Good Android Budget Tablet

Tom99

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

1 Can it be backed up completely (and then restored later) if so how?
2. Once Googled can I then do the same - for the device as a whole and then for data files and settings too.

1 - Would a factory reset do that?
2 - Not sure about Apps but if you plug the Fire into you laptop using the Fire charging cable you will see the internal memory on the Fire and any SD card, so can certainly do a manual back up of your data. I am not sure if you can automate a backup or mirror using a program, say SyncBackFree, as I can't remember how the Fire drives show up on the laptop.

Heedtheadvice

Thanks Tom,
1. I understand that a factory reset does just that so resets back to basics as delivered so is a restart from scratch - but have found the backup and reset settings to revert to an automatic backed up state. Not much info provided about that through so not sure if that is a backup in it's entirety. It is unclear to me. Also no idea how to get confirmation of backup
date/time of success.
2. Post loading the Google apps I wonder how that affects the situation too. Do I loose any Amazon fire OS features (replaced with Google standard Android ones) of does it just enable the play store! You can tell I know little about Android or APKs!! Hence I was wondering about third party backup apps.

Most features as delivered are fine for me but ideally would like to download my Google backed up data and run Firefox (with it's sync facility) and already stored passwords.

Tom99

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

Thanks Tom,
1. I understand that a factory reset does just that so resets back to basics as delivered so is a restart from scratch - but have found the backup and reset settings to revert to an automatic backed up state. Not much info provided about that through so not sure if that is a backup in it's entirety. It is unclear to me. Also no idea how to get confirmation of backup
date/time of success.
2. Post loading the Google apps I wonder how that affects the situation too. Do I loose any Amazon fire OS features (replaced with Google standard Android ones) of does it just enable the play store! You can tell I know little about Android or APKs!! Hence I was wondering about third party backup apps.

Most features as delivered are fine for me but ideally would like to download my Google backed up data and run Firefox (with it's sync facility) and already stored passwords.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]All the instruction I refer to above do is load the 'Play Store' App. Nothing else is deleted or changed.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]That App then allows you to download Apps from Play Store, one of which I would think is Firefox.[/FONT]

Heedtheadvice

Right you lot! Listen up!:)


Taken the new Fire, allowed it a day to complete the selected backup (in settings,) after selecting the set ups that I decided such as no adverts (hopefully!). Auto loaded the books etc. that were on my first generation kindle and my Amazon account auto set up too.


Then addressed the Google play store issues. Followed the instructions to ensure above by Tom's links to download and install the APKs. All worked fine.


Could then use the Playstore to install mobile Firefox, recovered via sync passwords, bookmarks etc., added a couple of add-ons that I use for blocking and reduce tracking. Again all fine.


A day or so later, Google announced apps in my Google library were available for installation. Installed them all. Again all fine.


So to date I am a happy bunny.


Tablet currently for under £90 (32GB), version without special offers used for generally browsing, email, watching video, looking at photos works with Amazon & Google play store. Screen and speed fine for me, certainly not lightening quick but comparable with HUDL2 and better than some reviews suggest. Battery life not bad either.



Downsides? Well early days yet but disappointed that GPS is not activated internally for best location accuracy on maps; screen auto brightness response a tad slow.


Really for the cost I am very happy so far.....:T


So thanks to those who suggested a fire and to Tom for his help

Kunoichi73

Can anyone recommend a cheap(ish) basic tablet that would suit my 81 year old technophobic mother. She expressed an interest in something she could use to 'look up things on the internet'. It doesn't need a sim card, as she would only be using it on wi-fi at home. Android would be best. I'm hoping I can pick up something on a Black Friday deal. I don't want to spend a fortune, under £100 would be perfect.

Thank you in advance.

ballyblack

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Tab-E10-10-1-Inch-16GB-WiFi-Android-Tablet-Black-/361873410464

Robisere

" (against my better judgement and my own advice, thinking Google's auto backup would be enough [Doh!] after my HUDL2 expired I have lost some data. Fortunately nothing too serious......The HUDl problem seems to be the motherboard so I guess that's it! for the missing data)"


I rescued my Hudl2 by stripping it and looking into it. The Charger Port was broken and I obtained one from Ebay. Then I bought a new battery from Ebay. Is your Hudl2 charging properly? If you have steady hands and a very thin metal blade (I used a Stanley blade) it is perfectly possible to prise the Hudl edges carefully open, slowly working all round the edges. Apparently the charging port is a common failure: I bought 3, they are very inexpensive. Haven't had to use another but they are there if I need them.



I also bought 3x damaged/nonworking Hudl2's and made one good tablet out of both for a housebound neighbour: having a spare port or two means that I can repair hers too. The only part I cannot find is a motherboard, but two of the non working tablets had good boards, so they are spare.


Hey, it's a Money Saving site, isn't it?

Heedtheadvice

Thanks for the post, R.
I too dissected my HUDL. The battery failed to charge after allowing it to completely discharge. No output whatsoever. New battery and the motherboard got extremely hot in the vicinity of the charge controller. Fried!! Battery still ok I believe.


Anyone want a battery, pm me.......


Happy with the new Fire, 32GB for just £80.......

ciderboy2009

Depending on how much you want to customise your Fire you can also change the launcher to any android launcher:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/launcher-root-launcher-hijack-v2-t3561026

And (possibly only for the more techy amongst you) disable the Amazon bloatware to speed up the Fire (can be quite a dramatic speed up):

https://forum.xda-developers.com/hd8-hd10/general/a-t3820744

Also, if you got one of the cheaper Fire's with "Special Offers" (ie: ads on the lock screen) then I can confirm that the method detailed in the link below works (I did a slight variation suggesting that they should be disabled automatically for Amazon customers once they had spent £xx pounds with them):

https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/how-to-rid-ads-special-offers-lock-t3585863