My last craplet was a SmartQ 7 three years ago so it might be time to test the waters again. My interest lies with 7'' devices.

The device that most appeals is the Hyundai A7HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZWJu...layer_embedded
http://www.hyundai-digital.cn/en/

The price point is above $100, more like $160, though it is available in Europe and the UK so that saves us over here from import duties and presents a local complain route.

I think that @bunanson has an A7

Cyanogen and other custom rom support is available for the Allwinner A10 though how this translates to specific devices I am not yet sure.

Just some experience with buying from chinese vendors.

Most of them has discount coupons. Just google your vendor's coupons, that usually come down at least 5%. On a good day, may be 10% on top of a daily special.

For some chinese vendor, more than one is called wholesale (please stop laughing). To buy from wholesale, is more than saving a few bucks, one can get 3 - 5 days shipment, rather than wait for 30 - 45 days. So, gang up with a friend, and get at least 2 tablets, to avoid the long wait. I personally think the long wait is really really annoying. Just carefully look at the website, wholesale is usually at the end of large quantity buy, and again, yes, more than one is called a large quantity buy (you, stop laughing )

bun

Thanks for the advice on how to buy. My other concern is what to buy especially as regards Chinese cpu/gpu chipsets.

From what I can see, the chip to hold out for is the Rockchip RK3066.

The announcements so far are restricted to 9”/10” devices. Does anyone know of what the next chip of choice for 7” devices is likely to be? Could it be the RK3066, i wonder.

Hi bunanson,

It's the 1st time I deal with Tablets World, but just one word : Amazing !!!

They answer questions the same day (taking care of timezone), moreover, they do not put false informations about stock, pre-order, availability ...

- I pre-ordered my tablet the 08 May 2012.
- The 10 May 2012 16h34 French time (22h34 HK time), I decided to ask if they have an approximative date of availability.
- They answer 11 May 2012 02h39 :

- 15 May 2012 08h00 (next week), new mail to inform the shipment :

- Today (19 May 2012) 03h43 new mail with new Remark :

- Looking at the DHL tracking for the transfer number report my tablet is in France and processed at the DHL Paris subsidiary.

Well, pre-ordered the 8 May, in my country the 19 May, 11 days !!!

Look serious to me.

Hope it help ...

A++

To answer my own question, it seems that the other upcoming China chip to look out for is the Amlogic AML8726-MX.

http://tabletrepublic.com/forum/late...core-1568.html

Some comparison benchmarks
http://bbs.1pad.cn/thread-45666-1-1.html

For my part, my next purchase can wait a month or two.

The Rockchip RK3066 is already in production and being used in 9"/10" tablets.

The AML8726-MX is in the new Ramos W17 Pro 7" tablet so my wait shouldn't be for too much longer

Somebody say my name?

I got the PD10, and this is my 1st impression:

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Telechip TCC8923 PD10 w GPS, 1st impression

Just received this tablet and used it for 12 hrs. Very impressive. However, information are quite scattered. would like to jot down a few lines, in case I have to relook some of the info.

It is a android 4.0.3/1.2GHz/8Gflash/1G ram/GPS/no BT/800X480/googleplay, and has hardware buttons for the ICS. So far, everything works. This is the only GPS tablet I have own. Quite satisfy with its GPS function. Manufacture website: http://link-create.com.cn/; details reveiw:http://bbs.imp3.net/thread-10622602-1-4.html; it has a lot of pics and takes a long time to load, be patient.

Audio/video streaming is fantastic, no audio/video dyscync; web page loaded fast; I have yet to see one app from GooglePlay 'not compatible'; battery lasted forever, so far, 5 hrs.


To get root: On PC, go http://unlockroot.com/, download .exe to your PC, connect your tablet to PC, run the program, reboot tablet, presto, you are rooted.

Custom ROM: http://bbs.imp3.net/thread-10622602-1-4.html, there is a custom ROM made for PD10 without GPS based on earlier ROM (I think it is 20120321.) Mine came with ROM 20120428. and has a GPS. I may think about it before using the custom ROM

One hiccup, I have NOT been able to play with the build.prop, although I am rooted, it still refused to be edit. Anybody has any idea how to edit the build.prop? TIA,

That is the (#*$&^$ about this tablet. It is native to 240. I tried 180, no dice. Skype does not work. and Market does not work, and several small but critical programs I always use, does not work. I went back to 240. I noticed several tablet on the market are native to 240, e.g. Hyundai A7ART. I cannot stand 240.... at first, after being FORCED to use it for a few days, like stanley kubrick's clockworkorange (the guy was forced to watch violency) I started to get used to it. In particular, when showing off to apple fan boys and apple fan girls, they love the idiotic huge icons . Unless one can have a custom ROM, tweaking build.prop is not going to work.


BTW, mine came with 20120428 ROM, I think it is the latest. So far, as long as you use 240, this thing works wonder, both audio/video/browser speed/market/games/GPS. For $120, this is the ONLY GPS tablet in this price range today, and lock GPS in less than 5 seconds! It came with 8G Flash/1 G RAM/hardware buttons. This is a much better deal than my last one, Hyundai A7. I have to admit, both of these two chinese craplets are good to the $. I got 5 of them, so far and it is still under $500, I have one hooked permanently to my home theater, functions as an Asian TV tuner, china/phillipine/malaysia/Japan and the other four loosely lay around in bedroom/living room/kitchen/bathroom. I can do it with these tablets, as the battery life is good with ICS. With occasional use, I only have to charge them once or twice a WEEK.
================================================== =====

Got it from pandawill dot com for $118. They have since come up with pd20 for $123. Dont know what is the difference.

Full pictures and videoes about the PD10:
a) http://121.14.143.130/bbs/showtopic-11343.aspx
b) http://bbs.imp3.net/thread-10622602-1-4.html;

Cant read Chinese? WHAT? Google.com translate is your friend


enjoy,

bun

Is a $500 high end powerful tablet better or five little one functioning tablets better? I personal prefer to have five laying around rather than carry one in my pocket. Different folks, different stroke.

I also upgraded my router, 1st time in 6 years, now my router is dual band/dual something compatible, a refurbished one from amazon dot com, just $29.95; All my computers/netbook/chromebook (Yup, I got one, FREE from big brother google) are more than 2 - 3 years old, they connect with only g protocol, 54 Mbps; while all these little cheapies chinese craplets, all are b/g/n compatible, connect 62 - 115 Mbps using n protocol. Coupled with ICS and 1.2GHz processer. I cannot tell this is my subscriped satellite TV or those weirdo AV streaming somewhere in BurmudaTriangle

bun

Hey Bun, you are going to cause me to buy another tablet again Anyway, I like the Hyundai A7 that you recommended last time, and was thinking to get another one. Now I will have to take a look at this one. Two questions: 1. You mentioned Japanese TV programs. What app do you use to get those? 2. What's the weight of this tablet comparing to A7, which is nice and light? Thanks as usual!

First of all, you nonGPS tabletizens can only salivate... maybe USB-GPS if you really really want to try .

Without much ado, the title said it all. PD10 has built-in GPS, lets fire it up, but without poking a hole in the wallet.
If you have data connection, this is not for you, please go away.

For the poor guy like me, I would love to have offline GPS app. So far I found 5. Post if you find more or just any comment, or even better, press the Thanks button

1) GoogleMap Yes, you can use it offline, limited to 10 mile radius though.

Map > menu > Settings > Labs > enable Pre-cache map area
Map > put your finger down at the center of 10 miles radius that you planned to use offline and hold it down till a dialogue appears > click the dialogue> Pre-cache map area, it would dl the map; tada, you can now use Googlemap for that city offline; it has FULL function of googlemap with turn-by-turn voice direction. cacheMap disappears WITHOUT WARNING after 30days, someone said. Routing has to be done with wifi before trip. It will correct route offline, very versatile. Voice guidence and turn-by-turn

Only for Google map 5.6 and above. mine is 6.8.0

Rumor has it Google is working on putting out an offlineMap package by summer 2012, may NOT be free though.

2) Maps(-) GoogleMap without 10 mile radius limitation, dl map and cache to SD card.

3) NavFree USA or NavFree (outside USA) Voice guidence, turn-by-turn.

4) MapDroid simple and easy to work, no routing or voice guidence though

5) Osmand OpenStreetMap by history. Today, you can choose any map source you want, including GoogleMap or M$map, voice guidence and turn-by-turn

Enjoy,

bun