Boox Tab Mini C review

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Renate

Since we're all talking outdoors, let me add my complaint.
None of the Onyx have GPS although it is built into all of the Qualcomm processors and they'd only need to add a crappy PCB or sticker antenna. A ceramic antenna would be great.

It's especially criminal that the new "phone-like" Palma does not have GPS.

What do you need that for?
- EInk screens are too slow for navi applications - except maybe the Tab GPU devices.
- you usually have a smartphone with you anyway.
- and if you absolutely want to have the data on the reader, then there is Bluetooth.

[snapper.fishes]

Originally Posted by popej

I can't understand using OLED on watches.

OLED screens look nice when you are inside a store.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

What do you need that for?

In a car you could use anything. I use a 8" LCD tablet networked to a separate always-on GPS.
On a motorcycle an eInk navigator would be a real plus.
On foot eInk would also be good. I modded a B&N Glow3 for GPS but the module's reception sucked.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Renate

In a car you could use anything. I use a 8" LCD tablet networked to a separate always-on GPS.
On a motorcycle an eInk navigator would be a real plus.
On foot eInk would also be good. I modded a B&N Glow3 for GPS but the module's reception sucked.

I get the data from my smartphone via Bluetooth

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

What do you need that for?

Hiking.

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

- EInk screens are too slow for navi applications - except maybe the Tab GPU devices.
- you usually have a smartphone with you anyway.
- and if you absolutely want to have the data on the reader, then there is Bluetooth.

Phones usually have a shorter battery life than ereaders. If your phone were to die partway through a multi-day hike, it could be problematic.

I just returned from several weeks in Japan. During the trip, I went on a solo hiking trip in a fairly remote area. I had never relied on electronic hiking maps/apps with GPS before. I was curious to see how well several of my devices would perform. I had my Hisense A5 Pro C, my Nova 3 Color, an old Experia cell phone with no sim card, and an old Experia tablet with me. I also had paper maps as backup and was relatively familiar with the area. And I had a power bank with me as well. Turned out it was needed.

The Nova 3 Color offered the best view. I could see so much more of the map hiking app. I could take screenshots and mark down details. I could save the images as a powered off screen so that I was not consuming power when not needed. It worked wonderfully... except that it could not identify my location on the map...

Instead, I had to use the GPS function on my Experia phone sans sim card to identify my precise location and then locate the corresponding place on the N3C. Had my phone run out of power as it did, and had I not had a backup power source, this could have been problematic. I was travelling in an area where there were warnings on the map that it was easy to get lost. Indeed, it was. I went off course a number of times. I would have eventually discovered my mistakes and been able to get back on course with just my paper maps and my compass, but it could have cost me hours in humid 30C degree heat along ridges with no nearby water sources and no fellow hikers.

If my N3C had a reliable GPS function, I wouldn't have needed to carry along the extra weight of a cell phone and a power bank. My back and knees would have been very grateful to shed the excess weight. However, I managed to make it to a remote peak which had eluded me for years. And I now know which devices I would rely on for future similar adventures.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

Hiking.

Phones usually have a shorter battery life than ereaders. If your phone were to die partway through a multi-day hike, it could be problematic.

Yes, because the screen consumes so much.
I get the gnss data from my Unihertz Jelly 2 (screen switched off) via Bluetooth and use them on my Boox Tab Mini C in Osmand+.
Works great

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Yes, because the screen consumes so much.

Also the mobile/cell radio is 2nd biggest power consumption as it must periodically transmit a "hello" handshake to the best received tower/mast it detects, otherwise the cell network would be clogged with data when someone phones or texts a mobile destination. OLED dark mode was promoted to save screen power. It's a myth that dark mode is easier on the eyes at night. Turning down brightness works better. Dark mode saves no power at all on LCD or eink screens. It only saves power on OLED, EL, Plasma and CRT. Only a small difference on the rare VFD graphic panels as they have heated filament cathodes.

It's nearly impossible to turn off the mobile base/cell tower handshake. It still does it when there is no SIM (though in theory not needed then unless it's to do with Emergency Call routing, which still works) and when all data including background is disabled. Only powering off the phone stops it. Sleep doesn't.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

Hiking.
...
I had my Hisense A5 Pro C, my Nova 3 Color, an old Experia cell phone with no sim card, and an old Experia tablet with me.

I take my current phone with SIM and my last phone without SIM.
The newer phone has compass but it's not great.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Quoth

It's nearly impossible to turn off the mobile base/cell tower handshake. It still does it when there is no SIM (though in theory not needed then unless it's to do with Emergency Call routing, which still works) and when all data including background is disabled. Only powering off the phone stops it. Sleep doesn't.

The flight mode on my Unihertz Jelly 2 also interrupts any mobile connection, but not gnss.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

The flight mode on my Unihertz Jelly 2 also interrupts any mobile connection, but not gnss.

Flight mode ought to inhibit the mobile handshake. It may not if certain evil software has been added. I'd forgotten about Flight mode.

GNSS is receive only and may be GPS only or all three global systems and even the localised Japanese system, hence should not be affected by Flight Mode, which really ought to disable Bluetooth, but might not depending on phone and OS version.

However so-called "precision" navigation uses WiFi signals.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Renate

The newer phone has compass but it's not great.

I have a really good physical compass got to help align satellite dishes. Except some are steel, or may be on a steel framed or reinforced wall, or near steel shed or bulk gas tank. Then there also can be local anomalies. Also magnetic north isn't north!

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Then there also can be local anomalies.

Yes. Especially concerning is Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-1.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Renate

Yes. Especially concerning is Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-1.

No effect on aligning satellite dishes or hill-walking / trekking / climbing in Ireland.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

I get the gnss data from my Unihertz Jelly 2 (screen switched off) via Bluetooth and use them on my Boox Tab Mini C in Osmand+.
Works great

Hadn't known about the Unihertz Jelly 2. Looks impressive. Will have to keep that in mind the next time I am in line for a new phone. Thanks for the tip.

[Renate]

Renate sobs quietly that no one responded to TMA-1.