Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tips and Tricks Part 1

06/27/2011 Comments Off on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tips and Tricks Part 1 Samsung Like

This article is geared towards answering some technical questions about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Whenever you get a new device there is a bit of a learning curve involved. Hopefully some of the following tips and tricks will help you get started.

How To Root Your Galaxy Tab 10.1

Before I explain step-by-step how to root your Galaxy Tab 10.1 I’d like to cover a few details about rooting first. This will help you to better understand what rooting is, if you aren’t already aware, and if it’s in your best interest to do this or not.

What Exactly Does Rooting Your Android Tablet Mean?

Rooting an Android tablet is identical to Jailbreaking your iPad or iPad 2. Rooting gives you full administrative and root access to your tablet which otherwise would not be accessible.

What Are the Benefits Of Rooting My Galaxy Tab 10.1?

Ability to bypass OS limitations and update restrictions
Helps improve system performance
Gives you access to a wider variety of apps
Enables you to alter system files
More options for Bluetooth & Wi-Fi tethering

Another benefit of rooting an Android device is the ability to run apps directly from an SD card. However, this does not apply in this case since the Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not have an SD card slot.

Are There Any Risks Involved With Rooting My Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tablet?

Yes there is in fact some risk involved. If you root your Galaxy Tab 10.1 you will instantly void any warranty you have with the manufacturer and retailer where you purchased your device. I would advise you to be 100% certain about your decision to do this and have some level of caution before taking any action you might later regret. On a lighter note, you can always unroot your device later if by some chance you run into any sort of problem(s).

Rooting Your Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android Tablet

Stage 1: CMD Prompt Setup

Step 01: Click here to download then extract nvflash.rar to your computer’s c:\ drive.
Step 02: Open c:\nvflash. Next, right click and create a shortcut to the folder.
Step 03: Type cmd once and then enter twice.
Step 04: Run cmd.exe as admin by right clicking to start.
Step 05: Type “cd c:\nvflash” and proceed by hitting enter.

Stage 2: Getting Your Galaxy Tab 10.1 In nvflash ADX Mode

Step 01: Power down and unplug your Galaxy Tab 10.1 from your computer.
Step 02: Simultaneously hold your volume up and power buttons for 15 seconds.
*Note – During step #2 it’s normal for your screen to remain black*
Step 03: Let go of the buttons then plug your Galaxy Tab 10.1 into your computer again.
Step 04: Launch your device manager.
Step 05: Look for an error listed in APX Devices.
Step 06: Right click on APX Devices and select “Update Driver Software“.
Step 07: Select “Browse my computer“, then “Let me pick” and finally “Have disk“.
Step 08: Go to c:\nvflash\usbpcdriver and ensure you have “use sub folders” checked.
Step 09: Choose the NVIDIA USB Boot-recovery driver for mobile devices.
Step 10: Disable UAC if need be and accept all warnings and alerts.
Step 11: From your device manager go look for USB Controllers.
Step 12: NVIDIA USB Boot-recovery driver for mobile devices should now appear.
Step 13: Execute the following command: nvflash –bl bootloader.bin –go

If all is successful, on the top left of your screen you should now see white text and a black background. Congratulations, your Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is now rooted!

How To Take Screenshots With the Galaxy Tab 10.1

The following tutorial only works for those of you who have rooted your Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 device. For regular users there are other options but most require you to pay for a custom Android app developed for taking screenshots.

Step 1: Click here to download the free Screenshot ER Demo app from the Android Market.
Step 2: Install then launch the app
Step 3: Go to the “General” settings

From the general settings menu you can easily customize individual settings as you desire. You’ll be impressed by the array of options available. For example, you can specify a custom folder to save your screenshots, choose either .jpeg and .png for saved files and also set a custom screenshot timer or delay. Another great feature about this app is the ability to view samples of your screenshots before actually saving them.

How To Scale Apps Full Screen On Galaxy Tab 10.1

Since the new Galaxy Tab is larger than it’s 7 inch predecessor there are some Android apps that don’t currently take full advantage of the bigger screen. Fortunately for you there is a workaround for this.

Visit the Android Market. Download and install an app called “Spare Parts“.
Open the app. Deselect then select again the box for “Compatibility Mode“.
Shut down your Galaxy Tab then reboot.
Once again launch Spare Parts and deselect “Compatibility Mode“.
Reboot a second and final time.
Hooray, your apps will now display perfectly on the larger screen.

Choose Desktop Sites As Default Instead of Mobile Sites

By default, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 loads mobile versions of sites when you’re browsing the web. Changing this can be done in a few quick and simple steps.