Galaxy Tab 7.7 Phone Mode.. - Galaxy Tab 7.7 General

Hi everyone. I have been fighting with the Galaxy tab 7.7 since I got it over the issue of its design as a tablet and not a "large phone". The 7.7 screen is too small to be usable as tablet and despite all sorts of attempts to change fonts sizes etc, the reality is an endless list of the apps I use are poorly displayed n the screen with items too big or small, check boxes out of place, ridiculously small areas of the screen and other too big or everything just plainly a gigantic mess.Coming from an original Galaxy Tab 7 and now using a newer 7 Plus, both these units display every item on the screen perfectly proportioned and as it should, because they handle everything as large phone display, NOT a tablet.
How can I have the 7.7 behave the same? Originally with Honeycomb all attempts to fix the issue were a disaster and the only thing I was successful was in tweaking the DPI enough to make some items legible but not too much and then loose the bottom task bar that automatically vanishes past it gets a certain size. Now with ICS, the problems seems to be the same.. the 7.7 is still in tablet mode and not in phone mode like its 7.0 siblings.
I tried editing my build.prop, removed the lcd density line altogether, and changed:
ro.build.characteristics=tablet
to
ro.build.characteristics=phone
But still no luck. Can someone guide me to a proper and easy way to covert natively, the display of the 7.7 to phone mode like the 7.0 and 7.0/2 and Plus?
Thanks a lot in advance for the advice

There are many who would agree with you, but there doesn't seem to be a simple answer to increase the size of the fonts in a workable way. I had hoped ICS would fix this issue, but it didn't. Mind you, some people seem to like the small fonts.

But the issue is NOT one of fonts! I dont care about fonts! I care about that in many applications elements are all so displaced and badly proportional that they are unusable. Dolphin browser? Almost cant type on the address bar because of its size and menus! FoxNews? The thumbnails are so small you can hardly select the video you want to see while the rest 80% of the screen space is just white with nothing! CnetTV? Each video selection is millimeters in size while most of the screen is just a black blob of unused space. And the list of apps foes on and on. It just doesn't work and when U compare screen arrangements and filling from a galaxy tab 7, 7/2 or 7/Plus you clearly see something is terrible wrong on the 7.7. Its just disaster to use! This makes no sense.

Screenshots?
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

have you tried different browsers to view your favorite sites? and also switch between 'mobile' and 'full' site views in each browser till you find one that can be the lesser of the evils.
i believe the stock Samsung ICS browser has a 'force zoom' option for site controlled views too.... might want to try that out.
good luck...
and post your results here too.. keep us updated with your solutions.
thanks.....

VeEuzUKY said:
It just doesn't work and when U compare screen arrangements and filling from a galaxy tab 7, 7/2 or 7/Plus you clearly see something is terrible wrong on the 7.7. Its just disaster to use! This makes no sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the off-topic but I am tired of seeing the same topic and hate statement again and again. You should have seen what Honeycomb looked like on this device before buying it. I believe more people agree original GT 7 has had wrong interface, a.k.a. Big Phone. And the GT 7.7's tablet-style interface is correct for this size.
Posting numerous times how un-*****-usable and horrible and trash it is will not change this. Just stop it already or sell your tablet.

Related

Galaxy Tab review in the making. Need suggestions!

Hello XDA!
I managed to get my hands on a Galaxy Tab to review. I'm an avid android user and I know what I would want from a device like this. Thing is, I want to know what YOU, dear XDA members, would like to know about the device!
Kindly leave me questions that you wish to be answered in the video review of the Galaxy Tab.
The sooner I get the questions the sooner I'll be able to post up a video.
Note: Kindly note that I cannot root the device nor change the flash version of android that runs on the device.
Firmware version: P1000XXJH1
Specs of the device as per Quadrant Advanced:
Quadrant score: 1,000
CPU: 1437
MEM: 1684
I/O: 791
2D: 201
3D: 886
Linpack score: 13.877
Total memory available: 435MB of which 174 is used on fresh boot.
System information(via Quadrant Advanced).
htt p://img215.imageshack.us/i/20101005100755.jpg/
htt p://img59.imageshack.us/i/20101005100927.jpg
htt p://img697.imageshack.us/i/20101005100848.jpg
htt p://img411.imageshack.us/i/20101005100911.jpg
htt p://img34.imageshack.us/i/20101005100927.jpg
(Apologies for the low quality photos)
It would be nice if you describe display quality - viewing angles, panel type (is it IPS) how it performs in sunlight. Is minimum brightness good for reading in dark conditions? Thanks!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
vitalij said:
It would be nice if you describe display quality - viewing angles, panel type (is it IPS) how it performs in sunlight. Is minimum brightness good for reading in dark conditions? Thanks!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Viewing angles are a subjective issue, personally when i pick up my mobile device and look into it, it's always straight in front of me, so that's all i want, but if you have a viewing angle of over 45 degrees like the Tab, all you get is people on the bus, train or plane looking sideways to see what you're looking at
I'm based in England at the moment, they don't have that much sunlight and even less direct sunlight
First impressions, it feels to plasticky, not like it's price suggests that it should, not as bad as an X10, but almost.
checkbox111 said:
Viewing angles are a subjective issue, personally when i pick up my mobile device and look into it, it's always straight in front of me, so that's all i want, but if you have a viewing angle of over 45 degrees like the Tab, all you get is people on the bus, train or plane looking sideways to see what you're looking at
I'm based in England at the moment, they don't have that much sunlight and even less direct sunlight
First impressions, it feels to plasticky, not like it's price suggests that it should, not as bad as an X10, but almost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is the call quality/ease of use.. Does the tab "feel" swift?
Hello guys,
Thanks for the initial question. I will cover this question in the video review.
I need more points of focus for the review.
MOARRRR
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Like if you have had chance to use the ipad, maybe like how does it compare value wise? As I think how much it costs £599 is putting me off, but if it is worth it compared to other tablets then I would consider it more
Phen0m said:
How is the call quality/ease of use.. Does the tab "feel" swift?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't know about call quality as it's only owned by an engineer that comes into our office, he doesn't have any problems as far as i've heard, but as with other threads here just don't expect it to fit into you jacket or trouser pocket, one it's to big and another it's to heavy to be comfortable.
You may have visited the dell streak forum, or heard of how fragile the dell streak lcd screen is? because of it's large size the body flexes but LCD's by their very nature cannot flex and they snap. Well just look at the size of the LCD on the Tab, and the body of the Tab is made of plastic and (not titanium as per streak) to save weight, this by it's very design will make it more suceptible to breakage, (the body will flex under pressure the LCD will not) = ££££££
sebbo90 said:
Like if you have had chance to use the ipad, maybe like how does it compare value wise? As I think how much it costs £599 is putting me off, but if it is worth it compared to other tablets then I would consider it more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the ipad and the Tab are two completely different entities, one is a bookreader trying to be a netbook pc, the others a smartphone with obesity problems. They shouldn't be compared IMO.
checkbox111 said:
Wouldn't know about call quality as it's only owned by an engineer that comes into our office, he doesn't have any problems as far as i've heard, but as with other threads here just don't expect it to fit into you jacket or trouser pocket, one it's to big and another it's to heavy to be comfortable.
You may have visited the dell streak forum, or heard of how fragile the dell streak lcd screen is? because of it's large size the body flexes but LCD's by their very nature cannot flex and they snap. Well just look at the size of the LCD on the Tab, and the body of the Tab is made of plastic and (not titanium as per streak) to save weight, this by it's very design will make it more suceptible to breakage, (the body will flex under pressure the LCD will not) = ££££££
Well the ipad and the Tab are two completely different entities, one is a bookreader trying to be a netbook pc, the others a smartphone with obesity problems. They shouldn't be compared IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Do you have any questions that you would like answered about the device?
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Halulz said:
Thank you. Do you have any questions that you would like answered about the device?
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Similar to all owners i would think! why did samsung insist on utilising such a large bezel around the screen? therebye turning a 7' screen device into one more akin to a 10' without any benefits of a 10'?, and adding nothing to the looks of the device at the same time.
Well the ipad and the Tab are two completely different entities, one is a bookreader trying to be a netbook pc, the others a smartphone with obesity problems. They shouldn't be compared IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol yeah I get the point, what I was more curious was in relation to the size, like is 7" too small to get a full web experience? Is it too big to carry round yet too small to use around the home? etc
sebbo90 said:
like is 7" too small to get a full web experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because the 5" dell streak isn't to small for that!
sebbo90 said:
Is it too big to carry round yet too small to use around the home? etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As in other posts! you will not carry this around on your pocket, unless you want to break it! You might try a large overcoat with a very wide collar, if the pockets big enough and you want to look like the FBI everywhere you go.
https://www.urbantool.com/hq/laptop-cases/show-pocketbar
checkbox111 said:
Troll
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for trolling another thread entirely off the rails.
To the OP:
A few things that I'd like to see discussed. Firstly how does it feel to type on it ? I've seen in a few first-impression pieces that it feels good (like a galaxy S in landscape) but it'd be great to get the feelings of a regular user. Also, some shots of the keyboard in action would be nice.
Secondly, can you toss some 720p video on there and show us how it looks. It never looks the same in video as in person, but it'd give us an idea of how the screen does as far as contrast and colour vibrancy is concerned.
Finally, how does the device feel to you ? Does it feel to you like you could carry it in a pocket all day ? Does it meet your expectations for speed/ease of use ?
GL with the video, hope to see it soon!
It is maybe off topic, but ... here goes :
- What release of Android is running ? Same as the one on Galaxy S device ?
- Does this android release supports multiple Exchange sync accounts (like HTC Desire & Desire Z do) ?
- Does it have 2 SIM card slots ? (saw that somewhere, don't remember ... where). If so, is it one for voice plan, second one for data plan ?
- Does it come with a USB host port (or the hw to take care of it) ?
Thanks.
Does it play 1080p files (mkv & flash) or does i only output 1080p..?
I got my hands on this last week to try out for a good half hour, and i loved it. The size was great, and great to watch movies on.
Looking forward to it. Release in Norway is 21. okt )
could it be confirmed if the Tab is going to require Kies in the same way as the Galaxy phones, e.g. for firmware updates
i assume that there will be no difference between this and their phones, but as Kies is software that i truly dislike, i am living in hope that it does not.
johnnewhouse said:
could it be confirmed if the Tab is going to require Kies in the same way as the Galaxy phones, e.g. for firmware updates
i assume that there will be no difference between this and their phones, but as Kies is software that i truly dislike, i am living in hope that it does not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is confirmed by Samsung already. In their official site, it says in the "PC connectivity" section "KIES". Sorry. I know, I hate that application with a passion myself...
If you have time, it would probably interest many people if you'd manage to try some popular apps from the market and see how they act with the increased resolution. We all probably have out own top10 lists for software, but I think browsing appbrain for most popular and trying a few of them would give people some idea how far that compatibility is.
(I, personally, would love to see how WidgetLocker, Beautiful Widgets and Launcher Pro work on that, but unfortunately at least the first two ain't free.
But more generally, how do widgets work on that screen? What I've gathered from the pictures is that the Tab has a FIVE column display (instead of the traditional 4) on the homescreen. How do widgets work with that? does a 4x4 widget scale to full size, or does it live a "column" free. Also, how many rows does the screen have?
EDIT: oookay, I don't know why these two posts became separate, this was supposed to be an edit to that earlier...
Actually thats a good idea.
I even forget that widget locket etc are even apps these days! But yes that'd be good to see if they scale up or still work properly on the big screen.
I imagine beutiful widget and switchpro you could make them bigger with launcherpro+ if they won't scale up by themselves, same with any other widgets, but it'd be good if they did it for free! However I think the 'grid' on the Tab is bigger anyway, so 4x2 widget would cover more space, but then it appears to have more rows too, so they might still appear small
Anyways, if you have any paid for apps on your main smartphone, you should be able to put the same market account on the Tab and download them again, so that's one way around paying twice just to demo them.
A few things I'd like to see:
- Spotify in action if possible.
- Proper comics and hos they scale to the screen and if it's easy or hard to read them (The Walking Dead for example.)
- A bit more on reading eBooks in different lights.
- In-depth look at the calendar and how flexible it is.
- If possible, how the accessories (like the keyboard) work.
- How it handles different resolutions of video.
Thank you for accepting suggestions!

Few questions...new owner

1. how do I turn off mobile web settings? I hate the mobile view.
2. what's the screen size so I can make a picture fit the whole screen as a background image.
3. Was I smart to pay $533 for this today, with the Xoom and a Tab 2 in the works?
- personally, would install dolphin browser, under the options it lets you turn off mobile view.
- screen res = 1024x600
- that questions a bit ambiguous... for no contract, with a contract? imo, when the Xoom or Tab 2 came out, would you then wait for the next gen to come out? (just my thought... )
1) Definitely install Dolphin HD. It has all the settings for 'user-agent'. Turns the Galaxy Tab into what it should be.. totally awesome! (Cannot believe Samsung have not yet fixed their default browser.. NAUGHTY SAMSUNG! )
2) The Screen res is 1024x600 but if you have the background moving when you swipe across, which I think looks a lot nicer, you'll want a bigger image. Just Go Large!
3) When it comes to teck, there is ALWAYS a new product round the corner. Get on the train and hang on.. The Galaxy Tab 1 really is a very competent little machine once you get all the tweaking and foibles out of the way. $533, sounds like a bargain to me, and I have to say I'm a little under-whelmed about the Xoom's average screen res.. It's only marginally bigger than the Tab's (1280x800).. and I prefer the 7inch form factor. Plus the Xoom weighs a lot more than the dinky little Tab.
In general - Love My Tab!
Thanks, guys...I installed Miren and I love it. I was able to set the user agent to one that I like. It's also tabbed browsing....Sweet! I also added the launcher I have on my EVO and love it (ADW ex). I am thinking I may return this and get the Tab 2...then be happy with that. I don't think I am willing to foot the bill for a Xoom. Also, I read it's slightly bigger than the iPad.
What I like about this 7" screen is this. I have been placing it in my inside coat pocket. When I leave the house, I tether it to my EVO. When I get places...I pull it out and use it. With the iPad or Xoom, I wouldn't be able to do that...simply cause you need a case or something to hold that big boy. I think the tab is where I wanna be.
Real quick...I change my wallpaper to 1024X600 and it still only gives me the small orange box to select a section of the image. I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the whole image to display.
Yep.
I use ADW too and by the looks of things it will only let you choose square areas.
Go Larger than you need and Crop! Nice big fat image.. The aspect ratio is correct so no worries.
spartacusrex said:
Go Larger than you need and Crop! Nice big fat image.. The aspect ratio is correct so no worries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am I doing the crop on the Tab or crop the image in Photoshop and add to Tab? Forgive my questions, but I have tried sizing and cropping and I just can't figure it out.
Can you attach one of your images that fit so I can see the aspect ratio of it?
I've noticed Xscope is the fastest; however it has its issue. Pinch to zoom any flash screen will behave undesired result.
I had the same problem with the DroidX. I purchased dodol Wallpaper Maker from the market. It will resize any wallpaper and use the whole image when scrolling. I was frustrated by the stock software not being able to apply a wallpaper properly, but am glad I found dodol. Its actually a pretty good app and has worked great on my tab.
The orange box for selecting the wallpaper size is retarded. It never fits the whole picture, especially if the aspect ratio isn't square (and our fracking screens aren't fracking square!!) and is glitchy. I've never even tried on the tab as dodol transferred right over.
EVOme said:
Real quick...I change my wallpaper to 1024X600 and it still only gives me the small orange box to select a section of the image. I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the whole image to display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SCH-I800 using XDA App
Mandelbrot.Benoit said:
The orange box for selecting the wallpaper size is retarded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, It is...It drives me nucking futz! I am going to buy that app you just mentioned to see how it works. Thanks for the info!
EVOme said:
Thanks, guys...I installed Miren and I love it. I was able to set the user agent to one that I like. It's also tabbed browsing....Sweet! I also added the launcher I have on my EVO and love it (ADW ex). I am thinking I may return this and get the Tab 2...then be happy with that. I don't think I am willing to foot the bill for a Xoom. Also, I read it's slightly bigger than the iPad.
What I like about this 7" screen is this. I have been placing it in my inside coat pocket. When I leave the house, I tether it to my EVO. When I get places...I pull it out and use it. With the iPad or Xoom, I wouldn't be able to do that...simply cause you need a case or something to hold that big boy. I think the tab is where I wanna be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=950696 , a look at the GT2 ... agree with them some of the comments, why WOULD i want to "downgrade" to a 10" when the 7" fits my pockets so much better? i know the tablet market is becoming highly competitive, but as one poster (and apologies, cant find the post now) said - the IPad and the GT are tablets, and thats where the similarities end. they were built and aimed at pretty separate markets...". i agree to a large extent, and just hope that Samsung keeps this in mind (well, that hope's dashed for the GT 2 )
The image size needs to be 1200 by
1024. In addition you need to use the program gTab (search these forums) to install the image at the correct resolution and avoid the yellow box.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Acer Iconia vs Galaxy Tab 10.1 hand on comparison.

I hope this is of some use to someone as Ive been on a search for an ideal tablet for myself since the Xoom was released.
Ive had the Acer for about a month and love it for the most part.
Galxy Tab owner for about a day ((so why a review ??)) Its not.
Its a physical comparison as its difficult to track down an Acer without a huge magnet brick stuck to the back and the Tab releases country wide tomorrow.
Anyways...here goes any questions more than happy to answer.
HxW
This was a big surprise. Unlike the Asus Transformer with its mega wide bezel the Acer is actually pretty compact in that area. So much so that stacking the Tab on top produced negligible difference. As far as height and width theres about 'half a skinny straw' difference.
Weight
Well this is where the difference comes in. The Tab is simply much lighter. If you hold both in your hands it may seem like a "slight" difference. But after a short period you will quickly notice the acer is just plain heavy. After using the Tab for a bit then picking up the Acer the difference is huge.
Thickness
This IMO is the second biggest determining factor. Do you want the slimmness ? .......Or the Ports.
Holding the Tab it feels like a larger Kindle. Or just a truly "slate" computing device. Ive had several star trek moments holding it thus far.
Acer has always felt like a laptop cover ripped off the keyboard where the ports somehow magically transferred to the top. Yes its thick but I can connect this sucker to a monitor , a external drive , a card reader , and easily expand with a micro SD.
Look good or be efficient ?? Your choice IMO cant go wrong.
FYI:Tab will require at least 2 add ons , plus a case that can accommodate your extra accessories in order to match connectivity.
Microphone-
**SO FAR*** my biggest grip with the Acer has been the awful mic. It just sucks. Dont know if its the quality or the placement but the end result remains suckage. Far too often a phrase like "When can we meet ?"
results in "can we me".... or worse "w"..... WTF?!!?
Voice to text is my primary need/use for a tablet, this was a huge deal for me.
Galaxy Tab has been better. But frankly neither are up to snuff to my Nexus One. Im assuming phones in general will just have better mic quality.
Audio clip from Tab (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/XrcHGaK
Audio clip from Acer (using camcorder)
http://db.tt/eZ0rOIa
While not a tell all example the above differences in clarity were consistent with other apps as well.
Screen-
Thus far there really isnt a reason to side for one or the other outside of need or preference. Until this.
The screen on the Tab is gorgeous and is simply richer in color and after flicking through Picasa it seems to have gotten a more accurate representation of the pictures taken.
While I do feel the tab pushes colors a bit much ;almost like oled does. Ex: The YT still shot Rebecca Blacks red jacket is too saturated
However over a wide range of pictures and videos it just felt more vivid with better blacks.
This isnt a Ipads "cool" vs Tabs "warm" approach to color temp. The Tab is simply a better looking screen.
Software---
Not touching on this unless asked.
I will say I still have numerous videos FC on YT and the browser does NOT have any quick controls on the galaxy tab. Major bummer and worthy of return or sell if it cant be added as I find the controls are what make two handed Tablet browsing possible.
Wrap up-
In short Lebron James is overrated.
But seriously
Acer-8/10
Tab- 9/10
If you will make regular use of the ports , or weight isnt an issue the Acer is the choice.
If you care about aesthetics and or mobility is a bigger concern then the Tab is the way to go.
i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting
BrianDigital said:
i stopped reading when u said the acer is heavy and teared up with laughter at the thought of u weight lifting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, because "heavy" means "unable to lift" and not relative to the topic of tablets. Try harder next time.
Very detailed.connectivity is why my Acer rules
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
LIKE YOUR REVIEW, very truthful...
i bought the acer because it came first in my country.... but then loving it... usb port is the biggest difference among 2 tablets in favour of iconia, where weight is the biggest difference in favour to the tab
I was contemplating on whether to buy Galaxy Tab or Iconia A500, and I chose Iconia A500 because of USB host mode port, plus the fact that I don't need any proprietary adapters or cables. Those kinds of things are surprisingly hard to come by here, and they're a lot more expensive to replace should they break.
As for the weight: well, everyone has their own taste. I personally don't see enough of a difference for it to make matter to me.
I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...
I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?
I guess samsung is the warmer one... you don't mess with samsung displays.
@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.
After the Captivate, Samsung is dead to me. Thanks for the review though. The Acer holds up better than I expected it to in the comparison.
What was wrong with captivate? i9000 is still awesome for me. Branded/carrier versions will always suck.
I'm pissed at samsung's tablet atitude, It's like they're trying to imitate Apple. I don't want a stupid adapter to be able to use usb!
Anyway, great review! I was actually waiting for the Galaxy tab but now I couldn't care less. Iconia's connectivity outweighs it's weight by far
Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!
Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.
sanaell said:
I choose Acer because of non proprietary adapter and cables...
now
- galaxy tabs is really toooooo light... I feel like I was about to broke it just by holding it hahahah
I wanna buy it so deep... but after tested it... hu... no thanks, maybe the 8.9...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe 8.9 will be a very interesting form factor for many people especially if it does include an sd card slot.
silencer51 said:
I'm amazed at the white color temperature difference between the two displays. Which is which in the pictures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Top Is the galaxy tab Bottom is the acer.
threedfreek said:
@xManMythLegend,
What video files will it support?... the only thing that bugs me is my Archos can support all my xvid divx out of the box... my samsung epic also supports divx... my acer doesn't know what divx is... bummer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I immediately installed mobo player. Plays everything but .mov thus far it also has terrific on screen controls.
internetpilot said:
Excellent review -- thank you! I'm sold on my A500 (primarily because of the USB port), but it's always good to know what else is out there and how it compares.
I don't understand why people rely on the stock software and configuration for images and/or video on any tablet. Even with a desktop PC monitor, you have to fine tune the settings to get your photos and videos to display properly. I wouldn't use the Samsung's default display settings because I think they're (for the most part) over-saturated. I use 3rd party gallery and video apps, both of which allow for rather customized display settings. I'm very happy with my A500's display the way I have these apps customized, and this was very important to me (right along with the USB port and memory expansion options) due to being an avid photography hobbyist.
I hope that doesn't sound too defensive, because I'm really not -- I knew the A500's display is "cooler" (more blue) than most when buying it. I just think they all need tweaking -- even the precious iPad, which everyone raves about the display out of the box.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree! If these were hd tvs you could not even begin the discussion without calibration. I even cut out a portion on it. In short since there are no universal apps to do this and most devices require root access ;along with the fact most people simply would not bother. So unfortunately out of the box is what people will judge it by.
But you are 100 percent correct calibration can fix many many issues. I have yet to try on the tablet but fully intend to.
P.s apologies for any weird typos. voice to text is strangely capitalizing words that shouldn't be.
I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.
cdf3 said:
I had the Acer and returned it for the Galaxy Tab 10.1
I'm loving the GT much better. The main reason I wanted a tablet was for mobility and having something lightweight. The Acer was nice, but after surfing the net for a while I was inclined to place it either in my lap or on a solid surface. If I put it in my lap it would start sliding all over the place. The GT doesn't slide in my lap like the Acer did. It's also not as heavy, so I don't mind holding it if need be.
All tablets that come with a USB will be rather thick in size. There's no way that the GT could keep it's slimness with a USB port on the device itself. This was a concern for me in deciding if I wanted the device. Once I found out that they have a USB adapter, I was sold. The Acer had many ports, but I rarely used any of them when I had the device. It all boils down to how you're going to use a tablet. That will determine which one is the best fit.
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Click to collapse
I did the exact same thing today and share the same sentiments. I think the acer is very good at being a full featured unit out of the box. But it was not comfortable for me to use and my glove size is an 11. I picked up the GT10.1 and wow I didn't care what is was missing.
usman3206 said:
Well i bought Acer Iconia A500 because of the ports i don't mind a difference of 0.00000033mm in thickness or 0.000000888 pound in weight but i do care a lot if my device has all the ports i can use without the worry of looking them here and there.
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Click to collapse
+1
The Acer wins for me based on connectivity and flexibility overall.
PLease tell us about the software. Tab is 3.1....is it smoother? The Acer is still driving me crazy with the scroll lag.
Actually the weight and size difference is dramatic. The photos and numbers paper really dont translate well to how well it feels in hand. Saying that I do miss the usb port on the a500 but the GT10.1 is more portable and hand friendly. Using it as an ereader is great as well because it balances in the hand without feeling top heavy.
Go play with one at BB and tell me what you think, just curious.
Another reason for my switch was I truly feel thus device will sell well and therefore have longer support. Acer already announced they were scaling back production due to slow sales. Which tells me Acer really needs to do better advertising because they have a winner.
I think noils down like this.......
If you want a light hand friendly device then get the GT10.1
If you want a device that has more media input/output accessiblity device and offers expandable storage then go with the a500.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

Unboxing and gestures and S Voice DEMO videos

Here are two videos I made with the SIII, first the unboxing, then the demo for the gestures.
Note that I left out the direct call and pick up to be notified functions as I didn't have a microSIM card.
Feel free to ask whatever question about the phone and I'd love to answer or test things for you. Enjoy watching!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GauEbTHJYNk&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edbhVsWdngo
Edit: I forgot to mention that I've fiddled with the S Voice in multiple languages (I'm not a native speaker of either of them) and it surprised me how well I managed to get along with the app. It's responsive, useful and can easily understand you (I'm kind of shouting at it because I wanted to get it right, but it works very nicely). Can't wait for the Romanian version!
Cool!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Tomorrow I'll be giving back the SIII, so post questions, if you have any, while I'm still able to verify things for you!
How were you able to acquire such a beast before release?
I'm with the Samsung Mob!lers Romania and we almost always get the devices prereleased. Unfortunately they are beta products and can have faulty software, but luckily I had no problem whatsoever with the SIII. Stay tuned for a full video hands on and many other Samsung devices
Funniest part is when it open maps in Korean language
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Rate your UX with the new nature inspired TouchWiz. How is it different than S2 TW? Smoother? Any small, but experience enhancing changes?
Reviews have shown that the stock S3 browser is much better and less laggy than the S2. Can you confirm this with real life usage?
Unfortunately I have no S2 at hand to try out, but what I can say based on my experience with TouchWiz is that it's very sharp and quick and in the time I used it I had no intention of using a custom launcher. The browser is the same I have on my Tab 2, and prefer it over Chrome, but I can't say how much faster it is than the predecessors.
There are many users talking about the possible screen issues on the SGIII. Were you able to notice some kind of tinting?
Thank you for your time and great videos by the way.
I saw some topics talking about the display quality, with a slightly pink hue, but the model I have is just perfect. A lot of people complain about the oversaturation, but I think the colors are very very vivid. You get four different display color settings to match your taste, with dynamic being the flashiest and then standard, natural and movie.
I've tested everything out and I never got a force close or any kind of error, although it got stuck in S Voice once, but bear in mind that I don't have an actual production model.
floiancu said:
and prefer it over Chrome
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Click to collapse
i read about other reviewers saying this too. very cool. thanks.
And here's the full review, a short presentation of the features. I particularly love the screen, crisp clear as you can see in the close up at the end. Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-fcYW3GRS0&feature=youtu.be
Thank you, Flo.
EDIT: Now I see that the other guy has replied to my question about the reader and the answer is that it is available for most sites!
Is there a "reader" type function in the web browser? In one other video demonstrating text reflow, the reviewer pressed an icon in or near the address field to go into a "reader" mode! So clearly it does exist, but the reviewer was browsing mobile wikipedia when he did it, I was wondering if it is available when for example reading an article on Gsmarena in desktop mode?
I didn't see any reader button so I can't say if there was one, when I browsed I simply used the text wrap on the standard double tap zoom, never at different sizes.
If it's the same browser with the one I have on my Tab 2 (ICS 4.0.3) then there is no such feature, but they nay be different.
have u used or looked at a htc one X before? if so could you make a brief comparison of its screen with the sgs3 screen?
I have only seen them separately and I only know that both displays are amazing. A romanian reviewer whom I trudt has made a detailed comparispn between them and he favours the screen of the One X. In terms of resolution or color tones they're both overkill, but he says that the visibility in heavy sunlight is better on the One X.
I can only say that there's nothing you can possibly use the screen for that requires a higher resolution. Check the close up in the end of my gestures video to see how crisp clear it is!
Fantastic mate. Thanks for the videos.
If you still have the device with you can you try to shoot and upload a video showing the multitasking capability. Open as many apps as you can including games and browser and switch back from one another to see how well is it functioning ?
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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?fife3i
I gave the phone back, but I've tested the problem reported on the One X, that the multitasking was not working properly (reloading web pages when switched back to the browser etc) and I can completely vouch for the multitasking on the S III. It switches the apps flawlessly and keeps them in the RAM not requiring a reload.
floiancu said:
And here's the full review, a short presentation of the features. I particularly love the screen, crisp clear as you can see in the close up at the end. Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-fcYW3GRS0&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha love the comparison with the 5110. I had that phone about 14 years ago and it wasn't considered to be a big phone back then.
Facepalm the phone to silence it is EPIC !

[Q] Nexus 7 Screen for Older Eyes: Problem?

[first post]
I have been promising my mom that if/when high-quality-but-inexpensive tablets became available, I would get her one. So the Nexus 7 breaks onto the scene and hopes are high. Right now she has a netbook hooked up to a 19" monitor, and she does Facebook, YouTube, AllRecipes, Pinterest, Google, Skype, etc. on a daily basis. The N7 will free her to do this anywhere in the house that she wants to. Eventually, I would follow her with my own purchase of a 10" tablet e.g. Asus Transformer Infinity (more ports, higher res, etc).
Suddenly it occurred to me that there was a risk to our plans: what if the small screen size and high DPI made the N7 unusable/painful for her older eyes? Is this automatically-compensated by all these sites going into some some of minimal/high-readability 'mobile' mode? Is it easy to bump up the font size? Sure, a 7" *book* is easy for her to read -- but does this mean a 7" tablet will be as well?
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
For older folks, a 10" is generally better.
It's not just legibility, but the touch areas are smaller on a 7", which means people need to be more dextrous to touch the right spot. Older people may not have that dexterity.
A 7" is better than a 10" for its portability. If we're talking older people using a tablet at home, then that advantage is irrelevant, and a 10" is better.
It depends on the person's use. If she holds it in one hand most of the time, a 7" is better. If she uses it on a supported surface (desk, lap), a 10" is better.
A 7" is best for reading, but your listed uses don't include that.
i cannot guarantee that the Nexus 7 has it But on my Galaxy Nexus under Display there is an option to change the text size. Default is normal, large is about 2.5x the size of default.
This is system wide as well and would probably really help.
Yes, the Nexus 7 has a Font Size changer in Settings > Display
Besides scaling up the fonts, the nice thing about tablets is you can always hold them closer to your face pretty easily.
Through a bit of tweaking, I think you could change the LCD Density to make the screen, basically, smaller. So, everything would appear bigger. I used to do it with my Nook Color
All Android devices have accessibility settings for vision impaired people, so the fonts can be blown up pretty big.
settings > accessibility > extra large text
Locklear308 said:
Through a bit of tweaking, I think you could change the LCD Density to make the screen, basically, smaller. So, everything would appear bigger. I used to do it with my Nook Color
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect this same procedure works, but in reverse; you would increase the DPI to make android think the screen was smaller, then it would render big fonts like with the fone.
I'll hijack this thread a bit since I'm in a similar situation. My mom lays in bed on her iPhone 4 (my hand-me-down) for hours on end and has recently started complaining that it's hurting her wrist to do so. I explained that she's not holding it correctly (ending up using her whole wrist to scroll rather than just flicking finger motions) but she can't adapt. Will a 7" tablet be enough of an upgrade for her to ditch her 10" netbook entirely? Hopefully I can teach her to hold it like you would a book, rather than crush it in her hands like she does with the iPhone.
I would think it would hurt her back and not her wrist, laying on it like that...
Try any 7" tablet with an easy return policy. Barnes and Nobel may have an easy return. If she likes the Nook size, return it and order the Nexus.
Her problems are too specific to her preferences and condition for anyone to advise you; she just has to try a small tablet.
Good luck with it - a good interface to the outside world can make a huge difference to someone stuck in a bed.
B&N has their readers on display right in the store. No need to buy and return.

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