Samsung Galaxy 10.1

[Dr. Phil]

Well I shunned the iPad in favor of the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 because it is not Mac and therefore will have Flash Player, can stream movies using VPN etc.

Now I have tried downloading BBC iPlayer and ITVPlayer but the damn thing won't allow it because they say its not allowed in this country. I tried installing VPN but it will not allow it, presumably of the same reasons unless there is a firewall I don't know about.

Any wizards with this Samsung Android, please advise.

[Floppy Phil]

Everything you touch really does turn to cack, doesn't it?

Bit of a silly idea, but how about asking questions before you buy, instead of after? 

[Dr. Phil]

Everything you touch really does turn to cack, doesn't it?

Bit of a silly idea, but how about asking questions before you buy, instead of after?  

Actually all the salespeople assured me it had all the bells and whistles. It had Flash Player too.

In fact, there is a BBC iPlayer for Samsung Galaxy (Google and see).
However when I download it in Singapore it will not complete the download because it identifies my location as Singapore. I am unable to disable the GPS.
Now all laptops allow the download of BBC and ITV iPlayers notwithstanding you can't watch BBC when you are located overseas without a VPN.
So it would be logical to download a VPN before downloading BBC or ITV iPlayer however this is not possible for some reason not explained.

Give me 5 minutes with any machine and I can give you a better assessment of its capabilities. This unfortunately is not possible.

There are many reasons, mostly political why I can't watch BBC when I am overseas.
And why should I have to buy a VPN to access BBC?

Why doesn't BBC allow viewing from overseas? They could charge an annual fee?

Oh yes, fees constitute revenue and they don't want revenue because the British taxpayers are compelled by law against the threat of imprisonment to buy an annual license for having a television set and it all goes to the BBC, whether taxpayers watch BBC or not!

You see, if BBC earn revenue, it may be expected that they continue to do so and that would never do.

ITV do not charge a fee. They advertise.

But why can't I download a VPN?

If Samsung are following Apple in policing citizens, it will constitute a breach of my freedom of choice. If there are unreasonable laws, folk will find ways around them. Imposing a blanket ban on UK TV is the policy, with many of the the best productions in the world made by BBC and Granada, then this is also an attack on the image of UK and denial of huge income.

Today we are ripped-off left, right and centre and we make excuses for the thieves. We receive SFA on our savings and the EU is about to commit suicide in the face of bankruptcy, by forcing through laws which would insist on Fiscal Union for all member states and France is approaching bankruptcy which adds momentum.
 
I read today that the RAF Red Arrows aircraft are to be manufactured in India. Its sad really, there are so many gifted people in UK whose efforts are constantly undermined by inept, low grade politicians with their own agenda.

So, PP, trust me, (I am also a certified systems analyst) joking aside, I can at least identify logical systems from pure cr@p. And I have a heightened level of consumer awareness and values which appear to have evaded you thus far. But there are hard times ahead for you for sure, think of me then.  

[Dr. Phil]

http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/5473/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-review

I do agree the graphics are sharper than iPad2 and its physical construction and hardware all superior. And as one review correctly pointed out, a web experience is incomplete without Flash Player, which Samsung embraces today.

[Control Freak]

The "new" (LOL) Apple iPhone 4S requires a micro Sim card too. 

[Granny Smith]

The Samsung allows you to surf the web and stream whatever you want, movies, tv, sport, news etc.
IPad should be free because its simply a medium for buying movies and music and games from Apple stores.

[Inspector Morse]

When you set up your VPN use a PPTP account not L2TP account and it will load immediately.
You must also "send all traffic over VPN account" but I haven't figured that out yet. Its a great piece of kit! 

[Dr. Phil]

Actually, I bought my Samsung Galaxy 10.1 in USA on a recent visit. It cost + USD 600

With regard to value for money, check out the following (Google).
Paypal account accepted.

DHGATE.COM
LIGHTINTHEBOX

These are very popular sites in USA.

[Dr. Phil]

I recently returned a coffee percolator because it was faulty.
I suspected something was amiss when three salespersons attended me and their answers to my incisive and grueling questioning were all so positive.
I noted my boxed selection was conveniently close and it was not properly sealed.
And it’s a fact that all the questions in the world cannot identify the hidden flaws in the design, which, once at home become immediately apparent and can only be remedied by an immediate return of the defective purchase.

I wonder how many people return goods, which once purchased, prove damaged or defective in design and/or operation? I wonder how many are afraid to complain? 

There was a time when Singapore was exciting and offered the best bargains in the “Far East”. Better even than Hong Kong.

Not that such a reduction in value for money is an Asian thing, its not. It is carried eastwards on the jet streams. 

Some products cannot be returned and we are unwilling and helpless victims of grasping swindlers who take both our time and money and replace both with inconvenience and expense.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Apple Mac laptops and computers worked brilliantly and their response was lightning fast.
However the Apple Operating System was not the same as the giant Microsoft’s Windows-based OS and this caused some compatibility issues.
The introduction of Microsoft Office for Mac enabled Mac Users to re-engage with businesses using the globally dominant Microsoft Windows OS which was a great step forwards because WORD documents, EXCEL spreadsheets (and simple algorithms) and POWERPOINT had become universal standards and the Office for Mac allowed business documents to be exchanged and opened.

We were happy to use Apple Mac because the company was unique and its product uncomplicated value for money. With no hang-ups.

In contrast, the Microsoft evil Empire was so glutinous for super profits, later for increases in annual profits and income streams, that Microsoft invariably launched software prematurely and then upgraded it and there were frequent “fixes” which never worked and so many variations XP, 7 being the latest that it was not uncommon for Windows based documents to fail to open on other Windows based machines and sometimes the two of these incompatible Windows based Operating Systems were released in consecutive years!

So it’s a sad, retrograde step, when I see Apple Mac following this sad business model. Today, Apple Mac is sabotaging Microsoft Office for Mac and adopting a business plan which is a direct attack on Microsoft Office, effectively compelling Mac Users to switch to some inferior i-Works.

Today, Mac has launched its Lion OSX, which causes Microsoft Office for Mac to run at a very slow speed and the weekly Microsoft “security fixes” provide only temporary relief. There is a battle being waged and the loyal Apple Users are the casualties.

Apple Mac has also created i-Cloud and is phasing out Mobile Me which I have subscribed for a number of years, since it provides a secure storage for important files, contacts and emails which can be accessed anywhere any time and updates all other Mac products.
However to access i-Cloud MacBook Users must upgrade to Lion OSX and to upgrade to Lion OSX we must first buy and install Snow Leopard OS.

My colleague, who has a lightning-fast MacBook and has refused to upgrade since its purchase, will soon be compelled to upgrade twice and the lightning-fast MacBook will become as slow and diseased as those who dutifully upgrade, before being compelled to do so.

And Apple's iPad is nothing more than a medium through which one can be entertained by buying almost exclusively from the Apple Store. I am surprised they don’t give iPads away for free to such captive customers, just as mobile phones are subsidized by service providers.

There was a time when computers were an aid to business, just like banking was a boring, convenient but safe place to deposit ones coin.

In the west, we need a third political party to break the tired, predictable, compromised, corrupt monopoly.
Perhaps Android can provide the same to the world of mobile communications.

[Spammer?]

Phil...

You're starting to sound like one of the spammers...

[to Dr Luddite]

The BBC doesn't allow overseas viewing as it charges a license fee to UK subscribers.  As it happens they are going to introduce a worldwide fee paying service se you may get your wish sooner than expected.

There is nothing to stop you playing with them at say the Samsung store at Vivo before buying, next time I suggest you try it.

In the meantime a vpn costs about 5 gbp a month, cheaper than any license fee is likely to be, look up strong vpn or my private network.

As a top tip I just discovered something.  IPlayer only appears to check your location when you start playing.  Can start then instantly switch vpn off for faster speed and iplayer keeps going, result.....

[Dr. Phil]

The BBC doesn't allow overseas viewing as it charges a license fee to UK subscribers.  As it happens they are going to introduce a worldwide fee paying service se you may get your wish sooner than expected.

There is nothing to stop you playing with them at say the Samsung store at Vivo before buying, next time I suggest you try it.

In the meantime a vpn costs about 5 gbp a month, cheaper than any license fee is likely to be, look up strong vpn or my private network.

As a top tip I just discovered something.  IPlayer only appears to check your location when you start playing.  Can start then instantly switch vpn off for faster speed and iplayer keeps going, result.....

Yes I think I mention dI use Strong VPN but this is not the best VPN since you are again limited, as with DVD regions, to a limited number of switches. This, quite frankly, is a rip-off. PURE VPN, on the other hand, allows you as many switches as you wish to make. For those who don't know, it is necessary to switch or change stations to improve streaming and this happened when many log on to a particular station, its performance reduces.
Of course, some things only become apparent after sales. 

If BBC sell their product overseas I will be pleased however I would be delighted if they gave it away free, as a commercial station, notwithstanding the advertisements which are often better than the program content. This would be a real culture shock for auntie Beeb. 

I must say Samsung is a better piece of hardware and the clarity and definition is acknowledged as being better than iPad. However there are similar tablets available for a fraction of the price (See websites above).

Did you know there is an app for iPlayer? So its not a stretch of the imagination to believe it will operate on Samsung. In fact I have streamed itv via web browser and another app for android.
I suspect what I am unable to locate, and Samsung "experts" too, is the command "stream all traffic over this vpn". The Apple equivalent can be found under System Preferences. I have yet to find the Samsung equivalent.

[Dr. Phil]

Update: Samsung does accept VPN and both BBC and ITV are accessible for streaming, the former via browser and the latter using Opera Mobile App (Free) both under VPN.
It just gets better. No objections, no Big Brother restrictions.

[Reverend Black]

A great Xmas gift.
It has the latest Flash Player and works well with iPhone Hot Spot too.