06-26-2012, 11:08 AM | #16 |
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i'd prefer getting a gtab 7 plus if you can find one. they've been on sale refurbished for $250 or so. it's got a super amoled screen which i love on my phones! should have jumped on it when it was available.
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06-26-2012, 12:35 PM | #17 |
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What seems to have happened is Samsung has changed the stock behavior of ICS to be consistent with their TouchWiz UI. This happens more on phones than on tablets it looks like Samsung has veered from the norm.
One of the strength and weakness of Android is it's openness many vendors have taken to tweaking the Launcher* apps and sometimes the Android internals to add more "features" or produce a user experience that is consistent with a product line. So while vendors do add some nice features they also make Android have a different experience when you transition from one vendor to another. Samsung's Mini Apps is another example of customization that is not an Android feature but a Samsung feature, one that I like very much. I hope future versions of Android include API for those kinds of apps. If you install Nova or Apex from the Play store you will get a more Stock ICS experience. *A launcher app is much like a Window manager in UNIX or like the "Explorer" shell in Windows. |
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06-26-2012, 12:41 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
The tab plus has a 7.0" 1024x600 WSVGA PLS screen (Samsung Spec sheet) The tab plus does have better hardware (a faster processor and GPS) but it is also Android 3.2 vs 4.0 =X= Last edited by =X=; 06-26-2012 at 12:48 PM. |
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06-26-2012, 12:49 PM | #19 |
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Thanks, X, that makes sense. When you say "Mini Apps", do you mean the ones that pop-up when you tap the up arrow at the bottom of the screen? Alarm, S Planner, World Clock, etc?
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06-26-2012, 01:17 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
My belief is Samsung is quietly positioning themselves for this competitive advantage. They currently have a competition going on where they offer $100K to the best mini app. With enough of these quality apps it will be another edge they will have over their competition. =X= |
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06-26-2012, 01:30 PM | #21 |
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06-26-2012, 02:09 PM | #22 |
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For the sake of accuracy, my 7 also has GPS.
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06-26-2012, 04:11 PM | #23 | |
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Quote:
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06-26-2012, 05:43 PM | #24 |
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The problem is that Samsung seems to drop support for devices almost as soon as they ship them. If you want upgraded software then you almost have to buy new hardware. (tab 7+ (os3.2) vs. tab2 7.0 (os4.0))
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06-26-2012, 06:27 PM | #25 |
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06-26-2012, 06:46 PM | #26 |
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You would think that. Samsung releases a tablet with nice specs, even has an unlocked bootloader (reason I returned my nook tablet). The Gtab 7+ should have been really popular for devs on XDA.
The problem is that Samsung refused to released the source for the gtab 7+ wifi driver. So because of this the devs at XDA have been unable to port a working CM9 (well they have one, but wifi doesnt work on it) to it. The only thing they can do for it on XDA is minor tweaks to the firmware. I have been on XDA for a long time for the 7+ and they have been waiting for Samsung to either release the ICS update or at least the full source code so they would work on the update themselves. But instead of doing either of those, Samsung decided to release the tab 2 line with worse specs and their only selling point over the older line being they came with ICS. Still the owners of the older tablets wait for the update they keep getting promised as the release date keeps getting pushed back. Its one of the main reasons I sold my GTab and am hoping to get a Nexus tablet when they come out, at least then I hope to get a device that the company wont forget as soon as they release something new in a week or 2. |
06-26-2012, 07:53 PM | #27 |
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Samsung Canada has apparently confirmed the dates for the ICS update. I'm not so impatient for it that I would sell my tablet just because of a delay... It's a very good tablet!
http://www.androidauthority.com/gala...-0-plus-96355/ |
06-26-2012, 10:37 PM | #28 | |
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Quote:
Its not really the delay for the update that made me sell it, but them releasing new hardware with the update while refusing to release it for the better hardware or even release the drivers so a 3rd party could come out with custom firmware. |
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06-28-2012, 07:57 AM | #29 |
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06-28-2012, 08:05 AM | #30 |
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Having used it for two days now, I'm extremely impressed. I've bought a nice case for it from Amazon, and, in the case, it's almost the same size as my Kindle Touch (a little taller, and a little narrower). Battery life is good - I fully charged it on Tuesday, and have now been using for a day and a half, and the battery charge is still showing as 80%.
I mainly plan to use this as a portable video player, and it seems to be absolutely excellent for that. One thing I like about it (and something my iPad won't do!) is that it can switch any video between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio - very useful when a video file doesn't use the right aspect ratio automatically, as many don't. Very pleased I bought it. Looking at the specs of the new Google tablet, the Samsung seems like a winner for me, in that it has an SD card slot, which is essential for my needs. |
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