Hi,
at the moment I own iPad 1 with 3G. I do not really like iOS and the way the whole device works but I bought it instead of a (any) Honeycomb tablet anyway. There were few reasons behind my decision and they are still valid.
But... from what I have seen playing in the shops with Honeycomb tablets - I really, really prefer Android to iOS (and from what I have read this will not change once the iOS 5.0 is introduced).
I am patiently waiting for a HC/ICS tablet that will meet my expectations but device itself is just a part of the success. I will also need software that I am using now. I would appreciate if you could tell me names of equivalent apps (preferable the same apps) I am using now.
Netflix - it was the main reason to get iPad instead of HC tablet. But since I am based in Poland I want to make sure Netflix app installation will be as easy on Android as it was on iPad (I just needed account in US iTunes - that is it).
I read there is an update to TF that brings Netflix support - is it for all users (regardless of location) or just for TF's in USA?
Buzz Player - beside 720p mkvs it plays everything I have stored on my NAS drive (it is using Samba protocol to access). Subtitles (people are complaining about it) are not an issue since I do not use them.
WD Photos - already know it is available on Android - any one kows how does it look/work on HC instead of smartphone with A 2.x?
VoD apps - ABC Player, BBC iPlayer, 4oD, Crackle, ITV Player - all available ass apps for iPad (unless because I will have Flash I do not need them - but will video from them work on mobile device without any hacks?)
Office - Pages and Numbers equivalent
Facebook dedicated app - as Friendly
iBooks - I got quite a lot of books on my NAS (epub format) and there was no trouble in putting them to iBooks, iTunes was not needed and they look awesome. I want app like this, with page flipping, etc....
Pandora - ?
Google Music designated app - that I do miss a lot nowe as using it through the Safari is a nightmare
XC Currency
Flipboard
MobilesRSS (or something looking as nice that works with Google Reader)
Filebrowser (to access all files on my PC's nad NAS drive)
TeamViewer
Evernote
Skype
Download manager (with support for hosting services like Rapidshare or Filesonic)
Proper support for VPN connections - all I do now is choose a connection to one of VPN servers and click connect (no need to enter password every single time).I use hem a lot because of Netflix, BBC, etc.
Basic I got access to all free apps in US, UK and Polish iTunes store and I did not had to do any Jaibrake or anything like this.
I really hope I will be able to get the same level of usability form Transformer 2 (maybe Archos Gen9) or in general a HC/ICS tablet.
Since I do not have any android based device I am unable to access Android Market myself and check if applications are there and (what is more important) how do they perform.
THANKS for help (I presume a lot my my questions are quite obvious ones - sorry).
I think netflix is US only at the moment if you are unwilling to root. I have no idea about some of the stuff you ask for but ive seen evernote, skype, and some of the other th ings you mentioned. I really like the office app that comes with the device (polaris) and i think i saw some threads mentioning vpn crap. Anyway, if you wanna use android, id say, expect less apps that dont really matter, but youll probably find decent apps that most normal people require. Plus, you get to tinker with it and stuff withiut fear of steve jobs haunting you at night.
Apps mentioned above or their equivalents are the ones that I require. Beside that I do not care home many millions of other software is available for iOS or that Android has a smaller choice because that is the only thing I need. If I can not use services I am using now there is no point in spending money on a new device.
Any ex-iPad owners here?
What i really was trying to get you to do was to hit the search bar and look for these yourself.. since that's probably going tobe the difference betweeb the ipad and android devices.. Notice how i alluded to having seen peple mention these things.
That's a long list of software.
I'll do my best to list off what I have currently installed, or apps that I've heard will work.
Netflix - I'm not sure how to help you with that one. You'll probably need root to get it working properly.
Buzz Player - Dice Player is probably the best Android video player so far, plays 720p mkv with no hassle and has full hardware acceleration. Subtitle support is built in too, just in case you feel like using subs in the future. Currently there are less supported formats than Buzz Player, but the developer is constantly updating. As far as accessing files stored on your NAS, you will definitely need root if you want Dice Player to be able to stream. Once rooted you just have to install the cifs module, then use the Cifs Manager app to auto mount your NAS to a folder that Dice Player can see.
WD Photos - Never used it, but it is listed as being compatible with the Transformer. No idea if it will work.
VoD Apps - Availability of native Android apps is all dependent on your region. Often times though there are Flash-based workarounds for watching them through your browser.
Office - Polaris Office comes pre-installed on the Transformer, so you'll have basic functionality for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
Facebook - You can side load the phone version of the app, or use Friend Me. Personally I prefer Friend Me.
iBooks - There are several ebook readers available. Asus' MyLibrary comes pre-installed and has page turning animations and native support for epub format.
Pandora - There is a native Android app in the Market.
Google Music - Comes pre-installed on the tablet integrated into the default music player app. You just open up Music and add your Google account, and you're set.
XC (XE?) Currency - Another app that has a native Android version in the Market.
Flipboard - Feedly is a reasonable alternative. Personally I use Pulse for all of my news consumption, but that's a completely different UI.
MobilesRSS - Try the native Google Reader application.
File Browser - File Manager HD is my favorite. To browse Samba shares, you simply add one under LAN Connection in the menu.
TeamViewer - A native Android app is available.
Evernote - A native Android app is available.
Skype - A native Android app is available, although video chat has not yet been implemented on tablets. There are however several other video chat apps available, and Google Talk has native video chat capability on all Honeycomb devices.
Download manager - I would give DownDroid a try. I don't typically do a lot of downloading on my tablet, so I can't attest to how well it works.
VPN connections - Again, several different apps available that do basically the same thing. I've heard good things about NeoRouter VPN, but I would suggest trying several different apps to see which one you prefer.
PPTP VPN is supported natively (not sure about the others). I only use PPTP and OpenVPN (which requires root). For Office, look into QuickOffice HD, although it costs 19.99. I strongly suggest Splashtop HD over TeamViewer, just because its ALOT smoother. For RSS I suggest Reader HD, it looks and works better than Google Reader.
First of all thanks for taking time...
If you do not mind I would like to add additional (NO!!! NOT APPS!!! ) questions.
earlyberd said:
Netflix - I'm not sure how to help you with that one. You'll probably need root to get it working properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- so Netflix as such is still not available for HC tablets?
earlyberd said:
Buzz Player - Dice Player is probably the best Android video player so far, plays 720p mkv with no hassle and has full hardware acceleration [...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Buzz Player on iPad just simply uses Samba protocol and if the Android Buzz Player can do the same than it is no problem. I do not use that many different file formats. So, Dice Player does not support Samba or uPNP (these are supported by my NAS My Book World Edition)? As to 720p mkv's... I still read comments form ppl. that they stutter on Tegra 2 based devices. I suspect that that depends on ripped file itself. But since I know I do not want a Tegra 2 based tablet (lots of threads about it already here) it is not a big problem.
Just a news. Friend of mine came over with his iPad 2 few days ago. Some of my 720p playd fine on iPad 2 but some ot them stil stutter and were unwatchable. All of them play super smooth on my netbook (Atom 330 + nVidia ION). This means that current gen. of ARM SOC's is not there yet. I am really interested how new Gen9 Archos will perform here (with TI Omap 4 1,5 Ghz under hood - all good but why are those tablets so ugly? ;-) )
earlyberd said:
VoD Apps - Availability of native Android apps is all dependent on your region. Often times though there are Flash-based workarounds for watching them through your browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case of iTunes and iOS that simply meant - get account in US or UK store and free apps became available. Setting up such account is also no problem. Has anyone tried to get free apps from let say US in UK or the other way round or (unlike in stupid iTunes) free apps (like those players) are available to download and install for everyone (they might not work due to wrong IP but this is a different matter).
In another words (I do not know sht about rooting) how hard will it be for noob like me to get them?
earlyberd said:
iBooks - There are several ebook readers available. Asus' MyLibrary comes pre-installed and has page turning animations and native support for epub format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And putting books (epub files) I already have on my NAS drive or PC will not be a problem?
earlyberd said:
MobilesRSS - Try the native Google Reader application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use it when I am next to my desktop but and app (compatible with Google reader - like this Mobile RSS) and designed for tablets is just much nicer
earlyberd said:
File Browser - File Manager HD is my favorite. To browse Samba shares, you simply add one under LAN Connection in the menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is hjow it works in Filebrowser and in Buzz Player. They both see NAS in the network and both use Samba to get access.
earlyberd said:
Download manager - I would give DownDroid a try. I don't typically do a lot of downloading on my tablet, so I can't attest to how well it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not have plans like that either - but just in case ;-)
earlyberd said:
VPN connections - Again, several different apps available that do basically the same thing. I've heard good things about NeoRouter VPN, but I would suggest trying several different apps to see which one you prefer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm... in iOS VPN support is built in. I do not need any additional apps to make it work as I only set-up additional connections under settings -> VPN.
So, HC does not support VPN connection on its own??? Strange as (besied ppl. like me who use VPN to watch movies from USA in EU) it is important business feature...
Also... if I need and additional app to create VPN connection... and connect to the server... question is how and if will it affect apps like Netflix Player or internet browsers as both Netflix and HULU require US IP in order to allow stream.
frosty5689 said:
PPTP VPN is supported natively (not sure about the others). I only use PPTP and OpenVPN (which requires root). For Office, look into QuickOffice HD, although it costs 19.99. I strongly suggest Splashtop HD over TeamViewer, just because its ALOT smoother. For RSS I suggest Reader HD, it looks and works better than Google Reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that to you as well!
galtom said:
First of all thanks for taking time...
If you do not mind I would like to add additional (NO!!! NOT APPS!!! ) questions.
- so Netflix as such is still not available for HC tablets?
- Buzz Player on iPad just simply uses Samba protocol and if the Android Buzz Player can do the same than it is no problem. I do not use that many different file formats. So, Dice Player does not support Samba or uPNP (these are supported by my NAS My Book World Edition)? As to 720p mkv's... I still read comments form ppl. that they stutter on Tegra 2 based devices. I suspect that that depends on ripped file itself. But since I know I do not want a Tegra 2 based tablet (lots of threads about it already here) it is not a big problem.
Just a news. Friend of mine came over with his iPad 2 few days ago. Some of my 720p playd fine on iPad 2 but some ot them stil stutter and were unwatchable. All of them play super smooth on my netbook (Atom 330 + nVidia ION). This means that current gen. of ARM SOC's is not there yet. I am really interested how new Gen9 Archos will perform here (with TI Omap 4 1,5 Ghz under hood - all good but why are those tablets so ugly? ;-) )
In case of iTunes and iOS that simply meant - get account in US or UK store and free apps became available. Setting up such account is also no problem. Has anyone tried to get free apps from let say US in UK or the other way round or (unlike in stupid iTunes) free apps (like those players) are available to download and install for everyone (they might not work due to wrong IP but this is a different matter).
In another words (I do not know sht about rooting) how hard will it be for noob like me to get them?
And putting books (epub files) I already have on my NAS drive or PC will not be a problem?
I use it when I am next to my desktop but and app (compatible with Google reader - like this Mobile RSS) and designed for tablets is just much nicer
This is hjow it works in Filebrowser and in Buzz Player. They both see NAS in the network and both use Samba to get access.
I do not have plans like that either - but just in case ;-)
Hmmmm... in iOS VPN support is built in. I do not need any additional apps to make it work as I only set-up additional connections under settings -> VPN.
So, HC does not support VPN connection on its own??? Strange as (besied ppl. like me who use VPN to watch movies from USA in EU) it is important business feature...
Also... if I need and additional app to create VPN connection... and connect to the server... question is how and if will it affect apps like Netflix Player or internet browsers as both Netflix and HULU require US IP in order to allow stream.
Thanks for that to you as well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ex-Ipad2 user here:
- Netflix works! On stock FW, just installed and tried :=)
- Im using MX Player and Diceplayer, nice combination.
- For Google RSS try out d9-Reader! Best there is.
- Using PPTP VPN native for US IP towards Netflix..
reidar.ostrem said:
Ex-Ipad2 user here:
- Netflix works! On stock FW, just installed and tried :=)
- Im using MX Player and Diceplayer, nice combination.
- For Google RSS try out d9-Reader! Best there is.
- Using PPTP VPN native for US IP towards Netflix..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Netflix - are you from US or different country (after sending post saw your flag - stupid question! LOL!) By that question I mean - can anyone download app from the market or does an Android market need separate accounts for US, UK, Poland, etc?
If Netflix was part of an Asus update - was it for everyone or just US owners (than how will I get it in Poland?) - bearing in mind above - how did you get it in Norway?
PPTP protocol is offered by my VPN provider (see my signature) so that should not be a problem.
Do you have to enter password every single time you want to connect (iPad remembers passwords like this)?
galtom said:
Netflix - are you from US or different country (after sending post saw your flag - stupid question! LOL!) By that question I mean - can anyone download app from the market or does an Android market need separate accounts for US, UK, Poland, etc?
If Netflix was part of an Asus update - was it for everyone or just US owners (than how will I get it in Poland?) - bearing in mind above - how did you get it in Norway?
PPTP protocol is offered by my VPN provider (see my signature) so that should not be a problem.
Do you have to enter password every single time you want to connect (iPad remembers passwords like this)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android marked is differentiated in terms of country, device, os etc...
Stock NetFlix that works on latest TF update: http://db.tt/yBGwjeN
I also liked the ipads feature to remember the password for VPN, android does not do that unfortunally.. (as far as I know.. i have to enter pw everytime)
galtom said:
Apps mentioned above or their equivalents are the ones that I require. Beside that I do not care home many millions of other software is available for iOS or that Android has a smaller choice because that is the only thing I need. If I can not use services I am using now there is no point in spending money on a new device.
Any ex-iPad owners here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own an iPad 1 and an Asus Transformer. To be honest, the apps on iOS are usually better - even for the exact same app! That does seem to be changing slowly over time, but iOS still has the upperhand in terms of App quantity & quality.
And I still cannot access my Cisco VPN @ work with my Transformerer either (Cicso IPSec w/pre-shared keys).
In my opinion, the iPad is still a better choice for business use. The apps are better and you have a much better selection on iOS.
That being said, I still haven't touched my iPad 1 since I got my Transformer!!! The Transformer is a really fun device though - and if you can live with the app quality * quantity difference right now, go for the Transformer. If you NEED certain apps, stick to the iPad for now...
jtrosky said:
I own an iPad 1 and an Asus Transformer. To be honest, the apps on iOS are usually better - even for the exact same app! That does seem to be changing slowly over time, but iOS still has the upperhand in terms of App quantity & quality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps liste above (beside some games that I have but are used seldom and are not essential) are the only ones I need and use.
Web broswisn (stupid Safari), e-mails (again terrible client for iOS) and TV/Video, rss new is all I need. So if I can replace them I'm cool.
Thanks mate.
reidar.ostrem said:
Android marked is differentiated in terms of country, device, os etc...
Stock NetFlix that works on latest TF update: http://db.tt/yBGwjeN
I also liked the ipads feature to remember the password for VPN, android does not do that unfortunally.. (as far as I know.. i have to enter pw everytime)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it as easy as with iTunes to have accounts for different regions? As I said with iTunes I got account with US store to get (free) apps like ABC Player and Netflix, with UK store to get BBC iPlayer, 4oD and ITV Player and the rest (that I am actually paying for) are from my Polish account.
Will it be the same with Android Market?
Netflix that I found ther does not list any HC tablets (as supported).
Unless I can check for software updates while using changed IP...? But than again it will only give me apps from one region :-(.
Any insights here? I suppose if its doable on closed system like iOS it has to be doable on Android!
BTW: Thanks for the netflix link. Unfortunatley I do not have an Android tablet yet (waiting for something different than Tegra 2 devices). But I will meka a download and keep it for the future ;-)
The latest Transformer update is supposed to add native support for Netflix, the problem is figuring out how to trick it into thinking you are located in the US. I just don't know from experience if the Netflix app will play nice with your VPN. And there is built-in support for VPN in Honeycomb, but again it's something I don't have a whole lot of experience with, and often times it is better implemented through third party apps.
Most Android apps at this point don't support Samba natively, so that's why you need root and manually set a mount point in Cifs Manager. Once Cifs Manager has mounted your NAS though, it should be visible to all other applications. I like to mount my Samba shares in the /sdcard directory, for instance. File Manager HD is the only application I have installed that has native Samba support, and it also allows you to browse hard drive directories like C$ if you happen to be sharing files natively from a Windows PC. But everything else will require a manually-configured mount point via cifs before you can see what's stored on your NAS.
Dice Player has given me no issues with choppy playback in 720p. It's a night and day difference compared to the stock video player, and that's because it has proper hardware acceleration.
You don't need to root if you just want to stream and view files from your Samba share.
ES File Manager does this perfectly. It will show all samba files and stream videos from there without root.
What are Samba shares everyone is talking about? Is this a Linux thing? Since I am using Windows all I know is DLNA, where ES file manager picks up the folders containing the media.
As a side note really wish those guys at XMBC would care enough to port the platform not necessarily the engine. That is where the IPad really beats Android.
xsacha said:
You don't need to root if you just want to stream and view files from your Samba share.
ES File Manager does this perfectly. It will show all samba files and stream videos from there without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not just streaming videos that the op wants, though. Certain apps require direct access to the share, and thus you will need to mount them to a folder they can read from. For example, the Music app won't add anything to the library unless it thinks it's stored locally on the internal sdcard or the external microsd, as in the /sdcard and /Removable/MicroSD directories. Setting a mount point in Cifs Manager means you don't have to go through a file manager every time, you can mount to a folder within /sdcard, and media libraries can be generated and organized as if reading from local storage.
AstroTrain said:
What are Samba shares everyone is talking about? Is this a Linux thing? Since I am using Windows all I know is DLNA, where ES file manager picks up the folders containing the media.
As a side note really wish those guys at XMBC would care enough to port the platform not necessarily the engine. That is where the IPad really beats Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samba is the UNIX-based application for managing Windows-based SMB/CIFS shares. Windows users typically right click on a folder and select Share, and that is SMB/CIFS sharing. Samba is the UNIX equivalent.
You can view Android market.
https://market.android.com/
Have a search for what you need
Thanks a lot for all your input, it is really appreciated.
I would be very grateful for few more answers.
1. To European users - do you have Netflix and how did you got it (anyone out there has it without root?)
2. There is an app filmon (from filmon.com) that shoul allow for watching BBC and itv - can you let me know ifit is working on HC (it is on iPad).
3. My NAS drive allows either for smb access or uPNP, do I still need to root? All I have there are some documents, movies, bit of music (most of it is at Google Music already) and photos. My drive is My Book World Edition.
4. Does your stock browser syncs with Chrome? (bookmark bar is quite important to me)
5. Can Honeycomb tablet receive SMS/text messages? (with 3G on board of course...).
6. If you do not use stock browser. What do you use and can it be marked as a default in the system (iPad dose not allow for any change like this - stupid machine).
Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts.
earlyberd said:
The latest Transformer update is supposed to add native support for Netflix, the problem is figuring out how to trick it into thinking you are located in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I signed up for the cheapest StrongVPN service and joined Netflix. Downloaded the '246apk' and it works fine. All done on a standard unrooted TF from the UK.
Hey,
I just got an MK808 TV Stick and I it's a pretty neat slick device. Like how small it is, and seems to be pretty fast (but, will probably flash some custom ROM on it soon).
Anyways, I want to use this as a replacement OS for my Smart TV and play Netflix/Hulu (have to root/market enabler to get this)/stream from my personal library, which is all shared on a raspberry pi PC via SMB. My Smart TV is DLNA compliant, but can't play all the different formats that I have accumulated over the years. My new stick TV PC, so far can handle it all.
Whats the best and easiest way to open files stored on SMB drives, and play them in a media play on my stick PC (right now, using VLC do to this). I say easy, in the sense that when my 6 year old kid wants to watch one of his movies he doesn't have to mount a drive via ES file explorer and choose what file from a list of directories like I am willing to do, but more of a "see the cover art, click and play" kind of way. I know XBMC would do most of this (if not all) but it only does software decoding, and I would like to have hardware.
Thanks in advance.
Ive got an ICUBE mk809II, i also have a NAS (nsa310) with my network share on. I use solid explorer and you can map to your network drive with that by adding an SMB share. Hopefully you have root. You can also then do a shortcut on the desktop by doing a solid explorer widget to that network share.
The second way i've used is to download a CIFS/SMB app, MountManager seemed the best, and you a can make a virtual link to your network share which is by default in your mnt folder. If you wanted to use your tv stick as a torrent box, you can map to the network share, and point Adownloader to the virtual link in the mount folder and it will get to your share. Its then easy to bookmark to your SMB/network share by doing a widget in Solid Explorer on your desktop. So with one click from the desktop, your there, I mainly use MX Player over VLC player as VLC was having audio sync problems.
colhavoc said:
but more of a "see the cover art, click and play" kind of way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try MIZUU BETA .
Tried MX Player?
Did, played some of my content, but not all of it. VLC so far is working ok.
Anyone have any idea how to install Finless rom with this? Can't seem to find much information on how to flash it, just what its features are.
Sent from my TF300T using Tapatalk HD
zmaki said:
Try MIZUU BETA .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow zmaki, that was the perfect choice! App works great for streaming from my SMB shares and shows the cotent like XBMC, except with decent rendering!
I have to admit though, I wish the program had its own built in media player with codec support, that would make it the cats ass.
PLEX works awesome, no problems with any streaming and it looks great.
colhavoc, welcome from hfx...
Hi,
The question here is the same issue I have wirh my new android miniPC to let my children (and even my self) an easy access to files stored on my PC.
My device is not rooted (not I'm goind to do so).
The device is conected over the same LAN (wi-fi is disabled).
I saw codlike two solutions ("solid explorer" or MountManager) but both need root, is there another solution?
dannygud said:
Hi,
The question here is the same issue I have wirh my new android miniPC to let my children (and even my self) an easy access to files stored on my PC.
My device is not rooted (not I'm goind to do so).
The device is conected over the same LAN (wi-fi is disabled).
I saw codlike two solutions ("solid explorer" or MountManager) but both need root, is there another solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
es file explorer?