HP Slate 7 2801
For the MRC Centenary event in June 2013, we acquired ten HP Slate 7" android tablets (type 2801). Below are some useful hints that could save you a lot of pain.
Camera Notes
These tablets have front and rear facing cameras - the rear offering better resolution in theory. In practise, we found they don't auto-focus very well, and they don't have any flash/lighting, so if you are wanting to scan barcodes, especially in dim lighting, test it beforehand. Some were better than others too.
The pic2shop scanning app was by far the best at coping with the lack of auto-focus, and to an extent with the poor lighting. See the setup information for the Barcode Epidemic for more information.
No GPS
Yes. There's no GPS functionality with this tablet, which somewhat reduces the usefulness of Google Maps which it comes installed with. This is rather unexpected for a tablet.
As a result, there may be some Google Apps out there that refuse to install because they expect (and therefore presume they can insist on) GPS to be there. One example was the barcode scanner, pic2shop, which although we used it as a decent QR-code scanner, its particular speciality is in searching shops in your locality for good deals, using the GPS to find your location. On earlier versions, it would say "this app is not compatible with your tablet" when trying to install it. So just bear that in mind if you're expecting to be able to install some new apps on it that have a "GPS-reliant" component.
Wireless Network Issue
The HP build of Android has a bug that prevents you from configuring it for an Enterprise wireless network, such as Imperial-WPA. It simply crashes when you push connect. HP claimed this would never be fixed on the tablet [1], however Chris found a workaround [2].
We installed Wifi Advanced Configuration Tool. To use it:
- Pretend that you're joining the Imperial-WPA network in the usual way in Android - Settings, Wifi, and click on Imperial-WPA.
- Don't set anything - just Save the default configuration.
- Straightaway, run the Wifi Advanced Configuration Tool, and click on Imperial-WPA.
- Click on Key Management, and check that WPA_EAP is set.
- Go back, click on Enterprise Configuration. EAP should be set to PEAP by default.
- Set Phase2 to MSCHAPv2.
- Set Identity to user@ic.ac.uk - whatever your IC user name is.
- Set Anonymous Identity to @ic.ac.uk.
- Set Password to your IC password.
- Now click back until the configuration tool goes away.
- Settings, Wi-Fi and see if it connects to Imperial-WPA now.
An easy way of flattening the battery
Suppose the tablet is powered-off, but plugged into the wall charging. If you then unplug the USB charging cable, the tablet will automatically and silently power itself on, and if you don't spot it, it will stay on until its battery is totally flat. Learned about that the hard way.
Preparation for use with Barcode Epidemic
Coming soon...
Preparation for use with Herd Immunity
Coming soon...
- ↑ HP's statement about the enterprise network issue: http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay/?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c03822044-1%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&ac.admitted=1398843835712.876444892.492883150
- ↑ Although the app writer makes no promises, anecdotal evidence seemed good: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6825930/unable-to-work-with-android-on-a-corporate-network-with-wpa-wpa2-security-alway