osmoney wrote:thats what im wondering too. good way to put it. im not very good at those kinda things haha. i'd love to see the answer to this question too. thanks!

Please search the threads first.. An answer to your question was given by roebeet a couple of posts above yours here: http://www.woot.com/Forums/viewpost.aspx?PostID=4394837&PageIndex=47&ReplyCount=1879#post4405535

roebeet wrote:There is an "Enhancement Pack" in XDA, with various iterations. But I think it's stale. One XDA user tried to do a recent update, and it's a good beta version but has a few bugs in it.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the full ROMs are the better way to go for the moment, then. And let me add my voice to the chorus of thanks for everything you've done and all the info you've provided. It's greatly appreciated!

Mr. Roebeet~

Thanks so much for all your help thus far, I just had a few q's if'n you wouldn't mind.

Got my GTab, installed Vegan (suffered a bootloop, no biggy) everything works great.(It's so shiny!!) I'd just like to know if I install the 5.1.1 suppl.zip do I treat it just like the original ROM install? i.e. mount/system, mount/drive, install from sd, clear cache, etc. Should I just make it good habbit to always mount and clear?

Also, if I do install the suppl.zip will it wipe what I've already set on my Tab? (e-mail address, wi-fi settings, etc.)

Finally, are there any additional kernels, updates, apps that you would recommend to enhance my Tab experience? And no worries on the tech curve, I've been hacking PSP's, DS's and various other game consoles and devices for years so I'm not much worried about difficulty.

Thanks a lot for any answers you could provide, much appreciated.

didymos47 wrote:I received the tablet and am disappointed with the display when you angle the top away from straight on viewing. I think the display was installed wrong because when you hold it upside down it is a lot better. Anybody else have this problem?

That's normal (unfortunately). That's the bad screen angle I've been writing about.

It's very noticeable when you put if down flat on the table, and look at it from an angle. Some of use in XDA had said the same thing - if they had just change the electronics so that the LCD was inverted, it would actually be less noticeable.

roebeet wrote:FYI, I'm testing out a TNT Lite 4.4.0, today. It's going to have a customized kernel to fix the sleep issue. I usually don't do this, but I'm making an exception.

My thinking is that I want 4.4.0 to be as Woot/hitchhiker friendly as possible - I don't like having that sleep issue hanging over my head. So you might see it uploaded later today.

Roebeet - you frikin rock - not sure I coulda lived with it as stock but with your build on it? All the difference in the world - greatly appreciate you making a good Woot deal into an awesome Woot deal.

brsnow wrote:Quick, Everyone look at deals.woot.com, they have a case/hand strap for the Ipad that is frickin sweet.

Looks like you were referring to this deal at the deals.woot web link below which also has a 2nd posted web link to Amazon for another nice case which has a stand feature too:

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/1780ecaf-bf78-4346-86b1-0b38460a4e60/sleeve360-ipad-case-with-integrated-360-hand-strap?sort=votes

alakahkid wrote:Mr. Roebeet~

Thanks so much for all your help thus far, I just had a few q's if'n you wouldn't mind.

Got my GTab, installed Vegan (suffered a bootloop, no biggy) everything works great.(It's so shiny!!) I'd just like to know if I install the 5.1.1 suppl.zip do I treat it just like the original ROM install? i.e. mount/system, mount/drive, install from sd, clear cache, etc. Should I just make it good habbit to always mount and clear?

Also, if I do install the suppl.zip will it wipe what I've already set on my Tab? (e-mail address, wi-fi settings, etc.)

Finally, are there any additional kernels, updates, apps that you would recommend to enhance my Tab experience? And no worries on the tech curve, I've been hacking PSP's, DS's and various other game consoles and devices for years so I'm not much worried about difficulty.

Thanks a lot for any answers you could provide, much appreciated.

5.1.1 is a supplement - like a "hotfix". It installs the same way, and should not require a data wipe (stress the "should" part - always do a backup first).

There are two main custom kernels - VEGAn's is fairly old and I would recommend updating it. gojimi is the main dev for VEGAn, but he's been working on a Gingerbread port.

Look in the dev section for pershoot's and clemsyn's custom kernels (or ask gijimi to make a VEGAn 5.2 that adds an updated one).

borntohunt wrote:Looks like you were referring to this deal at the deals.woot web link below which also has a 2nd posted web link to Amazon for another nice case which has a stand feature too:

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/1780ecaf-bf78-4346-86b1-0b38460a4e60/sleeve360-ipad-case-with-integrated-360-hand-strap?sort=votes

Yeah, I was talking about the 360 strap. I didn't read any of the posts below it. I'm an IT director who is spread so thin, I'm working on being see through. So, tablet goes with me and most of the time, will probably be used on the go, walking around, that's why the strap caught my eye. The all-in-one functionality of that is really nice, since I don't really want to be changing tablet accessories like women change purses, depending on what I am doing on a given day, work or meetings. (sorry women, just an example, no harm meant)

roebeet wrote:This is an excellent point - they've customized the device outside of Viewsonic's stock ROM, somehow. Apps like Kindle and Flash are NOT in the stock ROM, and after you do a factory reset, they are gone.

I honestly don't know if there's a "Woot stock ROM" to go back to a Woot-baseline, as I don't have one of these. We won't know how their distributor customized this. Ideally, you'd have a user apks on your sdcard to sideload, but no idea.

Anyone in staff want to chime in? If a Woot user does a factory reset and loses Flash, what's the "best" way to get it back? Is there a process that distributor has created?

Btw, if there's not, ROMs like TNT Lite and VEGAn have Flash pre-installed, and the Google Market does the rest.

Why on earth would Viewsonic allow deployment of units with a better ROM than remains after the first OTA "upgrade?" Maybe answers to your excellent questions will clarify, but I'm not holding my breath.

Are apps actually held in ROM? In the other world I am used to, ROMs are just for hardware bootstrap and startup procedures - operating systems and apps are loaded afterwards from other media. If this is the case here, then we would need copies of both the ROM and the SDCARD to restore to what arrives from WOOT, right?

If you can tell me how to "read off" the ROM that arrives with my Gtab, I will be happy to send you the file before I do anything else (it's supposed to arrive today.) I have used such tools in the past for PCs, Notebooks and Netbooks but I'm a total newbie to Android-based hardware.

I suspect that Acronis True Image and Disk Director can make copies of the SDCARD contents and do any reformatting/re-partitioning that may be required. All of that without "rooting" I suspect, since they can make sector-by-sector copies if you so instruct.

Thanks for your diligence and level-headedness in the face of much adversity!

benchill wrote:Very disappointed and now facing a decision. My package has arrived. Opened box and found a heatshrink sealed Gtab box. Opened the Gtab box to find a very "not new" Gtab. Back of unit very scratched. Power adapter's cord is wound loosely and rubber band around it. Cords on power adapter dirty as well.
Now to decide what to do. I don't want to pay for "new" and get used. Not even refurbed, just plain used.
This is the first time I have ever received anything substandard from Woot after years of buying.

Sorry to hear that. The scratched back is another tell-tale sign (it does scratch very easily - I would recommend putting something on there to cover it ASAP - some users in XDA had added simple things like a cloth back with adhesive on one side). I had gone to my local A&C store and gotten one for 99 cents and then just cut it to fit.

I would contact Woot!, since that's very obviously a used product and not in pristine condition (again, hopefully a staff member can chime in, here).

D93401 wrote:Why on earth would Viewsonic allow deployment of units with a better ROM than remains after the first OTA "upgrade?" Maybe answers to your excellent questions will clarify, but I'm not holding my breath.

Are apps actually held in ROM? In the other world I am used to, ROMs are just for hardware bootstrap and startup procedures - operating systems and apps are loaded afterwards from other media. If this is the case here, then we would need copies of both the ROM and the SDCARD to restore to what arrives from WOOT, right?

If you can tell me how to "read off" the ROM that arrives with my Gtab, I will be happy to send you the file before I do anything else (it's supposed to arrive today.) I have used such tools in the past for PCs, Notebooks and Netbooks but I'm a total newbie to Android-based hardware.

I suspect that Acronis True Image and Disk Director can make copies of the SDCARD contents and do any reformatting/re-partitioning that may be required. All of that without "rooting" I suspect, since they can make sector-by-sector copies if you so instruct.

Thanks for your diligence and level-headedness in the face of much adversity!

Some apps are in /system (think of that as similar to Windows system) and some are in /data (think of that are similar to a Windows profile. All the Viewsonic stock apps are in /system, for example.

When you do a factory reset, everything in /data is wiped. And if those extra apps were installed in /data (and I suspect that they were), they will be wiped as well.

I personally use Titanium Backup, which has already been mentioned here - problem is that it requires a rooted device, which is not what you get with stock.

benchill wrote:Very disappointed and now facing a decision. My package has arrived. Opened box and found a heatshrink sealed Gtab box. Opened the Gtab box to find a very "not new" Gtab. Back of unit very scratched. Power adapter's cord is wound loosely and rubber band around it. Cords on power adapter dirty as well.
Now to decide what to do. I don't want to pay for "new" and get used. Not even refurbed, just plain used.
This is the first time I have ever received anything substandard from Woot after years of buying.

This is scaring the heck out of me. Several people have now commented that their gTab is clearly not "new", yet Woot proffered it up as such.

Have any Woot staffers spoken up here on this issue? New is new, right? Or is this another aspect of the Woot business model?

D93401 wrote:Why on earth would Viewsonic allow deployment of units with a better ROM than remains after the first OTA "upgrade?" Maybe answers to your excellent questions will clarify, but I'm not holding my breath.

Are apps actually held in ROM? In the other world I am used to, ROMs are just for hardware bootstrap and startup procedures - operating systems and apps are loaded afterwards from other media. If this is the case here, then we would need copies of both the ROM and the SDCARD to restore to what arrives from WOOT, right?



If you can tell me how to "read off" the ROM that arrives with my Gtab, I will be happy to send you the file before I do anything else (it's supposed to arrive today.) I have used such tools in the past for PCs, Notebooks and Netbooks but I'm a total newbie to Android-based hardware.

I suspect that Acronis True Image and Disk Director can make copies of the SDCARD contents and do any reformatting/re-partitioning that may be required. All of that without "rooting" I suspect, since they can make sector-by-sector copies if you so instruct.

Thanks for your diligence and level-headedness in the face of much adversity!

Titanium backup has an option that says something like create update.zip, this should repackage everything on the tab into a "ROM" basically making it like the restore Cd you get with an off the shelf computer complete with all the junk software they install from the factory. When you build a ROM, you include all the .apk files for the programs you want to install when you apply the ROM to a tab/phone. They get installed after the OS, but during the "ROM installation" process.

spamhead wrote:You're in luck. This site just launched today:
http://www.gtabunleashed.com/

It's got some good how-to videos for installing CWM and flashing roms, so you can follow along visually when you're reading the how-to's on XDA.

Also, iPads and G-tabs have very different dimensions. Don't go buying an iPad case and expecting it to fit. The Gtablet is an inch wider and half an inch shorter (when held in landscape) than the iPad.

Sweet! this is perfect thanks
there is alos a awsome thread on the xda forums on cases for the gtab, not sure if you can buy them yet but there are big plans in the works.

Side note has any one seen this video about passing gps info to your tablet by a blue tooth connection to a smart phone? would ove to be able to do this anyone know how?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BrxXFEzFHo

LEM- wrote:Judy like I predicted... My package departed Irving, loaded on a truck. It drove by an airport and with a bit of sadness in the eye looked at the taking off FedEx cargo plane, then made a turn onto a dusty highway on the long ground journey to New York. It's estimated delivery date changed from Thursday to Friday, which is consistent with the map that was posted a few pages back....

So no miracles here, and no free "Advance to GO (collect $200)" card.

Les hope the storm coming doesnt delay it more, I am in CT and suppsoed to get it Friday as well.

How to tell a new device from a used / refurb:

(Note: I've owned both, so wanted to pass this on) --

1- The box should be shrink-wrapped. That's how they were in SEARS, when I got mine.
2- The device should be in a slip cover. It probably won't have a screen protector, that was only for the first run of 1,000 devices back in November.
3- Check for scratches on the front, and especially the back (as the back scratches very easily). Also check for smudges or fingerprints, as the device is a fingerprint magnet.
4- The USB cable should not be in the box, freely moving around. It should be in the cardboard placholder that the device sits in.
5- Same for the AC adapter. Also, the adapter is in two pieces, not one. The plug snaps on, but OOTB it should be detached.
6- You should have all the manuals and the cleaning cloth, as well. I believe that was advertised, too.

We know that the device seems to have a custom build, so the software is not a clear indicator to me - it could have just been re-imaged at the distributor. The packaging and device's cosmetic condition is more of a giveway, imo.

ok. Got mine. registered at XDA. Now, using this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245

I cannot download the zip file for cwmod_internal because I am a new user. I did download: gtab.vegan.1.00.beta5.1.user.final.zip.

I cannot tell what "version" I have on the tablet itself. the Tap and Tap UI version is 1.1-3389.

What do I do?

Ah! Fedex says "Delivered - Left at front door. Signature Service not requested." And I am stuck here at work. My poor GTablet all alone I am going to take a half day off of work just to get home early and open it. Do I have issues? Do I need to seek help?

rockabettygirl wrote:ok. Got mine. registered at XDA. Now, using this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245

I cannot download the zip file for cwmod_internal because I am a new user. I did download: gtab.vegan.1.00.beta5.1.user.final.zip.

I cannot tell what "version" I have on the tablet itself. the Tap and Tap UI version is 1.1-3389.

What do I do?

Update it to 3588, first (via the "OTA" updater). That's a good stock baseline to have. Then, read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1005080 and download the clockworkmod in PART2. That should cover u for clockworkmod.

tothenet1 wrote:Ah! Fedex says "Delivered - Left at front door. Signature Service not requested." And I am stuck here at work. My poor GTablet all alone I am going to take a half day off of work just to get home early and open it. Do I have issues? Do I need to seek help?

Take a long lunch.

brsnow wrote:Quick, Everyone look at deals.woot.com, they have a case/hand strap for the Ipad that is frickin sweet. Everyone go to this website

http://sleeve360.com/

and write them an email asking to make one for the Gtab. I already sent my email and told them I know of at least 10,000 people who would want on for the Gtab. It is everything you could ever want for you tab, but it would cover up my sweet carbon fiber back protector.

[edit] just got an email back from them, saying that they are working on securing investment capital and are going to use it to develop for other tabs.

9999, count me out!

Can someone set up a dropbox with the .zip files needed?

roebeet wrote:Update it to 3588, first (via the "OTA" updater). That's a good stock baseline to have. Then, read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1005080 and download the clockworkmod in PART2. That should cover u for clockworkmod.

Ok. Trying now. Thanks for the response!

Just got mine in and it was shrinkwrapped inside a woot box with air bags. Opened it up and it looks like the things hadn't been touched. No fingerprints or scratches or anything.

roebeet wrote:How to tell a new device from a used / refurb:

(Note: I've owned both, so wanted to pass this on) --

1- The box should be shrink-wrapped. That's how they were in SEARS, when I got mine.
2- The device should be in a slip cover. It probably won't have a screen protector, that was only for the first run of 1,000 devices back in November.
3- Check for scratches on the front, and especially the back (as the back scratches very easily). Also check for smudges or fingerprints, as the device is a fingerprint magnet.
4- The USB cable should not be in the box, freely moving around. It should be in the cardboard placholder that the device sits in.
5- Same for the AC adapter. Also, the adapter is in two pieces, not one. The plug snaps on, but OOTB it should be detached.
6- You should have all the manuals and the cleaning cloth, as well. I believe that was advertised, too.

We know that the device seems to have a custom build, so the software is not a clear indicator to me - it could have just been re-imaged at the distributor. The packaging and device's cosmetic condition is more of a giveway, imo.

Hopefully those who have received theirs will let us know of the condition. I should have mine in hand tomorrow so I will report back then. It seems to me though that plenty of buyers are reporting back to Woot and XDA on how to alter software loads so this would lead me to assume that the device was considered "new" to them when they opened it up before toying with software loads. All I know is if mine is scratched or has other people's personal info on it already, I will not be messing with the software. First thing would be to report it to Woot and then on the forum. I have faith that mine will be new though like I inferred from other posts.

tothenet1 wrote:Ah! Fedex says "Delivered - Left at front door. Signature Service not requested." And I am stuck here at work. My poor GTablet all alone I am going to take a half day off of work just to get home early and open it. Do I have issues? Do I need to seek help?

What is your location? Tying to gauge when mine should arrive

benchill wrote:Very disappointed and now facing a decision. My package has arrived. Opened box and found a heatshrink sealed Gtab box. Opened the Gtab box to find a very "not new" Gtab. Back of unit very scratched. Power adapter's cord is wound loosely and rubber band around it. Cords on power adapter dirty as well.
Now to decide what to do. I don't want to pay for "new" and get used. Not even refurbed, just plain used.
This is the first time I have ever received anything substandard from Woot after years of buying.

Have you contacted woot ? what did they say ? It would suck not to get a new one.

user238 wrote:What is your location? Tying to gauge when mine should arrive

30 minutes outside of Phoenix

tothenet1 wrote:Ah! Fedex says "Delivered - Left at front door. Signature Service not requested." And I am stuck here at work. My poor GTablet all alone I am going to take a half day off of work just to get home early and open it. Do I have issues? Do I need to seek help?

Nah, mine is scheduled to arrive tomorrow so I've already requested Friday off work so I can stay home all day and play with it (that's what SHE said)

roebeet wrote:How to tell a new device from a used / refurb:

(Note: I've owned both, so wanted to pass this on) --

1- The box should be shrink-wrapped. That's how they were in SEARS, when I got mine.
2- The device should be in a slip cover. It probably won't have a screen protector, that was only for the first run of 1,000 devices back in November.
3- Check for scratches on the front, and especially the back (as the back scratches very easily). Also check for smudges or fingerprints, as the device is a fingerprint magnet.
4- The USB cable should not be in the box, freely moving around. It should be in the cardboard placholder that the device sits in.
5- Same for the AC adapter. Also, the adapter is in two pieces, not one. The plug snaps on, but OOTB it should be detached.
6- You should have all the manuals and the cleaning cloth, as well. I believe that was advertised, too.

We know that the device seems to have a custom build, so the software is not a clear indicator to me - it could have just been re-imaged at the distributor. The packaging and device's cosmetic condition is more of a giveway, imo.

Really appreciate the good helpful info you are providing, as usual.

Mine and my girlfriends both just arrived. They both look brand new to me... shrink wrapped, tablet inside a plastic bag thing, cables wound nicely, no smudges or scratches.

Charging them up right now.

tothenet1 wrote:Ah! Fedex says "Delivered - Left at front door. Signature Service not requested." And I am stuck here at work. My poor GTablet all alone I am going to take a half day off of work just to get home early and open it. Do I have issues? Do I need to seek help?

Mine's on the truck. I'm working from home today due to a dr's appt this afternoon. Was hoping it'd come this morning, didn't happen. Right now I'm hoping it comes in the next half hour so I can plug it in before I leave and it'll be charged when I get back. Naturally, it'll come 5 minutes after I leave

rockabettygirl wrote:Ok. Trying now. Thanks for the response!

http://www.mediafire.com/?dvleg4oatkfxm7w
link isn't working.

roebeet wrote:Update it to 3588, first (via the "OTA" updater). That's a good stock baseline to have. Then, read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1005080 and download the clockworkmod in PART2. That should cover u for clockworkmod.

the download link in PART2 isn't working

Also, when the unit is fully charged, does the light on the wall charger change color or turn off?

rockabettygirl wrote:http://www.mediafire.com/?dvleg4oatkfxm7w
link isn't working.

It's fine for me - I heard that mediafire can be a bit "wonky" for some.

roebeet wrote:Update it to 3588, first (via the "OTA" updater). That's a good stock baseline to have. Then, read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1005080 and download the clockworkmod in PART2. That should cover u for clockworkmod.

Thanks for another great web link.

Unfortunately, seems like mediafire's web site is having lots of problems while I was trying several times to go to the web link in Part 2. Once I did get to the mediafire web page but the web link message on it to download the zip file had a message above it say "processing the request" and then the web page finally went away. Hope us Woot folks trying to download stuff did not take down their web server.

Will keep trying.

Thx again.

edit: mediafire web page & 3.8MB file download is working now for any Woot folks trying to access it.

Really appreciate you roebeet for helping us, but I know we're interrupting your busy day & productivity. Sorry about that. Hope we all figure out ways to thank you and support & contribute to you & the XDA Dev folks' good efforts.

Wrong power supply shipped (MPA-630). I live in North America and this power supply is DEFINITELY not compatible with my power outlet.

Which model do I need, and how do I order it?

rockabettygirl wrote:the download link in PART2 isn't working

now it is.

dhoots wrote:Wrong power supply shipped (MPA-630). I live in North America and this power supply is DEFINITELY not compatible with my power outlet.

Which model do I need, and how do I order it?

Well if it is a different power supply then advertised just contact woot and they will hook you up I am sure.