Thread: All Things Android

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I think we have yet to see what manufacturers are really capable of, we might see amazing things coming soon in terms of design.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Gartner's figures are correct and independent,

there are usually, but you need to look at the methodology employed to see what they are comparing exactly. I still think apple is in the lead with all the iPhone they have been selling for years, but Samsung (which is the only one you can compare to iphone, the BB with Android are not comparable IMO) and new Android smartphone are changing the game for sure.

it will be interesting to see what the iPhone 5 will bring, but without Steve to hype it on stage, we might see the beginning of decline for apple products

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I think we have yet to see what manufacturers are really capable of, we might see amazing things coming soon in terms of design.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Gartner's figures are correct and independent,

there are usually, but you need to look at the methodology employed to see what they are comparing exactly. I still think apple is in the lead with all the iPhone they have been selling for years, but Samsung (which is the only one you can compare to iphone, the BB with Android are not comparable IMO) and new Android smartphone are changing the game for sure.

it will be interesting to see what the iPhone 5 will bring, but without Steve to hype it on stage, we might see the beginning of decline for apple products

Butters, Samsung alone is outselling the iPhone with just ONE of it's many Android models (the S2).

And that's before you add HTC, Motorola, LG, Huawei, and all the rest of the Android manufacturers.

Shit, you just don't get it, do you?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

And that's before you add HTC, Motorola, LG, Huawei, and all the rest of the Android manufacturers.

that's the problem, you are including shitty smartphone, just because they have android, in your comparison. The closest competitor to the iPhone is the Galaxy, nobody else.

the user base of the galaxy hasn't reached those of the iPhone, how many iPhone in circulation ? something like 150m I believe, don't think there is 150m Galaxy yet

Actually the HTC Desire HD compares favorably to the iPhone 4.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

And that's before you add HTC, Motorola, LG, Huawei, and all the rest of the Android manufacturers.

that's the problem, you are including shitty smartphone, just because they have android, in your comparison. The closest competitor to the iPhone is the Galaxy, nobody else.

the user base of the galaxy hasn't reached those of the iPhone, how many iPhone in circulation ? something like 150m I believe, don't think there is 150m Galaxy yet

Butters, you just don't get it.

Apple is about 4th on the handset vendor list.

What other criteria do you want to try and pull?

The best selling phone whose names starts with an "i"?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What other criteria do you want to try and pull?

criteria you can make comparison with, some shit phone with Android is not to be included

shit phone makers are always in the lead, they sell cheap shit so they are in a different market. Smartphone doesn't mean anything these days. Even a cheap Nokia can be classified as a smartphone.

I think a better comparison would be to use "price point", something like 500 USD range, so that would include high end HTC and Samsung.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What other criteria do you want to try and pull?

criteria you can make comparison with, some shit phone with Android is not to be included

shit phone makers are always in the lead, they sell cheap shit so they are in a different market. Smartphone doesn't mean anything these days. Even a cheap Nokia can be classified as a smartphone.

I think a better comparison would be to use "price point", something like 500 USD range, so that would include high end HTC and Samsung.

Well that's horseshit, because the iPhone is WAY over priced.

it's not overpriced, it's underspecs, quite different, but for the majority of itards, it doesn't make a difference as most people don't have a fucking clue anyway in terms of specs, all they want is a pretty screen that comes in a stylish box

pearls to swine, and that's true also for Samsung users, overspecs for users who can't tell the difference

Originally Posted by Butterfly

it's not overpriced, it's underspecs, quite different, but for the majority of itards, it doesn't make a difference as most people don't have a fucking clue anyway in terms of specs, all they want is a pretty screen that comes in a stylish box

pearls to swine, and that's true also for Samsung users, overspecs for users who can't tell the difference

And once again you're demonstrating your total ignorance of the Android world.

The whole point of Android is that it's available on phones that are $50 up to $700. You can choose what features you want to pay for.

And yes, the Chinese-made iPhone is cheap glossy crap masquerading as high tech.

^ that's exactly my point, you are comparing 50 USD phone with 500 USD iPhone

there are not the same phone despite what you think, even if you hate apple, the iPhone has more shit than a crappy 50 USD phone

the Samsung GALAXY S is superior in terms of specs and sell a bit more than apple iPhone, so making comparison for those 2 is a valid argument, not your 50 USD crappy Android phone

Originally Posted by Butterfly

^ that's exactly my point, you are comparing 50 USD phone with 500 USD iPhone

there are not the same phone despite what you think, even if you hate apple, the iPhone has more shit than a crappy 50 USD phone

the Samsung GALAXY S is superior in terms of specs and sell a bit more than apple iPhone, so making comparison for those 2 is a valid argument, not your 50 USD crappy Android phone

The iPhone has more shit than any Android phone - literally.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

the Samsung GALAXY S is superior in terms of specs and sell a bit more than apple iPhone, so making comparison for those 2 is a valid argument, not your 50 USD crappy Android phone

the SGsii was released when the iphone4 was reaching the end of its cycle . a better comparison would be sales of ip5 vs SGsii over say their respective 3m release period. ip5, with their hoards of fanboys would probably have more sales i expect

Originally Posted by mc2

Originally Posted by Butterfly

the Samsung GALAXY S is superior in terms of specs and sell a bit more than apple iPhone, so making comparison for those 2 is a valid argument, not your 50 USD crappy Android phone

the SGsii was released when the iphone4 was reaching the end of its cycle . a better comparison would be sales of ip5 vs SGsii over say their respective 3m release period. ip5, with their hoards of fanboys would probably have more sales i expect

They could make the iPhlop 5 pink with flowers on and the lemmings would be queuing up to buy it anyway.

Come to think of it, they should.

Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 review

Around €479 for 16GB, €599 for 32GB

Manufacturer: Asus

Our Rating: We rate this out 7 of 10

By Melissa J Perenson | PC World | 28 September 11

The Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 tablet stands out in a crowded field, thanks to its innovative slide-out keyboard.

Tablets can be great companions for lots of things, but if you want to use one for work, you'll probably need a case that props up the screen on an angle, plus an external keyboard for efficient typing. The Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 eliminates the need for both of those accessories, while retaining the portability that tablet buyers crave. The Slider is notable for its sturdily hinged slide-out keyboard.
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Editor's note: Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 UK launch date. The Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 was originally due to launch in the UK during August 2011 - prior to launch in the US. We're now at the end of September and the Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 is available in the States, so it should be available in the UK soon. It should be priced at around €479 for the 16GB device, and €599 for the 32GB model.

The innovation in the Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 comes at the cost of increased thickness and weight, however. At a time when many tablets are becoming thinner, the 10.1-inch Eee Pad Slider checks in at 273x180.3x17.3mm. It's more than double the thickness of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Likewise, the Slider weighs 960g, versus 559g for the Galaxy Tab 10.1. But the trade-off is worth making if you value productivity and efficiency.

In landscape mode, a small lip along the top of the Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101, just above the front-facing camera, provides a grab space to catch the top half of the tablet; pulling it up and out reveals the keyboard beneath. The design is very effective. I found the tilt angle of the display appropriate both for typing and for reaching up to use my fingers for navigation - a necessity because the keyboard lacks a built-in pointing device.

The small keyboard reminds me of some external Bluetooth keyboards. Its Back and Enter keys are comfortably large, however, and the island-style keys were easy to type on. I also appreciated the keyboard's four Android keys for Home, Back, Menu, and Search. My small, touch-typist fingers flew over the keyboard with only one recurring difficulty: The space bar is recessed too low beneath the outside lip, and as a result my thumb continually banged into the lip, instead of striking the space bar. But I have no doubt that this setup will improve anyone's tablet productivity. The best part is that it does so without requiring the user to lug around extra attachments.

The keyboard design relies on a hinge mechanism that felt sturdy in my tests. I frequently hoisted the tablet by its screen, while the keyboard was out, and could detect no flex or other indication that I was stressing the design. And though the hinge's performance may degrade over time, Asus reports that the hinge mechanism was tested to pass a total of 30,000 "swing counts," meaning that a user would have to open and close the tablet 20 times a day for more than four years before the hinge might approach the spec limits.

I liked grabbing the tablet by the base, just behind the tilted screen, when it was open. And in that state, the gap enabled me to hold the tablet in one hand and type with the other. I could see this being an invaluable tool to users who want to type fast on-the-fly, but need extremely care-free portability, such as while on sales calls or at a trade show.

The Eee Pad Slider comes in two colours - pearl white and metallic brown - with a smooth, rubberized back. Its vertical and horizontal dimensions are bigger than most tablets', at 10.75 by 7.1 inches. When closed, the tablet's chief attraction is its 1280-by-800-pixel IPS display, with an unusually large bezel on the left and right sides (in landscape mode). The display looked sharp and vibrant for images, but text wasn't as crisp as I would have liked; I could see the dots, as I've come to expect from Android displays of this size and resolution. I also found the display glary at times, no doubt due in part to the visible air gap between the glass and LCD beneath.

The range of acceptable viewing angles is wide, as you'd expect from an IPS display, but it didn't quite live up to its 178 degree billing in my hands-on testing. Still, it's more than adequate for several folks to crowd around for a presentation, for example. And because the display is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass, you don't need to encumber the tablet with a case.

The Eee Pad Slider contains a typical 2011 Android component set: a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2, 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, and either 16GB or 32GB of memory.

All of the Slider's ports and buttons are situated on the lower slice, with the keyboard portion of the design. When the tablet is closed, the power button on the top left is easy to find; but I got frustrated by its location and poor physical definition when using the tablet with the keyboard open and in landscape mode. Next to the power button are a volume rocker and a tiny, hard-to-press reset button. A MicroSD card slot appears in the far corner.

Up top are the mini-HDMI port and the connector port for charging the tablet and syncing data, and at the right rear are the headphone jack (which doubles as an external microphone input) and a USB port (which will work for input devices such as a mouse, and for flash devices such as memory drives). The front-facing camera is a 1.2-megapixel unit, while the rear-facing camera resolves to 5.0 megapixels.

The tablet packs a number of sensors, including G-sensor, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, e-compass, and GPS. And like its sibling, the Eee Pad Transformer, the Eee Pad Slider comes packed with a slew of software apps, many direct from Asus. Among them: Asus Launcher; Asus Sync; File Manager; Kindle Books; MyCloud, for use with one year of free Asus WebStorage; MyLibrary; MyNet; Polaris Office; PressReader; and Zinio Magazine.

Asus includes its MyWater wallpaper, which uses water level as a metaphor for remaining battery life. Asus expects the Slider to get 8.2 hours of battery life on a single charge. Our tests are pending, but the Slider has already impressed us with its excellent standby time. I left the tablet with Wi-Fi on but unused for several days, came back, and still found the tablet's MyWater level at 66 percent.

As cool and innovative as the Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 is, this tablet probably isn't for you if your tastes run to svelte and stylish, or if you want to use it your tablet as an e-reader (960g is way too heavy for that). But if you value portability and productivity in an Android tablet, the Eee Pad Slider could be a great companion.

Nexus Prime to have Bluetooth 3.0 support?

Approved: Nexus Prime Bluetooth 3.0 technology

By: Peter Chubb | September 28, 2011 | 0 Comments




The latest Bluetooth 3.0 technology has now been approved for the Samsung GT-I9250, which we suspect to be the Nexus Prime. This is a big deal for the new handset, as this new version is expected to work much quicker and with less fear of being disconnected. It’s as if the news just keeps getting, but we just hope that it does come with Ice Cream Sandwich, but it’s not looking good if Google launch the device next month.
The moment that the Nexus Prime is released there will already be a huge number of compatible Bluetooth 3.0 accessories, just don’t try to purchase any yet, You might think that we are mad – trying to buy an accessory for a device that is not out – bur believe it or not a few accessories have already begun to appear on websites.
The Nexus Prime might become what Samsung had hoped the Galaxy S II would be, as it was thought that the latter would be going to all four major carriers in the US. We are still uncertain if the Prime exists, but there have been suggestions that AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will all want to get their hands on the new handset, as the specs looks to blow the S2 out of the water.
Knowing that the Prime will come with Bluetooth 3.0 support is great, as it means that Samsung wants the handset to be compatible with all the latest wireless products on the market. We do not know if this will help to improve battery performance, but one would assume that it would, as that is just what the S II uses? We do not want you to think that this is a huge deal having Bluetooth 3.0; it’s just that it is further confirmation that the device is on its way.

Mozilla Firefox 7 update released for Android

Paul Briden

Mozilla has launched version 7 of its Firefox browser for the Android platform

Published on Sep 28, 2011

Coinciding with the Mac and Windows PC release of Firefox 7, Mozilla has also launched the latest version of its popular browser for Android phone users.
Mozilla’s rapid new release schedule, which has seen the browser shoot from version 4 to 7 within a year, has meant the changes are few and often rather than occasional yet large overhaul updates.
Version 7 has an update log of only three lines on the Android Market page - copy and paste functionality is said to be improved, making it far easier to grab text off the web and put it into other Android apps, texts and emails.
That’s about as good as it gets really. There’s another end-user change that allows the browser to auto-detect language settings and the final addition is aimed at developers, granting a new ‘WebSockets’ API, allegedly enabling the creation of ‘responsive’ web apps.
It’s a little yawn-worthy compared with previous updates, but this is what you get when you start adding version numbers for the sake of keeping up appearances.
Mozilla received criticism from analysts and the user community earlier in the year when it revealed its plan for faster turn-around on updates, but despite a climate of disapproval, the company elected to stick to its guns.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

pearls to swine, and that's true also for Samsung users, overspecs for users who can't tell the difference

I suspect you should be supervised when around a rotary dial

What the fuck were they thinking?

Security hole in HTC phones gives up e-mail addresses, location

By Casey Johnston | Published about 5 hours ago
A security hole found in some HTC Android phones could give apps with Internet permissions access to information like a user’s location and their text messages, Android Police reported today. The vulnerability is part of HTC’s Sense UI and affects a subset of the brand’s most popular phones, including the HTC Thunderbolt and the EVO 4G.
The affected HTC phones have an application package titled HTCLoggers.apk installed with root-level access. Apps with Internet permissions can access HTCLoggers.apk, which provides access to information like GPS data, WiFi network data, memory info, running processes, SMS data (including phone numbers and encoded text), and system logs that can include information like e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
When called upon, the logging program opens a local port that will provide this data to any app that asks for it. Apps can send the data off to a remote server for safekeeping, as shown by a proof-of-concept app that Android Police researchers developed.
The authors note that the flaw can’t be fixed in the stock Sense UI without an update or patch from HTC. The owners of the relevant phones (a partial list: Thunderbolt, EVO 3D, EVO 4G, EVO Shift 4G) can delete HTCLoggers from their devices if they root the phones.
While the report doesn’t note any concrete examples of nefarious use of the HTCLogger data, this is far more access than Google allows via Android by default—typically, the OS doesn’t let information of this type off a device without direct consent. HTC has made no official reply to inquiries from the researchers, and did not respond immediately to Ars’ requests for comment.

Kindle Fire sets off more sales: HTC Flyer price drops by $200

by Casey Johnston | Published 2 days ago
The Kindle Fire appears to have catalyzed yet another tablet sale: the HTC Flyer will drop to $299 at Best Buy starting October 1, with no end to the sale in sight. This is the second big-name tablet that appears to be re-centering itself around the Kindle Fire's $199 price point.
Over the last couple of weeks, the BlackBerry PlayBook’s price slid down to a starting price of $299, $200 less than it initially retailed for at launch. The HTC Flyer, which is a 7-inch tablet like the PlayBook, will be getting the same discount. Meanwhile, the 10-inch 4G-capable HTC Jetstream is holding strong at $699.99 for a 32GB model.
Neither the PlayBook nor the HTC Flyer found much popularity while occupying the same price point as the iPad. The HTC Flyer has a 1.5GHz single-core processor and it’s still running a version of Android that isn’t designed for tablets (2.3 Gingerbread), though it is overlaid with HTC ’s Sense UX. The Flyer’s internal 16GB of storage can’t be expanded, but it does have a respectable set of cameras (1.3-megapixel on the front and 5-megapixel on the back) and comes with a stylus.
Best Buy is calling $299.99 the “permanent lower price” of the HTC Flyer, and it will apply both in-store and online. We’re a little thrilled that a company has finally set off a tablet pricing war, but these discounts may still not be enough to get back all the limelight the Kindle Fire has stolen.

Security hole in HTC phones gives up e-mail addresses, location


by Casey Johnston | Published about 6 hours ago
A security hole found in some HTC Android phones could give apps with Internet permissions access to information like a user’s location and their text messages, Android Police reported today. The vulnerability is part of HTC’s Sense UI and affects a subset of the brand’s most popular phones, including the HTC Thunderbolt and the EVO 4G.
The affected HTC phones have an application package titled HTCLoggers.apk installed with root-level access. Apps with Internet permissions can access HTCLoggers.apk, which provides access to information like GPS data, WiFi network data, memory info, running processes, SMS data (including phone numbers and encoded text), and system logs that can include information like e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
When called upon, the logging program opens a local port that will provide this data to any app that asks for it. Apps can send the data off to a remote server for safekeeping, as shown by a proof-of-concept app that Android Police researchers developed.
The authors note that the flaw can’t be fixed in the stock Sense UI without an update or patch from HTC. The owners of the relevant phones (a partial list: Thunderbolt, EVO 3D, EVO 4G, EVO Shift 4G) can delete HTCLoggers from their devices if they root the phones.
While the report doesn’t note any concrete examples of nefarious use of the HTCLogger data, this is far more access than Google allows via Android by default—typically, the OS doesn’t let information of this type off a device without direct consent. HTC has made no official reply to inquiries from the researchers, and did not respond immediately to Ars’ requests for comment.

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Nokia's S40 replacement OS may defend against Android feature phones


by Ryan Paul | Published 2 days ago
Reports have surfaced about a new Linux-based mobile platform that Nokia is developing for feature phones. The platform, called Meltemi, will run on low-cost devices aimed largely at developing markets—regions where Nokia has historically been strong.
The new operating system might help Nokia remain competitive at the low end as Android starts to scale down and become a serious contender in the high-volume feature phone space. Although Android isn't quite there yet, its proven versatility and appeal to mobile carriers suggest that it will eventually be adapted to run on even cheaper hardware.( More … )

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Kindle Fire sets off more sales: HTC Flyer price drops by $200

by Casey Johnston | Published 2 days ago
The Kindle Fire appears to have catalyzed yet another tablet sale: the HTC Flyer will drop to $299 at Best Buy starting October 1, with no end to the sale in sight. This is the second big-name tablet that appears to be re-centering itself around the Kindle Fire's $199 price point.
Over the last couple of weeks, the BlackBerry PlayBook’s price slid down to a starting price of $299, $200 less than it initially retailed for at launch. The HTC Flyer, which is a 7-inch tablet like the PlayBook, will be getting the same discount. Meanwhile, the 10-inch 4G-capable HTC Jetstream is holding strong at $699.99 for a 32GB model.
Neither the PlayBook nor the HTC Flyer found much popularity while occupying the same price point as the iPad. The HTC Flyer has a 1.5GHz single-core processor and it’s still running a version of Android that isn’t designed for tablets (2.3 Gingerbread), though it is overlaid with HTC ’s Sense UX. The Flyer’s internal 16GB of storage can’t be expanded, but it does have a respectable set of cameras (1.3-megapixel on the front and 5-megapixel on the back) and comes with a stylus.
Best Buy is calling $299.99 the “permanent lower price” of the HTC Flyer, and it will apply both in-store and online. We’re a little thrilled that a company has finally set off a tablet pricing war, but these discounts may still not be enough to get back all the limelight the Kindle Fire has stolen.

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Samsung to Apple: we'll ditch Galaxy Tab 10.1 features to sell in Australia

by Chris Foresman | Published 2 days ago (Cross posted from Infinite Loop)
Samsung has agreed to make a number of changes to its Galaxy Tab 10.1 to keep the devices from getting banned for sale in Australia before the holiday shopping season. During hearings in Sydney, lawyers for the company agreed to remove two multitouch features patented by Apple in order to get the device on the market as soon as possible. On Friday, Samsung also offered Apple a proposed settlement agreement, which would let Samsung sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as soon as next week.
Apple and Samsung are currently embroiled in as many as 23 lawsuits globally after Apple accused Samsung of "slavishly copying" its designs for the iPhone and iPad in its Galaxy S smartphones and Galaxy Tab tablets. Apple has been been requesting preliminary injunctions in a number of markets where it has filed claims against Samsung, including the US, the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia.
So far, Apple has been awarded preliminary injunctions against the Galaxy Tab in Germany and against some Galaxy S smartphones in The Netherlands. The hearings this week in Australia concern Apple's request for a preliminary injunction there, which could be decided as early as next week.
Throughout the proceedings, the numerous claims Apple brought were essentially reduced to three patent infringement issues, including two for certain multitouch-related features and one that relates to how multitouch-capable touchscreens are manufactured. Samsung agreed on Thursday to remove features that use certain heuristics to filter out "accidental" touch input as well as the "zoom bounce" effect that the iPhone uses when zooming past the minimum or maximum zoom level.
On Friday, Samsung told the court that it also made proposed settlement offer to Apple. The settlement, if Apple agrees to forgo its request for a preliminary injunction, would allow Samsung to launch the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as early as next week. The details haven't been made public, but it could at least bring a temporary truce while Apple presses for a full hearing by the end of the year. Apple's attorneys said of the proposed agreement that "[o]ur friend's inconvenience would be minimised and we would be comforted."
The hearing will continue again on Tuesday, and the judge has encouraged Apple and Samsung to settle the issue before her final decision is entered tentatively by the end of next week.

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Upcoming low-cost Thunderbolt controller could broaden reach of spec

by Chris Foresman | Published 3 days ago
Intel announced at IDF earlier in September that it has two next-generation Thunderbolt controllers, codenamed Cactus Ridge, set to launch with its Ivy Bridge platform next year. However, the company apparently also has a third small, low-end, low-cost controller it expects to launch ahead of Cactus Ridge to spur Thunderbolt adoption among a wider range of peripheral makers.
The current Thunderbolt controllers from Intel include the four-channel Light Ridge, which comes in standard and low-power versions, and the two-channel Eagle Ridge, which comes in standard and small form-factor sizes. Next year, Intel will replace those chips with 12x12mm Cactus Ridge controllers, which will come in four- and two-channel versions. Like Light Ridge, the four-channel Cactus Ridge will be offered in standard and low-power options. Intel hasn't announced a direct replacement for the 8x9mm SFF Eagle Ridge, so that chip may stick around for the time being.( More … )

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RIM is quashing rumors that the PlayBook is doomed, saying "any suggestion that the BlackBerry PlayBook is being discontinued is pure fiction. RIM remains highly committed to the tablet market."

Read More: Silicon Alley Insider, previous Ars coverage
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Samsung may be bringing out the next Google-backed phone, the Nexus Prime, at an event on October 11 in San Diego.

Read More: Silicon Alley Insider, pas coverage
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BlackBerry PlayBooks get $200 price cut in wake of Kindle Fire announcement

by Casey Johnston | Published 3 days ago
The BlackBerry PlayBook price cuts have arrived in the US, without any messing around with gift cards: the tablets now start at $299.99 for 16GB at Best Buy, a $200 discount. The question is whether anyone will care, with the imminent arrival of the new Kindle Fire.
Since the sudden HP TouchPad fire sale, discounts have trickled out on the BlackBerry PlayBook that had us wondering if it would follow the same path. Sales came first for Rogers employees, and then retail shops in Canada.
The day after Amazon announced its $199 Android-based tablet, the Kindle Fire, Best Buy looks eager to get its PlayBook stock moving. If 16GB isn't enough PlayBook for you, the 32GB model is now $399.99 and the 64GB costs $499.99.
The PlayBook was derided on its launch for lacking basic features like a native e-mail and calendar app if customers didn’t have a corresponding BlackBerry phone. RIM has promised that a coming 2.0 software update in October will fix this among other problems, but even with these steep discounts, the tablet is in serious danger of irrelevance.

You can get a mobile 3G dongle with SIM card if you want to go that route. Most telcos have them these days.

As for the sound, have a look here and here

I would root as a last resort to solve this problem.

But if you really want to go that route (geddit?!) then

Look here

Or here

Looks like you might have to fuck about with Linux:

Link