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Arnova 10b G3 custom firmware Android 4.1 JB, root, more space for apps and PIP video player

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We recently announced a series of custom Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmwares for Arnova G3 devices. The Arnova 10b G3 tablet is the first tablet to receive a custom Android 4.1 JB firmware with root and few extra features. This firmware is based on the Oma JB, the work of OMA, a respected xda-developers.com who has produced many great firmwares so far for Rockchip tablets, thanks a lot to him for that. We have modified this firmware to make the flash process easier on the Arnova 10b G3. While this firmware is already very stable and brings some great additions to the original 10b G3 firmware, it suffers a few limitations: the battery indicator isn’t working properly and the video camera picture is mirrored horizontally.

Arnova 10b G3 Android 4.1 JB firmware feature list

  • rooted Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean with SuperSU 0.96 by ChainFire (free version)
  • full Google Play and Apps support, including Google Now
  • full ext4 file system on cache, data and system partitions
  • /system partition fully writable
  • extended space for application (/data) to 1.5 Gb
  • Picture in Picture (PIP) video player
  • super fast tablet shutdown (about 1 second)

Picture in Picture (PIP) video player

The Picture in Picture (PIP) function is a great new feature of the Video Player that let you put the playing video in a resizable and movable window, so you can watch a movie while you continue to use the Android tablet for other things. This feature is similar to what Samsung offers on their latest Galasy SIII and Note II with the “Pop Up Play” feature.

Install procedure

Before starting, please make sure you backup all your existing apps, data and files that are on your tablet as they will be erased during the flash process. Also make sure your device is connected to the power.

Step 1. Download

Custom OMA JB firmware download (version 0.44), updated 2012/10/10

kasty_oma-arn10bg3-41-044-1_5G.zip

This firmware is specific to the Arnova 10b G3 and should not be installed on other devices.

WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE.

THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE IS USED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

WE RECOMMEND TO FLASH THIS FIRMWARE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RESCUE A BRICKED DEVICE USING ROCKCHIP FLASHING TOOLS.

Download the file above and extract the custom firmware image (update.img) on your computer hard drive.

Step 2. Install and run Rockchip Flashing tool

Please follow the Rockchip Flashing tool procedure: that will explain how to download Rockchip flashing tool, unpack the archive, put your device into flashing mode and flash the custom firmware file that you have unpacked in Step 1.

Step 3. Arnova 10b G3 flashing and restart

After Rockchip flasher has transferred the custom firmware to the tablet, the device will restart and install the firmware. Finally you will be back to Arnova homescreen, there is no setup wizard with this firmware.

You will find the 3 easy steps of the installation procedure in the following video, see how to get Google Play and root to the Arnova 9 G3 in less than 10 minutes, it works on a similar way with the Arnova 10b G3.

Firmware Limitations

- the battery indicator doesn’t work properly, it gives a correct reading (battery life % and charging or not) only once at boot time. After boot, the battery indicator is stuck and does not show any change of value from the boot.
- the video is mirrored horizontally in the camera application
- we have observed that the touchscreen is sometimes not working just after flashing this firmware on the Arnova 10b G3, the source of the problem isn’t clear but it may be related to an issue with the touchscreen calibration routine that isn’t present in this firmware. Luckily, the fix is quite simple, just flash the stock firmware or one of our custom firmware based on it that contains the calibration.

Let us know how it works for you in our Arnova 10b G3 forum.

Release history

2012/10/10: version 0.44, updated to OMA JB v1.2.2 + fixed the ext4 partition setup
2012/10/08: version 0.43, first release

Great thanks to OMA for his work on this Jelly Bean firmware.

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Arnova 10b G3 4 Gb

Maplin“1 Day”£ 179.99 PC World UK“1 to 3 days”£ 129.99 AMAZON USAUsually ships in 1-2 business days$ 189.99 AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 150.74 AMAZON DEGewöhnlich versandfertig in 24 Stunden159 EUR AMAZON FRExpédition sous 1 à 2 jours ouvrés191.69 EUR

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  2. Cube U30GT-H Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmware with root and PIP (Picture in Picture) video player The Cube U30GT based on the Rockchip RK3066 processor is...
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Arnova FamilyPad coming in december for 299€

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We love Facebook. While it is made to stay in touch with your friends and family, it is also an interesting source to see what Archos future plans are. Last time we discovered a nice 97 Xenon from the Elements range, today we discovered that Archos Slovenia revealed some details for the FamilyPad.

And we understand not all of you can understand Slovenian, so here is translation to English:

We are proud to inform you that the ARCHOS in December 2012 issued a special plate FAMILY PAD, which will have an impressive display of
13.3 inches and a resolution of 1440 x 900 points. It will have a front and rear camera, HD quality, 16GB NAND flash memory, HDMI, USB OTG, as well as 10,500 mAh battery.
Respect for ARCHOS France, the images are not posted, you sadly the latter can not be present, but it looks fantastic;)

More information is published at the end of October.

Does it look amazing? We think it does, especially if you also get the stand shown in the first picture. On the other hand, what about the specifications? The current stores offering it(for example lasystems) mention it will come with 1280×800 screen and 8GB of flash memory. Perhaps Archos employees in Slovenia made a mistake, or Archos decided to upgrade a few components. Then there is also the RPP of 299€… We mentioned that YF Tech is selling the 1280×800 units for 180$/piece and even if you add the stand and the upgraded screen(we really doubt this will happen), the single-core Arnova FamilyPad seems overpriced to us.

Related posts:

  1. Arnova 7h G3 and FamilyPad OEM prices revealed, want a tablet for 53$? A few days ago, there was IFA. Where was IFA,...
  2. Archos GamePad tablet announced, Android game console to arrive in October for less than 150€ Back in April, we mentioned that Archos should soon arrive...
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Arnova ChildPad&7d G3 Capacitive Android 4.1.1 JB Custom Firmware

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The Arnova ChildPad is an children-optimised Android 4.0 ICS Android tablet with great features for an affordable price. It comes with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, featuring a Rockchip RK2918 CPU, 1 GB of RAM and is available with capacitive or resistive screens. In addition to our first custom firmware which brings root and Google Play on the device and second one to provide full Android 4.0.4 experience, we are now happy to provide a Jelly Bean custom firmware. Though we developed this firmware with the ChildPad in mind, it should also work on Arnova 7d G3.

Main features:

  • Android 4.1.1 built from Oma JB v1.2.2
  • System in ext4 format
  • CWM Touch Recovery built from Prestigio 5080B
  • Firmware files from 20120608 Official FW version
  • Up to 1.5GB for apps partition
  • Full google experience with Google+, Talk, Calendar and more
  • Google Ears&Now included
  • Picture in Picture (PIP) video player

This firmware also features full Google Play support and read/write access to /system partition.

Firmware limitations:

  • No USB debugging
  • Camera image mirrored

Arnova ChildPad custom firmware install procedure

Before starting, please make sure you backup all your existing apps, data and files that are on your tablet as they will be erased during the flash process. Also make sure your device is connected to the power.

Step 1. Download

AN7DG3-CP20121012OMA4.1 | ONLY FOR CAPACITIVE SCREEN MODEL |

This firmware is specific to the Arnova ChildPad and 7d G3 capacitive screen models and should not be installed on other devices.
WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE. THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE IS USED AT YOUR OWN RISK.WE RECOMMEND TO FLASH THIS FIRMWARE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RESCUE A BRICKED DEVICE USING ROCKCHIP FLASHING TOOLS.

Download the file from above and extract the custom firmware files on your computer hard drive.

Step 2. Installing the driver

Please follow the Rockchip Flashing tool procedure: that will explain how to download Rockchip flashing tool, put your device into flashing mode and install the driver. Because we are using a different setup here(otherwise we would have to build six different firmwares), you only need to follow steps 1-3 from that tutorial.

Step 3. Installation

Run EvolutionRKTool program from the first archive. Check that your tablet is connected by usb and is put in the recovery mode. RKAndroidTool should say “Found RKAndroid Loader Rock Usb”. There are three parameter files in the Loader folder. Select one of the three, corresponding to the size of the Apps partition you want to have(parameter for 512MB, parameter-1G for 1GB and parameter-15G for 1.5GB). Now tick the other boxes as shown on the picture below.

Now, click on EraseIDB. After the proces is finished(should take around 15 seconds), click on Run. When the CWM Recovery will show up on the device, choose Reboot System now. After a couple of minutes, the Start-up Wizard should appear. Please note that the portrait wizard itself may be a little bit slower than the stock one from Arnova. After start-up, in case “SD Card damaged” message will appear, format it. With Wi-Fi connection established, navigate to SuperSU app and update binary(should go automatically) to gain root access.

Tips&Tricks

Improving screen density. 

The procedure is explained on our forum. After applying, don’t clear cache and/or data of Google Play, as not all the apps will be visible then.

Kaspersky Mobile Parental Control.

With this custom firmware, we decided not to install the Mobile Parental Filter app from Profil Technology. If you still want one, we recommend to use the one from Kaspersky, as it is free and has more options than the stock one on the ChildPad.

Setting up parental filtering on Google Play

This custom firmware will open your ChildPad thousands of applications in Google Play, but you may want to enable filtering, so your little ones do not see applications they are not supposed to see.

To achieve this, start Google Play Store, go to the upper right corner menu, click on it, select Settings

Scroll to “User Controls” section, click on Content filtering item

Make sure that only “Everyone” rating is checked.
According to Google, “Everyone” setting should not contain objectionable material, where “Low maturity” setting may include mild cartoon or fantasy violence or other potentially offensive content.

Let us know how it works for you in our Arnova ChildPad forum.


Arnova ChildPad

AMAZON UK£ 15.11 AMAZON DEGewöhnlich versandfertig in 2 bis 5 Wochen105.16 EUR AMAZON FRTemporairement en rupture de stock. Commandez maintenant et nous130.95 EUR

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[update] Arnova 10b G3 quick review

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The Arnova 10b G3 tablet is a product refresh of the Arnova 10b G2 best seller, updated with latest Android 4.03 Ice Cream Sandwich and 1 Gb of RAM. The rest of the device specifications stay the same: Rockchip RK2918 processor (single core) running at 1 GHz, 10.1″ capacitive touch screen, front camera.

Arnova 10b G3 specifications

Operating System Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Linux Kernel Version: 3.0.8+
Build fingerprint: Android/rk29sdk/rk29sdk:4.0.3/IML74K/eng.root.20120330.182730:eng/test-keys
CPU single core Rockchip 2918 CPU running at 1 Ghz
Integrated GPU: Vivante Corporation GC800
Flash Storage Memory Capacity 4 GB
Speed: Class 4 range (tested Read 20 300 kB/s, Write 3 847 kB/s)
System Memory 1024 Mb
Additional storage Micro SD slot (SDHC compatible)
Display 1024×600 TFT LCD 10.1 inches
capacitive 2 points screen
Bluetooth No
Wifi 802.11 b/g/n
Gravity Sensor Yes
Camera 0.3Mp (front facing)
GPS No
HDMI No
Interfaces Micro USB host 2.0: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
MicroSD slot
Battery life Video playing test: 3 hours

check our Archos and Arnova battery tests page
Android Market No (Appslib application Marketplace)
or use our custom firmware to get Google Play / Android Market on the Arnova 10b G3.
Kickstand No
Dimensions 270 mm x 150 mm x 12 mm (10.6” x 5.9” x 0.47”)
Weight 622 g / 21.94 oz
Arnova 10b G3 4 Gb

Maplin"1 Day"£ 179.99 PC World UK"1 to 3 days"£ 129.99 AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 167.68 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 2 - 3 Werktagen153.13 EUR AMAZON FRHabituellement expédié sous 24 h164.61 EUR

Packaging

Packaging is very similar to other Archos and Arnova products, you will find in the box:
- an Arnova 10b G3 tablet
- an USB cable (micro USB format), it does not charge the tablet
- 3 papers that includes: Arnova 10b G3 User Guide, Legal and Safety Notices and a $10 music credit coupon at emusic.com
- a power charger with 3 power sockets (American, English and European type), input 100-240V, outputs 5V 2A

Tablet design

The Arnova 10b G3 tablet shares its design with the previous Arnova 10b G2 model. The outside case is fully made of plastic with a brilliant aspect on the perimeter and the back of the tablet, that easily catches fingerprints. Weighting a little more than 600 g, it comparable to other models such as Arnova 10 G2 or Archos G9, the 10b G3 does not provide a kickstand. The camera (0.3 Mpixels) is located on the front left side of the case, the single speaker is on the other side.

Arnova 10b G3 buttons and connectors


The buttons and connectors are located on the left side of the tablet, we can find: power button, reset pinhole, volume +/- push button, the OTG micro USB, stereo earphone and power connectors.

Arnova 10b G3 benchmarks

October 2012 benchmarks update
Arnova 10b G3 benchmark results
Arnova 10b G3
Test setup
Firmware version
Linux Kernel version 3.0.8+ (root@sc-server-desktop) (gcc version 4.4.0 (GCC) ) #216 PREEMPT Mon Jun 11 09:46 :03 CST 2012
Android version 4.0.3 rk29sdk/rk29sdk:4.0.3/IML74K/eng.root.20120611.162734:eng/test-keys
Antutu Benchmark
higher is faster
Total score: 2417
CPU:  743
GPU: 761
RAM: 422
I/O: 491
Linpack Pro v 1.2.9
higher is faster, benchmark run in multi-thread
(we took the best numbers we could achieve, there is a lot of variance on these bench results)
15.536 MFLOPS
CF-Bench v 1.1
higher is faster
Native score: 3064
Java Score: 1018
Overall Score: 1836
ArcTools v 0.73
higher is faster
Read: 20 300 Kb/s
Write: 3 847 Kb/s
Smartbench 2011 v 1.2.1
higher is faster
Prod. index: 415
Games Index: 791
Quadrant Advanced 1.1.7
higher is faster
Total: 1551
CPU: 1378
Mem: 2735
I/O: 2142
2D: 457
3D: 1045
Vellamo v 1.0.3
higher is faster
745
Nenamark v 2.0
higher is faster
18.3 FPS
Neocore v 1.9.35
higher is faster
GPUBench v 1.0.0
higher is faster
Absolute: 31073
Relative: 21589

Arnova 10b G3 battery life

We ran a battery life test playing Big Buck video (720p, mp4, reencoded sound in AAC format: this file big_buck_bunny_720p_AAC.mp4), brightness was set at 50%, sound at 50% and Wi-FI disabled.
The tablet was running Arnova 10b G3 official firmware from 2012/06/11 and ArcTools battery life test was used to generate the following graph.

With this test scenario, the battery life of the Arnova 10b G3 continously playing a video was around 10 000 seconds, that is ~ 3 hours. This is one of the lowest battery life we got to see on a 10 inches tablet.

You can also refer the our Arnova 10 G2 review for further information on this 10 inches model very similar to the Arnova 10b G3.

#arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


Arnova 10b G3 4 Gb

Maplin“1 Day”£ 179.99 PC World UK“1 to 3 days”£ 129.99 AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 167.68 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 2 – 3 Werktagen153.13 EUR AMAZON FRHabituellement expédié sous 24 h164.61 EUR

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Arnova 8 G2 custom firmware upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS with Google Play and full root

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The Arnova 8 G2 tablet hasn’t seen a newer system update than Android 2.3 Gingerbread from the manufacturer, there has been some developers efforts such as MorkaMod (thanks Morka!) to improve the device Graphical User Interface but the system was still quite outdated. While we thought the tablet would be forever stuck on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Arnova has started to sell the Arnova 8 G2I a few months ago, this device is nothing more than an old Arnova 8 G2 with the system updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).
We have modified the stock Arnova 8 G2I firmware dump to add Google Play Store/Android Market, full root, write access to /system partition and extended 1.5 Gb space for applications (/data partition).

Arnova 8 G2 custom firmware features

  • Clean installation of Google Play Store, no more missing apps (Twitter, Facebook…)
  • Full root support with writable /system partition
  • Root access is controled thru SuperSU.apk v0.96 (free version), a cool upgrade to SuperUser.apk by XDA developer Chainfire
  • Extended space for applications (/data) to 1.5 Gb
  • Updated Rockchip bootloader to latest version 2.28
  • The firmware has been tested and is fully compatible on the older Arnova 8 G2, capacitive model with 8 GB storage, it is not compatible with the resistive Dual Touch (DT) model.

    While we find this Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich usable on the Arnova 8 G2, we feel that the interface can be laggy at times, probably due to the limited memory (512 Mb) on the tablet, it won’t be very good at multitasking. If you want to maintain a decent performance, you will probably have to install a task killer or manually stop the apps that you don’t need.

    Install procedure

    Before starting, please make sure you backup all your existing apps, data and files that are on your tablet as they will be erased during the flash process. Also make sure your device is connected to the power.

    Step 1. Download

    Kasty custom firmware download (version 0.44)

    kasty-ez_arn8g2-40-044-1_5G.zip

    This firmware is specific to the Arnova 8 G2 (capacitive model with 8 Gb storage only) and Arnova 8 G2i and should not be installed on other devices.

    WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE.

    THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE IS USED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

    WE RECOMMEND TO FLASH THIS FIRMWARE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RESCUE A BRICKED DEVICE USING ROCKCHIP FLASHING TOOLS.

    Download the file above and extract the custom firmware image (update.img) on your computer hard drive.

    Step 2. Install and run Rockchip Flashing tool

    Please follow the Rockchip Flashing tool procedure: that will explain how to download Rockchip flashing tool, unpack the archive, put your device into flashing mode and flash the custom firmware file that you have unpacked in Step 1. We recommend that you use Restore button rather than Upgrade button in Rockchip flasher to make sure your device gets properly erased.

    Step 3. Arnova 8 G2 flashing and restart

    After Rockchip flasher has transferred the custom firmware to the tablet, you will have to restart the tablet to finish installing the firmware. Finally you will be back to Arnova default startup wizard.

    Support the project!

    If our web site and applications helped you, thanks for supporting us by donating using the Paypal form below or visiting our Donations page. Donations will be used to pay the bills for our server hosting costs, development tools and purchase new tablets to support.
    Amount: $


    The following video demonstrates the 3 easy steps of the installation procedure to get Google Play Store and root to your Arnova 8 G2 in just a few minutes. The video shows the procedure for the Arnova 9 G2, but it’s very similar for the 8 G2.

    Let us know how this firmware works for you in our Arnova 8 G2 forum.

    Stock firmware dump, for the Arnova 8 G2I who would like to restore their original firmware: Arnova8G2I_stock_firmware_dump.zip

    Thanks to exelletor, globula_neagra and darodi79 members of our forum for their help and the Arnova 8 G2i firmware dump.

    #arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


    Arnova 8 G2 8GB

    8 inches capacitive screen, Rockchip 2918 CPU, 512 MB RAM, Android 2.3, 8 GB Storage
    AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 107.99 AMAZON FRHabituellement expédié sous 24 h124.32 EUR

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    3. Arnova 9 G2 custom firmware upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS with Google Play, full root and Face Unlock We recently reported the existence of the Arnova 9 G2i,...

    Arnova 10d G3 tablet feedback with first users reviews

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    The Arnova 10d G3 Android tablet has started to sell a few days ago. A few shops like Conrad.de in Germany or Auchan in France are already running promotions under 120 euros, making this 10 inches Android tablet a great deal on the market. Still, the buyers feedback we gathered on the Internet, give mixed echos: some are quite happy with their new tablet while others are mentioning serious flaws. Let’s have a look !

    Arnova 10d G3 specifications


    Operating System Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
    CPU Single-core VIA 8850 running @1.2 Ghz (ARM Cortex A9)
    Integrated GPU: Mali 400 (single-core)
    Flash Storage Memory Capacity: 4 GB
    System Memory 1024 MB
    Additional storage Micro SD slot (SDHC compatible)
    Display TFT LCD 10 inches capacitive 5 points screen
    1024×600 resolution
    Bluetooth No
    Wifi 802.11 b/g (802.11n not supported, TBC)
    Gravity Sensor Yes
    Camera 0.3Mp (front facing)
    GPS No
    HDMI Yes (mini HDMI)
    Interfaces Full size USB Host
    Micro USB slave 2.0: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
    MicroSD slot
    Google Play Store Yes (but the device is not Google certified)
    Kickstand No
    Dimensions 200 x 127 x 10 mm
    Weight 590 g



    User reported Arnova 10d G3 issues

    There is some users feedback on android-hilfe.de german Forum, if you want to save yourself the 30+ pages of forum reading in German :) you will find a summary below:
  • SDCard detection problems: Link
  • Poor Google Play Store support (device is not Google Certified), link
  • Wi-FI issues: connection lost Link and Link
  • Low quality display: poor viewing angles, flickering, low resolution: Link, Link and Link
    LCD screen backlight bleeding: Link

  • Arnova 10d G3 vs Arnova 10b G3 benchmarks

    On the performance side, comparing with the Arnova 10b G3, it seems the Arnova 10d G3 got a little performance boost with its Cortex A9 Single core running at 1.2 GHz. Still, it shows limited performance compared to actual Android tablets powered by recent processors such as the Rockchip RK3066 that we added in the comparison table below (Cube U30GT-H model)
    Arnova 10d G3 vs Arnova 10b G3 and Cube U30GT benchmarks results
    Arnova 10d G3 Arnova 10b G3 Cube U30GT-H
    (RK3066 tablet)
    Antutu Benchmark
    higher is faster
    Total score: Total 3088
    CPU: 1039  
    GPU: 1251 
    RAM: 382 
    I/O: 416
    Total score: 2417
    CPU:  743
    GPU: 761
    RAM: 422
    I/O: 491
    Total score: 7724
    CPU: 4023
    GPU: 1578
    RAM: 1440
    I/O: 683
    CF-Bench v 1.1
    higher is faster
    Native score: 3851
    Java Score: 1402
    Overall Score: 2381
    Native score: 3064
    Java Score: 1018
    Overall Score: 1836
    Native score: 13727
    Java Score: 3899
    Overall Score: 7830
    Quadrant Advanced 1.1.7
    higher is faster
    Total: 1194
    CPU: 1789
    Mem: 1139
    I/O: 784
    2D: 275
    3D: 1987
    Total: 1551
    CPU: 1378
    Mem: 2735
    I/O: 2142
    2D: 457
    3D: 1045
    Total: 4344
    CPU: 7426
    Mem: 4555
    I/O: 6746
    2D: 870
    3D: 2122
    Nenamark v 2.0
    higher is faster
    19.2 FPS 18.3 FPS 54.1 FPS



    Our opinion

    Based on the product specifications and users feedback , the Arnova 10d G3 looks like a good entry level Android tablet for anyone interested in a budget 10″ model. If you can do with the relatively low CPU performance and the other limitations we noted in this article, the 10d G3 model should be OK for you to handle simple tasks such as web browsing, video/music playing, Youtube, eBook reading… If you really want more, it may be wiser to wait for a few weeks as new devices with better screen and more CPU power that will probably be available at less than 150 euros near Christmas time.

    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. 



    Sources used in this article:
    android-hilfe.de German Forum
    Tarnatos member on computerbase.de German forum
    First picture from arnova website
    Cube U30GT benchmarks: slatedroid.com forum, hardware.fr forum, mp3mp4players.co.uk

    #arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


    Arnova 10b G3 4 Gb

    Maplin“1 Day”£ 159.99 AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 143.54 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 1 – 2 Werktagen159 EUR AMAZON FRExpédition sous 1 à 2 jours ouvrés172.25 EUR

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    ARNOVA firmwares updates – Official Arnova 10d G3 firmware available

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    This page lists the firmwares made available by Arnova for their products thru the Support/Downloads section on their website. If you are looking to get Google Play (formerly Android Market) on your tablet, please refer to our custom firmware section.

    Latest firmware updates

    - 2012/11/07: Arnova 10d G3 firmwares now available on Arnova website
    - 2012/07/12: Arnova 7b G3 and Arnova 8 G3 firmwares now available on Arnova website
    - 2012/06/22: Arnova Childpad (resistive model) firmware now available on Arnova website
    This release is the first public firmware made available for an Arnova G3 device. It will hopefully fix some problems we reported with the parent control software.
    - 2012/05/02: Arnova 7b G2 firmware (capacitive model) now available on Arnova website
    Arnova did not even mention which model (resistive or capacitive) tablet was concerned by this update, we have verified it’s for the capacitive model, don’t use it on a resistive Dual Touch (7b G2 DT).
    Arnova 7e G2 DT (Dual Touch) firmware now available on Arnova website
    - 2012/05/02: Arnova 8 G2 and Arnova 8 G2 DT firmwares now available on Arnova website

    Available firmwares for Arnova tablets

    Arnova G3 and Arnova Childpad firmwares

    Device
    Release dateFirmware fileVersion info
    Release notes
    Arnova 10d G3

    November 7, 2012ARNOVA_10d_G3_20121031.zip 
    Arnova ChildPad resistive model

    June 21, 2012update.img 
    Arnova 8 G3

    July 12, 2012update.img 
    Arnova 7b G3

    July 12, 2012update.img 

    Arnova G2 firmware updates

    Device
    Release dateFirmware fileVersion info
    Release notes
    Arnova 10 G2

    October 10, 2011update.img 
    Arnova 10 G2 (Philadelphia Inquirer edition)

    February 10, 2012update.img 
    Arnova 7 G2

    January 4, 2012update.imgVersion 2011.12.13
    Support for ARCHOS G9 3G Stick (via USB host cable)
    Flash™ 11.1 compatible
    Minor bugs fixed
    Arnova 7b G2 (capacitive model)

    December 29, 2011update.imgVersion 2011.12.29
    Initial firmware release
    A70HT3 V1.0.9 eng.root.20111229.084305
    Arnova 7e G2 DT (Dual Touch)

    December 22, 2011update.imgVersion 2011.12.22
    Initial firmware release
    Arnova 8 G2 (capacitive model)

    December 13, 2011update.imgVersion 2011.12.13
    Initial firmware release
    Arnova 8 G2 DT (resistive)

    December 26, 2011update.imgVersion 2011.12.26
    Initial firmware release

    Older Arnova (Gen1) firmware updates


    Device
    Release dateFirmware fileVersion info
    Release notes
    Arnova 7

    July 18, 2011update.img 
    Arnova 8

    November 23, 2011update.imgFirmware version 1.0.3
    Build number V0.18.ECLAIR.eng.root.20110920.174256
    Arnova 84

    July 18, 2011update.img 
    Arnova 10

    November 17, 2011update.img 
    Arnova 10b

    July 18, 2011update.img 

    To update your firmware, you can use the procedure, as detailed on Arnova’s website or using Rockchip flashing tools.

     

    Custom firmware with Google Play for your Arnova G1, Arnova G2, Arnova G3 tablet

    If you are looking for a custom firmware to install Google Play (formerly Android Market) on your Arnova G1, Arnova G2 or Arnova G3 tablet, please refer to the “Tablets” menu above to find your device in the list, so you will access the custom firmware.

    Support the project!

    If our web site and applications helped you, thanks for supporting us by donating using the Paypal form below or visiting our Donations page. Donations will be used to pay the bills for our server hosting costs, development tools and purchase new tablets to support.
    Amount: $



    Arnova 8 G2 8GB

    8 inches capacitive screen, Rockchip 2918 CPU, 512 MB RAM, Android 2.3, 8 GB Storage
    AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 103.66 AMAZON FRHabituellement expédié sous 24 h169.99 EUR

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    Latest ARCHOS tablets availability: ARCHOS 80XS, GamePad, Arnova Familypad and 7h G3

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    Latest products releases with the ARCHOS GamePad, ARCHOS 80 XS (Gen10), Arnova 7h G3 and Arnova FamilyPad haven’t yet appeared in stores. Some offers for these tablets are showing as pre-orders, let’s hope they’ll hit the shelves before Christmas.

    ARCHOS GamePad price and availability

    The ARCHOS GamePad is a 7″ console Android tablet, currently selling (pre-order) at 149.90 euros at Pixmania France.

    ARCHOS 80XS price and availability

    The ARCHOS 80 XS is a Gen10 tablet with a 8″ screen, it is powered by a Rockchip RK3066 processor and will feature a magnetic keyboard cover like the Archos 101 XS.
    Currently selling (pre-order) at 249.90 euros at Pixmania France.

    Arnova Family Pad price and availability

    The Arnova FamilyPad is 13.3″ Android tablet, currently selling (pre-order) at 299.90 euros at Pixmania France.

    Arnova 7h G3 price and availability

    The Arnova 7h G3 is an entry level 7″ Android tablet, currently selling (pre-order) under 80 euros at topachat.com in France.

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    Arnova Family Pad 13.3″ Android tablet review | Part 3: Tablet Performance & Multimedia

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    Arnova FamilyPad performance: benchmark results

    Test conditions:
    - Arnova FamilyPad pre-production device with firmware build dated 20120924
    - all benchmarks were executed after all tasks have been killed
    - test were run multiple times to check for consistent behaviour, the results shown here correspond to average values

    Arnova FamilyPad
    Test setup
    Firmware version
    Android 4.0.3
    Build:20120924
    Arctools 0.75 Read 18 663 kB/s
    Write 4 883 kB/S
    AnTuTu bench
    version 2.2
    Total score
    higher is faster
    Total: 2873
    CPU: 856
    GPU: 1075
    RAM: 446
    I/O: 496
    CF-Bench v1.1
    higher is faster
    Overall score: 2098
    Native score: 3411
    Java score: 1224
    GPUBench v1.0.0
    higher is faster
    Absolute: 34122
    Relative: 19565
    Linpack PRO v 1.2.9
    higher is faster
    Single Thread: 15.162 MFLOPS
    Multi-Thread: 14.979 MFLOPS
    NenaMark2
    Best fps
    higher is faster
    17.2 FPS
    Touch test 10 points
    Quadrant Standard 2.1.1
    higher is faster
    Total: 1588
    CPU: 1360
    Mem: 1433
    I/O: 3315
    2D: 601
    3D: 1232
    Smartbench 2011 v1.2.1
    higher is faster
    Prod. index: 831
    Games Index: 2054
    Vellamo v1.0.3 431

    While these numbers should be weighted by the fact they were run on the pre-production device, they give the general idea about the machine performance. It appears the Arnova FamilyPad produces similar performance as other tablets based on the one year old single core Allwinner A10 SoC, which is just average in today’s performance standards for mid range tablets. Because of the high resolution, we can see the Mali-400 GPU is struggling with only 17.2FPS in Nenamark2.

    Camera

    Just like on most other tablets, both cameras are very limited in terms of quality. The 2.0 Mpx back facing camera delivers unsharp and blurry images (see the photo below), while the front facing camera is just enough for video conferencing applications.

    Arnova FamilyPad video player

    The Arnova FamilyPad comes with a video player called Super-HD Player which supports 1080p video play, lots of video formats and many features:

    - file selector to choose the video file to play
    - volume controls: – / +
    - video controls: pause/play, change position in video

    - subtitles: changing subtitle color, subtitles fonts, charset
    - change audio track
    - change video aspect ratio: full screen video ratio, full screen screen ratio, original size, 4/3, 16/9
    - some 3D rendering effects rendering (multiple modes)

    According to the Arnova FamilyPad specs, the following multimedia formats are supported:

    Video formats H.264 up to 1080p resolution – 30 fps
    MPEG-42– 30 fps
    With the above codecs, the device can play video files with the following extensions: .avi .mp4 ,mkv, .mov, and .flv
    Audio formats MP3, WAV, APE, OGG, FLAC
    Photo formats JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG

    Please refer to our Super-HD Player application review on the MPMan MID74c for more details on the video player features, format support, 1080p and HDMI output.

    Battery Life

    On earlier Arnova FamilyPad FCC pictures, it looks like the tablet contains a 3 cell, 10500 mAh battery.

    From a fully charged tablet, we played this video file big_buck_bunny_720p_AAC.mp4(Big Buck Bunny 720p, stereo sound in AAC format) in loop until the tablet battery gets empty.

    More details about the test conditions:
    - using latest firmware (20120924) available on the pre-production device
    - machine started after a fresh reboot
    - tablet fully charged (lockscreen says “Charged”, Settings / About tablet / Status says Battery level100%)
    - media sound volume set to half (Settings/Sound/Volume, set Media bar to middle position)
    - brightness set to half (Settings/Display/Brightness)
    - Airplane mode (Wi-FI disabled)

    During this test, on our pre-production Arnova FamilyPad, we have measured an effective battery life of 7 hours and 50 minutes. For comparison, most other Archos and Arnova tablets of all sizes give it up after 4-6 hours. We have used our ArcTools application to run the battery test for the details of the discharge curve, see below:

    Charging time

    Charging the Arnova FamilyPad can be done through the supplied power charger that delivers 2500 mA.  We didn’t measure the charging time exactly, but it should take about 6 to 8 hours. And yes, that’s long. Very long. You can also use the USB cable to charge from a computer, but it will then switch to a slow charge that double or triple the charging time.

    Software

    Developed partially by YFTech, Arnova FamilyPad comes with a few enhacements to the stock Android system. The stock recovery is replaced by something looking simillar to CWM Recovery and just like CWM, it supports update .zip files. We have seen those recoveries earlier on some Prestigio tablets and well, it works pretty well.  There is an extra option added in the settings menu for rebooting into recovery, so no playing with the hardware buttons and reset pinhole is needed.

    While the Arnova FamilyPad doesn’t support Bluetooth dongles, many 3G Sticks seem to be supported. Our friends from jbmm.fr tested 3G and Ethernet support, you can read their review here(French).

    Furthermore, the FamilyPad comes with the Google Play Store pre-installed(Arnova website doesn’t mention it) and most Google Apps(Gmail, Maps etc.) can all be enjoyed on the 13.3 inch massive screen.

    Continue to Part 4: Conclusion.

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    Arnova Family Pad 13.3″ Android tablet review | Part 4: Conclusion

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    We like the idea of a big tablet to be used by all the family members. The FamilyPad mostly delivers where we expect it, the large screen is a good fit for everybody in the family to enjoy watching photos, movies, playing board or multiplayer games. Also, it can be used for reading music sheets and recipes or for giving product presentations. Unfortunately, the FamilyPad also has its own disadvantages. The relatively old processor won’t let you enjoy the latest game title or applications which are processor intensive. The battery delivers very decent numbers for video playback, but charging takes about 2x the time we are used to with other tablets. With weight of 1286 grams(two times an average 10″ tablet), you will not want to hold it with your hands for a long time. Fortunately, there is the quick stand. It is very handy and it just works. With the provided viewing angle, you can watch multimedia very easily. one of the intentions the FamilyPad was built for.

    We definitely appreciate the new ideas Archos/Arnova brought to the tablet world, with the 13.3″ “giant” screen on the FamilyPad or the gaming features on the GamePad, but we believe the FamilyPad could have been better. Then there is also “value” which plays a role – with the RRP of 299€, the FamilyPad is not the cheapest tablet on the market. 7″ Google Nexus 7 is only 249€ and offers far more in terms of performance, screen quality and support(given the Archos support for other Arnova devices), but doesn’t have the 13.3″ screen. For 299€, there are also many dual-core 10″ IPS tablets and the Archos 101xs seems to come to this price point too. The FamilyPad is definitely not a bad product, but given the current tablet market situation and also the fact that YFTech is selling the OEM version of it for 180$ per piece, we think it is overpriced.

    There is probably a future for this kind of devices. It can be used as an extra PC in the families, but for productivity, you need an optional keyboard and a little bit more serious hardware(YFTech is also offering a dual-core RK3066 version of its OEM model)…


    Pros
    Cons
    • screen size
    • quick stand
    • complete connectivity
    • Google Play
    • value
    • slow processor
    • no Bluetooth
    • screen viewing angles

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    Arnova FamilyPad 13.3″ Android tablet review | Part 1: Introduction

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    Only half a year ago, Archos released the ChildPad – an android tablet for kids. Now, the company introduced a new family member in Arnova G3 line-up – the FamilyPad. Just like Toshiba Excite 13, this new device packs a massive 13.3″ screen. Featuring lots of connectivity options and the quick stand, it is made for sharing and consuming media. Furthermore, the FamilyPad features an Allwinner A10 CPU running at 1 GHz with 1 Gb of RAM, dual cameras, 1080p HD video output via HDMI, all this combined in a stylish designed case with aluminum finish. Arnova FamilyPad should be available December this year starting at 299 € / £274.99 / ~$349.99, just in time for the big Christmas sales.

    The tablet sample we used for review is a pre-production tablet with a beta firmware. Though some minor things may change, it should give a good idea of the final retail model…

    Our review will follow our usual methodology, first presenting the product packaging, the tablet and the quick stand design, performance, multimedia and other features; followed up by our conclusion. Enjoy ! ;)

    Arnova FamilyPad Specifications

    Operating System Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
    CPU Single core Allwinner A10 running at 1 GHz (ARM Cortex A8)
    Integrated GPU: Mali 400 (single core)
    Flash Storage Memory Capacity: 8 GB
    Speed: Class 4 range (tested Read: 18633 Kb/s Write: 4883 Kb/s)
    System Memory 1024 Mb
    Additional storage Micro SD slot (SDHC compatible, up to 32 Gb)
    Display 1280×800 13.3 inches(34cm) LCD screen using TN technology
    16/10 aspect ratio
    capacitive 10 points multitouch, 113 DPI density
    Bluetooth No
    Wi-FI 802.11 b/g/n
    Gravity Sensor Yes
    Camera 2.0 MPx (back facing)
    Pictures resolution: 1600×1200
    2.0 Mpx (front facing)
    Pictures resolution: 1600×1200
    GPS No
    HDMI Yes(mini HDMI, aka HDMI type c connector)
    Interfaces micro USB Slave
    micro USB Host, Mass Storage Class (MSC)
    MicroSD slot
    Battery life Video playing: 7 hours 50 minutes tested
    More information on video playing test in part 3 of this review.
    Google Play Store / Android Market Yes
    Kickstand No (The quick stand acts as a kickstand)
    Dimensions As announced by Arnova: 262 x 171 x 12.5 mm
    Weight tablet alone: 1286g

    quick stand: 78g
    Official Product page on arnovatech.com

    Arnova FamilyPad tablet packaging

    The tablet box contains:

    • the Arnova FamilyPad tablet
    • the quick stand (=kickstand)
    • a micro USB cable to connect the tablet to a computer
    • a power charger with a DC connector to the tablet, it outputs 5V, 2.5A, with plugs for EU/UK sockets
    • a micro USB to USB OTG cable to connect stuff to the tablet
    • booklets: a “need help ?” paper, a warranty/legal and safety notice, a user guide which covers basic topics to get started

    Continue to Part 2: Tablet design.

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    Arnova FamilyPad 13.3″ Android tablet review | Part 2: Tablet design

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    Arnova FamilyPad packs a nice design with a glossy finish. The pieces are now adjusted pretty well, the whole device seems quite solid and the materials feel quite good. The front surface, which also acts as a mirror, catches fingerprints like a magnet, but it is quite easy to get them off.

    The back of the device is covered with rubber on the sides with aluminium finish in the center. Compared to the rather cheap finish on most Arnova models, the FamilyPad feels like being from a different world. Thanks to the rubber on the sides, the tablet won’t slip out of your hands easily.

    Connectors

    The right tablet side holds the connectors, from top to bottom:

    • a tiny hole for the microphone
    • micro USB connector (slave)
    • micro USB connector (host)
    • the HDMI connector (mini HDMI format, aka HDMI type c connector)
    • micro SD card connector (SDHC compatible)
    • DC connector
    • headphone connector, usual 3.5 mm mini-jack format
    • reset pinhole

    2.0 Mpx back camera and the volume buttons are located on the right upper side of the tablet.

    The tablet double speakers are located on the left back side. The sound is slightly attenuated, when the tablet rests on its back, but due to rounded corners, it is far less noticable than on most other tablets like the Archos 101 G9 and Archos 97 Carbon.

    Display

    Arnova FamilyPad comes with an 13.3″ screen, one of the biggest screens we have seen so far in tablets. However, with the resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels, the ppi(pixels per inch) comes down to 113, for example Archos 101 XS has PPI of 160 and the iPad 4 264. During our test, we didn’t really regret the resolution, but we did regret the viewing angles which could have been better. The colors itself are pretty nice and the brightness can go quite high, though the blacks are not really black.

    Speaking of the resolution, you can count pixels on this one if you want to. :) Just because the screen is so big, the density becomes less important.

    Speaking of the screen size, it is about 1.5x size of an iPad.

    Quick Stand

    The quick stand, included with the tablet, is made from rubber and is actually quite flimsy. The slightly adjustable viewing angle is suitable for watching videos or reading cooking recipes. Touching the screen doesn’t cause the tablet to collapse, which is good. Unfortunately, with the heavy FamilyPad, the quick stand can only be used with the tablet put in horizontally(=landscape). For lighter tablets, like the iPad 2, the quick stand will also work in portrait.

    Actually, just a few minutes before our tablet sample went back to Archos, we discovered a tiny white connection piece for the quick stand. When the tablet is put in, it makes the quick stand less flimsy and slightly more stable, here is the last-minute photo of it:

    Continue to Part 3: Performance & Multimedia.

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    Arnova 8c G3 Android 4.1.1 JB customizable custom firmware

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    Arnova 8c G3 is a nice looking Android 4.0 tablet with great features for an affordable price. It comes with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, featuring a Rockchip RK2918 CPU, 1 GB of RAM and a 5-point multi-touch capacitive screen. In addition to our first custom firmware which brings root and Google Play on the device, we are now happy to provide a Jelly Bean custom firmware. Though we developed this firmware with the Arnova 8c G3 in mind, it should also work on BQ Kepler 2, Nextbook Premium 8SE and Prestigio 5080CPRO devices.

    Main features:

    • Android 4.1.1 built from Oma JB v1.2.2
    • System in ext4 format
    • CWM Touch Recovery built from Prestigio 5080B
    • Custom kernel from JochenKauz (+optional overclocked kernel)
    • Up to 1.5GB for apps partition
    • Full google experience with Google+, Talk, Calendar and more
    • Google Ears&Now included
    • Picture in Picture (PIP) video player

    This firmware also features full Google Play support and read/write access to /system partition.

    Firmware limitations:

    • No USB debugging
    • Camera image mirrored

    Arnova 8c G3 custom firmware install procedure

    Before starting, please make sure you backup all your existing apps, data and files that are on your tablet as they will be erased during the flash process. Also make sure your device is connected to the power.

    Step 1. Download

    AN8CG3-20121109OMA4.1| ONLY FOR ARNOVA 8C G3 MODEL |

    This firmware is specific to the Arnova 8C G3 model and should not be installed on other devices.
    WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DEVICE. THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE IS USED AT YOUR OWN RISK.WE RECOMMEND TO FLASH THIS FIRMWARE ONLY IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RESCUE A BRICKED DEVICE USING ROCKCHIP FLASHING TOOLS.

    Download the file from above and extract the custom firmware files on your computer hard drive.

    Step 2. Installing the driver

    Please follow the Rockchip Flashing tool procedure: that will explain how to download Rockchip flashing tool, put your device into flashing mode and install the driver. Because we are using a different setup here(otherwise we would have to build six different firmwares), you only need to follow steps 1-3 from that tutorial. Please note that this procedure won’t work on Windows 8.

    Step 3. Installation

    Run EvolutionRKTool program from the first archive. Check that your tablet is connected by usb and is put in the recovery mode. RKAndroidTool should say “Found RKAndroid Loader Rock Usb”. There are three parameter files in the Loader folder. Select one of the three, corresponding to the size of the Apps partition you want to have(parameter for 512MB, parameter-1G for 1GB and parameter-15G for 1.5GB). Now tick the other boxes as shown on the picture below. Please note that Loader and Backup boxes are not ticked. If you want to use the overclocked kernel, locate the kernel-oc file for the kernel.

    Now, click on EraseIDB. After the proces is finished(should take around 15 seconds), click on Run. When the CWM Recovery will show up on the device, choose Reboot System now. After a couple of minutes, the Start-up Wizard should appear. Please note that the portrait wizard itself may be a little bit slower than the stock one from Arnova. After start-up, in case “SD Card damaged” message will appear, format it. With Wi-Fi connection established, navigate to SuperSU app and update binary(should go automatically) to gain root access.

    Tips&Tricks

    Improving screen density. 

    The procedure(based on the ChildPad, should be simillar for the 8c G3) is explained on our forum. After applying(doesn’t apply for density of 120), don’t clear cache and/or data of Google Play, as not all the apps will be visible then. This firmware comes with default density of 160 and we have found the densities 133,3 and 120 to work too. Find the suitable one for you. ;)

    Overclocked kernel. 

    JochenKauz built an overclocked kernel for the Arnova 8c G3, you can find it here or in the zip file above. If you want to install it separately or flash back the stock one, it goes pretty easy and takes only a few seconds. First, make sure the tablet is in recovery mode and run the same EvolutionRKTool you used to flash the firmware. Locate the parameter(choose the correct one, corresponding to the one with which you installed the firmware) and the right kernel file and tick the boxes as shown below.

    The overclocked kernel provides a ~10% increase in CPU Benchmarks.

    Stock:

    Overclocked:

    Let us know how this firmware works for you on the forum.


    Arnova 8c G3

    AMAZON DEGewöhnlich versandfertig in 24 Stunden146.31 EUR

    Arnova G4 tablets coming at the beginning of 2013, also in whiteArnova G4 tablets coming at the beginning of 2013, also in white

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    With the Arnova G3 tablets selling for more than half a year now, it is time for Archos to release a new range of budget tablets. In one of Charbax videos showing the GamePad, we noticed a nice white tablet sitting on the background. After doing a little bit zooming and sharpening, we can clearly see Arnova 10c G4 written on the box. This makes us think Archos is planning to release at least three 10″ tablets in the Arnova G4 line-up.

    While we can’t see much, there are a few details we can notice. The new 10″ tablet will be coloured in white and looks pretty much like the already released Archos 101xs, with the steel frame around the screen and a front facing camera on the left. By looking around on the web, we found information that the Arnova G4 tablets will come in the first quarter of 2013 and will feature dual-core processors.

    Arnova 7c G3 review (Android 4.0 ICS, Snapdragon S2 CPU, 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, 7″ capacitive, HDMI, dual camera)

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    The Arnova 7c G3 is a product refresh of the older 3G connected Arnova 7c G2 tablet.
    This update features a Snapdragon S2 MSM8255 clocked at 1.4 Ghz processor which can be found in devices like Sony Xperia Active/Play 4G/Ray, HTC One V, Sensation, Flyer and many other devices. This 7 inches tablet is very complete offering all the features you may need to fit in your jacket’s pocket: 3G, GPS, HDMI output, Bluetooth and a dual camera. It runs on Android 4.03 Ice Cream Sandwich.

    Arnova 7c G3 specifications

    Operating System Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
    Build fingerprint: ARCHOS/msm7630_fw8930/msm7630_fw8930:4.0.3/IML74K/user.release.20120523.141215:user/release-keys
    Linux Kernel Version: 3.0.8-perf chenqh@ubuntu-int #6
    CPU Qualcomm MSM S2 8255 1.4 Ghz
    Integrated GPU: Adreno 205
    Flash Storage Memory Capacity 4 Gb or 8 Gb
    Speed Class 6 equivalent, see our benchmark below
    System Memory 512 Mb
    Additional storage Micro SD slot (SDHC compatible)
    Display TFT LCD 7 inches capacitive dual touch screen
    800×480 resolution
    3G Yes
    Bluetooth Yes
    Wifi 802.11 b/g/n
    Gravity Sensor Yes
    Camera 0.3 Mp (front facing)
    3 Mp (front facing)
    GPS Yes
    HDMI Yes (mini HDMI, aka HDMI type c connector)
    Interfaces Micro USB slave 2.0: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
    MicroSD slot
    Battery life Video playing test: ~ 9 hours 15 minutes
    Wi-FI/Bluetooth/3G disabled, brightness to 50%, Bick Buck Bunny 720p continuous video play
    Android Market / Google Play No Has Archos own Market place, Appslib
    Kickstand No
    Dimensions 199.4 mm x 119.2 mm x 10.8 mm (7.8’’ x 4.69’’ x 0.4’’)
    Weight 368 g

    Arnova 7c G3 presentation video

    Arnova 7c G3 case, buttons and connectors


    Back camera (3 Mpixels) and reset pinhole.


    Audio jack connector located in the center and single speaker


    Buttons and connectors, from left to right: Power and Vol – / + buttons, micro USB connector, micro HDMI port, SIM Card slot, Micro SDCard slot.

    Snapdragon S2 processor

    Qualcomm MSM8255 System on Chip (SOC) Specifications:
    Manufacturing process: 45 nm
    Frequency: 1.4 GHz
    Adreno 205 GPU (which offers HD playing capabilities of 720p videos)
    Embedded DSP (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS/WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, MBMS baseband)
    GPS Module

    Arnova 7c G3 benchmarks

    Arnova 7c G3 vs Arnova 7c G2 benchmark results
      Arnova 7c G3
    Arnova 7c G2
    Firmware versions used for tests msm7630_fw8930
    4.0.3 IML74K
    user.release.20120523.141215
    msm7627_fw8918
    2.3.3 GINGERBREAD
    eng.bingo.20110817.155043
    Antutu Benchmark
    higher is faster
    Total score: 3964 Total score: 1620
    Linpack Pro v 1.2.9
    higher is faster, benchmark run in multi-thread
    (we took the best numbers we could achieve, there is a lot of variance on these bench results)
    35.56 MFLOPS 9.50 MFLOPS (single thread)
    CF-Bench v 1.1
    higher is faster
    Native score: 5516
    Java Score: 2004
    Overall Score: 3408
    Native score: 1343
    Java Score: 778
    Overall Score: 1004
    ArcTools I/O benchmark v 0.69
    higher is faster
    Read: 34 307 Kb/s
    Write: 6643 Kb/s
    Not tested
    Smartbench 2011 v 1.2.1
    higher is faster
    Prod. index: 
    Games Index:
    Prod. index: 342
    Games Index: 1395
    Quadrant Advanced 1.1.7
    higher is faster
    Total: 2796
    CPU: 2954
    Mem: 1332
    I/O: 7096
    2D: 689
    3D: 1911
    Total: 1084
    CPU: 3135
    Mem: 881
    I/O: 792
    2D: 119
    3D: 511
    Vellamo v 1.0.3

    higher is faster

    1364 306
    Nenamark v 2.0

    higher is faster

    33.9 FPS 10.4 FPS
    GPUBench v 1.0.0

    higher is faster

    Absolute: 38752

    Relative: 36439

    Absolute: 19317

    Relative: 16902

    GLBenchmark v 2.5

    higher is faster

    does not work does not work

    Arnova 7c G3 battery life

    We ran a battery life test playing Big Buck video (720p, mp4, reencoded sound in AAC format: this file big_buck_bunny_720p_AAC.mp4), brightness was set at 50%, sound at 50% and Wi-FI disabled.
    ArcTools battery life test was used to generate the following graph.

    With this test scenario, the battery life of the Arnova 7c G3 continuously playing a video was around 33 000 seconds, that is about 9 hours and 15 minutes, which is so far one of the best battery life we have measured on an Archos/Arnova 7″ tablet.

    Arnova 7c G3 and other Arnova 7 G3 tablets


    From top to bottom: Arnova 7c G3, Arnova 7f G3 and Arnova 7 G3
    Compared to the other 7 inches tablets in the Arnova G3 family, the 7c G3 offers 3G connectivity, dual camera, Bluetooth, HDMI outpout, GPS and increased battery life. This comes at a price, the Arnova 7c G3 has 512 Mb memory where other models have the double while the Arnova 7 G3 or 7f G3 costs about half the of price of an Arnova 7c G3.

    Our opinion

    The strong points of this tablet are the weight which is only 368 grams, the 3G capabilities, transforming the tablet in a good companion to keep you updated with news/emails and therefore an alternative for a laptop. It is also Skype capable tablet, the audio/video calls are working fine even over the 3G connection. Using navigation software makes this tablet a good choice to not buy a dedicated GPS device. There is also a micro HDMI port which helps you connect the tablet to a TV and play multimedia content on it.

    The screen resolution is 800×480 with 120 PPI density is quite the minimum for a tablet; we are hoping to see an improvement in the future on this side. A new addition to this tablet is the second camera, which features a 3Mpx CMOS, you will not see much performance from this new camera, is missing a stabilization sensor to improve a little the quality of the videos and pictures, the front camera now sports 640/480 resolution which makes it a little better for video chatting.

    Selling between 200 to 250 euros, it may look quite expensive for an entry level 3G tablet which is finally a little limited by its relatively ancient processor, low resolution display and the absence of Google Certification and Play Store support. At current prices for the 7c G3, there may be other options to consider, depending on your budget, such as the Chinese Ramos W23 tablet (7″, 3G, ARM Cortex-A9 AMlogic MX Dual Core, 1.5 GHz, Mali 400 Dual Core GPU, 1 GB RAM) that sells for around 120 euros or the new Google Nexus 7 3G (HSPA+) just available at 299 euros.

    #arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


    Arnova 9 G3 4 Gb

    9.7 inches capacitive IPS 5 points screen, Rockchip 2918 CPU, 1 GB RAM, Android 4 ICS
    Maplin“1 Day”£ 139.99 AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 24 hours£ 139.99 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 1 – 2 Werktagen226.93 EUR AMAZON FRExpédition sous 1 à 2 jours ouvrés277.74 EUR


    Archos FamilyPad 2 shows up on GLBenchmark, FCC

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    familypad2-2 While the original Arnova FamilyPad was only launched two months ago, it looks like Archos is already working on a follow-up. One of our forum members noticed the Archos Family Pad showed up on GLBenchmark pages, running RK3066 CPU. familypad-2

    Apart of the updated processor and the new operating system(Android 4.1 instead of Android 4.0), it looks like nothing else has changed. The new YF Tech model actually already managed to pass the FCC, so we can expect it to hit the shops along with the Arnova G4 tablets in the months to come.

    Specs list from YFTech website:

    · CPU: Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 1.6GHz
    · LCD: 13.3″; 1280×800 pixels
    · CTP: G+G
    · 1GB DDR3
    · 16 GB FLASH
    · WIFI: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
    · Dual camera: 2MPix front camera and 2MPix rear camera
    · 3D G-Sensor
    · USB HOST& HDMI 1.4
    · Battery: 10500mAh

    Thanks to yousef8824 for the tip.

    #arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


    Arnova FamilyPad

    AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 315.7 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 1 – 2 Werktagen294 EUR AMAZON FRExpédition sous 1 à 2 jours ouvrés390.7 EUR CDISCOUNT FR48h/72h289.69 EUR PIXMANIA FRCheck for price

    ARCHOS FamilyPad 2 shown at CES 2013 in Vegas

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    We earlier reported about the ARCHOS FamilyPad 2 tablet, a giant tablet with a 13.3″ screen reported on GLbenchmark pages weeks ago. It can now be seen live at the CES 2013, thanks to the Hungarian guys from tech2.hu for making a video. This tablet is a product refresh of the ARNOVA FamilyPad (don’t forget to check our review) with an updated processor (now Rockchip RK3066) and Android version Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. No price or availability have been given yet.

    ARCHOS_FamilyPad2_front_stand_c_nowrmk

    Compared to an ARCHOS 80 XS, the FamilyPad 2 looks gigantic.
    Comparing_FamilyPad2_screen_with_ARCHOS80XS_b_nowrmk

    Most of the specifications we grabbed earlier from the original manufacturer (YFTech) seem to be valid:
    · CPU: Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 1.6GHz
    · LCD: 13.3″; 1280×800 pixels
    · CTP: G+G
    · 1GB DDR3
    · 16 GB FLASH
    · WIFI: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
    · Dual camera: 2MPix front camera and 2MPix rear camera
    · 3D G-Sensor
    · USB HOST& HDMI 1.4
    · Battery: 10500mAh

    Once again, ARCHOS is bringing consistent branding :) the original FamilyPad product was made under ARNOVA, the new model now belongs to ARCHOS, if we judge by the back of the tablet case below.
    ARCHOS_FamilyPad_2_back_b_nowrmk

    We’ll see in a few weeks with a more detailed review on the ARCHOS FamilyPad 2 if the product refresh was a really success !

    Thanks to yousef8824 on our forum for the tips :)

    #arctab_price_gradient-style { font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; width: 600px; text-align: left; border-collapse: collapse; } #arctab_price_gradient-style th { font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 8px; background: #b9c9fe url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhead.png') repeat-x; border-top: 2px solid #d3ddff; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #039; } #arctab_price_gradient-style td { padding: 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid #fff; color: #669; border-top: 1px solid #fff; background: #e8edff url('/assets/images/table-images/gradback.png') repeat-x; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tfoot tr td { background: #e8edff; font-size: 12px; color: #99c; } #arctab_price_gradient-style tbody tr:hover td { background: #d0dafd url('/assets/images/table-images/gradhover.png') repeat-x; color: #339; } -->


    Arnova FamilyPad

    AMAZON UKUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days£ 254 AMAZON DEVersandfertig in 1 – 2 Werktagen298 EUR AMAZON FRExpédition sous 1 à 2 jours ouvrés307.97 EUR AMAZON ITGeneralmente spedito in 1-2 giorni lavorativi311.92 EUR PIXMANIA FRCheck for price

    Arnova SoundPad a small connected Android media player

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    The ARCHOS 35 Home Connect device was offering some interesting features as a connected Android radio/alarm clock. It did not seem to be so successful, probably because of a rather limited resistive 3.5″ screen, lack of Google Play Store (formerly Android Market) support and failure to deliver some of the promised features. Here comes a product refresh with the Arnova SoundPad.

    Arnova_SoundPad_b_nowrmk

    While some of the specs have been upgraded with a 7″ 1024×600 resolution display (capacitive panel) and a 10 watts stereo sound, the 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and 512 MB RAM appear quite limited. The processor specs aren’t precise enough to tell us if it’s a TI OMAP like previous Home Connect model, a Boxchip Allwinner A10 or a Rockchip RK29xx SoC that can be found in most of the older Arnova G2 & G3 models.

    SoundPad connectivity

    Based on the pictures published on Amazon.de site, the SoundPad seems to offer decent connectivity: micro SDcard slot, Ethernet LAN connect, HDMI, audio output, mini USB connector and front web camera. There are also 3 hardware buttons on top of the device.
    ARNOVA_SoundPad_back_b_nowrmk

    The Arnova SoundPad is currently sold at Amazon Germany for €149.99, a price that looks quite expensive compared to other Android devices offering similar features (tablet + dock + speakers)

    Via liliputing.com

    Discovering the Arnova SoundPad, we have some more spec details [Update]

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    We have received a few queries asking for details on the Arnova SoundPad that was discovered a few days ago. We had a closer look at our favorite Chinese sellers websites and found with the MA-107 what seems to be the SoundPad twin brother :)
    This is the occasion to get some more information about the device specs, see below.

    MA107_box_S-WMC-1625R_8_nowrmk

    2013/02/05 update:The Arnova SoundPad has been added to their website. Apart from a few extra product pictures, nothing really new there, most of the product specs were already known.

    You said Twin brothers ?

    Arnova SoundPadMA-107 SmartBox
    Arnova_SoundPad_b_nowrmkMA107_front_S-WMC-1625R_1_nowrmk
    ARNOVA_SoundPad_back_b_nowrmkMA107_back1_S-WMC-1625R_2_nowrmk

    Specifications

    If the Arnova SoundPad follows the MA 107 specifications, we could expect these features:
    2013/02/05 update: we have refreshed the SoundPad specifications following the product release on Arnova website.

    Operating System Android 4.0 ICS
    CPU Rockchip RK2918 CPU at 1.2GHz 
    Flash Storage Memory 8GB storage NAND Flash
    System Memory 512MB DDR3
    Additional storage SD card supported up to 32GB 
    Display 7.0 inches display (resolution: 1024 x 600) with capacitive 5 points multitouch screen
    Audio 2 speakers (5W) + stereo Microphone
    FM radio is said to be supported we are not sure if this is hardware supported or thru web-radio applications (according to Arnova specs)
    Bluetooth No
    WiFI Yes, supports 802.11 b/g
    Gravity Sensor Yes
    Camera 2.0 Mega Pixels Front Camera
    GPS No
    HDMI Yes (mini HDMI connector)
    Interfaces 3.5mm audio jack
    SDHC Card slot
    Mini USB connector
    DC IN
    Mini HDMI
    RJ45 Ethernet Port 
    Battery 4000mAh  Lithium Battery
    Power Adapter: 100-240V Input, DC 9V/1.5A Output
    Google Play Store support unknown
    Dimensions 284 x 150 x 130 mm
    Weight 1,7kg


    If these specs are confirmed, there is nothing very interesting here at this price, you can easily get a more powerful tablet with a sound dock or external speakers. Selling on Amazon Germany at €149, that is ~ $200, the MA-107 wholesale price is offered at $136.40 (before shipping) and down to $122.11 for purchases in bulk (40 units or more).

    Thanks to Dadoo @ minimachines.net for the tip :)
    MA-107 page on sunsky-online.com

    ARNOVA 10 G2 Android 4.03 ICS custom firmware with root and Google Play Store to be published soon

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    The ARNOVA 10 G2 best-seller has been left with an outdated Android 2.3 Gingerbread, users have been hoping for months to get an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or more recent system, we even tried building an update on our own without much results so far. Finally, we got our hands on a new Android 4.03 ICS system and we are now preparing a custom firmware with Google Play Store and root for the Arnova 10 G2, no April fool :)

    Arnova_10G2_ICS_b

    Our initial tests with this firmware reveal that the tablet performance is average, in par with the limited specs on the Arnova 10 G2: 512 MB RAM, RK2918 CPU. While it’s good to finally have an updated system, we feel that older Android 2.3 Gingerbread firmware was actually a little smoother for GUI and most operations.

    Our custom firmware will feature the following:

  • root with latest SuperSU 1.25 (free version)
  • system default setup English
  • removed unnecessary applications
  • Google Play Store fixes so more application are visible/compatible


  • Support the project!

    If our web site and applications helped you, thanks for supporting us by donating using the Paypal form below or visiting our Donations page. Donations will be used to pay the bills for our server hosting costs, tools and purchase new tablets to support.



    Our custom ICS Arnova 10 G2 firmware should be released in the next few days. it will be published when it’s ready, no need to ask for ETAs.

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