End of life tablets

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › End of life tablets

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#289130 14-Aug-2021 13:35

I recently pulled a couple of old devices out, an old iPad 4 and a Galaxy Tab S3. They've both become unsupported (the Galaxy Tab as of last year).

The android tab will no longer check for app updates at all (says there may not be internet even through web browsing works), and the iPad says there are updates, but most apps require a more recent OS.

I'm assuming this is standard behaviour for an end of life apps? I wish the manufactures would be straight up and explain this. Even a message on the device would be helpful. I don't know if I'm googling wrong but I can't find any information about this.

Are there any uses for a device once it reaches this stage?

Batwing

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#2759988 14-Aug-2021 13:50

I would be looking into Lineage OS or similar for them - then they should be almost as good as they were new (but might still feel sluggish relative to an actually newer device).

For the devices I have now much of the active development communities appeared to have moved from xda-developers to telegram so it's got a little harder than just reading some forum posts.

Bung

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#2760074 14-Aug-2021 18:26

Is it something introduced by Samsung with the S3? I have a Tab S2 with a dud battery that gets revived every so often. It appears to go through the motions reporting that the Apps were updated. I haven't checked to see it any of them have changed.

Juicytree

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#2760076 14-Aug-2021 18:52

>>> Are there any uses for a device once it reaches this stage?<<<

I have given one or two EOL ipads to the local preschool (Kindergarten) - the little ones get a bit of pleasure from simple learning games and it doesn't really matter if they get dropped and damaged.

Just a suggestion

fe31nz

1207 posts

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#2760115 15-Aug-2021 00:03

I am still using my Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 and it is getting updates for most apps. It is currently on Android 6 and there is an Android 7 update for it, which I will need to do soon as the BNZ app is now saying it needs at least Android 7. But up until now I have not bothered as I have rooted it and it is a pain to install an Android update and then have to root it again. If your Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is not finding updates on Google Play, then I think there is something wrong there, as my older S2 is still getting lots every day. End of support for Android updates and security patches does not mean end of support by Android app authors - most seem to be supporting back to about Android 4 still.

My old iPad 1 is fairly useless now, as there is nothing that will install on it. It is still working fine, and I have it as a backup ebook reader in case my Tab S2 has problems, but I have not needed it so far. Its battery is still Ok.

robjg63

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#2760168 15-Aug-2021 12:05

>>> Are there any uses for a device once it reaches this stage?<<<

Just keep using them? The devices will/should still work ok, the apps will/should still update.

It just means the OS wont get any more updates or patches.

No reason to stop using it, unless its getting too slow to use. Even if that's the case, a factory reset might well help in that respect. A refresh can do wonders.

Lineage OS is worth a try (Android) but you run the risk risk of bricking your device. I have found that it is not reliable enough for daily use on older Samsung phones - Often got problems with calls and random functionality not working - looking at the various support threads, it just seems to be something the die-hard fans of Lineage tend to put up with. A standard wifi tablet doesnt tend to have all the issues with the phone network and is a little cleaner. That said I have an old Sony Xperia Tablet Z (2013) that I managed to get Lineage installed on and got it from Android 5.1.1 (official Sony) to Android 8 via Lineage OS. I could probably find a later version of Lineage for it if I look hard, but it doesnt seem worth the effort. The tablet still runs pretty well too.

EDIT: Just re-read your original post - The Apps are not updating - That should still work ok. You need to dig around on how to fix that.

Maybe start here: https://www.samsung.com/nz/support/mobile-devices/google-play-store-is-not-running-on-my-phone/

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

old3eyes

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#2760222 15-Aug-2021 14:50

robjg63:

>>> Are there any uses for a device once it reaches this stage?<<<

Just keep using them? The devices will/should still work ok, the apps will/should still update.

It just means the OS wont get any more updates or patches.

No reason to stop using it, unless its getting too slow to use. Even if that's the case, a factory reset might well help in that respect. A refresh can do wonders.

Lineage OS is worth a try (Android) but you run the risk risk of bricking your device. I have found that it is not reliable enough for daily use on older Samsung phones - Often got problems with calls and random functionality not working - looking at the various support threads, it just seems to be something the die-hard fans of Lineage tend to put up with. A standard wifi tablet doesnt tend to have all the issues with the phone network and is a little cleaner. That said I have an old Sony Xperia Tablet Z (2013) that I managed to get Lineage installed on and got it from Android 5.1.1 (official Sony) to Android 8 via Lineage OS. I could probably find a later version of Lineage for it if I look hard, but it doesnt seem worth the effort. The tablet still runs pretty well too.

EDIT: Just re-read your original post - The Apps are not updating - That should still work ok. You need to dig around on how to fix that.

Maybe start here: https://www.samsung.com/nz/support/mobile-devices/google-play-store-is-not-running-on-my-phone/

If that doesn't work as it didn't on my Samsung tablet. Go to the settings > apps and find the Playstore app and uninstall the last update and reboot. Go back to the Playstore app and it will update to the latest one again. That worked for me.

Regards,

Old3eyes

Mehrts

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#2760285 15-Aug-2021 17:32

I read the thread title without context, and thought "that's a bit grim!" 🙃

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1024kb

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#2760336 15-Aug-2021 19:53

Root that S3, free the hardware from the constraints of Samsung bloatware - enjoy faster boot ups, better WiFi range, longer battery life. With full root privileges you can drop a pre-built hosts file into your OS & say goodbye to all that invasive advertising.

Your chosen distro (Lineage is an easy choice to make) will highly likely be running current Android & have a future upgrade path too. You’ll have a granular choice of Google Apps - nothing more or less than you want. You’ll lose Knox, maybe fingerprint ID, some Samsung-specific camera features & that’s about it.

If Samsung Tabs could talk, I’m sure they’d tell us that they prefer community Android builds over stock Samsung.

Megabyte - so geek it megahertz

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2760337 15-Aug-2021 19:59

Thanks all for your help. I found the cause of the problems I was having... apparently the time and date being wrong was preventing my access to the Google Play store. I couldn't even factory reset the device for some reason. After enabling network time I was able to factory reset and now everything seems good. Will check out lineage, sounds good

Yabanize

2350 posts

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#2760345 15-Aug-2021 20:45

My mum still uses the Facebook app, Trademe app, Safari, Kiwibank app and Email on her iPad 4.

ANZ recently stopped supporting iOS 10 but Kiwibank still works for now.

Not bad for a 9+ year old device.

eracode

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#2760350 15-Aug-2021 21:13

Mehrts:

I read the thread title without context, and thought "that's a bit grim!" 🙃

I did the same thing and wondered if it was a reference to euthanasia.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.