Ipad vs Xoom vs Transformer

**thestalkmore** · 2011-06-01 20:44

Mine showed up in the mail today. Anybody have a checklist of must-dos? I primarily wanted a tablet for mobile media and haven't found a good streaming solution (either for my extensive library on my desktop or via a provider like netflix). Additionally, it looks like it's hard to convert HD video into a good, playable format. Anything else game-wise or app-wise I gotta have? Also, what tasks do you love using your tablet for? I want to get some good utility out of this thing, lest it become an expensive paperweight.

**kareface** · 2011-06-02 15:53

Hdme is actually releasing encodes for this style of tablet. For streaming, look at play on. I have a few movies on my xoom and they play perfectly. They are about 720p, maybe a little smaller. Make sure you use a player that uses hardware decoding otherwise it won't be as smooth. I am of course sending this from my xoom, lol.

DAKPluto · 2011-06-02 19:03

I know this probably goes without saying, but I've learned never ignore the obvious anymore. Make sure your source video is at least 720p also. If the source is less, it will look shitty as you upscale it.

**thestalkmore** · 2011-06-03 16:54

Originally Posted by kareface

Hdme is actually releasing encodes for this style of tablet. For streaming, look at play on. I have a few movies on my xoom and they play perfectly. They are about 720p, maybe a little smaller. Make sure you use a player that uses hardware decoding otherwise it won't be as smooth. I am of course sending this from my xoom, lol.

What player do you use? Are those encodes out yet?

**kareface** · 2011-06-03 17:50

I think the name of it was rockplayer, I'm too lazy to move the 5 feet to check, lol. But I'm sure it has hardware decoding support. There are a couple dozen movies already encoded and they are releasing them at a crazy pace. It's only been about a week since they started. I would never torrent *cough* because that's bad *cough* but from what I've seen the encodes work great on the zoom. I was expecting things like a lag time on loading the video or for it to hang when trying to skip to a different part in the video, but it works perfectly. There is no studdering or delay when bouncing between parts of the movie and the movie looks wonderful. It really is like having a portable TV. I have played around with re-encoding movies for the xoom and it's not too hard (tho it does take a while depending on the source encode), but I'm lazy enough that I'll just wait for easier solutions.

BTN also has mobile device encodes for a lot of their TV, but I think it's more geared for iphone like devices.

**kareface** · 2011-06-03 22:56

For those that are interested, the 3.1 update to honeycomb allows you to use PS3 or 360 controllers with the tablet and OnLive's new controller is compatible as well. I've never tried cloud gaming, I might download it to see how well it works.

**Omnipotent** · 2011-06-03 23:56

Just got my tablet.... only question is how to exit opened apps.... when you open that sidebar to "alttab" from the different apps, how do I close them....

**kareface** · 2011-06-04 02:58

You can get app closers but there really isn't a need to. If my memory serves me that list of apps isn't what's running, just what you've most recently opened. A lot of stuff that I know is turned off will still show up there even when it's been exited out. Just leave the ones that get backgrounded on, are you seeing a performance loss at all? I would say if you don't use flash a lot having it set to the option where you have to click on the box to enable that instance of flash is a good idea. Makes browsing a lot faster. I forget what the option is, it's like real time, or something like that.

**Omnipotent** · 2011-06-04 07:29

No performance drop, just was wondering. Thanks.

**octopus** · 2011-06-04 14:49

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/04/e...ontroller-vid/

Nice!

**jmc** · 2011-06-04 14:57

Originally Posted by octopus

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/04/e...ontroller-vid/

Nice!

I heard about this on xda.....couldn't figure out how lol

**Omnipotent** · 2011-06-05 08:38

I can't seem to find a good case that will fit my dock and my transformer nicely. Anyone have recommendations? What's the best cases?

**kareface** · 2011-06-10 21:57

I haven't looked into cases for the transformer yet, sorry.

Something that I thought people in this thread would appreciate:

**testdummy** · 2011-06-11 22:01

I've wanted one after I saw it on a Top Gear episode when it was iOS only. There's just no way in hell I would be able to justify the price of one, for the maybe 3hrs I'd play with it lol.

**Goldencarnage** · 2011-06-13 18:15

Yeah that and the battery life is only 11-15 minutes. Lame!

**dejet** · 2011-06-14 18:15

Originally Posted by Omnipotent

I can't seem to find a good case that will fit my dock and my transformer nicely. Anyone have recommendations? What's the best cases?

If you find one tell me ~_~ lol Iv been on the hunt for one as well.(just ordered my dock to go along with it now)

Also just as someone else said about your old post. The apps run in memory, so there is no reason to really quit out of an app. So long as they dont run in the background(most dont) it wont do anything at all. In fact this is the main reason so called *auto killers* are pointless. 2.0 made android storing apps in memory very efficient closing apps kills more life then letting them just stand in your ram.

The OS kills off apps as you load new ones(things such as your launcher, maps and a few others that I cant think of off the top of my head) are flagged as important and will be stored in the memory almost always.(low on the list of apps to kill as ram is needed)

**Merovingian** · 2011-06-14 23:18

I just bought the Acer a500 and I love this tablet, honeycomb is so damn great. Anyone got some tips or tricks(like apps and all that shit)? The only android I've messed with was with HTC evo and it wasn't mine so I don't have experience with this OS. I was looking for the transformer but that shit is nowhere to be found

**Omnipotent** · 2011-06-15 12:29

Originally Posted by dejet

If you find one tell me ~_~ lol Iv been on the hunt for one as well.(just ordered my dock to go along with it now)

Also just as someone else said about your old post. The apps run in memory, so there is no reason to really quit out of an app. So long as they dont run in the background(most dont) it wont do anything at all. In fact this is the main reason so called *auto killers* are pointless. 2.0 made android storing apps in memory very efficient closing apps kills more life then letting them just stand in your ram.

The OS kills off apps as you load new ones(things such as your launcher, maps and a few others that I cant think of off the top of my head) are flagged as important and will be stored in the memory almost always.(low on the list of apps to kill as ram is needed)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Targus+-...5623&cp=1&lp=1

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Targus+-...0303&cp=1&lp=1

**Omnipotent** · 2011-06-15 12:30

Have both of those, work awesome. There are two pockets, one will fit both the dock and tablet when together, the other won't fit either, I just throw a notebook for school or accessories in it.

**wop** · 2011-06-29 10:35

Is Samsung Galaxy 10.1 is the #1 Android tablet now?

Thread: Ipad vs Xoom vs Transformer

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