Samsung and Barnes & Noble Event August 20th

[charmian]

I thought the Tab Pro line had already been superseded by the Tab S line? Anyway, last year the Galaxy Tab 4 tablets were released in early May. So presumably next year the Tab 5s will also be released around that time.

[bobstro]

True about the NOOK store staff, but we're not the target demographic any more than we were for the HD/+. So long as the staff can handle the basics and help mediate with tech support, they'll probably handle most problems that walk in the door. Some of the in-store staff are actually moderately skilled. Techies already know about XDA and other resources.

I do cringe when I overhear some of the tech advice the staff gives out at Best Buy and Frys.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by bobstro

So long as the staff can handle the basics and help mediate with tech support, they'll probably handle most problems that walk in the door.

That's the point I guess I was trying to make though. On four separate occasions I can think of the in-store help B&N is promoting amounted to being told to call tech support when they got home. For a non-tech type person, say my mother, if they'd call tech support on her behalf to get things worked out that'd be of value but tell her to call when she gets home after she drove to the store and I don't think she'll be too happy. Like I said maybe they're training them better now, but I wasn't impressed at all on those occasions. I ended up helping one of the people myself while I waited for my niece to shop & it wasn't a difficult issue (they had accidentally set Google Play Books as the default reading app).

I do cringe when I overhear some of the tech advice the staff gives out at Best Buy and Frys.

I know exactly what you mean.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by bobstro

I'm used to the left button being the menu on my Note. On the SGT4N, that launches the task manager. Unfortunately, it kept popping up a Samsung warning about not having a menu key. This was annoying and potentially could spook non-technical folks.

Kitkat apps should not depend on a physical menu button. If an app does not have a soft-menu button, then it is outdated. But as seen in the youtube video, that warning can be disabled, but also that the menu button still works as secondary function. It would be a waste if all apps you use have a menu button and then the exact same button again on the device.

[bobstro]

My (old?) Note 10.1 2014 ed. has the menu capacitive button (I think that's the term for it) on the left. The new SGT4N has the app list button in the same place. I guess mine's got the "incorrect" layout. The SGT4N has it right, apparently.

Personally, I would be happier with all soft buttons on the screen. I always hit the stupid raised home button on the new devices, and tend to hold it rotated 180 degrees to compensate. Can't really blame B&N for that one. I suppose since that button is now a fingerprint reader on the newer Tabs, it's not likely to go away. (*sigh*)

It wasn't a problem so much as something that threw me off when I habitually went for a menu. Every time you hit the button on a new (or in-store demo) device, that little warning box pops up. It just takes away from the experience. B&N should have tweaked a few of the defaults to avoid some of those rough edges. I would have hit the checkbox to turn the warning off, but it was the store's demo unit, so I was reluctant to change anything.

That video would've been a lot more helpful if the buttons weren't off-screen!

[DuckieTigger]

Not incorrect layout, just different than a vanilla Android looks like. But then you would also need to put the back button to the left and the task manager to the right. The Youtube video shows with the button he is pushing correct on both computer and tablet (galaxy tab 2) for me. Every time he says push this button, he means the one left of the home button.

For more detail about the menu button in Android see http://android-developers.blogspot.c...nu-button.html

And if you are interested in no physical buttons you can always pick a Google Nexus device.

[bobstro]

My need for pen input overrides my disdain for the buttons!

Again, my point isn't that the buttons are rocket science, but rather that having that message pop up on the demo units is a bit jarring for the inexperienced. B&N could've spent a bit more time setting defaults that make sense.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Kitkat apps should not depend on a physical menu button. If an app does not have a soft-menu button, then it is outdated.

It's funny because the only application I've used in a long while that's "outdated" is the Nook for Android application. That application almost supports full screen, too ... it's maddening. I was a part of the Beta program, but they didn't seem to accept any of my feedback. I considered tracking them down and offering to contract for them on the side, but I don't think "your software still sucks" was the appropriate attitude.

Originally Posted by bobstro

My (old?) Note 10.1 2014 ed. has the menu capacitive button (I think that's the term for it) on the left. The new SGT4N has the app list button in the same place. I guess mine's got the "incorrect" layout. The SGT4N has it right, apparently.

As others have stated, I'm pretty sure the task switcher button and back are swapped on the Tab 4, but it's not that big of an issue.

Originally Posted by bobstro

Personally, I would be happier with all soft buttons on the screen. I always hit the stupid raised home button on the new devices, and tend to hold it rotated 180 degrees to compensate.

I prefer real buttons, especially as so few applications support full screen mode. In general, the location of the buttons don't seem to move, though, so I'm not sure it'd solve your problem.

I completely agree on setting up the defaults, though. In some cases, they may be handcuffed, though. (They are required to include all of the Google suite, including Books, to include the Play Store and it's possible the same agreement forbids them from changing certain features, like default file behaviors.)

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by LoganK

I prefer real buttons, especially as so few applications support full screen mode. In general, the location of the buttons don't seem to move, though, so I'm not sure it'd solve your problem.

It would solve the problem as the buttons will always be on the bottom of the page. No need to remember which side is up or down, or which of the 4 sides to touch to find the home button.

If rotating the device 180 degrees helps, so would getting rid of the dedicated raised button and move it to the bottom of the screen.

Lack of fullscreen mode is disappointing. A simple solution could be to force full screen mode as a setting when opening certain apps, and have the power button bring up the missing home button for those pesky apps that don't want to close otherwise. Maybe there is an app for it, and maybe it is opportunity for somebody to write such an app.

Update1: Apparently there is apps to do that full screen thingy, but all require root.

Update2: Well, that was worth rooting my tab2 for. Installed full!screen, and now all is better. The free version does enough to keep me happy - gets rid of buttons and notification panel. Especially useful is the no more home button right below the spacebar on keyboard - how often I hit that by accident is amazing. Installed the Nook app, and works without problems in fullscreen - same goes for the Kindle app. The instant upgrade in useable screen real estate is a welcome plus.

[leeper]

Does anyone know how the Galaxy mounts in Mac OS 10.9.x? My Nook HD is not recognized as a disk in this OS and because of Apple's limitations I can't use Calibre to easily move my books, instead an android ap pops up. Its usuable but not as clean as Calibre's "send to device" button and cleaning up is problematic.

[bobstro]

Originally Posted by LoganK

[...] In general, the location of the buttons don't seem to move, though, so I'm not sure it'd solve your problem.

On my Samsung Note 10.1 (old version), the soft buttons stayed at the bottom of the screen, and it was nice not worrying about what side was "up". The buttons were just where they needed to be. On the new 2014 Note 10.1, the stupid physical button gets in the way when I'm reading or using pen input (especially when writing), and if I rotate it, the menu and back buttons are swapped. It's far more cumbersome to use.

I'm not having remembering what the buttons do or where they are on the Note or Tab, but thanks guys.

[bobstro]

Originally Posted by leeper

Does anyone know how the Galaxy mounts in Mac OS 10.9.x? My Nook HD is not recognized as a disk in this OS and because of Apple's limitations I can't use Calibre to easily move my books, instead an android ap pops up. Its usuable but not as clean as Calibre's "send to device" button and cleaning up is problematic.

I can't say for certain, but the Calibre 2 update from last night mentions "Add support for MTP devices (Android phones/tablets) on OS X". Nice timing if it works!

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Ever get the feeling that when you walk into a tech store that you're the expert?

The difference between a car salesman and a computer salesman is the car salesman knows that he is lying.

[ucfgrad93]

5 days since the announcement, and my local B&N still doesn't have any display models out. They have signs all over the fracking place but no display models.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Ever get the feeling that when you walk into a tech store that you're the expert?

Yep, considering we only have three chains in our area now. Fry's Electronics is a joke. They don't even know what they have in stock, much less anything about it. Best Buy is staffed mostly with short-term morons. You rarely see the same employees twice during subsequent visits. And Radio Shack has turned into little more than a useless cellular phone kiosk. With any of these three you are best served by simply ordering online and from another chain. When I was child we had to wait until the carnival came to town to see a freak show. Now I can just go to any local electronics store and see one.