Related
I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
chefgon said:
I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
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Click to collapse
Not to mention times when you want to type but you aren't in the OS environment (like recovery terminal).
I definitely miss it. But, I got this free Google Ion phone, so it's obviously fun. But the battery is YARDS better than the old battery. This one is 1340mAH, so obviously it'll last a lot longer.
oxeneers said:
I definitely miss it. But, I got this free Google Ion phone, so it's obviously fun. But the battery is YARDS better than the old battery. This one is 1340mAH, so obviously it'll last a lot longer.
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Click to collapse
You bastard.
You're one of the lucky IO attendants? I envy you.
if someone asked me to trade my G1 for a Magic I would have to say no...because I adore my physical keyboard...
The reason for me to buy the G1 and not to wait for the Magic was... I think you already know it: the physical keyboard.
A friend of mine owns an IPhone and I tried and tried and cant get used to the virtual keyboard.
I'm able to type nearly blind on the physical one... show me how you do that on the virtual one.
I remember on my first touch screen phone (mda compact) actually having to explain to somebody that you touched the screen the dial. ;-) Often wonder how I survived on that phone, fortunately it had a good dial pad input with T9.
Yep, lets face it, if Apple did a iphone with a proper keyboard a lot of people would buy it in an instant, (heresy I know!)
I'm always surprised that nobody has attempted to copy/license the keyboard of the Psion 5mx.
Proper keyboards are for people who actually use their phones for communication longer than a txt message. But there is also a significant proportion of the market that just txt, thus hopefully there will always be two categories of phone.
I agree. I love having the newest, coolest, most awesome device on the market, but if it doesn't have a physical keyboard, it gets immediately dumped from possibility.
chefgon said:
I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I hate the g1 keyboard but I need it and the on screen one as well.
totally. a physical keyboard is what makes this smartphone basically a laptop in my hands. i just hope that we get a hardware refresh with new chipsets and hopefully an internal ati gpu backend for media. "HTC DREAM 2 - the clunky old bastard is back with a fresh new look"
haha no physical keyboard. hey how do you like playing the nes, snes, sega emulators? OH WAIT, YOU DONT! hahahaha.
That is the SOLE reason I will never own a Magic. I was so excited when I first about the g2, but I was hoping against hope that it would have a physical keyboard. They should totally manufacture it both ways!
My G1 is the first phone ive had with a physical qwerty keyboard. I now know that i will not ever buy another phone without one.
Im happy with my phone for now but i am getting a bit of jealousy looking at that new Samsung jobbie - please Samsung, make one with a qwerty!
my pros and cons of the virtual and physical keyboard
Virtual Win:
Nice to have a quick keyboard to type like a 4 letter txt or something
Virtual Lose:
no matter how hard i try i cannot get this to type at my speed. tried 1.5 stock keyboard, chompsms', and betterkeyboard
BRING BACK CHOMP'S VIRTUAL KEYBOARD PRE CUPCAKE, that was the best
Physical Win: keeps up to my speed, need i say more?
Physical Lose: i have a paranoia that if i slide it out enough, itll eventually break
I'd like an upgraded g1 with more ram and a faster processor, as long as the hardware keeps up to date i would own a g1 for life, obviously i'm in agreement with the physical keyboard.
I'm looking at the samsung with android but no physical keyboard only downfall...sooo...i'll have to wait for an upgraded g1....and i'm thinking about doing some sodering myself to see what i can accomplish....
I've switched to Magic from G1 because the build of the slide out keyboard is just too scary for me - the chance of the ribbon pulling out, the wobbliness of the keyboard, the tiny hinge it all rests on...
It's always going to be apples and oranges with hard and soft keyboards. Some are happier with hard keys and others with Soft.
For me personally, the extra memory, and much better battery life, and whizzy fast ROM (I have a google ion Dev Phone) combined with a really solid feeling, slick fone that feels fabulous to hold are the reason why I ADORE my Magic, and no, I'm personally not missing the physical keyboard at all - I have the HTC keyboard installed as an extra keyboard and can swap between the standard and HTC ones. I can type as fast as I need to for using my phone, and I love the predictive text and user dictionaries.
For me, it's a Fone first and foremost, and as such the lighter and slicker magic is the one I prefer to the chunkier clunkier G1. I have a netbook, laptop and PC to do all the other stuff (LOL because I'm a Gadget Addict..)
Erm LOL but having said that, the G1 is a brilliant handset and if anyone wants a very well looked after rooted G1 then check out my sig...
Dayz xx
I strongly favor a hardware keyboard. The ability for me to do administration at any time is very important to me and this is simply not practical with the virtual KB (VKB). Connectbot does not seem to let the VKB be used for terminal (though you can type in your password with it). I have never tried using remote with the VKB but I can not see that working well either.
I also leave my gtalk on my phone all the time so type a lot. For short messages the VKB is fine but the hardware KB is better, especially when you are typing more than a few words.
If donut includes the HID profile for bluetooth though the landscape changes. At that stage the Samsung i7500 is tempting with a stowaway BT keyboard. The downside to that is the Samsung is not an HTC device thus no custom ROMS on XDA. XDA-dev is half the reason I have stuck with HTC devices for the last few years.
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G Review
"Bringing mobile smartphone gaming out of the touch-screen ghetto has never been better!"
The review's done, but I'm sure some tweaks could be made before it's truly complete.
Tell me what'cha think! Feel free to let me know if there's any extremely crucial things I neglected to mention.
I think you've been overly enthusiastic. You've failed to mention some shortcomings which may be important:
1) The device is meant to play games, but acquiring them is not something necessarily automatic. Gameloft, EA and others have been getting away with redirecting the user to their own stores and complicating the buying experience needlessly. And let's not forget the puny internal memory. The device is meant to play games, and the user is not supposed to go to XDA and find his hacks. Another jack-of-all-trades like the Samsung Galaxy S does have a lot of internal storage.
2) The device is meant to play PSX games (or so says Sony), but more than 6 months after it's out, there are none of those games for Verizon users and there are 6 (six, sechs, seis) games for the international ones. Let's not forget the absence of two shoulder buttons either. That shows that Sony wasn't taking the device seriously as for its retro-gaming experience.
3) The buttons were all designed and placed by a drugged monkey throwing darts at a drawing. The power button, which you actually should be able to access without looking at the device, is etched in, making it hard to find. And to make matters worse, the LED which is supposed to NOTIFY you of things is practically invisible, located there. The volume buttons are hard to press and barely indistinguishable. Did I mention you should be able to locate and distinguish them in the dark too, as you may be actually listening to music on your device?
The Play has the virtue of being a very lovable device: once you actually grab it, it's what you say, the jack-of-all-trades that many of us gamers have been dreaming of since we were little. Plus, the software side is good and it's been improving with time. Once it gets phased out with time we will fondly remember it and probably keep playing games on it because it plays them so flawlessly, and it will probably last us a lot of time because it does everything quite well. However, you need to spend time with it to know its beauties and get over its quirks. None of that is needed with the good old Galaxy S2, with its freaking gorgeous supercolored screen and its huge size and its super-fast everything.
Here is a six-month review which you may have read already, made by the great XperiaBlog team: http://www.xperiablog.net/2011/10/11/xperia-play-six-month-review/ As you can see, they're mostly in agreement with you, but there are other things to consider aside of how well it plays games and how all-around nice it is.
Logseman said:
I think you've been overly enthusiastic. You've failed to mention some shortcomings which may be important:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see how the general point of me being overly enthusiastic could be true because I am enthusiastic about it... but I most certainly did mention the puny 400MB memory (twice, by mistake - making one mention sound totally out of place) as well as the notification light (which I also re-iterated a number of times).
The PSX emulation is a good point, but without PS Suite even being here, I have nothing to judge except that "filler" PlayStation Pocket app that not every R800 version has/can use. I could state the lack of PS Suite, but that's along the same lines as judging an unborn child for not ensuring the future of a family's business.
BTW, the lack of 2 triggers has already been accounted for... I'm sure you've seen the option of putting L2/R2 on the screen that PlayStation Pocket has (very effective IMO) and probably just didn't remember though.
Market division is also a good point - but that's not really something I can blame on the Xperia PLAY. It's EA and Gameloft's decision to fragment the market and that applies to all Android devices that can play their games. If anything, bringing that up would easily turn into a pro instead of a con since Xperia PLAY's Game Launcher congregates all that into one so that getting to the external markets is made just a bit simpler.
Still though, good stuff... I already have some ideas for changes.
Logseman said:
2) The device is meant to play PSX games (or so says Sony), but more than 6 months after it's out, there are none of those games for Verizon users and there are 6 (six, sechs, seis) games for the international ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a small correction, in Europe there are 10 (ten, zehn, dez) PSX games available:
Cool Boarder 2
Destruction Derby
Jumping Flash
MediEvil
Syphon Filter
Kula World
Everybody's Golf 2
Jet Rider
Syphon Filter 3
WipEout
Excellent review! I'm glad you recognized how awesome this phone is, but I feel like the GPS should have been more prominent. I mean, the Xperia Play has the best in-phone GPS I've ever used. I get a lock within seconds.
Once again great job on the review!
Two more quick things it seems, everyone else left off as shortcomings:
1. Finger prints on the screen: I had a Droid 1, wife has a Droid2 and 3 AND my Xperia seems to be the worst when it comes to fingerprints by far. I remember reading some early review a while back that also said the same thing. It seems the glass is missing some coating?
2. The 4 Android buttons do NOT light up!!
I still think this is horrible and can't believe Sony let this one leave the factory like this. AND to top things off, the buttons are placed next too each other. So in the dark NOT only can you not tell what button is which, u can't even see where one button starts and the other ends.
Yes, otherwise the review was very nice and I really need to check out that "hack" to move more apps to the SD card. The 400mb is another ridiculous thing.
PS: My last big dig is this one:
I love my phone as I assume all of you Xperia Play users do. BUT one of my biggest fears is that there is no follow-up.....where dose that leave us? The people that clearly love to be able to play games on our phones with physical buttons. Carrying around our old, deactivated (as a cell phone) WiFi only Xperia Play to use to play games. I really think Sony had something here but definitely fouled it up. From coming out in the US and the world 3 to 6 months later than it should to poor marketing to, still in my opinion, few games. Honestly, I still can not believe how big of a sales disappointment this phone has become. I was really expecting this phone to take off!!! It really had a niche and not just another iPhone wannabee copy. If you disagree I ask you two questions:
1. Have you ever actually seen/ met in person anyone else who has one?
2. Not every Verizon store carried the phone even when it was newer. (This was back in July)
Sad, I know.....
I haven't had a chance to read any of the reviews yet, but did anyone note that the buttons are way too hard to press without activating something on the screen due to the very small gap? I installed an Otterbox Commuter case which puts a ridge around the bottom so now it's almost impossible for me to press a key without also tapping on the screen. It was already difficult enough without the case but you could at least take note and be careful. Now I keep accidentally deleting email and such while I'm DELIBERATELY trying to avoid touching the screen!
I don't know what some of you are complaining about tbh, the only problem with the buttons is why did they bother putting a search button on it? Who actualy uses the search button?
And the fingerprint thing, I don't know if it's all models, but you realise there's a screen protector on it, right?
The only problem I haven't seen mentioned is the auto-rotate is abit to eager for a phone that big. Using it one handed and trying to press something on the left side of the screen often ends with the whole thing rotating when I don't want it to.
shiftylock said:
Excellent review! I'm glad you recognized how awesome this phone is, but I feel like the GPS should have been more prominent. I mean, the Xperia Play has the best in-phone GPS I've ever used. I get a lock within seconds.
Once again great job on the review!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! And now that you mention it, the GPS is quite a bit snappier than it is on any other device I've used... then again, only ones I've used are the Xperia X10, my dad's Archos 500GB and my bro's Motorola Atrix.
It's made even a bit better because the original FW's had some serious connection issues. I had WiFi and GPS connection issues all the time, but 2.3.4 seems to just make everything absolutely badass.
The Alpha Gamer said:
The only problem I haven't seen mentioned is the auto-rotate is abit to eager for a phone that big. Using it one handed and trying to press something on the left side of the screen often ends with the whole thing rotating when I don't want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I notice that a bit too when trying to browse the net in bed. Sounds a bit nitpicky and it definitely isn't a dealbreaker, but just for the sake of my review not being just raw, unstoppable praise, I might find some way to work that in
The Alpha Gamer said:
Who actualy uses the search button?
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Click to collapse
I do
It's a bit easier for me when searching the market, it quickly leads you to the "Xperia PLAY Optimized" search results of the market when you're in the Xperia PLAY Game Launcher, and you can tie a long-press function to it (if you're one of the people who care about stuff like voice controlling your phone while driving with Vlingo).
the Xperia play has its flaws, but I personally love the device and it will last me another year before I invest in newer devices.
TheCraig said:
the Xperia play has its flaws, but I personally love the device and it will last me another year before I invest in newer devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the rate it's getting games, I'm definitely gonna be interested more than a year
I was originally gonna go for raw power, but now that I have this phone in a place where I can measure and compare against my friends that have the Atrix, EVO 3D and Galaxy S2... Xperia PLAY, with it's Adreno-accelerated single-core is running Dead Space and Samurai II: Vengeance just as smoothly as the *top-tier* phones. Sorta makes me wonder what the point of all that power is.
TLRtheory said:
At the rate it's getting games, I'm definitely gonna be interested more than a year
I was originally gonna go for raw power, but now that I have this phone in a place where I can measure and compare against my friends that have the Atrix, EVO 3D and Galaxy S2... Xperia PLAY, with it's Adreno-accelerated single-core is running Dead Space and Samurai II: Vengeance just as smoothly as the *top-tier* phones. Sorta makes me wonder what the point of all that power is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I remember in July/August it had about half the games it has right now, Gameloft are optimizing one of their games at least once a month now, Xperia play is almost a year old and only now its getting good games.
The Alpha Gamer said:
Who actualy uses the search button?
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Click to collapse
I use long pressing on the search button to pull up Quickdesk which I really like for multitasking.
You're right that I don't use the search button for anything else, but that's why it's a perfect shortcut key for Quickdesk. I would be sad if there was no search button
Totally read this title as "After 5 MINUTES of ownership..." Hahaha. Oops! Anyway, I think anyone who has an Xplay loves the crap out of it. It's a shame more people aren't picking it up, it's truly the ultimate device, even if just for the emulator/gamepad duo amazingness alone! I love this phone so dang much.
OK, so I've now read your real-world usage reviews and I have to ask: Did neither of you guys notice the complete lack of a timer or notes application?
With no prior Android experience and coming from the perspective as a long-time iOS user who is also very critical of iOS, I considered it a shortcoming of Android to have no base functionality to compare to such basic tasks for a smartphone.
Now, what's with the lack of features that they promote on their website? They once promoted a 3D Panorama image capture function but they killed it for some reason and edited it out of the feature list online. I suspect that this is due to the faulty/erratic motion sensor problems. I noticed last week on the same feature list that they were still promoting a screen capture tool activated by the power button when, even after updating, there was no such function. After mentioning it on their forums, there is now a "To enjoy this feature, you may need to update your phone software." message under it and another feature that isn't there yet even with the most current update: Gesture input function. The Verizon version has that message on an additional feature: The front facing camera with various video chat support.
I also find some of the "optimized" games have TERRIBLE default controls for it. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is a good example. Download the demo and just try aiming with the virtual analog sticks and you'll right back to using the infinitely-better touch screen in disgust. Perhaps some mention could be made of it? Shadowgun isn't much better.
Erikwithafro said:
Totally read this title as "After 5 MINUTES of ownership..." Hahaha. Oops! Anyway, I think anyone who has an Xplay loves the crap out of it. It's a shame more people aren't picking it up, it's truly the ultimate device, even if just for the emulator/gamepad duo amazingness alone! I love this phone so dang much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what tells me that there must be something seriously wrong with mine.
Everything I did would hang, FC, crash, or chug. Even emulators were a problem. I just exchanged it so we'll see how things go.
You see, you have been a victim of AT&T, and of poor marketing. We R800i owners have screenshots, a proper front-facing camera and so on. No 3D panorama, of course, we didn't expect it with our crappy camera.
By the way, the lack of a default timer and notes app (among others which ch are natively offered in iOS) is something paradigmatic. It means that you can download them yourself. If you have seen some Android forums, you may have found many people who are developing ROMs and content which wipes most of the phone's default applications. People don't necessarily value what comes with the phone.
Nice review the play is getting better with all the new games.
SE have also supported their whole XPERIA line extremely well I say they have come from being the worst to the best .
Don't worry anout some of the critics of your review no phone is perfect, this is a very good first attempt at a gaming SmartPhone. Lets hope SE make a sequel.
ministroni said:
I use long pressing on the search button to pull up Quickdesk which I really like for multitasking.
You're right that I don't use the search button for anything else, but that's why it's a perfect shortcut key for Quickdesk. I would be sad if there was no search button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, I actually use it for Auto Rotate Switch off app. I find the Xplay to rotate way too often if I tilt it just a little bit. Gets annoying at times.
Oh god I love my play so much. I thought about getting the galaxy nexus!! But no SD card slot no dice I have a 32 gb card won't let it collect dust.
Sent from my R800i using XDA App
enerp8 said:
Just a small correction, in Europe there are 10 (ten, zehn, dez) PSX games available:
Cool Boarder 2
Destruction Derby
Jumping Flash
MediEvil
Syphon Filter
Kula World
Everybody's Golf 2
Jet Rider
Syphon Filter 3
WipEout
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone confirm that its possible to purchases these if you change the market's region or are will still stuck with it recognizing US hardware revisions?
Seem tablets are going to be even wilder and better this year from some some of the stuff I'm seeing from CES.
What would your "perfect" tablet be?
Here's mine:
10.1"
Gorilla Glass 2
1920x1080 (or even x1280)
Tegra 3
Officially support dual booting between:
....ICS with guarenteed JB upgrade
....Windows 8
Full sized USB on tablet with Host mode
KB doc like the transformer
wifi/bluetooth (pretty much a given)
Front facing camera (don't care about the rear camera in a tablet)
A mic that works
Add sd card slot, ir transmitter, wireless hdmi, rear camera, gps, no-glare screen, 15 hour battery (use), no proprietary charger
FREEEE!!!!!!!
ALL OF THE ABOVE. with real usable accessories Something more colorful.
black and silver does not go well with most of my Shoes .. Boohoo..
OHH I WANT Someone to Buy it for me... HINT HINT.. Giggles..
Birthday in May..
To me the most important aspect would be the OS: all current operating systems are terribly limited in scope and designed with rather lax and inflexible security systems and no Linux, Haiku, Windows, Android, iOS, QNX or other OS fits really what I have in mind. There does exist a few security frameworks for Linux, but they're tacked on, not developed-for from the ground up, and they're a pain in the arse to configure.
Hardware-wise I have no specific, hard-to-implement features in mind, all the things I wish for have already been implemented in one form or another.
In other words: a near-perfect-for-my-taste tablet is still impossible to create at the moment.
---------- Post added at 04:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:04 AM ----------
erica_renee said:
OHH I WANT Someone to Buy it for me... HINT HINT.. Giggles..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll see about that if you'll wear that red lace set for me tonight.
WereCatf said:
I'll see about that if you'll wear that red lace set for me tonight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh.. what have I started...
One that isn't outdated in 6 months!
Sent from my A500
>DARKMAN< said:
One that isn't outdated in 6 months!
Sent from my A500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but your wish will never come true. You will be lucky if your device isn't outdated in a week!
Euclid's Brother said:
Seem tablets are going to be even wilder and better
Full sized USB on tablet with Host mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... got to say I was very disappointed that Acer seems to be dropping the full sized USB on the a700. And no one else is building that into their tablet (though Asus has a USB port on the dock). I've got a batch of little USB/MicroSD holders and use them to carry sets of content when I travel (books, movies, TV shows). More convenient than popping the microSD cards in and out.
perfect? so far nothing has even hit my "minimum" requirements. so I'll put those:
Hardware side:
1. 8-10 inch, prefer 8-9 since that seems to hit the sweet spot better than the A500 size.
2. dual core at least, but I'm more focused on software.
3. HDMI out. full sized is best, but since some phones have HDMI that I'd need an adapter for anyway, I can settle for micro on a tablet. aside from making it a much more versatile streaming device, this also massively increases the potential uses of a tablet. presentations and larger scale demonstrations are made possible. gaming can be revolutionized in too many ways to count. so much more I don't want to go on about here.
4. front facing camera at least, and a good mic or it's pointless. back camera is more useful than you'd think, but not necessary. If it's there though, it should be decent, not like the iPad 2mp crap.
5. no proprietary charging connectors. So far this one's been a fail out of the gate for Acer, Asus, Samsung, Toshiba, and others I've forgotten. People wanting to put up with that flaw tend to get iPads. or if there is a prop. charger, at least also give us a second option to charge through the micro USB port like that one LG tablet.
6. certainly no proprietary data connections like on the Galaxy tabs. Seriously guys? I thought you figured this out when the EU banned these on phones. even people with iPads don't actually like having this problem, they're just willing to put up with it. not every design flaw of the iPad is a good idea to copy.
Software side (with some hardware points):
1. STOCK ANDROID. OUT OF THE BOX. Come on OEMs, people are asking you to do LESS on this one, it's not a burden on you. and they're mostly wifi only devices, so that kills most excuses. At the very least, if you want to bundle some additional apps with it for the less savvy folks, fine, just put them in the usr folder so your other customers can uninstall. everybody wins.
2. full USB support, without ANY accessories or connectors. this also means the software will NEED to support USB mass storage, not just MTP. That's a huge peeve for me, some of DONT use Windows 7, or don't want it (i.e. growing millions of Mac users) and even those that do, still have to use older computers from time to time. (XP computers at work, school, friend's/family's houses, all sorts of other real world situations that Google engineers just don't understand) not to mention backing up saves from game consoles, which I do all the time. speaking of games, we also need full USB ports for controllers, seeing as these are heavily used as game machines and the option to use game controllers allows us the best of casual and hardcore gaming worlds.
3. sd card support, preferably full sized cards on a tablet but can settle for micro SD. The most important thing is, it NEEDS to be fully functional, not read only. that defeats the purpose. It really should have the ability to install apps to it too just like with phones. especially since this is a personal computer we're talking about. My A500 is getting a little packed with apps alone, especially with the Gameloft games and other apps that are small downloads from the Market, but then you load them up and they prompt you to download the rest of the app, at 400MB. 16 gigs runs out fast, which is why I have no music or videos on my tablet.
4. Search button. on the control bar, all the time, particularly when running apps. come on Google, removing this is the most mind boggling thing you've done. not only is there WAY more than enough room to put another icon on that bar, this one is not only INCREDIBLY useful, it's actually necessary in some apps. Many don't have search icons programmed into the interface or menu, neither of which is as good or intuitive as having it present all the time, in one uniform spot, launching in app search with one tap, without having to scour the app interface to find it, IF it's even there. that bears repeating: SOME APPS DONT WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT A SEARCH BUTTON, WHICH WOULD TAKE GOOGLE NO EFFORT TO PUT ON THE CONTROL BAR. It blows my mind how many people try to defend this omission too. It's like when they released the Xoom with a card slot that didn't work, for $700, and people pretended it was no big deal. A feature that's been present and working great on all other versions of the OS, which is even easier for Google to make sure exists on this one, and it's not there.
anyway, these are my minimums like I said. other stuff would be nice, like an ir Transmitter/receiver someone mentioned. also, a case/cover that works, unlike Acer's own case. the tab slips out of that thing all the time when propping it up, despite it being designed to prop up the tab, AND it incredibly covers up the micro SD slot, even though they knew enough to let the volume keys and lock switch right next to it exposed.
Don't forget root and AdHoc WiFi out of the box.
Euclid's Brother said:
Seem tablets are going to be even wilder and better this year from some some of the stuff I'm seeing from CES.
What would your "perfect" tablet be?
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5'1" - 95lbs - Green eyes - large "top"
Would sit at my feet, read everything to me out loud in a super sexy voice, so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes
kjy2010 said:
5'1" - 95lbs - Green eyes - large "top"
Would sit at my feet, read everything to me out loud in a super sexy voice, so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes
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Click to collapse
5'1"? God, she'd be so small I'd step on her by accident.
kjy2010 said:
5'1" - 95lbs - Green eyes - large "top"
Would sit at my feet, read everything to me out loud in a super sexy voice, so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm ....I think Im in the wrong forum ...is this xda
bytemehard said:
Ummm ....I think Im in the wrong forum ...is this xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, XDA just recently started doing dating-services, too. Drop a comment in this thread if you're looking for fun or something more serious.
An iconia with ics will do me.
let's see (1)removable battery
(2)dual. Boot. Win 8. N ics
That is all I want
So maybe I missed it but... were there ANY tablets announced at CES that have actual USB ports? cause that's a pretty serious hindrance, in the end. functional connectivity is what's really setting Android apart from the iPad. I honestly think it's a major reason why Android tablets aren't really taking off. all the manufacturers are trying to mimic the iPad, including its limitations. they don't seem to realize they aren't supposed to be targetin people who want iPads; they're supposed to be targeting people who dont want them.
Only new tab I know of with a USB port is the dissapointing Acer a200
And my perfecct tablet is the transformer prime (the new version not the first, glitched up model) with a USB port built in, and microusb as the charger, not through the dock.
WereCatf said:
Yes, XDA just recently started doing dating-services, too. Drop a comment in this thread if you're looking for fun or something more serious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does looking for something 'seriously fun' count?
kjy2010 said:
5'1" - 95lbs - Green eyes - large "top"
Would sit at my feet, read everything to me out loud in a super sexy voice, so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're talking about my dog, Rupee. You can't have her!!!
---------- Post added at 05:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:40 PM ----------
Perfect tablet. One that noobs cannot break into, brick it by virtue of their own ignorance, then ask stupid questions later when they didn't follow instructions. And then make it worse by not following "un-bricking" instructions!
An added enhancement... A HUGE FRIGGIN GOOGLE SEARCH button. Dead center of the tab.
"That"... would be the perfect tablet.
Ok, so here's my dilemma. I want a convertible tablet pc. Problem is though, I think all of the ones on the market are poop. They either run android (I don't see the point still) and iOS, or are clunky and rediculously expensive. But I had a extremley bright idea. Buy whatever laptop I like, slap a touchscreen on that *****, and be happy. Keep in mind that as a poor college student with no job, I will probably never be able to afford this
1. Take apart laptop completley, Rip out the green bullcrap.
2. Mod case to be suitable as a convertible...or just look cool.
3. Rverse USB port to face inside
4. Close USB off from the outside
5. Get a USB Touchscreen conversion kit, which im sure come in many different flavors (Capacitive, Multitouch, Resistive), or better yet use a connector designed for computer internals, making #3 and #4 useless.
6. Add 3rd party accelerometer for Poitrait/Landscape orientation
7. Find a suitable hinge (or make one) and replace it
8. Boot laptop, install drivers for touchscreen and accelerometer
9. Pat myself on the back for custom making a tablet PC?
In my opinion the hardest part would be modding the case to be suitable as a convertible tablet, which can't be too hard. I have access to MIG/TIG welders, sheet metal cutters, grinders, ect. and I know people who know how to use them, so working with metal shouldn't be too dificult. In fact, I probably could just build a case myself from scratch. I also have alot of experience with plastic, so that's not a problem although I'd prefer to use metal for structural parts.
Touchscreen conversion kits seem to be all over the internet with a quick google search, and it shouldn't be too hard to find high quality capacitive touchscreen panels.
Walcom Bamboo Stylus because I'm a G
Accelerometers that work with windows I don't know about, but it cant be too hard Amirite? You can find ANYTHING for sale on the internet.
If I do do this however it will probably be in the summer (when I have a job). The only probelm I might have is the internals, seeing as I've never handled computer internals before. My brother did build his computer though, and I have a friend who also builds computers. It dosen't seem too hard compared to the other stuff like modding the case. While the laptop is dissasembled I'd probably put the parts in ziplock bags to keep them away from dirt and debris while I'm not using them. As long as I'm careful I don't thinkim going to mess anything up.
Good idea or no?
Good idea. Just keep in mind that the whole thing would be much heavier than a regular tablet, so holding it in hand would be difficult.
I have seen an EEE PC modded with a touchscreen, but the keyboard part was still there.
Just get a transformer lol...
What is wrong with Android? What is it you need to do that it won't?
My other idea would be to tell you most android devices are capable of running linux too?
Sounds like alot of work..and there are suitable models on the market, but if you wanna do it?
By the time you get around to it I wonder where technology will be...
PS ziplock bags? NO! Get some static bags..ziplocs are crazy static-charged! Honestly though, sounds like you are a good deal away from being able to deconstruct and reconstruct a laptop..the integrated circuits are ridiculously small and fragile..
PPS The hardest part might be actually getting the accelerometer sensors to function..which is where android comes in..you have to actually write some code into your operating system that will recognize and react accordingly withing the right parameters in your code..devs on this sight have problems with accelerometers that otherwise worked on a stock rom on OEM machines, god knows what it would take to get one working on a machine that never intended to have one by design?
That is all
What's old is new again
It's funny we did something similar a few years ago to build PC's into cars and trucks. For that application and at that time it made sense. Today we essentially just make custom docks for COTS tablets so that they integrate with the car.
If you're opposed to Android and other mobile OS's my suggestion is to start looking around craigslist for convertible tablet/laptops like those from HP and Dell or look for a cheap HP slate. I've seen gently used Slates going for around $200-300 and they run windows 8 reasonably well. I've seen convertibles close to that price as well.
Unless you are just dead set on a fabrication project i'd strongly suggest taking advantage of off the shelf hardware and mass production pricing and spend your extra time and money learning how to get the most of of those components.
If you do go ahead with this then weight and cost will be your biggest issues. I think a better twist on this would be to figure out how to make a transformer type of dock for other popular tablets. If you can make them well and make them cheap then sell a few and buy what you really want.
The reason I don't like android is because It's not a desktop OS. I'll be building this tablet-y thing for graphics/image editing, word processing and a little bit of gaming in between and I'm not 100% sure about android graphics programs. I like to keep it simple and use MS Paint, then GIMP if i need a more powerful program. I'm also a windows fanboy and it's what I've been using ever since I was 2... I also like to build things.
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
I didn't know Ziplock bags are staticy by nature. Thanks for the tip.
As far as the accelerometer, I don't know much about them but if it's super difficult I'm probably not going to bother with it. I'll maybe install a switch?
It's hard to beat windows for functionality but you might check out paint.net as a free replacement for paint.
Over all though I get the idea that you're a little in over your head on this.
Sent from my HTC Flyer using XDA App
LexusFman said:
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
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Click to collapse
Have you seen the Eee Pad Slider?
Also, Adobe photoshop for android = $10
https://market.android.com/details?id=air.com.adobe.pstouch&hl=en
LexusFman said:
The reason I don't like android is because It's not a desktop OS. I'll be building this tablet-y thing for graphics/image editing, word processing and a little bit of gaming in between and I'm not 100% sure about android graphics programs. I like to keep it simple and use MS Paint, then GIMP if i need a more powerful program. I'm also a windows fanboy and it's what I've been using ever since I was 2... I also like to build things.
I hate the transformer prime. I want a convertible tablet, not a tablet and a little dock thingy...won't serve my purposes.
I didn't know Ziplock bags are staticy by nature. Thanks for the tip.
As far as the accelerometer, I don't know much about them but if it's super difficult I'm probably not going to bother with it. I'll maybe install a switch?
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Click to collapse
Dude, I've got photoshop, an office suite, and tons of games, I'd never have to touch a PC again..I am a graphic designer by trade! I can even watch hulu (something not supposed to be capable of on android platforms), I've got a nice stylus and a full qwerty keyboard and mouse- I'm working on the OG transformer not the Prime, as far as I can tell the Prime was pushed too quickly and has issues with all of it's radios due to the metal shell..the TF101 does not have these issues, and the TF700 (basically the prime with the GPS and radios fixed and better resoultion) is available if you don't want to go for the OG transformer.
Seriously sounds like you're trying feverishly to open a can of worms to get a windows tablet when in reality there is no need and windows is given a run for it's money with the new ICS android on the way. Trying to unlock a windows phone after unlocking a whole bunch of Android devices would quickly turn you off of Microsoft as an OS IMO, that's what made me an Android fanboy (I was a windows guy previously, now I'm leaning more and more towards linux/android for their open source code user-friendly programability). But, if you are determined to do something the hard way = the expensive and labor/time-consuming way, no one is going to stop you
Just remember- in the world of technology things are done: Right, Cheap, and/or Fast. BUT, you can only choose two..
I've done this already with a eeePC 700.
1. The resistive touchscreen. You'll need a stylus for that.
2. Typing with a stylus is horrible.
3. It was heavy. Even when it was only 7inch screen. The battery made it heavy. (but I had 9hours of battery life)
4. You couldn't navigate the boot menu (without an external keyboard)
5. Resistive touchscreen is crap for drawing, because you still want to support your hand on the screen while drawing, which you couldn't do.
6. Moving Items around sucked (no drag and drop)
and many more.
I used it in my bed, for browsing. was good enough, until the touchscreen cable snapped. (I didn't have an external keyboard, so I had to open the tablet, connect the keyboard, and navigate the boot menu when I had to)
Hope this helped. Though it was fun to build it and use it, it's not what you would call an 'every day' tablet
romitkin said:
Good idea. Just keep in mind that the whole thing would be much heavier than a regular tablet, so holding it in hand would be difficult.
I have seen an EEE PC modded with a touchscreen, but the keyboard part was still there.
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I don't think it would be much heavier, in fact I think the idea is perfect for modification of a netbook. It would probably be cheapest. since so much case modding is required and so many enclosure fabrication resources are handy, to put together a frankenstein out of 2 or 3 broken netbooks. Find someone who smashed the screen of one netbook, another one who fried the board of theirs, find a total-loss broken tablet PC (like dropped in lake michigan level of total loss so it will cost pennies) and get the ribbon cable and swivel element from there. I think if this idea is applied to a netbook it would be excellent in size and weight as well as functionality. And with the x86 version of android's progress, it could even be running android like a tablet in screen out mode, and change to webtop mode when its swiveled. Put a netbook mobile broadband card in there, many netbooks have open card expansions under the screw-out panels underneath, if not you would have to choose between wifi or taking the wifi expansion out in favor of a mobile broadband card, and certainly make sure that the card is supported by your wireless provider if you choose to go the mobile broadband route. With verizon or sprint you will most likely have to acquire a mobile broadband card out of a netbook that was originally sold by the company, but be sure to check and make sure the MEID is clean before paying anything for one, if the seller defaulted on a contract they used to acquire it, you might as well flash the thing to cricket or metroPCS and use them as your mobile broadband carrier. With either wifi or mobile broadband, as well as bluetooth, don't forget the antenna! yeah that thing you have to unhook from the other side of the card to take it out, you need that. (oh yeah, bluetooths are included as expansion cards sometimes too, if so you could always remove this to make room for the mobile broadband if you don't use bluetooth. I sure don't and probably wont until they drop the rediculous prices of non-audio bluetooth interfaces to acceptable and competative levels.)
That project actually sounds pretty freakin cool, the type of thing I'd do if I wasn't already swamped with projects. Definetly keep us posted if you decide to go through with it, as I pointed out, if you build it from netbook parts it should be well within your budget, netbooks run much cheaper then notebooks already, but a netbook is comperable in power to most current android devices and thus is suitable to handle most things you'd use a tablet PC for, just not high powered stuff like compiling code or rendering animation or playing 3d online games.
Edit: I'd like to add and point out that as a regular user of an acer netbook running ubuntu, it is wise to refrain from excessive multitasking, the atom had to sacrifice a bit of things we've become accustomed to in notebooks to meet the low power consumption and operating temperature requirements, and a lot of those things are things that mostly benefit multitasking. You will not be happy if you try and run a jillion programs at the same time.
That being said ubuntu's new primary UI, I forget what it's called evolve or something like that, it is an excellent UI for netbooks, perfectly space-optimized, especially in the vertical range which gets filled quick on lil netbook screens. I'm not sold on it and prefer to go with gnome or xfce on desktops and normal-sized notebooks, but it is top-notch on a netbook. I'd also recommend not messing with the accelerometer at first and including it later as it may be a pain to implement correctly in comparison to the limited amount of functionality it brings to the table. I'd rather have something that works personally that I can make additions to then pull my hair out trying to throw everything in the first time right.
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Will_nonya said:
It's hard to beat windows for functionality but you might check out paint.net as a free replacement for paint.
Over all though I get the idea that you're a little in over your head on this.
Sent from my HTC Flyer using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Have to LMAO @ this comment. If users would ever actually push developers to release for the linux platform, especially hardware manufacturers (which is ridiculous since all they would have to do is release their code open source, or even just parts of their code and the community would do the rest. Doesn't matter much tho, it's mostly crappy chinese hardware that isn't supported by linux, and their HQs more then likely don't speak enough english to be able to request anything, beleive me I've tried to contact MSI before.... most hardware worth running is fully supported tho)
But point is, I feel like it is extremely cumbersome whenever I'm forced to use windows, apart from trying to use unsupported hardware or cross-platform software (although wine and mono have made GIGANTIC leaps in usability). I pretty much never have to deal with drivers, updates to all software happens automatically, it's become so self-maintaining that I'm ashamed of how lazy of a linux user I've become. When I actually do have to do something even remotely advanced I have to think for a minute about it. Usually the only thing that really requires a lot of getting under the hood that I ever have to do is when I set up my audio-production setups which is even a lot easier now that they have dedicated repositories for them, and when set up correctly the real time preemptable kernel will run circles around any windows or OSX setup latency-wise. I was pulling lower latency with computers recording with ardour, and sequencing/synthesizing/sampling with seq24 amSynth, and qsampler, 5 years older then any PC I would test it against running windows with Reason and Protools. the Jack audio drivers that allowed software to plug audio inbetween applications directly across the PCM was just icing on the cake.
Windows is good software, but linux has certainly surpassed it by leaps and bounds. Windows still rules for gaming because of directX and industry unwillingness to port to linux, but the period of time right after Microsoft declared it was removing directX support from XP on further releases saw linux catch up with windows for a little while as they rushed wine to support the newest directX making it actually possible to actually run new releases under windowsXP even. Curses microsoft, foiled again! And off topic, but furthermore, I can't believe people still pay so much money for that god damn talking paper clip, openoffice.org ftw!
As I said windows isn't bad software, I said before in these forums actually that if windows ran a microsoft controlled repository to distribute all software for windows through, like linux, it would have similarly non-existant problems with viruses. Having people go around the wild-west of the internet downloading and installing programs from there without even thinking about it is just asking for the malware and adware problems windows experiences. Windows is good software, linux is just much better software.
Too complicated...
On a second thought how about moding a cheap Tablet with better parts. Is it even possible like are the parts such as a processor, camera, or the radio chip available for tablets and phones.
Why dnt you get a transformer?
In my opinion, it would just be better to settle for an table, prices are gonna drop really soon. The market for Eee PC's alike has diminished since the release of the ipad.
This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
A lot of things to doo, better start with a simple tablet and try to upgrade it if possible... dont know if its possible btw.
I did something almost like this.
Took apart a dirt cheap acer aspire one with a small 8 GB SDD.
Small 280 Atom 1.6GHz cpu and cheap intel GMA gpu.
Inverted the screen
Added a extra 512MB ram and inserted a 16GB SD card.
My battery however did not stand up to the task so i ordered a 9 cell pack.
It ran quite stable with 6 days standby or 12hours of heavy usage.
The lack of a accelerometer however made it a pain for quite a few games.
But i did have a vague plan to get value's from it into the android OS using a AVR and a few other cheap parts.
Many manufacturers still produce cheap atom notebooks like these.
But hardware specs have gotten better and better, so you should be able to pick one up for cheap still.
http://www.axiotron.com
Soooo 2008...
I'm doing this with an old pentium 3 thinkbook. I know its not really that great of a computer but it at least redeems it as a usable device.
sounds interesting will looking forward for it....
Good Idea!
My Core Question:
WHY do no Android tablets have video INPUTS on them, so they could also be used as portable HD screens?
(or better yet as portable HD, multi-touch screens)
Basic Idea: I want an Android Tablet that can ALSO do what the GeChic on-lap 1002 can do (even if that didn't include touch). The on-lap 1002 is a highly portable 10" 10-point touchscreen that plays video from any HDMI source (or vga with included adapter). It is powered by USB plugged into either a usb-charger style wall adapter or directly into a PC. The best part is that if it is plugged into a PC, it not only draws power there but also sends touch commands to the PC through the USB at the same time. Great for portable gaming or a second screen BUT they are about $250 for the 10" and about $400 for the 15.6" and they have no OS, or stand-alone capabilities at all. I want a tablet that is always useful as a stand-alone, but when the situation calls for it, can also do the on-lap's job! (If on-lap still isn't clear to you then here is a video of it's big brother the 15.6" version).
I realize that adding a feature can increase the price and/or size of a tablet, but MOST of the parts that they both use overlap, so I don't think that the increase in either would be all that big. An HD 10-point capacitive touch screen has to be the biggest part and single cost in both (so making one screen do both functions only makes sense for size and cost) and the same USB components could be used, same body, bezel, buttons, etc. Admittedly, some components would probably have to be modified like the screen control board. That might cost a bit more/be a little bigger as a combo item, but still shouldn't be anywhere near double sized or double cost... so go ahead and add a little bit of cost or a few millimeters of thickness if that's what it takes! I would gladly pay an extra $50-100 (and probably willingly pay a fair bit more) for a tablet to add this feature and that certainly SEEMS attainable.
I have done literally days worth of Googling and have read MANY threads (some in this forum) with people asking IF there are any tablets with an HDMI input. At this point I am 99.999% convinced there are NONE (but I would be VERY HAPPY to be proven wrong). In order to be 100% sure and let my brain rest... I just have to have some idea WHY doesn't it exist? I am hoping that some of the hardware experts and creative-minded modders that frequent this forum can help me understand what I'm missing or better yet help make it happen. THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ALL!!!
Some Clarification:
1.) I just want to re-enforce that I am asking about INPUTs, not outputs. You wouldn't believe how much confusion there was about the difference in a few of the threads I read on some DSLR sites
2.) HDMI seems like the logical choice, so I may use it in examples, but my question is really about ANY video input regardless of port-type.
3.) I know that video ports only serve as EITHER a video input or output, not both from the same port (Some day a single port that did both would be nice, but for now) couldn't a tab easily have 2 ports, one in and one out or am i missing something simple?
4.) There is one answer I DO NOT BUY. Which is that 'there is not enough demand for anyone to bother adding an input to a tablet'. I have read several threads that have asked if it exists since 2011 for everything from DSLR photographers, gamers, car-PC builders, RaspberryPi fanatics, techs that want a portable workstation to connect to servers etc etc etc. Whole product lines or even companies (like GeChic) are based on portable screens, so I don't accept the premise that there is no demand. Besides, even if there WERE small demand, that would explain why they DON'T ALL have it, not why NONE have it. All I can conclude is that I am missing something and it must be a much bigger hardware challenge than I realize.
That'd be SWEET!
duckdodger24th said:
I want an Android Tablet that can ALSO do what the GeChic on-lap 1002 can do
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Click to collapse
Well thanks... I want that Too... NOW! haha.
In fact, I might actually buy one of the "on-lap"s you talked about for traveling (thanks for culling me into them!). But it would be awesome if my Nexus could just do it! Or better yet, if they would put some droid guts and a battery in that 10inch on-lap (I have decided too late that I like 10" tabs way more than 7s)
Unfortunately, I don't have the chops to answer your question. In fact, I'm with you that it seems awesome and yet reasonable. But there are some brilliant modsters on here, so I hope you get some help because it's a great idea. Good Luck!
sizes itedqun
DigMyDroid said:
thanks for culling me into them!
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Your Welcome... Assuming that was meant to say "clueing" you in
I am thinking about doing an in-dash car install of a table. But I would LOVE it if it doubled as a monitor that I could also use for a more elaborate windows7 car-PC for a possible later project. That is what made me first want it. I think I have some work-around ideas to fit those specific needs... but once I thought about it I couldn't help but think of how versatile it would be and a whole laundry list of potential uses!
duckdodger24th said:
Your Welcome... Assuming that was meant to say "clueing" you in
I am thinking about doing an in-dash car install of a table. But I would LOVE it if it doubled as a monitor that I could also use for a more elaborate windows7 car-PC...
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HAHA yes! that WAS meant to saying "clueing"... But... Ya know... typos happen... Unless, of course, you actually ARE planning to install a "table" into your car's dash, rather than a "tablet"!
DigMyDroid said:
HAHA yes! that WAS meant to saying "clueing"... But... Ya know... typos happen... Unless, of course, you actually ARE planning to install a "table" into your car's dash, rather than a "tablet"!
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Touché Sir!