[Hack?] Control your PC from android wear device - LG G Watch

Here is the link to the full howto: http://wolfebaine.blogspot.com/2014/12/control-computer-from-android-wear.html
So I'm now the proud owner of an LG G Watch. After reading all the flame wars on whether Android Wear was the greatest thing since sliced bread or the worst thing since un-sliced bread I decided to be conservative and opted for a first gen watch before dropping too much cash on the "newest-greatest". I'm not going to add to the already gigantic pile of Wear reviews, suffice to say I'm satisfied with it for what it is and what I paid for it.
But that's not the point of this post. 90% of the reason I bought the watch wasn't for what it did, but rather what can I make it do So I got it, rooted it, and started sideloading apps (xda). What I ended up with was an android smartwatch that could also:
Play a movie (QQPlayer + ES File Explorer + Bluetooth Headset)
Run an NES Emulator (NES-FC Lite + Bluetooth controller)
Open my garage door (V1_Bluetooth_Arduino app + my bluetooth/arduino garage door setup)
None of these were really way out there as far as plausibility so I continued my hunt to push the limits of what this thing can do.
The one place I feel Android Wear falls short is the 'control' aspect of things. It is a fantastic little devices for providing you with information, but at the end of the day I should be able to tap the thing on my wrist to control my every day life.......
The closest thing I could find right now is the IFTTT integration. Bravo in general to this website and moreso for making it compatible with wear. They get it. Tap a button to cause an action somewhere in the real or digital world.
So after playing around with existing recipes (https://ifttt.com/android_wear) I remembered a post I saw a while ago about controlling your computer with IFTTT and Dropbox vis SMS.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-issue-a-command-to-your-computer-with-a-text-message/
The premise is exactly the same except instead of using SMS as the trigger, you'll use android wear as a trigger.
Click the link a the top for the full howto plus a nice video of my watch starting my Christmas tree light show.
Happy Holidays!

Related

Shadow Era: similar to MTG; free to play

I installed Shadow Era yesterday... and I've been hooked since. In short, it's a dumbed down version of Magic: The Gathering, faster/less cards/slightly different mana-cast style.
It runs great on the nook (CM7-N165 is what I'm running), though you must be online to play which is a small downer. I believe it will install from the new market, though if not then it's easily gotten from the webs. Since it's free to install and play no need to worry about stealing.
The largish adds are slightly annoying, but they're gone during actual play.
For those wondering about the long-term aspect of the game, here's a run-down:
You start with one deck of your choosing.
Other full decks are available for purchase.
As you defeat the computer you'll earn gold, of which can be spent on buying more cards for your deck.
1.5-6 wins per card.
The deck editor is tolerable.
You may also challenge real people to duels.
MTG doesn't translate well to digital games, i.e. the fail PS3 versions. This one seems to strike the balance between strategy/toughness and playtime/replay value.
Is the AI any good, or do you need to find other players for it to really work? Also, is there any kind of game browsing or matchmaking service, or do you need to know who you want to connect to?
The AI is decent. Luck of the draw is the real power player in this game. I've been owned within turn 7, and visa-versa. The skill comes in when/what you select to sacrifice to create resources, and how you manage your deck in the editor.
I have not really tried out the multi-player much. You do have to create and join rooms to play. I don't think there's matchmaking.

What do you do with your Tablet?

I am up in the air about getting this tablet i like the fact that its a nexus and i've had previous tablets but never really used them so curious as to what people use them
sincerely a guy trying to justify a need vs a want
The nexus 9 will be my first tablet and this is what I'm going to use it for:
*Reading. Books, newspaper, stuff for school.
*Laptop replacement in school. When I don't have IT Courses, I won't need my Macbook, but I need something to look things up, make notes, calculate and draw plots etc.
*Watching Videos on the couch, in the bed and while traveling.
*Probably playing games
*Surfing and writing in Forums (Tapatalk)
*App Testing maybe, because I'm planning to start programming android Apps.
*etc.
I'm typing this out on my 32gb model, absolutely love this thing so far! Its fast, the screen is amazing, and android L is gorgeous and functional. Can't comment on battery yet of course. WiFi connectivity is stable. Loving the 4:3 form factor. No complaints as of yet.
As for what I use my tablet for:
Reading the news/blogs
Working on Word/Excel/PowerPoint documents
Tapatalk/Instagram/Google+
Media Hub (Play Music/Netflix/TuneIn Radio)
Web Browsing (much easier than grabbing the laptop)
Casual Gaming
Hope this helps
i just got mine before even installing google account i enabled oem unlock in dev options and rebooted to fastboot and fastboot oem unlocked this thing!! cant wait for the fun to begin..!!
also on tablets i mostly game, read news, some media etc.
Yeah it didn't matter on my want vs need I picked mine up and already did OEM unlock
I had an early tablet a couplet of years ago too and sold it since I found I never used it. But I'm getting back on board with the Nexus 9. Software has come a long way in a couple of years. I plan to use my tablet primarily as a replacement for all the books and papers I currently take to meetings and things. (for a geek in the tech bubble, I've been very slow about moving away from physical copies of things...) That's how I justify the purchase. I also plan to tinker with android. Also good for bringing with me while traveling to surf, communicate, and watch TV in bed.
I use mine mainly for clash of clans lol. But ya I unlocked mine first thing as well. Seems to be good so far has a little lag in COC but I am sure it will be worked out in time.
Taking notes, playing snes/ps1 emulators, web surfing, emails for work, neglecting my laptop, remote desktop from toilet, and most importantly Netflix in bed.
same thing i use my phone for lol....social networking, browsing the web, listening to music...that is all
For me gaming a bunch. Also Flipboard, Netflix etc. Speaking of games, anyone tried running Simpsons Tapped out on this baby yet?!
My immediate plans are:
- Testing out Lollipop (of course)
- Testing out USB OTG
- reading comics
- Clash of Clans
- Web surfing
My main interest is to use this as my electronic flight bag and aeronautical navigation platform.
The Ipad has become the defacto platform, but it's expensive...
$600 for the tablet
$200 for Bluetooth GPS addon
$150/yr subscription for nav software.
So the ipad solution is just shy of $1,000 for the first year
With the Nexus 9, I'll pay $500 for a platform that includes a very capable GPS. I use an app called Avare, which is free and more than capable enough for the type of flying I do (which is basically weekend warrior flying.)
I've been using my Nexus 7 2012, but it is showing its age and I'm looking forward to the larger screen.
I also keep all my aviation related references, books, manuals, etc. on the tablet, so it's an all in one solution.

Porting android on Gear S

Could it be possible?
XxCyberHackerxX said:
Could it be possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too, would like to know the answer on this... I do know that Samsung offered original Gear owners the option to change their stock Android OS to Tizen.
http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-brings-tizen-to-original-gear-smartwatch/
The two OS's and their hardware are simular in many ways.
I haven't looked, but has anyone ported Android to the Gear 2?
Given that the screen is arguably large enough and that we have all the cell hardware built in, I'd love to see a full android running on on the Gear S.
There is already software that will port and Android app to Tizen. I believe it is $5,000 and mainly for larger developers. I would expect something similar to land in the freeware world sooner rather than later. They pack the apk with an Android runtime to make it work on Tizen. Not sure how well the current porting software works.
push push push
yes.. can't wait to c my gear s ported in android instead of Tizen!!!! pls help!!
ok...so not to bash anyones parade. But why would you want this?
I've had every version of the Gear and having Android on the original was painful. Battery life sucked, tethering was a major PITA and even after rooting it was "cool" but not usable for the average person. I've also gone through the Moto360 ( I had it for 5 days and returned it) and AndroidWear sucks beyond suck with some extra suck on the side. It can tell the heck out of time, its a great and sexy watch, that's it. I've had people watch me working ( I build custom pc's for a living), hear my phone get a text and watch me just glance at my watch and type a quick reply without having to stop what Im doing or reach for my phone. They instantly recognize how useful it is, using either full blown android or android wear...not so much. You dont know how stupid you look saying "ok google" until you see someone else do it.
On the flip side , theres alot of "smart" watches online, mainly from China and such that run android... maybe thats an option? Me personally, I was resistant to Tizen at first. But it works, it works well. Yeah there are some kinks here and there but all in all its ok.
So, I've had my Gear S for a couple of months now and I feel qualified to respond:
1) Why would you want this (Android on the Gear S)?
a) Tizen SUCKS
b) Tons of basic functionality is missing
c) There are very few apps
d) Most apps to obtain standalone functional equivalence to a shipping Samsung Android device are paid apps - these things should have been included (like an on-device app store) - it is a stand-alone capable device, yet Samsung treats it like it is still bluetooth only. This reminds me of the early WinCE/WinMobile days when all apps had to be installed from a host PC.
e) I could continue, but this isn't an "I Hate My Gear S" response. Except for the lack of a front-facing camera, I LOVE the design and innate hardware functionality of the Gear S - much better than the blocky (but full featured) Neptune Pine.
f) F - the grade I would give Samsung on their use of Tizen for the Gear S
2)having Android on the original was painful.
That's why I never purchased the original Gear - without standalone functionality it can only ever be a "companion" device and Android is not designed for that. However, with the Gear S' standalone capability and its much larger screen, Android is a much better fit than Tizen.
3)tethering was a major PITA
"Standalone" - what don't you understand about that?
Gear S is a full phone/data/WiFi device - these old arguments are invalid.
4)AndroidWear
Not interested in Wear - as stated before, Gear S is/can be standalone and Wear is only for bt companion devices.
Something like the Google Glass interface would be better than Wear - but I still prefer full Android (with a customizable launcher for the smaller screen)
Infos3c said:
So, I've had my Gear S for a couple of months now and I feel qualified to respond:
1) Why would you want this (Android on the Gear S)?
a) Tizen SUCKS
b) Tons of basic functionality is missing
c) There are very few apps
d) Most apps to obtain standalone functional equivalence to a shipping Samsung Android device are paid apps - these things should have been included (like an on-device app store) - it is a stand-alone capable device, yet Samsung treats it like it is still bluetooth only. This reminds me of the early WinCE/WinMobile days when all apps had to be installed from a host PC.
e) I could continue, but this isn't an "I Hate My Gear S" response. Except for the lack of a front-facing camera, I LOVE the design and innate hardware functionality of the Gear S - much better than the blocky (but full featured) Neptune Pine.
f) F - the grade I would give Samsung on their use of Tizen for the Gear S
2)having Android on the original was painful.
That's why I never purchased the original Gear - without standalone functionality it can only ever be a "companion" device and Android is not designed for that. However, with the Gear S' standalone capability and its much larger screen, Android is a much better fit than Tizen.
3)tethering was a major PITA
"Standalone" - what don't you understand about that?
Gear S is a full phone/data/WiFi device - these old arguments are invalid.
4)AndroidWear
Not interested in Wear - as stated before, Gear S is/can be standalone and Wear is only for bt companion devices.
Something like the Google Glass interface would be better than Wear - but I still prefer full Android (with a customizable launcher for the smaller screen)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all being good points, except #3. Do you know how much power or heat is produced by the bluetooth tether that the watch currently uses? Almost none.... I cant say the same about the wifi/3g radio as that thing gets hot no to mention the hit on battery life. That being the case, Im not one to complain that I have to plug in the watch when I go to bed same as all my devices. Seriously, the people that complain about a 5 second task at the end of their day should be taken out back and beat with a hose.
All points considered, I have to agree with you in most part. If Tizen had the same amount of devs behind it that Android does then Tizen would be awesome. Sadly, thats not the case. I am actually working both (thanks to my wifes gear s) and am in the process of getting the original pit file so I can experiment a little. There was one dev (whose name escapes me right now) that wrote up how to roll back the original gear to android, the missing part there is the pit file for our devices. If I can figure that out then the rest "should" be somewhat easy.
Infos3c said:
So, I've had my Gear S for a couple of months now and I feel qualified to respond:
1) Why would you want this (Android on the Gear S)?
a) Tizen SUCKS
b) Tons of basic functionality is missing
c) There are very few apps
d) Most apps to obtain standalone functional equivalence to a shipping Samsung Android device are paid apps - these things should have been included (like an on-device app store) - it is a stand-alone capable device, yet Samsung treats it like it is still bluetooth only. This reminds me of the early WinCE/WinMobile days when all apps had to be installed from a host PC.
e) I could continue, but this isn't an "I Hate My Gear S" response. Except for the lack of a front-facing camera, I LOVE the design and innate hardware functionality of the Gear S - much better than the blocky (but full featured) Neptune Pine.
f) F - the grade I would give Samsung on their use of Tizen for the Gear S
2)having Android on the original was painful.
That's why I never purchased the original Gear - without standalone functionality it can only ever be a "companion" device and Android is not designed for that. However, with the Gear S' standalone capability and its much larger screen, Android is a much better fit than Tizen.
3)tethering was a major PITA
"Standalone" - what don't you understand about that?
Gear S is a full phone/data/WiFi device - these old arguments are invalid.
4)AndroidWear
Not interested in Wear - as stated before, Gear S is/can be standalone and Wear is only for bt companion devices.
Something like the Google Glass interface would be better than Wear - but I still prefer full Android (with a customizable launcher for the smaller screen)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hate to break it to you, if Android ever does get ported, you would come back to Tizen.
Android on this you would get 2-4 hours of battery.
Go into your settings on the watch and make your mobile network to always on, turn on mobile data, and turn off bluetooth.
Think of what apps you use, facebook? Bye bye even getting that 2-4 hours.
What kind of screen on time do you use on your phone?
Now think about what you get on your watch without all the apps.
Remember the watch only has 300mAh of battery.
The amount of programming in Tizen with regards to battery are crazy, you wouldn't get that in android.
Very good points on the last few posts, I like choice so I'd like the option of android but I honestly love my gear s on tizen so I'm not fussed.
But an android port thread is something I would follow with great interest as this is where xda is at its best, where the community come together to make something impossible happen.
Sent from my SM-T320 using XDA Free mobile app
There is a software company that has made an apk to tpk program(not out yet) so android apps would be able to be installed using sdb when it happens.
Infos3c said:
So, I've had my Gear S for a couple of months now and I feel qualified to respond:
1) Why would you want this (Android on the Gear S)?
a) Tizen SUCKS
b) Tons of basic functionality is missing
c) There are very few apps
d) Most apps to obtain standalone functional equivalence to a shipping Samsung Android device are paid apps - these things should have been included (like an on-device app store) - it is a stand-alone capable device, yet Samsung treats it like it is still bluetooth only. This reminds me of the early WinCE/WinMobile days when all apps had to be installed from a host PC.
e) I could continue, but this isn't an "I Hate My Gear S" response. Except for the lack of a front-facing camera, I LOVE the design and innate hardware functionality of the Gear S - much better than the blocky (but full featured) Neptune Pine.
f) F - the grade I would give Samsung on their use of Tizen for the Gear S
2)having Android on the original was painful.
That's why I never purchased the original Gear - without standalone functionality it can only ever be a "companion" device and Android is not designed for that. However, with the Gear S' standalone capability and its much larger screen, Android is a much better fit than Tizen.
3)tethering was a major PITA
"Standalone" - what don't you understand about that?
Gear S is a full phone/data/WiFi device - these old arguments are invalid.
4)AndroidWear
Not interested in Wear - as stated before, Gear S is/can be standalone and Wear is only for bt companion devices.
Something like the Google Glass interface would be better than Wear - but I still prefer full Android (with a customizable launcher for the smaller screen)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm definitely agree with you.
I have the original Gear 1 with android since the beginning (now with null rom of course) AND the Gear S since one month, and it's clear for me : i have the opportunity using Amazon (i'm in france) to return the Gear S till end of January and that's what i will probably do in a few days UNLESS there is a good reason to think that something like Null rom could happen to Gear S.
The Gear S plus Full android would be great because it works pretty good on Gear 1 and because Gear S can be used as a standalone device.
But the best would be Gear S + camera (like in the original Gear).
I think that what a lot of people want ( probably unconsciously) is a small smartphone on their wirst, that's why i presume that the first Apple watch itself wil be desapointing for many people.
Infos3c said:
So, I've had my Gear S for a couple of months now and I feel qualified to respond:
1) Why would you want this (Android on the Gear S)?
a) Tizen SUCKS
b) Tons of basic functionality is missing
c) There are very few apps
d) Most apps to obtain standalone functional equivalence to a shipping Samsung Android device are paid apps - these things should have been included (like an on-device app store) - it is a stand-alone capable device, yet Samsung treats it like it is still bluetooth only. This reminds me of the early WinCE/WinMobile days when all apps had to be installed from a host PC.
e) I could continue, but this isn't an "I Hate My Gear S" response. Except for the lack of a front-facing camera, I LOVE the design and innate hardware functionality of the Gear S - much better than the blocky (but full featured) Neptune Pine.
f) F - the grade I would give Samsung on their use of Tizen for the Gear S
2)having Android on the original was painful.
That's why I never purchased the original Gear - without standalone functionality it can only ever be a "companion" device and Android is not designed for that. However, with the Gear S' standalone capability and its much larger screen, Android is a much better fit than Tizen.
3)tethering was a major PITA
"Standalone" - what don't you understand about that?
Gear S is a full phone/data/WiFi device - these old arguments are invalid.
4)AndroidWear
Not interested in Wear - as stated before, Gear S is/can be standalone and Wear is only for bt companion devices.
Something like the Google Glass interface would be better than Wear - but I still prefer full Android (with a customizable launcher for the smaller screen)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree and would love to see a slimmed down android on this device. The battery issue does pose a serious concern though (why I said 'slimmed down')
I am bitterly disapointed with my Gear S, unsure if all my flack should be flung at Tizen or Samsung but fact is, I am getting virtually no use from my Gear S
I have a Tab S 10.5 LTE which it does not connect to, so using it standalone with no features.
I should not have to use a different device in order to get more features from my watch, that aint happening as I have the bets tablet on the market so not going lower down in the spec
As soon as some clever cat puts Aindroid on their Gear S I will be first in line to do mine!!!
I cant even add an email account to my watch as it tries to sync....
So SMS and phone that whats I am paying 24 X £21, so thank you Samsung, not!!
EFCLEE said:
I am bitterly disapointed with my Gear S, unsure if all my flack should be flung at Tizen or Samsung but fact is, I am getting virtually no use from my Gear S
I have a Tab S 10.5 LTE which it does not connect to, so using it standalone with no features.
I should not have to use a different device in order to get more features from my watch, that aint happening as I have the bets tablet on the market so not going lower down in the spec
As soon as some clever cat puts Aindroid on their Gear S I will be first in line to do mine!!!
I cant even add an email account to my watch as it tries to sync....
So SMS and phone that whats I am paying 24 X £21, so thank you Samsung, not!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok.... um, this is your own fault. The watch is meant to pair to a phone, A PHONE. A small device that is kept in your purse or back pocket, not a 10" tablet. There really is nothing wrong with the watch. It works as advertised, with the devices it was advertised for. Honestly people its a watch, they sold it as a WATCH. There was no bait and switch, they didnt say it was a phone and then snuck a watch into the box. It was advertised as Tizen not Android.
This is the same thing that happens to every single smart watch that comes out and all the haters come out of the woodwork.
Oh its not a wrist size Galaxy S6 with a quadcore processor, 128gb of memory, all my android apps, a full blown phone and a week of battery life?! I hate it! So Im gonna buy it anyway and then complain about why it doesnt do the things that nobody ever said it would do. I hate to be the one to break it to everyone, but Android isnt everything. Years ago, the big dog on the block was PalmOS then Blackberry, hell even Windows Phones. Now its down to iOS, Android and the slowly growing TIzen while nobody even remembers the older OS's. Google in all is might and glory will most likely suffer the same fate as EVERY other tech giant. They have great products, huge server farms and an ever growing massive user base but it will come to a point where there will be too much to maintain while still being innovative AND turning a profit. So they either become SkyNet or just fade into the background like HP and soon Microsoft. Theres a ton of no name chinese watches on eBay that run full blown Android, mind you the quality is complete crap since their isnt a big company like Samsung or Apple behind it, but it runs full blown Android.
I can speak from experience. I have had every single smart watch you can possibly have. From the white label chinese crap running Android to the original Gear->Gear 2 Neo->Gear 2 ->LG G Watch->Moto 360 and now the Gear S. Full blown Android is too much for a watch, so then people recommend a slimmed down version of Android so you get better battery life and just the basics, you know like the phone,emails & text,music player, a web browser and some other stuff... you know, the basics, oh wait... isnt that what Tizen is? Or go to Android Wear, thats a whole other can of worms. When I had the Moto 360, I thought "damn, this is a nice WATCH. look at all those freakin awesome watch faces" and thats it, thats all it does. It tells the hell out of time, and some very very limited interactions with notifications. If I could justify the cost of the Moto 360 and the fact that it was JUST a watch then sure, but on eBay it went. I was even happy with the Gear 2 Neo, the only reason I went to the the standard Gear 2 is because the Neo is too light and feels a bit weird on the wrist and from the Gear 2 to the S, well curved screen and a damn sim card... nuff said.
You dont like Tizen? Then do what I did, learn some code, head over to developer.samsung.com/gear and get to work. There is a HUGE potential for Tizen, not just oh screw it...this is too hard. Someone please put weeks of work into it for no apparent reason and port Android over but it better be the latest version, and my apps better run perfectly on it oh and battery life better be awesome too!
This watch is well worth the money IMHO. If I dont have to pull my phone out of my pocket 10 times per day just to glance at an email or text or dont hear my phone across the house when it rings and the watch lets me know theres a call. Hell, just the fact that my phone stays in my bag and I can use the watch to control my music is well worth it for me. The S-health features (mine are disabled) are pretty cool for the fitness buffs and the dev's are slowly but surely coming aboard.
Take what I say with a grain of salt, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONAL, DO NOT GET OFFENDED, THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. These are valid fact presented to all those people who feel that Android should be ported over to a device that was never really meant to do it....
cipherswitch said:
ok.... um, this is your own fault. The watch is meant to pair to a phone, A PHONE. A small device that is kept in your purse or back pocket, not a 10" tablet. There really is nothing wrong with the watch. It works as advertised, with the devices it was advertised for. Honestly people its a watch, they sold it as a WATCH. There was no bait and switch, they didnt say it was a phone and then snuck a watch into the box. It was advertised as Tizen not Android.
This is the same thing that happens to every single smart watch that comes out and all the haters come out of the woodwork.
Oh its not a wrist size Galaxy S6 with a quadcore processor, 128gb of memory, all my android apps, a full blown phone and a week of battery life?! I hate it! So Im gonna buy it anyway and then complain about why it doesnt do the things that nobody ever said it would do. I hate to be the one to break it to everyone, but Android isnt everything. Years ago, the big dog on the block was PalmOS then Blackberry, hell even Windows Phones. Now its down to iOS, Android and the slowly growing TIzen while nobody even remembers the older OS's. Google in all is might and glory will most likely suffer the same fate as EVERY other tech giant. They have great products, huge server farms and an ever growing massive user base but it will come to a point where there will be too much to maintain while still being innovative AND turning a profit. So they either become SkyNet or just fade into the background like HP and soon Microsoft. Theres a ton of no name chinese watches on eBay that run full blown Android, mind you the quality is complete crap since their isnt a big company like Samsung or Apple behind it, but it runs full blown Android.
I can speak from experience. I have had every single smart watch you can possibly have. From the white label chinese crap running Android to the original Gear->Gear 2 Neo->Gear 2 ->LG G Watch->Moto 360 and now the Gear S. Full blown Android is too much for a watch, so then people recommend a slimmed down version of Android so you get better battery life and just the basics, you know like the phone,emails & text,music player, a web browser and some other stuff... you know, the basics, oh wait... isnt that what Tizen is? Or go to Android Wear, thats a whole other can of worms. When I had the Moto 360, I thought "damn, this is a nice WATCH. look at all those freakin awesome watch faces" and thats it, thats all it does. It tells the hell out of time, and some very very limited interactions with notifications. If I could justify the cost of the Moto 360 and the fact that it was JUST a watch then sure, but on eBay it went. I was even happy with the Gear 2 Neo, the only reason I went to the the standard Gear 2 is because the Neo is too light and feels a bit weird on the wrist and from the Gear 2 to the S, well curved screen and a damn sim card... nuff said.
You dont like Tizen? Then do what I did, learn some code, head over to developer.samsung.com/gear and get to work. There is a HUGE potential for Tizen, not just oh screw it...this is too hard. Someone please put weeks of work into it for no apparent reason and port Android over but it better be the latest version, and my apps better run perfectly on it oh and battery life better be awesome too!
This watch is well worth the money IMHO. If I dont have to pull my phone out of my pocket 10 times per day just to glance at an email or text or dont hear my phone across the house when it rings and the watch lets me know theres a call. Hell, just the fact that my phone stays in my bag and I can use the watch to control my music is well worth it for me. The S-health features (mine are disabled) are pretty cool for the fitness buffs and the dev's are slowly but surely coming aboard.
Take what I say with a grain of salt, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONAL, DO NOT GET OFFENDED, THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. These are valid fact presented to all those people who feel that Android should be ported over to a device that was never really meant to do it....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree with @cipherswitch. Enough wining people. You knew what you were buying. It is not supposed to be the Holy Grail, is it just the (by far) most advanced smart watch out there. Of course it is not perfect. But the 3G functionality as well as the GORGEOUS curved screen make this thing a one of a kind smart watch. It is everything Aplle fans would hope the Apple Watch would be and maybe more.
I am an Apple fan, mind you. I am using the Gear S as standalone mainly and sometimes with my iPhone 6+. If my main phone was an Android the total experience would be perfect.
One more thing: Having owned the Gear 1 with almost every OS variation. Tizen, stock Android, almost every single version of NUll ROM I can personally guarantee that a fully blown Android OS is just wrong for a smart watch. It is the triumph of gadgetry over practicality.
Battery life with Android was a total joke and one can only imagine what would happen when the Gear S (running Android) was used standalone. I bet you would be able to literally see the battery meter dropping.
Long story short: Do your homework before buying a piece of (fairly) new tech. Accept the fact that we are being early adopters. Try to get the most out of your Gears S and if you still do not like it, just get rid of it.
Ironically just posted in the other forum. Agree and as to the write your own apps. Is what i did. Html5 and javascript. Looked at examples from others an adapted. Now it beats my gear fit hands down.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app
I think that what a lot of people want ( probably unconsciously) is a small smartphone on their wirst, that's why i presume that the first Apple watch itself wil be desapointing for many people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats exactly what I consciously wanted and thats effectively (ok almost effectively) what i now have
I need sm-n750v firmware. If someone get me that. I will take the challenge to get android working on the gear. It might take me a few weeks to get the tweaks worked out. But it will be working. Null and I worked side by side on the first. Gear. And I sure won't give up on the gear s
Sent from my SM-N915V using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
blazinandroid1 said:
I need sm-n750v firmware. If someone get me that. I will take the challenge to get android working on the gear. It might take me a few weeks to get the tweaks worked out. But it will be working. Null and I worked side by side on the first. Gear. And I sure won't give up on the gear s
Sent from my SM-N915V using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um. Huh? Im sure you mean the R750V, in which case the SM-R750VZWAVZW. This is the Verizon wireless variant, no firmware download available. Nor is there one for the Sprint variant. Not as of right now anyways. If there was I'd be all over it like white on rice In all honestly, and not bashing Null as I have great respect for all that bio-digital jazz that was put out with that ROM and even personally used it. Im sure it was alot easier to go back to Android on a watch that started out as Android. Gear 2 and forward, Qualcomm has done a very very good job with their bootloader security, dont see it being done. But thats just my opinion, I may be horribly wrong.

New Gear S owner - A couple questions

Greetings, all. Despite all the hype around the Apple Watch and Android Wear, I decided to get a Gear S. It is being delivered today. I have an LG G Watch, but I'm not terribly fond of it and I think the Apple Watch is an overpriced toy.
The Gear S seemed a better fit for me. I'm a fan of big watches and it seems much more functional than Android Wear.
That said, I have a few reservations and I'm hoping the community can put my mind at ease. I don't have it in my hand yet, so I can't look at the app store, so forgive me:
With the screen always on, how long will the battery last?- This is how I use my smartwatches. If I can't glance at the screen to see the time without jerking my wrist around, it's no good to me. I also ride a Harley and can't really afford to be required to make a wrist gesture to see the time.
Is there any kind of Shazam or Soundhound app? I know this seems frivalous, but I saw they had Shazam for the apple watch and it occurred to me how cool that would be.
Which apps do you use the most? Any good ones I should look for immediately?
Do you think it has any kind of future? It seems like it has already been forgotten. The Tizen store is stagnant and Apple and Android Wear seem to be stealing all the spotlight. Am I buying a product that is already obsolete?
Thanks. Just trying to convince myself that I made the right choice. I can return it, of course, but it seems like the best option for me right now.
greyhulk said:
Greetings, all. Despite all the hype around the Apple Watch and Android Wear, I decided to get a Gear S. It is being delivered today. I have an LG G Watch, but I'm not terribly fond of it and I think the Apple Watch is an overpriced toy.
The Gear S seemed a better fit for me. I'm a fan of big watches and it seems much more functional than Android Wear.
That said, I have a few reservations and I'm hoping the community can put my mind at ease. I don't have it in my hand yet, so I can't look at the app store, so forgive me:
With the screen always on, how long will the battery last?- This is how I use my smartwatches. If I can't glance at the screen to see the time without jerking my wrist around, it's no good to me. I also ride a Harley and can't really afford to be required to make a wrist gesture to see the time.
Is there any kind of Shazam or Soundhound app? I know this seems frivalous, but I saw they had Shazam for the apple watch and it occurred to me how cool that would be.
Which apps do you use the most? Any good ones I should look for immediately?
Do you think it has any kind of future? It seems like it has already been forgotten. The Tizen store is stagnant and Apple and Android Wear seem to be stealing all the spotlight. Am I buying a product that is already obsolete?
Thanks. Just trying to convince myself that I made the right choice. I can return it, of course, but it seems like the best option for me right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree about Apple watch! But regardless of OEM, I prefer the features of the standalone form factor vs the companion. Having its OWN data connection is invaluable at times. The remote feature is amazing and works very well for a first crack at this feature.
1. The wrist/motion sensor works pretty well on the S. Seems to work 9 outa 10 times you turn to look at time. Having the full screen on will cut usage time in half.
2. I personally have not heard or seen an app like SoundHound for Tizen... yet
3. This is a question that varies widely. Having Opera is a must and I've read a lot about people using Milk, Nike and S-health. I like Bullet News and Engadget's apps as well. S-voice makes sending brief texts and emails a breeze. However, what we really could use is an email client app that doesn't require the phone's connection to send/rcv email.
4. The Tizen store IS growing at a very slow pace, I agree. Not sure what is going to happen in the standalone vs companion war in general. But I will say this...before I bought the S, I had the Omate TrueSmart which took my personal phone out of my already bulging pockets and put it on my wrist. This, in itself, was a great technological step. And even though the TS was riddled with problems, I loved it. Now, with the remote connection always on, my personal phone stays at home connected to the Wi-Fi which feeds the incoming notifs to my wrist.
In conclusion, my personal thoughts on the future of wearables is completely dependent on the consumer market and OEM innovation. I think most future watches will all have the option to be standalone. Battery life will continue to be a big hitch and input methods. In addition, Samsung needs to stop trying to create it's own ecosystem and work with what is already here and accepted, now.
Go get your Gear S... You'll love it!!!
Thanks man. I'll find out soon, if UPS ever gets here.
Sent from my SM-G920I using XDA Free mobile app
Just found a hopeful answer to #2; Gearam Music ID I just downloaded but wife asleep so cannot test yet. Says it does what Shazam does. Also..
There are some good ones out there that you can get:
Xenozu Player for Youtube, works well. click on pic to play, and text for info
GearTweet for Twitter, much improved lately
GearGram for Instagram and plays video as well as shows pics
Basic Video Player, load videos to your Gear through PC to play on app
Wearable Widgets, I can use it to control my lights at home that on on my WeMo switches, using WeMo widgets; I can see my outside surveillance cameras using the IP Cam Viewer Basic widget
IPCameraViewer, I can see my indoor home surveillance camera feed through Gear S app
OperaMini for web browsing
Milk music for streaming to my bluetooth headset at the gym, without having to carry my phone.
S Health, I have used very well to track and motivate myself to move and exercise more. I lost 85 lbs. last year and it gets some credit. Program finally much better than it was.
I too hope they push for more, but in the end it will be up the the other companies and developers and they will probably go to Apple due to shear volume of sales alone.
Good luck.
Cheers,
highlordkram said:
Just found a hopeful answer to #2; Gearam Music ID I just downloaded but wife asleep so cannot test yet. Says it does what Shazam does. Also..
There are some good ones out there that you can get:
Xenozu Player for Youtube, works well. click on pic to play, and text for info
GearTweet for Twitter, much improved lately
GearGram for Instagram and plays video as well as shows pics
Basic Video Player, load videos to your Gear through PC to play on app
Wearable Widgets, I can use it to control my lights at home that on on my WeMo switches, using WeMo widgets; I can see my outside surveillance cameras using the IP Cam Viewer Basic widget
IPCameraViewer, I can see my indoor home surveillance camera feed through Gear S app
OperaMini for web browsing
Milk music for streaming to my bluetooth headset at the gym, without having to carry my phone.
S Health, I have used very well to track and motivate myself to move and exercise more. I lost 85 lbs. last year and it gets some credit. Program finally much better than it was.
I too hope they push for more, but in the end it will be up the the other companies and developers and they will probably go to Apple due to shear volume of sales alone.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, thank you for that. I will check out Gearam. I wish IPCamviewer worked with dropcams, but I don't think it does.
I can't download Opera Mini, for some reason. It simply doesn't show up for me in the store. I am in the U.S. on AT&T, but I do have the International model of the GS6. Maybe that's why? Either way, it sucks. I was really looking forward to that one.
Edit: Dammit. Gearam doesn't show up for me, either. If it does have to do with my International model of the GS6, I wish there was a way to spoof my ID for the store.
Try Doreso Music Radar. That is a Shazam like app.
greyhulk said:
Ah, thank you for that. I will check out Gearam. I wish IPCamviewer worked with dropcams, but I don't think it does.
I can't download Opera Mini, for some reason. It simply doesn't show up for me in the store. I am in the U.S. on AT&T, but I do have the International model of the GS6. Maybe that's why? Either way, it sucks. I was really looking forward to that one.
Edit: Dammit. Gearam doesn't show up for me, either. If it does have to do with my International model of the GS6, I wish there was a way to spoof my ID for the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really Sorry to hear of issues, as I confirm now that GEARAM Music ID works very well. Just found 5 out of five that I played off my phone.
highlordkram said:
Really Sorry to hear of issues, as I confirm now that GEARAM Music ID works very well. Just found 5 out of five that I played off my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dammit. I wish I could figure out why apps aren't showing for me.
Sent from my SM-G920I using XDA Free mobile app
1. I don't see any point of using screen always on. It just eats up alot of battery and it's useless. Better choose wake up gesture.
2. Yes it is. The best is Gearam Music ID
3. Some cool apps i use:
XENOZU - you can watch youtube;
Instant Settings - Control your phone wifi , 3g etc.;
Calculator ; GearGram Instagram ; Opera - a must have and My notes
4. Samsung has done a very good job with smartwatches. They are the no 1 vendor. The tizen store it's stronger than Android Wear and Apple in my oppinion , the real problem is the official developers have no interest in developing apps. And individual developers ask for money. Believe me. You made the right choose. I've used the Moto 360, Gear 1,Gear 2,LG G Watch R. I tested the Apple Watch too, it's a bull****. Now i own a Gear S and i think it's the best on the market.
l3o4nn said:
1. I don't see any point of using screen always on. It just eats up alot of battery and it's useless. Better choose wake up gesture.
2. Yes it is. The best is Gearam Music ID
3. Some cool apps i use:
XENOZU - you can watch youtube;
Instant Settings - Control your phone wifi , 3g etc.;
Calculator ; GearGram Instagram ; Opera - a must have and My notes
4. Samsung has done a very good job with smartwatches. They are the no 1 vendor. The tizen store it's stronger than Android Wear and Apple in my oppinion , the real problem is the official developers have no interest in developing apps. And individual developers ask for money. Believe me. You made the right choose. I've used the Moto 360, Gear 1,Gear 2,LG G Watch R. I tested the Apple Watch too, it's a bull****. Now i own a Gear S and i think it's the best on the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see the point in NOT using always on mode. It is a watch, after all. Pretty useless if you can't see the time.
Wanted to give my feedback for your first and fourth question.
Since I had a Pebble before the Gear S, a screen that is always on is very useful. After all, the primary function of a watch is to give you time. Having the screen always on hasn't really impacted my battery life. On average, My Gear S loses about 3.1% - 3.5% battery life every hour with my screen always on. Since my screen is always on, I leave all motion gestures off. With the screen always on, I can easily get a full day of use. Throughout the day, I usually get 3-4 email notifications per hour, 2 text messages per hour, reminders from S-health to take a walk, approximately 2-4 calls, and random social media notifications. On days when I'm going out for a run, my batter life drops quick mainly because of S-health and the heart rate monitor. Even if I'm going for a run, getting a full day of use with the screen on is an easy task.
I'm sure that the Gear S has a future. There are other smart watch platforms such as Pebble, Android Wear, and Apple Watch, but these are just companion devices. To me, the other platforms are very good at telling you that you need to look at your phone. I like to think of other smart watches as handcuffing you to your phone. You really can't do much with the other smart watches without a phone. Tizen/Gear S really shines with stand alone features. The problem is with getting developers for Tizen. I think most developers don't consider developing for Tizen because the Android and Apple names are so well known. I'm sure if we ask the average person if they know what Tizen is, their response would be "What?"

My Experience with the 2017 Samsung Chromebook Plus

I just wanted to share my experience with this device for anyone who is curious:
I went ahead and picked up the Chromebook Plus. I had initially thought of it as just a second laptop for quick web browsing. I was instead blown away at the ability to access the Google Play Store. I even side loaded F-Droid.
I managed to install all of the Office 365 mobile apps (some of them required side loading the apk). I also got Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the Spectrum TV App loaded (though the Spectrum app would pixelate and turn green from time to time). I also got Kodi running for Movies...
With Microsoft Remote Desktop app I can remote to my Windows PCs and Servers.
I'm going to see if I can get the thing to VPN into our Corporate Network.
According to settings it's running Android 6.0.1. I can't seem to change the device name (option not there). Also I had an issue with Outlook Mobile because of our MDM policy forcing a password and the device settings don't offer that option. I got around it using BlueMail.
Finally the Samsung Pen is wonderful. I like it better then the Surface Pen.
If there is anything someone wants me to try let me know, but so far I got more than I bargain for and may consider using this as a daily driver especially if I can get Kali Nethunter to work.
thanks for the comments! just got a chromebook plus today
Do you know what the metallic clip that comes in the box is for m
2x4 said:
Do you know what the metallic clip that comes in the box is for m
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is to pull the PEN's replaceable tips, the replacement tips are also included in the same bag.
---------- Post added at 10:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 AM ----------
I too got a Samsung Chromebook Plus to replace my Google Pixel C as a tablet with a more robust desktop class browser, with a real keyboard (although the Pixel C stock keyboard is fantastic and makes a world of difference using the Pixel C) track pad. I love the dual USB Type-C ports and the microSD slot. It's like getting a 12" tablet with all the extras.
So far I got most of my Android Apps installed. Except stuff that doesn't work like Widgets, Keyboards, and filemanagers (android apps cant access the microSD card).
Kodi Krypton 17 runs great in full screen immersive mode.
I initially bought an Open Box at Best Buy, the manager was nice enough to manually add in my $100 trade in. It was perfect until I closed it and noticed the bottom front edge was loose, like they didn't tighten 3 of the 4 screws down all the way, leaving a 0.3mm gap I could press down on the cover. Also with Open Box you risk the previous owner redeemed the offers. Google is giving buyers $20 Play Store credit and 100gb Drive storage for 2 years free. So I returned/exchanged it for a new one and paid the difference. (s/n 200,000)
The replacement had severe bluetooth interference. I could not listen to youtube videos without it constantly cutting out sitting in front of the unit, if I turned my head or moved it stuttered. I had to adjust my home wifi and it helped but still was unusable. As soon as I turned this unit on it forced an updated before setup. I mention this because it had issues running Facebook Live streams, which is one of the reasons I went for a Chromebook in the first place, to get a real browser.. It would pay 5-10 secs and get a "something went wrong". Note this happens with all the floor models / brands I tested at Best Buy. It does not happen with the Windows based laptops using Edge or Chrome Browser. So it's a ChromeOS issue. Also when the unit would auto sleep, sometimes it would not wake with the track pad, I had to press the keyboard. (s/n 100,00)
Went back to Best Buy and exchanged it for a higher s/n 200,000 model. Bluetooth works with very nominal stutter, I could walk several rooms away and it would still play fine. The track pad wakes the unit as it should without issue. But Facebook Live streams still only play 5-10 secs then pops up "something went wrong" on Stable channel 56.0.2924.110. So I decided to try switching to the Beta channel. It updated to 57.0.2987.85beta. I went to www.facebook.com/live to test random live streams, chose washington post's April the Giraffe stream and it played for a bit, switched to Michael Phelps live stream it played, went back to April the Giraffe and it gave the same error, I did a few refreshes and it would play and cut out, so it's random.. Again a ChromeOS issue. Live streams on YouTube play fine.
The keyboard is really good. I like the tactile response and clicky-ness compared to the other demo units. The smaller than usual and smaller than other keys tab and backspace are ackward being used to having huge ones on other keyboards. I do tend to have to look and miss, hitting the lock button instead at times. The track pad is great, some mention their finger gets stuck. I say let it "break in", once you get some finger smeg / smoot on it's surface it glides. The Pen is great fun, especially useful when my fingers feel oily, to touch the screen.. The speed and responsiveness is great in ChromeOS and android apps run fine.
I am really happy with it, hopefully Google fixes the issue with ChromeOS, it worked perfect last week before the update.
I am now looking for some type of folio and or skin, as well as a nice Tempered Glass Screen Protector /poke @intelliARMOR
If you have any suggestions or question feel free to ask, I would be willing to answer as well.
For those who own this laptop I wanted to get some advice.
I'm still in love with this laptop. I'm still in awe that I can run Android Apps on this Chromebook. This laptop has become my 2nd device (close to my go to) for everything.
Now here is where i'm having trouble. I read about the upcoming Samsung Chromebook Pro. It runs Intel instead of ARM and cost an extra $$$.
Now I would like to install a linux distro on it. I see that there aren't many ARM supported distros. So the question is should I:
1. Hold on to the Chromebook Plus and hope someone will make a good Linux ARM distro
2. Return the Chromebook Plus and pick up the Chromebook Pro
Thanks in advance..
I have Xenial/xfce running on it through crouton. I'm not even close to being an expert on ubuntu, but it seems to be working ok, with a couple querks (which may be me not understanding linux).
Sent from my kevin using Tapatalk
what's the benefit of getting the netflix or amazon prime video android app if you can simply use the website btw?
---------- Post added at 08:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 PM ----------
also, are you using smart lock with an android phone successfully on your chromebook?
Well I found a bug. I think it's within in ARC itself. ARC doesn't come with Device Manager (Settings >> Personal >> Services >> Device Manager) Missing the Device Management feature dwarfs the ability to get MDM going on it. With out MDM I can't access my Corporate Office 365 E-Mail using the Outlook Mobile App. (I ended up resorting to good old OWA for now).
I also learned that if you wanted to install an APK from the Google Play Store that is "not compatible" with your device, you will need to move your Chromebook in Developer Mode. It is only in this mode you can install APKs from unknown sources.
Sadly I had to give up the laptop and returned it today (grudgingly) . I was unaware that a "Pro" version was coming out in April with an Intel chip. While the ARM-OP1 can hold its own to everything I threw at it, the area that I'm concerned with the very limited options of Linux for ARM. So I'm going to wait out the next few weeks till I can get it. I heard April 12th so I'll report sometime then.
Did you have to enable developer mode to install the APKs?
Nice write up, thank you. I am currently really struggling with my decision on what to get next between the Pixel C, Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Acer R13, Samsung Plus/Pro. I am coming from the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 and as you can see, I am struggling on whether to go with a Tablet or a Chromebook.
Of course the best of all worlds would be a Chromebook with a detachable screen, but then I would probably have to wait another year. Any advice? Is it awkward/hard to use this while laying in bed in tablet mode?
I am using the Samsung Chromebook Plus. I also have the Note 10.1 2014. If you do use the stylus on the Note, the Samsung Chromebook Plus (SC+) also comes with a stylus.
The SC+ is a little larger than the Note and, thus, a little heavier.
The SC+ runs Chromeos but also runs Android apps.
While in bed, I lay on my back, while reading an ebook or surfing the web. So holding the SC+ as a tablet is a little awkward, because of the weight. However, keeping the SC+ as a laptop, I prop the keyboard portion of the SC+ on my belly, taking the weight off my hands and arms. I adjust the sceen to my liking. When I need to shift to my side, it's already in laptop mode, so I would adjust my screen again to my liking while resting on the bed.
The lightest Android tablet I have is the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet. It is really light weight. While I like this tablet, I'm moving more towards the SC+ for everyday use, because of the keyboard portion.
Sent from my Samsung Chromebook Plus using Tapatalk
I love mine, depite a few little problems with Linux support.
Work offered to buy us gadgets with some left-over funds. I decided to go for this beast, as my iPad 2 and previous Samsung Chromebook (2015 version) had both died recently.
My thoughts:
Android stuff works pretty well so far. ChromeOS has matured a bit, but Android App Store is very welcome. The screen is huge & gorgeous, way too bright, and the keyboard is decent.
It didn't take me long to decide to put it in Developer mode -- I needed a fuller Linux than stock provides (no zsh?!?) -- and got Crouton up and running with no trouble.
The first Linux distro that I found with explicit support for this new box was ArchArm, I'm a Red Hat admin by trade and a Debian/embedded tinkerer by hobby, so I was a bit confused by Arch's way of doing things. Still, it's a solid distro, and once I got dhcpcd running on a USB ethernet dongle, I was able to get the bits I needed to feel more comfortable.
Incidentally, I tried several Desktop Environments, (at work I use xfce4 on RHEL7.3) and decided that Cinnamon is far and away the best fit for the CB+. It has built-in support for the HiDPi touch display & touchpad, and is easy enough to add the keyboard shortcuts to mimic most of the special Google-style keys.
I installed Arch on the SD card, so at the boot screen I can hit ctrl-u to boot linux or ctrl-d to boot into ChromeOS dev mode.
Two caveats: I have not had time or much reason to play with the stylus, in either environment, you'll need someone else's opinion for that.
Second, strangely, although wifi works under Arch, the reception is much, much weaker than under ChromeOS. I'm still investigating this, I know a magnesium-framed, aluminum-shelled device is going to be at a disadvantage with RF, but the mimo wifi setup works well under ChromeOS, so I assume it'll get better as Arch matures.
I'd give it an A as a Chromebook, B as a general Linux box, B+ as an Android device, and I expect the Bs to come up with patches.
So far I love mine for all of the reasons everyone . I am coming from an older Chromebook. My only issue is that sometimes the screen stays black after opening the Chromebook from a powered down state. I have to hold the power button down to get the power off, shut the screen and wait 10-20 seconds to try again. Is anyone else seeing this issue?
I'm so glad I found this thread. I just bought a Samsung Chromebook and didn't even know about the free offers like the Google Play Music, Drive Storage and $20 Play Credit. Today was the last day to redeem them too. Thanks for the info.
Sent from my caroline using Tapatalk
I have had this laptop for a few months now, and have tried several things on it. Linux, dev mode, constant blowing it away...etc.
I will say this. I really had hope that this addition of android play store would help me change the way I work.... and you know what.... IT DID.
Now with all things there are trade offs, etc... and this laptop is no different, but as the months go by, the apps are getting better and better. There are very few apps that now have issues with the Samsung Chromebook Plus. It takes just about everything I have thrown at it, even playing command and conquest and GTA vice city.
I think of this laptop as a tablet with a perm keyboard for those times I need to lift a little heavier or quicker. The Pen is fantastic.
If you want a complete replacement, this laptop comes pretty dang close. If you are willing to think out of the box, this could easily be your next favorite goto.
Next steps for me... I would really like to nuke this thing and get an actual android OS kernel booting on it, with everything working. More on that later.
could you make a tutorial on how to install linux on the samsung chromebook plus?
docwebhead said:
Work offered to buy us gadgets with some left-over funds. I decided to go for this beast, as my iPad 2 and previous Samsung Chromebook (2015 version) had both died recently.
My thoughts:
Android stuff works pretty well so far. ChromeOS has matured a bit, but Android App Store is very welcome. The screen is huge & gorgeous, way too bright, and the keyboard is decent.
It didn't take me long to decide to put it in Developer mode -- I needed a fuller Linux than stock provides (no zsh?!?) -- and got Crouton up and running with no trouble.
The first Linux distro that I found with explicit support for this new box was ArchArm, I'm a Red Hat admin by trade and a Debian/embedded tinkerer by hobby, so I was a bit confused by Arch's way of doing things. Still, it's a solid distro, and once I got dhcpcd running on a USB ethernet dongle, I was able to get the bits I needed to feel more comfortable.
Incidentally, I tried several Desktop Environments, (at work I use xfce4 on RHEL7.3) and decided that Cinnamon is far and away the best fit for the CB+. It has built-in support for the HiDPi touch display & touchpad, and is easy enough to add the keyboard shortcuts to mimic most of the special Google-style keys.
I installed Arch on the SD card, so at the boot screen I can hit ctrl-u to boot linux or ctrl-d to boot into ChromeOS dev mode.
Two caveats: I have not had time or much reason to play with the stylus, in either environment, you'll need someone else's opinion for that.
Second, strangely, although wifi works under Arch, the reception is much, much weaker than under ChromeOS. I'm still investigating this, I know a magnesium-framed, aluminum-shelled device is going to be at a disadvantage with RF, but the mimo wifi setup works well under ChromeOS, so I assume it'll get better as Arch matures.
I'd give it an A as a Chromebook, B as a general Linux box, B+ as an Android device, and I expect the Bs to come up with patches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[ive tried multiple times to install 4 different type of linux os with no success if you would be so kind as to help me it would be very appreciated. something light, but wholesome.]
2.4G wifi Problems
I love the chromebook plus with one exception....2.4G wifi has been almost unusable. I have tried with 4 different routers, but I am unable to get more than 2 to 3Mbps no matter how close I am to the router. Range is awful. Every other device gets over 70Mbps under the same conditions. 5G works much better but still doesn't perform as well as most other devices.
Has anybody else experienced extremely poor performance with 2.4G wifi? Any suggestions?
Thanks
sstea said:
I love the chromebook plus with one exception....2.4G wifi has been almost unusable. I have tried with 4 different routers, but I am unable to get more than 2 to 3Mbps no matter how close I am to the router. Range is awful. Every other device gets over 70Mbps under the same conditions. 5G works much better but still doesn't perform as well as most other devices.
Has anybody else experienced extremely poor performance with 2.4G wifi? Any suggestions?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turned out to be a defective unit. Exchanged for another Chromebook Plus. 2.4G working properly now. Overall Wifi performance is still not very good compared to other devices.
Guys, I am planning to buy Chromebook Plus as well. How has your experience been since you bought it?
Any tips, accessory recommendations etc
legendnexus said:
Guys, I am planning to buy Chromebook Plus as well. How has your experience been since you bought it?
Any tips, accessory recommendations etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pretty amazing
only downside is I can't consistently use Smart Unlock for Chromebook with my OnePlus 3 or Pixel 2 XL

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