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So there are a number of Android-based tablets on the horizon. These are presumably envisioned as intermediate devices to fill a niche between the smartphone and laptop, similar to the iPad. I'm not starting a thread to debate whether this niche exists, or the design of any specific device, but rather on how well Android and its apps can adapt to being used across multiple devices by the same user.
For me, when I try to envision a tablet in my life, I find it difficult to think of things that it could do but my phone (a Nexus One) can't. I think the point is a tablet doesn't really do new things, but it does them slightly better because of a larger screen. The thing is, I will likely want to switch back and forth between my phone and tablet depending on my real-world context, and I will generally want the state of those applications to stay in sync.
Take reading an ebook, for example. I will still want to read on my phone sometimes, when I just have a minute to spare and don't have the tablet with me, but when I sit down to a more lengthy reading session, I want the tablet to remember where I am in the book. This should be automatic. Similarly, any games I play should have my progress saved, and my bookmarks/history/etc should be synced too. The simple fact is, the additional value of a tablet seems so small, that if I have to put up another non-synced device in my life, it won't even be worth bothering. I'll just keep using the smaller screen of my phone.
Now, of course there are already things that DO sync. Email, calendar, contacts, etc. But those are distinct things with custom implementations specific to that type of data. Certainly every app developer could add a web service that syncs their app data, but why make everyone do that individually. Does anyone know of any plans to create a generalized Android app sync solution? (let me know if there's something out there and I missed it) This seems like something google would want to build at the OS level, but I haven't heard of anything like it.
Thoughts?
I just came across this post after running up against this problem in the real world. Just received my Notion Ink Adam and quickly started looking for a solution to sync things like my eBook placement and game save-state between my Nexus One and the tablet. Titanium Media Sync looked promising but as the product description indicates, it is only capable of one-way synchronization. This means you would have to manually run the sync task each time you started using one device or the other. Perhaps something that could be achieved with tasker and some scripting, but that's more management overhead than anyone would want.
I wish I was better at software development cause this is not a solution that could be tackled with the app inventor.
This is going to be a big shakeup for awhile... SugarSync, Dropbox, Bump, Hoccer, Titanium, Listables/BlueMuze (my apps), Amazon cloud sync, Google Books -- there are 100 solutions coming from different directions and for different puposes.
Then there will be video (which is even more insanely competitive) as everyone trys various DRM, cloud hosting and streaming. Then you have the carriers sitting in the middle putting data caps on stuff wondering if they can get a slice of the pie. Roku, SlingBox, Tivo, Boxee, TimeWarner, Viacom, NBC-Comcast, Verizion, Cablevision, ATT, Apple, --- SO MANY companies in this market.
This is partly why I created my apps, so that people could send data without the cloud sync ideology/methodology forced on them. But that's sort of tangential to the conversation, and specific for types of media as you said above.
Anyways, I think the competition will be good mostly. But we'll have to be careful to reward those who dont try to restrict usage arbitrarily. And be sure to punish those that stand in the way.
Also with regards to programming sync oneself, beware that it's one of those things that's deceptively simple sounding until you try and work out the actual code/details of how to do it.
We need this now more than ever!
Any new products out there that can help me synch my Captivate with my Color Nook?
Seraph321 said:
I find it difficult to think of things that it could do but my phone (a Nexus One) can't. Thoughts?
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Click to collapse
I can't agree with you more. I came to the same conclusion when I was looking at tablets.
However there are certain things I don't use right now because my battery temp will exceed 103°F when I'm using them (music apps, navigation, etc.) Phone is overclocked to 844 MHz so that obviously plays into the battery life, but if I had a tablet I could use those apps on the tablet to conserve my phone battery; currently my phone battery won't last more than a day :^(
There's also the possibility that because tablets would be more powerful than my MyTouch 3G Slide that I could scale back my phone CPU and use certain things on the tablet.
I'm holding off on tablets right now, I want to see where they go with the capabilities first before I jump on board.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide using XDA App
You said "I'm holding off on tablets right now". If you want to get your feet wet on the cheap, pick up a Color Nook of Craigslist. I've bought 2 now for $170 each.
At that price, who cares where the tablet market goes. When something comes along you like better, buy it, and give the Color Nook to someone as a gift.
I'm pretty confident the community will make a tablet more than worth owning. Even without the source code the xoom has been pretty handy. But from the first day of ownership I was wondering why it wasn't built in to have the phone and tab sync up. Even something more basic like chrome to phone for the phone to tab would be nice.
Just thinking out loud mostly.
My favorite tab sync mod,
Grab Google voice and grooveIP and have texts and voice calls come to the tab at the same time as the phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App
Great topic! As a developer and Droid X owner, I've been debating about getting a tablet, but my tablet would be an iPad so I can cross-platform develop.
Still, a very valid issue as to iPhone/iPad or Droid/Xoom synching. Haven't given it much thought, but the OP brings up some valid points.
If you have an e-book, grocery list manager and any other number of apps, *physical* synching would be a PITA in my opinion. I think some cloud-based solution like DropBox would be the best solution.
How this gets implemented is surely open to debate.
I haven't tried it yet but there's an app on the market called SyncIt Beta:
https://market.android.com/details?id=jug6ernaut.net.syncit
It's supposed to be able to sync your app data across multiple devices.
^ Shift Faced
I am sorry for bringing back a dead thread, however this is still something i am in looking for. I have a nexus S and a toshiba thrive tablet. As opposed to cloud based or something along those apps, i think an even easier solutions would be a device direct streaming type service so to speak. Have the devices communicate directly with each other over wifi or bluetooth. I mean to be perfectly honest, if i use it on the road, my phone is with me anyway so bluetooth is perfectly acceptable. and when i am at home, both are connected to wifi even if they aren't close enough for bluetooth. That would remedy the need of a cloud based service, and the issue of data privacy. As long as the data gets synced locally to the device, i should be able to break the sync and still continue to operate, then when the 2 devices are reconnected to each other they can just update the changes. I am not a developer, so i apologize if these requests seem monumental. However i was going to make the change to webOS because it natively had support for these features, which were immensely helpful. Until webOS sort of fell off the grid obviously (even though it was never really on it to begin with)
Try "Tablet Talk" the paid app is really worth it, it allows users to communicate from tablet to phones.
It's well worth the money
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Old thread. New Idea.
I came across this thread while searching for a solution to my problem. Thought it appropriate to post here.
Does anyone know of any virtual assistant apps or anything of that sort that will sync with other versions of the app on other devices?
For example, I have two android devices. I want to be able to talk to one and set a reminder at the house, and have the reminder come to a different device i have on me elsewhere.
So far the only way I can come up with to do this is to set a reminder through Google Calendar but was wondering if there was any other less clunky alternatives.
So I have a note ii and a precedent. Here is a list of things id like to do
Sync my note ii audio a2dp out to play ober the precedent
Sync alert and alarm awnsers n dismissals across devices as well as read emails
Power off device remotley [power on?]
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Questions should be posted in Q&A forums, not Development forums.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/announcement.php?a=81
See rule #15
Thread moved.
I have just bought one for my dad, who needs my help quite frequently for basic functions. Is there an app out there, that I can use to see and control his screen. The only simple one I have come across is webkey, but that will only work for rooted tabs. Being remote, it is going to be a real challenge to root this, so just curious if anyone can point me to a good app for remotely managing the app. Thanks a lot.
..............................
10 char
Did you found a solution? I would like to do that also,
Log Me In Rescue supports Android
secure.logmeinrescue.com/HelpDesk/Home.aspx
could you not just use vnc server?
Teamspeak also works.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
computer + old person = tech support.
I don't have a good solution to your problem (and I doubt there is one that would allow you to do this without your father first starting up a program each time he needs your help, which might require it's own tech support solution). Can I suggest that you take the GT10 back (unless you already have one, keep if for yourself!) and get him an ipad?
Before you jump on me and call me names, I just want to point out that the ipad does everything your father wants (probably) with the added benefit that tech support is always: "hit the button." My mom was about to buy an android phone, but when I realized that she A) doesn't need it; B) won't use any of the advanced functions; and C) I'd probably be doing daily tech support only to find out that she still writes down all her phone numbers into a paper book. I told her to get an iphone, and I'm very happy with that decision. She still doesn't know how to use it, and could probably have just stuck with the motorola razr v9 for her purposes, but she likes that she's "modern" and the novelty of looking something up while she's out hasn't yet worn off.
Don't get me wrong; I think that android is a far more capable system. For me, I'd choose an android tab over an ipad any day. But for mom, it was an easy choice. Only 2 days of calls, and she figured out that the solution was always to "hit the button." Phew.
abidamin said:
I have just bought one for my dad, who needs my help quite frequently for basic functions. Is there an app out there, that I can use to see and control his screen. The only simple one I have come across is webkey, but that will only work for rooted tabs. Being remote, it is going to be a real challenge to root this, so just curious if anyone can point me to a good app for remotely managing the app. Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't remote control any android device. My company, not me, was attempting to create an app to allow them to perform remote tech support and setups for android devices but they ran into so many legal issues from all the developers and OEMs that create their flavor of Android. You can remote control computers but you can't remote control android.
Hi there,
I am currently looking for a device to replace my almost 4 years old netbook which is beginning to die on me right now.
One of the devices I am looking into is the Prime and I am hoping you could answer a couple of n00b questions for me.
What I am planning on doing with my future device could be seperated in 4 four points:
1) Mailing and websurfing. Of course this should work with the Prime.
2) Watching videos. Have seen enough reviews that proof how good this works on the Prime, too.
3) I am a student and therefore would really like to be able to read scripts (pdf format mostly) on my device and also being able to add handwritten comments to those pdfs and print them afterswards with the comments included.
I suppose there are a quite a few apps that would do that trick, right?
4) This is actually the one point that is holding me back from instantly ordering a Prime.
I´d like to have a device that lets me edit office documents. Of course there are enough of office apps out there but so far I havn´t found a single one that includes an equation editor for word documents.
Judging by some comments I have read and some screenshots I have seen on here I guess I am not the only one who majors in engineering or mathematics or anything else that includes a lot of formulas.
So, I was wondering how do you handle this compatibility issue?
And one last question that is only slightly related to the Prime itself: I guess most of you have the device configuration as I do. A smartphone, a laptop/tablet and a desktop pc.
How do you handle the "data scattering". YOu know, having a particular movie file on PC, another audio file on the phone and docs on the tablet etc.
How do you sync all this?
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Ain´t it funny how n00bish one feels when changing to a new device.
I could not find a consolidated thread with all wishlists... so starting a new one.
Wish-1: wifi dongle
A sleek one. Just like the GPS dongle, that can be locked with the tablet. Should support 5GHz 802.11n.
Must allow for a passthrough 40 pin connector to allow charging even when dongle is connected.
Must be under $40-50 range
Preferably in the same gray and champange gold colors.
Wish-2: nvFlash
Obvious reasons. To be provided for folks with unlocked primes.
Wish-3: Support drivers for external USB wifi dongles
so that the folks with dock can plug something in the USB, to increase wifi range
Wish-4: Diagnostics utility
A utility that keeps log of app/system crashes. Just like how other operating systems have them. The utility should send all crash results to ASUS for diagnosis.
Wish-5: system stability and performance enhancements
- improve i/o performance of internal memory
- fix issues with screen flashing and tearing
- optimal memory and background process management
Wish-6: disclose full pin map for the 40 pin connector
we have TF101, 201, 300, 700 all with same 40 pin connectors. Disclosing pin map, will facilitate third-party hardware manufacturers to create more hardware accessories for ASUS tablets. WIN-WIN for everyone.
Wish-7: Jelly Bean support
Latest and greatest!
Wish-8: 3G USB Dongle support
Obviously, should be baked into the stock ROM, so that no rooting is required.
Wish-9: Kernel 3+
XDA community: please refrain from using this thread for complaints. Only posts your wishlist for ASUS to read. Once every day, I will consolidate all new wishlists and make them available in original post.
Beta testers: Request you to please bring this thread to attention of ASUS folks
ASUS: Please grant wishes!
Edit June 22nd: Added wishes 7 & 8.
Edit June 24th: Added wish 9.
Well, the NVFlash is being worked on according to Gary Key.
I'll take some Jelly Bean 4.1 instead of this 4.0.3 Asus keeps hacking on. Hey it's a wishlist right?
Wish-3: Support drivers for external USB wifi dongles
so that the folks with dock can plug something in the USB, to increase wifi range
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think there is a thread on how to plug a usb wifi stick somewhere
but you have to be rooted
Wish-6: disclose full pin map for the 40 pin connector
we have TF101, 201, 200, 700 all with same 40 pin connectors. Disclosing pin map, will facilitate third-party hardware manufacturers to create more hardware accessories for ASUS tablets. WIN-WIN for everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i highly doubt this would happen to
if they do, then people can send ideas to places and have things made cheaper and no body would buy things from asus cause 80% of the stuff there are over priced....
thats just what ithink tho =]
I'd love WiFi USB support, or if a decent dongle is released I'd be very interested in that. Everything else on the list (minus the dock connector details) I imagine would be a given, but I guess you never know.
I really hope that Jelly Bean will be supported.
3G USB dongles support too ! On non-rooted devices.
ik0 said:
3G USB dongles support too ! On non-rooted devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 !
And +1 for all the others wishes too
lil-devil said:
i think there is a thread on how to plug a usb wifi stick somewhere
but you have to be rooted
i highly doubt this would happen to
if they do, then people can send ideas to places and have things made cheaper and no body would buy things from asus cause 80% of the stuff there are over priced....
thats just what ithink tho =]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple products have so many accessories... it just adds more value to the product. More bang for the buck. reason why ppl buy apple so much is that in every store you go to is flooded with accessories for apple.
I think ASUS would sell so many more tablets if buyer knew he had so many options. Just my opinion and a wish!
I know this can't be implemented on our Primes, but maybe on the Infinity or even future batches of the Transformer Pad 300...Bluetooth module in the keyboard dock!
This way the keyboard dock could be used wirelessly if need be. Hook Prime to TV or PC monitor and sit back on the couch and type away.
jaycustom said:
I know this can't be implemented on our Primes, but maybe on the Infinity or even future batches of the Transformer Pad 300...Bluetooth module in the keyboard dock!
This way the keyboard dock could be used wirelessly if need be. Hook Prime to TV or PC monitor and sit back on the couch and type away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right... not possible in my opinion as well. I thought about support for bluetooth dongles on the dock, but that would not work once the dock is seperated from the tablet. I don't think there is enough electronics withing the dock itself that will let it communicate with the tablet via bluetooth when seperated.
Kernel 3+ and Android Jelly Bean
Dont know why the wifi wasnt added to the GPS dongle, would have made sense, would be something i use every day.
Support for drivers for USB dongles is just not practical. Every device functions slightly differently. Each needs its own drivers to function. What SHOULD be done is android should have some standard with how it would interact with these devices and the manufacturers of each device could make android drivers for their devices. Asking for asus to make every wifi usb device work just isnt going to happen. Check the aformentioned thread, it will explain how to make your own drivers for your device. Good luck!
Lots of apps are available on the market to check the statuses of apps. I used to use one a while ago that would track damn near everything. Apps crashing is 90% the developers fault (different from the ANRs)
IO errors are caused by bad memory managment and slow system memory, as well as unoptimized code. Asus IS working on it, as we see with the numerous updates. There is only so much that can be done in software as much of the problems are hardware related.
There IS a partial pinout available, we know which pins are for charging, which supply power for USB devices, the USB channels for both 2.0 and 3.0, and there are some propitiatory pins for things like the keyboard dock or gps dongle. For anyone who wants to make their own USB charge dock it wouldnt be that hard to find the information if you just look. (hint i made a thread about it)
Again, any USB devices you plug in will have basic driver support. Anything beyond that ask the manufacturer for an app to instal drivers or compatability with android devices or make your own. Its not up to microsoft to make your usb game controller work on windows, its up to the manufacturer of the game controller to make sure the drivers are available so their device works on windows. Same thing goes for android, dont have ASUS take the blame because some third party hardware isnt compatable, its not their fault.
Finally, considering how little customization Asus put into their updates when JellyBean is available you can bet we will be getting it very soon. Just relax, it will come.
I think its good to have an idea of what you want but its bad to say Asus should have to give us this stuff when its not their responsibility to do so, and much of this stuff is already provided for you if you only looked.
pileot said:
Dont know why the wifi wasnt added to the GPS dongle, would have made sense, would be something i use every day.
Support for drivers for USB dongles is just not practical. Every device functions slightly differently. Each needs its own drivers to function. What SHOULD be done is android should have some standard with how it would interact with these devices and the manufacturers of each device could make android drivers for their devices. Asking for asus to make every wifi usb device work just isnt going to happen. Check the aformentioned thread, it will explain how to make your own drivers for your device. Good luck!
Lots of apps are available on the market to check the statuses of apps. I used to use one a while ago that would track damn near everything. Apps crashing is 90% the developers fault (different from the ANRs)
IO errors are caused by bad memory managment and slow system memory, as well as unoptimized code. Asus IS working on it, as we see with the numerous updates. There is only so much that can be done in software as much of the problems are hardware related.
There IS a partial pinout available, we know which pins are for charging, which supply power for USB devices, the USB channels for both 2.0 and 3.0, and there are some propitiatory pins for things like the keyboard dock or gps dongle. For anyone who wants to make their own USB charge dock it wouldnt be that hard to find the information if you just look. (hint i made a thread about it)
Again, any USB devices you plug in will have basic driver support. Anything beyond that ask the manufacturer for an app to instal drivers or compatability with android devices or make your own. Its not up to microsoft to make your usb game controller work on windows, its up to the manufacturer of the game controller to make sure the drivers are available so their device works on windows. Same thing goes for android, dont have ASUS take the blame because some third party hardware isnt compatable, its not their fault.
Finally, considering how little customization Asus put into their updates when JellyBean is available you can bet we will be getting it very soon. Just relax, it will come.
I think its good to have an idea of what you want but its bad to say Asus should have to give us this stuff when its not their responsibility to do so, and much of this stuff is already provided for you if you only looked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lots of useful information in the post... (apart from the last sentence.. )
Well, I am an android end-user. I have no clue on how to write a device driver (if it's as easy as you make it seem, howcome all the smarter ppl here cribbing about poor wifi!). I can't even root my tablet!
My wish was that I did not have to learn coding, in order to make this device more usable. And this is entirely reasonable wish. I use my windows laptop with a ton of devices, and i have no clue on how the operating system or the drivers are coded. It just works! why not android?
I believe there should be some standard for wifi USB devices follow... my wish was that ASUS also bakes in support for this standard/protocol with the operating system. (How about just doing it for ASUS wifi dongle!).
I did read the unofficial pinout thread earlier... well it's unofficial, and most pins are still not known. I am only wishing that pinout be made public, so that smart folks like yourself can build hardware that can really make prime more useful.
Finally, please read the original post as a wishlist and not an obligation for ASUS. My intention is to consolidate wishes from everyone on their primes, so if you also have a wish, just mention it, and i will add it to OP. ;-)
beta testers: it seems like we have consolidated all wishlists for prime. Hence request you to bring this thread to ASUS attention.
Many thanks!
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
I have just one wish: A TABLET! not a BETA tablet!!!!
Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2
I'm very interested in purchasing a Tab S7+ to use as a laptop replacement. I'll still have a Windows laptop for when I need adb, or just need to run specific software, but I'd like for the Tab S7+ to become my workhorse typing machine.
I'm a teacher that runs and operates a tutoring business, so I am literally typing for a good chunk of the day. I use Microsoft Word full time and am fully invested in it. One very specific thing I do is use a font that isn't default to Windows. I downloaded it and use it as a part of my default template for Word, and I use it across all my lessons, letters, and everything that's associated with my business. I'm a bit anal about it, but I like the uniformity. It's a normal font that can be downloaded easily and loaded on to Windows, so it's nothing special.
One thing that I am worried about is the inability to use the aforementioned font on the Tab S7+. Can we use non-default fonts on the S7+? I don't want it to be present across the entire device, but just need it for Word. And even if I could install it, could Microsoft Word use it?
Lastly, while on DeX mode, is the version of Microsoft Word similar to the desktop version? I need things like being able to insert an equation, and specific math-related things.
I asked Samsung's customer service live chat, and they were fairly useless (as expected). Was hoping anyone here that owns one already or will own one soon could educate me. Thank you!
AhsanU said:
I'm a teacher that runs and operates a tutoring business, so I am literally typing for a good chunk of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not the tool you're looking for.
It will use some custom fonts, but not others. It will do some equations, but is limited.
All day typing is a laptop thing.
Sounds like you're trying to justify a purchase ... it is a very nice tablet b
Randle said:
This is not the tool you're looking for.
It will use some custom fonts, but not others. It will do some equations, but is limited.
All day typing is a laptop thing.
Sounds like you're trying to justify a purchase ... it is a very nice tablet b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not wrong! I just placed an order for a Mystic Bronze S7+. As it turns out, someone on reddit told me you can't install custom fonts but Microsoft Office does open up documents with the font you're already using so.. I'm not so sure. We'll see though! I might make a YouTube video detailing my experience in case someone else has the same question.
I have decided to use it for drawing and writing with the actual S-Pen than anything else. I can type all day on my actual ThinkPad X1/PC and draw the things I can't actually type (coordinate graphs are a particular pain in the arse) on the Tab S7+. Should also be nice to use the tablet for media consumption since it's relatively lighter. Hard decision to make which finish to go but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to match my upcoming Z Fold 2.
AhsanU said:
Should also be nice to use the tablet for media consumption since it's relatively lighter. Hard decision to make which finish to go but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to match my upcoming Z Fold 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm not regretting my purchase! It has even got me playing a few games. Integration across devices and windows is excellent!
I'll use mine most of the time for presenting talks from and I like to journal and plan days with the pen