Tablet for use in the sunlight

[baseball2003]

I would like to start off by saying the little bit I have used the I score app I really like it. The problem is I wasn't able to keep using it because I couldn't see it on my xoom due to the sunlight

So my question is what tablets are all of you using that you can actually see to be able to score a live baseball game with?

I am leaning towards the galaxy tab so if anyone has direct knowledge on how that looks on a bright day outside please let me know. Is anyone using a rooted nook or nook color with this app installed and would that be my be my best option?

I do realize in the shade of the dugout it will be my best chance to see my screen but that is only possible for the travel team in which I am the official scorer. For the hs team I am just a spectator and would like to be able to keep stats from my lawn chair which often times is out in the sunlight.

Sorry the post is so long. I have spent a couple weeks and several hours trying to find info on outdoor use of tablets and have come up with very little. Any information you have would be helpful.

[OhioTex]

I do not have the android xoom,

although FTM has not created an android specific tablet version yet ( like for iPad), I am wondering if FTM included what they call the skin option (light or dark) in the android app.

Look for it in options. If so try this, i do not have a xoom to test, but if you have the skin option, Try light skin in sunlight. It may be an option, under options when setting up a game, or an option under the tool/gear icon when in game scoring.

I have seen users post using a rooted color nook.

I have to say the iPad tablet experience, battery life etc. Is great. The one hardware challenge with iPad is overheating in direct sunlight.. Too soon to know how android tablets do in real world use...

[FTMSupport]

We do not currently have "skins" on the Android version.

We have honestly not been thrilled with the Xoom as a tablet device up to this point. The promises of it were quite high with them saying they were going to support Flash, and the supposed great speed of the processors. But after using it, we have not been impressed so far. The screen always looks very dim compared to an iPad with the brightness turned all the way up (uses most battery, but looks best in the sun with full brightness), and the Flash support was not there day 1 like it was supposed to be.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is actually a great device for Scoring. Not only does iScore run well, but the device itself is much like holding a little pad of paper in your hand while scoring. It even fits in most front pockets if you are wearing jeans or similar.

We have heard of good luck with rooted Nooks as well, but have not seen that one ourselves.

[pnstalum]

All you need is an anti-glare screen protector, such as the Steinheil Ultra Series and the Xoom is very usable outside. You still have to turn the brightness all the way up... but you will find battery life to be excellent. I just went the whole weekend without charging, that included about an hour of scoring the Dodgers game to get some practice in before our season starts next week.

On a side note, I just had a "showdown" with my friend and his iPad2 and the Xoom was equal to or faster in every respect. The iPad2 was a bit more "responsive" in general navigation... but you could really only tell in side-by-side. Opening apps was a bit quicker on the Xoom and the browser was much faster. I had no problem with flash sites like ESPN, but the iPad rotated screens faster. There is no doubt the iPad2 display was brighter and more vibrant... but at least to me, the Xoom is more than acceptable and in some ways more "soothing" to look at over a longer period. The camera was much better on the Xoom (5mp vs. .7mp) but the iPad was definately sleek (but I like the form factor of 16:9 and slimmer bezel of the Xoom).

All in all they are both great devices with strengths and weaknesses. Just my take, not trying to turn this into a "which is better" battle... as often happens

[FTMSupport]

We agree they are both great devices... I think we were just more hopeful about the Xoom than we actually experienced with our first impressions. We have not tried downloading the Flash update now that it supports it (that was probably one of our biggest points of excitement was it was supposed to support Flash, but did not from day 1). We will give that a shot.

The other thing that we found awkward was that every Android device was supposed to have the consistent set of 4 buttons on the device, but the Xoom (Honeycomb Android OS 3) actually changed that --- now they are "soft" buttons which is actually kind of nice with the rotations, but they also rearranged some of the buttons, so again, the first experience was not what we were expecting.

We are sure this will improve, and are just happy that more and more tablet devices will be coming out. They are great for scorekeeping, and it is great for the consumer to have multiple choices.

[Camerabry]

On my ipad I use the lighter skin and I can turn my brightness way down to conserve battery life.. Works great.

Your best bet though probably forever is to get a tent.

[baseball2003]

Thanks for the input so far. I ordered a galaxy tab with the idea that the xoom can go back if the galaxy tab is significantly better. I do know it will be easier to hold as mentioned before.

I know there is another thread with the question an android tablet optimized version. But I just want to confirm that version will have the skin option on it. I hate having a great app that I can't use because I can't see it.

Also, can an anti glare screen protector possibly help that much? Has anyone else went that direction and had equal success. From what I have read and heard from others, the anti-glare screen protectors can help but not that much. My xoom was only barely visible with me hunched over it blocking all the sun and with it turned up to 100% brightness.

[FTMSupport]

We have not tried an anti-glare screen protector, but we do use the Galaxy Tab regularly, and it does great. Will be interested in your feedback after you try it.

We do intend to create skins for the Android Version as well. We do not have a timeline for it yet, but it is definitely on our list.

[baseball2003]

I got a galaxy tab and have scored two games with it. Both nights were overcast so is still don't know how well it will work in full sun. The first night was without an anti glare screen protector and the second was with it. Didn't notice any real benefit but like I said it wasn't sunny. Saturday we have a double header and forecast is actually calling for 75 and sun so I will have a better idea after that.