Android tablet?

David Betz

In spite of the fact that some here seem to think that Android was a flop, I'd like to buy an inexpensive Android tablet with the most recent version of Android to attempt some app development, maybe something that would talk to a Propeller. Anyone have any suggestions as to what tablet has decent quality but is still relatively inexpensive. I've been thinking about the Kindle HD 7" tablet but I'd kind of like a tablet with an SD card slot.

rosco_pc

if you don't mind getting a bit older tablet, I would recommend the ASUS Transformer TF101 with the dock. It has a very active developers community which is now getting 4.3 to run. I still shows up now and then. Otherwise go for the Nexus 7 (the latest which is under $300 is considered teh tablet to beat at this moment). The older one is still a very decent tablet

Heater.

But isn't the new Nexus the one developers hate due to various closed source and unavailable binary blobs being essential to boo the thing?

Also I think I heard it has no SD card slot and the battery is not replaceable. You might want to check that.

Martin_H

You can pick up the prior Nexus 7 32 GB model on a closeout for $180-$200 depending upon where you go. I've seen it at Staples for the price. While you don't have an SD card slot, 32 GB is pretty good for built in.

Heater, in general developers like the Nexus 7 because it is a stock Android experience. It's basically the reference design for 7" tablets.

Heater.

I guess that depend which developers. The Android app guys might be happy. The Android OS developers guys are not.
For example this guy:

Well, I see that people have figured out why I'm quitting AOSP. There's no point being the maintainer of an Operating System that can't boot to the home screen on its flagship device for lack of GPU support, especially when I'm getting the blame for something that I don't have authority to fix myself and that I had anticipated and escalated more than 6 months ahead.

JEAN-BAPTISTE QUERU

http://androidandme.com/2013/08/devices/new-nexus-7-may-not-get-factory-images-due-to-legal-issues-jbq-leaves-aosp-over-it/

Tor

Martin_H wrote: »

Heater, in general developers like the Nexus 7 because it is a stock Android experience. It's basically the reference design for 7" tablets.

The previous (Tegra-based) Nexus 7 yes, but the new one has a Qualcomm chipset and that's a very different story. I guess it depends a bit on what type of developer it is, app developers or other developers. App developers may not care much, but open source / Android kernel developers care a lot. http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/08/07/legal-issues-with-qualcomm-may-prevent-factory-images-for-new-nexus-7-flo-from-ever-being-published-jbq-strongly-implies/

Edit: Heater beat me to it.. but my link at least has that list of what reference devices were problematic (and that's basically all the Qualcomm-based ones)

-Tor

Whit

I have a Samsung Galaxy 2.0 7". I use it to browse the web mostly via wifi connection. It also allows the use of an SD card for additional storage.

My wife and kids all have original Kindle Fires. When I tried to use them on the Parallax Forums - to post - the keyboard would not come up. This worked fine on the Samsung, so I got it.

I think that this issue is resolved on the Kindle HD, but you might want to play with them all, depending on what you want to do. I have been happy with the Samsung, but my use is pretty limited.

Hope this helps...

Clock Loop

Galaxy Tab 2 ($170) is a nice tablet, I have the 7" version, it has a microsd slot, with the samsung dongle you can hook up a usb plug and talk to the android via ftdi(or bluetooth)

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/148964-Propscope-Galaxy-Tab-2-Android-4.1.1-Samsung-USB-adapter-you

David Betz

Thanks everyone for their suggestions. I may try the Galaxy 2 or the earlier Nexus 7 if I decide I don' t really need the SD slot. Mainly, I figured that would be handy for moving programs I develop over to the tablet but maybe that can be done just as easily with a USB connection.

Heater.

Oh yeah, it's pretty straight forward. Develop you code in the Android SDK, check it out on the simulator, download to phone/tab via ADB over your USB cable. I even managed to get some little experimental C++ apps running on my phone. That should be even easier now as Android is officially a supported platform of Qt now.

Martin_H

Thanks for the pointers to the dust up about the new Nexus 7. I hadn't heard about that, but I imagine Google and Qualcomm will work it out eventually.

I'm always amazed at GPU manufacturers freaking out over publishing drivers. Device drivers usually are fairly small and it's entirely possible for their competitors to reverse engineer them. Keeping the drivers closed only hurts the end customers who might decided to avoid their products in the future.

Tim-M

Thanks for asking this question David. I have yet to own a tablet (or smart phone) and have been thinking about it for a while...

The good feedback is very much appreciated everybody.

Karpovskaia

I have the Samsung galaxy 8.0. Awsome table.

Mickster

David Betz wrote: »

Thanks everyone for their suggestions. I may try the Galaxy 2 or the earlier Nexus 7 if I decide I don' t really need the SD slot. Mainly, I figured that would be handy for moving programs I develop over to the tablet but maybe that can be done just as easily with a USB connection.

I have and recommend both of these.

Samsung is my favorite because they appear to collaborate with developers. I especially like using "Team Viewer Quick Support" and Samsung (also SONY) have collaborated with TV so that those devices can actually be remote controlled. It's very useful for me to log-on to my customer's tablet in the event of a problem as many of them are thousands of miles from me.

If you want the device to be locked in a kiosk-type way, Sure Lock also has a special version for Samsung devices.

For app development, I mainly use Basic4Android but I also play around with "BASIC!"

Regards,

Mickster