The Unknown: WiFi

[jefboyardee]

I might get a cheap tablet soon. I assume, since they can't access data via my phone's 3G, that I'll have to use wifi. I've never used wifi and know nothing about it. I have tried but could never connect, apparently for the want of a password. So I have three questions, to start:

1. What do I do when I find a wifi carrier that wants a password I don't know?

2. Are there tablets that can actually borrow my phone's 3G for data transfer only?

3. Can I transfer phone apps simply by borrowing its SD card and installing from its backup APKs?

...these are probably kindergarten questions that I've managed to avoid for almost four years.

 

[kate]

1. What do I do when I find a wifi carrier that wants a password I don't know?

You need the password or you can't connect. If it's a business like Starbucks and requires a password you can ask an employee how to get it.

2. Are there tablets that can actually borrow my phone's 3G for data transfer only?

If your phone/plan supports tethering (AKA WiFi Hotspot) - yes you can connect the tablet through WiFi to your phone and use the phones3G signal.

3. Can I transfer phone apps simply by borrowing its SD card and installing from its backup APKs?

Never tried but I don't think so because not all of the apps info/data is stored on the SD card.

 

[mikedt]

I might get a cheap tablet soon. I assume, since they can't access data via my phone's 3G, that I'll have to use wifi. I've never used wifi and know nothing about it. I have tried but could never connect, apparently for the want of a password. So I have three questions, to start:

1. What do I do when I find a wifi carrier that wants a password I don't know?

Erm...you ask them for the password. Although in many restaurants and bars the WiFi password is often written up somewhere, or you can ask the waiters or bar staff sometimes. If you're ever in China, you can try "88888888", that sometimes works. If they're unfortunate enough to still be using WEP encryption, you can get the password in less than a minute with the appropriate tools.

2. Are there tablets that can actually borrow my phone's 3G for data transfer only?

Any phone that has WiFi tethering should work, or you can try something like FoxFi.

3. Can I transfer phone apps simply by borrowing its SD card and installing from its backup APKs?

Depends if it has the backup APKs and they're on the removable SD, usually they're not, unless you specifically keep and copy them there.

 

[palmtree5]

Should just be able to download the apps from Google Play while connected to Wifi

 

[jefboyardee]

Thanx all. I think I'll have to get one just to see how it works. Odd to learn so much droidese over the last four years but nothing about wifi; one of its most mentioned features.

 

[jefboyardee]

Depends if it has the backup APKs and they're on the removable SD

I could've been clearer... I use AppMonster Pro to automatically create APKs of every app I install or update. I've used those to populate the internals of new droids, so I'd like to think I can also populate a tablet the same way.

 

[Crashdamage]

Be aware that the .apk for the phone may not be the same as the .apk of the same app for the tablet. Best to load apps for the tablet from the Play store.

 

[jefboyardee]

So far, I'd feel more confident just getting a ginormous droid phone, but I'm amassing a closet full of little ones.