Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 Hands-on

[DAB]

Well my frustration continues. I think a lot of this just has to do with the fact that this is a new Samsung product and it just isn't supported by apps to allow for caching or use of the microSD. I did get with Slacker today and they did reset my account so I could cache and it did cache, but to the built in flash memory. They had me try several things, but nothing would make it push to the microSD card.

You know its just frustrating because I finally got an Android device that I really like and I be damn the main thing I want to use it for, I can't because of this issue. I don't know rather to hold on to it in hopes that this gets solved with updates or just bit the bullet and give up.

Tell you one thing there is much to like on Android and I am digging it. I guess I just picked the wrong Android device to take a darn liking too.

OH I did get an email from Rdio support and they are telling me that with the newer Android devices they are not allowing it to make use of the external SD. I even tried Spotify and Rhapsody and none of them would cache to the microSD card either, so this makes me think this is a problem with this player and/or the lack of support for this player by apps. So in terms of music services I am dead in the water. I did play around with the Google Music app and my Google Music account. That works very well, but its just works with my own music and over the last several years I quit buying music, so I have huge gaps in my music collection.

 

[dualsub2006]

Well my frustration continues. I think a lot of this just has to do with the fact that this is a new Samsung product and it just isn't supported by apps to allow for caching or use of the microSD.

DAB - I will always own Android phones, but there is a certain amount of frustration from time to time. I asked around and was pointed to this by a friend with a Samsung phone

http://www.spotify.com/us/help/faq/...-store-offline-music-on-the-external-sd-card/

It is something that might work for Rdio as Spotify can't just invent workarounds to whatever is at issue with Samsung devices. It's a pain, and it might not work. Then again, it might. Just don't keep the thing past your return date either way.

 

[Vargas]

Dab:

I think I've become confused with your main concern--is it that you cannot put the slacker app on the SD card or is it that you cannot access the music you've saved in slacker on your SD card?

 

[memebag]

Dab:

I think I've become confused with your main concern--is it that you cannot put the slacker app on the SD card or is it that you cannot access the music you've saved in slacker on your SD card?

I think his problem is that he can't cache music to the SD card.

It sounds like this Galaxy music player is a poor fit for DAB.

 

[Vargas]

My problem with Android devices--and I love my tablet--is that they seem to pick and choose which devices will get the new software when they roll it out.

My Android Tablet, a 7" samsung galaxy tab is running 2.2, FROYO. I have no problem with this. They then came out with Gingerbread and now Honeycomb and NOW the newest OS ICE CREAM SANDWHICH is coming soon. Some devices will get that update and some will not.

I don't know if this is an ANDROID desicion or if it is a manufacturer desicion (samsung, nokia, HTC, etc).

At least when Apple comes out with a new OS, all devices get it.

 

[dualsub2006]

I don't know if this is an ANDROID desicion or if it is a manufacturer desicion (samsung, nokia, HTC, etc).

Unless you have a Nexus device OS updates are left to the manufacturer of your device. Samsung has a pretty poor record of updates for their devices.

While it's not for everyone, rooting and flashing a custom ROM is how a lot of people sidestep planned manufacturer obsolescence.

Your 7" Tab can't run full Honeycomb, but there are a couple of very well done Gingerbread ROMs for it. And in an odd twist, there will very likely be custom ICS ROMs for it too.

At least when Apple comes out with a new OS, all devices get it.

Ah, but you see, not every device gets it. My wife's 11 month old work iPhone 4 got the OS 5 update, but not the key feature: Siri.

Siri runs on iPhone 4 just fine, it just doesn't work because the big data center blocks it.

My 16, 17 month old iPad got the update. Again, missing several features that the iPad 2 got like mirroring.

Saying that there is no fragmentation in iOS is a shell game. Does Apple release software updates for older devices? Yes. Do they gimp features to mask their own hardware obsolescence program? Absolutely.

 

[HecticArt]

True. No manufacturer is going to invest in updating all of their old product. Some product wasn't designed to handle all of the unknowns that later be invented and it certainly isn't a good business model if you want to sell new product.

That said, android IS really inconsistent with what you can and can't put on the sd cards. I know it varies by device and app, but its git to be the #1 complaint I see in the app market.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Ah, but you see, not every device gets it. My wife's 11 month old work iPhone 4 got the OS 5 update, but not the key feature: Siri.

Siri runs on iPhone 4 just fine, it just doesn't work because the big data center blocks it.

My 16, 17 month old iPad got the update. Again, missing several features that the iPad 2 got like mirroring.

Saying that there is no fragmentation in iOS is a shell game. Does Apple release software updates for older devices? Yes. Do they gimp features to mask their own hardware obsolescence program? Absolutely.

While what you say is true, it does sound like Apple does a better job at updates than Andoid. Its not that Apple is a saint but it is both the software maker and hardware manufacturer.

For you, an end user, to get an update from google:
1. google has to make the update
2. Your hardware maker needs to incorporate the update and release to you.

With Apple, 1+2 are the same company. When its out, its out.

But yes, my iPhone4 will likely only get 1 more major iOS upgrade before it is removed. My wife's 3GS is on her last update. People with previous iPhones can't get iOS5 at all.

 

[memebag]

Right, so only buy Android phones. After the contract is up, get a newer model. Don't buy anything running Android that doesn't have a subsidizing contract. For tablets, media players, etc., get something that might be supported longer, i.e. iOS.

 

[dualsub2006]

I know it varies by device and app, but its git to be the #1 complaint I see in the app market.

Yep, and in cases like DAB's it's a very valid issue. He has 512MB of built in storage so SD use is critical.

 

[Casual Fan]

Nice MP3 player for $270 might bet my son one for Christmas and he will leave my phone alone.

I let my 5-year-old see my cell phone the other day. He handed it back to me in a few minutes and had bought unlimited Pac-Man from Verizon. By accident. He hates it, and now I'm playing Pac-Man all the time.

 

[HecticArt]

Yep, and in cases like DAB's it's a very valid issue. He has 512MB of built in storage so SD use is critical.

Yep again. In his case it seem like the App maker should have written more flexibility into their software. Unfortunately, they can't anticipate how many different device manufacturers and models their app will be installed on. So results may vary. Unfortunately.

 

[HecticArt]

I let my 5-year-old see my cell phone the other day. He handed it back to me in a few minutes and had bought unlimited Pac-Man from Verizon. By accident. He hates it, and now I'm playing Pac-Man all the time.

He could at least have been a sport and bought you some porn.

"Sorry about the porn on my phone Mrs Fan, Casual Jr bought it on accident and now I'm stuck with it. Darn."

:idunno:

 

[Casual Fan]

He could at least have been a sport and bought you some porn.
:idunno:

Inconsiderate little bastard...I'd have settled for "Tetris."

 

[dualsub2006]

For you, an end user, to get an update from google:
1. google has to make the update
2. Your hardware maker needs to incorporate the update and release to you.

Uh, well, yes. That's one way to do it.

My original Thunderbolt was replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. I'd had it since May I think. Though HTC just released Gingerbread for the device yesterday, my first one had it since May. I had to unroot it and restore the original ROM to exchange it.

I'll root again once my ROM of choice has a release candidate for Ice Cream Sandwich.

My first Android phone currently has the latest Gingerbread version on it even though Moto dropped it more than a year ago.

Rooting most devices is fairly trivial and casual users of Android devices are taking up the practice. This extends the update life of their devices well beyond intended obsolescence by the manufacturer.

 

[HecticArt]

Uh, well, yes. That's one way to do it.

My original Thunderbolt was replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. I'd had it since May I think. Though HTC just released Gingerbread for the device yesterday, my first one had it since May. I had to unroot it and restore the original ROM to exchange it.

I'll root again once my ROM of choice has a release candidate for Ice Cream Sandwich.

My first Android phone currently has the latest Gingerbread version on it even though Moto dropped it more than a year ago.

Rooting most devices is fairly trivial and casual users of Android devices are taking up the practice. This extends the update life of their devices well beyond intended obsolescence by the manufacturer.

I rooted my tablet. I have a modified version of Gingerbread on it.
Viewsonic actually gives you links from their website to the web forums that provide the ROM's and instructions on how to install them.

It was kinda fun to do. I hadn't rooted anything since my Razr.

 

[DAB]

I just want to thank you guys for all the feedback. Dual I was able to finally get Spotify to use the SD card to cache per those instructions. All seemed well till I restarted the device and then attempted to play one of my playlist and I get an error that the playlist was not found. I then rechecked and sure enough the default location on the SD card had switched back to the default internal flash. I reset it and it then plays but each time I restart I have to do this.

This is such a sweet device. I really like it and in so many ways it is better than the iPod Touch. The camera is really nice and takes very good video. The display is bright and being this large is a joy. It's light not over bulky as I thought it would be. If this device was 16gb or better yet 32 it would absolutely be a keeper. Samsung needs to wake up relying so much on SD which in and of itself is a nice add on. When apps don't support the use of SD cards though as in my case you are dead in the water.

I am going to keep my eye out for them to maybe release a version with more built in flash memory.



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[DAB]

Here are some pictures of the Samsung Galaxy Music Player, I never got around to posting the unboxing pictures.