Ok, so notion ink releases a statement about how their hardware was changed to support Ventana instead of Harmony.
h ttp://notionink.wordpress. com /2011/02/08/in-the-mean-time/
Harmony and Ventana are two Tegra platforms and in September we made few hardware changes to make Adam Ventana compatible. That was done cos we sensed only Ventana devices will be able to run Honeycomb and we were right.
Next I checked nvidias developer website and saw this:
h ttp://developer.nvidia. com /tegra/devkit-ventana
The Tegra 2 "Ventana" development kit is targeted at developers creating software for Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" and above. The development kit is a quasi-tablet design and includes many devices and sensors found in Android based tablets.
So my questions are the following:
Is there any truth to the Honeycomb only running well on Ventana and not Harmony?
Is ventana a specific piece of hardware?
If not, is it just a set of "recommended" hardware features?
Will the current G tablet meet the requirements for ventana development if it is just software/recommended hardware?
I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds with to many questions at once.
Karl
Note: Please forgive the url formatting. I haven't posted enough to be allowed to post URLs yet.
kraulerson said:
Ok, so notion ink releases a statement about how their hardware was changed to support Ventana instead of Harmony.
h ttp://notionink.wordpress. com /2011/02/08/in-the-mean-time/
Harmony and Ventana are two Tegra platforms and in September we made few hardware changes to make Adam Ventana compatible. That was done cos we sensed only Ventana devices will be able to run Honeycomb and we were right.
Next I checked nvidias developer website and saw this:
h ttp://developer.nvidia. com /tegra/devkit-ventana
The Tegra 2 "Ventana" development kit is targeted at developers creating software for Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" and above. The development kit is a quasi-tablet design and includes many devices and sensors found in Android based tablets.
So my questions are the following:
Is there any truth to the Honeycomb only running well on Ventana and not Harmony?
Is ventana a specific piece of hardware?
If not, is it just a set of "recommended" hardware features?
Will the current G tablet meet the requirements for ventana development if it is just software/recommended hardware?
I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds with to many questions at once.
Karl
Note: Please forgive the url formatting. I haven't posted enough to be allowed to post URLs yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, Notion Ink is not a reliable source, IMHO. However, if he was able to make a few simple HW mods to his existing Harmony device, and the rest is true, I do not see an problem making similar HW mods to the gtab, should they be necessary.
However, more likely, Honeycomb will run on harmony, and/or Notion Ink is lying.
Jim
I do agree that Notion Ink cannot be quoted as a truly reliable source, but I hadn't even heard about there being 2 different platforms for the Tegra 2. Also, with the fact of the Xoom coming out this month, means it had to be in production for a while so how did they manage to do it? Also, how did NI make hardware changes in september of '10 for Ventana if the nvidia blogs says the chips won't be out till the end of Feb '11? It's very odd from the bit of digging that I've done.
kraulerson said:
I do agree that Notion Ink cannot be quoted as a truly reliable source, but I hadn't even heard about there being 2 different platforms for the Tegra 2. Also, with the fact of the Xoom coming out this month, means it had to be in production for a while so how did they manage to do it? Also, how did NI make hardware changes in september of '10 for Ventana if the nvidia blogs says the chips won't be out till the end of Feb '11? It's very odd from the bit of digging that I've done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The man makes a very compelling argument.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
If you haven't figured out yet that for the most part Rohan is talking out his .... then I don't know what to tell you. It's amazing how an upstart overseas company seems to be able to know the future before anyone else....eden is close to honeycomb....adam is venetta
kraulerson said:
I do agree that Notion Ink cannot be quoted as a truly reliable source, but I hadn't even heard about there being 2 different platforms for the Tegra 2. Also, with the fact of the Xoom coming out this month, means it had to be in production for a while so how did they manage to do it? Also, how did NI make hardware changes in september of '10 for Ventana if the nvidia blogs says the chips won't be out till the end of Feb '11? It's very odd from the bit of digging that I've done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
thebadfrog said:
If you haven't figured out yet that for the most part Rohan is talking out his .... then I don't know what to tell you. It's amazing how an upstart overseas company seems to be able to know the future before anyone else....eden is close to honeycomb....adam is venetta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And most assuredly this.
Do you mean "official" Honeycomb support? (i.e. from Viewsonic)
Or unofficial Honeycomb? (i.e. via xda-developers ROMs)
The Nook Color is running Honeycomb (though just a hacked preview based on the pre-SDK) pretty well...It's screen resolution is the same as the gTablet, and it's specs are worse...
I wouldn't bet on a release from Viewsonic...I'd be willing to wager that there will be a Honeycomb port for gTablet within a few weeks (or less) of the Xoom being released...
So mid-March...LOL...
TeutonicWolf said:
I'd be willing to wager that there will be a Honeycomb port for gTablet within a few weeks (or less) of the Xoom being released...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree with that one... BTW, I wouldn't be too worried regarding hardware spec requirements for Honeycomb - if somebody can port it to the Dell Streak (http://www.mytabletlife.com/2011/02/08/dell-streak-honeycomb-port/), then I'm sure that even if there were different Tegra2 versions, it wouldn't be much of a show-stopper.
I am afraid to revive this post that is almost a month and half old but i found a post at nvidia and i realized that the main question was not yet answered or clarified.
Any ideas on this??
http://developer.nvidia.com/tegra/forum/honeycomb-harmony
I still can't find definitive answers as to the difference between harmony and ventana.
The latest update from Nvidia
The latest update from Nvidia:
UPDATE 13 APRIL 2011
A lot has been read into a very short post about a Tegra development kit. I'd like to clear up a few points.
First, nothing changes in what we’re delivering to the open source community or customers. NVIDIA will continue to post the Tegra kernel to kernel.org and publish our Android code to our public git servers. Additionally, we will continue to make our BSP (codecs, GPU driver etc) available to all our hardware partners. We will continue to do this and nothing about these processes has changed.
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.
In relation to my original reply, that was a response to a specific question about a Tegra 250 Development Kit. Given the confusion, we will work with owners of Tegra 250 Development Kits individually to determine their needs. The term "Harmony" is an internal codename for the Tegra 250 Development Kit. It is not a tablet reference design. Each shipping tablet is a custom design with varying hardware components and requires a custom OS image from the OEM who made the tablet.
Finally, while we cannot support or give out third party peripheral drivers or provide the Android 3.0 source before Google does, we do want to explore whether we can assist the open source ROM makers. We will be reaching out to them today.
Andrew Edelsten
Tegra Developer Relations
NVIDIA Corporation
Related
if the story is true and Motorola releases their XOOM / Everest tablet in 4 days, and its up to me.. ill be porting the honeycomb 3.0 to our tablet very,very fast..
at least its told here, its released with android honeycomb 3.0 but since Nvidia havent even posted their SDK for 3.0 on the tegra2 site, im not sure how reliabe it really is.. but lets just hope its true..
see here for the story and video preview.
another video
I feel confident we can adapt most apps and the OS, so please if you find more details or even a early system dump, don't hesitate to post it here..
God damnit, when you release honeycomb I will donate a hell lot of redbulls Go Dexter!
Just noticed yesterday they have a gingerbread-froyo branch on http://nv-tegra.nvidia.com/gitweb/
I think it will take a while until Google will release the source for Honeycomb. I doubt this will happen before the launch of the Motorola in February.
Honeycomb 3.0 on our folio, it sounds like a dream coming true (a)
weeds2000 said:
I think it will take a while until Google will release the source for Honeycomb. I doubt this will happen before the launch of the Motorola in February.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if motorola is able to show the honeycomb running on their tegra2 tablet (or least saying it is) somehow the 3.0 is maybe only used internally now?
i don't think any video actually show the "version" number on their tablets, they're not like the community bragging alot showing release os pages or snaps
but lets hope it true.
I think Motorola and Google are working together on this. Motorola has access to the Honeycomb tree which has not been released to the public.
This is not uncommon in android history, as the Xoom will be the flagship device for Honeycomb, they have access to the source earlier.
This is the same as with he Motorola Droid and 2.0 or the Samsung Nexus S with 2.3
weeds2000 said:
I think Motorola and Google are working together on this. Motorola has access to the Honeycomb tree which has not been released to the public.
This is not uncommon in android history, as the Xoom will be the flagship device for Honeycomb, they have access to the source earlier.
This is the same as with he Motorola Droid and 2.0 or the Samsung Nexus S with 2.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should be available soon! Google is talking in terms of weeks, and there's too many rumors and sneakpeaks to be a false positive!
The software for 3.0 will be retro compatible with earlier versions of android, but should take advantage of larger screens and faster processors.
We should remember that iPad 2 is to be release in February and Google must antecipate this in order to take the lead.
Toshiba is not very clear about folio 100 future update or not, and if it will be able to run honeycomb (except for processor part), but since toshiba is planning to release new tablet, personally I think it's gonna be only Gingerbread 2.3 for our folio 100, but I hope I'm wrong!!
The only hope for our folio 100 is xda dev forum and dexter
also folio 100 screen is not the best screen comparing to others cheap tablets, too bad from big company named Toshiba.
you can read this French test for folio 100 especially screen part over here Folio 100 test (google translation)
so wait and see..
Source: Honeycomb to Require Powerful Processor
Google's new Android Honeycomb tablet OS will require a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor to run properly, said Bobby Cha, managing director of Korean consumer electronics firm Enspert.
That means that many existing Android tablets will not be upgradeable to Honeycomb, as they lack the processor necessary to meet the spec. Currently, Nvidia's Tegra 2 platform is the only chipset in products on the market to include a Cortex-A9, although other manufacturers have said they're moving to the new processor architecture for 2011 products.
A 1,280x720 screen resolution may also be necessary, although Cha affirmed that "Honeycomb does not require 10-inch [screens] ... it's going to go as small as 7 inch."
Google introduced Honeycomb running on a prototype Motorola device last month, but they've kept the hardware requirements under wraps. Cha also confirmed that the Motorola tablet would be the first to market with Honeycomb.
If this is true, Google will have two parallel software paths for tablets, at least for a while. With their Cortex-A8 processors and 1,024x600 screens, the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab line of Android tablets run the "Froyo" version of Android, 2.2, and can be updated to Gingerbread, 2.3, but not to Honeycomb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could be true, but i don't think they will stick to a single screen resolution! From what i understand resolution is not the main issue, cpu and memory is. In the 2.3 we already have support for different screen resolution, i don't think 3.0 will be different.
I don't now about you people, but I really don't count on Toshiba.
1% chance that toshiba will keep supporting this tablet, 99% chance that people like Dexter will keep supporting the folio. (my opinion^^)
Before the folio I had bought a toshiba laptop for my little brother, it is a fine laptop and prece-quality it deserves an A+, but after the folio... I don't think i will ever buy something from toshiba again...
Hi all,
TechRadar is revealing some rumors that honeycomb will in fact be 2.4 and not the 3.0 we are expecting. I believe that this could be true because they still have to support the recently launched tablets.
Android 3.0 could be a lot different from android we know and require more specific hardware to run.
Regards,
Bastospn
Yeah also heard these rumours, and it indeed could make some sense:
2.3 -> Gingerbread update for all devices
2.4 -> Honeycomb -> Gingerbread codebase with tablet modifications
3.0 -> unification of both versions, new codebase
hope our folio can upgrade to honeycomb
asus unveil new honeycomb tablet on 4th jan 2011:
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
NVIDIA Tegra 2
512MB/1GB RAM
16/32GB eMMC
10.1" 1280x800 IPS
1.2 MP front/5 MP rear
USB Host 2.0 support
Headphone/mic-in/mini HDMI/SD card reader/1 internal microphone/stereo speakers/dock port
273x180x17.7mm/886g
This is good news, if we manage to port the firmware I mean.
I also don't believe that toshiba will update the android version on Folio. They could release some update with Flash within, but they will not spend to much time supporting this "old tablet". This is in my opinion very very sad, and if you compare this with Apple you start to think that despite being more expensive iPad could in fact be a better deal.
The good news is that android is opensource and we could trust in the community aid.
Regards,
Bastospn
bastospn said:
This is good news, if we manage to port the firmware I mean.
I also don't believe that toshiba will update the android version on Folio. They could release some update with Flash within, but they will not spend to much time supporting this "old tablet". This is in my opinion very very sad, and if you compare this with Apple you start to think that despite being more expensive iPad could in fact be a better deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i honestly think the hardware do have minor bugs, which Toshiba knows and don't want to continue the relationship with that company so the new tablet is probably made by someone else and with better display.
but yes foundation was actually quite ok when it got modded
I agree that hardware wise Folio is quite a good deal (if you ignore the lousy LCD screen).
Regards,
Bastospn
I don't know if you have seen the video of Honeycomb released by Google.
It's available at Engadget.
The GUI is looking very good.
oh my god i want that gmail app !!!
From a hardware perspective or our folio is good enough to hande honeycomb. 512 ram and a Tegra 2 (reference for it rumored).
And looking at the specs of the new ta let it's just a folio with a new screen. But time will tell!
Any more details on Honeycomb? I can't wait to see it running on my Folio!
Just thought this was sad....
http://developer.nvidia.com/tegra/forum/honeycomb-harmony
Probably the wrong forum for this, but I think the G-Tab will be my 1st and only android device.
From day 1 till now I have had a bad taste in my mouth between Viewsonic's dropping the ball, Google's Honeycomb decisions, and finally Nvidia's dropping the platform not even 1 year in. This is a mess.
Thanks to XDA as they have been the only group in this mess who actually cared about the end users, and they were unpaid enthusiasts. That's a huge strike against android as a viable platform.
Virtual Pariah said:
Probably the wrong forum for this, but I think the G-Tab will be my 1st and only android device.
From day 1 till now I have had a bad taste in my mouth between Viewsonic's dropping the ball, Google's Honeycomb decisions, and finally Nvidia's dropping the platform not even 1 year in. This is a mess.
Thanks to XDA as they have been the only group in this mess who actually cared about the end users, and they were unpaid enthusiasts. That's a huge strike against android as a viable platform.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the difference as long as the need is being taken care of?
For many this platform and tab have been taken from a mere consumption device to a learning tool. Who else, is offering such opportunity to better learn a mobile platform in and out?
Sometime we look right past the obvious. I would much more so want to learn than sit and play games or consume. To each his own.
Wow! Out of all the companies, nvidia was the last company I thought would do this. Reputation of driver support is just about the most important thing a chip company can have.
edirector said:
What's the difference as long as the need is being taken care of?
For many this platform and tab have been taken from a mere consumption device to a learning tool. Who else, is offering such opportunity to better learn a mobile platform in and out?
Sometime we look right past the obvious. I would much more so want to learn than sit and play games or consume. To each his own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see where you are going, but, without official support most of the enthusiast devs will migrate to another platform.
To me, the loss of the manufacturer's input would be the death knell for the device.
Most people who have paid for this tablet did so for the media consumption capabilities. At least in the general population.
I'm a tad confused that anyone would be considering withdrawal of official support a good thing...
Moved to Q&A.
Just saw an update from a nvidia rep...
UPDATE 12 APRIL 2011:
Sorry folks looks like I caused a bit of confusion. Since this is a developer forum my comments were targeted at Tegra Honeycomb developers and for this we’d like to focus on Ventana. For shipping or production products, customers should contact the device makers directly for OS support plans. They are responsible for the OS shipping on their device.
In relation to our linux kernel git repository, NVIDIA will continue to provide full open-source support for all of our kernel components and will push more of that upstream over time.
Andrew Edelsten
Tegra Developer Relations
NVIDIA Corporation
Can someone give me the plain english version?
Between this and the recent google 3.0 annoincement they must be dancing in the streets in Cupertino
thevaristy said:
Just saw an update from a nvidia rep...
UPDATE 12 APRIL 2011:
Sorry folks looks like I caused a bit of confusion. Since this is a developer forum my comments were targeted at Tegra Honeycomb developers and for this we’d like to focus on Ventana. For shipping or production products, customers should contact the device makers directly for OS support plans. They are responsible for the OS shipping on their device.
In relation to our linux kernel git repository, NVIDIA will continue to provide full open-source support for all of our kernel components and will push more of that upstream over time.
Andrew Edelsten
Tegra Developer Relations
NVIDIA Corporation
Can someone give me the plain english version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does this mean that they are supporting Gtablet Nvidia drivers. ???
Let us all hope Nvida will change there minds after a bunch of emails to support harmony on gingerbread and honeycomb
A good news from Nvidia ???
The newest update from Nvidia looks good (see below).
They will support the gtablet as long as viewsonic supports it. Nvidia is listening.
Now we have to keep the pressure on viewsonic for the support.
UPDATE 13 APRIL 2011
A lot has been read into a very short post about a Tegra development kit. I'd like to clear up a few points.
First, nothing changes in what we’re delivering to the open source community or customers. NVIDIA will continue to post the Tegra kernel to kernel.org and publish our Android code to our public git servers. Additionally, we will continue to make our BSP (codecs, GPU driver etc) available to all our hardware partners. We will continue to do this and nothing about these processes has changed.
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.
In relation to my original reply, that was a response to a specific question about a Tegra 250 Development Kit. Given the confusion, we will work with owners of Tegra 250 Development Kits individually to determine their needs. The term "Harmony" is an internal codename for the Tegra 250 Development Kit. It is not a tablet reference design. Each shipping tablet is a custom design with varying hardware components and requires a custom OS image from the OEM who made the tablet.
Finally, while we cannot support or give out third party peripheral drivers or provide the Android 3.0 source before Google does, we do want to explore whether we can assist the open source ROM makers. We will be reaching out to them today.
Andrew Edelsten
Tegra Developer Relations
NVIDIA Corporation
Its official:
http://phandroid.com/2011/04/12/nvidia-sadly-wont-provide-honeycomb-drivers-and-support-for-harmony-tegra-2-devices/
was just reading the same forum on Nvidia..... http://developer.nvidia.com/tegra/forum/honeycomb-harmony
Unbelievable !
If this is true - will not buy a single nvidia product anymore. Lousy bastards they are !
ibila said:
Its official:
http://phandroid.com/2011/04/12/nvidia-sadly-wont-provide-honeycomb-drivers-and-support-for-harmony-tegra-2-devices/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are getting whipped for that
I dont get it though ? Are not all drivers for the platform opensource ?
How hard is it to move a driver btwn minor Linux versions ?
Our Folio will not get Honeycomb from Toshiba anyway, and the harmony machines out does not fit Googles requirments for Honeycomb.
As long as the drivers can be recompiled for the Honeycomb kernel there are many groups out there that can do a community port.
(Still waiting for Honeycomb Android source though...)
I agree, Nvidia will feel the consequences of this decision.
I was all for Tegra and was determined that my next tablet would also be a Tegra, but now there will not be a next time for me.
Whoever decided this at Nvidia should have their head examined, talk about bad reputation and bad business...
Nvidia has responded to the massive critic they got.
Here's the response from Nvidia:
"A lot has been read into a very short post about a Tegra development kit. I'd like to clear up a few points.
First, nothing changes in what we’re delivering to the open source community or customers. NVIDIA will continue to post the Tegra kernel to kernel.org and publish our Android code to our public git servers. Additionally, we will continue to make our BSP (codecs, GPU driver etc) available to all our hardware partners. We will continue to do this and nothing about these processes has changed.
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.
In relation to my original reply, that was a response to a specific question about a Tegra 250 Development Kit. Given the confusion, we will work with owners of Tegra 250 Development Kits individually to determine their needs. The term "Harmony" is an internal codename for the Tegra 250 Development Kit. It is not a tablet reference design. Each shipping tablet is a custom design with varying hardware components and requires a custom OS image from the OEM who made the tablet.
Finally, while we cannot support or give out third party peripheral drivers or provide the Android 3.0 source before Google does, we do want to explore whether we can assist the open source ROM makers. We will be reaching out to them today."
I like the last sentence "We will be reaching out to them today"...
Here is the link:
http://www.slashgear.com/android-ice-cream-sandwich-devices-to-arrive-in-october-09170602/
A new rumor is spreading today that we could be seeing devices with Google’s next-gen Android platform, called Ice Cream Sandwich, launching as early as October. Since Apple’s iPhone 5 is expected to arrive sometime in September or October, it’s believed that Google will rush the new platform to counter the major Apple development.
Google may also be concerned about getting Ice Cream Sandwich devices out before November because that month marks the two-year anniversary of the original Motorola Droid. The Droid is considered by many to be the first handset to really put Android on the map and make it a serious contender in the mobile market. With the two-year contracts expiring, these customers, now free to switch phones and even carriers completely penatly-free, may jump for the iPhone 5.
Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich was first announced back at Google I/O and will be a unifying platform for both tablets and smartphones. Currently, tablets run on Android Honeycomb while smartphones run on Android Gingerbread. With Ice Cream Sandwich, smartphones will get many of the Honeycomb features such as the multitasking UI, the launcher, and richer widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First screenshots of Android Ice Cream Sandwich :
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...m-sandwich-screenshots-plus-more-ics-details/
I wonder if we can expect this for the gtablet. I hope so!
Edit I don't think so anymore lol
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
barqers said:
I wonder if we can expect this for the gtablet. I hope so!
Edit I don't think so anymore lol
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget that Google will release it HoneyComb source code if Ice Cream is released.
And since Ice Cream is a hybrid of the phone and tablet, let just hope some Genius dev. here will put out a rom version for out Gtablet
y2k-inc said:
Don't forget that Google will release it HoneyComb source code if Ice Cream is released.
And since Ice Cream is a hybrid of the phone and tablet, let just hope some Genius dev. here will put out a rom version for out Gtablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I wish I was genius enough to help out but unfortunately I know very little about Linux ! Being a Windows user myself.
My expectations are lower, I hope they release IceCream for a similar device so some awesome devs can make it mostly work on the gTab.
mike_ekim said:
My expectations are lower, I hope they release IceCream for a similar device so some awesome devs can make it mostly work on the gTab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as it works similarly to the current hc roms ill be happy
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
barqers said:
I wonder if we can expect this for the gtablet. I hope so!
Edit I don't think so anymore lol
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't hold your breath!!! Viewsonic just posted this on their Facebook page Monday:
ViewSonic
All,
Maybe this will help. The OTA updater is not controlled by ViewSonic, and the 4349 update was pulled, apparently because there were issues with that version.
In the last three weeks, we have been trying to clear up erroneous information in regards to our support, nVidia, and the OTA. We are still working on some of these issues.
FACT - nVidia is only supporting Gingerbread and Honeycomb on their Ventana platform. gTablet will NOT see drivers or Android upgrades beyond Android 2.2 from ViewSonic. ViewSonic has had direct conversations with nVidia about this issue.
OTA Update: We are still awaiting a response from Flex regarding authorization for TNT. We will post information regarding this issue, when we learn more.
There it is again, no drivers, no android updates past Froyo = no official Honey or Ice Cream from Viewsonic!!!!
aabbondanza said:
Don't hold your breath!!! Viewsonic just posted this on their Facebook page Monday:
ViewSonic
All,
Maybe this will help. The OTA updater is not controlled by ViewSonic, and the 4349 update was pulled, apparently because there were issues with that version.
In the last three weeks, we have been trying to clear up erroneous information in regards to our support, nVidia, and the OTA. We are still working on some of these issues.
FACT - nVidia is only supporting Gingerbread and Honeycomb on their Ventana platform. gTablet will NOT see drivers or Android upgrades beyond Android 2.2 from ViewSonic. ViewSonic has had direct conversations with nVidia about this issue.
OTA Update: We are still awaiting a response from Flex regarding authorization for TNT. We will post information regarding this issue, when we learn more.
There it is again, no drivers, no android updates past Froyo = no official Honey or Ice Cream from Viewsonic!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Figures. Time to boycott nvidia and vyewsonic lol. Honestly I don't know why they think we care about their ota stuff when it won't even include updated drivers?
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
aabbondanza said:
Don't hold your breath!!! Viewsonic just posted this on their Facebook page Monday:
ViewSonic
FACT - nVidia is only supporting Gingerbread and Honeycomb on their Ventana platform. gTablet will NOT see drivers or Android upgrades beyond Android 2.2 from ViewSonic. ViewSonic has had direct conversations with nVidia about this issue.
There it is again, no drivers, no android updates past Froyo = no official Honey or Ice Cream from Viewsonic!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not so true, VS is lying and a BIG lie:
Quote from other forum:
Aug 8 2011 at 6:18 PM
#173
To Nvidea:
Viewsonic had a Facebook discussion that they opened for Gtablet users to pst concerns and questions. Many of us have asked Viewsonic to request drivers from Nvidea for Gingerbread, or Honeycomb support. We were told, in a prior post on this very forum:
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.
Less than an hour ago, Viewsonic updated their Facebook discussion to include this update:
All,
Maybe this will help. The OTA updater is not controlled by ViewSonic, and the 4349 update was pulled, apparently because there were issues with that version.
In the last three weeks, we have been trying to clear up erroneous information in regards to our support, nVidia, and the OTA. We are still working on some of these issues.
FACT - nVidia is only supporting Gingerbread and Honeycomb on their Ventana platform. gTablet will NOT see drivers or Android upgrades beyond Android 2.2 from ViewSonic. ViewSonic has had direct conversations with nVidia about this issue.
OTA Update: We are still awaiting a response from Flex regarding authorization for TNT. We will post information regarding this issue, when we learn more.
So, what exactly is the truth? Nvidie told us that they would provide support on all versions of android that a hardware partner (including Viewsonic) requests until that hardware partner (including Viewsonic) chooses not to support the device.
But, not Viewsonic (hardware partner) states that Nvidia will only support Gingerbread and Honeycomb on the Ventana platform. Viewsonic is showing that they are not "choosing to not support their device, and that they have made an attempt to request support for the the hardware from Nvidia.
Basic questions here:
Did Viewsonic contact Nvidia to attempt to get hardware support above Android 2.2 for the Gtablet?
Will Nvidia stay true to their comment and provide support for ALL android versions at the request of the hardware partner?
If Viewsonic did request such support, and Nvidia has pledged to provide such support for ALL android versions, then why would Viewsonic tell their Gtablet users that Nvidia will not support any android version above 2.2 for the Harmony platform?
I can certainly say that Viewsonic Gtablet OWNERS are a little more than sick and tired of the runaround that we're getting. We are upset at Viewsonic, many of us beginning a boycott campaign. I personally, have pledged to provide negative comments in reviews of ALL Viewsonic products on various online retailer sites. I won't be reviewing products, but rather product support and customer service. It wouldn't be too difficult to do the same to Nvidia products as well. When the Tegra 3 is released, will support for all Tegra 2 devices (not just harmony) be cut off as well? Will the Xoom, Iconia, EEE pad, etc, not have official drivers for Ice Cream Sandwich, or other, yet to be determined, Android versions? That could be a lot of potential negativity for a publicly traded company. I'm sure that stockholders wouldn't appreciate it.
Please respond in kind to these questions, and let me know in the most basic terms. Will Tegra 2 Harmony devices ever get support from Nvidia for any Android version above 2.2? I don't want corporate double speak, a simple yes or no answer will suffice.
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Now, how about Malata & Adam Inc, Vegan ??? Are there any light out of the tunnel for them, specially Adam & Vaga as they are pushing Honeycomb development forward ... We will see the true until Google release the HC source code, if that nvidia will release it driver for the HC harmony too ... if not than it's time to boycott both Google for being a big fat cow and nvidia & VS for it noncooperation
Who's the bad boy!!!
y2k-inc said:
Not so true, VS is lying and a BIG lie:
Quote from other forum:
Now, how about Malata & Adam Inc, Vegan ??? Are there any light out of the tunnel for them, specially Adam & Vaga as they are pushing Honeycomb development forward ... We will see the true until Google release the HC source code, if that nvidia will release it driver for the HC harmony too ... if not than it's time to boycott both Google for being a big fat cow and nvidia & VS for it noncooperation
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately, companies can & do change their tune on a regular basis. Just because NVidia said they would support Harmony doesn't mean they actually will or haven't changed their minds. Maybe the next step is badgering NVidia to support their product!!! Sounds like the ball is in NVidia's ball park & it's up to them if we will get to play!
nVidia & Viewsonic want to force us to buy NEW devices. Too bad you have not even had it for a year and support is gone! Heck Apple is still supporting the original iPad and Touch products!
The full potential of our gTabs has not even been scratched and and it is being treated like a Touchpad. Makes me sick
well since theyre forcing me to, I guess I will have to get a new tablet...
but I can assure you it wont be nvidia or viewsonic branded
Im going TI OMAP with the next tablet, for sure!
Hi I hava gtablet with android system 2.2 Just want to know if it posible to upgrade to os system android 3.2, and how can it be done?
Android 3.2 is here!
Android 3.2 is a minor feature update that includes new
APIs that allow you to better target your layouts for specific
screen sizes and other miscellaneous new APIs.
For more information about all the changes in Android 3.2
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Sry for the question but i new in all this of android system.
snipekill said:
Hi I hava gtablet with android system 2.2 Just want to know if it posible to upgrade to os system android 3.2, and how can it be done?
Sry for the question but i new in all this of android system.
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Click to collapse
simple answer, NO
Complex Answer,
Viewsonic, the company that has their name plastered on the back of our tablets, has let us know that they are not going to be upgrading them to any Android OS higher than 2.2. They claim that it's because Nvidia (the company that created the Tegra 2 platform has said they will not provide hardre drivers for any android os higher than 2.2 on the harmony (ours) platform, and will only to it for the Ventana (Xoom, Iconia, Transformer).
However, there are some talented 3rd party developers here, and at the tabletroms forums that are working as hard as they can to attempt to get honeycomb to run on the harmony devices (Gtablet Vega, Adam). They have been able to port android 3.0 to them, but there are parts missing, namely hardware acceleration and the camera. Unless these developers start implementing portions of android 3.2 (which I believe some are) then you can't get it. There will never be an official android 3.2 update for our devices. What we'll probably end up with is an android 3.0 with aspects of 3.1 and 3.2, since htey'll be "updated" manually, but they will still lack drivers for hardware acceleration.
Thx i will try to flash it to G HARMONY GINGERBREAD v2.6(BL1.1)
i hope i do it right.
snipekill said:
Thx i will try to flash it to G HARMONY GINGERBREAD v2.6(BL1.1)
i hope i do it right.
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Click to collapse
make sure you're on the 1.1 bootloader first
Or else you'll be right back here wondering why you're stuck
TJEvans said:
make sure you're on the 1.1 bootloader first
Or else you'll be right back here wondering why you're stuck
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Click to collapse
thx for the remark , i should type the 1.2BL
TJEvans said:
simple answer, NO
Complex Answer,
Viewsonic, the company that has their name plastered on the back of our tablets, has let us know that they are not going to be upgrading them to any Android OS higher than 2.2. They claim that it's because Nvidia (the company that created the Tegra 2 platform has said they will not provide hardre drivers for any android os higher than 2.2 on the harmony (ours) platform, and will only to it for the Ventana (Xoom, Iconia, Transformer).
However, there are some talented 3rd party developers here, and at the tabletroms forums that are working as hard as they can to attempt to get honeycomb to run on the harmony devices (Gtablet Vega, Adam). They have been able to port android 3.0 to them, but there are parts missing, namely hardware acceleration and the camera. Unless these developers start implementing portions of android 3.2 (which I believe some are) then you can't get it. There will never be an official android 3.2 update for our devices. What we'll probably end up with is an android 3.0 with aspects of 3.1 and 3.2, since htey'll be "updated" manually, but they will still lack drivers for hardware acceleration.
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I'm sorry for the noob question but what is so different with both platform? Also why is Nvidia not supporting Harmony? Also is that why I could not find the darn APX drivers on Nvidia website? Also what will happen when Ice Cream Sandwich will come out since it will be open source?
TJEvans said:
make sure you're on the 1.1 bootloader first
Or else you'll be right back here wondering why you're stuck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done working fine.
what is so different with both platform?
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I can honestly say that I have no idea...besides the RAM, we're at 512mb, they are at 1gb
why is Nvidia not supporting Harmony?
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This is a point of contention for some, including myself. Back in April, when we first started complaining to Viewsonic, they told us that Nvidia would not support any OS higher than 2.2 for the Harmony chipset. We then complained to Nvidia, who stated, publicly that they would support their hardware on any OS at the request of the hardware partner (Viewsonic in this case) The argument then died down, until just recently.
We then started bothering Viewsonic again to "request" the drivers for GB and HC, since they are the hardware partner, and Nvidia said they would support it. A few weeks ago, Viewsonic stated that they had communnicated with Nividia and were told that Nividia would not support an OS higher than 2.2 on the Harmony chipset (sound familiar?)
I, personally, doubt that Viewsonic ever made such request. Others state that Nvidia did a corporate double speak, saying that they would support a higher OS, but never saying that they would provide drivers for such an OS. The fact is, we don't have a higher OS, so there's nothing really, for them to support...see what I'm saying?
In any case, Viewsonic makes us mad at Nvidia and Nvidia makes us mad at Viewsonic...nothing ever gets resolved, and we're still pissed.
I could not find the darn APX drivers on Nvidia website?
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Don't know, but you can find them on the Gtablet for Dummies site under the NVFlash section...
Also what will happen when Ice Cream Sandwich will come out since it will be open source?
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Magic 8 ball says "answer is unclear"
honestly, your guess is as good as mine.
TJEvans said:
I can honestly say that I have no idea...besides the RAM, we're at 512mb, they are at 1gb
This is a point of contention for some, including myself. Back in April, when we first started complaining to Viewsonic, they told us that Nvidia would not support any OS higher than 2.2 for the Harmony chipset. We then complained to Nvidia, who stated, publicly that they would support their hardware on any OS at the request of the hardware partner (Viewsonic in this case) The argument then died down, until just recently.
We then started bothering Viewsonic again to "request" the drivers for GB and HC, since they are the hardware partner, and Nvidia said they would support it. A few weeks ago, Viewsonic stated that they had communnicated with Nividia and were told that Nividia would not support an OS higher than 2.2 on the Harmony chipset (sound familiar?)
I, personally, doubt that Viewsonic ever made such request. Others state that Nvidia did a corporate double speak, saying that they would support a higher OS, but never saying that they would provide drivers for such an OS. The fact is, we don't have a higher OS, so there's nothing really, for them to support...see what I'm saying?
In any case, Viewsonic makes us mad at Nvidia and Nvidia makes us mad at Viewsonic...nothing ever gets resolved, and we're still pissed.
Don't know, but you can find them on the Gtablet for Dummies site under the NVFlash section...
Magic 8 ball says "answer is unclear"
honestly, your guess is as good as mine.
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Click to collapse
Ah thanks for clearing that up but the difference between Harmony and Ventana can't just be RAM since the Acer Iconia A100 only has 512MB of RAM and it runs Android 3.2. Oh well lets just hope Nvidia releases drivers for Ice-Cream Sandwich. I'm also pissed that Viewsonic is releasing two Honeycomb tablets.
Doomguy123 said:
I'm also pissed that Viewsonic is releasing two Honeycomb tablets.
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Don't be pissed. Just don't buy them. Better yet, don't buy anything Viewsonic.
Fuzzy John said:
Don't be pissed. Just don't buy them. Better yet, don't buy anything Viewsonic.
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Yeah anyways the last monitor I had from Viewsonic died a few mounts back.
Doomguy123 said:
Yeah anyways the last monitor I had from Viewsonic died a few mounts back.
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Click to collapse
I would love 3.2 just for reasizeable Widgets. EVen though viewsonic abandoned this tablet I don't care. I will never buy anything viewsonic again as i would be pissed if i spent $300 on a tablet that has been forgotten about by its makers. But $170 for a used dual core honeycomb tablet is pretty damn hard to beat(even if it is 3.0 and a little buggy). So far i am loving this tablet. Now only if electroniccrap would re-stock the bluto.
Sent from my Flashback 8.0 using Tapatalk
bobthesalesclerk said:
I would love 3.2 just for reasizeable Widgets.
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Launcherpro Plus is your friend...10x10 icons on screen and resizable widgets all day long...
I installed gtabcomb beta 3.3 located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1126220
For the most part it ran fine. The camera didn't work and I experienced the sleep of death.
Currently I am running a cm7.1 rc1 located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1144847
Again for the most part everything runs fine. A few minor things changed like the location of the sdcard. Not sure why but I don't have any audio so I can't play any music. No FC anywhere and the new market runs well.
dobah said:
I installed gtabcomb beta 3.3 located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1126220
For the most part it ran fine. The camera didn't work and I experienced the sleep of death.
Currently I am running a cm7.1 rc1 located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1144847
Again for the most part everything runs fine. A few minor things changed like the location of the sdcard. Not sure why but I don't have any audio so I can't play any music. No FC anywhere and the new market runs well.
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Click to collapse
The version of a ROM is not indicitive of the version of the OS that it's based on. I'm pretty sure that ALL HC roms available for the Gtablet are based on a 3.0 version of HC, they may have different aspects of 3.1 and 3.2 built in, but they are mostly 3.0.
The camera foes not work on ANY HC rom for the Gtablet, neither does hardware acceleration (trust me, HA does NOT work on ANY HC rom)
Android 3.2 ported to Vega, not G-Tablet
I have read that there is already a version of HC 3.2 ported to a similar device, with the VegaComb version
Would some of the developers that havef ported the HC 3.0.1 be able to adapt the VegaComb 3.2 to any of their distributions?
I am currently using Flashback 8.0, and have tried vegan 7.0RC1, gtabcomb 3.3, flashback 7.2, illuminate 3.1 and of course the strange version taht the viewsonic g-tablet came with, and it has been a nice walk through the several android flavors, but the hardware acceleration is really a important part of the device. From what I saw on the vegacomb video on youtube, the acceleration to a similar device really proves to make a much better experience, and not to say that the camera works, and flash plays withough issues on the browser.
Let me know if there is a v ersion of 3.2 to test, I would gladly test it out .
dnanton said:
I have read that there is already a version of HC 3.2 ported to a similar device, with the VegaComb version
Would some of the developers that havef ported the HC 3.0.1 be able to adapt the VegaComb 3.2 to any of their distributions?
I am currently using Flashback 8.0, and have tried vegan 7.0RC1, gtabcomb 3.3, flashback 7.2, illuminate 3.1 and of course the strange version taht the viewsonic g-tablet came with, and it has been a nice walk through the several android flavors, but the hardware acceleration is really a important part of the device. From what I saw on the vegacomb video on youtube, the acceleration to a similar device really proves to make a much better experience, and not to say that the camera works, and flash plays withough issues on the browser.
Let me know if there is a v ersion of 3.2 to test, I would gladly test it out .
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Click to collapse
Your talking about the VegaComb 3.2 with the hardware acceleration? If so as far as I know no one is porting it I asked the VegaComb team and none of them have a Gtablet. Id like to see someone like Robeet port it over but doesn't look like that's gonna happen.
Started into the world of Android on a Gtab myself by getting on (full $400 price) at Sears many moons ago. Loved it. Messed it up. Figured out how to restore it (along with XDA gurus!) and generally enjoyed the whole process. Found VEGAN to be my ROM of choice and went happily on my way.
Then the tablet explosion began.
Despite entreaties by many it would appear (at least to me) some time ago the Gtab is EOL. End Of Life merely means it, along with many other tabs are now declared abandoned by their respective manufacturers who are moving on to newer offerings. One sees this with all things tech including phones, desktops, OS, etc.
I really don't mean to sound like a curmudgeon, but if it weren't for talented devs like Robeet, et. al., we'd not see massaged ROMs we do even now. Got a feeling the Gtab is like the NookColor and other first gen tabs. Froyo, GB and perhaps a handful of modded ROMs based on the previous is going to be it. Which ain't bad but not the same.
It is what it is.
skeeterpro said:
Started into the world of Android on a Gtab myself by getting on (full $400 price) at Sears many moons ago. Loved it. Messed it up. Figured out how to restore it (along with XDA gurus!) and generally enjoyed the whole process. Found VEGAN to be my ROM of choice and went happily on my way.
Then the tablet explosion began.
Despite entreaties by many it would appear (at least to me) some time ago the Gtab is EOL. End Of Life merely means it, along with many other tabs are now declared abandoned by their respective manufacturers who are moving on to newer offerings. One sees this with all things tech including phones, desktops, OS, etc.
I really don't mean to sound like a curmudgeon, but if it weren't for talented devs like Robeet, et. al., we'd not see massaged ROMs we do even now. Got a feeling the Gtab is like the NookColor and other first gen tabs. Froyo, GB and perhaps a handful of modded ROMs based on the previous is going to be it. Which ain't bad but not the same.
It is what it is.
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That's only partly true. The mod community is still here and someone figured out how to get hardware acceleration working on the Advent Vega and there's no telling what will happen when Ice Cream Sandwich gets released. Sure Viewsonic gave up on it but they still support it (contrary to HP).
You make a valid point, chum. Never underestimate the imagination and talent of a dedicated developer! People have done some amazing things with tablets and will continue to do so. That said, a "wait and see" position while perhaps not all that encouraging, might indeed yield some extremely useful projects.
Time will tell!