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[Q] Cheap coffee table Tablet

Hi,
Having had my Samsung GS2 for a few months now, I would really like a lot of the functionality on my coffee table.. the ability to do some web surfing on a larger screen, check emails, etc. But, of course, I don't want to spend a fortune!
So, I was wondering what gotchas I need to look out for around the cheaper end of the market for 7-10" tablets. It seems there are some dirt cheap no-name ones available.. like under £100?!
Many seem to run quite old versions.. do I need to care what version of Android it is running? Can I always just disregard the OS that it comes installed with and instead put on the latest Cyanogenmod or similar build instead? Is Cyanogenmod relevant to tablets? From what I understand of this, it's current core is Gingerbread, and I'm not sure I understand whether that supports tablets and their larger resolutions, or whether Honeycomb is the correct path. Is there a similar project to Cyanogenmod but aimed specifically at tablets?
I'd probably expect a Wi-fi-only model.. my thinking is, if I was away from home with it and wanted a mobile data connection, I could just tether my SGS2?
I'd like to be able to hook up to a TV via HDMI to play films - is that quite a regular feature of these devices, or would I need to look carefully for one with HDMI out? Is mini-HDMI just a small connector / converter lead?
I guess what is confusing me right now is the quite wide range of prices I'm seeing.. some tablets are around the £100 mark or even less (think I saw a Hanspree the other day), while many are up at £300+. Does that reflect the next gen hardware, i.e. Ghz-and-up and dual cores?
TIA,
JJ

Dude, Not a exactly match for the price range, but I suggest you the Dropad A8. Multitouch capacitive, It is fast, has mini hdmi output, usb host (where you can plug a 3g modem, gps or rj45 adapter). It is able to play every movie (rmvb even) and game I put on it

Looking for a decent laptop...

Hey everybody I'm in the market for a new computer and I'm getting a laptop for several reasons. Anyway I am looking to be able to build aosp ROMs from source for my galaxy nexus. I have been told I should get something with at least 4gbs of ram. How much HD space should I get? I will be putting Ubuntu on it when I get it. I've been looking online at some different models, not sure if I see anything I like or can afford lol. Price range BTW is like $300-500. Maybe a little more. Thanks in advance for any insight

Well, my standard question is "why a laptop"? You could build a very decent desktop for that price. I understand needing portability - but what kind of power needs to actually be portable? Desktop + Chromebook (or other low-priced solution) could even possibly be squeaked out, very nearly in that price-range. You could skip a video card in the desktop at first, and if you don't play video games probably wouldn't miss it too much.
Anyway, if you still really want a laptop, I'd ask you to think exhaustively about what you'll do with it. Any video games? Anything that needs a good GPU? AMD still has some good deals when it comes to laptops without a dedicated GPU (if you don't need one) - and at your price point will outperform any integrated Intel ones. You can get a laptop with dedicated GPU in your price-range, but it really depends on what you need.
I don't think HDD space is a huge issue - I'd want at least 350-500Gb,but could make due with less. It depends on what you're going to put on it. I know some people can tear through terabytes with HD video collections. If you plan on having a lot of "collection" type data, an external solution might be best - and/or a backup disk, always good to have.
At your price range, I'd look for sales, "scratch and dent" deals, and used machines.
I had an Inspiron for a while and I and everyone I've know who had one ended up with problems / failures. On a whole, a desktop is likely to be around longer - since failures are inevitable and at least you can easily access and replace them I a desktop.
I'd probably check out Craigslist if I was you - see what people are selling locally (since shipping will add quite a bit)
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Will mobile devices take over electronics?

Ever since ~September of 2012 when Windows 8 was released and I tried it for the first time, I have been giving this idea a lot of thought. Mobile devices are becoming so powerful and more and more people are ditching their computer for an iPad / other tabet, which is almost equally as powerful as their old computer. Take the newly announced Tegra 4 APU. It has 72 freaking graphics cores!!!!! I run a laptop with a Geforce 555M that has 96 cuda cores, and I use that for intensive gaming. That is insane! What would ANYONE need 72 graphics cores on a mobile device for? The most graphically intensive android game I can think of off the top of my head is NOVA 3, and honestly, does that need a quad core processor, 72 graphics cores, and (probably becoming standard). 2GB of ram? NO! So why do companies pack those rediculous specs into a phone/tablet for? Does anyone else remember the days of a 1GHz single core Athlon processor on a desktop, and that was considered the best? Now dont get me wrong, I'm not saying we should throttle mobile devices just for the sake of throttling them, but I am trying to get my point across that there is no reason for those kinds of specs to be packed into a device that was originally intended to make calls.
I'm not ranting/raving or anything. Sorry if it comes across that way. I'm just curious to see if anyone is still out there that isn't converting to an average consumer who just cares how many gpu/cpu cores and how much ram they can get into a 4" cell phone.

My dad was never big into computers. Now that he has a smartphone, he says he hardly ever uses his desktop. So, for a lot of people, I think that their mobile devices can perform and replace the functions of a "for pleasure" desktop. Obviously, this is not going to cut it for the kind of gamer who cares about overclocking and liquid cooling - there's just more freedom with a custom desktop build, but I'm sure they'll appreciate mobile gaming, too - I know I do.
A phone might be a little small for web-browsing, but not everyone is big into that. Apps for e-mail, Facebook, eBay - those cover a lot of "normal" use.
And a 10" tablet is a good size to enjoy full web-browsing. For me, personally, it's not entirely the same, but it's close enough for most of my uses. I still prefer the desktop for some things, but I can do them without much trouble on the tablet, too. For me, a tablet with keyboard has taken the place of a laptop - I still like having a desktop for movies, games, and backup - but a tablet covers all the things I needed a laptop for. I think a lot of people can find that is true, who don't use their laptops for much "heavy lifting" - they'll find that a tablet is smaller, lighter, and does a lot of things very well.
With the lowering price of tablets, I do think that they will be able to take a good part of the consumer market that will find they don't need a laptop or even desktop (and we know that desktops have already been on the way out for the average consumer).
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app

The GTX 680M (Nvidia Kepler card for laptops) is running on 1184 or so CUDA-cores.
The high end desktop Keplers I can't recall, but it's safe to say that the less than hundred cores in the Tegra 4 SoC really only tells you one thing:
Mobile units just cannot -at least for a very long time- replace stationary electronics.
I don't remember the clock speed of the Tegra cores, but the Kepler cards run at over 1GHz.
When materials allow power supply, battery lifetime and passive cooling comparable to what is available to a stationary unit, then mobile units will replace them.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium

I think that there will always be a need for desktop computers, at least in the foreseeable future. Mobile devices are good and quite convenient for media consumption, but try doing any kind of serious work on one. Electronics will continue to become more and more miniaturized, and it's possible that one day desktops will simply be a thing of the past, but we still have a long way to go.
(Here's hoping that we see holography in our lifetimes!)

Holography already exists, and not just the fake kind, Google it
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Extrinsic said:
I think that there will always be a need for desktop computers, at least in the foreseeable future. Mobile devices are good and quite convenient for media consumption, but try doing any kind of serious work on one. Electronics will continue to become more and more miniaturized, and it's possible that one day desktops will simply be a thing of the past, but we still have a long way to go.
(Here's hoping that we see holography in our lifetimes!)
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I think it depends on the consumer. Most consumers are ditching desktops for laptops. The laptops in some cases function just like a desktop would, almost always at home and plugged in - but people are staying away from machines that aren't portable more than ever.
Desktops are certainly still needed for heavy lifting - gaming and many work applications. But for a person who's not in a tech field, a laptop can do all the word-processing one could need as well as email and simple company applications. People who use computers as an accessory tool, not a primary one, don't need a desktop since a laptop can provide the same power they'd have gotten in a bigger, immobile box. And this way they can work from the couch or kitchen table.
Tablets aren't going to take over things like word-processing, although I can see farther in the future the modular concept expanded upon (I use my ASUD Transformer for word-processing quite often).
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[Q]PC Streaming with a GTX 560 Ti?

I'm really disappointed by Nvidia's given requirements for PC streaming. I have an EVGA GTX 560 Ti, which still outperforms the 650. So will it be possible to stream with my 500 series card, or has Nvidia blocked them from being able to stream period? If so, and I really do need a 650 or above, that's a bad move by Nvidia in my opinion and it feels like an effort to get me to buy a 600 series card.
EDIT: Well, I think I found the answer myself. Now I understand that 600 series cards are "Keplar" cards that have built in technology designed for streaming to devices, something that 500 series cards don't have. That makes sense, but still that's such a bummer. I have my fingers crossed for some kind of workaround or an app that will let 500 series cards stream. I don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars more for a new card right now.

VinceIP said:
I'm really disappointed by Nvidia's given requirements for PC streaming. I have an EVGA GTX 560 Ti, which still outperforms the 650. So will it be possible to stream with my 500 series card, or has Nvidia blocked them from being able to stream period? If so, and I really do need a 650 or above, that's a bad move by Nvidia in my opinion and it feels like an effort to get me to buy a 600 series card.
EDIT: Well, I think I found the answer myself. Now I understand that 600 series cards are "Keplar" cards that have built in technology designed for streaming to devices, something that 500 series cards don't have. That makes sense, but still that's such a bummer. I have my fingers crossed for some kind of workaround or an app that will let 500 series cards stream. I don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars more for a new card right now.
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You can use other Apps like Splashtop HD. But there is no way to use nVidia' streaming service.

sontin said:
You can use other Apps like Splashtop HD. But there is no way to use nVidia' streaming service.
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Not true YET.
OP try this, I know that thread is talking about mobile cards but the post I referenced has let me connect to a GT 620 computer (not that i needed to).

Razer Forge TV and uses for the Nexus Player

So the Forge TV was presented at CES and I'm pretty interested at his ability to stream game from the pc, even if it's not an high-end one. But the software use for the stream, Razer Cortex: Stream, will cost 40$ which I find pretty annoying. Let's hope that it can be install on the Nexus Player. And maybe with the introduction of this device it will give abump to the development of AndroidTV which is on the neutral. Any thoughs?

cityle said:
So the Forge TV was presented at CES and I'm pretty interested at his ability to stream game from the pc, even if it's not an high-end one. But the software use for the stream, Razer Cortex: Stream, will cost 40$ which I find pretty annoying. Let's hope that it can be install on the Nexus Player. And maybe with the introduction of this device it will give abump to the development of AndroidTV which is on the neutral. Any thoughs?
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It might give it a bump, just like Sony's, Sharp's, and Phillips' TVs. Also, you can bet that Steam's streaming will work on Android TV.
I'm not interested in the Razer Cortex, though, because it will likely break due to Razer's commitment to manufacturing quality hardware.

cityle said:
So the Forge TV was presented at CES and I'm pretty interested at his ability to stream game from the pc, even if it's not an high-end one. But the software use for the stream, Razer Cortex: Stream, will cost 40$ which I find pretty annoying. Let's hope that it can be install on the Nexus Player. And maybe with the introduction of this device it will give abump to the development of AndroidTV which is on the neutral. Any thoughs?
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Limelight (free on Play Store) works perfectly for streaming PC games to my TV via the Nexus Player. FYI. It taps into the Nvidia API used by the Shield devices, so you do need an Nvidia card to use it... but it works great.

ktownhero said:
Limelight (free on Play Store) works perfectly for streaming PC games to my TV via the Nexus Player. FYI. It taps into the Nvidia API used by the Shield devices, so you do need an Nvidia card to use it... but it works great.
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I know this option but it works only with GTX cards (600 and up) and mine is a GT 750m.

cityle said:
So the Forge TV was presented at CES and I'm pretty interested at his ability to stream game from the pc, even if it's not an high-end one. But the software use for the stream, Razer Cortex: Stream, will cost 40$ which I find pretty annoying. Let's hope that it can be install on the Nexus Player. And maybe with the introduction of this device it will give abump to the development of AndroidTV which is on the neutral. Any thoughs?
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I agree that the $40 price is annoying but razer is a company and unless you want them to come out with their own App store (i dont want that) then they need to make their money other ways.
$40 for Streaming Service
$120 for Keyboard and Mouse
$80 for the Controller
$99 for the Device
$150 for Device and Controller
What im a bit concern with is that this is an ARM device and the Nexus Player is an Intel Device. which might cause some fragmentation. Plenty of apps that worked fine on the Ouya/Mojo/FireTV dont work on the Nexus Player. If this device didnt have google cast and android tv i wouldnt even consider purchasing especially after my experience with the Mojo from Madcatz (another gaming hardware company).
Also im a bit curious with their reasoning for using a snapdragon processor instead of an Nvidia K1/X1 or going with an Intel chip espcially since Intel is one of their major investors.

mejdam said:
What im a bit concern with is that this is an ARM device and the Nexus Player is an Intel Device. which might cause some fragmentation. Plenty of apps that worked fine on the Ouya/Mojo/FireTV dont work on the Nexus Player.
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The majority of apps not "working" on the Nexus Player have to do more with availability (developer needs to flag it for Lollipop and/or Android TV compatibility) than x86 vs. ARM. Android's runtime handles the compatibility between x86 and ARM (hence why the ARM version of Kodi works just fine on the Nexus Player, among many other examples). Granted, there is a performance hit running ARM code on x86, but compatibility issues have largely been negated.
mejdam said:
Also im a bit curious with their reasoning for using a snapdragon processor instead of an Nvidia K1/X1 or going with an Intel chip espcially since Intel is one of their major investors.
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SOC cost. You're not getting a Tegra K1 box for $99, unless the OEM wants to forgo any profit. I'm willing to bet the profit margin on this box alone is fairly thin, with the majority of their profit being made up by accessories.
Sure, they could have probably sold a Tegra K1 box with 64GB of storage for about $179. However, people aren't spending more than $99 on a streaming box today. For that kind of price they want a legit console (Xbox 360 is $180/$250 retail for 4GB/500GB versions, PS3 is $200/$250 for 12GB/500GB).
And no, they can't sell a 500GB HDD-based Android TV for $250. Sony and MS sell their hardware at a well documented loss because they get a cut of EVERY game and licenced accessory sold for it. Razer isn't getting a cut of anything other than their own hardware.

jaykresge said:
The majority of apps not "working" on the Nexus Player have to do more with availability (developer needs to flag it for Lollipop and/or Android TV compatibility) than x86 vs. ARM. Android's runtime handles the compatibility between x86 and ARM (hence why the ARM version of Kodi works just fine on the Nexus Player, among many other examples). Granted, there is a performance hit running ARM code on x86, but compatibility issues have largely been negated.
SOC cost. You're not getting a Tegra K1 box for $99, unless the OEM wants to forgo any profit. I'm willing to bet the profit margin on this box alone is fairly thin, with the majority of their profit being made up by accessories.
Sure, they could have probably sold a Tegra K1 box with 64GB of storage for about $179. However, people aren't spending more than $99 on a streaming box today. For that kind of price they want a legit console (Xbox 360 is $180/$250 retail for 4GB/500GB versions, PS3 is $200/$250 for 12GB/500GB).
And no, they can't sell a 500GB HDD-based Android TV for $250. Sony and MS sell their hardware at a well documented loss because they get a cut of EVERY game and licenced accessory sold for it. Razer isn't getting a cut of anything other than their own hardware.
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Snail Games Obox will be shipping with a Tegra K1. Starting price would be $100.

mejdam said:
Snail Games Obox will be shipping with a Tegra K1. Starting price would be $100.
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The Obox will be available in numerous configurations, of which a Tegra K1 was one option (they fail to specify if K1 or K1 Denver, which are two different SOCs). Also, this nugget followed:
Though retail prices aren't yet available, a representative said they could range from $99 to $499 depending on the model.
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I don't see them offering their highest end SOC in their cheapest model. Do you? Also, keep in mind that they announced that this is an Android box, not an Android TV device (just a note, as this comment has no bearing on your $99 Tegra STB comment).
However, it's a possibility that they could launch in China only at a conversion rate below $99. That's EASY to do given exchange rates and the fact that Chinese OEMs rarely pay hardware/software/codec licensing costs. Or, they could pull an Ouya. Remember, Ouya shocked everyone with their $99 Tegra 3-based STB...but by the time it hit widespread availability, Tegra 4 was already in full swing. Not so impressive. I just don't see Obox having a competitive $99 hardware option at mass retail availability within 1 sales quarter of the Razer Forge TV.
In time, we'll see if you're right. I hope that you are, but suspect that you're not.

The only think appealing to me about this device is the 16gb storage, the qualcomm processor on it is lacking compared to the Intel 64 Bit processor, soon enough we'll have good app2sd and this wont be an issue

defconoi said:
The only think appealing to me about this device is the 16gb storage, the qualcomm processor on it is lacking compared to the Intel 64 Bit processor, soon enough we'll have good app2sd and this wont be an issue
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Really, for game streaming all the work is being done on the PC and you're just receiving a video stream. I'm not sure there will be much a difference between the 805 and intel CPU. I have the 805 on my Turbo and use limelight it works great over wifi (AC 433). I imagine it will be just as good or better over gigabit. I am curious to see how AC is implemented though. Like I said the 805 on my Turbo connects at 433mbps or if the use a better implementation at 867mbps like the NP.