[Q] Next Steps - G Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi folks!
So I'm up and running with the new Vegan-Ginger. It was a bit of an ordeal because I'm new and I let the OTA updates go too far so I had to go the nvflash route first . Anyway, so far it's miles better than the stock roms. Things are good but now that I'm up and running I have some questions.
This is my first Android device - I sold my iPad. I don't expect a complete replacement (especially with this screen) but I think I can make this work if I can find my way around Android.
Here goes:
1. Is there an "android 101" or "Vegan 101" around? I've done some Googling but I'm not finding what I'm looking for. I'm still trying to get my head around the home-screen navigation paradigm. Maybe YouTube...
2. I feel dumb with this one -- how do I get USB to work? I connect to my system (OS/X), I see a USB and an android icon appear on the bottom line of my gTab but there's no prompt to open up USB (like TnT) and nothing appears on my computer. I know I'm missing something simple here...
3. Are there any synchronization programs out there for Android devices or is it all adhoc file transfers?
4. Suggested apps? No religious wars please just your favourite apps would help me get off the ground with this.
If I've missed an article or thread that covers this please link.
Thanks much!

Related

[Q] What do you use ...

Hello everyone,
I received a Samsung Vibrant S for christmas and am a real noob to the android scene. I come from the world of WinMo 5.0 so please bear with me.
I have been playing with this thing for a just a few days so far and am hesitant to root the phone as I don't know yet all the features I currently have in my possession, let alone the amount of money this 'super computer' costs. But I am enjoying the phone so far.
So, I have at the moment just a few questions and would really like your opinions and suggestions on what you use to do certain things.
My Vibrant has the Eclair 2.1-upd1, UVJI6. I'm currently running the system without a data plan, just a basic phone service. With my WinMo 5.0 and having internet at home, a wifi on the rails to/from work, internet at work, there is no need to spend an extra 30 a month for a data plan.
First, I need to sync my outlook calendar on my desktop to the phone. I have tried Kies but the thing doesn't recognize the phone half the time and the other half is used in trying to figure out why there is no connection.
[Q] What do you use to sync your calendar events with an XP / Windows7_64 MS outlook calendar? I am not necessarily interested in syncing email, I have enough of that already, no need to add it to my phone. I would like to sync my personal contacts though, seperate from those at work.
[Q] I have noticed there are very few places to download an APK file. Most are simply installed from the market. From the old WinMo 5.0 days, I had to watch what applications would run on what systems, so my practice has been to download the application and save it to a disk so when I needed to reset my phone/PDA, I could just pull the applications off the disk. You can't do that now with the market. So what do you use to back up your purchased/free applications so you can get them back if you need to?
[Q] I've noticed there are so many upgrades that can be done to this phone, and with all the posts here at XDA, it is very overwhelming. My question here is what about the apps from the market, can they be used with any version of android?
[Q] I have many more questions, but I know you all would simply refer me to the endless amount of posts and suggest I do a little research. The problem I am finding with this approach is the mass amount of data and all the little quirks that set one issue/solution different from another. You can easily spend weeks going through page after page to try and get an answer to a single question. So my last question is this; Do you have any suggestions on how to weed through this conglomerate data to find what you seek without spending too much time?
Thank you all for your insight and hospitality.
First off I would say check out the bible in the development section . You will find most of your answers there . As for your question about app capability most android apps will run on any android phone with a few exceptions . To back up your apps you could use TitaniumBackup but you most be rooted . Read up before you do anything . If you get stuck our are uncertain just ask . The community is usually very helpful .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

NORDICTRACK ELITE 9500 PRO Treadmill w/ 10" Android Tablet

I recently purchased a Nordic Track 9500 Elite Pro. This bad boy has a 10" android tablet built in. They really don't want you messing with the android part much, but I am sure there are plenty of other users out there like me that want to do more!
This is my first post so I am unable to show the pictures via the link. Hopefully you can copy and past the text to view the images. I will try to repost on my website so it all flows.
I don't see where a post like this would go, I am not sure if at some point it would gain it's own device forum... That would be exciting. So for now I will post here. I will also post my initial findings for others in the community that may want to purchase this treadmill and can't find any information regarding the built in Android Tablet with WiFi.
This image shows the version information. From what I can tell it looks like they purchase an APAD from someone and then stick it inside of their device. They also must have wrote some special drivers and software to interface with the equipment and hardware. I was very happy to see a mainstream current android OS.
Android OS 2.2
hungrykzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMAG0027.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here are the pre-installed apps. Pretty basic. (note: I was able to find an APK and install Last.FM that wasn't included) Also a major bummer to see was that there wasn't a market application.
hungrykzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMAG0026.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the typical workout screen you see.
hungrykzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMAG0024.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also noticed that the device doesn't have very much memory. This could be due to the built in applications taking up so much space. It only had about 57MB of internal memory free, but it had a built in 2GB SD Card. I have not gotten to the point where I have needed to take it apart yet to see if there is a replaceable SD card. I may wait another 5 years for my warranty to end to do that.
I have tried to install some apps but have not had very much luck. The only app that was I was able to install was the Last.FM.
I tried the follow apps, and they didn't install:
1. Market
2. Angry Birds
3. Pandora
Other disappointments:
1. Designed to not be in the Android Interface. They have an application that runs, and makes it tricky to get to the android desktop. It takes about 3 clicks to get from the main workout screen back to the Android Desktop.
2. The screen is not capacitive, it is resistive. I don't know how much more I need to say about that.
3. Only 3 buttons. Back, Menu, Home. Home takes you to their software not the android home screen. Long press on home does nothing.
4. When i go to the desktop the Time is all over the place. I have tried changing settings in every spot possible but something is telling it what time to think it is, occasionally it is correct... Just don't get it.
Even with the disappointments this thing is sweet. I wish i could install more apps, stream videos from a PC over the WiFi connection and stream music from a PC over the WiFi connection. Maybe with the help of the community we will figure some of these items out... Or I will be the only one who has this that knows about this website!
ntsteele,
How is your experience up to now with your 9500? I am looking at getting the c1250, which is the same as the 9500, but with a smaller motor and no decilne. Is the 10" screen worth it? The rep at Nordictrack told me the only differcence between the 7" screen is the web browser, the google maps display, and some basic apps. But overall the workout system is the same as the 7' display of the 1750 commercial and that you can view the google maps by logging in on ifit.com. Thanks for the info and screen shots.
iFit Android App
Have you or has anyone else been able to pull the apk files off of the NordicTrack Elite 9500 Treadmill. I would be interested to see if it works on any adroid phone to view the menu system.
I played with this today at Google IO. The rep said that the integrated tablet was rev 1 and that they wanted to eventually let users connect their own devices.
what do you need to press to get to the android home screen?
Where I work at there is a Proform Trailrunner 4.0 treadmill that has 10" Android tablet screen. From what I have been told nordic track and proform are made by the same manufacture or something. It was returned because of a broken display unit. Of course I wasn't going to let them throw the old one away so they let me keep it. I trashed the main display and now I have the 10" tablet but cannot power it because the treadmill doesn't operate without a magnetic key. How could I power this thing and see if it works?
I got the new incline trainer x9i which has the 10 inch android interface. I am interested to get in and try installing apps as you have but I am unable to even get to the android home screen. The only time I see it is when I turn the machine on and it is booting up, the screen comes up for a few seconds to where I can hit on the applications button and see what is on it. But within a second after I see the apps it automatically gets routed into the machine exercise interface and I have not figured how to get back to the android home screen from there. How did you do it? It would sure be nice to install a different browser. I hate the fact that I cannot create my own shortcuts. Anyway, love the machine.
How to get to the Android Home Screen
Any luck finding out how to get to the Android Home Screen? I am wanting to do that also. I was able to get to it one time accidentally, but haven't figure out how to stop the machine interface from loading since.
Home Screen
Ok, same question. I just got a C2150 which is a similar model to the 9500. Slightly smaller motor and belt, but same basic thing with the 10" tablet. I believe it's capacitive now, but still not great as far as that goes.
I too have hit the setup icon when it's booting and it goes to the Android setup screen for a second and then continues to boot into the Nordictrack IFit proprietary stuff.
So I can't believe the posts with the images and no explanation of how you got there? Please share with the rest of us.
Also, my console has a USB connector at the top of the thing. Any idea what if anything that'll let me do?
Thanks!
Anyone figure this out? Seems a shame to have a 10' screen and not be able to install apps on it. There must be some button combination that the Icon service team would use to stop the auto load of the iFit interface.
Internal Pictures
I took the tablet apart to see what information can be gathered. Apparently, HANNSTAR (TAIWAN) manufactures the board (HANNSTAR J MV-7); which uses a Samsung ARM8 CPU(5PV210AH-A0 1044); has 512MB; and a 4GB SANDISK FLASH (SDIN2C2-4G).
I haven't been able to find sufficient info to track a compatible ROM, yet I can't imagine for the life of me that HANNSTAR would design this just for Nordic. I am posting some pics hoping that someone might be able to id the hardware, which in turn might help point to a more fruitful search for a workable ROM.
Try to upload pics but not sure if it worked. It's late, and I can't figure out how to do it smoothly yet.
I'm gonna do another bump. I have a similar treadmill (or maybe the exact same one, I lost the the manual with product name). It is of the X9i series and when I saw it in the store, I had to go for it. I was a bit irritated to see that you are locked to the iFit application and you cannot return to the launcher. I need a male to male USB cable to see if I can get a bit of ADB on it.
From the (crappy) performance of it, I can tell it has about 512 MB RAM, a dated CPU clocked at around 600-800MHz, the screen looks like a crappy TFT display at 1280x700. Lastly, this thing runs Froyo. Mine features a full USB port and an Audio in port. Not much to screw around with. Downloads are disabled in the browser, and the Menu key does nothing.
I think something can be done though. The application that controls the treadmill can't crash as it is, and if it ever does FC, the motor shouldn't stop. NordicTrack doesn't have a recovery image up for some reason (thanks, NordicTrack -_-) so that's even less to work with.
Nevertheless, something can be done. It's not really a fun thing for an Android enthusiast to pick up an Android device with such dated hardware (the tredmill itself, as just tredmill is amazing).. Plus, it was $2,100 at Sears.
---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 PM ----------
here is a video of the Treadmill and the board;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKyf6MHIefk
USB and Audio in is on the right side of the console.
I've had my Nordictrack 9500 Pro for about a year now. Still working well for the most part (I do have messed up deck tension adjuster that I need to call support about).
Would love to be able to unlock the Android device to at least install Netflix, Pandora, etc.
I have had one over the air firmware upgrade that went pretty smoothly. Was hoping more updates would come from Nordictrack, but it has been a long time since that one.
Has anyone else noticed that the Speed Calibration utility under the iFit controls says that it isn't enabled yet? Maybe there's hope for future updates.
fanVrARCHITECT
Greetings,
I have been following this thread as a 9500 owner as well, and looking at what has been posted and see if there is any follow up.
1.) like everyone else what startup combinations may have disabled Nordic Tracks proprietary software.
2.) the usb socket on the top of the console, has anyone had anyluck attempting a usb male to male connection on a laptop? If so what has been tried?
3.) any idea of maybe porting something over via the Ifit updates or account? I noticed the HDvideo inside of the program is pretty descent from what I've seen, and looks like the video plays in the center of main app..just a thought.
I'm looking at getting the male to male usb cable and trying to interface it with the below. .. at least curious if the cable will talk, and most likely this unit is not root so view only but maybe a start if it works.
//www*howtogeek*com/howto/42491/how-to-remote-view-and-control-your-android-phone/
Cheers,
devmo
Did anyone figure out how to get android home screen????
I read somebody was able to email themselves an apk and install it? The tablet enables sideloading? Ding ding ding! I'm going to try sideloading launcherpro or any other replacement launcher to attempt to hijack the home screen
Update: Didn't work on my c2150's tablet. Bastards.... I did however get my c2150's to boot into "safe mode" which I have no idea what that entails. While it was powering on, I held down home and back I believe was the combo.
Update: SUCESS!!! So by booting into "safe" mode, you can hit the preferences launcher while the device is booting to interrupt the ifit loading. From there, go enable unknown sources. Then launch the browser and google "z4 apk" and download it and run it. Did permanent root on mine and it worked.
ENJOY
I forgot. Once you get the device into safe mode, install "smart taskbar" by sideloading. It'll make you able to view a task bar over ifit.
EDIT: Since we don't have a custom recovery, or for that matter even a recovery at all it seems, I've not attempted gapps. Could anyone give a detailed response on how to install this? I assume just unzip it in the root directory? I'm worried about permissions, I always forget what to set there. Also, the device comes pre-bundled with busybox, fyi Another must have for this is adbWireless. I tried editing the init.rc but it seems those changes were for nothing. I'll keep people updated as I discover things etc. I'm by no means a dev, but do know a little.
jsteelm said:
I forgot. Once you get the device into safe mode, install "smart taskbar" by sideloading. It'll make you able to view a task bar over ifit.
EDIT: Since we don't have a custom recovery, or for that matter even a recovery at all it seems, I've not attempted gapps. Could anyone give a detailed response on how to install this? I assume just unzip it in the root directory? I'm worried about permissions, I always forget what to set there. Also, the device comes pre-bundled with busybox, fyi Another must have for this is adbWireless. I tried editing the init.rc but it seems those changes were for nothing. I'll keep people updated as I discover things etc. I'm by no means a dev, but do know a little.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry - can you tell me the exact steps involved here. How do I get to safe mode and then what? I tried Home Back while powering on and it still goes to the ifit screen
You know I'm really not sure what trick it is to make it stay. I had good luck getting it to stay in android rubbing home/back/menu while it booted and as soon as I saw the android home screen, hit the preferences launcher and then grabbed the top menubar and half pulled it down. All I know is that when you get it to stick in android, its always in safe mode which is triggered by some combination of those buttons on boot. Even then it will boot into iFit, but if you go to the settings first, in safe mode, it wont exit that screen.
Nordictrack commercial 2150 Android Safemode
Very simple folks. Turn treadmill on and once you see ANDROID appear in the center of the screen, begin pressing the dashes button that is between the home and back buttons on the console. Not sure if holding down works any better. An "unable to load widget" will be seen in middle of screen once the I-FIT software has stopped and safe mode will appear at the lower left hand corner. You'll then be able to check out the various Android options etc for your tablet. Be careful in editing anything unless you know what you are doing! Wouldn't want to brick your treadmill unnecessarily. It took awhile to find the key to safe mode access, due to limited info out there, but I hope users will continue to make some progress on exploiting this device and maybe we'll be able to use it to our liking. I would like to stream my dish television to the tablet like I do on my i phone or i pad. Being able to install the dish app via google app store is what I'm looking forward to. I want to be able to watch tv on my treadmill while exercising. Please keep this thread going! I'm sure that future software updates may allow for a better user interface. The challenge is certainly in the storage capabilities in the tablet itself and the sd card inside.

[Q] Just got an Android tablet

Hi all,
Just bought an Android tablet off evilbay.
Item number: 250907151743
Anything anyone can tell me about it would be welcome.
Namely what model is it & what hacks mods and upgrades I can do to it.
Right, the first problem.
I've transferred my home webpage to it but the standard windows path doesn't work, so what path do I use to call a webpage on the sdcard from within html?
Cheers.
It's better if you just post the link to it. About the homepage, why not just go to it on your device then save it as a bookmark?
I tend to just post the item number from habit 'cos quite a few forums I go on don't like links.
I'd rather have my normal homepage rather than a list of 30 bookmarks.
Of course, if I could just install Windows on it, life would be easier
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250907151743?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
IMP said:
I'd rather have my normal homepage rather than a list of 30 bookmarks.
Of course, if I could just install Windows on it, life would be easier
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250907151743?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could also set as your homepage. How do you expect to install Windows on it?
That's what the 'if' was for
Tried Android several times, don't like it yet.
But at least if I don't get on with it, it'll sell easy enough - since Android is trendy
Personally I still prefer Dos and CP/M.

[Q] Chinese Android P706 4.2 Tablet

Hi guys, new the the forums here. I did some quick searches but I couldn't find anything on this product..
My dad bought a janky little tablet from someone who passed by his office and he has no idea how to use it so I'm trying to make some use of it.
I want to root it and all the good stuff, but I can't! I'm very new to rooting, just rooted my HTC One M8 last night tot he ViperOne and I not sure how to approach the tablet.
I tried TowelRoot or whatever but it was not supported?
Any other ideas guys?
settings-about-tap your way to developer
Just figured this out, but have definitely read it elsewhere in xda: go to setting - about tablet - tap repeatedly (I have read elsewhere 10 taps, or possibly only seven) the last entry in the right column (not sure what it was before i did it). The bottom of the screen, after the first few taps, should display something like "3 more taps to become developer." Kep tapping the appropriate, indicated number of taps...and i think that should do it.

Can't change location or screen orientation

Hi all,
Hope I'm posting this in the right place. If not, please move.
I have Remix_OS_for_PC_Android_M_64bit_B2016072603 installed as a virtual guest in Virtualbox 5.0.24_Ubuntu r1083 with Xubuntu-core 16.04 as the host machine. Using a Toshiba Satellite Pro L510. Took me four days to nut out how to get to this point, but installed and booting and stable now.
My issues:
1/ Location: When I try to run an app from Play Store it thinks I'm outside of Australia/New Zealand (the app I'm trying to run is specific to those regions). I'm in Australia, the app works fine on my phone (am logging in exactly the same way).
(* Update: I installed GPS Status and it tells me GPS is not switched on. Was hoping to then change the location with Fake GPS, which I also installed. It won't do anything with same message: GPS not enabled or similar.)
2/ Resolution: The screen defaults to portrait, as expected I suppose, but I have a 1366x768 monitor and it doesn't fit in the screen. Consequently, I have a scroll bar because as Virtualbox Guest Additions is not compatible with Remix OS at this point there is no mouse integration (I need to hit Right Control to use mouse in host and same to use in guest again). I need to press a bunch of keys to just scroll the screen up and get back to where I was going. :|
Other than that, all working great, Remix OS is great, thanks to the team that created it. The main reason I was wanting to use it is to use this one app on my computer (AFL Live) and plug my computer into the TV. I don't use my phone for anything other than that one app, SMS and the occasional call so I am by no means an Android junky. In fact, before this, I knew very little about it (but a lot about Linux/Ubuntu).
This install has been a quest, a learning curve, and these are my last two hurdles so I'm calling for help if it's out there. Trawled the net, tried some things, but have hit a brick wall with these two problems.
My first post so not sure of the protocol. If these two issues should be the subject of two separate threads, mods please advise and I will edit accordingly and create a new thread.
Tnx in advance.
(* Further update: Just having a read of this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/remix/remix-os/remix-os-installation-rooting-t3293769
Wondering if rooting the device would allow me to change any of these, in particularly, the location to Australia where it should be, or switch on GPS so my app can see where I actually am. I'm presuming it thinks I am in the Cocos Islands or somewhere else!)
(* And further update: The screen resolution was as easy as typing Alt+F1 to launch a terminal then 'wm size 1366x768'. That looked terrible, though, so changed it to 1048x768 (from memory) and it is good enough, though not perfect. I may be able to get closer with further tweaking. Now the last, and most important, hurdle to leap: How do I get Remix OS, and more specifically my AFL app, to know I'm in Australia. Frustration. It's taken about ten days, on and off, to get here and still not quite where I want to be, but hopefully my travails can help someone else along the way ...)
Gave up on it. If anyone comes up with a way of running Remix OS in Virtualbox and setting the location, please post. Guestadditions would probably fix it and maybe one day ROS will be compatible with it.
On the other hand, I did learn a lot more about Android than I cared to know, but am now thinking about buying my first ever Android tablet to do the job with a USB/HDMI adapter.

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