WeTab

2 × USB, mini HDMI, stereo plug 3.5 mm

The WeTab was a site presented in March 2010 Tablet PC whose production, sale and development was discontinued in 2012. The end of 2013 the company standing behind the development 4tiitoo AG announced bankruptcy. The apparatus has been developed since 2007 based on a hardware Pegatron. The launch was part of a joint venture with the company neofonie; cooperation ended in November 2010. Prior to launch the device was often compared to the Apple iPad, later distanced itself the manufacturer of this comparison. After several delays, the unit was delivered in September 2010. When tested in the trade press, the device has been widely criticized as technically unfinished and inferior competitors. Some of the criticisms of OS and software have been corrected by subsequent updates.

  • 2.1 Development
  • 2.2 Publication and withdrawal of neofonie
  • 2.3 realignment
  • 2.4 Seadot
  • 2.5 update history

Technology

Hardware

The hardware base serves the Lucid Tablet PC Asus subsidiary Pegatron. Pegatron and the design office Pega D & E were awarded the iF product design award 2011 iF Industrie Forum Design.

The processor of the WeTabs is an Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz clock. It uses an inserted SSD with 16 or 32 GB and has 1 GB of memory. The screen surface is a 11.6- inch touch screen with 1366 × 768 pixels. In addition to two built-in USB ports, SD card reader, audio out, SIM card slot and mini-HDMI port, it has also a 1.3 -megapixel webcam. Are integrated Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi n and optional UMTS / HSDPA and a GPS function.

The WeTab has a magnesium-aluminum housing, measuring 295 mm × 189.7 mm × 15 mm and weighs 995 grams or 1020. Thus it was, according to the JooJoo from Fusion Garage, the largest and heaviest tablet computers to the mass market. The battery life is estimated at up to six hours.

Software

The operating system is one in appearance and operation concept comes through the self-developed by the manufacturer 4tiitoo GUI " WetabOS " changed, MeeGo 1.0 for use. There are native Linux programs, as well as Adobe AIR apps executable, support for Android apps was announced since the market launch and has been implemented as a beta on 31 March 2011 as a Virtual Machine. Adobe Flash HD is supported by the manufacturer software version 2.3.

Pre-installed in addition to the basic application programs ( such as file manager, WeTab App Store) some internet programs (web browser, e-mail, webcam ) and multimedia programs ( e -book reader, media gallery, video player, music players) and OpenOffice. Some of the programs have been specifically developed for the WeTab or adapted.

It is possible to install other operating systems that support the x86 architecture, such as Microsoft Windows 8 or Ubuntu.

History

Development

In 2007, Tore Meyer, together with Stephan Odörfer the company 4tiitoo with the intention to develop a tablet PC for the mass market. After beta testing with 150 users in 2009 found 4tiitoo with the Berlin firm neofonie a partner in the media, the miteinbrachte his e- publishing software " WeMagazine " in the concept. The common intention of ' sales activities in the publishing industry " was strengthened by the announcement of cooperation such as with the publishing house Gruner Jahr, who announced in March 2010 to publish some e- magazines next to the Apple iPad on the device now WePad mentioned, namely the star, and possibly followed by GEO and Gala. When he first announced the intention of the almost unknown company against the announced iPad from Apple came to compete at the strong, sometimes even international interest. At this time, the WePad GmbH planned yet to begin shipping the first devices from Apple with the iPad. However, in particular remained strong reserve and skepticism about the software.

However, the first press conference on 12 April 2010 led to fierce criticism, terms such as "fake ", " disaster" or " PR Gau " fell in the reporting. At the presentation of the prototype is not the WePad OS was shown on the device, a video demo of the software was instead presented on a Windows system, the appearance of an executable Wetab OS was awakened. Only a Windows error message unmasked the illusion. The reason the charge stated later, the prototype device 've been hanging for several days at customs. Therefore, it was no longer possible, in time to install the OS WePad before the presentation. The journalists present were extremely skeptical about the market, especially since it was announced that they would begin only in August but with the delivery.

The corresponding impressions could then be resolved with later presentations of bootable devices in part. Then three executable pre-series were shown with Linux and presented in June at the LinuxTag 2010 for the first time a functional model at a press conference on 26 April 2010. On 7 May 2010, the manufacturer announced that the name of the device and the company from WePad originally was changed to WeTab to " the international market for tablet computers more clearly delineate " the product.

Publication and withdrawal of neofonie

End of September 2010 then the WeTab appeared officially. As large distributors Amazon and media market could be won, the support took Medion. First tests and user reports ranged from " " unusable "to" like me good " ". Generally, however, noted all reviewers that the WeTab having numerous Unfertigkeiten. The manufacturer promised to quickly rectify by updates.

One of the two managing directors, Helmut Hoffer of anchor Hope, representatives of neofonie had to withdraw from his positions on 4 October, after it became known that he had written under a false name at Amazon.com positive reviews. A few days later, Gruner Jahr known, no longer continue the cooperation with neofonie the WeTab. In November 2010, the neofonie GmbH moved because of their delays in the completion of the e- publishing software then completely out of WeTab GmbH back that offers a 100 % - owned subsidiary of 4tiitoo AG was it. The original intention to provide an e- publishing platform with the device will no longer be pursued since the withdrawal of neofonie.

Realignment

Tore Meyer, Managing Director on the part of 4tiitoo, the company now manages alone. Immediately after the resignation of anchor hope promised Meyer an end to the margins: "We have underestimated quite safe and hardly a blunder left out ," it was wrong with the unit, as it was to go into the market, promised to compensate he extensive updates.

Since the change in management more updates were released, remedied the situation, free active functions and additional features provided: 19 October 2010 (including improved multitouch and Bluetooth, GPS in applications, HDMI enabled), on 8 November 2010 ( touchscreen firmware ) 15 November, 2010 (including DVB -T with app access to the Adobe Air Marketplace, support UMTS USB sticks) and on 9 December 2010 (including printing). For developers, the first time on 11 November 2010 tools have been published ( Virtual Machine Recovery Boot Stick ). On December 24, 2010 included a software development kit and the entire source code of the WeTab OS followed.

According gradually improved reporting. War of the computer magazine considers chip after the first software update in late September, the device is still " best in beta ", paid tribute to other media in the result, the high update frequency and corresponding progress. In addition, however, almost all testers complained the hardware side the viewing angle-dependent screen, the fan, the weight and the battery life and the software side, the lean app offer, which at that time still lack of Android support and frequent minor weaknesses (especially the touch screen). Enjoyed great popularity especially the powerful hardware, the numerous connection options, and Flash support.

At the end of 2010, the WeTab was tested again after the updates. Bild.de compared the WeTab again with the iPad, but still saw it as no alternative: " This update provides several important functions after that were missing at the start of the WeTab. Nevertheless, the tablet for its high price [ ... ] " CNET, however, pointed to the completely different profile of the device and came to a different conclusion: " provides too little. The WeTab is more of a touch screen netbook than an iPad. It can be incredibly much, great features and a great companion on trips. But only those who want to engage in it and computer fan is, so is happy. Multimedia fans would rather stay with Apple. "

In mid-December 2010 started the sales of the devices in the Netherlands, partners are The Phone House and macro. The WeTab GmbH announced that they see this only as a first step towards the internationalization of sales and announced the launch in other countries in 2011.

On 17 February 2011 the registration for developers for the WeTab Market, but was released later in the year as a " repository " began.

Manufacturer 4tiitoo denied during the Computex computer show in Taipei in 2011 that a WeTab2 was planned.

4tiitoo announced on 29 September 2011, only shared the transition from Meego to the new operating system Tizen in the first quarter of 2012. The compatibility to the previously supported platforms is intended to be preserved .. On November 15, 2011, 4tiitoo an investment of " Intel Capital AppUp Fund" to expand the software line-up on the WeTab known.

On June 27, 2012 was 4tiitoo known in the official forum, will no longer develop the WetabOS.

Seadot

After 4tiitoo the development of WeTabOS has set, the Wetab community decided to develop its own Linux distribution for the WeTab. The name was established by a developer after a vote in the community was not satisfactory. As a basis for Seadot Mer and serves as a surface to be developed as part of a school project, the surface / / Enigma. The surface developed to serve as a proof of concept and are therefore fully integrated later in Seadot. The project never got beyond the beta phase and is not developed since the middle of 2013.

Update history

Since the publication of the WeTab following updates were delivered:

New features

  • Kernel updated to version 3.2 with support for other external devices
  • Improved energy management capabilities
  • Increased graphics and video performance
  • Improved position sensor for rotary
  • Improved network stability for WLAN and Bluetooth
  • Performance and stability improvements
  • Rectification for the occurring in rare cases " forgot password " problem
  • Other various bug fixes

New features

  • Increased HD video performance
  • Hardware acceleration for more video formats ( MPEG4, MSMPEG, DIX 3/4/5, XVID )
  • Kernel updated to version 3.1 with support for other external devices
  • Improvement of the Wall -scrolling with a new configuration mode
  • About root shell, or Repository Browser installed apps are now available directly on the whiteboard
  • Wall bouncing up and down
  • Advanced options in the widget creator for custom widgets
  • Automatic power off the screen keyboard when external keyboard is used
  • Turning off the mouse pointer when an external mouse is used
  • Improve the implementation of the touchscreen driver
  • New WeTab UI in the splash screens and the Wall Wallpaper
  • Fixes
  • Performance and stability improvements

New features

  • Performance and stability improvements
  • Various bug fixes

New features

  • Performance and stability improvements
  • Support for HD Flash video
  • New keyboard (multilingualism, gesture support)
  • Optimized touchscreen firmware
  • Improved Wall
  • Numerous updated apps (eg Firefox, OpenOffice )

New error

  • The keyboard will not open at all programs equal

New features

  • Performance and stability improvements
  • New languages ​​( German, English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and French)
  • Maintenance update
  • Minor update

New features

  • Support of network shares for Windows
  • Full support for Java
  • Direct integration of Adobe AIR apps in the Wall
  • Option to right-click in applications

New features

  • Support of network and USB printers
  • Extended Keyboard (more characters )
  • Multitouch for Gameframe Apps
  • Enabling the shutdown fully automatic updates

Fixes

  • Network components updated ( WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth)
  • SD card is permanently displayed as a USB flags
  • Mozilla Thunderbird is now available in German

New error

  • Problem running the update when Pidgin is installed (or similar)
  • Bluetooth microphone from the headset is not used, but the WeTab own micro
  • Wall defective ... Cancels at initialization errors from

New features

  • File Browser ( Paste / Copy / u.ä. Controls have been in the top bar moved)
  • New applications in the Market: Thunderbird ( 3.0.4 english)
  • Gimp
  • Gedit
  • GCompris
  • Vym
  • Stellarium
  • Brasero
  • ( fennec ) removed from the Market

Fixes

  • Claws Mail, and other widgets can be removed from the Wall

New error

  • Update was also made over 3G ( mobile internet )

New features

  • GPS works in BingMaps
  • MetV (DVB- T works with selected sticks)
  • Support for UMTS USB sticks for the 16 GB model
  • Adobe Air Market
  • Update of Bing Maps, 4tiitoo browser, e -book reader, File Browser, Media Gallery
  • Partially right click

Fixes

  • Bing Maps is the program places with umlauts in the widget (on the Wall ) has not yet

New error

  • Video in 720p, which were played previously smooth, stutter now

New features

  • Rotation deactivated ( info - > Settings )
  • Renaming files possible
  • Image Viewer can now open files and images ( once ) Press the reset

Fixes

  • Improved calibration of the touch pad

New error

  • Software version number identical to Update September 30, 2010
  • From " Chrome" no longer works for Downloads " folder in Indicators " and "Open "
  • Image viewer function "Open" does not remember unfortunately when a new "Open" the path to the last image
  • Deactivation of the rotation is not stored
  • Update date is not adjusted in the device information

New features

  • Activation of the HDMI connection
  • Multitouch partially activated ( Images Preview now has the usual functions with Pinch & zoom and rotation; browser and media gallery no multitouch function)
  • Display of the mouse cursor when connecting a mouse before booting
  • Update of existing applications such as browser, mail, file browser and media gallery
  • Sensor key on and off (Settings / Applications / Speed ​​dial key)
  • Update process started manually (Settings / General / update)
  • User Reset ( Reset Settings / General / user account) in the settings
  • E -book readers now works on edge
  • UMTS/3G-Einstellungen are now saved

Fixes

  • Set "%" key on the keypad
  • Wall: Widgets can be moved and delete
  • OpenOffice is now available in German

New error

  • Adjusted calibration of the touch pad
Mass storage Byte Flash memory#NAND memories Computer memory Aluminium Adobe Integrated Runtime Google Play Chip (magazine) Metro Cash and Carry Computex Taipei Linux Magazine
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