[Question] New Phablet

[Sanxion]

Can't say I blame you. The rumors of the next Nexus are indeed alluring.

Its alluring nature has been further enhanced with the latest series of 'rumours':

Front facing stereo speakers
Fast charging technology
Snapdragon 805

My choice has been made for me...despite the Lenovo Vibe Pro making an appearance for a mere £530 dollars!

However, the Google connection takes precdence for me.

Hi all

I thought I would give an update...

I bought a Huawei Honor X1 LTE (7" device)...which was great except that the data connection on my Three (UK) sim did not work. The sim considered my phablet to be a tablet and therefore barred the data connection! Apparently this is to stop people using a standard data plan on a tablet?! So it has no issue with my 6.44" G7 but that extra 0.56" causes it to stop working. Does anybody know how a mobile operator is able to differentiate? I was told it has something to do with data compression and the type of application requesting the data? Although that is strange as both devices used the same version of Opera Mobile for web browsing, it works on one (G7) but not the other (X1)...I therefore had no choice but to sell the X1 as I didn't want to switch mobile providers.

I then bought a Nexus 6 and sold it a few days later! Having been accustomed to a 6.44" screen on my G7, I found the screen on the Nexus 6 too small! The other problem it had was the 2K screen...text on web pages render too small when selecting 'desktop' versions of sites which is what I can do without problem on my G7.

I am still therefore looking for a replacement for my G7...

Any ideas?

[Sanxion]

After much investigation and deliberation, I have opted for the ZTE Nubia X6, ordered from Liaow...it should be with me at some point next week...

[edcoolio]

After much investigation and deliberation, I have opted for the ZTE Nubia X6, ordered from Liaow...it should be with me at some point next week...

WOW! That really sucks about the Huawei. As for how they found out, it is possible that the reasons they gave are truthful, but it is doubtful. Google (in the past) had embedded their OS with tablet, phablet, and phone UI. Currently (4.4+) they do not embed that in the OS like they used to. The point is that this is an easy identifier - your OS is identifying your device as a tablet and this bit of information can be detected via software. Therefore, it could easily be something as simple as the stock dialer or other software relating the status of the device to the operator.

Case in point: One of the most useful tools pre 4.4 is "TabletMetrics" as used with "Xposed". It allows a phone to fool software using the device type as a trigger to give different service based on that profile. For example, the music software Spotify forces a much more limited service (skip restriction, radio being forced on small playlists, cannot select individual songs) if it thinks you have a phone. However, if one were to root, install Xposed, install tabletmetrics, and finally install Spotify - then Spotify would give you a different profile for streaming your internet music. In fact, it would act EXACTLY as if you had a laptop or tablet. The limited service descriptions listed above would be removed.

The above method does not work on the newer Android as Google has removed this universal trigger.

Now that my best guess as to what happened and a sly piece of information which many may/may not know has been put out there, thank you for the data for those using Three in the UK.

I look forward to your thoughts on the ZTE Nubia X6.

[Sanxion]

After much investigation and deliberation, I have opted for the ZTE Nubia X6, ordered from Liaow...it should be with me at some point next week...

WOW! That really sucks about the Huawei. As for how they found out, it is possible that the reasons they gave are truthful, but it is doubtful. Google (in the past) had embedded their OS with tablet, phablet, and phone UI. Currently (4.4+) they do not embed that in the OS like they used to. The point is that this is an easy identifier - your OS is identifying your device as a tablet and this bit of information can be detected via software. Therefore, it could easily be something as simple as the stock dialer or other software relating the status of the device to the operator.

Case in point: One of the most useful tools pre 4.4 is "TabletMetrics" as used with "Xposed". It allows a phone to fool software using the device type as a trigger to give different service based on that profile. For example, the music software Spotify forces a much more limited service (skip restriction, radio being forced on small playlists, cannot select individual songs) if it thinks you have a phone. However, if one were to root, install Xposed, install tabletmetrics, and finally install Spotify - then Spotify would give you a different profile for streaming your internet music. In fact, it would act EXACTLY as if you had a laptop or tablet. The limited service descriptions listed above would be removed.

The above method does not work on the newer Android as Google has removed this universal trigger.

Now that my best guess as to what happened and a sly piece of information which many may/may not know has been put out there, thank you for the data for those using Three in the UK.

I look forward to your thoughts on the ZTE Nubia X6.

That's interesting...I understand the issue about different UIs for a phone/tablet but the UI on the Honor X1 was just like a normal phone. Nothing appeared to have been optimised or altered for its 7". It seemed to behave just like a normal phone and yet the carrier recognised it as a tablet...I would love to know how exactly they do this...

[edcoolio]

After much investigation and deliberation, I have opted for the ZTE Nubia X6, ordered from Liaow...it should be with me at some point next week...

WOW! That really sucks about the Huawei. As for how they found out, it is possible that the reasons they gave are truthful, but it is doubtful. Google (in the past) had embedded their OS with tablet, phablet, and phone UI. Currently (4.4+) they do not embed that in the OS like they used to. The point is that this is an easy identifier - your OS is identifying your device as a tablet and this bit of information can be detected via software. Therefore, it could easily be something as simple as the stock dialer or other software relating the status of the device to the operator.

Case in point: One of the most useful tools pre 4.4 is "TabletMetrics" as used with "Xposed". It allows a phone to fool software using the device type as a trigger to give different service based on that profile. For example, the music software Spotify forces a much more limited service (skip restriction, radio being forced on small playlists, cannot select individual songs) if it thinks you have a phone. However, if one were to root, install Xposed, install tabletmetrics, and finally install Spotify - then Spotify would give you a different profile for streaming your internet music. In fact, it would act EXACTLY as if you had a laptop or tablet. The limited service descriptions listed above would be removed.

The above method does not work on the newer Android as Google has removed this universal trigger.

Now that my best guess as to what happened and a sly piece of information which many may/may not know has been put out there, thank you for the data for those using Three in the UK.

I look forward to your thoughts on the ZTE Nubia X6.

That's interesting...I understand the issue about different UIs for a phone/tablet but the UI on the Honor X1 was just like a normal phone. Nothing appeared to have been optimised or altered for its 7". It seemed to behave just like a normal phone and yet the carrier recognised it as a tablet...I would love to know how exactly they do this...

In my experience, it is exactly the same situation with "tabletmetrics" installed via xposed.

For example, I have it installed in a Samsung Note 3. It changes no UI elements - just like the normal phone I had before installation. It is independent of DPI, resolution, etc.

However, for certain apps (Spotify being just one such example), it will read a tabletUI flag, and act accordingly - even though no UI elements are present on the device.

Evil magic, I say.

I would like to know exactly how they do this as well!! In particular, if there is a way to fool software in 4.4.4+

[Sanxion]

WOW! That really sucks about the Huawei. As for how they found out, it is possible that the reasons they gave are truthful, but it is doubtful. Google (in the past) had embedded their OS with tablet, phablet, and phone UI. Currently (4.4+) they do not embed that in the OS like they used to. The point is that this is an easy identifier - your OS is identifying your device as a tablet and this bit of information can be detected via software. Therefore, it could easily be something as simple as the stock dialer or other software relating the status of the device to the operator.

Case in point: One of the most useful tools pre 4.4 is "TabletMetrics" as used with "Xposed". It allows a phone to fool software using the device type as a trigger to give different service based on that profile. For example, the music software Spotify forces a much more limited service (skip restriction, radio being forced on small playlists, cannot select individual songs) if it thinks you have a phone. However, if one were to root, install Xposed, install tabletmetrics, and finally install Spotify - then Spotify would give you a different profile for streaming your internet music. In fact, it would act EXACTLY as if you had a laptop or tablet. The limited service descriptions listed above would be removed.

The above method does not work on the newer Android as Google has removed this universal trigger.

Now that my best guess as to what happened and a sly piece of information which many may/may not know has been put out there, thank you for the data for those using Three in the UK.

I look forward to your thoughts on the ZTE Nubia X6.

That's interesting...I understand the issue about different UIs for a phone/tablet but the UI on the Honor X1 was just like a normal phone. Nothing appeared to have been optimised or altered for its 7". It seemed to behave just like a normal phone and yet the carrier recognised it as a tablet...I would love to know how exactly they do this...

In my experience, it is exactly the same situation with "tabletmetrics" installed via xposed.

For example, I have it installed in a Samsung Note 3. It changes no UI elements - just like the normal phone I had before installation. It is independent of DPI, resolution, etc.

However, for certain apps (Spotify being just one such example), it will read a tabletUI flag, and act accordingly - even though no UI elements are present on the device.

Evil magic, I say.

I would like to know exactly how they do this as well!! In particular, if there is a way to fool software in 4.4.4+

Ok...so how does the OS differentiate between phone and tablet form? What criteria does it use?

[edcoolio]

Upon further review, the answer has been found. It is the getdisplaymetrics under 5p0t1fy/smali.

I would HIGHLY suggest that ANYONE interested in this very theoretical discussion about how a particular program sees tablet vs. phone - and thus, giving the ability to operate this program/software in the way that they wish, do the following:

1. Google the following:

2668279 smali forcing to tablet mode

2. Look for the correct link and posts (you can figure this out, but it should be the first link or very close to it).

If you are interested in the software itself, for testing purposes ONLY:

1. Create a MEGA account on PC

2. Download MEGA for Android

3. While logged into your account on PC, cut/paste link (google thread above).

4. Cut/paste decryption key (google thread above).

5. Transfer decrypted file into the MEGA account you just created.

6. Login into MEGA app for Android.

7. Download .apk you transfered in step 5

The rest is in your hands, may everyone who likes this use it wisely and give a "hello", regardless of which method they decide to test.

Make sure the current version of your favorite music app has all of its data deleted and then uninstalled FIRST, before you move on to the hypothetical "step 8."

As for everyone else on older Android versions, remember, a rooted phone, search for and install Xposed installed, search for/install Tabletmetrics, activate in Xposed, reboot, download your music app, login.

Also, try and use a freestanding username/.password (not attached to facebook or other such garbage) if you can help it.

Remember, this is all for educational purposes only. www.chinaphonearena.com, anyone related to it, myself, or your mother, cannot be held responsible for external links, global warming, global cooling, herpes, volcanoes, earthquakes, or what you do with your equipment and/or software. The responsibility is yours, as always.