Tablets - iPad, Galaxy Tab, Playbook, XOOM & More

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Is that list the list of Android native apps that people are testing on the platform?

Yes, along with current working builds and status of the development.

[Rathji]

Ok played around with it a little bit, and realized you needed DDPB to do the installs anyway, so maybe you don't even need to be on 2.0 ( will test later, as the revert process is about 30 mins)

Randomly picked some apps I thought might be interesting from the list, including Teamviewer. Seems to be running fine on the hardware, don't notice any major overhead from the Android App Player. It is seamless as well, I was half expecting to have to open an emulator/VM to run the apps.

Will need to pay with bridge later and see how that works. I have Android email, contacts and Calendar loaded, so I don't even really need it, unless tethering is impacted as well.

Overall, I am impressed.

[GreenLantern]

Got a chance to play around with the Playbook today, it is pretty cool. I returned my Ipad after one night a few months back, it was good...but for the price I couldn't justify it.

The playbook at 200 bucks is a really good deal, and as far as size goes I honestly prefer the shape and size of the Playbook over the Ipad2.

Especially for reading PDF's. I haven't been able to find a good PDF reader/editer yet though, which is a problem for me since thats 90% of what I read. Ipad was definitely a lot more app friendly.. which is the benefit of apple I guess.

Debating whether to make this a requested Christmas gift or not... anyone have experience with this as reading PDF's and school related activities?

What are the big benefits of having a blackberry phone as well as a playbook? Tethering my phone for wifi everywhere?

[MrMastodonFarm]

The Playbook for 199 is a great deal, especially once Android apps become available and they upgrade the OS some.

It's a shame RIM just rushed this to market though, hopefully the price slash lets these devices find a core group of users.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Got a chance to play around with the Playbook today, it is pretty cool. I returned my Ipad after one night a few months back, it was good...but for the price I couldn't justify it.

The playbook at 200 bucks is a really good deal, and as far as size goes I honestly prefer the shape and size of the Playbook over the Ipad2.

Especially for reading PDF's. I haven't been able to find a good PDF reader/editer yet though, which is a problem for me since thats 90% of what I read. Ipad was definitely a lot more app friendly.. which is the benefit of apple I guess.

Debating whether to make this a requested Christmas gift or not... anyone have experience with this as reading PDF's and school related activities?

What are the big benefits of having a blackberry phone as well as a playbook? Tethering my phone for wifi everywhere?

I really like it for PDFs so far.

If you have a Blackberry, you can bridge the 2 and use your email, contacts, calendar and tasks(I think?) from the Blackberry on your Playbook. Also, I know it comes up on the playbook when you are receiving a phone call. This is of course in addition to the tethering. Just a note on these things though, in my investigation of the 2.0 OS beta, it seems they are probably not going to continue the bridging at all, just the tethering.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by Azure

Well I'm having a tough time deciding if I want the nook color or if I want the kindle fire. With the nook color I know I can root it and do with it exactly what I want. Install android marketplace too. With the kindle fire that support isn't there yet. I don't think it is at least.

There's also an updated version of the Nook which is just called the Tablet. Not available in Canada I don't think, but also might be worth looking into.

Edit: Also, I'm pretty sure the Fire doesn't have expandable memory. So if you plan on using up more than 8 gb, you'll probably want the Nook for it's SD card slot.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TopChed

There's also an updated version of the Nook which is just called the Tablet. Not available in Canada I don't think, but also might be worth looking into.

Edit: Also, I'm pretty sure the Fire doesn't have expandable memory. So if you plan on using up more than 8 gb, you'll probably want the Nook for it's SD card slot.

The Nook is a lot more work for an average user. The Nook Tablet can install Android apps by using a workaround through using the browser to access the marketplace and APKs. Running an APK will bring up a hidden dialog to allow unauthorized or unknown sources and then you can install these apps. The interface and rom will still be the Nook interface and launcher however.

As with the Nook Color, you'd probably want to root it and replace it with custom kernels/roms entirely. Also make sure you retain some form of soft keys as there is only one hardware key (the N) aside from the volume rocker and power switch.

[Rathji]

Something I thought wouldn't happen... it seems that @cmdwotme has a working exploit to root the Playbook. http://n4bb.com/blackberry-playbook-rooted. Should be released in a few days.

[Slava]

I can't get that link to work...what is it? What does that mean that its rooted?

[Rathji]

It means that you gain escalated (admin or root) rights on the device by exploiting a flaw in the software. By itself, it doesn't mean much but if someone develops a hardware-compatible OS, it could be installed.

Essentially, it is jailbroken.

[GreenLantern]

Ahh wow that is quite significant then.

Interesting, I think if it fits right over the Christmas holidays I will give one of these a go.

Won't really know how much you use a tablet till you actually get one I suppose, and if the price is right..

[KTrain]

$200 Blackberry Playbook Pulled From Retail Listings, Some Orders Canceled

http://www.pcworld.com/article/24501..._canceled.html

[Rathji]

Just to clarify, that is just Best Buy (and FutureShop I assume), that has pulled the Blackberry Playbook.

Kind of funny, when I preordered mine (ie put on layaway) they kept saying the 'shipment was delayed" and "the truck didn't come", but this was really the reason. I got mine because Mrs Rathji went in since she was nearby and there was an unopened return sitting there.

[MickMcGeough]

FS this morning had them available online again so I ordered one - I guess we'll see if they're honoring new orders.

[Diemenz]

They are $99 now on RIM's employee website.

Thats a price point that makes sense to me for a tablet that has about 6 useful apps.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

They are $99 now on RIM's employee website.

Thats a price point that makes sense to me for a tablet that has about 6 useful apps.

Do some tablets have more than 6? I know that there are more apps, but I wouldn't call fruit ninja or angry birds "useful"....

[J Diddy]

My work picked up a Playbook for me at the discount price and I played with it last night. It is a pretty decent device. The size is great, it is fast, the browsing is fast, the bridge to my Blackberry is pretty sweet, the screen resolution is nice, and it played the handful of videos I threw at it.

The app selection is pretty horrid but that may change with the Android app player. An SD slot would have been nice too.

It's not the ultimate tablet but for free it is fantastic!

[MaDMaN_26]

A guy at work told me the BB Playbook is getting a update of some sort in January that will alow it to dual boot (his words) to a Android OS or the BB OS, allowing all android apps to run on the tablet if you want. He said it will be as easy as pushing a button (ie. no effort like rooting a android smartphone) but he didn't know anything else about it including where I could find this info to read more.

I have tried googling around the subject but I'm not having much luck finding anything that specifically says what he claims... perhaps all he means is the android app player...

Anyone here familiar with what he is talking about? If what he is saying is true it may be the best, hardware wise, Android tablet you can buy for that price point... in the new year...

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by MaDMaN_26

A guy at work told me the BB Playbook is getting a update of some sort in January that will alow it to dual boot (his words) to a Android OS or the BB OS, allowing all android apps to run on the tablet if you want. He said it will be as easy as pushing a button (ie. no effort like rooting a android smartphone) but he didn't know anything else about it including where I could find this info to read more.

I have tried googling around the subject but I'm not having much luck finding anything that specifically says what he claims... perhaps all he means is the android app player...

Anyone here familiar with what he is talking about? If what he is saying is true it may be the best, hardware wise, Android tablet you can buy for that price point... in the new year...

It doesn't dual boot, it just runs Android apps come 2.0. However, since it can be rooted, some may be able to install an Android OS on it.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by silentsim

It doesn't dual boot, it just runs Android apps come 2.0. However, since it can be rooted, some may be able to install an Android OS on it.

So its more of a android emulation solution? Any word on how well that will work?