Eken M001 Android Tablet

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Linuxluver

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#63558 29-Jun-2010 20:57

I can't edit the original post, so will have to post a new one.

The device I bought on TradeMe is an Eken M001 Android tablet.

There is a new firmware version available for it that fixes some obvious bugs (YouTube is broken) and - apparently - gives it a good speed boost, as well as direct access to the Android Market.

The device comes with Android v1.7.2 (Eken versions) and the update is to v1.7.4.

www.slatedroid.com has some custom ROMs but the site seems to be overwhelmed, claiming it is 'too busy right now, try later' about 75% of the time.

I've tried to download the update several times, but haven't managed to get more than 30% of the update file so far.

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#346496 29-Jun-2010 21:31

interesting.. wonder if it will support 2.1/2.2, or do you think its too under powered?

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twitter/ NZCoderGuy / KiwiDevStudios

Linuxluver

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#346503 29-Jun-2010 21:53

NZCoderGuy: interesting.. wonder if it will support 2.1/2.2, or do you think its too under powered?

The M001 is the bottom of the line. It's the "US$99" tablet.

Eken make an M001 thru 005...and each is more powerful than the one before it. The M003 is probably also one of the devices on TradeMe.

The M001 is 533MHz (not 600MHz as on TradeMe) and only supports 802.11b/g (not n, as claimed on TradeMe).

It is low on RAM (128MB) but has 2GB of internal storage and also supports SDHC flash cards (or MicroSD in an SDHC adaptor) up to 32GB. I bought a class 6 8GB SDHC card today at PB Tech....and it works fine.

But even this stacks up well compared to - say - HTC Magic from Vodafone, which runs at 528MHz, has 97MB free for actually running apps and 288MB of internal storage for installed apps...not 2GB.

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Linuxluver

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#346582 30-Jun-2010 09:45

I got my hands on the v1.7.4 firmware update for the Eken M001.

It fixes a lot of things and makes the device faster and more responsive. It also includes the Android Market and Google Talk, so the device should now have access to all the apps.

I had a lot of trouble getting the update file as the primary site - slatedroid.com - appears to have completely sh*t itself yesterday and was returning an 403 error after hours of saying it was 'too busy".

In the end, I found the 128MB update file on an Italian blog site and downloaded it at 500KB/sec.....NZ's Internet is amazingly fast if you're willing to stay up all night. The same site had been timing out all evening during what would have been the Italian night. But at 6pm in Italy? It screamed in.

Applying the update was easy. You just unzip it and place the "script" folder in the root of the sdcard and reboot. The devices sees "script" and applies the update. It didn't matter that I had music and photos and other stuff on the same sdcard.

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robjg63

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#346603 30-Jun-2010 11:54

Did they actually give you a website to go to in order to find updates for this device or is a matter of googling until you find something that works?

I found the Eken site (just being nosey) but they have no mention of downloads that I could see. Or didn't I look hard enough....

I noticed they refer everywhere to it being b/g/n wifi - bit cheeky if its not n - mind you probably not a big deal really.

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

Linuxluver

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#346670 30-Jun-2010 14:32

robjg63: Did they actually give you a website to go to in order to find updates for this device or is a matter of googling until you find something that works?

I found the Eken site (just being nosey) but they have no mention of downloads that I could see. Or didn't I look hard enough....

I noticed they refer everywhere to it being b/g/n wifi - bit cheeky if its not n - mind you probably not a big deal really.

If you can't get the file, I can make it available via bittorrent and send you the DHT / link.

PM me if you can't get it.

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robjg63

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#346747 30-Jun-2010 18:42

Thanks for the offer Linuxluver, but I dont own one (yet), I was just being curious to see what supports and downloads there are for this device.

I see these guys http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/Eken-M001 are obvious getting stock in to sell.

Indicated pricing of $259 it says on that page. You did ok at < $150.

I think I would be tempted to try dealextreme.com - looks like $99 USD - the exchange rate is ok at the moment - I see a few geekzoners have bought from them. I guess they are ok..

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

Linuxluver

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#346858 1-Jul-2010 08:34

robjg63: Thanks for the offer Linuxluver, but I dont own one (yet), I was just being curious to see what supports and downloads there are for this device.

I see these guys http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/Eken-M001 are obvious getting stock in to sell.

Indicated pricing of $259 it says on that page. You did ok at < $150.

I think I would be tempted to try dealextreme.com - looks like $99 USD - the exchange rate is ok at the moment - I see a few geekzoners have bought from them. I guess they are ok..

There appear to be numerous people on the TradeMe selling these and at least one of them is trying to "lead" the prices upward to the $259 figure. So far, at least some of the other vendors have not followed and there are still devices there for a lot less than $259.

There are also several different incarnations of the same Eken M001. It is sold under a variety of names, ("apad" and "Robot" are two, I think) but underneath it looks like the same device (judging from the forums at slatedroid.com). There is at least one that claims to have 256MB of RAM instead of 128MB. There is also an M003, which has an 8-inch screen....

There are also a couple of higher spec completely other android tablets in the $400-$500 range. These might actually be very nice. Dunno.

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Linuxluver

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#346990 1-Jul-2010 14:01

I've discovered you can very easily and efficiently type two-handed on the screen in landscape mode, provided you prop the M001 up at about 20 degrees from horizontal. I folded a newspaper and rested it on that.

This makes it easier to see while typing and affords a natural angle of attack for flying fingertips. Oddly enough the keyboard seems to most be responsive and efficient when used in this way.

(Firmware v1.7.4)

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ZollyMonsta

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#347067 1-Jul-2010 18:52

So this is looking like a rather interesting device.. and I have $60US credit burning a hole in my paypal account.

Which one of these would you recommend off dealextreme.com?

I partcuarly like the idea of being able to take this overseas and gain access over wifi to email etc, rather than taking an expensive laptop.

There seem to be two candidates on dealextreme in the $99 US price range

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42071
and
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.39169

Which do you have and what would you recommend?

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

Linuxluver

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#347129 1-Jul-2010 22:01

ZollyMonsta: So this is looking like a rather interesting device.. and I have $60US credit burning a hole in my paypal account.

Which one of these would you recommend off dealextreme.com?

I partcuarly like the idea of being able to take this overseas and gain access over wifi to email etc, rather than taking an expensive laptop.

There seem to be two candidates on dealextreme in the $99 US price range

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42071
and
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.39169

Which do you have and what would you recommend?

I have the M001. I like it, but I expected a pretty crappy device....and was pleasantly surprised. You'd like it too if you have low expectations to start with. The v1.7.4 firmware update really makes a big difference over v1.7.2.

If you're happy with something with much the same function as an iPod Touch - but 4 times the size and half the price - then get one of these.

Battery life is heavily dependent on how bright the screen is. You can drain the battery in 2-3 hours with the brightness set to over 50% in a bright room...and they don't appear to sleep deeply, so when not in use for more than a few minutes, you want to turn it off completely or leave it plugged into the mains.

The M002 looks like the nicer device.....based on the specs....but I know nothing about how it actually works.

I'm going to try to write my blog post on it now (right now). Wish me luck.

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ZollyMonsta

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#347146 1-Jul-2010 22:40

I went and ordered one of these puppies.. Only costing me $60 kiwi.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

Linuxluver

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#347150 1-Jul-2010 22:50

ZollyMonsta: I went and ordered one of these puppies.. Only costing me $60 kiwi.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070

It includes a camera and a 100Mb ethernet port?

Wow....for US$107?

I'm staggered.

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alvin

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#347369 2-Jul-2010 17:29

ZollyMonsta: I went and ordered one of these puppies.. Only costing me $60 kiwi.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070

that looks nice.

zolly,

can you provide a review about this device as well. im interested to get one too...

ZollyMonsta

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#347384 2-Jul-2010 18:22

alvin:
ZollyMonsta: I went and ordered one of these puppies.. Only costing me $60 kiwi.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42070

that looks nice.

zolly,

can you provide a review about this device as well. im interested to get one too...

Will do.. Yep, I grabbed it since it had the camera.. could mean being able to do skype calls.
My plan is to take this to Bali in August to check email etc using hotel wifi access... Wont be so bad if it gets nicked or broken since it's so cheap.

I think I might try to update android on it too (once I have played with it a bit.. in case I break it).

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

askelon

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#347387 2-Jul-2010 18:49

Im sort of liking mine.. I like it alot more now I found a good e-book reader..
http://www.fbreader.org/FBReaderJ/
Ive upgraded to the SlateDroid 1.3 software.. Apps seem to be very hit and miss as to what works.. Havent tried movies or sound as of yet..

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