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Help Android Virgin... A Few Questions

flutterby

flutterby

Newbie
Hello,
I have never had an android device, so I know nothing about them. I know a great deal about Windows, so I don't think following the rooting info will be difficult. I have been watching videos on youtube and it seems most people there are using TnT.. however, reading here I think most people recommend Gingerbread. I'd like some help in deciding what I might need. Here is what I want to do:

I'm going to be in the hospital, then rehab for several months after brain surgery. I would like to have the tablet and be able to
1. Update my blog for family
2. Chat with MSN Messenger contacts (or digsby, it is has a linux version but I don't know if that means it works on android?)
3. Use skype (I sure hope)
4. Netflix is possible
5. Read ebooks (in txt or mobi format)
6. Listen to music/audio books
(EDIT: 7. Use facebook and play flash games. Does pogo flash games work?

With those things in mind, A. Are they all possible and B. Which would be the best ... oh what's it called... (root?) for me?

I don't have the tablet yet. My parents bought it from woot for me for my birthday next week, so I can't answer any questions about it except that it is new, not a refurb, but that doesn't mean it hasn't set on a shelf for a long time.

Thank you and I'm so glad to have found your site!
Brenda
 
You can do everything in that list, except I'm unsure on Netflix.

Blog: Use a browser, or if your blog provider has an app, there you go.
MSN: MSN Talk
Skype: Skype App
Netflix: Netflix App (Unsure if this works on the GTab though...)
eBoogs: I use Aldiko, but the books need to be in ePub format. Easily converted on Windows.
Music/Audio Books: Built in music player, or any other music player.
Facebook: Facebook App
Flash games: Depending on which ROM you end up running, you may not have working flash. Definitely make sure to pick a ROM with working Flash.
 
Netflix runs fine on cyanogenmod 7.0.3 if you use LCD density changer from the market to change your screen density to 140. It will also work on any gingerbread ROM if you edit the build.prop to another device.
 
I'm going to ask a dummies question here, but how do you install an .apk file (like the netflix one?) I saw on google there is an app for phones called astro file manager, but I didn't know if that would work (or could be bought from) the gtab... I still don't have mine yet. My birthday isn't until Thursday, but I'm trying to learn all I can before I get it.
Thanks!
 
You can also download straight to your tablet and install from the "download" folder instead of copying from your PC as shown in that video.
 
One last thing, make sure the "unknown sources" box is checked under "settings"-> "applications" or you will only be able to install from the market. Also, you get a thanks just for saying "y'all" in your post. :p
 
LoL, I'm in Arkansas... It's required.

So I got it tonight and it's charging. I have a question though. Will it hurt if I just play with it a bit and set up my wifi and stuff to look at it before I install the new rom?
 
flutterby said:
LoL, I'm in Arkansas... It's required.

So I got it tonight and it's charging. I have a question though. Will it hurt if I just play with it a bit and set up my wifi and stuff to look at it before I install the new rom?
Click to expand...

You can use the stock Rom as long as you would like, but I would not install any updates if you are prompted.
 
flutterby said:
LoL, I'm in Arkansas... It's required.

So I got it tonight and it's charging. I have a question though. Will it hurt if I just play with it a bit and set up my wifi and stuff to look at it before I install the new rom?
Click to expand...

Just remember that anything you login to (WiFi/Facebook/Anything) will be wiped upon installing the new ROM and you'll have to do it again.
As for hurting anything, no it won't hurt it at all.
 
Well I thought everything went swimmingly until it started asking me questions about google and then said "force close" since then I'm stuck on the cyanogen boot logo.
 
I did. I mounted the tablet and put both zip files in the rom folder. After it didn't work I restored the backup and it worked fine with the original software. I then removed the gapps zip file and tried again (it was with the clemsyn one) and again it froze. So I restored and removed that one and tried the pershoot one and it froze again. So now it is back to factory settings. Do you have a suggestion?
 
flutterby said:
I did. I mounted the tablet and put both zip files in the rom folder. After it didn't work I restored the backup and it worked fine with the original software. I then removed the gapps zip file and tried again (it was with the clemsyn one) and again it froze. So I restored and removed that one and tried the pershoot one and it froze again. So now it is back to factory settings. Do you have a suggestion?
Click to expand...

Are you using clockwormod to install the ROM? Did you wipe data/factory reset and wipe Dalvik cache before flashing?
 
For the person asking about ebooks... FBReader can handle .mobi ebooks natively. As for. txt files, those can be read using another application.
 
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