Hey Capt',

do you know if the device supports java development?

I'm looking to get one, and it would be great if I can develop/compile and run java applications on the device itself.

Hi jd!

I can't seem to find a native Android Java compiler, but seeing as how you can do a full Debian install on the system, it should be possible to use an ARM-flavoured java compiler from the command line. For example, a look in the debian repos shows gcj has an armel binary:
http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=gcj

Will it work? I'm not sure. As I understand it Android libraries (ie. libc) have undergone some customizations that may hurt compatibility. But then again, x server can be run, so its anyones guess.

As for development, there are a wealth of text editors that should work well. If you're used to a more advanced environment, then I'm not sure what your options would be, but I'd be very interested in finding out!

Anyone care to weigh in? I'm interested in using Android as a development platform as well.

EDIT: If you're not familiar with the Gnu Java Compiler (gcj), you can find more information here: http://gcc.gnu.org/java/

It's worth noting that GIJ is the interpreter component, and apparently it's included in the GCJ package.

Perhaps it would be a good project to package a java compiler in an APK and provide a way for applications (like a text editor) to invoke the background compilation process. Even without the external invocation, it would be tremendous. An additional tool could be a project manifest with compilation switches, files, even remoting for automated on-command builds.

A scenario:

After editing the source files, invoke the compaire which then ships the files off to some server for compilation, and retrieves the resultant class file and notifies the completed job.

Another scenario is that the files are built with saved compilation parameters, and notifies the user when this is done.

In fact, I like the idea of remoting as it opens up the door for practically any language and development environment.

Hmmm.. Perhaps this is a project worth starting...

This app looks like a good way to navigate and edit files:

http://www.estrongs.com/en/products/file-explorer.html

I actually use the ESfileExplorer on my Android smartphone and love it. Very nice clean and functional UI and a good set of features too.

This does look like a wonderful file manager. My only wish would be the inclusion of an sftp browser (with x.509 cert support) as it would make it much more useful. Secure file transfer is very useful, much more common these days, and SSH provides a wonderful mechanism!

Thankfully, there are a) sftp file browsers on the market already, and b) ES File Explorer developers have mentioned that they play for the inclusion of this crucial feature.

More sales good news for Samsung with the Tab. They have reached their 1 million sold target for this year and have now increased target to 1.5 million.

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/03...tab-1-million/

BOOM!

This is fantastic news. Despite the mixed reviews (and I say that with heaping euphemism), this device has proven a success in the market. I'm glad that it's done so well, and looking forward to getting one very shortly.

Next years model will be a force to be reckoned with. Samsung is maintaining their position as a powerhouse in consumer electronics, which now extends to the smartphone and tablet market.

The success of the Galaxy S and now the Tab offer confidence and credibility that Samsung can continue to deliver in this space. On a personal note: Samsung seems to me like the first company that can match Apple in terms of design and positioning. The attention to detail and wonderful balancing of features is refreshing in an industry where it seems common to peddle gimmicks over user experience.

Here's a video of the latest Google Reader app on the Samsung Galaxy Tab:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFsnPQnTglw

Very nice. With a decrease in the DPI setting it would be even more useful (more on screen). This would be _really_ cool with a multi-pane layout (eg. listing on left, article on right).

C'mon, you're not even close here. Samsung was first-to-market in a space that's gonna be flooded next year. Match Apple in design? No way. Apple design goes far beyond a rectangle of glass. I own an 11" MacBook Air and a unibody Mac Mini. Those are the cutting edge of industrial design. And the last sentence: what features? It's a simple tablet running Android with a gimmicky, proprietary connector.

Dude, come back to Earth.