So you’ve just gotten a tablet. This post is a collection of problems I’ve had with cheap Android and questions I’ve been asked.
I originally wrote this post back when Android tablets shipped with almost no apps. The situation has improved somewhat so this post isn’t as useful as it used to be. As always, any suggestions on topics to include would be appreciated.
First things first. Go set the time and date. If they’re set wrong then this will cause a bunch of problems. For example, you won’t be able access your Gmail from the tablet. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but it’s true.
Next, calibrate the touchscreen. Hopefully your tablet will prompt you to calibrate the screen when you start it for the firs time. If it doesn’t you’ll need to do look under the settings for the calibration option. Check your manual; the option is in different places in different versions of Android.
Don’t forget to set up the Wifi. I bet that you’ve already done this, but I’m putting it on the list just in case.
Installing Apps
There are 4 ways to install apps: downloading from a website, through an app store, email it to yourself, and install it from an SD card. The first 3 are relatively straight forward, but there’s a problem with the last one.
It isn’t as simple as you might think. Would you be surprised to find out that some a lot of Android tablets don’t ship with a file manager? Well, then you’re going to be shocked to discover that some file managers can’t see the APK install files (I’m not kidding, either).
You’ll need to check under the apps menu and make sure that you have a file manager. Otherwise you won’t be able to install the apps downloaded to your SD card.
Here’s the file manager I like, and it works with most versions of Android:
http://www.freewarelovers.com/android/app/es-file-explorer
You can install this file by emailing the link to your tablet so you can open your tablet’s web browser and visit that page.
Finding apps
Some developers host a copy of their app on their website, but not very many. (Adobe started doing it recently, though.) I always check a developer’s website, just in case.
If you’re one of the tablet owners who have access to the Android Market, I hate you (kidding). Chances are you don’t have the official Marketplace, and you might not have any market app installed at all. Here are my 3 favorite places for finding apps:
- Amazon Appstore – Amazon launched this store last fall, and it’s beginning to gain wide acceptance.
- Slideme – This is a legitimate app store with both paid and free apps. It even has its own app for you to install on your tablet.
- Freeware Lovers – This is a site that hosts copies of free apps. This should really be your third
firstsource for apps from Kindle to Youtube. Don’t ask where you can find an app until after you’ve checked at Freeware Lovers.
Starter Apps
I already pointed you at a file manager and I know that you’ll want other apps. Here’s a list of apps that you’ll probably want. I’ve found them all on Freeware Lovers, so go over there and run a search.
- web browser
- reading apps
- Youtube
- Adobe Reader (here are some other PDF readers)
- Spare Parts (You must get this one, and here’s why)
- ADW Launcher
- Advanced Task Killer
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Post-Christmas eBook Survival Guide « Mike Cane's xBlog // Dec 26, 2010 at 11:39 am
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WHERE do u put the app file do you put in in a specific folder or not
You can put them anywhere on the SD card and ES File Explorer should be able to find it.
Ok but like I am supposed to download it to the SD card but it wont show up so i need help like what does the file s10 need to open with(it says open with blah blah blah)
I have no idea what you’re asking.
How the hell do you expect me to help you when you can’t even ask a coherent question?
Ha!
I understand the need to install es file explorer to be able to install the apps. Problem is how do I get es file explorer installed? All I can do is download it. Any help would be great. thanks,.
You can email it to yourself, and then open the email on the tablet. You should be able to click on the attached apk and install it.
Or you could download it direct to the tablet and then pull down the taskbar and click on it to install it.
Nate – I’m having the same problem as Andrew.
I emailed the apk files to myself, opened the email and I have the option to open or save the file. No matter which I choose I get “Unsupported Format”
I opened the browser and downloaded to the tablet but, while there is the the download icon on the taskbar while it is downloading, once it is downloaded I pull down the taskbar and there is nothing there.
Thank you
This is weird. It worked for me.
Got it. Used the file://sdcard/*filename.apk
command in the web browser. I can now load apps on the sdcard and use the file installer to get them installed on the tablet
Thank you so much!
I don’t know what happened but I suddenly have Market Access!!!
Now to work on memory management.
How to hack your (white) Novel – the easy way | The Digital Reader // Jan 18, 2011 at 6:24 pm
[...] bother because I don’t think it’s worth the effort. You might want to read this [...]
Is there a way to install Flash Player on the pandigital novel? Every version I’ve tried, I get the “cannot open this app” error message.
Beginner’s guides updated | The Digital Reader // May 29, 2011 at 7:40 pm
[...] Getting started on an Android tablet post was only slightly out of date. I added a couple sentences referencing Amazon Appstore, but [...]
can you help me set up the email this is my 2nd pandigital and again i get the unable to open connection to server message any help would be appreciated
Just got a brand new Android Tablet and the battery has been charged (green light on) but nothing comes up on the screen. Stays blank.
Press and hold the power button. If nothing happens then it is probably a dud.
You people that write this stuff give me hope for today and the future. Thanks just bought a white novel with a 4 gb card ,whats your advice,,, leave alone or hack it,, my first computer and iam 70 years old and was last in my class. What is the over all finish product,,sure is fun just the way it is, sure i want it to do more,,can it take me to the moonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn thanks again.
Q: Will my ebook reader die with Borders? - The Digital Reader // Aug 2, 2011 at 9:18 pm
[...] and shop in those other ebookstores. But it will take some jumping through hoops to get the apps. Click here and read the section about finding and installing [...]
Your page is so helpful! I’m wondering if you can help me out? I just received my android tablet last week and am having THE WORST problems with it. The biggest issue is it will not download ANYTHING. I followed all of your above steps, when I attempt to download anything from the market it says Download was unsucessful, Please try again. No matter how many times I try, it will not work. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Kat
Hi, Nate
Idownloaded Amazon Appstore but when tried to install – got “Application not sintalled”, “App could not be installed on this phone”. Did it 3 times – same result. Any ideas?
What’s the tablet, and what version of Android is it running?
The most likely cause is that the tablet is running a version of Android that it too old for the app.
Tablet Gift Guide – 2012 Edition - The Digital Reader // Nov 29, 2011 at 12:54 pm
[...] BTW, last year I wrote a post much like this one, and I think we’re at the point where that post might be more useful to you. It has a number of tips on prepping a tablet that I didn’t want to repeat here. It also covers some of the same points in a more general way. You can find it here. [...]
I just got an android tablet, “superpadIII” I have have set it up to the best of may ablity and no i am trying to download apps from the android market with no success. The tablet keeps telling me that there is no android device associated with this account. I did get pandora to download, but it wont work. Help!
James
It sounds like you will first need to install the Android Market on the tablet. If it’s already there then you need to visit the Android Market from the tablet and set up an account. That way the AM will know about your tablet.