Ask Slashdot: How to Pimp My Android Tablet? 154
New submitter capsfan100 writes "At Christmas I got an $89 Android tablet by MID. The 7" tablet has sufficient RAM, etc. The battery, however, was rather pathetic out of the box. It's already fading, so we know where this is headed — decent tablet, but it constantly needs the plug. How would you take this 'old' tablet and turn it into a rockin' stereo component? Is there a ROM build out there titled Pimp My Tablet Into An MP3 Player? The current music app can look up lyrics on-line. I'd like to keep that feature. Any ideas on a good app for syncing music videos with my *ahem* random music collection? Any fun, off-beat party apps this middle-aged suburban dad hasn't heard of? Since the Android security nightmare is so well documented, I'd rather not use services that require passwords. I also need top-notch security and monitoring software so I can see what my kids and their friends are doing with it next year when I'm not home while keeping them anonymous and safe on-line. As for my living room stereo system, how best to mount a sleek MP3 tablet? I was thinking velcro, but it would ruin the feel. Maybe a wall-mount arm like my HDTV has? We want to be able to unplug it and move around the room, so I'll need to upgrade the speakers to wireless. Any thoughts there? I'm not afraid of the command line — indeed, I insist on one — but no Gentoo-type projects, thank you. Just a good sleek and secure ROM for optimal tunage with all the top apps the kids are using today."
Don't forget .. (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't forget to ask for a Pony as well!
Re:Don't forget .. (Score:5, Informative)
The Android-derived tablet he got is horrible! The battery is the least of its problems.
As a rule of thumb, if someone offers you a tablet for Christmas with resistive touch, you shouldn't even open the box and you should try to return it for a full/partial refund as soon as possible. As to the security issues, the article he pointed to talks about apps being "security risks" or "malware" for requesting GPS permissions when they shouldn't (which is really FUD). In any case, since his tablet doesn't have a GPS chip in it, that issue doesn't apply to him.
Also since he doesn't have access to the official Android Market/Google Play, he should just look on the XDA forums, root his device, install Cyanogen on it, and go through the Cyanogen repo for apps. And he should refrain from installing apps from other locations.
His tablet will still be horrible after that, but it should be more bearable. And frankly, I don't think he should be spending any more money on this tablet to try to customize it, spending money on it will just be throwing good money after bad. Even if he resolves the battery issue and the app store issue, and makes a kick ass stereo out of it, the tablet will still need to be rebooted every hour or so.
Next time, he or the person who gave him this tablet should just spend twice the money initially, and just buy an Asus Nexus 7. That one is really good. And he won't even need to root it to do all the things he wants to do with it.
Re:Don't forget .. (Score:5, Insightful)
The Android-derived tablet he got is horrible! The battery is the least of its problems.
I think it's pretty obvious that timothy got trolled. The "top-notch security and monitoring" line should have been a giveaway.
Re: (Score:3)
As to the security issues, the article he pointed to talks about apps being "security risks" or "malware" for requesting GPS permissions when they shouldn't (which is really FUD).
The article mentions a lot more than that - and the issues mentioned are real and potentially (depending one use scenario) very significant.
But beside that point - how is an app requesting location data when it doesn't need it NOT a significant problem? Do you review the code for all apps that request this permission or do you blindly trust them with your location data? Perhaps you just don't care if your device sends your location to others without you wanting it to? Imagine you were in charge of IS at
Re: (Score:2)
The article mentions a lot more than that - and the issues mentioned are real and potentially (depending one use scenario) very significant.
That's why you also depend on the ratings of an app before you install it. Not everyone checks permissions, but most people check the ratings.
But beside that point - how is an app requesting location data when it doesn't need it NOT a significant problem? Do you review the code for all apps that request this permission or do you blindly trust them with your location data?
This issue is present with all the app stores, including the iPhone app store.
Some apps, I do trust with my location data. It's the same with people. Some people, I do trust with my home address: My mailman, the UPS guy, the pizza guy, etc.
Re: (Score:2)
Relying on ratings for security? It's a start I guess...
Re: (Score:2)
Don't these app stores give your info away to the app developers anyway? Thought I read a recent article about how your name, address, credit card info goes out to the devs, even the 'free' ones.
No, if you go back to that original Slashdot story, and look down through the threads.
It turns out that if you paid for an app using Google Wallet, it would give the app developer your full name, your email address, and country/zip code (that last one for tax purposes, as claimed by one developer). It did not provide the exact address of the purchaser as the story originally claimed.
Nor, did it provide the credit card number. And nor did they provide any this information to the developers of free apps you'v
Re: (Score:2)
These free apps are tracking supported. They spy on you to generate revenue. Their TOS should state how they sell that data. If they don't you are free not to install or use them.
This is the price of freedom. You are free to do stupid things. You are responsible for making the decision, or helping your kids make decisions. If it is that much of a problem you can ask your government to help.
The alternative is a walled garden like iOS. Some people like that, some people don't. Freedom isn't free, as they say.
Re: (Score:2)
The Android-derived tablet he got is horrible! The battery is the least of its problems.
As a rule of thumb, if someone offers you a tablet for Christmas with resistive touch, you shouldn't even open the box and you should try to return it for a full/partial refund as soon as possible. As to the security issues, the article he pointed to talks about apps being "security risks" or "malware" for requesting GPS permissions when they shouldn't (which is really FUD). In any case, since his tablet doesn't have a GPS chip in it, that issue doesn't apply to him.
Also since he doesn't have access to the official Android Market/Google Play, he should just look on the XDA forums, root his device, install Cyanogen on it, and go through the Cyanogen repo for apps. And he should refrain from installing apps from other locations
You're making an awful lot of assumptions about his tablet when he's told us nothing useful about it other than the price. FWIW, I suspect you're wrong on 2 of the 3 conclusions you draw here: it's perfectly possible to get an $89 tablet that has capacitative touch and Google Play these days, but GPS will likely be out of the question.
But your suggested solution highlights the real problem with buying cheap-ass chinese hardware: there will likely not be an open source build available for it. There's a sma
Re: (Score:2)
They don't even need to spend double.
About $120-150 gets an HP Touchpad that (from what I can tell) has only been used as something to install Android on through Cyanogenmod.
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Don't forget .. (Score:5, Informative)
A music purist doesn't regard your $60 music system as a good alternative. The "power of the magnets" has nothing to do with how good you think it sounds, that's all to do with the DSP inside that will artificially boost the sound by adding a third harmonic component and widening the depth of field by adding negative difference to opposite channels. In fact, if you were to add those "huge expensive speakers from 20 years ago" to that system to replace those awful little cube thingies and you would use proper speaker cable (fine OFC copper) of a little bit more thickness, your $60 system would sound a lot better. The amp in your $60 system is a cheap class D thingy that will horribly deform the sound once you turn it up to volumes that would potentially have neighbor-pissing-off capabilities. The wire adaptor you are using will induce hum if it's anything over 2 or 3 feet long. The analogue bit of your tablet will be positively horrible since it also uses a class D amplifier and your audio resolution will be comparable to about 10 bits on a proper DA converter.
Any audio purist would not get "wireless speakers" since it will take dedicated wifi channels to guarantee phase correct transmission and even then it will be prohibitively hard and expensive to get stuff running. Setting up a proper system when you have moved around your speakers will take at least 15 minutes with an entry level audyssey fully automated configuration so moving around speakers is a no-no. Actually, if you have set up your system properly, you won't need to move the speakers around, since the entire listening area will already have a rather good sound quality. Most audio purists-on-a-budget would probably get something like an entry level receiver that has audyssey DSP functions and HDMI, second hand "huge expensive speakers from 20 years ago" and a raspberry pi to play their MP3s. The raspi will send the music to the receivers 24bit DA converters via HDMI and the cheap tablet that started all this can be used as a remote for the raspi. This all will set you back over $60, but less than $1000 and you'd probably amaze yourself, your visitors and your neighbor with the sound quality.
Word of warning: second hand receivers with audyssey and hdmi often suffer from manufacturing defects like bad solder joints and dried out capacitors. Make sure yours isn't one of the many models effected and if so, make sure that you, as a 2nd hand buyer, will get free repairs from the manufacturer. If you buy new, make sure you live in a country that has proper laws about this so you're covered, or get some form of extended warranty/insurance.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Being deaf is not an excuse.
Re: (Score:2)
And a family friend received one for christmas 2 years ago and asked me to check it out since she couldnt get online... the wireless absolutely blew. It was hard to even connect to any wirless (especially say our wireless wit the wpa2 aes) and when you did the range was maybe 15'. Also the device was crazy slow, the resistive screen blew (I know some in that range *may* have had a capacitive) and even doing the only 3rd party flash didnt help
I'd rather have 1 good tablet rather than 3 worthless POS' s that
Please don't... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, go buy more monster cables.
Re:Please don't... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Please don't... (Score:5, Funny)
That's right. I too thought Monster Cables were bogus until I arranged them along the earth's ley lines. Now, they totally rock!
The only problem is, the Monster cables and the ley lines have a multiplying effect on the amount of EMF radiation that they emit, which causes genetic mutations, so now I'm growing this silver-covered, foil-like substance around the crown of my head!
But I get kick-ass bass out of my mp3 files.
Re: (Score:3)
Funny you should mention the Pinto. In high school a buddy of mine did just that. By the time he was done, he had spent a shit-ton of money, dropped in a Boss 302 motor (from a wrecked Mustang) and he still had a fast piece of shit. Probably could have gotten a real Boss 302 Mustang for what he had into it.
Re: (Score:2)
He built a 'sleeper'. Imagine the show-off in the Boss 302, Mach 1, or even Camaro SS, who get his doors blown off by a Pinto.
Re: (Score:2)
Nice... I still get a laugh from http://www.turbovan.net/van.html [turbovan.net] too
Re: (Score:2)
... id hope he runs better than that. My brothers fwd 2.2L 4 banger honda prelude (about 2900 lbs car) does high 10's (using a gt-4x turbo.. iirc its a gt-42 but may be a 40 and 1600cc injectors). Obviously the internals are built and a replacement ecm/ecu is used which is something a setup like your buddy's removes the need for (which is always nice to keep it simple!), but in a car that light id expect a littls faster out of that setup).
Plus the track closest to here has a nice grade the whole way down th
Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
This is BS: the great majority of people don't hear any difference between the sound created by a "cheap" DAC or an expensive one.
Besides, the person who posted this Ask Slashdot has probably used headphones with his tablet and is satisfied with the sound quality, otherwise he/she wouldn't have asked this question in the first place.
Re: (Score:1)
He wants a wireless connection to the speakers anyway. What that suggests to me is that he wants to connect a bluetooth receiver to his hi-fi and assuming the cheap tablet actually has bluetooth built-in then the sound will stay digital until it hits the bluetooth receiver and thus the cheap DAC in the tablet won't be an issue. You would then have the issue of diminished audio quality due to the audio compression used by bluetooth, but that is another issue and personally I use bluetooth headphones all the
Re: (Score:3)
Exactly.
I have one of these £24 / $36 Logitech Bluetooth audio receivers [amazon.co.uk] connected to my hi-fi and then send audio to it from my tablet, phone or PC. The weak point of the audio feed is then either the DAC in the Logitech device (seems good to me), the analogue RCA cables (again, fine by me), or the Bluetooth A2DP profile. I'm not sure about the specifics any more, but the Bluetooth A2DP profile is more than adequate for my MP3 collection.
Oh, and I use Google Play to host my ~100GB MP3 collection so i
Re: (Score:2)
I got a Cobalt Tab s700 for Xmas, and use it at work quite a bit.
Found a pair of USB-powered external speakers on sale at Wallyworld; they plug into the tablet's USB port and 3.5mm jack.
Good sound, very loud, and can run for about 2 hours before needing to recharge.
Re: (Score:2)
If your hifi has a digital input of some kind you can get a cheap USB soundcard with optical or SP/DIF output for under a tenner on Amazon. Might need to install Cyanogen to make it work, but on most ICS4 devices with USB host support I have tested it just works.
That's a seriously underpowered device (Score:5, Informative)
It has 200M of RAM available to the system.
Expect that most of it's capability is going to be used in running the display. Here are the stats in case someone else needs to understand how limited it is:
http://www.osnews.com/story/24619/Review_MID_M80003W_Tablet_with_Android_2_2/ [osnews.com]
Re: (Score:1)
Re:That's a seriously underpowered device (Score:4, Informative)
Wrong device I'm sure. There's an M9000 that was available for $89 this year (that one you linked is from 2011). The newer one has Android 4.0 and 512MB RAM (same as iPad 2, for comparison). No idea if it's any good, but definitely not the same as the M80003 you found.
Re: (Score:2)
From the m80003 review:
To show you how impossibly little test this device has gone through, consider that it runs the Android Dialer and Bluetooth services, even if there's no hardware to support these functions. Wasted RAM. The camera app crashes, the browser reports that it's running Mac OS X. Basically, the whole device feels like "it compiles? ship it". For the first time possibly, this meme can be taken quite literally.
The ipad 2/ipad mini may be cursed with only 512MB, but Apple's programmers are at least semi competent.
Re: (Score:1)
Submitter didn't specify, but I assume it's the M9000, which is Android 4.0, 8GB Flash, 512MB RAM, Capacitive screen. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1M80E16107
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
It's highly unlikely the random "MID" tablet you've picked is the right one. He could have any of these:
http://www.manta.com.pl/pl/mid08/ [manta.com.pl]
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-mid-7-capacitive-touch-screen-wi-fi-g/230139359.html [rakuten.com]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfH_AZ3AAUs [youtube.com]
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Android-Capacitive-Gsensor-MID70404B/dp/B008XLCUF6 [amazon.com]
or thousands of others all using the name "MID".
recycling (Score:5, Interesting)
Put some edutainment apps on their and hand it over to your kids. No need to ruggedize it.
Re:recycling (Score:4, Funny)
Dr. Evil: No, we'll leave them alone and not actually witness them dying, and we'll just assume it all went to plan.
Scott: I have a gun in my room. Give me five seconds, I'll come back and blow their brains out.
Dr. Evil: No Scott.
Dr. Evil: ....you just don't get it, do you?
Re:recycling (Score:4, Interesting)
Normally, I would agree with the one good device trumps four pieces of junk approach, but in the case of 7" tablets, there's a great deal of power in junk. There are a lot of dedicated use scenarios (such as OP's music station) where a junker tablet will do that job quite well, and with the cash you saved from buying a "great" tablet, you can get a Kindle Fire HD for handheld media consumption - still not the ultimate tablet, but great at what it does, and I thought it was a pretty good buy at $249...
Re: (Score:2)
Put it in an ipad mini case and sell it? (Score:4, Insightful)
Try and pass your device on as a broken iPad mini and sell it on craigslist or ebay. That's pretty much the only way to turn that thing into something useful.
You could maybe use it as a picture frame too.
Re: (Score:2)
I have a couple of these, they make great security camera monitors.
Hard to asnwer (Score:3)
Hard to answer with so few details.
If it's that tablet (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1M80H28093), the good news is that it has HDMI out, so if your stereo also has HDMI, you can get good sound by wiring the tablet to the stereo. Wireless sound broadly sucks (it goes through bluetooth, which compresses sound a lot); I'd just forget about it. I'm assuming your music collection is accessible via a network share or DLNA. That tablet can access both (ES File explorer and BubbleUPnP respectively). I am not aware of any program to automaticalle DL videos for your music; you're better off doing that from your PC, mot probably.
Thinking of an Android tablet as a Linux PC isn't very useful: Android is a very customized version of Linux, so regular Linux software won't work. And installing a new distro, or even another, tweaked, version of Android requires a skilled hacker to build it specifically for your exact device, which probably won't happen in this case. You're better off combing through the Google PlayStore for apps that suit your needs. You'll find "kid's safety" apps, antiviruses... If you don't enable 3rd-party apps install (thus only get stuff from the playstore), risks of hacking are fairly low. Moreso with an antivirus, especially since most hackers just want to dial for-pay phone numbers, which your tablet can't do anyway. I wouldn't be too worried about viruses, I'd even skip the antivirus in your case because your tablet is not very powerful.
Does anybody know (Score:2)
Where I can find a blacklist with those questionable apps?
Re:Does anybody know (Score:4, Informative)
If you can't access playstore, get a friend who can to make backups of the apps, and copy them over to a microsdcard and install the apps from the card.
THIS.
My wife and I have tablets which will access the Play Store.
Our daughter has a tablet which will not access the Play Store. This was intentional, because we want to vet what she uses on the tablet.
When we have an app that our daughter likes, I use SaveAPK on my tablet to export the apk file and then copy it to her tablet across the network.
It works very well.
I was thinking... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
easy. (Score:1)
1. Murdered out tint over the display
2. Gold spinners
3. Huge wing bolted to the case
4. Light kit
5. Neon running lights
6. Low-pass filter on the audio for thump
I'm sure there's more but that should get you started.
Re: (Score:2)
Yo dawg, I heard you like tablets, so I put a tablet in your tablet so you can tablet while you tablet.
Throw it away...or use as remote for XBMC (Score:2)
Cannot think of any other options, sorry. If you want a rocking sound system, get a cheap PC and install XBMC. Cannot understand why you think a tablet would be good as your main media sever / player.
Seriously?! (Score:1)
You can't polish this turd, don't even try. Just throw it away & start over.
Recycle; Buy a Raspberry-Pi if you want control (Score:1)
A cheap Android tablet is meant to get you into Android and want to spend more for the next one, not to be useful. You are learning this now.
Android is a "personal tracking OS" - so forget about security. If you ever hook up a gmail account to the device, you are being tracked. If you don't, get used to the cheesy apps pre-installed. Every app that you install has an ulterior motive - that is to get personal data and report back to the vendor. That is how they make money.
If you want logging, do it on your
Re: (Score:2)
> A cheap Android tablet is meant to get you into Android and want to spend more for the next one, not to be useful.
Lesson learned. To the Apple Store!
Raspberry Pi (Score:2)
Get a Raspberry Pi, run mpd on it, use the tablet as a mounted remote control. I've looked at getting cheap tablets and flush mounting them in walls next to light switches using a build to measure frame to hid the wires but i still use a pi or itx format computer to actually run my stereo, tvs, home automation, etc.
pimping is for idiots (Score:5, Funny)
Pimp is such an idiotic term to use, I'm sick and tired of it.
But if you insist, I suggest a fur fedora, gaudy mink coat, glass platform shoes, and you must mount the tablet in a late 70's Cadillac with pink padded vinyl roof, V-shaped TV antenna on the trunk, bordello red upholstery, and fringe hung around the windshield.
Plus, you can only use it to listen to the Shaft soundtrack.
Re: (Score:2)
"I suggest a fur fedora"
Is that new?
The latest Fedora release I've heard of is Spherical Cow.
Re: (Score:2)
Bedazzler? (Score:1)
Perhaps some puff paint? Maybe some stickers?
What's with keeping kids safe? (Score:3)
You want to make this into a music listening device. What do you want to protect kids from? The evils of R'n'B?
Re: (Score:3)
You want to make this into a music listening device. What do you want to protect kids from? The evils of R'n'B?
Maybe he lives in suburban development? In any cultural vacuum, "keeping the kids safe" isn't merely a way for uninspiring parents to interact with their poor offspring — it can be practiced as a completely enveloping way of life. :o)
Re: (Score:2)
You want to make this into a music listening device. What do you want to protect kids from? The evils of R'n'B?
Well, don't you know about R Kelly?
Replace the battery (Score:5, Insightful)
If the biggest problem you have with it is the battery life, then fix the problem - just replace the battery [aliexpress.com]!
Since you're posting to Slashdot I'm going to assume you are willing to do some soldering if you have to.
Invest $15-25 and you can get 2x or 4x the battery life; that tablet only came with 2500 mAh if the other posters here guessed your model correctly.
Make sure the new cell will fit, then have at it!
What's to know? (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, I have a cheap Chinese JXD S6600 Android tablet which works ok as a photo gallery display, little more than a glorified digital photo frame.
But. The screen res sucks. It's dim, the colors are something "other than photo realistic" and it does weird scaling and resizing. So this makes porn pics look weird, off-color, and just not very appealing. By comparison, the same images look stunning on a Nexus 7. I've tested this quite a lot.
Perhaps a cheap tablet stuck in a humid bathroom is fine though
Front end for Amarok perhaps? (Score:1)
Make a wall clock out of it (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
What Android security nightmare ? (Score:2)
NOT “a decent tablet“ (Score:1)
Needs to constantly be plugged in, runs viruses, only runs phone apps, has taken up a bunch of your time, and cost 30% of the very best tablet in the world, which gives you 10 hours per day for 2 years of AC-free, weight-free, desk-free computing. How in the fuck is that “a decent tablet?”
First, use these: (Score:2)
http://mamajiwatulip.blogspot.com/2010/10/tulip-bling-bling-stickers.html [blogspot.com]
Put a couple of those on and you'll be "Pimp"(tm) in no time.
Huh? (Score:2)
Is this some device that you find gives you underwhelming performance, yet you want to configure it to be a mounted, in-home, ultra-secure but child-monitoring, tiny-screened media player?
If that's the case, then you should not waste your valuable time. Just buy a used laptop off of ebay and set it up as a media center. Then you're done!
I've had a similar recent thought myself (Score:2)
dsploit (Score:2)
And she had no idea because I was on my tablet.
There is also password sniffing and such but I'm not interested in that.
From the sound of comments here (Score:2)
Take a snapshot of the wall and put your tablet n front of it to make it appear like it's 'see-through'. And that about sums up the usefulness of said device. As an example, refer to http://www.flickr.com/photos/lewiscraik/2463912247/ [flickr.com]
better suggestion (Score:2)
I suggest you give the Android tablet away and get yourself an iPad. Why? A $89 Android tablet is low-end, and unless you bought it knowing its limitations, it is never going to satisfy you and you'll just keep whining about how lousy Android is. And given your silly dig at "Android security nightmare", it is pretty clear that you are prejudiced anyway. Really, just do yourself and the rest of us a favor and don't use Android.
here's how you pimp it (Score:2)
What do you expect for $89? (Score:2)
Tell it... (Score:2)
Say "Look you fucking whore, your paycheck comes out of this cock. Suck this cock like your life depends on it. Suck it hard, suck it fast, and claim your reward, or I'm going to throw your bitch ass out on the street and your fucking babies will starve." That's how you pimp anything.
I have it on good authority, since I have a buddy who is a retired pimp. I wonder how you get an Android tablet to suck your cock? If it won't, then how do you pimp it? I need to ask my buddy this question. I'm confused.
Well, of course. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm confused why you're asking here. It basically sounds like you're saying: "I've got this whole project but research is a pain in the ass." You listed a bunch of things you want but showed no real effort into figuring it out yourself (saying that trying apps is scary is not research).
Also, why would you trust this group to tell you "safe" things more than any other bunch of random internet yahoos?
Why the hell ELSE would you post a question on slashdot?
I don't get people like you. The entire point about of asking a group of people who may be more informed about a subject than you are is to cut down on the amount of research needed by narrowing down the topic to a handful of options. What do you think ask slashdot should be used for?
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Agreed. And here's the answer he's looking for.
If you want to pimp your Android, beat it nightly until it's giving BJs for coin. Then beat it some more. Remind it - with a beating - that you want your money rolded, not folded. And don't forget to beat it. A lot. That's pimping, in a nutshell.
Re: (Score:2)
Why the hell ELSE would you post a question on slashdot?
I think the point of the parent is that the question has this nice, fuzzy "I didn't do my research [lifehacker.com], please do it for me." feel, which will get you into trouble on any serious forum. One can even see it in the question. It asks: "Any fun, off-beat party apps this middle-aged suburban dad hasn't heard of?" But never lists which apps he has heard of.
The OP also asks for a ROM but never tells us the modell of tablet (except that it is 7'' and from MID, hope they have only one of those). Basically it asks at lea
Re: (Score:2)
The OP also asks for a ROM but never tells us the modell of tablet (except that it is 7'' and from MID, hope they have only one of those).
Unfortunately, this just betrays the fact that he doesn't know what he's talking about: MID isn't a manufacturer at all, but an abbreviation that several of the cheaper manufacturers use to identify a "mobile internet device", i.e. a tablet.
Re:Well, of course. (Score:5, Informative)
yeah.. asking for help AFTER showing evidence of trying yourself is one thing. We aren't paid, so the pay off is in personal reward for helping someone who has shown interest and a desire to learn on his own. This article reads like a half assed forum post by someone who wants it fed through a needle and didn't bother reading "How to ask questions the smart way" by ESR. Lazy, lazy, lazy..especially in this era of easy to use search.
http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html [catb.org]
Re: (Score:1)
"Let's all share our favorite apps!" is always welcome, if you want to branch out from Farmville and Birds.
Granny: My tablet used to be all farmville as far as the eye could see.
Bashing Android tabs is the point of this Ask /. (Score:3)
"The battery, however, was rather pathetic out of the box." General description that pretends Android doesn't have myriad media player options everywhere. "Since the Android security nightmare is so well documented"
I have three of these $89 tabs. The media play - including Netflix, Pandora, yadda yadda, myriad media formats - is freaking excellent right out of the box and more options are available on Google Play. No Rooting, ROMing or odd nerd skills required - just turn it on, log into your Gmail accou
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
They're pretty durable too. The kids throw them around, step on them, spill beverages and sometimes throw up on them.
Sometimes? Wait, how many times have your kids thrown up on them?
Maybe you should have them put aside the tablet for a sec and get them a bucket.
Re: (Score:3)
Once children discover that projectile vomiting leads to a hooky day from school it takes a while to negotiate them back to normal digestion. Especially if they're socially awkward and dislike school and/or are bullied, or a high-stress test is impending. Most especially since it's not acceptable any more to refocus your children with a cattle prod, tazer, paddle or switch. So yes, there is a phase of modern parenting where vomit happens a lot. Buckets don't help any more than hovering over them every m
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
A good Ask Slashdot will be educational to 95% of the readers and interesting to 5% with expertise in that discipline. "I don't want those 'apps' on it" is more like arguing with a version of me from 2004.
Re: (Score:2)
The point is:
I've research these options A, B and C. A has widget type one, B. has widget type two, and C. has build it yourself widgets. Is anyone using A, B, or C, and can you share your experience? Right now I'm leaning toward B, but think C could be useful, and A has a great price point.
By the time you've narrowed it down that much, searching for and asking questions in specific forums related to A, B, and C is a far better choice than slashdot. Slashdot is a far more generic location, useful when you're not yet sure even where to start your search, but think there are lots of geeks around who have gone through the process and might help guide you to save you the time they had to spent during their research.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, so to actually address the guy's question, I think most Android music apps are pretty crappy. There I said it.
I think he was hoping to get some recommendation along the lines of "just install rockbox" ( http://www.rockbox.org/ [rockbox.org] ) or the Android edition of XBMC ( http://xbmc.org/download/ [xbmc.org] ) ".
My experiences with those:
Rockbox: buy a cheapo Sansa media player. Futz around with the neat but futzy interface. Finally the thin gets bricked after a month of use (not firmware updates or even updating the me
Re: Well, of course. (Score:3)
Every question like that on here has an obvious answer because the other options are ludicrous. This guy asked a great question that may help other /. types with their goals.
Re: (Score:3)
I'm really interested in the answers here and I'll be checking in later to get them all. Not for myself, my Great Googley, CM'ed, rooted Nexus 7 suits me fine, thank ye.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
No idea why anyone (any reasonable moderator) would mod this down for a BestBuy link, but I was over on NewEgg and found some nice tablets, dual-core A9, at least as much memory as an iPad, 5 point touch, etc., and at or less than the $100 price-point I'm looking for here. Definitely nice enough for a roommate who would have to ten dollar it to death when I get it for him if I don't make it an outright gift.
Prices are coming down nicely, so this is a good question to ask.
Re: (Score:2)