and there a small pocket device like the Palm works great (until the battery runs out).

Since the Palm died I've reverted to paper and pen. I'd like to buy a samsung device so an android version of xara would be wonderful. I'm not interested in iphone/ipad as I work a lot in Flash. Android version with simple outline drawing with colour fills, blends, and maybe transparency but most importantly doesn't crash please. Like xara version 2 but simpler.

Q

[steve.ledger]

There's already a ton of drawing apps for Android, many of them free as well.
For example, have you tried 'Sketchbook Mobile' from AutoDesk?
► http://goo.gl/d4TgS

[qmr]

yep there are a few Android apps I've found in searching, usually in beta but they appear to use bitmap output. Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile outputs png and psd, and pdf but I don't think the pdf is illustrator vector version.
A simple line drawing app that does colour fills which translate straight into Flash or Xara for further editing doesn't appear to be available yet. A very basic cut down version of Xara would be my preference. My old Palm app back in 2003 did the trick but back then Palm screens were small and low res. But it worked at the time.

Q

[ad1066]

I would LOVE an app that I could sketch stuff on my Android tablet and then bring directly into XDP without any fuss. +1.

-- Ben