Cheap tablet for tweaking

[Jen Stone]

I purchased a cheap android tablet specifically for messing around with. It came with Android 2.2 on it (I suspect it is a pirated copy because I cannot access the Google Play store with it or install any thing from Google Play because Google Play says my device isn't compatible.) It appears on the device list as "China Telecom Infotmic M7206." And when I select my device to install, I get the following message: "This item cannot be installed in your device's country." As I live in New York, how do I change that? Is it even possible?

I was wondering, how would I go about finding the root menu? The tablet is loaded with apps that I don't use which are eating up the battery. I also am wondering how I can replace the battery I have with a better one. Current battery lasts 2 hrs, browsing, with 6+hr charge time.

I would also like to know if it is possible/beneficial to install a different tablet os?

Thank you all for your time and suggestions!

[Nick H. Supervisor]

From my understanding, you cannot have a pirated copy of Android. It's impossible, seeing as Android is open source. However, you could have a version of Android that someone has tweaked in such a way that it blocks you from accessing some things.

It sounds like you want to root the device. This will open up various things for you, and should allow the removal of apps and so on that are eating up your battery life. However, at the same time remember that you have what I would believe to be a knock off device. As such, you cannot always be guaranteed about the quality of the components, like a battery, for example.

If you look through your device's settings, you should be able to find out what is chewing up most of the battery life. Let us know what it says and maybe we can offer some tips for reducing the power consumption. (Y)

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

What's your budget?

[HoochieMamma]

Try and find out what type of tablet is if its a generic one and go here

http://www.flashmyandroid.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?9-Android-Tablets

They have tons of custom ROMS for tablets of weird origins.

[Teebor]

LOL Pirated copy :)

2.2 on tablets very rarely comes with the Google Play store although sometimes it does.

You can get the apk file for the store if you google around for it. Usually on xda devs

[Jen Stone]

Mine is put out by a company called Irulu. When I go to "about" for device information I get the following information:

Model number: m7206

Android: 2.3.3

Baseband: unknown

Kernel: 2.6.35.7-InfoTMguodi@ubuntu #1

Build number: GRI40

When I get to battery useage it says:

Cell standby: 84%

Device idle: 9%

Display: 5%

Wifi: 4%

I also have a 16 gb sd card installed. Can I dedicate the sd card or portions of it to help speed up the tablet?

I've checked flashmyandroid and my device isn't listed.

And my budget is $100 and below.

I would like to learn how to root the device. I would like to remove the apps I don't use, and add apps I would like.

[f0rk_b0mb]

And my budget is $100 and below. I would like to learn how to root the device. I would like to remove the apps I don't use, and add apps I would like.

Save up 99 more dollars and get the nexus 7. You can overclock and root them all you want. Just be careful to not brick your device. It also comes with the google play store so that's all the apps you need. :)

[+DKAngel Subscriber²]

i boughta ainol novo 7 aurora 2 for 125aud rooted it and have jellybean 4.1.2 on it now cheapest and best tablet ive found so far

[Jen Stone]

I want to play with an inexpensive tablet. That way if I fry it, I am out far less than if I purchase a Nexus or Galaxy.

[yowanvista]

You won't have a decent experience with that tablet, it comes with an ARMv6 IMAP X210 processor which can barely even handle most Play Store Apps, the low 256MB of RAM will seriously limit performance.

You'll find additional information here: http://www.androidta...infotmic-based/

You may need to edit the build.prop file and mask it as another tablet to make the apps compatible.

[spikey_richie]

The play store thing is a licensing issue. Google don't license all manufacturers to use Android.

[Jen Stone]

You won't have a decent experience with that tablet, it comes with an ARMv6 IMAP X210 processor which can barely even handle most Play Store Apps, the low 256MB of RAM will seriously limit performance.

You'll find additional information here: http://www.androidta...infotmic-based/

You may need to edit the build.prop file and mask it as another tablet to make the apps compatible.

So, is there no way I can allocate a portion or all of my 16 gig sd card as ram for the tablet?

[yowanvista]

So, is there no way I can allocate a portion or all of my 16 gig sd card as ram for the tablet?

No, even if that was possible the end result would slow down the whole system since flash storage is significantly slower than the RAM itself. You only way out is to get another tablet. The Nexus 7 would be a far better choice.

Some Apps can create some kind of swap partition on the SDcard but the increased read/writes would even more slow down the system.

[Seahorsepip Veteran]

Same story as on cyanogenmod for the playstore, install it from goo.im :p

And android 2.2 O.o....

So, is there no way I can allocate a portion or all of my 16 gig sd card as ram for the tablet?

Nope but you can use ext2sd for more space for your apps ^^

[Detection]

I bought a cheapo tablet "Scroll Tablet" iirc and although it came with the market pre-installed, you couldn't download or install anything from it, something to do with the device ID

I found a workaround to change the tablet device ID by creating a VM in Android SDK then using ADB commands to pull the emulators ID out from the VM, then push it to the tablet, the market then thought the tablet was an emulator and allowed installing apps again

[Darrian]

For a cheap Android tablet I'd recommend the Nook Color. You can get one used on ebay for under $100. I am running Cyanogenmod 10 on mine (Android 4.1.2) and while it's not the most fantastic tablet on the market, it runs most things pretty well and it's very easy to flash the ROM, plus there is a lot of support for it on XDA. You can also get the Nook Tablet on ebay right now for $80, which is a great deal, as that is even better with a dual-core CPU. It can also run CM10, though the development isn't quite as far along (CM10 on the NC is in the beta stage and officially supported on the Cyanogenmod website now).

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I will point out that while you cannot "pirate" Android, it is a licensed technology. And the manufacturers who don't pay the license tend not to have access to the Google Play store as well as certain other Google apps and services.

[Detection]

I will point out that while you cannot "pirate" Android, it is a licensed technology. And the manufacturers who don't pay the license tend not to have access to the Google Play store as well as certain other Google apps and services.

That must have been the problem with my scroll tablet, changing the ID to the emulator must have told Google it was licensed

[Teebor]

i boughta ainol novo 7 aurora 2 for 125aud rooted it and have jellybean 4.1.2 on it now cheapest and best tablet ive found so far

tee hee Ainol :D