Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" tablets

Forums › Android › Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" tablets - help needed.

geekIT

2419 posts

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#208400 10-Feb-2017 08:16

I've recently purchased a couple of used Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" tablets.

One is a fairly regular model (I think) but has no phone abilities or sim card slot.

The other can be used as a phone but is an 'AT&T' model.

Both are slightly different in their software and menus.

Anyone know of some good websites where I can get advice about configuring and using these gadgets?

Or am I on the best site now?

Cheers

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

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4098 posts

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#1718105 10-Feb-2017 09:42

Well the non SIM model is surely just a plain samsung android tablet.

The internet/this site can help you - have you not used android before?

The SIM enabled one is basically a big phone. If it says AT&T model - then I am not sure how/if you can get that working in NZ. The US uses different frequencies etc. Is it locked to AT&T? - a lot of US gear often seems locked to telcos. You probably need the model/specs before you go much further with that one.

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

geekIT

2419 posts

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#1718177 10-Feb-2017 10:43

Thanks. Thing is, I'd like to really get to grips with both these Tabs.

Like, understand them as well as I know my computers.

Unfortunately, the level of online info about Android is extremely meager. Maybe the purchasing demographic - which seems to be kids mostly - aren't much interested in the nuts and bolts of Android systems.

Re the phone model, I'm aware AT&T is a US service provider. The tab is apparently 'unlocked' but I'm not sure I want to use it a phone. If it were possible, I'd actually like to root out all the AT&T stuff from the tab.

Which is what I meant about getting some in-depth info about these gadgets.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

thecatsgoolies

414 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1718194 10-Feb-2017 11:10

geekIT:

Thanks. Thing is, I'd like to really get to grips with both these Tabs.

Like, understand them as well as I know my computers.

Unfortunately, the level of online info about Android is extremely meager. Maybe the purchasing demographic - which seems to be kids mostly - aren't much interested in the nuts and bolts of Android systems.

Re the phone model, I'm aware AT&T is a US service provider. The tab is apparently 'unlocked' but I'm not sure I want to use it a phone. If it were possible, I'd actually like to root out all the AT&T stuff from the tab.

Which is what I meant about getting some in-depth info about these gadgets.

A good starting place would be to find out what OS they are using currently. Go into settings >about device and see if there are software updates available. If there aren't., go to software info. This will give you information such as android version and so on.

If the device that is AT&T is locked you will see no service or no sim found when inserting the sim.

robjg63

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#1718291 10-Feb-2017 13:08

When I said a big phone - well not really - overstating it somewhat. I dont think you can make calls on them for example - but they can use mobile data. So if you arent worried about that bit you will be using both as wifi android tablets.

Regarding the 'documentation' - generally with android you are just going to be poking around and teaching yourself anyway.

Agree with the above about finding what software level they are on at the moment though.

Also worth you finding out the exact models of both devices.

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

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1718561 11-Feb-2017 09:50

XDA is where Android modding is at.

https://www.xda-developers.com/

They'll be a device specific forum with all the answers you'll ever desire.

geekIT

2419 posts

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#1718666 11-Feb-2017 15:16

Thanks guys. Your replies pretty much confirm what I thought - no-one knows much about these gadgets.

Oh, BTW, one Tab S 10.5" is an SM-T800, the other is an SM-T807A. Both are running Android 6.0.1 - Marshmallow.

The XDA dev site has a lot of information to be sure, but it's mostly for geeks. There's no specific forum for the Tab S 10.5".

Cheers :-)

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

mudguard

2118 posts

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#1718667 11-Feb-2017 15:25

The other problem is Samsung's naming of their devices. They make a lot of devices with very similar names. Tab, Tab S, Tab S2, Tab S3. And in 8 inch, 10 inch, LTE, wifi only...

I can't even tell you what my partner's is, and I only just bought it, and I did the research to pick it!

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1718744 11-Feb-2017 20:26

geekIT:

Thanks guys. Your replies pretty much confirm what I thought - no-one knows much about these gadgets.

It's an android tablet, what would you like us to know? You sound new to android, you don't need to know much, just general prodding and playing teaches you all you need to know.

geekIT:

Oh, BTW, one Tab S 10.5" is an SM-T800, the other is an SM-T807A. Both are running Android 6.0.1 - Marshmallow.

The XDA dev site has a lot of information to be sure, but it's mostly for geeks. There's no specific forum for the Tab S 10.5".

Cheers :-)

With a user name with geek in it asking on geekzone I gathered you wanted something geeky. But maybe you're after a user manual?

T800_UM_EU_Marshmallow_Eng_Rev.1.0_160920.pdf

Edits: link and bold

peejayw

1841 posts

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#1718776 11-Feb-2017 21:49

"Unfortunately, the level of online info about Android is extremely meager."

Hmm, I think you need to do a bit more online research, the 'net is awash with android-related sites.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

geekIT

2419 posts

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#1719806 14-Feb-2017 07:50

1eStar, thanks for the link.

The level of Android info I'm seeking is somewhere between vanilla manuals and the extreme geekery of the XDA people.

For example, on the AT&T tablet (SM-T807A), I'd like to dump all the stuff related to that US service provider.

So if someone can tell me how to do that, and maybe liven its phone system for use in NZ, I'd be grateful.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1719850 14-Feb-2017 09:35

It's probably a carrier specific variant, you may or may not find an alternate ROM that will run on the machine. You will need to search for something like "#model number# ROM" and if is not in xda I'd be very surprised.

Basically you are going to have to find an alternate ROM that isn't full of carrier bloat and flash it on to your tablet.

You just need to keep searching and looking and learning the terminology as you go.

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1719853 14-Feb-2017 09:40

You are going to learn about:
carrier unlocking
Unlocking bootloader
Odin
Flashing ROM
Custom recovery

If you truly want to rid the tablet of Carrier Bloat you will need to go through the above. It may be possible to disable some of the elements in the application manager in settings without changing ROM

robjg63

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#1721249 16-Feb-2017 13:43

It sounds like you just want a guide to android.

Nothing - Windows/Macs/Android etc come with a starter guide.

I would try youtube and just general google searches and of course poking around on the devices.

Failing that, google "Android tablets for dummies" - looks to be over 300pages - which is overkill.

I would stay away from flashing firmware etc for a while - thats a whole other can of worms...

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

geekIT

2419 posts

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#1721521 16-Feb-2017 20:04

Guys, don't you see what I'm saying? There's a paucity of useful info about the Android system.

For example, several of you have said that I need to look for info about 'X'. But you're not saying 'here's the info you're looking for'.

BTW, I have a copy of 'Android for Dummies' and it's not explicit enough.

Neither is the basic manual.

I guess that years of searching for, and finding, answers to complex questions about Windows has led me to expect a similar level of information to be available for Android.

I mean, the Android system must be resident on more devices (phones, cameras, tablets) than Windows.

Obviously, as long as kiddies, teens and tweens can message their mates, they don't care about how the system works.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

NikT

1710 posts

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#1721621 16-Feb-2017 23:36

geekIT:

Guys, don't you see what I'm saying? There's a paucity of useful info about the Android system.

For example, several of you have said that I need to look for info about 'X'. But you're not saying 'here's the info you're looking for'.

BTW, I have a copy of 'Android for Dummies' and it's not explicit enough.

Neither is the basic manual.

I guess that years of searching for, and finding, answers to complex questions about Windows has led me to expect a similar level of information to be available for Android.

I mean, the Android system must be resident on more devices (phones, cameras, tablets) than Windows.

Obviously, as long as kiddies, teens and tweens can message their mates, they don't care about how the system works.

Erm. There is more info out there about the nuts and bolts of Android than any other OS short of desktop Linux. The issue seems to be finding it in a format that you're familiar with. XDA is definitely a good start, though it can be intimidating at first, not least because there's a massive knowledge gap between the "PLS TO HALP" newbie end-users and the folks who're compiling kernels from source.

If you have any Linux know-how, that's a great start, as Android is Linux-based and much of the same knowledge will carry across.

There is an XDA forum for the Tab S, it is here. It is the top Google result for "T800 XDA". Google is, appropriately, your friend for everything Android, although you do need to know the right questions to ask/keywords to search for first. Bear in mind that there are a lot of different Android devices out there, that they all run different versions of the operating system as customised by the manufacturer and/or for their market of origin. Some tricks you learn will be universal, others will not. It's a bit different to Windows where most devices have more in common software-wise than not.

The regular-flavour T800 unit you have will be the easiest to work with. US telcos like AT&T are notorious for locking their devices down, loading them with bloat, and approving updates very slowly.

As they're both Samsung units, you'll need a Windows desktop utility called ODIN to load new software on them. You'll need to learn the button combinations required to boot the devices into their Download mode (for updating official Samsung software) and Recovery mode (for recovering the system - or you can replace the Recovery mode with a more advanced version for loading custom software). You will also need the latest software package for each device. For the T800, this can be found here. If you don't like Samsung's take on Android and want to try a more vanilla as-Google-intended version, the T800 has Lineage OS support. This is similar to a desktop Linux distro, essentially an open-source, community-developed version of Android built from Google's source and modified to include commonly-used features and compatibility libraries for each supported device. The XDA thread for Lineage on the T800 is here, and the official Lineage OS page for the T800 is here, including installation instructions and a how-to on building from source should you be so inclined.

You may also wish to familiarise yourself with admin access on Android systems, known as 'root' access from its Linux heritage. Root access on an Android device allows you to change (and/or break) anything, from simply blocking ads in the hosts file to stripping out bloatware and theming system elements. Also useful for running all manner of advanced utilities that make a simple tablet into a more powerful computing device.

There's a lot of reading to do to get up to speed. Don't be turned off, it's a lot of fun if you're into that sort of thing. Just don't expect it to be all in one place for easy consumption. :)

Meanwhile the T807A is a remarkably obscure variant and has very little third party development or enthusiast support, you won't be able to do anywhere near as much with it as with the T800. The stock software alone seems hard to come by - found it here. You may be able to use Package Disabler to kill the bloat at least.

Good luck with your new hobby.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

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