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Just talked with Viewsonic about the G Tab

I just called Viewsonic to ask if they were going to be releasing updates in the near future to fix the G-tab problems. The girl I talked to was very nice (and I'm not just saying that because she said they keep tabs on xda-developers.com!)...but she couldn't provide a timeline or details about upcoming fixes or software. Bummer.
She did, however, mention that they're aware of the problems with Tap'NTap and that they're looking at ways to improve performance. I hope that means they'll be updating the drivers to use the 2nd core of the Tegra 2. I'm happy with that answer because I just want to know that the company is supporting its products. I'm pretty satisfied with my G-tab currently, but I really want it to run at it's optimal performance.
Just thought I'd share what I heard.

LOL!! Bye bye tapntap!

lostpilot28 said:
I just called Viewsonic to ask if they were going to be releasing updates in the near future to fix the G-tab problems. The girl I talked to was very nice (and I'm not just saying that because she said they keep tabs on xda-developers.com!)...but she couldn't provide a timeline or details about upcoming fixes or software. Bummer.
She did, however, mention that they're aware of the problems with Tap'NTap and that they're looking at ways to improve performance. I hope that means they'll be updating the drivers to use the 2nd core of the Tegra 2. I'm happy with that answer because I just want to know that the company is supporting its products. I'm pretty satisfied with my G-tab currently, but I really want it to run at it's optimal performance.
Just thought I'd share what I heard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spoke to Viewsonic Tech Support last night and, as usual, the guy was very eager to help, but didn't have a lot of answers. He did confirm that the 20 Dec release will update several things, like provide VTC software, keyboard update, TnT update, and a long list of other issues that appear to be repeat gripes from users...

Irish G said:
I spoke to Viewsonic Tech Support last night and, as usual, the guy was very eager to help, but didn't have a lot of answers. He did confirm that the 20 Dec release will update several things, like provide VTC software, keyboard update, TnT update, and a long list of other issues that appear to be repeat gripes from users...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too late to stem the tide of returns though. On a positive note, plenty of time for Roeby & Company to rest before the next source for a big update
Unless something comes by their paths earlier.....

Irish G said:
He did confirm that the 20 Dec release will update several things, like provide VTC software, keyboard update, TnT update, and a long list of other issues that appear to be repeat gripes from users...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is VTC software?

I think they just completely misjudged their market. They thought they could get away with a toy-like interface (clearly targeted toward Moms, with the "Grocery List" and "To-Do List" and photos front and center), but in this era when so many people have smartphones, the TNT stuff isn't going to cut it. Once you've seen an iPhone or Android 2.x in action, you're not going to want some sort of fake overlay. Especially when you KNOW that Android is running beneath it!
Lack of full Market and Angry Birds was also a killer error.
Now that I've got TNTLite, full Market, and Google apps syncing, this is exactly what I expected a tab to be--a big version of my phone. I knew that by getting one now I wouldn't get a fabulous *tab* experience (awaiting Honeycomb for that), but I did at least want the equivalent of my phone, on a bigger screen. Which I imagine is common.
XDA types and other folks in the know who see the specs on this thing and know that it has the potential to keep up with the first generation of Honeycomb tablets (and are willing to mod to make it useable) are the only thing coming close to preventing this from being a complete debacle for Viewsonic.
I wonder whether they'll truly get rid of TnT, though.

lostpilot28 said:
What is VTC software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
video teleconference - video chat software like Skype...

jacindc said:
I think they just completely misjudged their market. They thought they could get away with a toy-like interface (clearly targeted toward Moms, with the "Grocery List" and "To-Do List" and photos front and center), but in this era when so many people have smartphones, the TNT stuff isn't going to cut it. Once you've seen an iPhone or Android 2.x in action, you're not going to want some sort of fake overlay. Especially when you KNOW that Android is running beneath it!
Lack of full Market and Angry Birds was also a killer error.
Now that I've got TNTLite, full Market, and Google apps syncing, this is exactly what I expected a tab to be--a big version of my phone. I knew that by getting one now I wouldn't get a fabulous *tab* experience (awaiting Honeycomb for that), but I did at least want the equivalent of my phone, on a bigger screen. Which I imagine is common.
XDA types and other folks in the know who see the specs on this thing and know that it has the potential to keep up with the first generation of Honeycomb tablets (and are willing to mod to make it useable) are the only thing coming close to preventing this from being a complete debacle for Viewsonic.
I wonder whether they'll truly get rid of TnT, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could not have said it better myself.
I actually have a few people at work looking to buy these things as long as I can "fix" them.
Hilarious and sad at the same time that Viewsonic would release a product like they have.

I spoke to a sales rep at sears to see if they had any refurbs. She mentioned they still haven't sold one piece yet, and they've had stock a week prior to BF.

jacindc said:
I think they just completely misjudged their market. They thought they could get away with a toy-like interface (clearly targeted toward Moms, with the "Grocery List" and "To-Do List" and photos front and center), but in this era when so many people have smartphones, the TNT stuff isn't going to cut it. Once you've seen an iPhone or Android 2.x in action, you're not going to want some sort of fake overlay. Especially when you KNOW that Android is running beneath it!
Lack of full Market and Angry Birds was also a killer error.
Now that I've got TNTLite, full Market, and Google apps syncing, this is exactly what I expected a tab to be--a big version of my phone. I knew that by getting one now I wouldn't get a fabulous *tab* experience (awaiting Honeycomb for that), but I did at least want the equivalent of my phone, on a bigger screen. Which I imagine is common.
XDA types and other folks in the know who see the specs on this thing and know that it has the potential to keep up with the first generation of Honeycomb tablets (and are willing to mod to make it useable) are the only thing coming close to preventing this from being a complete debacle for Viewsonic.
I wonder whether they'll truly get rid of TnT, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to be a downer, but at the current return rates and no decent chance for a fix for the majority of people (non modders) until 12/20- The Gtablet may not be around very long. This product may be one of those firesale devices and then Viewsonic will flip the bill for that sale.
Not seeing how anymore than the current 60,000-ish will be produced. Not good business sense and would not be surprised to see the device rebranded, once a stable rom is made and shipped with the device (or a version of it).
No way anybody selling will be net positive for dollars with this device and Viewsonic had better have some cash accrued in their P&L for February. That will be the month of being accountable for this product. This will be in the seven figure zone for compensation. How can it not be?
This device shipped about two months too early. Still wild that the Advent Vega apparently does not have the problems out of box and also a Tegra 2. One month later release though.
added:
The mod community is the only reason return rates are probably not near parity with sales. My guess is the reason we have not seen more refurbs is a combination or presents wrapped up and shipments held from sale (either by not pushing sales or not releasing from warehouses).
It will take a firmware package miracle and good web page communication by Viewsonic to turn the sunami of returns away after Christmas.
Regardless, the Gtablet will be a legend for modders, but the net loss of margin for selling at discounts or refurbs will be rough for sellers. All 60,000 WILL sell, just not in the retail format as expected.

rushless said:
Not to be a downer, but at the current return rates and no decent chance for a fix for the majority of people (non modders) until 12/20- The Gtablet may not be around very long. This product may be one of those firesale devices and then Viewsonic will flip the bill for that sale.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree, but as long as we can keep Roebeet and Rothnic and a few others chained to their Gtabs, maybe we can get to Honeycomb. ;-)
If I have to buy a new tab next spring, it won't be the end of the world. I always looked at this as a toy to tide me over. But it might have the possibility of lasting a lot longer, at least in the XDA world. If not, I'll give it to Mom and Dad. In its TNTLite config, it'll work just fine for them.

rushless said:
This device shipped about two months too early. Still wild that the Advent Vega apparently does not have the problems out of box and also a Tegra 2. One month later release though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't necessarily agree with this. I don't think it's the timing of release compared to Android 3.0 that's the problem, or that it's the hardware. It just seems that Viewsonic COULD have offered better drivers and a lightly modified Froyo build right from the beginning. The G-Tab would work so much better if they had.
Hopefully, Viewsonic is listening and they release better drivers soon. I think the hardware is fantastic...it would be a shame to have to return this thing because they're too slow to fix the software issues.
I'm seriously crossing my fingers that the XDA rockstars get the Advent Vega MOD running. That would be fantastic.

I called around to my two local sears and asked if they had return units for sale. Both said no.
I, for one, want these to be succesful and to sell. Nothing worse than this whole thing being a flop and then Viewsonic dropping the product support for them. That means our chances of getting updated roms gets slimmer, especially stuff like honeycomb.

I don't think there's any doubt that some of the issues related to the tablet are due to its lack of hardware support from the actual mfrs, and Android. Some examples.. when this was launched, there wasn't even flash available (they had to wait on adobe for this). This can't be blamed on viewsonic, and it's unfortunate but ultimately they get the blame that it doesn't have flash. Why have they not included the "beta" plugin from Adobe? Perhaps because it's a beta version, and they're not allowed to package it in and release it.
We also have issues with the Tegra 2. Did Nvidia's QA dept or who knows what reason cause delays for the drivers to get to Viewsonic? Again, we don't know. I'm sure Viewsonic would've loved to package up the latest/best drivers, but the reality is that perhaps they weren't available.
Regarding Android, well, we all know some of the problems. Hardware acceleration for videos via Android and the Tegra 2 simply isn't there. The Tegra 2 does HW decoding of various formats, and it looks like it's not working. Again, is this android or perhaps Nvidia? Who knows really. We also have the issue with lack of dual core support in Android 2.2.
Anyway, point is, Viewsonic is certainly not the sole person to blame for a poor launch of this product and it being "incomplete." I'm sure the parties and circumstances caused a problem. I'm a dev myself, so I understand all the problems that could arise from a "new" device. I just figured I'd mention these things to highlight the possible problems that arise from such a device, for the non-techy folks. Perhaps they shouldn't have launched the devices until they were more functional, and yes that rests on Viewsonic.
Just my 2 cents.. I certainly understand people's frustration..

This is why everything else with Tegra is preorder. Waiting on flash, market, etc to become available first. Still I think Viewsonic would have cut their returns in half if they would have just left the overlay off.

My big worry is that roebeet and others are going to move (totally within their rights) on and we are going to be left with a device that Viewsonic is not going to improve through future updates due to poor sales.
Honestly, what roebeet and others have done is simply amazing and I am very appreciative for their work. However, Honeycomb is some time off and it is unknown whether DEVs will be around to keep the Gtab up to date.
Dan

Nvidia releasing a honeycomb build for developers is 90% of what we need. Like they did for Froyo. As long is Tegra2 is produced I'm not worrying.

lostpilot28 said:
I don't necessarily agree with this. I don't think it's the timing of release compared to Android 3.0 that's the problem, or that it's the hardware. It just seems that Viewsonic COULD have offered better drivers and a lightly modified Froyo build right from the beginning. The G-Tab would work so much better if they had.
Hopefully, Viewsonic is listening and they release better drivers soon. I think the hardware is fantastic...it would be a shame to have to return this thing because they're too slow to fix the software issues.
I'm seriously crossing my fingers that the XDA rockstars get the Advent Vega MOD running. That would be fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with you- point is Viewsonic is nowhere near ready with an out of box firmware package and non-mod consumers will treat the device as defective. Considering it shipped late October and assuming the 12/20 FW release is solid, it would be two months- hence my two months too early assertion.
Even if 60,000 is all that is made (I hope it is not the case), that still means plenty of devices floating around
Who knows, maybe VS will release a near-miracle update and communicate on their support page the status and a roadmap to more improvements. Communication like that via a published format on their web page for the product would be HUGE for customer trust
Not dogging the device proper (I still own one at $402 total)- but am dogging the out of box state for most consumers.

rushless said:
Not to be a downer, but at the current return rates and no decent chance for a fix for the majority of people (non modders) until 12/20- The Gtablet may not be around very long. This product may be one of those firesale devices and then Viewsonic will flip the bill for that sale.
Not seeing how anymore than the current 60,000-ish will be produced. Not good business sense and would not be surprised to see the device rebranded, once a stable rom is made and shipped with the device (or a version of it).
No way anybody selling will be net positive for dollars with this device and Viewsonic had better have some cash accrued in their P&L for February. That will be the month of being accountable for this product. This will be in the seven figure zone for compensation. How can it not be?
This device shipped about two months too early. Still wild that the Advent Vega apparently does not have the problems out of box and also a Tegra 2. One month later release though.
added:
The mod community is the only reason return rates are probably not near parity with sales. My guess is the reason we have not seen more refurbs is a combination or presents wrapped up and shipments held from sale (either by not pushing sales or not releasing from warehouses).
It will take a firmware package miracle and good web page communication by Viewsonic to turn the sunami of returns away after Christmas.
Regardless, the Gtablet will be a legend for modders, but the net loss of margin for selling at discounts or refurbs will be rough for sellers. All 60,000 WILL sell, just not in the retail format as expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid of that possibility as well. What's really sad is that Viewsonic had the chance to become the "iPod" of Android Tablets, but they're seriously blowing it. A product that works as bad as this out of the box will seriously discourage repeat buyers. Repeat buyers drives iPod sales, this won't happen for Viewsonic if these issues aren't addressed.
The enhancements that have been made in just a few weeks by the efforts of Roebeet, Rothnic, Bekit and others show the great potential with the existing hardware they're selling. Any of these releases is more like what Viewsonic should have released in the first place. I just hope that the Malata does better in Asia, it sounds like they're being pretty progressive about getting patches out there. If Malata succeeds at least there's hope for future upgrades/enhancements.
Reading the NVidia Tegra Development Forums it sounds like they've got 1080P running on their Tegra 250 Dev Kit, on linux at least. Can anyone shed some light on why the development for the Android doesn't seem to be keeping up? Is the 2.2 Platform incapable of that level of performance or are they instead concentrating their efforts on Gingerbread or Honeycomb for that performance boost? It seems some of this failure of delivering a better performing product lies in NVidia's lap, Viewsonic's software is another story. Looking over the latest "Advent Performance Pack" that was recently released, these are the files from the image that was released in the Tegra Developer Forums on 11/11/10. The Tegra 2 was shown to developers in January(or earlier) and only now have they released code to provide better performance for the Tegra 2? It's like they're sabotaging themselves by not utilizing their hardware to the best of it's abilities.
I'm confused by all of this, wouldn't
make a good product = sell more = make more money = make more on repeat buyers(upgrading)
make sense versus
release an immature product = loss on returns = customers will never buy from again?

dkhilo said:
The Tegra 2 was shown to developers in January(or earlier) and only now have they released code to provide better performance for the Tegra 2? It's like they're sabotaging themselves by not utilizing their hardware to the best of it's abilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the short answer is "things take time." The reality is that drivers do go through different iterations, and perhaps Tegra 2 (and possibly the drivers) would fare better in Android 2.3. Sometimes you just have to be patient, and rushing things can result in the Viewsonic tablet. I was trying to say that in my rather long winded post.

Google Nexus Tab is coming this fall?

It is being developed together with LG?
Oh well ... I was thinking Xoom is the Google Tablet ... might be not.
http://www.gizmocrunch.com/android/6127-google-nexus-tablet-nexus-one-s
If you thought the Motorola Xoom was supposedly Google's own device like the HTC Nexus One and Samsung Nexus S, you may be gladly mistaken.
Google Nexus Tablet to join Nexus One & S
Reports are now coming in suggesting that Google is working with LG to release a Google Nexus tablet with a newer version of Android Honeycomb (Android 3.1?).
With questionable sales and a somewhat "rough around the edge" OS, the Motorola Xoom while being the first Honeycomb tablet, may not be the flagship Android tablet after all.
The details come courtesy of Eldar Murtazin, dubbed the "James Bond of Smartphones" by Engadget. Murtazin states that the so-called Google Nexus tablet scheduled for release sometime in mid-summer or early fall.
Just like the Google Nexus One and Nexus S, this tablet will no doubt be packing new features that will remain exclusive to the tablet for sometime before rolling out to other manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

gogol said:
It is being developed together with LG?
Oh well ... I was thinking Xoom is the Google Tablet ... might be not.
http://www.gizmocrunch.com/android/6127-google-nexus-tablet-nexus-one-s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's the case I'm sure the xoom would get a port of this rom when/if it comes out

gogol said:
It is being developed together with LG?
Oh well ... I was thinking Xoom is the Google Tablet ... might be not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes sense... just like the phone side had the HTC Dream / G1 before the nexus one, the tablet side has the xoom to take the hit for all of honeycomb's bugs before releasing their own-branded hardware. It's the price moto pays for being first.

Everyone said, that the problem of Xoom is Honeycomb (3.0). If google brings a tablet with 3.1... i think the update from 3.0 to 3.1 of the xoom will be the same. The hardware of Xoom are not bad.

That's true ... the Xoom hardware is more than enough.
The only problem is the Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Once Google gave proper updates to make it more stable, less force close, it will all set.
OFNeo said:
Everyone said, that the problem of Xoom is Honeycomb (3.0). If google brings a tablet with 3.1... i think the update from 3.0 to 3.1 of the xoom will be the same. The hardware of Xoom are not bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Wow this is such BS. Andy Rubin has already said in interviews that the Xoom is Google's reference device like the Nexus devices. Wouldn't make any sense having another one. Either way I'm not worried about getting software updates. They're giving the a Xoom to developers to make apps for Honeycomb too.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

oh noo.. what should i do now?
XOOM is not yet release in the UK, hence i can still cancel my pre-order.
should i wait for the Nexus Tablet (not sure what to call it), or just go with XOOM?

i'm really confused with this announces...
I'll go this weekend to Miami, and i've planed to buy motorola xoom... but now...
First, the motorola xoom are heavier than samsung galaxy tab 10.1 and ipad2. but samsung have a lot of issues... My samsung galaxy S have the GPS broken... the touch wiz interface.. "i hate it" and RFS file system..
what can i do? buy motorola xoom? and die without upgrades? like milestone? buy ipad2 and die with itunes and IOS? glbenchmark said that his gpu is 10 times faster than tecra2...
i'm really confused with this.
-1 google...

Never believe Murtazin, he has no idea what he's talking about, all rumors he started was comlete BS, he's also likes to lick Steve's balls very much. I'm dead serious, Eldar Murtazin is just very bad, unprofessional "journalist".

I think we need to view the XOOM as the original DROID.
"stock" android 2.0 on DROID, followed rather quickly by the Nexus One.
Looks quite similar to me. With Honeycomb not being open sourced for the time being, I know I will be waiting now...

Yeah this kind of annoys me, having just bought the Xoom yesterday. I am glad it's stock honeycomb, I can't see the Xoom not getting future updates, and the hardware is darn good. Even after the tablets expo'd at CTIA I decided on the Xoom. We shall see I guess.

Google did put their name on the Xoom... They don't just put that on anything.
At any rate, no matter what you buy or when you get it, there's something newer, better, shinier, and faster right around the corner.
Sent from my Xoom

I am curious if Google is trying to take a larger hand in the hardware side of things, possibly encouraging news if they start to push updates them selves for many devices instead of 2.
Then again, they did hand out EVOs at IO...and it is far from Googles primary device.

Maybe Google/LG putting together a Tablet that will have the new processor Kal-El. Nvidia said that we are going to see tablets this fall whit Kal-El
http://blog.laptopmag.com/nvidia-de...power-of-tegra-2-but-with-longer-battery-life

April Fools comes early this year?
I think people should stop getting their panties all twisted at every tabloid rumor, or at least nudge their brains out of park. If you bothered to look, the rumor has a single source, and the same site (mobile-review) also stated that Android 2.x devices wouldn't get the license to upgrade to 3.0. Last I checked, you don't need a license to use Android.

e.mote said:
April Fools comes early this year?
I think people should stop getting their panties all twisted at every tabloid rumor, or at least nudge their brains out of park. If you bothered to look, the rumor has a single source, and the same site (mobile-review) also stated that Android 2.x devices wouldn't get the license to upgrade to 3.0. Last I checked, you don't need a license to use Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention this is a rumor for a tablet coming in "late summer or fall". Its March 28th right now so were a far way off from this...

e.mote said:
April Fools comes early this year?
I think people should stop getting their panties all twisted at every tabloid rumor, or at least nudge their brains out of park. If you bothered to look, the rumor has a single source, and the same site (mobile-review) also stated that Android 2.x devices wouldn't get the license to upgrade to 3.0. Last I checked, you don't need a license to use Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google may restrict what type of devices run Honeycomb so that a good user experience is maintained. I am sure there is something they can do if they really want to.

Actually, the licensing part comes wit hthe "Google" apps such as the market, they can deny access to that if they feel hardware and manufacturers don't meet their requirements.
That is how the platform works.

There is a vast difference between "may" and "will." Bill Gates may be the next Google CEO...or Charlie Sheen. The Earth may explode tomorrow from, you know, bad stuff in its core, and we won't have to worry much about anything else.
On licensing GApps -- It's not part of Android. While some may think this is a requirement to have for an Android device, it isn't. Lower-tier vendors have gotten around the issue with "unofficial" hacks. The one draw of GApps is market access, and with Amazon's store emerging as a credible alternative, what little leverage Goog has before is now even less.

The tablet exist and has Chrome OS.

Responce from Viewsonic on GB and HC

Hey All Check this out..
This is what i asked Viewsonic on Facebook.
Hello,
can you please let us know when we will start to see the release of Gingerbread 2.3 more stable version with the correct nvidia drivers. Nvidia is willing to work with viewsonic to get a stable and decent working rom for the gtablet. I know this seems odd but there has been about 4 tablets released after viewsonic gtablet that are currently runing Android honeycomb 3.0 and the Gtab is still running froyo 2.2. It is time for a upgrade guys. Please.
Also can you please release the source code for 1.2 to the devs this way we can get better roms built in the 1.2 boot-loader.
This is the answer that i got back.
1. When will we start to see the release of Gingerbread 2.3 more stable version with the correct nvidia drivers?
Answer: The gTablet is based upon nVidia's Harmony platform. Unfortunately, nVidia has chosen not to provide driver support on Harmony for either Gingerbread or Honeycomb.
2. Approximate release date of the source code for 1.2 to the devs this way we can get better roms built in the 1.2 boot-loader.
Answer: A release date is not yet scheduled.
This is what i replied back to them.
Hello
Thanks you for you response. There are a couple things.. Nvidia is not dropping support as per this Link and Nvidia directly. Please see this link. http://briefmobile.c...ms-drop-support
This is up to Viewsonic to push google to support Gingerbread and Honeycomb. Nvidia is willing to provide any kind of support for their recent and their upcoming products.
Also we are all patiently waiting for the release of a stable version of gingerbread. I know that google is holding off on releasing honeycomb but they are not holding off on gingerbread. It has been out and available to all. I would like to know from you as to an approx date as to when we will see this.
thanks
It Looks like viewsonic is Dancing around and playing games again..
What do u guys think...??

I'm going today to get a Xoom or Iconia A500 which unless they're the best thing ever, will be returned in the next 45 days for an Asus Transformer. Viewsonic's tablet is fine for browsing and reading docs/ebooks, but I find their lack of wanting to take excellent hardware and make it even better with excellent software disturbing.

muqali said:
I'm going today to get a Xoom or Iconia A500 which unless they're the best thing ever, will be returned in the next 45 days for an Asus Transformer. Viewsonic's tablet is fine for browsing and reading docs/ebooks, but I find their lack of wanting to take excellent hardware and make it even better with excellent software disturbing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you buy a new tablet to return it less than 2 months later?

muqali said:
I'm going today to get a Xoom or Iconia A500 which unless they're the best thing ever, will be returned in the next 45 days for an Asus Transformer. Viewsonic's tablet is fine for browsing and reading docs/ebooks, but I find their lack of wanting to take excellent hardware and make it even better with excellent software disturbing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah Why return? I love the A500.. why get the transformer? It doesn't have a rear camera flash or a USB port directly on it.. ips screen a plus yes, but not that big of a deal.. and the A500 will also have a keyboard dock too

m914b said:
.. and the A500 will also have a keyboard dock too
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Click to collapse
First time hearing this. Interesting...

To bad we cant get Nvidia to work with our devs. They are obviously more productive then Viewsonics.

US Merchants is (and always has) been the support mechanism for G-Tablet.
Apparently, Viewsonic has just thrown us to the wolves by passing the buck on that.

kxs783kms said:
First time hearing this. Interesting...
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Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure he's confusing the A500 with the W500. The W500, as a Windows tablet, has a dock. The A500 doesn't have the latch slots on the bottom like the Transformer and W500 (which has two holes, one on either side of the docking port, like the slots on the Transformer). There's no way for the A500 to stay secure in a keyboard dock.

jrm5035 said:
Why would you buy a new tablet to return it less than 2 months later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A selfish person is prone to selfish, self serving acts
Would you ask a wasp why it stung you, it's in the DNA.
I can't stand this mentallity of I'm not hurting anyone, it's a big corporation.
Back to the subject:
I only use my GTab for surfing and catching up with broadcast shows, via XFinity. I've got full blown laptops and desktops for more challenging endeavors.
At some point I'll get something like the specs on the Transformer, but I can wait.

LGCubana said:
A selfish person is prone to selfish, self serving acts
Would you ask a wasp why it stung you, it's in the DNA.
I can't stand this mentallity of I'm not hurting anyone, it's a big corporation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually agree with this statement. The rest of us have to pay a higher price for everything because there are always people wanting to take advantage of the system. A long time ago when I worked as an LEO, one night I forgot I had a mic attached to my uniform and made a politically incorrect statement. I had just arrested an illegal immigrant for DUI. While I was checking his vehicle for towing, I said to the tow truck guy "it's people like this guy that's making the rest of us pay more for our insurance." Well, that comment came back and bit me in the ass later.
I still stand by that comment, and I don't care how politically incorrect it was. People who use loopholes in the system make the rest of us pay a higher price for everything. Retail store theft each year cost us consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. And people who buy something to just try it out and then return it in a couple of months cause us all to pay a higher price for the said product. They also cause those who genuinely did not intend to use it for free but for one reason or other had to return the product can't return it for full refund.
I love my current profession a lot more. I don't have to be politically correct all the time like before. If I see someone taking advantage of the system at the cost of the rest of us paying for it, I say it.
Anyway, back to the subject. The gtab works wonderfully for my purposes. I currently use froyo, and I can't imagine myself moving on to ginger anytime soon. I like stability and speed a lot more than the latest and greatest.
That said, VS really is alienating us by being so resistant to supporting their own product. Until they get better with their support, I will not buy another VS product.

Gtablet could be good/Viewsonic Bad.......
Tried the a500, bad quality on the hardware so returned (qc dep failed on my unit, screen not seated correctly. Viewsonic had a hit, but have really dropped the ball on follow thru! Locking the bootloader was a strong message of intent. Here comes the heresy, bought a win7 tablet (CTL PC2go). As android will not yet do what I wanted a tablet for (everything from surfing to running programs storing transfering files,remote admin, watching netflix on the go, excel word powerpoint, corporate grade security). The build is excellent hardware quality wise, good horesepower for the buck too. Viewsonic goes in my never again bin (some companies have lost thousands of my dollars by getting into this bin). I am old school(cause I am older), every dollar I spend is an economic vote, and viewsonic is going to learn one day, gain a customer, treat them right, and you will soar as they sell your product for you, and buy from you again and again. Disregard a good customer, and they will tell twice as many to avoid you! Nice gadget, but without support that is all it will ever be!

Viewsonic Honeycomb Tablet

Viewsonic releasing 7 inch tab, tegra 2 processor running honeycomb at the end of May.

Hogtyde59 said:
Viewsonic releasing 7 inch tab, tegra 2 processor running honeycomb at the end of May.
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any proper details or maybe a source?

Slashgear,model 7X, pic posted.

http://www.slashgear.com/viewsonic-7x-bringing-the-7-inch-honeycomb-in-june-11151539/#entrycontent

I just googled it and found multiple sources confirming a launch at the end of June. I'm just curious, will this in anyway help the Gtablet? Such as support for roms if it has similar hardware? Just curious..

All through the 'I'm getting annoyed with Viewsonic' threads, I never felt the anger and frustration that others did. I'd like Honeycomb but figured Viewsonic was hamstrung like other non-privileged manufacturers into waiting for AOSP code to do anything.
But this? This puts me into a mutinous rage. Obviously they've got the code and the permission to put it on a tab, what's the problem with bringing it to the GTablet, which was built to spec for HC?
I'm dumbfounded.
On second thought: if they had this in the bag all along, maybe they figured nobody would buy this new tab if they could get a GTablet with Honeycomb?

spamhead said:
All through the 'I'm getting annoyed with Viewsonic' threads, I never felt the anger and frustration that others did. I'd like Honeycomb but figured Viewsonic was hamstrung like other non-privileged manufacturers into waiting for AOSP code to do anything.
But this? This puts me into a mutinous rage. Obviously they've got the code and the permission to put it on a tab, what's the problem with bringing it to the GTablet, which was built to spec for HC?
I'm dumbfounded.
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They probably want people to buy their new tab and migrate to their Viewpad line.

you want honey comb
check this out its still in the worlks but hes on his way to achive hc
http://www.rom-honeycomb-for-gtab.com/

Honeycomb on other tablets story

Yesterday I helped a friend install honeycomb on his Dell Streak7, which was a pain in my arse btw because their forums had no good instructions. It got me thinking hWHY does a 7 inch Dell Streak7 get HC with everything working and not the G tablet. WTF?? lol sorry i just don't get it. Did they just get lucky with video drivers and what not? Makes no sense to me. Then again i'm not a developer so maybe than it would make more sense. Thanks to those working on HC for Gtablet. Had to let that out. But with the question, does anyone know why a dell streak 7 ****ty tablet would have Honeycomb with everything working and the G-Tablet wouldn't?

Only a guess here, but perhaps the Dell Streak, being a crappy tablet, has a lot less hardware demand than the G-Tablet.

TJEvans said:
Only a guess here, but perhaps the Dell Streak, being a crappy tablet, has a lot less hardware demand than the G-Tablet.
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True, never thought about that....

I'm wondering if you can get Android Honeycomb on a Windows 7 Tablet and if it is difficult or not?

RedWolf023 said:
I'm wondering if you can get Android Honeycomb on a Windows 7 Tablet and if it is difficult or not?
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ya dude! totally possible. You just gotta rebuild the kernel from the ground up and figure out how to get android to run on an atom processor!

(gets on soapbox)
Why do we even need mods at all? (being serious here, not sarcastic) Some of the users here purchased their GTAB for $400, but even at $279 it's not chump change. Heck, you can buy an Xbox for that, a PS3 or a netbook.
So we get this device with really decent hardware specs (except the screen), but the software is AWFUL. So Google finally responds, months later, with Honeycomb. But...we're not allowed to have it. And Nvidia agrees as well - no hardware drivers for you!
This whole situation, when you look at it from the outside in, is really sad. We shouldn't have to do this at all - Google should be working with Nvidia and Malata to get HC out on these devices ASAP. It would be good for Google, good for the manufacturer, and good for the consumer. Everyone would win.
So, why hasn't that happened? This isn't a 100 dollar ChiPad that's disposable, it's a tablet from a well-known vendor. Honestly, it MS gets its act together and deploys Windows 8 on ARM, I might drop Android like a bad habit next year. We shouldn't have to play these games.
(ends rant)

[Initiating slow clap] Well spoken sir. I spent 400 for mine and in no way is this a throw away pad. Even at the prices today its no joke. Google, VS, and nvidia are all looking at Gtab like some sort of stillborn fetus. Just flush it and pretend it didn't happen.
If they wont listen I can at least speak my mind with my money. I just returned the nvidia SLI motherboard and the 2 blackhawk grafix cards I purchased for my next computer build project. In my email I told them I no longer trusted them to support their products and told them that when they stopped supporting 6 month old teck it left me no choice but to build using their competition.
Suck it nvidia.

If viewsonic chooses to release a 2.3 or 3.0 android version for the g tablet will nvidia release the drivers for hardware acceleration?
For our partners' Android devices, NVIDIA provides support until the hardware partner chooses to no longer support the device. So, for instance, NVIDIA will support the Xoom on all versions of Android Motorola requests until Motorola ceases to support the Xoom. The same goes for ViewSonic with the G-Tablet, Notion Ink with the Adam, Acer with the Iconia, LG with the Optimus 2X and so on.
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http://developer.nvidia.com/tegra/forum/honeycomb-harmony

Just words, as far as I'm concerned. Where's the Harmony build for Gingerbread, with hardware acceleration? We're still waiting on that. Should we blame Malata for not wanting Gingerbread or Honeycomb badly enough? I find that hard to believe. We know Notion Ink wants it.
Just words. Like Viewsonic telling us that they will continue to support the device and give us updates (and even, at one point, subtly allude to Honeycomb) and then not give us an updated ROM (that stuck) since January.
Again, let them prove me wrong. Let's see a GB ROM with full hardware acceleration, this month. Or let's see Viewsonic / Malata get us a HC ROM, this month. Shock me, I'd love it if they did that. But I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Isn't it obvious that google is beginning to act more like microsoft?
I honestly don't think viewsonic meant anything big out of the gtab. I'm thinking someone was drunk and decided to sign the papers agreeing to rebrand the gtab. The gtab's rise in popularity through the word of mouth took them by surprise and now they have no idea what to do next.
Viewsonic has instead decided to spend all their energy on pushing the viewpad 10 into the business world. So far, it's been a big failure. Not only that, they are coming out with the viewpad 10pro, which will be prised at around $800.
Sometimes, I don't understand why these mega corporations just let things slide like that.

roebeet said:
(gets on soapbox)
Honestly, it MS gets its act together and deploys Windows 8 on ARM, I might drop Android like a bad habit next year. We shouldn't have to play these games.
(ends rant)
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Agreed, the BS we have been feed has put me right off the whole lot of them. Id love to see a ARM version of windows on this thing, the idea of a OS that actually utilises the device correctly makes me smile Oh how great this thing would be with a OS that actually supported the device correctly.

TJEvans said:
Only a guess here, but perhaps the Dell Streak, being a crappy tablet, has a lot less hardware demand than the G-Tablet.
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Off topic I guess, but I played with a Dell Streak 7 for a couple of days while selling it for a friend. My god, what a terrible, terrible machine. The viewing angles are basically the same as the gTablet, but the resolution is so low it's comical for a 7" screen, and the battery life reminds me of my old MotoQ -- sucks the same amount of power awake as it does asleep.
The only pluses were that it was reasonably fast, and that the feel and heft of the tablet was good, would've made a nice eReader if the screen wasn't so bad.

dfin13 said:
Off topic I guess, but I played with a Dell Streak 7 for a couple of days while selling it for a friend. My god, what a terrible, terrible machine. The viewing angles are basically the same as the gTablet, but the resolution is so low it's comical for a 7" screen, and the battery life reminds me of my old MotoQ -- sucks the same amount of power awake as it does asleep.
The only pluses were that it was reasonably fast, and that the feel and heft of the tablet was good, would've made a nice eReader if the screen wasn't so bad.
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Ya i noticed those faults as well and still frustrated My friend has a Fully Working Verison of Honeycomb with Hardware accel, camera, flash, and opengl in browser. WIth honeycomb the tablet actually is pretty zippy.

Since Atom Ink wants GB/Honeycomb so bad. Why cant they request the hardware drivers from NVIDIA? Technically according to what the NVIDIA guy said, that is 100% possible.

RedWolf023 said:
I'm wondering if you can get Android Honeycomb on a Windows 7 Tablet and if it is difficult or not?
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The Android x86 project has made tremendous progress since the last time I looked. They don't have a Gingerbread-based distribution yet, but, they have fully working Froyo-based CDs which you can try out on your desktops, laptops and netbooks.
If you want to port any kind of Android to x86-based hardware this is where you'll have to start.

fosser2 said:
Since Atom Ink wants GB/Honeycomb so bad. Why cant they request the hardware drivers from NVIDIA? Technically according to what the NVIDIA guy said, that is 100% possible.
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That's my point - I suspect that they have. And yet it hasn't materialized. If I was Notion Ink, I'd be sending them emails daily asking for this - it's definitely in their best interest to have it. And Malata, as well.
Again, I think Nvidia is full of it.

roebeet said:
That's my point - I suspect that they have. And yet it hasn't materialized. If I was Notion Ink, I'd be sending them emails daily asking for this - it's definitely in their best interest to have it. And Malata, as well.
Again, I think Nvidia is full of it.
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I wonder if there's anyone that we could contact at Atom that would give us a straight answer about this question.

Just look at Notion Ink's blogs - I think it's fairly obvious what's going on. They had a GB port, but no hardware acceleration. Nvidia is either unwilling or unable to help them get their Adam device working on GB.
Granted, they have mentioned June 27th as the date to get the Adam devices HC. So maybe they did strike a deal with them. And if they did, where is Viewsonic? If the Adam gets HC on the 27th, I think everyone with a GTablet should be tweeting / emailing / calling Viewsonic that day saying "what about us?".

roebeet said:
Just look at Notion Ink's blogs - I think it's fairly obvious what's going on. They had a GB port, but no hardware acceleration. Nvidia is either unwilling or unable to help them get their Adam device working on GB.
Granted, they have mentioned June 27th as the date to get the Adam devices HC. So maybe they did strike a deal with them. And if they did, where is Viewsonic? If the Adam gets HC on the 27th, I think everyone with a GTablet should be tweeting / emailing / calling Viewsonic that day saying "what about us?".
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Unfortunately someone at viewsonic seems to think that your suggestion sounds a little too much like "work" and have abandoned us completely. I email and call VS almost daily but all I get are canned responses or detours to some tech number in a foreign country.
How can it be that simply ignoring a problem is actually a solution in this day and age?

roebeet said:
Just look at Notion Ink's blogs - I think it's fairly obvious what's going on. They had a GB port, but no hardware acceleration. Nvidia is either unwilling or unable to help them get their Adam device working on GB.
Granted, they have mentioned June 27th as the date to get the Adam devices HC. So maybe they did strike a deal with them. And if they did, where is Viewsonic? If the Adam gets HC on the 27th, I think everyone with a GTablet should be tweeting / emailing / calling Viewsonic that day saying "what about us?".
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how much was the NI Adam brand new at release? And comparitively how much was the G-Tablet brand new, at release? What's the price for continued support?