Question on performance (galaxy tab 10" and galaxy s2)
Added by Mario Menossi over 10 years ago
Hey guys,
i want to get rid of all the proprietary stuff on my mobile devices (enough is enough i think), so i'm about to buy a suitable device for replicant.
Actually i love watching videos in HD on my tablet but i see that i have to make compromises now, and thus i consider buying a galaxy 2 tab 10" as a replacement for my current (not-supported) tablet.
I can read that 2d graphics are obviously running "slow" on it, but i couldn't find any information more detailed than that. What does "slow" mean? Like, can i watch some (non-hd) videos on youtube? Can I read ebooks (pdfs), browse the internet, install stuff without huge delays? Is it actually usable?
Same question on galaxy s2. I know that replicant doesn't run as fast as normal android (manufacturers are to blame here...) but how big is the difference?
Can you use it in everyday life?
And ... i really hate to, but i will have to install the proprietary wifi firmware too.. a mobile device without wifi is just no use for me and replicant + non-free wifi firmware is the best i can come up with.
Is there a simple way to add this non-free wifi on replicant or is it a difficult task?
Thank you for the amazing work - your job is really, really important!
I hope that we can watch hd vids and use wifi on mobile devices someday in freedom!
Replies (1)
RE: Question on performance (galaxy tab 10" and galaxy s2) - Added by Paul Kocialkowski over 10 years ago
I can read that 2d graphics are obviously running "slow" on it, but i couldn't find any information more detailed than that.
Well it's a bit hard to explain with words. Graphics are sluggish and not reactive.
Like, can i watch some (non-hd) videos on youtube?
Video decoding is broken on all devices, so it won't work.
Can I read ebooks (pdfs), browse the internet, install stuff without huge delays? Is it actually usable?
It is usable, but slow. If you're used to graphics acceleration on these devices, you will very clearly see the difference. After a while, you get used to not having graphics acceleration. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (P51xx) is still one of the slowest. The 7" model is by far more reactive (you don't notice the sluggishness once you're used to it). Internet and pdfs all work. Video decoding is a sensitive area because it requires acceleration both on the graphics and decoder side, most of which are proprietary.
Same question on galaxy s2. I know that replicant doesn't run as fast as normal android (manufacturers are to blame here...) but how big is the difference? Can you use it in everyday life?
The Galaxy S 2 (I9100) is about the fastest thing we have running Replicant. You'll still notice the difference, but you get used to it fast and it's not a problem for usability, at all. It is fluid and fast, just a little less than with graphics acceleration. That's the model I prefer to use daily. Of course, I've used about every model daily and they're all usable (it's far from being 1fps).
Is there a simple way to add this non-free wifi on replicant or is it a difficult task?
It is not hard, but we (the Replicant project) are not going to encourage or document that process. On a personal basis, I published scripts and usage notes to do that, but this is in no way endorsed by Replicant.
Thank you for the amazing work - your job is really, really important!
Thanks for your encouragements!
I hope that we can watch hd vids and use wifi on mobile devices someday in freedom!
Video decoding may not be that far from being reachable, I'd just need to take a good look at it. Still, I don't know much about graphics, so it'd take me some time and I'm already too busy with other things.