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You're all no doubt absolutely delighted that you get the first review I'm writing of the Vulcan FlipStart V1.0! For those of you who aren't aware of this little device, it originated with the (often called "vapourware" MiniPC of 2004, demonstrated by Paul Allen). The concept has been refined massively, and is now on sale in the US for $1999 with the following specification:
Pentium M @ 1.1GHz
512MB RAM (not expandable)
Intel 915 graphics; 64MB Unified Memory Architecture
30GB HD (having spoken to the designers, at present this is all that will fit)
5.6" screen at 1024 x 600 pixel (220dpi) resolution
Webcam (VGA, I suspect)
Keyboard, trackpad and touchpoint
802.11b/g WiFi
Bluetooth 2.0
EV-DO cellular data connection
Windows XP Professional SP2
Additional features include media keys and an InfoPane; a secondary display of cellphone-like quality on the rear of the clamshell case which displays email, contacts, appointments etc. without opening the PC.
As shipped, the device comes with a large capacity battery, port replicator (providing Ethernet, Power, USB x 2, VGA and audio), small carry case and a screen wipe, plus the PSU to charge it.
Optional accessories are the slimline battery, a high-end leather case, chargers, and potentially high resolution camera or other devices connecting to a top-mounted expansion port (looks like it is USB but not a USB connector, just wire pads ready for devices using USB protocols).
It's really very hard to describe JUST how small this computer is. Most UMPCs are 7" screen, tablet or sliding tablet devices. Flipstart is a clamshell, and a very rugged feeling one at that. Finished in a fetching dark blue metallic with the distinctive InfoPane and slding metal "FlipStart" cover plate, the closed device is comparable to HTC's Athena, perhaps 3% or so larger. It can be slipped into the back pocket of your jeans with the slimline battery fitted, for example.
Opening the FlipStart reveals a thumb-type keyboard of moderate quality and good spacing; it has a backlight which is pleasant and even, and some handy quick access keys to zoom the screen, open the FlipStart navigator application, control media, and access the task manager. The shift keys are curiously large - you are expected to use your thumbs to type, and by placing the keys accurately and providing a large target, shifting with one hand whilst typing with the other is comfortable. Takes a while to adjust to this method, but it works very well.
Above the keyboard, from left to right, are two mouse buttons, a cursor pad with Page up/down, home and End functions, power keys, a small trackpad and a thumbstick-type device. The trackpad even has software to enable or disable tapping and tapzones, something woefully lacking on many fullsize laptops that assume you WANT to tap; pleasantly, this one has the right balance so tapping works without being obtrusive. The thumbstick device is very quick and convenient, but using the two as appropriate makes this a snappy PC to get around.
Of course, a touchscreen would be better, and when using the device with the Ameo the instinct to grab the stylus and tap the XP screen was very strong. A touchscreen would add depth and reduce the clarity of the insanely high resolution display, however.
Being in the UK, I am unable to test the EV-DO function, but the WiFi and Bluetooth work well - connecting "on the road" was painlessly accomplished via Bluetooth PAN and the Ameo on T-Mobile's 3G network.
Being a fully functional PC it runs PC applications. I've yet to find anything it can't handle, with the obvious caveat that I am applying common sense here and not trying stupid games, or HD video editing suites, or high-end desktop image editing applications.
Oh...
Wait, I did try that last one. It's running Photoshop CS3 adequately; let's say, CS3 on this is snappier (and obviously more capable and vastly more expensive) than Pocket Artist. Lightroom also runs well enough to use despite the FlipStart's display being relatively low pixel resolution for Adobe's recommendations. I'm tempted to try InDesign on it purely for the amusement of doing DTP on a pocket-sized computer - I have little doubt that it will be possible. The LCD's viewing angle is very critical in terms of tilt, but when you get it right the colour and evenness of the backlight is impressive; I wouldn't trust it for critical colour work, but it's certainly alright for previewing and basic adjustments or editing.
Quake 3 was included as a demo and at the default 640 x 480 resolution, was quite playable with an external keyboard/mouse combination.
All this CPU power comes with a cost, of course. Heat and power drain. The FlipStart features a little visible vent alongside the port replicator, and frankly, you'll love it if you ever get stuck in the frozen North with one; it's pretty warm! The fan is louder and more insistent than the dual fans in my XPS M2010 - which is really logical, given the large airspace available in the Dell. FlipStart's CPU is amongst the better ones you'll find in a "UMPC" device, most of the Origami/tablet type units sporting Geode or VIA CPUs. Sony's UX-series has more MHZ, but is larger and costs more.
Battery life is around 3-6 hours with the bulkier "extended" (actually standard) battery, and a mere one and a half hours with the slimline battery. Charging is via a small and delicate looking jackplug - given the amount of charging this device needs, I'd like to have seen a contact-based charging solution like a dock. No provision is made for this, the port replicator clips on and isn't significantly better in terms of wear and tear - plus, you'll want it with you to have access to the 2 flat USB ports. The standard USB port is under the hinge for the display, and bulkier items like memory sticks may not fit.
Overall, the FlipStart is a surprisingly usable "marvel of the modern age" - not only does it convincingly demonstrate just HOW much power you can cram into a small package, but outside of that demonstration, you can run serious applications on it. With remote desktop for the fiddlier file management, or an external display and keyboard/mouse, it's a perfectly functional computer - and if you have good eyesight, the display might not be an issue for extended use. The robust physical design points at a device designed for real world use, instead of geektoy chic - and as such the flexibility of it makes it a lot 'cooler' than you'd initially expect. As the Ameo has demonstrated, there's an upper limit to the size of device that you want to carry about, and this really does stay within it where larger UMPCs may fall foul of the "never take it anywhere" problem that also held back the better Handheld PC machines.
And on that note, that's where this device sits, in my opinion. This is the 21st century "Handheld PC", whereas Origami in the purest form - the tablets - are more confused about their purpose. Are they computers, or just powerful media players?
Having seen the games performance of this, I can envisage devices like it in 3 or 4 years time for high-end mobile gaming, where keyboards are replaced by game controllers, and titles like Gears of War or World of Warcraft can be made truly portable with no loss of quality over their PC or high-end console counterparts. With a desktop OS, and a port replicator, they could even be used for real work. The question is, would the costs come down sufficiently if they sold in large numbers?
At a good $800 or so premium over the HTC Athena, itself one of the most expensive WM consumer devices around, you'll need a good use for it to justify owning it. In isolation, though, FlipStart comes VERY close to bringing true desktop computing power to the genuinely "pocket sized" device. And this is just version 1.0...
One of the nicest aspects of the FlipStart is the contining number of "surprise and delight" features. For example, the zoom key is inherently a bit clever, zooming the window you are looking at to fill the screen, but you can also quickly adjust the zoom level by holding the key and using the scroll wheel. Is this a standard UMPC-like feature? It's really neat! I've never used a screen so sharp and small, yet so comfortable to work on before.
(Pictures will follow eventually, but there are plenty around if you Google!).
ADB will not connect via USB.
No ports open on the device, so no connecting ADB over IP (I have seen this work on the Maylong M-150 (Walgreens) tablet.)
Browser sends HTTP User-Agent:
Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10_5_7;en-us) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Safari/530.17
I have tested the factory reset button combination, it is valid. Hold Volume+ and Nook and Power, while the device is turned off.
WiFi options are rudimentary. There is no support for proxy in network settings, additionally, after receiving an IP address from DHCP, the device appears to connect to a website to verify connectivity. If you have a captive portal network setup (where HTTP outgoing requests are redirected to a login page), then the verification process will just hang. You will be unable to go anywhere using the included browser. After several minutes, the verification process will fail, and then you may be able to connect to the captive portal using the web browser. This is discussed on page 56 of the Nook Color user guide.
Would it be helpful to anyone to include the open source libraries that the device includes (under Legal Notices). I don't know if it is helpful to know what libraries are included (or omitted) compared to a conventional Android device?
Additionally, some notes on the MicroUSB connector. It is proprietary.
* It will sync, but not charge, when connected to my PC desktop's USB (wattage unknown.)
* An ordinary MicroUSB will sync, but not charge, when connected to PC.
* I left the included 120VAC-to-USB transformer at the office, so I do not know the listed wattage.
* The nook cable will charge the device when connected to my Moto Droid1 120VAC-to-USB.
* An ordinary MicroUSB will not charge the device when connect to the Moto Droid1 120VAC-to-USB transformer.
* Finally, the Nook cable will not fit in my Moto Droid1. Therefore it will not charge or sync. Careful examination of the Nook cable shows that the metal trapezoid connector is slightly longer, and appears to have additional pins. 12, in addition to the 5 conventional pins. I cannot tell by observation whether the receptacle within the nook makes contact with these pins.
phiz said:
Additionally, some notes on the MicroUSB connector. It is proprietary.
* It will sync, but not charge, when connected to my PC desktop's USB (wattage unknown.)
* An ordinary MicroUSB will sync, but not charge, when connected to PC.
* I left the included 120VAC-to-USB transformer at the office, so I do not know the listed wattage.
* The nook cable will charge the device when connected to my Moto Droid1 120VAC-to-USB.
* An ordinary MicroUSB will not charge the device when connect to the Moto Droid1 120VAC-to-USB transformer.
* Finally, the Nook cable will not fit in my Moto Droid1. Therefore it will not charge or sync. Careful examination of the Nook cable shows that the metal trapezoid connector is slightly longer, and appears to have additional pins. 12, in addition to the 5 conventional pins. I cannot tell by observation whether the receptacle within the nook makes contact with these pins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
* Mine is charging off my Dell monitor using the Nook USB cable.
* Charger is 5V - 1.9A.
I've read everywhere that the USB cable can't charge over the PC. It even says it in the manual, but it charges just fine connected to my computer. It takes forever though and the light never turns solid green. But the battery percentage still increases to 100%.
Motherboard is a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P if anyone's curious.
The micro usb has two extra pins so that it will quickcharge using the ac adapter. If connected to a computer and the screen is on it does not pull enough to charge the device but with screen off it will. One of the techs said that on the b&n forums.
So as far as rooting this thing, it seems apparent that there are three attack vectors.
* If device checks MicroSD on bootup for updates.
* Userland exploit, loading a file, going to a URL, Wifi Protocol stuff etc. Perhaps in the PDF libraries? (Note, because of sand-boxing this may not lead directly to full root, but it may allowing running of other software that would be useful for reconnaissance on the device.)
* Wait for Nook SDK to come out, and use the increased access to the device to compromise it.
The device is frustrating to use as is. Not because of any major design flaws, but because of the untapped potential. Like, I would love to have DropBox to ease file management. And the browser is left wanting (it reports as Mac OSX, and does not render some pages well (Google reader is wholly unusable.)
I'm considering returning it. It has so much potential, but I'm expecting the quality of the Chinese knockoff android tablets to continue to improve.
charges perfectly fine off my 10 watt panasonic wall adapter with an oem micro usb. says it's not charging but it went from 93 to 100 in ~10 minutes while i was using it.
there was a good bit of stutter when registering my device. i had to tap multiple times to switch b/t numbers and letter input. sometimes i had to tap the character multiple times for it to register.
i agree though, this is the sweetest tablet next to the galaxy tab and iphone hardware wise. too bad it's locked down right now.
just like all the cheap-o android tabs, this one does have soft back and menu buttons. if you click the book icon at the bottom the back and menu buttons are there. the home, volumes, and power buttons are the only physical buttons. no search button, but i rarely use in on any of my other android devices.
video playback is horrid! all my mp4 will play but choppy. even streaming was crappy. i tried youtube mobile with no videos being able to be played. madthumbs (nsfw!) worked but so stuttery it made it unfappable.
NM reboot fixed everything. my ripped videos and stuff downloaded with videodownload helper play fine now. able to watch some kung fu treachery on the beautiful screen.
the little book icon (read it now) at the bottom doesn't seem to bring up the menu and back buttons anymore. now it just takes me to the last read book on the homepage. i'd rather have the back and menu buttons back.
The charging connector has too many pins for just charge control. I counted 12 extra pins over the 5 standard USB, but it's tiny enough that I could've skipped one. I'm sure that two are used for controlling the LED in the connector shell, one is probably used as a cable identifier, leaving 9 unknowns.
My guesses:
-OMAP boot mode (MMC boot, select pins (1-2)
-serial (2)
-JTAG (4 or 5)
-audio (2-3)
I thought that extra current capacity could account for all the rest, but why spend on what I'm guessing is not a cheap connector just to bus all those tiny pins together?
Anyway, I tried to buy a second charge/sync cable to dissect today but my local store only had cases and screen protectors in stock. The connector has all pins populated so I'm hoping I can break them out and start probing for a bootloader on serial. Hopefully iFixit will get a teardown done soon and we can get a good look at the parts.
seem like there's bug in that read it now button.
to get the menu and back buttons back you need to open a pdf on you sd card. then for some reason you get you back and menu buttons when you hit the read it now.
this is helpful in that with the menu button you can now have a forward button for web browsing, refresh and you can go back without scrolling all the way to the top.
pokey9000 said:
The charging connector has too many pins for just charge control. I counted 12 extra pins over the 5 standard USB, but it's tiny enough that I could've skipped one. I'm sure that two are used for controlling the LED in the connector shell, one is probably used as a cable identifier, leaving 9 unknowns.
Anyway, I tried to buy a second charge/sync cable to dissect today but my local store only had cases and screen protectors in stock. The connector has all pins populated so I'm hoping I can break them out and start probing for a bootloader on serial. Hopefully iFixit will get a teardown done soon and we can get a good look at the parts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want them to look into the additional pin issues. See this: meta ifixit com/View/1108/Nook+Color+Teardown+Request
You know, while they're in there.
madsquabbles said:
video playback is horrid! all my mp4 will play but choppy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems with MP4/M4V playback here. I used the newest handbrake and selected the iPod touch preset to start with.
What I changed:
Picture Tab:
- Width -> 848
- Anamorphic -> Loose
Video Tab
- Framerate -> 23.976
- Constant Quality -> 59.31%
Audio Tab
- Mixdown -> Stereo (Maybe Pro Logic II will work?)
Chapters Tab
- Unchecked "Create Chapter Markers"
My source video was a 1080p MKV with AC3 audio. It looks gorgeous even though it's actually sized smaller than the full res of the screen (NookColor won't play MP4/M4V wider than 854).
I'm playing this off a Class 2 SD card and I didn't notice any choppiness.
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but do you guys think that it might be better to go with an archos 70 instead of the nook color since it seems like its roughly the same price and perhaps easier for people to work on? looks like they're similarly priced.
milkham said:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask but do you guys think that it might be better to go with an archos 70 instead of the nook color since it seems like its roughly the same price and perhaps easier for people to work on? looks like they're similarly priced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the archos 70 has a lower resolution screen and the viewing angle is not as good.
rubyw59 said:
I believe the archos 70 has a lower resolution screen and the viewing angle is not as good.
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Click to collapse
That's what I've read as well and I think it applies to the g-tablet. I've read on the forums here folks that have had or looked at both the NC and the archos and gtablet and they say the NC has a much better display. The who IPS thing, same as iPad and the newest iPhone 4.
Infinitely better screen...not even comparable. Text on the Gtablet looks blocky and absolute crap. I haven't seen a screen that bad in years. Maybe it's because I have professional IPS monitors at home. The nook color screen is simply stunning and easy on the eyes at any angle on the lowest brightness setting. It will burn out your retinas at the highest.
Great Product!
I've been on a quest for an Android Tablet before Christmas. I bought and returned the Viewsonic G-Tablet. Horrendous viewing angles, heavy to hold (weighs 1.55 lbs) and cost $379-$399. I returned my Archos 70, which cost me $301.99 with shipping. I think I finally found my tablet, the Nook Color. Once it got rooted, it was a no brainer. GORGEOUS SCREEN, 512 MB RAM, easy to carry, great customer support from Barnes and Noble (I purchased the 2 year additional warranty $54) and pretty good Out of the Box (OTM) software. I know more better Android tablets will be coming out next year, but for $250, you can't go wrong with a quality product like the Nook Color and the customer support service of B&N. Great product =)
bruce, thank you for this update. i have really been looking at all the tablets, I know the holy grail is honeycomb, but i don't think that is reality until next summer and I don't want to wait. I have been looking at all these inexpensive tablets from china, there is one I saw on androidforums with gps that sounded good, but the nook so far seems good.
After you root, does this still work as an e reader? Also, how hard is this to root for someone technical, but has never rooted a device (i used to work on unix computers 20 years ago)? Is there easy step by step instructions? Thanks again.
I haven't exhaustively compared the other options on the market right now, but my intuition is that the NC is the best on the market as far as price-point and build-quality, but there is no market access and limited app support.
By the time development really gets going on a NC rom, i predict that we will have competitive alternatives, either from brand name manufacturers (Asus), or no-name Chinese manufacturers (right now the Chinese tablets are held back by their resistive touchscreens.) And these alternatives will presumably have dedicated android buttons, which the NC does not.
If you need a tablet right now, and are a tinkerer, then the NC is the way to go. If you want a more full-featured and robust solution, we are going to see compelling alternatives in the 6-10 month time frame, I predict.
I don't think it will take 6-10 months for custom ROMs and Market access.
So I was a Messagpad 2100 user, and I have been looking for a device to really replace it since I stopped using it in 2007 (yeah, I know it was canceled 10 years before that -- it was a pretty amazing device though). I think the N7 might finally be the device. Anyway one of the key's to using the Newton was it's case/keyboard setup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atow/4314242537/
It was super handy to be able to pop the Newton out for a meeting etc
So, questions:
1. If I were to plug a keyboard into the N7 (possibly using an adapter to go from USB to micro USB), will it work?
2. Does anyone know of a keyboard with a micro USB out? I looked in the most obvious places and couldn't find one.
Yes, I know about BT keyboards (I've been using one and it works), but I want to avoid the charging/battery issue if at all possible.
..
Get the logitech bluetooth keyboard for android 3.0+. Given your question you may not realize how much better (and how much lower power consumption) bluetooth is now. You'll get dedicated android keys and won't have to worry about wonky keyboard mapping issues; not to mention the hassle of using a wired setup (can require using an app to set it up each time). Also, you can connect more than one device with bluetooth, so you can have a keyboard and mouse (with the USB you'll be limited to one).
BTW- the wired keyboard will drain the battery on your nexus (not sure how it compares to battery drain from bluetooth though).
slack04 said:
Get the logitech bluetooth keyboard for android 3.0+. Given your question you may not realize how much better (and how much lower power consumption) bluetooth is now. You'll get dedicated android keys and won't have to worry about wonky keyboard mapping issues; not to mention the hassle of using a wired setup (can require using an app to set it up each time). Also, you can connect more than one device with bluetooth, so you can have a keyboard and mouse (with the USB you'll be limited to one).
BTW- the wired keyboard will drain the battery on your nexus (not sure how it compares to battery drain from bluetooth though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used a couple different wired keyboards with no need for a OTG adapter. Didn't check for battery usage, but I did notice that both wires were very thin and susceptible to break. For that reason only, my next keyboard will be a bluetooth.
Wireless vs. wired keyboard and battery life
slack04 said:
Get the logitech bluetooth keyboard for android 3.0+. Given your question you may not realize how much better (and how much lower power consumption) bluetooth is now. You'll get dedicated android keys and won't have to worry about wonky keyboard mapping issues; not to mention the hassle of using a wired setup (can require using an app to set it up each time). Also, you can connect more than one device with bluetooth, so you can have a keyboard and mouse (with the USB you'll be limited to one).
BTW- the wired keyboard will drain the battery on your nexus (not sure how it compares to battery drain from bluetooth though).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer my wired, USB, mobile keyboard over my Bluetooth wireless keyboard because of the wired keyboard's size and layout. However, I want to maximize the battery life on my Nexus 7.
The posts in this forum seem to be inconclusive. So, does anyone have a solid answer as to whether a wired, or a wireless Bluetooth, keyboard is best for the Nexus 7's battery life?
Thanks!
Chaps, thinking out the box but can you get a USB keyboard WITH a battery built in to help power the device..
ccinco said:
I prefer my wired, USB, mobile keyboard over my Bluetooth wireless keyboard because of the wired keyboard's size and layout. However, I want to maximize the battery life on my Nexus 7.
The posts in this forum seem to be inconclusive. So, does anyone have a solid answer as to whether a wired, or a wireless Bluetooth, keyboard is best for the Nexus 7's battery life?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would expect the Bluetooth keyboard would use no more power than the USB keyboard, as the keyboard would draw power from the USB to drive it's electronics, whereas the Bluetooth keyboard would have a battery. I would prefer not use a USB keyboard as I wouldn't like to damage the USB port if I bumped the OTG adapter - there have been reports of port damage from simple knocks and drops.
I just bought the Motorola keyboard with trackpad for $29 (woot), and expect it to turn up any day now. I previously used the older Motorola bluetooth keyboard with the N7, but sold it with my old Acer A500 before I realized I'd prefer a keyboard with my N7...
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Wireless-Keyboard-Trackpad-Packaging/dp/B006291K7A
I am back to trying to find a solution for this. I'm not opposed to a BT keyboard, if I could find that's small enough without being too small. Most these days seem designed to work with an iPad, and tend to be 13" long or so -- too big. I'm hunting for something not much larger (so 9" or less than the N7 but also not utter crap. I suspect that when the 7" ipad finally is released, we'll see a bunch of design smarts applied to this.
I've been using a Stowaway BT keyboard I bought years ago for my Windows Mobile 5 phone. I still think it's the best portable keyboard.
http://www.amazon.com/Stowaway-Ultra-Slim-Bluetooth-Blackberry-Handhelds/dp/B0002OKCXE
It's an aluminum clamshell design that locks opens into a 4-row keyboard with full-size keys. They feel like my laptop's keys, and have just enough resistance to let you know they've been pressed. Two function keys give you access to the full 101-key character set. There are other functions like "save" and "new", but they don't appear to work because under Android. There's also a built-in stand that seems flimsy at first, but has no problem holding the N7 in either orientation. However, this keyboard does NOT like your lap. It must be used on a stable, flat surface. Even though it does lock open, there's enough "spring" due to the thinness of the keyboard that typing is difficult.
The Stowaway is pricey - around $70, although you can find them discounted to $50 if you shop around. Maybe some of the cheaper clamshell designs may work as well. YMMV. My co-worker bought 3 different keyboards that were just unusable. #1 had "clicky" keys - impossible to touch type on. #2 had those rubbery "chiclet" keys - again, impossible to accurately touch type on. #3 was OK to type on - if you had little pixie fingers. The key spacing was only 3/4 of the norm.
That is *exactly* what I'm looking for -- the thinkoutside keyboards were awesome. That someone isn't making something like this now boggles the mind, but I guess there isn't really a market for these when the device most likely used with it these days (ipad) is much larger. I'll bet we see more of these when the smaller ipad is on the market.
Can anyone here can comment in new feed of Facebook with extended keyboard. I had used logitech keyboard, can comment in wall, chat, but can't comment in new feed
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
I have a dell WQHD monitor bought to use, specifically with the note 9, but after I plugged the note 9 I found that I do not get the option for the WQHD, it is grayed out? is anyone able to get it to work? please help!
iyas87 said:
I have a dell WQHD monitor bought to use, specifically with the note 9, but after I plugged the note 9 I found that I do not get the option for the WQHD, it is grayed out? is anyone able to get it to work? please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your monitor cannot handle the resolution.
Sent from my Blackberry Bold
Brava27 said:
Your monitor cannot handle the resolution.
Sent from my Blackberry Bold
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Click to collapse
the monitor resolution is 2560x1440, it handles the resolution. I am using the laptop on it with this resolution. The dex show the option for 2560x1440 but it is grayed out?
Same here, even though the monitor and cable is 4k/60Hz capable. Supposedly the Samsung dock and pad work in WQHD, so that would mean they are using a chip ID verification to make sure the 3rd party gear doesn't give full resolution. Just guessing though.
Same problem here... All cables used that came in the box, using a Sony Bravia XE90E.
That panel is well capable of all funky resolutions, certainly 1440p as well.
Mirroring works fine, but what good is mirroring worth really. Nobody bought a DEX Pad to just mirror.
I wondered this too few days ago when I first time tested it with a cheap adapter from Amazon. I also read somewhere that the highest resolution is only available with those "pad" device(s). Not a biggie for me, since the 2560x1440 doesn't scale nicely to a 4K monitor, but the lower FullHD resolution does. It is not like I'd be doing my main work with the phone anyway, but it is a "nice to have" in some random situation where I didn't drag my heavyweight laptop with me.
Would be nice if the resolution selection would give a clear text explaining why that choice is disabled, though.
I read somewhere that only the original samsung pad with the fan allows resolutions over full hd because going overheats the phone too much and damages it, I do not know if it's true or not though.
Well I'm using the official DEX Pad and still no luck. Go figure ?
Sent from my Samsung SM-N960F using XDA Labs
Glassed Silver said:
Well I'm using the official DEX Pad and still no luck. Go figure ?
Sent from my Samsung SM-N960F using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This dex pad ?
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1ktcwIG3gL._SL1500_.jpg
babak said:
This dex pad ?
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1ktcwIG3gL._SL1500_.jpg
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Click to collapse
Yes, that one. There is just one DEX Pad afaik and I don't mean the DEX Station.
The latest update (about 1.5gb) got it working, at least via the dex pad.
I've got 3440 X 1440 matching my display
jesadac said:
The latest update (about 1.5gb) got it working, at least via the dex pad.
I've got 3440 X 1440 matching my display
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@jesadac Are you able to test with a regular cable, and see if the resolution support drops to FHD ? My cables work fine on a MacBook Pro for WQHD, but when connected to my Note 9 with latest version, won't go higher than FHD, even if everything supports it. I am trying to confirm that Samsung locked the higher resolution to their products.
They seem to have at least tried some partial locking, or it may be a technical reason (e.g. ability to drive higher bitrates in specific situations), or whatnot.
I managed to get the highest resolution with one 3rd party USB-C hub, but it allowed DEX mode only when that hub got external power (and thus also charged the phone). Another hub (claimed to support 4K) didn't give highest resolution even when it was also getting external power, so it is obviously a bit hit/miss..
EDIT: The better working hub shows mirrored screen without external power, at that 2560x1440 resolution. There are some random temporary screen artifacts with that hub, though, at least for a while after DEX gets turned on, and sometimes phone-hub-monitor protocols don't quite get it right, showing some really low resolution DEX view with a popup saying something about that too low resolution
6thtry said:
They seem to have at least tried some partial locking, or it may be a technical reason (e.g. ability to drive higher bitrates in specific situations), or whatnot.
I managed to get the highest resolution with one 3rd party USB-C hub, but it allowed DEX mode only when that hub got external power (and thus also charged the phone). Another hub (claimed to support 4K) didn't give highest resolution even when it was also getting external power, so it is obviously a bit hit/miss..
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Click to collapse
Ah.... that's very good info. If a 3rd party can, then it's likely a capability support issue. I don't see why on earth a different device could display a higher res than the Note 9, when all is the same, except the source.
I'm ok in FHD on the monitor. While not as sharp, its workable. But on a 70" 4K TV, its so pixelated, it's not funny. I would pretty much like the higher resolution to make the movie playback and picture browsing a nicer experience when the out laws are in town.
lbarouf said:
I'm ok in FHD on the monitor. While not as sharp, its workable. But on a 70" 4K TV, its so pixelated, it's not funny. I would pretty much like the higher resolution to make the movie playback and picture browsing a nicer experience when the out laws are in town.
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Click to collapse
I actually prefer the FullHD on a 4K monitor, because otherwise non-integer scaling makes some things worse, at least for text. OTOH, movies and photos are indeed likely better with higher resolution even with non-integer scaling. I did use it at highest resolution on a 4K monitor for a while using 1:1 mode on the monitor, so that there was no scaling (but lots of black margin). I'd naturally prefer 1:1 at 2560x1440 to my older 2560x1600 monitor (so just a little black on top and bottom), but seems that the older monitor does not support the full resolution through its HDMI inputs or something
EDIT: Oh, and at work I connected the phone directly to 4K monitor with the monitor's included USB-C-to-USB-C cable, with keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor's USB ports, and phone being charged by the monitor through that cable. Everything worked just fine, but I'm not 100% sure did it allow the highest resolution.. I think it did.
6thtry said:
I actually prefer the FullHD on a 4K monitor, because the non-integer scaling makes some things worse, at least for text. OTOH, movies and photos are indeed likely better with higher resolution even with non-integer scaling. I did use it at highest resolution on a 4K monitor for a while using 1:1 mode on the monitor, so that there was no scaling (but lots of black margin). I'd naturally prefer 1:1 at 2560x1440 to my older 2560x1600 monitor (so just a little black on top and bottom), but seems that the older monitor does not support the full resolution through its HDMI inputs or something
EDIT: Oh, and at work I connected the phone directly to 4K monitor with the monitor's included USB-C-to-USB-C cable, with keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor's USB ports, and phone being charged by the monitor through that cable. Everything worked just fine, but I'm not 100% sure did it allow the highest resolution.. I think it did.
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Ah... bliss. That is the example of why I love USB type C so much now. A bunch of thunderbolt 3 rated cables is all I need really now. Likely hitting the menu can confirm the resolution. I like the wide resolution as its native on my monitors and TV (16:9 aka WQHD). I just ordered a DeX pad. I will sell the old dock if that works fine at the higher resolution. It's not bad and compact. I found a good price on Amazon, so it's not too bad in the end I guess. Pair it with a portable keyboard trackpad and I may leave that in the living room.
I'm using a third party USB-C hub that allows Dex to work on Galaxy S9 with and without external power. The thing is that my S9 only works at FHD while using the same setup with a Galaxy S8 allows for 2560x1440. It's frustrating. Sadly I can not provide detailed info about the TV set and the S8. If anyone has any suggestion on how to set up my S9 to allow higher res it would be much appreciated.
Filip
@6thtry what 3rd party USB hub are you using?
RustyFlanMan said:
@6thtry what 3rd party USB hub are you using?
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Click to collapse
Based on my Amazon order history, it was this:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07FRZCLGB/
Whether it is still the exact same hardware, who knows (sometimes these no-name things change technically without revealing it), but at least it is "Amazon's Choice" (pfft) and "Dispatched by Amazon", and seems to still get good ratings (and bad ones, too).
As it is such a no-name thing, it is totally up to random chance whether it can be found in other amazon sites or not. If no luck with direct name and model, then with some extra luck, one might find it by the exact same look (and possibly even exactly same photos) but with different brand.
6thtry said:
Based on my Amazon order history, it was this:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07FRZCLGB/
Whether it is still the exact same hardware, who knows (sometimes these no-name things change technically without revealing it), but at least it is "Amazon's Choice" (pfft) and "Dispatched by Amazon", and seems to still get good ratings (and bad ones, too).
As it is such a no-name thing, it is totally up to random chance whether it can be found in other amazon sites or not. If no luck with direct name and model, then with some extra luck, one might find it by the exact same look (and possibly even exactly same photos) but with different brand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@6thtry
Appreciate that. On Reddit/SamsungDex I'm trying to put together a list of non samsung hubs that give greater than 1080p resolution in dex mode.
If you remember, do you mind sharing what phone and monitor you were using with that hub and what resolution was selectable in dex mode?
Much appreciated.
I ordered it over the weekend for my birthday -- was going to go through Best Buy but they were only going to offer me $40 trade in for my 256gb Tab S4 -- Samsung offered $300 plus a free set of Galaxy Buds2. So I took the deal.
Questions:
1) To root or not to root -- will rooting disrupt normal software upgrades? Any compelling reason to root (or not)? Are there guides to root the S8 Plus?
2) Are there any guides for debloating, even if this is just disabling bloatware?
3) Is there any real need to update accessories? I've got aa DVD/CD player, a HDMI + USB C hub, wireless mouse and keyboard, most other adaptors.
3A) What about power bricks? Most of my power bricks are either Samsung lightning chargers or USB C 20 Watt PD plugins.
4) Is there any way to optimize wireless transfer to shared drives on a PC? I usually use Solid Explorer; on the Tab S4 transfer speeds are really slow
5) I use Nova Launcher on my Tab S4. Is there any reason to switch to a different launcher?
6) With Nova Launcher Backup, I can easily get the app icons in the right places (assuming I keep Nova Launcher). Is there any way to backup your DEX desktop in a similar way?
7) Any other thoughts on the move from Tab S4 to S8 Plus?
Thanks,
Joe
Prepare yourself. WoT (Wall of Text) incoming.
drjoe1 said:
I ordered it over the weekend for my birthday
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, Happy Birthday, whether it's late or soon.
drjoe1 said:
-- was going to go through Best Buy but they were only going to offer me $40 trade in for my 256gb Tab S4 -- Samsung offered $300 plus a free set of Galaxy Buds2. So I took the deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not bad at all. Awesome!
drjoe1 said:
1) To root or not to root --
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root for me, always.
drjoe1 said:
will rooting disrupt normal software upgrades?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Click the yellow "How To Guide" quick filter at the top of the list of threads in this section and you'll find a thread with directions on how to root in the first place and how to update while rooted. TL;DR: From memory, the process is nearly identical - one of the differences between first-time root of the device versus updating is flashing one particular file instead of another particular file.
drjoe1 said:
Any compelling reason to root (or not)? Are there guides to root the S8 Plus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above answer for guide(s). It all depends on what you want out of root. I like full backups of every single app and app data including system apps. There are other things but I can't remember off the top of my head regarding root of Samsung devices - on my Pixel 6 Pro there are six or a dozen things I definitely like root for.
Edit: Just remember something else I like root for, but I'll cover that below (two questions down) in my answer to your accessories/hub question.
drjoe1 said:
2) Are there any guides for debloating, even if this is just disabling bloatware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I saw one also here you'd likely find in this section with either the "How To Guide" or "General" quick filter. I rarely debloat anymore, but my main mobile device being a Pixel I don't have any reason to want to debloat, and on my Samsung, I'd rather not micro-manage and take the chance I'll hinder some capability that I would normally have, and now I would have to troubleshoot what I debloated that I shouldn't have. Plus firmware/system apps change, and what's safe or not safe may change. It's just too much. I used to debloat like crazy, but I just don't anymore.
drjoe1 said:
3) Is there any real need to update accessories? I've got aa DVD/CD player, a HDMI + USB C hub, wireless mouse and keyboard, most other adaptors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. If they're all USB-C or you have reliable adapters to use them with USB-C, then you're set. The only possible reason I could think is if you want a USB-C PD (Power Delivery) compatible hub that handles at least 45 watts so that you can externally power your hub and have the hub in turn charge your tablet at full power. I like the capability plus I wanted to be very minorly future-proof (no such thing) so I got a 100-watt GAN generation 3 three-port PD compatible charger, and a 100-watt USB-C hub where the hub's cable is a regular detachable USB-C <-> USB-C cable.
There's only one USB-C port on the tablet, so if you need to use a hub and charge the tablet at the same time, a PD-compatible charger and hub that support at least 45 watts would be ideal. Your mileage may vary with lower wattage of either.
Note that I treat my batteries relatively carefully. For all my devices, I try to not let go below 25%, I don't fast charge unless I really need to (so very rarely for my usage), and I only charge the device up to 75%.
Now for how this is related to root. I use something called ACC along with a GUI-front end app called AccA that allows you, using root, to turn off charging the device automatically when it reaches a top % you configure, and not charge the device until it's a low % you configure - more or less.
drjoe1 said:
3A) What about power bricks? Most of my power bricks are either Samsung lightning chargers or USB C 20 Watt PD plugins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above. Tablet handles up to 45-watt, but you can use lower. I don't quick/fast charge my devices at all unless I really have a particular need to.
As you probably know, the tablet does not come with a charger. I don't even know if the USB-C cable it comes with handles 45-watt, or if it supports data speeds faster than USB 2.0. I have a surplus of previous plus new OEM and third-party cables.
drjoe1 said:
4) Is there any way to optimize wireless transfer to shared drives on a PC? I usually use Solid Explorer; on the Tab S4 transfer speeds are really slow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm. I don't have a great amount of experience with this. For heavy-duty (great quantity and/or size) transfers I only use cable. I've used X-plore File Manager's Wi-Fi mode to transfer wirelessly but only small files normally, and it's done fine. Maybe someone else has more experience.
drjoe1 said:
5) I use Nova Launcher on my Tab S4. Is there any reason to switch to a different launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heck no. Nova Launcher (Prime) FTW and forever as far as I'm concerned. I used to try new devices' OEM launchers and other third-party ones, but I don't even bother anymore. I actually restored my phone's Nova Launcher (built-in app) backup to my tablet and will tweak from there when I have time. I like having the same things available at the same places on every device I use, and from old devices to new devices.
drjoe1 said:
6) With Nova Launcher Backup, I can easily get the app icons in the right places (assuming I keep Nova Launcher). Is there any way to backup your DEX desktop in a similar way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had any successful experience with DEX period, so I can't speak to that.
drjoe1 said:
7) Any other thoughts on the move from Tab S4 to S8 Plus?
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Click to collapse
This is my first Samsung tablet, and only the second Android tablet I've ever bought for myself (and my wife). The other was back in 2014-2015 - the LG G-Pad 8.3.
drjoe1 said:
Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome! Hope this helps and you enjoy whichever decision you make. Good luck!
WrT
Thanks a bunch. That was a lot to digest!
My birthday was yesterday (5/22). Another year older, thankfully not deeper in debt this year!
I started out with a Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, then a Tab S2, Tab S4 and now Tab S8 Plus. Climbing the ladder. For all people disparage Samsung, the Note 10.1 was a great productivity tool ten years ago; we are getting closer and closer to "laptop" as time goes by.
I've wanted an upgrade from the Tab S4 for a long time -- really missed a fingerprint reader, and feel the Tab S4 was really limited by only 4GB RAM. I played around for a while with DEX, but had multiple crashes related to too many apps open at one time. I really wish they would have opened up the Tab S8 Plus to a 16GB option. I just didn't want the size that goes with the Ultra.
I'll look over the guides; I haven't been active on XDA for a long time (since the Tab S4 was new), and the layout of the main page is different than it was. I see the guides for rooting and debloating.
Most of my accessories are either USB C, USB 3.0 or have adaptors/adaptor cables. My main hub is a UGREEN 70411 6-Port adaptor that claims it accepts up to 100W PD. It was necessary when using DEX on my TV -- with other hubs, I would lose power over time. But 20W PD on this hub was enough to the Tab S4at full charge. I'll look around for a 45W PD brick.
take care,
Joe
drjoe1 said:
Thanks a bunch. That was a lot to digest!
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Click to collapse
You bet, you're welcome!
drjoe1 said:
My birthday was yesterday (5/22). Another year older, thankfully not deeper in debt this year!
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Click to collapse
I hear that. Me too (not deeper in debt)!
drjoe1 said:
I started out with a Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, then a Tab S2, Tab S4 and now Tab S8 Plus. Climbing the ladder. For all people disparage Samsung, the Note 10.1 was a great productivity tool ten years ago; we are getting closer and closer to "laptop" as time goes by.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Samsung makes great hardware, but I don't like their software anymore for my phone.
drjoe1 said:
I've wanted an upgrade from the Tab S4 for a long time -- really missed a fingerprint reader, and feel the Tab S4 was really limited by only 4GB RAM. I played around for a while with DEX, but had multiple crashes related to too many apps open at one time. I really wish they would have opened up the Tab S8 Plus to a 16GB option. I just didn't want the size that goes with the Ultra.
I'll look over the guides; I haven't been active on XDA for a long time (since the Tab S4 was new), and the layout of the main page is different than it was. I see the guides for rooting and debloating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XDA changed the software for their forum out of necessity roughly two years ago, maybe a little less, I don't recall exactly. I was an RC at the time and I, too, wasn't very active. Since I got my Pixel 1 in 2016 and was very satisfied with it, I spent less and less time until the Pixel 6 Pro with 512 GB of storage was announced last year. Right around the time for the pre-order of it was when I started being just as or even more active on XDA as I used to be.
drjoe1 said:
Most of my accessories are either USB C, USB 3.0 or have adaptors/adaptor cables. My main hub is a UGREEN 70411 6-Port adaptor that claims it accepts up to 100W PD. It was necessary when using DEX on my TV -- with other hubs, I would lose power over time. But 20W PD on this hub was enough to the Tab S4at full charge. I'll look around for a 45W PD brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice. If you don't know, the "GAN" technology used in some chargers the last few years makes chargers noticeably smaller, although it's not a requirement so it's just whatever your preference is. It's not specific to any one manufacturer, and the 3rd generation GAN that I referenced is even smaller than the 2nd generation was.
drjoe1 said:
take care,
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You too, see you around the forum!
WrT
Keep in mind rooting a new device will void whole warranty completely and it will trip KNOX permanently so apps like samsung pass, secret folder and so will stop working since they require working KNOX chip.
So I would never root a brand new device that has 1-2 years valid warranty since if the device decides to lay off or get issue with graphics or similar then warranty can cover it. But that won't be available if you have rooted because of bootloader is unlocked and has triggered the KNOX chip permanently.
drjoe1 said:
I ordered it over the weekend for my birthday -- was going to go through Best Buy but they were only going to offer me $40 trade in for my 256gb Tab S4 -- Samsung offered $300 plus a free set of Galaxy Buds2. So I took the deal.
Questions:
1) To root or not to root -- will rooting disrupt normal software upgrades? Any compelling reason to root (or not)? Are there guides to root the S8 Plus?
2) Are there any guides for debloating, even if this is just disabling bloatware?
3) Is there any real need to update accessories? I've got aa DVD/CD player, a HDMI + USB C hub, wireless mouse and keyboard, most other adaptors.
3A) What about power bricks? Most of my power bricks are either Samsung lightning chargers or USB C 20 Watt PD plugins.
4) Is there any way to optimize wireless transfer to shared drives on a PC? I usually use Solid Explorer; on the Tab S4 transfer speeds are really slow
5) I use Nova Launcher on my Tab S4. Is there any reason to switch to a different launcher?
6) With Nova Launcher Backup, I can easily get the app icons in the right places (assuming I keep Nova Launcher). Is there any way to backup your DEX desktop in a similar way?
7) Any other thoughts on the move from Tab S4 to S8 Plus?
Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As roirraW has already respond with plenty of useful info, I won't go into AS much detail, but I'll still give some.
1. I personally root any device I have that can be rooted. Unless it can't be rooted, it's absolutely gonna get rooted. If your device is rooted and your device offers you a software update (which it shouldn't unless you somehow managed to make your device status show up as official) then allowing it to install will just fail. Even if you don't have a custom recovery installed, having a modified rom will not allow updates to be installed. You'll have to patch some newer firmware with Magisk and use Odin to flash the newer firmware. There is a guide to root the S8+, along with the S8 and S8U. Just use the "how to / guide" filter and it should be the first thing you see. Very easy to follow.
2. There is also a guide to debloat in the same "how to" section as the root guide. I've seen it, and while it's pretty lengthy, it's essential as there is quite a bit of bloatware.
3. There's only the one USB C port on the tablet, so I'd just plug em all in and see what works and what doesn't, but you shouldn't have much issue with it.
3a. Like roirraW said, the tablet supports fast charging up to 45W, but I personally use the Anker 65W charging brick as it's from a company I trust and is less expensive than the official Samsung ones.
4. Not really sure about this one. If you're referring to an FTP server than I'd recommend you to keep using Solid Explorer, as it's the one I use for wirelessly transfering files from one device to another.
5. I used to use Nova Launcher, and I'd still recommend it as it's super simple to use and offers a lot of customization. Even so, I really enjoy the OneUI Launcher, enough to where I've fully switched over to it. OneUI has gotten so much better over the years, and it feels great to not be basically required to use a 3rd party launcher to have a nice UI. So, I'd either use Nova or the stock OneUI launcher. Up to you though.
6. I used Nova Backup to get my apps in roughly the same positions as they were before, but there are bound to be some issues if not every single app you used on your previous device is present on your newer one. Regardless, the backup system works well and you can use it no worries. However, the same can't be said about Dex as you can't change your Dex launcher. You can't even open Nova in Dex last I checked.
7. I actually switched from the Tab S4 to the Tab S8+ (used the S7+ for a short time before upgrading), and it's night and day. I love this tablet so much, and I use it every day for all of my needs. Whether it be gaming, productivity, or anything that I used to do on my Tab S4, it's so much better on the Tab S8+. I even got the keyboard attachment that comes in two pieces; the magnetic back cover which protects the S-Pen, and the keyboard with the trackpad. The trackpad is on the lower-end side, so I'd just use a wireless (or wired) mouse instead, but the keyboard feels nice to type on, has sufficient spaces for your palms to rest on, and has the F1-F12 row that serves various, useful functions.
Here's another text wall for you to read. Hopefully this gives you some more useful info alongside roirraW's.
Thanks also for your thoughts.
Regarding file transfer: I have drive sharing enabled on hard drives attached to my windows 10 laptop. They are mapped in Solid Explorer as network drives. I've got my video library on them, as well as the backup for my eBook's library, my pictures library, music backup, documents archive, etc. Usually I download videos on my tablet and then transfer them to the video library on the laptop. Then I stream from the laptop to Chromecast on my TV, with the Tab S4, video conversion to allow Chromecast sometimes leads to choppy video when casting. Or I stream directly on my tablet. But anyhow, the transfer speed to the hard drives is very slow... Less than 20 Mb/s which means it takes a long time to transfer multi GB movies (or multiple episodes of a seasonal show, which can add up fast). Direct copying to/from the drives from the laptop is 100MB/s. What kind of wireless transfer speeds do you get?
The new tablet is supposed to be delivered tomorrow!
Take care,
Joe
@drjoe1 the Tab S4 10.5 (I assume is the same) used Samsung's UFS 2.1, and the Tab S8+ uses UFS 3.1. Here are speed differences listed. It could offer some improvement in speed if it was part of the bottleneck, although I'm not sure if it was. The "3 x enhancement" etc for 3.1 is probably with respect to 3.0, which I cut out of the quote.
UFS 2.1Following are features of UFS 2.1.
• Introduction year : 2017
• Memory options : 512 GB, 1 TB, Automotive versions
• Sequential Read (Mbps) : 860 Mbps ( with 512GB )
• Sequential Write (Mbps) : 255 Mbps ( with 512GB )
• Random Read (IOP/sec) : 42,000 ( with 512GB )
• Random Write (IOP/sec) : 40,000 ( with 512GB )
UFS 3.1Following are features of UFS 3.1.
• Introduction year : 2020
• Memory options : 256 GB, 512 GB
• Sequential Read (Mbps) : 2100 ( with 512GB )
• Sequential Write (Mbps) : 1200 Mbps (3 x enhancement) ( with 512GB )
• Random Read (IOP/sec) : 100,000 (1.6 x enhancement) ( with 512GB )
• Random Write (IOP/sec) : 70,000 (1.3 x enhancement) ( with 512GB )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UFS 4.0 has been announced and speculated that the Galaxy S23 will use it.
I got my Tab S8 Plus yesterday!
First impressions:
1) It's big.
2) An inch or two extra in each direction compared to the Tab S4 is big. I can't imagine carrying an Ultra around. I'm sure I'll get used to the larger size, but maybe an S8 would have been a better size.
3) Transfer to the new tablet was smooth. Nova Launcher is awesome -- I restored the settings from my old tablet, and it put all the icons in the right places. Then tap on the icon to open Play Store, or side load the app and it is good to go. I used SmartSwitch to transfer contacts, messages, and home screen, and I was surprised that it didn't only copy the home screen images, but it copied the DEX desktop layout. I didn't run DEX until I had already reloaded all the aps, so I had nothing to do to set up the DEX desktop.
4) DEX is weird -- less options in the settings. I was fooled by one of the few -- it does screen mirroring by default If you plug in an HDMI cable & then turn on DEX -- The only way not to screen-mirror is to enable "start DEX on HDMI connection" -- in which case you get the TV in DEX and the tablet in Android.
5) Did I mention it is BIG?
Thanks all for your helpful information,
Joe
6) Trusted places no longer is an option I can find for unlocking the tablet. Not that unlock on 4 character pin + unlock on face recognition + unlock on thumbprint aren't options enough, but it was nice making my apartment a "safe place".
7) Also about face recognition -- so much better than iris recognition on the Tab S4! I wear strong prescription glasses, and had to remove them for iris recognition.. No more! I still have a problem with the location of the tablet /direction of the camera related to "where the camera points" and "where my face is" related to the tablet stand I use.... the angle and height of the tablet make my face half below the field of view of the camera
8) Apps not optimized for tablets are a much bigger problem (pun intended) on the Tab S8+ than on the Tab S4 if nothing else because of the bigger size of the tablet. I like Catan Classic, and it is close to un-playable on the Tab S8+.
9) DeX over PC -- I thought the Tab S4 couldn't do DeX over PC because it was too old... Turns out the Tab S8+ can't either. Samsung Tablets in general don't support DeX on PC. How stupid is that? Let's take the productivity platform and make it less productive! I tried for at least an hour to get the damn thing to connect before I found some references that tablets are left out. Rotten!
take care,
Joe
drjoe1 said:
6) Trusted places no longer is an option I can find for unlocking the tablet. Not that unlock on 4 character pin + unlock on face recognition + unlock on thumbprint aren't options enough, but it was nice making my apartment a "safe place".
7) Also about face recognition -- so much better than iris recognition on the Tab S4! I wear strong prescription glasses, and had to remove them for iris recognition.. No more! I still have a problem with the location of the tablet /direction of the camera related to "where the camera points" and "where my face is" related to the tablet stand I use.... the angle and height of the tablet make my face half below the field of view of the camera
8) Apps not optimized for tablets are a much bigger problem (pun intended) on the Tab S8+ than on the Tab S4 if nothing else because of the bigger size of the tablet. I like Catan Classic, and it is close to un-playable on the Tab S8+.
9) DeX over PC -- I thought the Tab S4 couldn't do DeX over PC because it was too old... Turns out the Tab S8+ can't either. Samsung Tablets in general don't support DeX on PC. How stupid is that? Let's take the productivity platform and make it less productive! I tried for at least an hour to get the damn thing to connect before I found some references that tablets are left out. Rotten!
take care,
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Face recognition isn't as safe as iris recognition. Since you can manipulate the face recognition and unlock the device easy. It even states a warning when setting upp face recognition that it is not as safe than password/pin is.
Jake.S said:
Face recognition isn't as safe as iris recognition. Since you can manipulate the face recognition and unlock the device easy. It even states a warning when setting upp face recognition that it is not as safe than password/pin is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course you are correct. But I don't expect an experienced hacker will ever try to break into my tablet. As far as I'm concerned, the security is there so someone can't pick up my tablet and have direct access to my file. If I leave it in a public place, or have it stolen, someone probably won't have my picture or know what I look like. I'm not particularly worried that a thief will take my picture then steal my tablet. I'm also not terribly worried about the FBI or law enforcement breaking into my phone -- I don't know why they would.
Face recognition is so much more convenient than iris recognition when you wear strong prescription glasses. By the time I take my glasses off, the camera has timed out and needs to be restarted.
I think for a casual tablet owner, it isn't such a risky thing. Of course, not so necessary when you have the fingerprint reader available.
Joe
drjoe1 said:
Of course you are correct. But I don't expect an experienced hacker will ever try to break into my tablet. As far as I'm concerned, the security is there so someone can't pick up my tablet and have direct access to my file. If I leave it in a public place, or have it stolen, someone probably won't have my picture or know what I look like. I'm not particularly worried that a thief will take my picture then steal my tablet. I'm also not terribly worried about the FBI or law enforcement breaking into my phone -- I don't know why they would.
Face recognition is so much more convenient than iris recognition when you wear strong prescription glasses. By the time I take my glasses off, the camera has timed out and needs to be restarted.
I think for a casual tablet owner, it isn't such a risky thing. Of course, not so necessary when you have the fingerprint reader available.
Joe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to be experienced to fool face recognition which is why warning appears since it's quite easy to manipulate it. So anyone can do it without skills.
Another update and more impressions...
1) I followed Jake's advice and wiped face recognition. It really isn't needed with the thumbprint reader placed in easy access when holding the tablet in landscape orientation. Plus the feature that the four-digit PIN automatically unlocks after you put the correct four digits makes putting pin in very fast.
2) I love super fast charge. This is the first device I have with it (my phone is a Galaxy S10 Plus). It really is fast enough that you can charge the phone between planes in an airport terminal.
3) [Charging rant on] Charging is and has always been more mysterious than it should be. I found out that all cables were not the same back with my first tablet in 2014. And that you had to read the fine print to determine the gauge of the mini- and micro- USB cables. Then that chargers weren't the same. There is table at https://www.digitalcitizen.life/fast-charging-standards/ that has over TWENTY EIGHT different standards. And Samsung doesn't use the standard standards! My understanding is that Samsung Adaptive fast Charge was really a castrated version of Qualcomm Quick Charge 2! And now they have Samsung Super Fast 1.0 and 2.0 as separate standards again from PD! So how do you know if a brick supports Super fast 2.0? You'd think it would have gotten better with PD and USB C, but no! Samsung is still Samsung!
So I got an awesome charger that is also a power bank ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DC99CB5 ), and I get the Super Fast Charge with it. But I still don't have a clue how the damn thing works. First, they rate the primary charge on the native 3.8V lithium ion batteries. 10,000 mAh. But the battery pack has to convert this (with losses) to a USB standard voltage. This used to be 5V, and they do still tell you the rating at 5V. 5,800mAh. But the PD (Power Delivery) standard uses 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, and 20V. I have no idea what the battery rating is for the higher voltages. And then, the tablet has to take the 20V, 15V, 12V, 9V, and 5V and convert them with losses back to 4V to charge the internal battery. And if the internal battery is charged and you are maintaining the battery level, I don't know if it is powering the tablet directly (and at what voltage) or topping off the tablet battery at 4V as it discharges. And what the efficiency is. So how much charge do I get with a battery pack? I don't know!
And now there is more USB-C cable madness. Again, you have to figure the gauge of the cable! And it seems sometimes they rate cables by current rating not gauge. Sometimes they tell you descriptively it is for fast charging sometime they don't. And add to that the mysterious "Super Fast Charge 2.0" (not to be mixed up with "Fast Wireless Charging 2.0")! It seems you need a cable with an "E-Mark" chipset to run at currents over 5A. And maybe for 20V -- it isn't clear to me if E-Mark is related to "Super Fast Charge 2.0" kicks in. And I can't find any documentation for it except references on the S20 series phones ( https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/super-fast-charging/ ). The S20's seem to be 45W just like the Tab S8+. But other info on Super Fast Charge 2.0 suggests it is for 65W or 100W laptops.
So does "Super Fast Charging 2.0" exist on the Tab S8 series? I don't know. When does it kick in? I don't know. How much faster is it? I don't know. Why do they need to make this so confusing? I don't know. I have a PhD in Physics and work as an engineer in a semiconductor factory that makes wide band-gap chip products for chargers, and I don't know!
Hahaha.... [Charging rant off] Very frustrating. But liking the tablet. Still getting used to the size.
Joe