Database Users

Give me some reasons why I should get a Xoom and trade my iPad 2

I want to hear from Xoom users some advantages on getting the Xoom. I currently have an iPad 2 and it's cool but there is no JB for it yet. I saw some articles on Google IO today and was amazed at the USB host support which would make it awesome for emulators.
What are some advantages you guys think would be? I currently own an Evo so I'm familiar with Android. I'm more interested in knowing the cool things you can do with it. I found someone in CL who is interested in trading his Xoom for my iPad 2. Thanks.

Reason #1, it gets you away from Kool-Aide drinking mac-bots who think everything has to be white.

Anyone else have a constructive response?

gqstatus0685 said:
I want to hear from Xoom users some advantages on getting the Xoom. I currently have an iPad 2 and it's cool but there is no JB for it yet. I saw some articles on Google IO today and was amazed at the USB host support which would make it awesome for emulators.
What are some advantages you guys think would be? I currently own an Evo so I'm familiar with the Evo. I'm more interested in knowing the cool things you can do with it. I found someone in CL who is interested in trading his Xoom for my iPad 2. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those of us who show our loyalty to google will be rewarded with land and women once the takeover is complete.
Additionally, flash is neat, USB hosting, I'm fairly siked about google music. Greater customization. I'd wait to see how 3.1 runs but it looks very promising in the dev notes.

you are not bound to itunes, you can customize your UI, your notifications wont interrupt you, its positioned to be compatible with a ****load of other devices, hdmi ready, amazon and sony love android

gqstatus0685 said:
Anyone else have a constructive response?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is that not contructive? Apple confines you to their standards. Time to open up and do what the user wants to do....Coca-cola taste a ton better than Kool-Aide

Best advice I can give you is just read the reviews and see if you like it. Seriously read up.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Upcoming ice cream sandwich!
Sent from my Evo using XDA Premium App

http://cameradojo.com/2011/04/20/my-take-on-android-tablets-vs-ipad/

dunno why you need convincing ... just check out the features and play with one at a best buy.

Is Google Body available for the Xoom? I'm interested in that. I'll still have my 1st gen iPad so I don't mind trading it in. Are their any cool things you can do with it like connecting bluetooth devices, etc?
One thing I hate about the iPad 2 is the camera. I took a picture of my daughter up close and it was so blurry I thought she was a UFO. I think it's rated at under 1MP.

MitchRapp said:
dunno why you need convincing ... just check out the features and play with one at a best buy.
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Click to collapse
I played with one at Best Buy but it was molested beyond recognition. There was so much stuff scattered all over the screen I didn't have the patience to look through it. I wanted input from someone who owns it and has played with it for over a month.
Are the apps catching up? What I mean by this is are there a lot of tablet apps out yet or just phone apps.

gqstatus0685 said:
Is Google Body available for the Xoom? I'm interested in that. I'll still have my 1st gen iPad so I don't mind trading it in. Are their any cool things you can do with it like connecting bluetooth devices, etc?
One thing I hate about the iPad 2 is the camera. I took a picture of my daughter up close and it was so blurry I thought she was a UFO. I think it's rated at under 1MP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see, something you could have easily checked online Google Body is one of the "made for Honeycomb" apps. It was released along with the XOOM.

gqstatus0685 said:
I played with one at Best Buy but it was molested beyond recognition. There was so much stuff scattered all over the screen I didn't have the patience to look through it. I wanted input from someone who owns it and has played with it for over a month.
Are the apps catching up? What I mean by this is are there a lot of tablet apps out yet or just phone apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plenty of tablet apps and "tegra HD" apps available.
Also, pretty much every app I've tried that didn't specify Honeycomb support worked anyways. the "HD" games are spectacular (youtube "pinball HD honeycomb" ... it's 2.99 USD (2.84 CDN haha) and it rocks.

multitasking, much better webexperience than safari, flash support
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

Starting a thread like this is just to fan the flames of fanboyism. Don't come on this forum and try to stoke fires. Go try them out and make your own decisions.

I actually purchased the Ipad 2 and received it about 2 weeks ago. It took me less than a week to call Apple and request and return package. I then went into Best buy and purchased a Xoom.
Here are the reasons why:
- FLASH: I watch videos online all the time, and most of them are sites that use flash
- Being able to just download a mp3, an image, or even videos right from the browser and save it wherever I want to
- Being able to open the downloaded file with the app I want
- Being able to connect my Xoom to my PC at work and transfer whatever file I want
- Being able to customize my homescreen to my liking
- Notifications
- Widgets (I just hated that fact that I always had to go to the settings to activate bluetooth or wi-fi for example
- Now with Honeycomb 3.1 announced, I'm really not regretting buying the Xoom

h_zee13 said:
I actually purchased the Ipad 2 and received it about 2 weeks ago. It took me less than a week to call Apple and request and return package. I then went into Best buy and purchased a Xoom.
Here are the reasons why:
- FLASH: I watch videos online all the time, and most of them are sites that use flash
- Being able to just download a mp3, an image, or even videos right from the browser and save it wherever I want to
- Being able to open the downloaded file with the app I want
- Being able to connect my Xoom to my PC at work and transfer whatever file I want
- Being able to customize my homescreen to my liking
- Notifications
- Widgets (I just hated that fact that I always had to go to the settings to activate bluetooth or wi-fi for example
- Now with Honeycomb 3.1 announced, I'm really not regretting buying the Xoom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'm going to pull the trigger and do the trade. I still have an iPad 1st gen so I can fall back on the apps I love like Netflix. Hopefully they hack other OS's on the Xoom like Linux. Thanks for all the positive responses from the few of you who weren't just looking to increase your post count.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

In short, it's not quite a slick as the iPad 2 and there are nowhere near enough tablet specific apps, but imo the browser is better, it's more customizable, google maps is far better as is the multi-tasking. But you should know that HD videos will require re-encoding due to the Tegra2 chip and it's limitations.

I think the biggest reason you have already mentioned in your post.
Jail-break.
iPad2 is a Jail. It needs to be broken.
I used to be an iPhone user (3GS and 4G).
I am sick of being told you should do things this way and if you don't , you are screwed.
Xoom and all other android device brings me "freedom" in what I OWN.
Specifically in terms of functions
0. Flash
1. You get much better camera (5mp back, 2mp front facing)
2. You have the rights to root it, install customized roms/themes
3. You can install third party apps freely.
4. You can flash kernels to overclock your CPU to 1.5Ghz while iPad 2 is stuck at 1G max
5. You have strong Dev community to create stuff. as long as there is a need. Apparently it requires certain level of computer proficiency but from what you mentioned, you definitely have it.
6. You have google rolling out more and more exciting updates and with an open source concept, the market share of Android will bypass iOS by much and developer community will definitely notice this part of the market and create apps (commercial apps) around it.
7. many apps you know what is going on because you can see source code.
8. To someone who may worry that iPad apps are more than Honeycomb apps, I think at the current rate of brining new apps to platform, it wont be a problem a few months later at all.
9. Oh, you can install and dual boot Ubuntu in it.

[Q] Christmas Present for 5 boys?

I am looking for a tab(like) device for a christmas present for each of my boys. We travel a lot to family and they are used to playing their DSs and PSPs but would the KF be a solid replacement (emulators...)? Battery life/durability/price and fuctionality will be the deciding factor. They enjoy games (birds and such) on my phone and using my phone as a wifi HS in the car, it makes sence not to spend the extra money for a 3G tab.
If the KF is not the answer would a NC(rooted) be a more acceptable item?
Other ideas?
Thanks

Why would you want to replace the PSPs and DSs? Are the boys unhappy with them? Both devices have a solid backing.
In general, I think the Fire would probably work out ok, especially since you do a buy-once-share-to-all on apps, books, and music (I'm assuming each boy gets his own).

get them the new ps vita (new psp) that's coming out for the holidays.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda premium

Two use their DSi(s) and the PSP has gone by the wayside. I am pushing the tab issue due to is versitility (apps/learning/games/music/video). I dont feel they are ready for their own laptop. Ages are 12,11,10,9,7 .... 3 and 5 months but the later two are not considered in the equation, unless someone pops up with a water proof model.
I have been looking at the NC, I dont have an issue rooting it and making it more versitile.

The Fire wouldn't be a bad way to go for what you want, but myself, I would go ahead with the laptop instead. Snag a couple of older models for $100 or so off Craigslist, let them get the hang of things on before handing them something nicer.

Little812 said:
Two use their DSi(s) and the PSP has gone by the wayside. I am pushing the tab issue due to is versitility (apps/learning/games/music/video). I dont feel they are ready for their own laptop. Ages are 12,11,10,9,7 .... 3 and 5 months but the later two are not considered in the equation, unless someone pops up with a water proof model.
I have been looking at the NC, I dont have an issue rooting it and making it more versitile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My 2 year old daughter loves the Nook Color and iPad. On the iPad she can wake it, unlock it, swipe to the page she wants and launch apps. I suspect the fire will be just as easy. the Nook Color takes more work to make it toddler friendly. But your kids are old enough that either the NC or Fire would be easy to pick up. I personally would pick the Fire over the Color if I had to pick. The experience isn't as smooth as I hope it will be on the Fire. I would guess because it's essentially a hacked together piece of kit and a slower processor.

I think you'll have an easier time deciding when all the reviews come out.
But I can tell you that my nephews absolutely love the rooted nook color they have and the Kindle Fire will almost certainly be better.

For your kids? I'd wait and read User Reviews and not the Professionals once the device is out for a while.
A lot of semi-negative info is floating around on "scalability" and what it can or cannot do (the AF, that is).
Kids get bored quickly and a device (any device) that one cannot modify, add to or otherwise personalize may or may not be a good long term solution.

Thanks all around. The wife and I discussed it last night and we are going to wait before pre-ordering and look at some reviews.
Thank you all for your responses.

FYI: Nook Color refurb for $149 at Buy.com
They're not really refurb, they're new units with full 1-yr warranty from B&N. They're labeled that way presumably to clear inventory w/o impacting the official price.
I've gotten 3 refurbs from various discount vendors, and they've always been new. Since I open up my electronics to tinker, it's easy to tell when a device is new as vs been serviced.
http://www.buy.com/prod/nook-color-...ed/q/loc/111/221376447.html?sellerId=31227291
The good thing about the NC over the KF is that it's already supported by CM, and when ICS drops, it'll be one of the first to get it.

I just bought 3 of these (after buying one,) for my boys - 11, 9, and 8.
These are really ideal for kids, especially since you can easily limit their access to stuff if you choose to.
If you know how to hack these, then they are REALLY ideal. You can remove the Silk Browser (or, move it somewhere where it can't easily be found.)
They DO NOT have access to the Google Market - Good THING!
By disabling one-click, you can allow them to download free apps, but not spend any money - IDEAL.
You can setup e-mail on them pretty easily.
They can watch Netflix, Hulu (watch out for age appropriate content - Hulu doesn't limit this as yet,) or even certain shows on Amazon, if you have Prime.
They can read eBooks from the Amazon store, or check out eBooks from the local library.
Kids aren't usually as picky about interfaces. The Bookshelf Launcher is perfect for them.

[Q] Debating

I am interested in the Kindle Fire and wanted to know what you guys feel about it. I want a tablet but dont want to break the bank and I also want to be able to put ICS on it. Is the Kindle Fire a good choice?
I was also wondering if you guys would recommend the KF over a windows tablet? I wanted to see what you guys think. Thanks in advance!

Let's put it this way... you'd have to GIVE me a Windows tablet in order for me to have one because I'd never spend money for it.
M$ may have good apps (Office suite), but I'm still not convinced that they have a good OS, something about reinventing the wheel. Give me a unix-flavored OS any day over Windows.
I'm obviously biased.

I dont mind biased answers lol! Doyou have a KF?

Yes, sorry, should have mentioned that I guess.
I purchased it around the new year and put ICS on it about a month ago and I'm not looking back. Yes there are still some issues (HW accel - related), but I don't have a need for that currently, so it's not bothering me.

I can't comment on the windows tablets, but the KF is a great device that is getting a lot of 3rd party development support behind it. It doesn't have loads of memory or storage capacity, but it's done everything I'd want it to do and then some. If you want an ICS tablet, is there really any competition at the $200 price point?

Isn't asus memo coming out soon for 250$
Just buy a kindle and then sell it when memo comes

Thank you for the replies! I ordered a KF last night on amazon.

I think you will like it. I have both a KF and a windows tablet (HP).

Official Nook HD/ HD+ Discussion (thoughts, tweaks, and hacks)

Just wanted to know if you guys are still rooting for Barnes & Noble and it's product development efforts.
Check Engadget's hands-on videos here:
Nook HD
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/26/barnes-and-nobles-nook-hd-7-inch-android-tablet-hands-on-video
Nook HD+
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/26/barnes-and-noble-announces-nook-hd-9-inch-tablet-we-go-hands-on/
I personally thinking about getting the Nook HD which looks really great... but then again, the Nexus 7 has a front-facing camera. I'm still thinking about it.

Looks awesome, if you're a tinkerer. Assuming it's rootable and there are good ROMs for it. I don't think it's going to do so well with the average consumer though. B&N just doesn't have the clout to provide the best user experience. The price alone is pretty compelling though. Yes, having no camera is sad, how often do you really use it though? Plus the Nook has an SD Card slot which is so cherished by many.
I'm considering purchasing my first tablet, and I'm on the fence between the Nook HD+ and the Kindle Fire HD 8.9. The biggest influencing factor for me is how much/often it gets quality ROM releases, which is impossible to predict. If I knew the Nook would get good ROMs, the price would be the deciding factor. I would jump on it instantly. Right now I'm leaning toward the Nook, and hoping the ROMs will come.

The HD+ looks great! Lets hope for an unlocked bootloader. the $269 for a 16GB model makes it a winner in the 9" category.
{I do hope that they 'll make available to European buyers this time}

Pluses for me:
1) Price - both the HD and HD+
2) Relatively light weight
3) Expandable micro-SD storage
Minuses:
1) (and a big one) proprietary connector!
2) +/- locked bootloader (probably like Nook Tablet). Not impossible to work around, just harder.
Lack of front-facing camera (on the HD+ especially) is a meh for me. Would make sense if the Nooks had a built-in Skype-style app.
Just my $0.02.

New BN Tablets
A Mighty "Hooray"!!!
I actually cannot believe that my long wait for an affordable HD tablet with an 8.9 (actually 9 inch) screen is now here courtesy of BN!
Having a screen that was the size equivalent of a "trade paper (back)" has always been my goal for both reading and video purposes.
Under $300., with excellent performance stats, and with at least ICS 4.0 makes my mouth water. No camera is simply not an issue for me and with my Galaxy Nexus, tethering is a breeze for those few times when I might need cellular access.
I cannot imagine what a rooted version with JB would be like. I would want at bare minimum to have this be dual bootable, especially in light of the "potential" of the new BN video service.
Of course one needs to see some thorough reviews first but this is the first unit to meet all of my internalized criteria to move me off of my original and rooted (dual boot) NC. Hardware "dreams" can all too frequently become major disappointments!
I am currently running both 1.4.2 and CM 7.2 with both dual booted from the internal eMMc. I do almost all of my book reading with it. It is a tolerable form to use (size wise) in terms of my personal reading experience (also video). Have never liked it for magazine viewing or browsing.
9.7-10.1 have always been larger than I wanted to tote around and this new HD+ now has nailed my personal "sweetspot"!
Looking forward to seeing how it performs in the real world and how quickly it can be rooted and modified.

I was just getting ready to step up tot he table when I saw the emails today.
Now I just don't know, I think I will wait and see if it can be rooted. I use my Kindle app way too often
to not have it anymore. My rooted Nook Color will have to suffice, I'm sure that the devs will get on this one soon!
I don't want to give up my Nook Color case though! LOL

It has the same weak point as the previous Nooks (which I have been happy with for 2 years)
How hard is it to add a Microphone (for Skype, Free Phone Calls, Voice Search etc)?
That would make it perfect, without a need for another device.

traumadog said:
Minuses:
1) (and a big one) proprietary connector!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
B&N claims the proprietary connector lets the tablet charge faster, if that eases your conscience. But we all know it's just a way to get people to spend on accessories.

my only qualms is the lack of a camera....
if they are truly trying to target Amazon and try to compete they need to include a Camera on the tablet at least....not necessarily the HD but c'mon...9" tab without a camera....a lot of people won't buy it simple because of that...i'm not one of those people but it still will deter customers...
other than that...price and looks and specs are all top notch imo and if i do upgrade to a bigger tablet i will probably go with the HD+

foshoshin said:
B&N claims the proprietary connector lets the tablet charge faster, if that eases your conscience. But we all know it's just a way to get people to spend on accessories.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only positive of this one is that the previous super-duper multipin connector broke so easily that heck, I'm happy to try another type of connector if it actually might not break off after a few weeks of use.
Overall though...if the boot loader can be cracked (presuming there is one, which I suspect there will be since B&N just doesn't get they'd be a lot better off incentivizing people to buy product rather than attempting to force them to when they just don't have the inventory to compete) $299 for a 32 GB 256 DPI is somewhat ridiculous. Glad I haven't bitten on the Nexus 7, and we'll have to see how the big Kindle with the small data plan looks, but B&N may have just done it again on the performance/price point game even if this is never going to appeal to the plug it in and turn it on market.

What's a chance of this thing getting a CM10? I want a good high res 9inch android tablet with sd slot for a while now. Well I would prefer SDXC over microSD though. If this one have lock bootloader, then what can we expect? Decrapified ICS maybe?

Bluetooth?
Anyone know if any of the new Nooks have BT - seems that they will be missing a lot if they do not. Samsung, IPad, Google, etc. mostly all have Bluetooth.

docfreed said:
Anyone know if any of the new Nooks have BT - seems that they will be missing a lot if they do not. Samsung, IPad, Google, etc. mostly all have Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many sources I found are saying that they do indeed have bluetooth.

Unless you had developers mad scrambling to code up a new locked bootloader, I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader as the one on the nook tablet that is already out now, which has the bootloader already cracked. If that is the case then it would be ready for customizing with a custom firmware as soon as it is released.
From the way some of the developers are working away with the cyanoboot app for the nook tablet I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader, their has been lots of activity up in the nook tablet XDA forums recently with that app.
I am seriously thinking of getting the new nook tablet HD when it comes out here in a few months just for the hardware specs.
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If you guys want to try to get cyanogenmod endorsed for this upcoming device I made a few threads up in the cyanogenmod forums at these links here you should start bumping. http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/59466-nook-tablet-discussion-thread/
And this thread here too. http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/59468-request-cm-10-and-cm-11-for-the-nook-tablet/
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Bumping those threads over in cyanogenmod showing some interest in getting a forum up for the nook tablet and the new nook tablet HD would help get things rolling for this new device. I feel this new nook tablet HD has lots of potential with others helping out to become the next new device to develop on, like how the nook color took off last year.

Who doesn't love car analogies?
I'm guessing u-boot (the bootloader) on the Nook HD will be locked down, just as the NT was, and that they will have made bauwks' hack impossible. I think the security tends to improve (from their point of view) with each iteration, so I assume bauwks' bootloader bug-fix will have been undone.
I happen to believe the N7 is a far, FAR superior tablet option for just about everyone. IMO, the Nook and KFire are a bit like selling you a sports car with the tires removed and brake pedal welded down and marketing it as a four seat, five-speaker CD-player (that only plays BN and Amazon CDs). And Amazon's "radio" plays ads when you turn it on.
This is the reason I've never bought (indeed, never used) a NookTablet, and have no intention of buying or using a locked KFire either. I find the artificial restriction to use the product to its full capability to be extremely condescending and cynical to the customer. And I see the locked bootloader as a major design flaw. Yes, Amazon and BN need have to have a business model to make money, and I support their right to do so. But notice that Google actually trusts its customers -- even encourages them-- to experiment and push the boundries of what they think you can do with YOUR computer that you bought with YOUR money. It's almost like Google actually believe in themselves as a company... trusting that they have a good software experience and content offerings that beat the competition. And they may be right. Because, it's funny-- with all the hackers out there, I haven't yet heard of any N7 (or any device) owner who elected to "close down" their tablets with an effort to try to run BN's or Amazon's OS so they can experience the fully-limited, tightly-controlled e-book experience.
Anyway, the above is just my opinion at the moment. Who knows, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and the Nook HDs will be unlocked... but I doubt it.
meteorrock said:
Unless you had developers mad scrambling to code up a new locked bootloader, I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader as the one on the nook tablet that is already out now, which has the bootloader already cracked. If that is the case then it would be ready for customizing with a custom firmware as soon as it is released.
From the way some of the developers are working away with the cyanoboot app for the nook tablet I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader, their has been lots of activity up in the nook tablet XDA forums recently with that app.
I am seriously thinking of getting the new nook tablet HD when it comes out here in a few months just for the hardware specs.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If you guys want to try to get cyanogenmod endorsed for this upcoming device I made a few threads up in the cyanogenmod forums at these links here you should start bumping. http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/59466-nook-tablet-discussion-thread/
And this thread here too. http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/59468-request-cm-10-and-cm-11-for-the-nook-tablet/
~~~~~~~~
Bumping those threads over in cyanogenmod showing some interest in getting a forum up for the nook tablet and the new nook tablet HD would help get things rolling for this new device. I feel this new nook tablet HD has lots of potential with others helping out to become the next new device to develop on, like how the nook color took off last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Fattire just erased all my doubts about getting the N7. My mind's made up! I'll go and get the N7!!!
Sent from my BlackBerry 9700 using Tapatalk

fattire said:
I'm guessing u-boot (the bootloader) on the Nook HD will be locked down, just as the NT was, and that they will have made bauwks' hack impossible. I think the security tends to improve (from their point of view) with each iteration, so I assume bauwks' bootloader bug-fix will have been undone.
I happen to believe the N7 is a far, FAR superior tablet option for just about everyone. IMO, the Nook and KFire are a bit like selling you a sports car with the tires removed and brake pedal welded down and marketing it as a four seat, five-speaker CD-player (that only plays BN and Amazon CDs). And Amazon's "radio" plays ads when you turn it on.
This is the reason I've never bought (indeed, never used) a NookTablet, and have no intention of buying or using a locked KFire either. I find the artificial restriction to use the product to its full capability to be extremely condescending and cynical to the customer. And I see the locked bootloader as a major design flaw. Yes, Amazon and BN need have to have a business model to make money, and I support their right to do so. But notice that Google actually trusts its customers -- even encourages them-- to experiment and push the boundries of what they think you can do with YOUR computer that you bought with YOUR money. It's almost like Google actually believe in themselves as a company... trusting that they have a good software experience and content offerings that beat the competition. And they may be right. Because, it's funny-- with all the hackers out there, I haven't yet heard of any N7 (or any device) owner who elected to "close down" their tablets with an effort to try to run BN's or Amazon's OS so they can experience the fully-limited, tightly-controlled e-book experience.
Anyway, the above is just my opinion at the moment. Who knows, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and the Nook HDs will be unlocked... but I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well spoken. The only thing that holds me back from getting a Nexus though is the limited storage space. But others might not be so picky on storage. I just love the additional storage space on the nook series and that they give you that microSD slot. 64 GB storage on top of the 8 GB on the nook color I have right now.
I am the kind of kid that needs at least 100 full music albums and 20 or so more movies on the go, and riding on the school bus does not supply wifi for that cloud of theirs. Yet I know I am the minority. Give me moar storage, lol. I know lots of others living in rural areas and/or traveling in parts of the world not covered by wi-fi also find that extra storage given by the included microSD card slot is a must have. And that is TONS of people.
~~~~~~~~
So nexus 7 is also trying to shut out a part of their business to others by limiting storage on their top devices, and not including an internal storage slot. I am sure they know that or they would of released a device to include more additional storage for others.
Thanks for helping develop for us in any case <fattire> I hope to see you develop on the nook tablet too. { Non cynical comment of course }
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You are right on that locked boot-loader, did not think of that. I am sure they will submit a patch on that locked boot-loader to defeat that hack. Such a shame. There might be some tablet being developed right now by Google that will give others the option to add storage and the newest android builds, I just do not understand why its taking so long or if they are deliberately holding back on releasing such of a device to force others into "cloud" use. I am sure it does not cost that much to implement that hardware on a device, I would buy it even at a few dollars more.

docfreed said:
Anyone know if any of the new Nooks have BT - seems that they will be missing a lot if they do not. Samsung, IPad, Google, etc. mostly all have Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it will have Bluetooth. Here is a specs list straight from B&N, LINK, section 1.2 - 1.5 is all most people will care about.

meteorrock said:
There might be some tablet being developed right now by Google that will give others the option to add storage and the newest android builds, I just do not understand why its taking so long or if they are deliberately holding back on releasing such of a device to force others into "cloud" use. I am sure it does not cost that much to implement that hardware on a device, I would buy it even at a few dollars more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it's the 2nd one. Google purposely trying to force customer to use cloud storage. The problem here is that we also have greedy telecom on the other side that will nickle and dime your for every GB if they could and they have no incentive to improve their network capacity & coverage. We also have a weak FCC that don't do much. FCC should have done away with itself license spectrum and force the telecom to be a dumb pipe and every one just be like MVNO. That way we end up w/ more competitive market rather than oligopoly market. Sure if we have affordable unlimited LTE everywhere right now, then cloud storage make a lot of sense. And that if we aren't gonna saturate the bandwidth. Imagine even if everyone pulling movies and music over the LTE network in metropolitan area, the network would suck so hard that everyone will be pulling less than 1mbps. I don't think Google will have a new tablet anytime soon or w/ removable storage for that matter. Not until google realize that they are fighting with the wireless telecom and they have to be a telecom themself.

doubtful
meteorrock said:
Unless you had developers mad scrambling to code up a new locked bootloader, I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader as the one on the nook tablet that is already out now, which has the bootloader already cracked. If that is the case then it would be ready for customizing with a custom firmware as soon as it is released.
From the way some of the developers are working away with the cyanoboot app for the nook tablet I would assume the new nook tablet HD will come with the same bootloader, their has been lots of activity up in the nook tablet XDA forums recently with that app.
I am seriously thinking of getting the new nook tablet HD when it comes out here in a few months just for the hardware specs.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If you guys want to try to get cyanogenmod endorsed for this upcoming device I made a few threads up in the cyanogenmod forums at these links here you should start bumping
~~~~~~~~
Bumping those threads over in cyanogenmod showing some interest in getting a forum up for the nook tablet and the new nook tablet HD would help get things rolling for this new device. I feel this new nook tablet HD has lots of potential with others helping out to become the next new device to develop on, like how the nook color took off last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HIGHLY doubtful! they'll update the bootloader just like they did with the tablet, and, if you think otherwise, no offense, don't kid yourself
also... nook tablet has been out for almost a year and STILL only has nightlies (let alone a beta). again, no offense, but i'm seriously losing hope of EVER seeing a final version of cm10 (with a working 3.0 kernel (let alone bluetooth, mic, hw video accelleration) :\

Convince Me To Buy An OUYA

Hey everyone!
I've been on the edge about the OUYA for a while now and am thinking that this thing could either really take off or be a pretty big bust. At $99 I feel like this could be a great media streaming device with some basic games on the side. I'm currently deciding between this and the ROKU 3.
If the OUYA eventually gets some FPS games like MC4 where you can use online gampelay and get direct support from Netflix and other streaming services this could be a great product for me. My thing is, do I really wanna pay $99 for this thing only to find that it eventually gets no dev support?
Also, I understand you can sideload apps and do all that stuff, but this is an entertainment and gaming device. I have a rooted GS4 and N7, so if I wanna sideload apps and flash a bunch of custom roms I'll use one of them. When I turn on my OUYA I want a flawless experience without having to do anything to it.
So convince me why I should buy the OUYA.

Because its cool. What else are you going to spend a hundred bucks on?
Why should we convince you? It doesn't affect us whether or not you get one

Because you will be ahead if the revolution. You'll be cool before it was cool.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

Nxxx said:
Hey everyone!
I've been on the edge about the OUYA for a while now and am thinking that this thing could either really take off or be a pretty big bust. At $99 I feel like this could be a great media streaming device with some basic games on the side. I'm currently deciding between this and the ROKU 3.
If the OUYA eventually gets some FPS games like MC4 where you can use online gampelay and get direct support from Netflix and other streaming services this could be a great product for me. My thing is, do I really wanna pay $99 for this thing only to find that it eventually gets no dev support?
Also, I understand you can sideload apps and do all that stuff, but this is an entertainment and gaming device. I have a rooted GS4 and N7, so if I wanna sideload apps and flash a bunch of custom roms I'll use one of them. When I turn on my OUYA I want a flawless experience without having to do anything to it.
So convince me why I should buy the OUYA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got my Ouya last week. I was excited at first, but I literally played with it for 10 minutes and it is a POS. It has since been listed on craigslist and is sitting in a corner of my room. And guess what, not one person on craigslist has contacted me about it. The firmware is buddy, the games look terrible, there is no Netflix support as of yet. Not ready for primetime.

For a media streaming device, its not really there yet. You would be better served with the Roku.
Remember though, the device hasn't even been released for the general public yet. It's only been out of most of the Kickstater for a few weeks (some are still waiting). I finally started tinking with mine yesterday. It's definitely in a more or less, beta stage.
Basically, what you said is basically what people are doing. Getting APKs from their other Android devices, side loading, and seeing what works. Some try tweaking the APKs to get to work better. Related, but not on point, there are no, or very few custom roms for the device thus far. It's not a device for the flashaholic.
As you implied, there is a bit of redundancy of having it and another Android, such as Galaxy S4 or Nexus7. This is device that you can leave hooked up to the TV, whereas the others, not really since you'll want to take them on the go; I don't believe the N7 can be hooked up the TV.
I say it something to get if you like tinkering with an Android device, And can live with it that it may not work exactly like you hope. For me, I like the Ouya device. Yet, it has all the things I like, and hate, about the Android platform. End of the day, it is still an Android device.
Although, the Roku 3 will serve your media stream needs, at least most of them, you're not going to get MC4.

acetkbez said:
I got my Ouya last week. I was excited at first, but I literally played with it for 10 minutes and it is a POS. It has since been listed on craigslist and is sitting in a corner of my room. And guess what, not one person on craigslist has contacted me about it. The firmware is buddy, the games look terrible, there is no Netflix support as of yet. Not ready for primetime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do know that you were correct in saying it's not ready for primetime yet, right? I mean they've even said that, maybe not in those words but still. If you've only messed with it for 10 minutes, then you have missed 99% of what it can do.
to OP: If you are looking for a super Android based media machine, this might not be for you. Why? Because it's a brand new concept, the first of it's kind. Will it have the capability to match or even surpass the Roku's of the world? I believe so, but not without some tinkering. There is a LOT it has to offer and at $99, it's a good deal.
The thing comes out of the box ready for apps to be downloaded both from the web and from the OUYA market. I think the term sideloading intimidates people, but the truth is getting an app on this thing is as easy as opening the built in browser, googling the app you want, and clicking download. This gets even easier when you install AirDroid and you can do it all from your laptop!
So what I'm trying to say is out of the box without tinkering you still have access to almost all non-drm Android apps. NOt all of them look right, but so far many work good.
As for the buggy stuff, as someone else mentioned, this is more of a beta phase than anything else, I suspect we'll see a large update in the next week before official release.
So if you want a rather powerful little device to play some good games (including the fact it has (or will have) all the emulators for Atari to PS1 on the OUYA market), with the potential to blow away what a ROKU can do, your $99 could not be better spent, but if you want something that is a sure thing for media only, get the ROKU.

Thanks for all the above everyone. I think I'm going to wait a little bit and see how things go. It sounds like a real cool device, but it really has its own little niche.
I'm not bashing on it or anything, but right now it doesn't seem to be really good at anything from what I've heard from you all.
It doesn't have great games and isn't a product for gamers. Doesn't have the media streaming services.
Until OUYA gets a deal with Netflix or a solid FPS comes out, I'm going to sit back and wait. I really want this product to succeed because it seems like it could be really functional and portable.
If I missed anything or you would like to correct me on anything please do. I'm open to all thoughts and opinions.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

Netflix's app just need tweaking for the controller input. Some have had better luck with it. I know I can bounce around with Sixasis controller enabled on my Galaxy Note 2 better than I was getting on the Ouya. Kind of odd. This is going to true for all media streaming apps. Some just may work better from the get go, so the updating/tweaking may be very minimal.
There are some good games. Chrono Blade looked nice and played well. I only played a few minutes. I briefly checked out Monster Boxing. Reminded me of Punch Out!. Its typical of situation of when a console launches. Couple gems, lots a mediocre, and even more crap.
Some of of what you ask is subjective. We don't know what kind of games you think are good. We don't know unbuggy something can be and still be a good experience for you. Don't know how much you like, want, or need to tinker. We're just trying to give a more objective facts based on experience and reading so you can decide a little more informed.
And thing is true, it's definitely a niche product. And most likely, any Android "game" console is going to be niche

acetkbez said:
I got my Ouya last week. I was excited at first, but I literally played with it for 10 minutes and it is a POS. It has since been listed on craigslist and is sitting in a corner of my room. And guess what, not one person on craigslist has contacted me about it. The firmware is buddy, the games look terrible, there is no Netflix support as of yet. Not ready for primetime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try to get more for it than what you paid? Theres some one where I'm at trying to sell one for more than it cost them. Plus not knowing how to tell if he has the good controllers or the bad ones makes me nervous about buying his. Also you knew what you were signing up for right?

JLCollier2005 said:
Because it's a brand new concept, the first of it's kind. Will it have the capability to match or even surpass the Roku's of the world? I believe so, but not without some tinkering. There is a LOT it has to offer and at $99, it's a good deal.
So if you want a rather powerful little device to play some good games (including the fact it has (or will have) all the emulators for Atari to PS1 on the OUYA market), with the potential to blow away what a ROKU can do, your $99 could not be better spent, but if you want something that is a sure thing for media only, get the ROKU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say this is the first of its kind. There are many China Android boxes out there that run pure Android. These Chinese boxes already do Netflix. However, none of the China Android boxes in the market right now have Tegra3. They're all dual core processors with some Mali400 graphics component. The difference in graphics ability is big enough between Tegra3 and the Mali chips on the China Android boxes to convince me to pick Ouya over the currently available choices. The China Android boxes can just play HD, but there's not a lot of headroom, and they cost about the same as the Ouya. The Ouya is a better value. You get a controller (now fixed) and a high profile American company over a non-responsive Chinese manufacturer.
If we don't get any developer support for a pure Android ROM, that means the Ouya could do 2 solid things:
1) local media player (XBMC). Local meaning media files from your network, not Netflix media.
2) small games and game emulator
That is enough to satisfy me for a $100 device. That's because I'm not a Netflix user. The Roku, for about the same price, wouldn't add any more capability. The China Android boxes might have a slight lead because they run pure Android. Realistically, the China manufacturers will eventually be making Tegra3 level Android boxes running pure Android. Probably by the end of this year. And these boxes would rival the Ouya in terms of functionality.
I haven't been keeping up with the development work. What are the chances that we'll see a pure Android ROM for the Ouya? I know that's a subjective question.

Asadullah said:
Plus not knowing how to tell if he has the good controllers or the bad ones makes me nervous about buying his.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A bit off topic but can you tell me what made the bad controllers bad? I have heard people say there were problems, but not what the problems were.
coachclass said:
I wouldn't say this is the first of its kind. There are many China Android boxes out there that run pure Android. These Chinese boxes already do Netflix. However, none of the China Android boxes in the market right now have Tegra3. They're all dual core processors with some Mali400 graphics component. The difference in graphics ability is big enough between Tegra3 and the Mali chips on the China Android boxes to convince me to pick Ouya over the currently available choices. The China Android boxes can just play HD, but there's not a lot of headroom, and they cost about the same as the Ouya. The Ouya is a better value. You get a controller (now fixed) and a high profile American company over a non-responsive Chinese manufacturer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the China boxes might be out there, it's not something I'd go through again...I've bought plenty of things from China that never worked or worked right. I will say you are right about there being other options, though, but I meant more official.
coachclass said:
If we don't get any developer support for a pure Android ROM, that means the Ouya could do 2 solid things:
1) local media player (XBMC). Local meaning media files from your network, not Netflix media.
2) small games and game emulator
That is enough to satisfy me for a $100 device. That's because I'm not a Netflix user.
I haven't been keeping up with the development work. What are the chances that we'll see a pure Android ROM for the Ouya? I know that's a subjective question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XBMC already "kinda" supports OUYA. I say it that way because it's a known fact that you can get it up and running the same way you have to on your phone/tablet and that the people at OUYA are talking to the people at XBMC, so I think it's likely we'll see that in the market as soon as a stable release is found. I believe the same goes for Netflix. I am a netflix user and would love to see HD netflix on this thing, which shouldn't be hard, but it's not my main concern right now. WIthout the Google Architecture, them managing DRM on the thing shouldn't be too hard.
As for games, I'm not sure if "small games" is the correct term. Sure, they won't be Playstation 3/Xbox 360 quality, but I think people will be surprised at how much devs can push this thing! The ball is a good example of pretty good graphics, better than I originally thought possible, and it can only get better. While I didn't buy it with the thought of it being used as an Emulator, that's one of the main things I've done with it. Most recently I got PPSSPP to work on it and actually played a game.
As for development work, I know people are already working on builds, some already running in alpha, so I do believe we'll see some stable pure android ROM's sooner than later, although personally I wouldn't be using one. I like the structure that OUYA has laid over it and plan on keeping it that way, even if I am in the minority with that idea.

JLCollier2005 said:
A bit off topic but can you tell me what made the bad controllers bad? I have heard people say there were problems, but not what the problems were.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buttons sticking and not reacting as quickly as they should. Ouya did offer to replace any ones that was messed up like that and fixed the problem but some people didn't know that.

Asadullah said:
Buttons sticking and not reacting as quickly as they should. Ouya did offer to replace any ones that was messed up like that and fixed the problem but some people didn't know that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah okay. I should make sure I didn't get any messed up ones, I haven't tried my second controller. Thanks!

I regret buying the OUYA. There's not enough to it. Not enough games. The idea was great, and with the millions upon millions of kickstarter funds I sure expected more.
Wish I got the ROKU HD instead.

Muckrak3r said:
I regret buying the OUYA. There's not enough to it. Not enough games. The idea was great, and with the millions upon millions of kickstarter funds I sure expected more.
Wish I got the ROKU HD instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not enough games? Can you tell me the last console that released with 154 (and counting since it's not officially released) games/apps? It's unprecedented. I don't know what you (or many others like you) expected, maybe you expected it to be more like a phone or tablet (and if that's the case, I can understand where you're coming from, I thought the same thing until I really thought about it).
The OUYA is doing things no other console has ever done, but people are not seeing it. The simple fact is that OUYA didn't (and shouldn't) put all the money into it day one, they need to think of the longevity of their product and their company.
Could they have done more? Sure! One thing is they should have thought about first party games. With the amount of money they made, they could have had a select few working on some top notch games for release. Being a brand new company, they struggled in getting support, however some big names have signed on to test the waters. With some good support, I wouldn't be surprised to see console quality games ported to the OUYA. Not as good graphics, of course, but that was never expected.

JLCollier2005 said:
Not enough games? Can you tell me the last console that released with 154 (and counting since it's not officially released) games/apps? It's unprecedented.
The OUYA is doing things no other console has ever done, but people are not seeing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really think the Ouya is doing something that no other console has ever done. There has been several Android set-top boxes out before Ouya. They run pure Android. Ouya is just bringing a game store to the Android set-top box idea. I wouldn't say it's revolutionary. I think some of the games that are out are just existing games from the Android play store anyways.
And I'm saying this as a pre-order customer for Ouya.

I have a Roku 3 and it is amazing. I am a cord cutter and got my sisters Time Warner and HBO Go login. I have Hulu Plus and Netflix. I also use Blockbuster and Amazon on Demand. The roku3 is butter man. Two leagues of their own. The Roku has magnificent streaming capabilities and never drops video. It balances bandwidth but never drops. It has a wealth of video watching. Games on the Roku3 are fun but an afterthought/gimmicky.
Ouya is a game console primarily and should be considered as such. My android devices can do Netflix and stuff but typically drop and have to rebuffer often. Some video services like Hulu Plus don't even work on Ouya yet.
I want an Ouya and recommend getting both but I would buy the Roku3 over the Ouya first IMO.
It just all depends on your priorities. We can play games on our cellphones but the family can't watch TV on one. If you have an alternative TV service like cable and streaming is not a priority then pick up a Ouya and see if it will suffice in place of both. I know my wife wouldn't use a game controller to control the TV.
Like previously stated, the Ouya is merely a new interface right now. Once it gains its foothold I think unique games will start to spruce up and it will take off.
I'm buying one just for multiplayer controller support, something no other android device can successfully do from my experience. My MK808 and N7 all see multiple controllers as the same player1 controller. I'd like to be able to play some old school Mortal Kombat and Mario Kart with my son and buddies.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Muckrak3r said:
I regret buying the OUYA. There's not enough to it. Not enough games. The idea was great, and with the millions upon millions of kickstarter funds I sure expected more.
Wish I got the ROKU HD instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll trade you my first gen Roku XDS and MK808 with external Antenna mod and a RC11 AirMouse.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Muckrak3r said:
I regret buying the OUYA. There's not enough to it. Not enough games. The idea was great, and with the millions upon millions of kickstarter funds I sure expected more.
Wish I got the ROKU HD instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This kind of response astounds me, but I'll just address one tiny point. The money given to OUYA. I hope everyone realizes that even including the venture capital $$, OUYA funding barely matches the advertising budgets for the big two, right. I mean, the Xbox 360 took five (?) years to become profitable. The idea that a device running Android, funded by kickstarter, and planned and developed in a year for release to retail, and then immediately viewed as a bad value in comparison to the big two is just mind-boggling.
It's not perfect, but it's great for its intended use.
/end rant
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I agree. I just launched. Right now it is piggy backing off of the Android market but that is just the icing on the cake. With Mobile games becoming more and more advanced, it is nice to have the ability to play both. But that isn't what the Ouya is about. The Ouya is about CREATING a platform for people to build games out of their basement and get them public. Not all great minds work for a big company. Look how Minecraft took off. Minecraft NEVER would have been able to build directly for a console.
There are tons of fun games to play right out of the box for free. No other console does this. Aside from emulators, the Ouya is about an idea, spawned from the little people who just want to make and play games. Buying an Ouya doesn't just buy you an Ouya, but supports the idea that games don't have to cost $60. Perhaps if MS/Sony/Apple/Nintendo wouldn't charge so damn much just for stupid licensing and fees, we might live in a totally radical world right now.
If you can't appreciate the Ouya, then you can't look past your nose to see the big picture. It just isn't a purchase but an investment into a totally new way of creating and playing games. I, for one, cannot wait to see how the Ouya blossums and develops over the next year. If you are looking for instant gratification then the Ouya might fail you today. I think it is a worth while purchase just to have a dedicated emulator machine that plays on the big screen.