h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Also, THIS also belongs here: http://vimeo.com/40121975

I just got an interesting notification on my Asus Transformer Prime. Apparently I'm eligible for class action settlement. IF* I can find my warranty card (I know I've tossed the original box) that has the serial number on it, I can get $17 and a wifi enhancing dongle. Reading through the settlement info, I was a bit disappointed that "Asus denies all allegations regarding WiFi but Asus acknowledges that GPS performance did not meet the expectations of all customers..." I don't really have an issue with the GPS reception. It's not great, but it's not that much of an issue for me. The wifi on the other hand is.

Anyway, if I can't find the serial number (it is not on the outside of the tablet itself), I can't get the $17 and dongle anyway.

Oh well.

Talk about a bad headline. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22263019

"Samsung works on mind-control tablet"

Yep. They meant "mind-controlled".


There I was thinking Samsung was branching out into psychotropic plots to take over the world, creating some sort of pill to create an army of zombified slaves.

Apple beat them to it.

Ba Dum Tish!

Hmmm... Notion Ink are finally getting around to releasing their Adam II.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/12/notion-ink-adam-ii-teased-at-indias-national-technology-awards/

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/466914/20130512/notion-ink-adam-2-android-tablet-launch.htm

Funny to remember what a big splash the Adam was making before it got delayed ad infinitum and then was a crushing disappointment on release.

I *still* think that idea of a pixel qi screen really could work on a tablet if they nailed it.

FB

Yeah, and that's the main thing I noticed by its absence in those announcements.

Well having a nearly 5" Phone I found that depsite being very keen on my Nexus 7 it didn't really offer enough extra screen real estate to make me use it. On top of that I had been dying to try one of the Chinese Rockchip based tablets that folks in Nerd circles have been so raving about. So I sold my N7 and bought one of these bad boyz...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PIPO-M6-Android-Bluetooth-Aluminum/dp/B00CWQJD4O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374697179&sr=8-2&keywords=pipo+m6

And it is bloody tremendous. It really is a fantastic bit of kit. I love it.

FB

Looks pretty!

I adore it.

Been hearing great things about bargains on chinese Tab and Phones if you do your research. Must say I am a convert.

The screen is amazing. Better than the Nexus 10 I had a play with. Comparable to the iPad 3 I think.

FB

I was just delving into the dusty corridors of my Convo List...


I'm getting to the point where I desperately need to unlock, root and ROM my Transformer Prime.

Unfortunately, the fora I go to for information and tools assumes a bit more knowledge and confidence than I really have.

Previously, the fora I frequented really spelled out step by step the steps one needs to take. Now, not so much.


I'm pretty sure I can still do it, but I'm a bit hesitant to start.


Anyway, the reason I'm feeling the pressure to do so is that my TF201 is getting VERY LAGGY! ASUS hasn't done an update in some time (I'm on Jelly Bean 4.1.1, I believe).

OH, and before I forget. Just this week I finally received my "settlement" over the wifi/GPS antenna lawsuit. I got a dongle for the GPS antenna (that connects in the same slot as the keyboard and so is mutually exclusive) and a cheque for $17.

I'm getting this just when planned obsolescence is creeping in.

If you get stuck and want any real time help I am gtalk/hangouts/email on ferrettbadgergmailcom

FB

I just may take you up on that offer. Not right away. I got plans for the weekend, but yeah. I'll review my options and the guides I've found and let you know before I jump in and risk a bricking.

So, what's the must have tablet/phablet or other form of what I think of as a Guide-like device for this year?

I just bought a Kobo mini for £29 (!), rooted it and installed XCSoar (a program that does a lot of stuff I need for paragliding), and am currently awaiting delivery of a tiny, tiny GPS module that I'm going to solder onto it to turn it into the best paragliding airmap instrument in the world, for less than £50. (For comparison, anything remotely as usable has a MUCH smaller (although colour) screen, and costs upwards of £250, albeit without the need to do fine soldering...).

If they made a Kobo with internal GPS, every paraglider in the world would buy one.

Plans are still being pipelined for a real Guide, it just takes a while when there's only a few of us

Pastey, I think you misunderstood. My comment was in no way reflecting on this site or the good work you busy s are doing.

It's a reference to my original post. I'm asking about hardware, tablets specifically, which are in form, very like the device Ford Prefect hands to Arthur Dent... but are actually much more functional than that single purpose device.



However. I do need to ask/suggest something concerning h2g2... I'll and do so in an appropriate forum.

Oh no Grim, I understood perfectly

I still haven't bought myself a ereader-tablet-thing. I keep meaning to, but just don't have the need for one while I've got a decent enough phone, and mostly read paperback books