Database Develop

Viewsonic Aims Squarely at the Nook

So viewsonic's 7" tablet just hit Amazon, and is priced at $230.00.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
It's an interesting device that's pre-loaded with a bunch of Amazon apps (including teh Amazon App store). Sorta like a pseudo-Amazon Kindle Color.
And Viewsonic is aiming squarely at the Nook with this device, just scroll down to the end of their product page for a spec-by spec comparison:
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vb730.htm
Funny thing: though the spec sheet mentions that both tablets have a 7" screen, it conveniently fails to list their resolution. (The Viewsonic is just 800 x 480).
Still, the fact that this thing includes built-in stylus technology makes it a serious competitor to HTC's 7" View tablet. If it weren't for the low resolution screen, i might even consider one myself.

Wow for 230.00 bucks i would of bought that.... that's a great priced little tablet.

Yes, the NOOKcolor does have serious competitor.
Feature-wise, so far that Viewsonic has offered a lot more. Few down-side
+ far less superior screen
+ no wireless-N
+ seperate charger port. NC uses microUSB port as charger
+ thicker 14mm (vs. NC 12mm)
But it gains
+ default bluetooth 2.1
+ microphone
+ webcam
+ 1GHz CPU (can it be overclocked?)
+ regular miniUSB
+ miniHDMI
+ 10hrs vs 8hrs battery life (not much diff. i guess)
+ front speaker (better than on the back like the NC, i personal feeling)
+ lighter 15.2oz (vs. NC 15.8oz)
Next question, can this V730 be flashed and run CM7 like we did the NC?
I think if it has IPS screen tech, it will beat the NOOK.

What I've come to learn about Android phones and tablets is, the specs are near meaningless, the real strength of a device is it's community. Imagine the Nook without CM7 or even root... I have a friend who has the Galaxy Tab(CDMA), which pretty much out specs the Nook in every way, but I would never trade, because the Tabs community is basically just a rag tag group with no star action. Matter of fact my friend is jealous of all my Nook can do...
Most device manufacturers load down their android devices with so much crap or don't optimize enough that even dual core devices run like crap...
/end of rant

votinh said:
Yes, the NOOKcolor does have serious competitor.
Feature-wise, so far that Viewsonic has offered a lot more. Few down-side
+ far less superior screen
+ no wireless-N
+ seperate charger port. NC uses microUSB port as charger
+ thicker 14mm (vs. NC 12mm)
But it gains
+ default bluetooth 2.1
+ microphone
+ webcam
+ 1GHz CPU (can it be overclocked?)
+ regular miniUSB
+ miniHDMI
+ 10hrs vs 8hrs battery life (not much diff. i guess)
+ front speaker (better than on the back like the NC, i personal feeling)
+ lighter 15.2oz (vs. NC 15.8oz)
Next question, can this V730 be flashed and run CM7 like we did the NC?
I think if it has IPS screen tech, it will beat the NOOK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
I will knock bluetooth off your list, since it works just fine in CM7 (yes, range could be better, but frankly, i have never had a problem there either).
So, it leaves you with some extra ports and a crappy webcam. Sorry, but i will take the amazing quality IPS screen any day over some extra ports and webcam. (BTW - the "regular" USB thing is silly, since "regular" microUSB plugs in just fine to our port..)

The 800x480 resolution makes it a non-starter for me.

So you're telling me if the VB730 has 1024x600 IPS screen, just like the NC, it is still a bad one, and can't compete to the NC?

Divine_Madcat said:
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. The biggest selling point of the NC for me is the beautiful IPS hi-res display. Viewsonic won't have a solid competitor (IMO) with such a low-res screen.
Stock-for-stock, it'll be a better option for Joe Schmoe in the market for a cheapie tablet, though. That is, unless a Nook owner gets to them first... haha

votinh said:
So you're telling me if the VB730 has 1024x600 IPS screen, just like the NC, it is still a bad one, and can't compete to the NC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IF it had as good a screen as the Nook, then yes it'd be an interesting stock alternative. But as it's spec'ed now with thet 800x480 screen, that probably makes it a negative for a large number of folks. The Bluetooth is a plus vs Stock NC, but not versus CM7 NC. The mini-USB port vs micro is nice in that it's probably a fair bit sturdier than what we've got now, but all in all, not a huge deal.
The mini-HDMI is interesting, but again, when paired with the 800x480 screen, it's unclear whether it will push out worthwhile resolution. The thing that will be interesting is if they come out with a version that's got a higher resolution screen, and what the real detail is about their CPU/GPU.
The stylus is a marketing hype positive against a stock NC. You can obviously buy a stylus for any capacitive screen tablet for under 20 bucks. Whether or not the Viewsonic "RiteTouch" is any good, only time will tell.
The rest of the list is pretty much vs the Stock NC, so this is a stock vs stock argument. We have no way of knowing whether or not the hacking community for this device will be as strong as the one for the NC, so again only time will tell.
But right now, with what knowledge we have... I still feel NC is better, at least for my needs.

That's what I stated up there, the VB730 has far less superior screen compared to the NOOK. Also said if it has the same screen tech/resolution as the NC, then it is a serious competitor. Assuming xda-developer as well as cyanogenmod gurus will tackle this little tablet later on like they did for the NC, then this guys would be good.
Don't know why this site has too many hot-head blindly jumped on defending their Nook.
Can they relax and open their mind? Geez

I think it has to do with the unique nature of unlocking an e-reader for use as a full-fledged tablet, and it's great hardware for the price.
Also, I wonder how much a comparable screen would raise the Viewsonic's price.

Have you folk ever actually tried to use a capacitive stylus? I mean, give me a break . . . unless you like writing with a crayon, they are mostly useless. Pretty much impossible to use one to underline *.pdf files (or, for that matter, comfortably write).
For me, depends on the stylus technology. If you're getting something like the HTC Flyer's stylus, I think it would be a good deal, so long as there is more built-in software support. But they're kind of vague about the whole thing on the website. I haven't been able to find more information about "RiteTouch" technology. I'm waiting to see what somebody serious says about how the stylus actually works with the device.

kennyminot said:
Have you folk ever actually tried to use a capacitive stylus? I mean, give me a break . . . unless you like writing with a crayon, they are mostly useless. Pretty much impossible to use one to underline *.pdf files (or, for that matter, comfortably write).
For me, depends on the stylus technology. If you're getting something like the HTC Flyer's stylus, I think it would be a good deal, so long as there is more built-in software support. But they're kind of vague about the whole thing on the website. I haven't been able to find more information about "RiteTouch" technology. I'm waiting to see what somebody serious says about how the stylus actually works with the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Looking for a review. If the stylus works well, I'll probably wait and see if they release an upgraded version with a 1024 x 600 screen and then maybe.

joenathane said:
What I've come to learn about Android phones and tablets is, the specs are near meaningless, the real strength of a device is it's community. Imagine the Nook without CM7 or even root... I have a friend who has the Galaxy Tab(CDMA), which pretty much out specs the Nook in every way, but I would never trade, because the Tabs community is basically just a rag tag group with no star action. Matter of fact my friend is jealous of all my Nook can do...
Most device manufacturers load down their android devices with so much crap or don't optimize enough that even dual core devices run like crap...
/end of rant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. When the honeycomb/ICS source code launches, we have a strong enough community that we will be seeing a port, and its going to completely transform our ereaders into full fledged tablets. This viewsonic tablet probably wont have that support if previous models are anything to judge by, and the horrible screen resolution means that even if it did, it would be stuck with the phone UI since there simply isnt enough space to show tablet optimized applications.

So the first Amazon reader review is in:
http://www.amazon.com/ViewBook-VB73...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Reviewer claims it has a RESISTIVE screen! Whoa! Hadn't seen that mentioned anywhere. In fact, I hadn't seen any mention either way. But if this is true then it surely makes a big difference (and explains the included pen). The next question is: is it multi-touch? I have to assume it is, because it would be pretty crippling if it weren't.
Now, I'm not going to immediately discount a device with a resistive screen (no doubt the technology is improving day to day) but I'd definitely want to read some in depth testimonials on how it compares to the capacitive screens we've all grown to know and love.
(EDIT: The Tiger Direct page lists "resistive screen" in the specs: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=782735&CatId=6957 So this Nook competitor is becoming less impressive the more I read about it.)

Depends on if they are using new multitouch resistive controllers.
h t t p://w w w.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=230884&

dsf3g said:
So the first Amazon reader review is in:
http://www.amazon.com/ViewBook-VB73...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Reviewer claims it has a RESISTIVE screen! Whoa! Hadn't seen that mentioned anywhere. In fact, I hadn't seen any mention either way. But if this is true then it surely makes a big difference (and explains the included pen). The next question is: is it multi-touch? I have to assume it is, because it would be pretty crippling if it weren't.
Now, I'm not going to immediately discount a device with a resistive screen (no doubt the technology is improving day to day) but I'd definitely want to read some in depth testimonials on how it compares to the capacitive screens we've all grown to know and love.
(EDIT: The Tiger Direct page lists "resistive screen" in the specs: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=782735&CatId=6957 So this Nook competitor is becoming less impressive the more I read about it.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it has a pen input, then resistive is really the only way to go there. As said, writing with a capactive stylus is annoying at best.
As for multitouch, usually that is NOT possible on resistive but I don't think it's impossible either.

Really, the advantage of capacitive touchscreens is probably a little overstated. I currently have two resistive touchscreen tablets. The T91MT was one of the first cheap tablet devices on the market, and it has a pretty sensitive screen with multitouch features. Most people would have trouble telling the difference between that and a capacitive screen. My Pocket eDGe has a much less sensitive screen, although its ability to use a stylus makes it much more useful than most recent Android devices. I'm not entirely convinced that a capacitive touchscreen is the best option, especially when you consider that the technology has likely advanced over the last couple years.
So . . . a resistive touchscreen . . .
(1) can have multitouch support;
(2) can be used at any temperature;
(3) can be used with any object that applies pressure;
(4) is extremely accurate;
(5) is cheap.
I'd still like to see how the stylus works. It would be really neat if it had palm rejection.

That amazon review is mine .. I had a gift card to amazon so i ordered this instead of the nook.
Since writing that review initially the amazon market has more annoyed me as I am lacking things I wish i had from the google market and I can't seem to find any drivers to support this device to make any attempt at rooting it so I can get the google market on it.
Hulu+ runs on it though thats a bonus i think.
The screen is difficult to tell if it is truly a resistive screen or something else, as why i put in the review it appears to be a hybrid of some kind. Using my Bamboo Capacitive Stylus I am able to control the screen and all just the same as using the included Rite Touch stylus, which as far as i can tell is nothing but a regular old resistive plastic tip stylus. On the Multi-touch issue I've read it is but it doesn't appear to be as I can't pinch to zoom and the usual multi-touch gestures although the double tap to zoom I use more even on cap screens than the pinch.

Divine_Madcat said:
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
I will knock bluetooth off your list, since it works just fine in CM7 (yes, range could be better, but frankly, i have never had a problem there either).
So, it leaves you with some extra ports and a crappy webcam. Sorry, but i will take the amazing quality IPS screen any day over some extra ports and webcam. (BTW - the "regular" USB thing is silly, since "regular" microUSB plugs in just fine to our port..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have problems with bluetooth keyboards, runing nightly 126 and 131. I have a Xoom bluetooth with a modified qwerty.kl file to enable most of the android special keys to work. The three annoying issues with Xoom keyboard is that it will stop working while typing long messages, have to hit power button on it to restart; a key will stick kkkkkkkkkk; and not easy to get out of pop-up for accent keys. You do not see these problems? The best feature is that I can leave power adapter plugged in with bluetooth.
When I use my Logitech wireless usb combo keyboard and mouse I only seem to get the pop-up accent box. The negative is even with a y cable it does not seem to charge nook while in host and v-bus mode. The combination arrow and keyboard interface is really slick.
Anybody else notice these flaws with bluetooth and usb keyboards?

should i buy this phone

hi all
my current phone is galaxy s2 and i would like to change my phone
so i'm thinking about the 4x is it a good phone, and as 4x user how do you think about it?
is really lg bad in update and as i read there is no real developer for lg phone!

yes here are no proper devolper for this phone.....but phone is good.....bright disply...sound high and phones look awsome...battery backup is best.......all the littel things ignored..hurry...purchase the phone

vijay2 said:
yes here are no proper devolper for this phone.....but phone is good.....bright disply...sound high and phones look awsome...battery backup is best.......all the littel things ignored..hurry...purchase the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you

This phone make the best deal for gaming experience.
Other purpose (multimedia, browsing, document processing) is adequate.
If you like to take precision and advanced camera function, you may want to look another model.
Sent from my LG-P880 using xda app-developers app

Why is browsing adequate? Is it better on the One X lets say?
I found browsing fast and as good as it gets.

is the camera that bad?

camera is good but not perfect need some software fixes...the phone is great and smooth but need more software support
if bootloader unlocks devs gonna make the best of this phone

DONT
i regret it.
bootloader and crappy lg support messed it up
One X all the way..

onex is good but have some serious touch problems and high temp overheat...
read my friend...
and this phone is new...give it some time
onex got almost morethan 1 year of rom cooking

i Hate Samsung for there bad quality in production "i have alot of problem with them" second thing both company have slow software support in my region
but at least Samsung have unlocked bootloader and HTC is very Overpriced here.

4X heats on gaming too..
and one year of rom cooking? they can. we cant.
my advice, go for s3.. or wait till someone uses an S4 pro chip and go for that..
but not optimus g.. that'll suck **** too

I'm still cheating on it with my p1i. But if you need an android phone, you can do (a lot) worse than this one. Battery life is good, when comparing it to other android phones I've tried... also compared to other tegra 3 devices.. Standby-time tends to be measured in days, which is as it should be (even if that hasn't been obvious for designers for a while for some reason). And battery life while running low-power apps also is good because of the companion core, and lack of in-built apps that use active focus, or keep requesting busy services too fast, etc. So playing music or streaming in the background, and so on, actually didn't draw much power.
So then you have basically the standby time of the second generation iPhones, while still also having the low power-draw while running modest tasks, or flipping through the menus. Seems to be intelligently set up when it comes to using cores when accelerating video, and running on hdmi out as well. That it's not pushing every core to full burn, and balance the running cores. I expect that this is not specific to this phone, though, and happens transparently on the chipset (and that it's the lack of active in-built apps in the background that makes the difference between this and the onex that I tried). On top of that you have apparently the best 3d performance in the shop, without the thing becoming a glowing hot potato in your hand after two minutes.
Menu system and standby screen with the circle unlock (that opens up directly to the app below, etc) also works well, imo. Would wish they did a bit more with it and let you customise it a bit more, though.
Did I mention it has a stereo-plug connector that's not in conductive rubber? That's lovely. Screen and edges I like better than the iPhone I was forced to use for a short while.
Also, optional and removable sd-slot. Thought that was standard nowadays, but no.
Negatives are.. no led blip when getting new messages. Is a bit strange, but saves me a lot of stress, strangely enough
Has no keyboard. And it's fricking huge (relatively speaking.. it's smaller than both the galaxy 3 and the onex.. :/ which makes it the smallest in this class.. fail.. ). If you open it up, the widest component is the module with the home-buttons. Next is the external modules for antenna, I think. The actual core chip with the bus-interface is less than half the thickness of the device. Battery is tiny inside the chassis as well. They could easily have fitted a slightly flatter but larger lithium-polymer battery inside that casing, and had twice the battery life on this thing.
So maybe one day, we'll get a device like this in a credit card sized ips panel. Grey or Tegra4 maybe? Should be possible in the current design as well, though.
Other than that - no odt text editor in Android yet. But I can spam twitter and facebook with every touch of my fingers. Otherwise, format support is good, and this phone doesn't force you to use specific applications via annoying vendor registry settings. Which is a mercy since the boot-loader is locked.
But lacking that smaller phone... since there unfortunately ARE NO PHONES LIKE THAT ON THE MARKET WHATSOEVER. Smaller phones also tend to be thicker. And the different manufacturers are competing with themselves on who can make the most iPhone-like iPhone copy. And have apparently decided that slide-out keyboards are evil... So with that in mind, this is probably the best you can get at the moment, since it's also the cheapest tegra 3 phone on the market. Frankly agonized a lot over buying it, but I'm not unhappy with it so far.

Also, a thing very very important with me, is that since its plastic and with patterns, I dont have to put it in a case, which will make it even bigger. I just use a screen protector and I am done!

even that i'm fully aware of the locked bootloader, i still bought it, because it has excellent hardware with a good price...
for the camera, im not using stock apps, and it is good

New Nexus 7 in 2013...Possible specs & would you upgrade?

So Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is out of Google's kitchen, and us sugar fiends will have to wait until summer 2013 for our next big rush, which leads me onto the replacement for the Nexus 7, which given the cut-throat competition is a certainty.
So here are my dream specs, which are based on upcoming technology and some common sense!, give me this Google and you've got my money.
1) Bigger screen, but same size chassis as Nexus 7, thin bezels are sexy
2) Tegra 4 quad-core & 2GB RAM. Tegra 3 might not have been the most powerful beast, but it has served us well, and Nvidia game support is always a plus.
3) Resolution full HD - 1920 x 1080 and Miracast. You just know that the next iPad mini will retina up their screen, so lets not fall behind.
4) Faster I/O. Moving away from crappy eMMC to the newest µSSD SATA, which will result in two to three times the performance of current storage tech, as many N7 owners will tell you slow I/O really bottlenecks system performance.
5) With all this tasty hardware you need equally tasty software enter Android 5.0 - Key Lime Pie.
So would these specs tempt you to buy or are you happy enough with the 'old' Nexus 7?

Turbotab said:
So Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is out of Google's kitchen, and us sugar fiends will have to wait until summer 2013 for our next big rush, which leads me onto the replacement for the Nexus 7, which given the cut-throat competition is a certainty.
So here are my dream specs, which are based on upcoming technology and some common sense!, give me this Google and you've got my money.
1) Bigger screen, but same size chassis as Nexus 7, thin bezels are sexy
2) Tegra 4 quad-core & 2GB RAM. Tegra 3 might not have been the most powerful beast, but it has served us well, and Nvidia game support is always a plus.
3) Resolution full HD - 1920 x 1080, you just know that the next iPad mini will retina up their screen, so lets not fall behind.
4) Faster I/O. Moving away from crappy eMMC to the newest µSSD SATA, which will result in two to three times the performance of current storage tech, as many N7 owners will tell you slow I/O really bottlenecks system performance.
5) With all this tasty hardware you need equally tasty software enter Android 5.0 - Key Lime Pie.
So would these specs tempt you to buy or are you happy enough with the 'old' Nexus 7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No the bezel is functional. Functionality over visual. I.E the iPad minis non bezeld display is a pain in the ass to hold one handed.
2. FCK Nvidia. Would rather have an S4. Or S5.
3. Seriously 1080p screens I can dig it but not necessary honestly. Our nexus 7 is already a retina quality display. And retina is a fancy zinger for high quality display.
4.SSD would be neat you got me there
5. Unlikely I'm sure we won't see it until the end of 2013. I would expect 4.2.x updates like gingerbread.
If this did come out for a reasonable price id possibly buy it. Can't say I wouldn't want to but hey this is just dreaming.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

Why cant we just be happy with the device we have now..
Enjoy what you have now and not chase the future... You will never be able to be content with what you have other wise..
Come on Nexus 4 Erica Needs a new Phone...

erica_renee said:
Why cant we just be happy with the device we have now..
Enjoy what you have now and not chase the future... You will never be able to be content with what you have other wise..
Come on Nexus 4 Erica Needs a new Phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm enjoying my Nexus 7, this is just idle day dreaming, even typed this on my laptop rather than the Nexus to spare her feelings:laugh:

I will not upgrade. Why should I? Because with all the power that Nexus 7 has it will for sure be updated for a long time. Seriously, quad core Tegra 3 is a lot of power.
You people who update their phone/tablet every 9 months are something I don't understand. What is wrong with Tegra? I've had no problems with it by now. If your tablet needs to be on the top of benchmark result... why? Exynos may get 100 points more, or it opens an application 0.2 seconds faster but I will never spend so much money on it.

1. Decent camera on the back. I know (some) people don't see the use - but in small 7" devices, it could easily serve as a camera and analogue sharing device (showing the pictures you took, on a plane or whatever). If it had a camera, I would use it, and I would carry my N7 with me everywhere.
2. Built in kickstand. Surface has it. Make it happen and I <3 you.
3. Whatever is the fastest processor at the time of release. I don't care which chip. Use a Tegra, Exxnos, whatever. Don't care about the details. Fastest. period.
4. More storage space, but 16/32 is a good place at the moment. 32/64 would be more reasonable of course.
5. Move the power button away from the volume controls. I can't even count the number of times I've hit standby when I meant to hit VolUp. Maybe I need to pay more attention, but this could be easily relocated as well. Maybe bottom left or right, near the microUSB port?
6. The screen is fantastic as it stands. I'm not sure what can be improved while keeping this aspect ratio and screen size. It is plenty vibrant and bright enough (although the auto-brightness is too dark in most situations).
7. The back could be a bit grippy-er even. I like being able to hold it easily with one-hand while lying down. It is the best tablet-backing material I have ever felt, but it could be even better. Maybe a different texture could help /shrug.
8. Multi-color LED indicator light. Vibrator (whatever it is called) for haptic feedback.
9. Variable pressure stylus compatibility, pen sold separately to keep costs down.
10. Induction charging compatibility.
But lets get real - the Nexus 7 as it stands is an AMAZING device. I would not switch it for a slight upgrade (a la iPhone 4S to 5).

I'm good with the 7. Leave the bevels so we can hold the damn thing. The resolution is superb for a 7" tab. Resolution isn't that big of deal at this point in the game. All of that screen resolution requires a lot of umph that I'd rather put toward framerates and graphics. That like buying an iPad3 and feeling like a iPad2. Resolution on the N7 is perfect.
That said, faster/more memory (32/64), better display (brighter, Amoled maybe, something fancy), decent magnetic smartcover like Apples or N10, and of course a nice new fancy quadcore beef house.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

crackcaffeine said:
1. Decent camera on the back. I know (some) people don't see the use - but in small 7" devices, it could easily serve as a camera and analogue sharing device (showing the pictures you took, on a plane or whatever). If it had a camera, I would use it, and I would carry my N7 with me everywhere.
2. Built in kickstand. Surface has it. Make it happen and I <3 you.
3. Whatever is the fastest processor at the time of release. I don't care which chip. Use a Tegra, Exxnos, whatever. Don't care about the details. Fastest. period.
4. More storage space, but 16/32 is a good place at the moment. 32/64 would be more reasonable of course.
5. Move the power button away from the volume controls. I can't even count the number of times I've hit standby when I meant to hit VolUp. Maybe I need to pay more attention, but this could be easily relocated as well. Maybe bottom left or right, near the microUSB port?
6. The screen is fantastic as it stands. I'm not sure what can be improved while keeping this aspect ratio and screen size. It is plenty vibrant and bright enough (although the auto-brightness is too dark in most situations).
7. The back could be a bit grippy-er even. I like being able to hold it easily with one-hand while lying down. It is the best tablet-backing material I have ever felt, but it could be even better. Maybe a different texture could help /shrug.
8. Multi-color LED indicator light. Vibrator (whatever it is called) for haptic feedback.
9. Variable pressure stylus compatibility, pen sold separately to keep costs down.
10. Induction charging compatibility.
But lets get real - the Nexus 7 as it stands is an AMAZING device. I would not switch it for a slight upgrade (a la iPhone 4S to 5).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. The camera was left out to keep the cost down, seriously, you look like a fool using a camera on a tablet, and when everyone already has a camera on their phone, having one on your tablet is just redundant.
2 kickstand would just bulk it up, I prefer a case.
3. The Tegra 3 is the fastest chip available, devs just need to optimize for it. As far as graphical quality goes, just put dead trigger next to nova 3. Dt was written for Tegra 3 and it looks just as good as anything you'd see on a console and is smooth, nova 3 (before the last update) ran terribly. Personally I would want to see a big jump, rather than a slight upgrade.
4. Agreed, I never understood the 8, I just got a 32 and I can't fill it, haha.
5. Disagreed, having it grouped together keeps it nice and tidy, and makes it easier to fiddle with one handed.
6. My 16gb did have trouble adjusting brightness, but they must have changed something, as my 32gb has a much better contrast and is much easier to see, esp in sunlight. Personally I have trouble keeping up with screen tech, but I think changing to super amoled would bump the price up ALOT.
7. I like the back, plus my tab spent half its time in the rubber case, nearly sticks to the wall.
8. Led would be good, I often have wished I could glance to see if there's any notifications rather than having to press the button.
As for haptic feedback, at first I thought it was odd it didn't have it, but the more I think about it, I think Firstly the tablet is too big for it, I don't know, it would be weird for something bigger than my phone to be vibrating away.
9. Styluses are old school, and even if they sell the pen separately, they'd have to have functionality in the tablet, which would unnecessarily raise the cost for people who won't use it. Google didn't make an Ipad killer by putting in stuff that only some people will use.
10. The n4 has it, it's only a matter of time. Personally pluging in a cable doesn't bother me, esp when I'm running out of battery and still want to use my n7, but it would be good for docks etc.
Personally the ONLY thing I feel that is missing from the n7 right now is hdmi or mhl, miracast is looking good but needing to buy a new tv or receiver is a pain.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Turbotab said:
I'm enjoying my Nexus 7, this is just idle day dreaming, even typed this on my laptop rather than the Nexus to spare her feelings:laugh:
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Her feelings.... I know a good therapist i can recommend you.. My girl friend used her to get over her old Heels that were GOD Awful and old....
Does SHE (your tablet)Have a name.. And i hope you have her in a Pink case... sheesh

1) Improve build quality. Use gorilla glass. Fix the damn screen lift for real. Make them more able to handle a drop without cracking/breaking/etc.
2) Keep all the current features - don't take anything out (like the smart cover ability and currently-unused pogo pins).
3) External SD (yeah, I'm dreaming...)
4) Inductive charging would be awesome.

JavaJunkay said:
I will not upgrade. Why should I? Because with all the power that Nexus 7 has it will for sure be updated for a long time. Seriously, quad core Tegra 3 is a lot of power.
You people who update their phone/tablet every 9 months are something I don't understand. What is wrong with Tegra? I've had no problems with it by now. If your tablet needs to be on the top of benchmark result... why? Exynos may get 100 points more, or it opens an application 0.2 seconds faster but I will never spend so much money on it.
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I agree my phone is 3 years old. My Other tablet is nearly two years old and we still use it everyday.. Its acer a500.. i like the 7 in tab to fit my purse better.

I wouldn't upgrade, I love my nexus, but I don't use it enough to justify upgrading. I'll play some simple games, surf the web and play Netflix for the kids, so the current 7 is plenty for me.
Sent from my De-Sensed HTC Vivid using xda app-developers app

I think $200 is cheap enough for a yearly update. You can sell the old one for $100 to minimize cost. That doesn't mean you should upgrade, but whether you'd want to or not will be an indicator of Android's progress, ie if most peeps are still fine with their old N7s by this time next year, Android isn't moving fast enough.
My ideas for an N7B, mostly the little things:
. Keep $200 price point. One can quibble over N7's technical merits, but there's no illusion on why it's popular. That means that many of the MOTS in the OP should stay in the wishful realm. Remember that Kindle Fire will keep up the price pressure.
. Have a dedicated charging port for faster charging, and to allow using micro-USB for other things while plugged in. This would be a major problem for N10 with its slow charging, if the USB were actually useful for normal peeps (it isn't).
. Have micro-HDMI out. This is a major KFHD advantage over N7.
. Have dual-band, dual-stream MIMO wifi. This is a given, since starting with KFHD, tablets are getting this as a matter of course. Hopefully wireless connectivity will get more awareness, and we'll see 802.11ac or WiGig make an appearance.
. I'm fine with the Teg3 and screen, but N7B will probably get a low-cost version of Teg4 or equiv to keep up with the Joneses. I would not want the res to go higher as that will eat up more batt/SoC power. N10 already has this affliction, and hopefully Goog will take the lesson to heart.
. I'd say micro-SD slot, but I know it won't happen. Nexus devices need to be gimped so they can get the incredible bang/buck, and SD slot is the casualty.
. Outside of N7, I hope Goog fix the eco so more vendors sell Android tabs, and that non-Nexus tabs can get updates as quickly as Nexus ones. It's a sad testament when Android tabs are limited to only Nexus tabs. I'd like to have a 4:3 tab, and I know that won't happen with Nexus. This is on Google, not the vendors. It needs to figure out a better way.
In short, for hardware, I'd just like to see better connectivity, else the rest is fine. I'd like to see an improved eco (which doesn't necessarily mean more apps, although that would be a consequence). But most of all, I'd like to see a more capable OS, being able to do more than just consuming content and being a portable kiosk for Google Play Store.

I think a higher screen resolution is a very reasonable thing to ask for. Retina displays are GORGEOUS and I'd like to have a screen with that resolution or higher.
Micro HDMI
LTE support is also something that is missing.
Screen size is perfect the way it is.
Obviously the fastest processor at that time, but I'm not picky about which one
An LED notification light would be wonderful. Haptic feedback isn't needed
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

erica_renee said:
Her feelings.... I know a good therapist i can recommend you.. My girl friend used her to get over her old Heels that were GOD Awful and old....
Does SHE (your tablet)Have a name.. And i hope you have her in a Pink case... sheesh
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You may not have registered the hint of sarcasm in my post:silly:

bwassef said:
LTE support is also something that is missing.
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
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Seriously? LTE in a tablet?

Kearkan said:
1. The camera was left out to keep the cost down, seriously, you look like a fool using a camera on a tablet, and when everyone already has a camera on their phone, having one on your tablet is just redundant.
2 kickstand would just bulk it up, I prefer a case.
3. The Tegra 3 is the fastest chip available, devs just need to optimize for it. As far as graphical quality goes, just put dead trigger next to nova 3. Dt was written for Tegra 3 and it looks just as good as anything you'd see on a console and is smooth, nova 3 (before the last update) ran terribly. Personally I would want to see a big jump, rather than a slight upgrade.
4. Agreed, I never understood the 8, I just got a 32 and I can't fill it, haha.
5. Disagreed, having it grouped together keeps it nice and tidy, and makes it easier to fiddle with one handed.
6. My 16gb did have trouble adjusting brightness, but they must have changed something, as my 32gb has a much better contrast and is much easier to see, esp in sunlight. Personally I have trouble keeping up with screen tech, but I think changing to super amoled would bump the price up ALOT.
7. I like the back, plus my tab spent half its time in the rubber case, nearly sticks to the wall.
8. Led would be good, I often have wished I could glance to see if there's any notifications rather than having to press the button.
As for haptic feedback, at first I thought it was odd it didn't have it, but the more I think about it, I think Firstly the tablet is too big for it, I don't know, it would be weird for something bigger than my phone to be vibrating away.
9. Styluses are old school, and even if they sell the pen separately, they'd have to have functionality in the tablet, which would unnecessarily raise the cost for people who won't use it. Google didn't make an Ipad killer by putting in stuff that only some people will use.
10. The n4 has it, it's only a matter of time. Personally pluging in a cable doesn't bother me, esp when I'm running out of battery and still want to use my n7, but it would be good for docks etc.
Personally the ONLY thing I feel that is missing from the n7 right now is hdmi or mhl, miracast is looking good but needing to buy a new tv or receiver is a pain.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
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a. They shouldn't design the device based on a baseless assumption that people will use cases. Too many unknowns and too many variations to account for.
b. Tegra 3 is faster than the S4Pro? Anyways, whatever is the fastest next year, is the chip they should use. Of course software optimization is important, just look at the launch PS3 and 360 games vs current - but having the best processor will push the envelope of what is possible.
c. Maybe you're right about the stylus - but if it were available, if people were able to accurately manipulate tiny objects or switches with more certainty, new types of UI's can be developed. Look at Aparatus and Machinarium. Wouldn't it be awesome if you could accurately manipulate the levers and buttons? You're right in that it shouldn't be at the expense of driving hardware costs - tho I see a potential for future innovation.
Sure, stylii were used in crappy devices like the Palm, but they are also being used effectively in the Note 2 and by thousands of graphic designers through Wacom pads. Anyways, certainly don't drive up costs. I don't know if I can afford another $25.
d. If it will improve my quality of life ---- if it gives me a lifestyle benefit, ... that is the feature I want. Inductive charging is just that. It makes life easier. Plugging in a cable takes 2 seconds... as does picking up a pen and paper instead of launching Evernote. Is it possible to feed HDMI through the microUSB port? Maybe they can make an adapter that processes the signal into an HDMI output? /shrug. Big do-want on HDMI out though.

Thinking about this some more...
. Standardize a port & dock configuration for 3rd-party vendors to make interoperable docks, for keyboard/storage/battery/etc. This is key for accessory support. It also allows more productivity options. I don't want to have to buy a different proprietary dock for each device.
. Allow hardware vendors a cut of the 30% Play Store fee, as long as the device is updated to the latest OS. This would better incentivize vendors to update their old wares, more than the usual "it's a good thing for your users" lip service.
. Lend support to Cyanogenmod and similar roll-your-own-distro groups, so they can support more devices faster. Add incentives to hardware vendors where needed. Leveraging community work is a cheap way to spread adoption of the OS.

ÜBER™ said:
1. No the bezel is functional. Functionality over visual. I.E the iPad minis non bezeld display is a pain in the ass to hold one handed.
2. FCK Nvidia. Would rather have an S4. Or S5.
3. Seriously 1080p screens I can dig it but not necessary honestly. Our nexus 7 is already a retina quality display. And retina is a fancy zinger for high quality display.
4.SSD would be neat you got me there
5. Unlikely I'm sure we won't see it until the end of 2013. I would expect 4.2.x updates like gingerbread.
If this did come out for a reasonable price id possibly buy it. Can't say I wouldn't want to but hey this is just dreaming.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
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I believe in order to be retina a ppi requirement has to be met.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I think "retina" is an Apple trademark. Didn't know you could trademark body parts... but whatever.
According to Apple, Retina goes from the high end of 326ppi (iPhone 4/4s) down to 227ppi in the Macbook Pro 13".
Nexus 7 is 216ppi so technically not retina.
Nexus 10 is 300ppi, just for comparison.

[Q] Is it too small for reading? Would a bigger device make reading better?

Hi Everybody!
So after 4 years with my iPhone 4, I think it might be about time to get a new phone. The Z3 Compact looks and sounds like the a really great phone for me, I like almost everything such as the speed, water-resistance, design, Sony skin etc.
BUT, I'm really not sure about the size. I'm just not sure it it's too small for me or just right. Consider this: The vast majority of the time spent with my current iPhone 4 (3.5') I use it for browsing the web (reading stuff) one-handed (either because the other hand is doing something else or just because it's more comfortable). So being able to use it one-handed is important to me, but then, so is easy readability. One of my worries going with a huge new phone is that it won't be as comfortable in one-handed use. I'm not the only person who has a smartphone in this world, so I did get to use the Nexus 5 (4.95') and found that while it isn't as comfortable as my iPhone 4 it is perfectly usable with one hand. The Galaxy Note 1 (5.3') I used on the other hand, not so much. If I decide I go with a bigger phone it will be the Galaxy S5 (5.1'), the LG G2 or the big Z3 (both 5.2'). I probably will be able to use these regularly with one hand (especially since I don't think these device are as big, chunky and clunky as the original Note), but nevertheless it won't be as comfortable, wheres with the Z3 Compact (4.6') I'm sure it'll be perfectly comfortable to use one-handed.
So what I'm wondering is - is the sacrifice in comfort even worth it? I mean, the vast majority of the time I use my phone not for playing games or watching movies, but rather for reading stuff, whether it's browsing the web or messaging (although I'm also thinking about starting with reading ebooks). When I use my teeny iPhone 4 (3.5') I don't really think "wow this is so small I can't read anything" (especially since almost all websites nowadays have a mobile view), although when I use a bigger device I defiantly notice that reading is easier. But will the half an inch difference (and 1080P resolution, whether that makes a difference or not) between the 4.6' Z3 Compact and bigger devices with 5.1'/5.2' displays really make a significant difference in reading? That's what I'm wondering and hope you guys and gals can help me figure out. However keep in mind that I want to make this discussion purely about what size is better for me, not about the features and prices of all these different phones which I am well aware of.
TL;DR: I want to know if a bigger display will make reading significantly easier and better - enough to sacrifice a little in one-handed use comfort.

Buy a Kindle, your eyes and you will thank me later.
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using XDA Free mobile app

Tuberomix said:
...purely about what size is better for me
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Why you asking us then?

geronimoid said:
Why you asking us then?
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I'm asking you people because since I haven't used any new device extensively I'm really not sure how much half an inch difference and 1080P resolution (such is the difference between the 4.6' Z3 Compact and larger devices such as the 5.1' S5) can make reading easier, so I'm asking you people who have more experience and might know.
And I'm not going to buy a kindle because I need a smartphone for reading web stuff on-the-go.

Where are you based?
In the UK phone shops have the Z3C in store, often with working wifi so you could pop in and compare reading an article on your favourite online publications on that and other phones such as the Z3 or S5 to decide if the difference bothers you.
I *personally* believe 4.6" is a large enough, in fact the 4.3" screen that the Z1C had was one of the few things that bothered me about that phone. And this is from someone who owns the LG G2 and still loves it - the extra screen area is only noticeably better when watching youtube videos or playing games.

I've used the following phones as daily drivers, in this order, primarily for reading ebooks, forums, and general web browsing:
IPhone 4
Note 2
Note 3
Nexus 5
Z3 Compact
My opinion is the Z3c is so far the best of the lot due to a nearly ideal mix of size, power, and battery stamina.
I wouldn't willingly go back to any of the other devices except the Nexus 5, which I intend to keep as a backup phone.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Obviously they scale fonts/images/icons for the smaller screen. Some things appear smaller, and other things are sized fine but you just can't get as many on the screen. You have to decide for yourself, but it is entirely a matter of comfort and not function.
As for me, I wanted a phone that I couldn't feel in my pocket with top-tier speed and a strong battery and a decent camera. As a plus, the daylight readability and weatherproofing make it a very nice go-anywhere phone. I sampled a lot of phones this year, and I'm very satisfied to settle with this one for a while.

TJCacher said:
I've used the following phones as daily drivers, in this order, primarily for reading ebooks, forums, and general web browsing:
IPhone 4
Note 2
Note 3
Nexus 5
Z3 Compact
My opinion is the Z3c is so far the best of the lot due to a nearly ideal mix of size, power, and battery stamina.
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Click to collapse
I am well aware that the Z3 Compact is awesome feature-wise. However, didn't you feel that going down in screen size in comparison to the larger phones is kind of downside, and a detract when reading web-content/forums/ebooks? When you say that the Z3c is "nearly ideal mix of size..." do you mean it feels slightly too small for your everyday use (which is going to be pretty similar to my everyday use)?

Tuberomix said:
I am well aware that the Z3 Compact is awesome feature-wise. However, didn't you feel that going down in screen size in comparison to the larger phones is kind of downside, and a detract when reading web-content/forums/ebooks? When you say that the Z3c is "nearly ideal mix of size..." do you mean it feels slightly too small for your everyday use (which is going to be pretty similar to my everyday use)?
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Not at all. I went up in size after the IPhone because I thought it was too small, and, after experiencing the advantages and disadvantages of the larger phones, found myself moving back down in size, first to the N5 and now, smaller still, to the Z3c.
At this point I found I've gone nearly full circle, with a device somewhat larger than my original iPhone, but significantly smaller than the other Androids, and I'm finding this size to be the best overall experience for my use cases.
Specifically, for me, that means I want to read on a comfortably pocketable device with a bright, clear screen and not run out of power before I get back to a charger.
I believe this device meets that mix of my requirements better than any of the previous ones I have owned.
I haven't been bothered in the slightest by the downsize in physical screen dimensions or resolution when reading books, forums or websites.
The only adjustment I've had to consciously make is to change my typing style from my previous "tap each letter individually" preference to the "slide continuously to each letter in the word" style due to an unacceptably higher error rate of the former style on the smaller keyboard - a change I probably should have made a long time ago anyway.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Hi there I had similar concerns when I was looking for a new phone. Here's my thought process:
- When you are talking about one hand usability you can't only talk about screen size.
1. Example: While the 4.7" screen of the iphone6 is basically operable with one hand (provided you have big hands) the space that you need to be able to reach with your thumb is actually quite alot bigger, because of the homebutton placement. So when you're talking one hand use the iphone6 has actually a over 5" space that you need to be able to reach, which really is too big for "normal" sized hands.
2. Example: HTC Mini 2 (almost bought that one), the screen is 4.5" with on screen buttons meaning you only have to operate a 4.5" surface which is perfect for my hands. BUT the only way to power up the phone is with the power button on the top making it uncomfortable to use. You basically need to move your hand upwards to reach that button, while holding it with one hand and then back down again. Very risky maneuver if you ask me.
--> Z3C has none of these issues. You wake up by double tap, and control everything on the 4.6" screen. No need to reach any buttons which means you never have to adjust your hand while using the phone. That's way more comfortable and you reduce the risk of dropping it while adjusting.
Btw: Most of the time I'm using an app to switch off the phone (screen off and lock), swipe up from the on screen home button = screen off. If you don't wanna use those features: the power/lock button is placed perfectly for your thumb (right hand) or your index (left hand), whenever i grab the phone the button is right under my finger without me thinking about it.
-Now obviously in terms of actually using the phone to browse, read, game, do whatever the screen needs to be as big as possible while still being operable by one hand. But "handed" use means the furthest you will hold your phone away from your eyes is one arm length. Fully stretching your arm isn't really comfortable so let's say its a bit less than a full arm length. I personally am usually resting my arm on my belly while holding it, so thats not even half a meter (~20"). And I have to say with regular font settings the screen and more importantly the font sizes are almost too small. Coming from a 4.8" SGS3 i had to get used to the smaller fonts and screen, then I found the setting to increase font size and now it's not an issue anymore
-->I'm always able to rest comfortably when using it, without having to pull it in front of my face (iphone syndrom) to actually see anything... And that is the important factor for me. But I have to add: I also have a tablet. When I spend more than ~10min reading or writing stuff I usually switch to it. That was the main reason for me to get a "smaller" phone- no need for a phablet here. (4 Years ago people were laughing at my HUGE 4.3" DesireHD )
-In conclusion Sony did a really good job here IMHO. Comparison: The phone has a much bigger screen than the iphone 5S, but the size of the surface you need to operate is actually about the same because of very small bezels and intelligent button placement.
But it also really depends on what you want to do with it and on your hand size. For watching the occasional movie the Z3C would be definately too small for me. If you have really big hands I guess you could easily operate a 4.8-4.9" screen if the button placement doesnt get in the way. But for me the Z3C has that sweet spot in terms of size and great hardware... When I read the specs I instantly knew that was going to be my next phone.
Another little thing: The Z3C has exactly the same weight as the iphone 6, almost the same screen size but a 2600mAh battery compared to a 1810mAh in the iphone...

TAB S 8.4" - My thoughts after a week

Hi,
I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 I got last week. It's the LTE model, but UK so still uses the Exynos processor.
Firstly, I've been an Android user for quite a while. Started with the second generation of phones, and got a tablet shortly after. Had a wide range of cheap and cheerful devices , on which I always installed custom roms before becoming settled on Nexus devices a few years ago, and been happy with stock - had a nexus 4 and both generations of nexus 7.
I currently have an LG G3 for my phone (which is great btw)
I tend to prefer a clean, close to stock android experience, and I have always steered away from Samsung - never fancied touchwiz, wasn't keen on the oversaturated and blue hued screens, plus I like being different!. But based on the reviews, and after a quick play in the shop I took the plunge with the Tab S.
Firstly - form factor. I toyed with getting the bigger one, would have been better for work stuff, and watching tv/films at home, but I also use it a lot as an ereader. So the 8.4" form factor was best for me. I have big enough hands to comfortably hold it one handed on the train etc, and it is nice and light. Still sometimes wish I had got the bigger one though.
Interface - I actually like Touchwiz now.... I've not experienced too much lag, and I like the extra bells and whistles. The Notification bar is a little messy, but also has extra functionality so I will let it off (putting the IR blaster remote in there is a great idea) . The quick settings panel on the 2 finger scroll is a little cluttered, but functional too. I have replaced the launcher - I've used Apex for years and have got too used to the control it offer. Lets me get rid of the useless magazine ux too. Main thing about Apex is that it lets me use a much finer grid on the homescreens - I use widgets a lot, and like a lot more control over size and placement.
Screen - It's great. I'd like the whites to be a bit crisper, but the rest of the plusses make up for it. I actually like the active display mode - I keep trying it on basic, based upon other reviews and display tests, but keep turning it back. I like the wow factor. Maybe I will tire of it eventually and want something a bit more reserved, but for now I love it. Even on the active/AMOLED Cinema mode it is nowhere near as garish as early Galaxy displays.
If you want to show off the device, play someone the sample video that comes with the device. Obviously overtuned up to show off the screen but it is impressive.
Software - A lot of rubbish on the device obviously, but some is actually useful. The office viewers are handy, and the pdf viewer is a lot quicker than others I have tried, or using kindle which is very clunky.
Papergarden is actually quite impressive - it's the magazine experience I expected to get on a tablet (And annoyingly you can get more on an ipad...) - not sure how many magazines I will actually buy with my own money though.
Battery - It's ok, doesn't seem as good as my old nexus 7, but maybe I'm using it more, and probably cranking up the screen brightness too (And the 4g must use some too). I'll try it with some more reserved usage. Might try juicedefender on it too (which will probably help my data usage as well).
I also got a dud charger, which I will take back tomorrow - charging on a low power charger (supplied one is 2A) is pretty slow, but that's not the tablet's fault.
In conclusion - It's the best tablet I have had (Also the most expensive so you would expect it to be!). Performance is fine, the form factor is almost perfect for me, UI is good after some tweaking and the screen is great. Will post an update after I've been suing it for a month or two, see if I still feel the same.
Carl

interesting. very similar to me, coming from a N7 and using it a lot for media etc.
I was a very reluctant buyer, only the £50 play voucher pushing me over the edge as there were no other quality tablets out there to replace my nexus 7. I tried it out in john lewis and I was instantly impressed by the size and weight, not much different to the n7 but with the bigger screen.
so bought it, half expecting to just sell it in a year when something better came out. but the more I use it, the more I liked it. Switched out the launcher to nova and I was all set. I had no prior experience of amoled screens before, but as a big media watcher, I am now really glad I accidentally have one. I wouldnt bother so much on a phone, but on the tablet its perfect, I really notice the difference when using my partners regular tablet. I also went about downloading 2k youtube videos and putting them on the tablet and the quality was amazing, now of course its built into the app so even better!
The only lag I notice is sometimes on clicking the home button and I have had others tell me the tablet is bad as it does badly in benchmarks. which to me is crazy but its their call. the battery is not as good as the n7 but if you have the love the extra pixels, they draw more power. Luckily more than enough time for a good solid days usage but the n7 was better.

Active display mode?

I think the OP means "adaptive". The dynamic display mode that puts color and contrast into some kind of super overdrive. Eye candy in my opinion, but not for extended periods of time.

2k screen display consume alot of RAM and battery. Not redcommend for gaming

Seems good but some frustrations
Absolutely the main reason to buy this tablet is the screen. I don't think anything out there can touch it. My biggest issue is the SD card. I have a Patriot 64 GB microSD UHS-1 card and it just doesn't seem to work in this device at all. Tried formatting in Windows (ExFAT) - works great. Put it in my ASUS TF700 tablet - works great. Put it in the TAB S - mounted the card with no trouble but then when I try to write to the card (using the Myfiles app), it locks up. Sometimes it freezes solid and I can't get it to do anything until I pop the card out - then everything immediately starts working again. Obviously a card problem of some sort. So I tried another identical card I had for another tablet...same problem. Tried formatting in the tablet - it locks up. I left it for half an hour and came back - it was formatted but it didn't work at all. Tried a 16 GB FAT32 card - it works flawlessly. So...is it the card or is it the tablet...? Still working on this...
I'm not a fan of the Touchwiz interface but I'm adapting to it slowly. Removed most of the panels that were not useful and it's getting better. I'm really frustrated at how much storage is being used with crapware that I can't uninstall. Like WatchOn - I finally ran it to see what it was all about and there's a message that pops up saying that this service will no longer be in operation after December 31, 2014. Really? So I can't remove the app and I can't even use it now...that is NOT COOL! I've never had a tablet with less than 32 GB before (because the 32 GB version of the tab S seems to be a myth - in Canada anyway). There really needs to be a way to remove some of this stuff...especially since I can't get the SD card to work.
I mainly use a tablet for video - and that's where this really shines. Netflix, MKV files, streaming from my server, etc...works flawlessly! It looks amazing and that's why I bought it! I just wish I could get the storage thing figured out.
I really don't like the dedicated buttons for Home, Back and Recently Used Apps. Why they would reverse the buttons from the Android buttons, I really can't figure out. Often, when I'm in Netflix, I hold the tablet in landscape mode and my finger/thumb keeps hitting the Back button and then I have to reload the movie again...what a pain! I can't see the buttons in the dark either...don't like them! KitKat lets you run apps fullscreen so I don't get the dedicated buttons anymore!
The sound has been okay - probably on par with my Nexus 7 2013...but it distorts at full volume (subtly). Battery life is okay but not great - seems on par with the Nexus 7. The size is good - still fits in my inside jacket pocket like my Nexus 7 did - but has a much larger screen. My eyes aren't great these days so the web page text is fairly small but I'm getting by.
I see no issues with performance at all...not sure why people complain about lag - if there is any it's so subtle...it certainly doesn't affect the usage whatsoever.
I really don't like that you HAVE to use the Samsung charger and you HAVE to use the Samsung cable it came with...they're really acting like Apple in this way. I have 10' micro USB cables I use for all my other devices to charge and they've never had a problem...until I tried them on this tablet. So now I'm stuck with the 5' cable again and the single charger. Looking for options on eBay...
I need to find a case tomorrow...the Samsung book cover is on sale so I'll try it out.
Eventually, I'll get everything working! Still happy with the purchase (it was $50 off) but I'd like to get these little problems resolved!

I hear ya on the WatchOn thing. Waiting a week or two before I start learning to strip the bloatware out but right now I am okay with the stock ROM. Have disabled non-used items for now but as you said with only 16GB to work with I also want it as clean as possible
Will not lie, scared of voiding the warranty. Wishing I had bought the LTE version through Bell becaise through them you can buy insurance...
I picked up a 64GB card (AData) on sale for $30. Working with no issues. Possible the Patriot card is buggy? NCIX.com is a good place to shop

What's up with the USB charger and cable? They're standardised items, no? The whole idea with USB, or so I thought. One usb cable can't differ from another - that doesn't make any sense what so ever...!? Sure, the charger may vary in regard of ampere and volt, but why am one forced to use the supplied Samsung charger / cable?

No idea about the charger. I am using the OEM one for now but have always used a BB one for my S4. Strange

USB cables do vary. Some will only charge, and not carry data. Some will carry more current than others, and will therefore charge more quickly.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app