X-Treme Mach Speed 7" Tablet

[krayhart]

I am interested in knowing if anyone has any info on this tablet. I understand that Kmart will be offering this for $40 on Thanksgiving. Want to try it out for that price! Can you load the Google PlayStore on it? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

[CharredPC]

X-treme Mach Speed Tablet Review

While it's too late to help you make an informed choice about buying this on Black Friday, I decided to post anyway after seeing the number of hits this thread is still getting, the general lack of info about this device, and that some are popping up in stores again (after being returned by clueless buyers). My goal is not only a review, but to show you how to turn your limited budget tablet into a smooth-running useful machine you'll be glad you bought

I was first in line at K-mart to get one of these. To be honest, I was camped out for a $288 50" tv, but while there... how could a geek like me pass up a $39.99 piece of tech like this? So I bought one. First off, the basic specs. This tablet is an "X-treme Mach Speed" (Model# ECLIPSE-X-TREME). It has a 1.2Ghz cpu, 4Gb of internal memory, 512MB ram, takes microSD cards (up to 32GB), has 802.11g/n Wi-Fi, gyroscope, a front 0.3MP camera, and runs Android ICS 4.0.3. It comes with a (rather short) USB cable and (also short) wall charger.

You may have heard other claims about it from misinformed sources- things like a high resolution screen, stereo speakers, or a battery good for “up to 9 hours” of run time. Sorry, none of those are the case. That doesn't make this a bad purchase, however- just a reality for this price point. Other things to keep in mind:

• Since this is a non-mainstream brand, getting a cover for it means using a 'universal' one. It does just barely fit in some of the Kindle Fire cases, as long as they don't have the click-in plastic corners... but for any real protection, I recommend something with better edges. I found a very handsome one on clearance at my local Radio Shack of all places for under $25 that fits it perfectly.
• Though there are two tiny slits in one end of the unit for sound, I've had mine open, and there is a single (very small) speaker. There is a spot for a second one, but I guess it saved money to only include one.
• The Mach Speed has a resistive single-touch touchscreen, instead of a multitouch capacitive one. In plain english, that means the screen can't sense where your finger is. You'll have to push on the screen, preferably with a stylus or fingernail, for it to register. This is one of two reasons some of these tablets are being returned... though it doesn't bother me.
• When you first excitedly turn on this tablet, it is disappointingly empty of software. Opening "Browser" takes you to a homepage of http://apps.triomp3.com. There it lets you download a couple apps, and suggests Amazon Appstore and GetJar as longterm solutions. I'm pretty sure this is the second major reason these seem like a bad deal. But thankfully- and in answer to the OP- this is correctable!

After all that, it's time for some good news! First off, this tablet comes rooted from the factory, yay! Secondly, work has already been done on a close cousin of it, the Mach Speed Trio Stealth Pro 7. Using that work (and narrowly saving it before the file got pulled off the posted server), I can offer you this link. Simply download, extract, plug your tablet into your laptop, run ADB to install the drivers, then double click Run Me. I believe thanks and credit for this package goes to LiquidLime, wherever and whomever he may be.

The Google App Store will update itself the first time you use it, so just browse around and give it awhile. After restarting, it becomes Google Play, making this tablet much more useful... and fun! The only 'side effect' I have found is that the reported model changes to a Polaroid PMID701i. Not only does this not matter, but yay, now we own name brand hardware! Now we can get to work on tweaking things...

Let's start off with some basic system settings. If this is review for you, feel free to skip it, but most people aren't aware that a couple easy adjustments will make things run smooth and fast, save battery life, and prevent lockups. Here's the ones I use and therefore would recommend on this device:

1. Under Settings -> Developer options, check Force GPU rendering, Don't keep activities, and set Background process limit to 'At most 4 processes.'
2. If you go to swype.com, you can sign up for their beta for free. On a stylus-based tablet such as this, Swype becomes very, very helpful.
3. Download SetCPU, and use the excellent guide here to configure it. This will not only let you conserve battery life by throttling the processor when idle, but control how responsive and speedy your machine gets when you do use it.
4. Can we say, Hulu? Yes, our little machines CAN do Hulu- no money needed. The trick is getting an app called Wondershare Player. If playback gets a little choppy, dropping it from the default 480p to 360p may help.

Congratulations! Your single-core budget tablet is now a mean little multimedia machine

[gabriellaj]

Curious

can you download it directly to your tablet or does it have to be done through a laptop first? thank you for you rhelp much appreciated!!

While it's too late to help you make an informed choice about buying this on Black Friday, I decided to post anyway after seeing the number of hits this thread is still getting, the general lack of info about this device, and that some are popping up in stores again (after being returned by clueless buyers). My goal is not only a review, but to show you how to turn your limited budget tablet into a smooth-running useful machine you'll be glad you bought

I was first in line at K-mart to get one of these. To be honest, I was camped out for a $288 50" tv, but while there... how could a geek like me pass up a $39.99 piece of tech like this? So I bought one. First off, the basic specs. This tablet is an "X-treme Mach Speed" (Model# ECLIPSE-X-TREME). It has a 1.2Ghz cpu, 4Gb of internal memory, 512MB ram, takes microSD cards (up to 32GB), has 802.11g/n Wi-Fi, gyroscope, a front 0.3MP camera, and runs Android ICS 4.0.3. It comes with a (rather short) USB cable and (also short) wall charger.

You may have heard other claims about it from misinformed sources- things like a high resolution screen, stereo speakers, or a battery good for “up to 9 hours” of run time. Sorry, none of those are the case. That doesn't make this a bad purchase, however- just a reality for this price point. Other things to keep in mind:

• Since this is a non-mainstream brand, getting a cover for it means using a 'universal' one. It does just barely fit in some of the Kindle Fire cases, as long as they don't have the click-in plastic corners... but for any real protection, I recommend something with better edges. I found a very handsome one on clearance at my local Radio Shack of all places for under $25 that fits it perfectly.
• Though there are two tiny slits in one end of the unit for sound, I've had mine open, and there is a single (very small) speaker. There is a spot for a second one, but I guess it saved money to only include one.
• The Mach Speed has a resistive single-touch touchscreen, instead of a multitouch capacitive one. In plain english, that means the screen can't sense where your finger is. You'll have to push on the screen, preferably with a stylus or fingernail, for it to register. This is one of two reasons some of these tablets are being returned... though it doesn't bother me.
• When you first excitedly turn on this tablet, it is disappointingly empty of software. Opening "Browser" takes you to a homepage of http://apps.triomp3.com. There it lets you download a couple apps, and suggests Amazon Appstore and GetJar as longterm solutions. I'm pretty sure this is the second major reason these seem like a bad deal. But thankfully- and in answer to the OP- this is correctable!

After all that, it's time for some good news! First off, this tablet comes rooted from the factory, yay! Secondly, work has already been done on a close cousin of it, the Mach Speed Trio Stealth Pro 7. Using that work (and narrowly saving it before the file got pulled off the posted server), I can offer you this link. Simply download, extract, plug your tablet into your laptop, run ADB to install the drivers, then double click Run Me. I believe thanks and credit for this package goes to LiquidLime, wherever and whomever he may be.

The Google App Store will update itself the first time you use it, so just browse around and give it awhile. After restarting, it becomes Google Play, making this tablet much more useful... and fun! The only 'side effect' I have found is that the reported model changes to a Polaroid PMID701i. Not only does this not matter, but yay, now we own name brand hardware! Now we can get to work on tweaking things...

Let's start off with some basic system settings. If this is review for you, feel free to skip it, but most people aren't aware that a couple easy adjustments will make things run smooth and fast, save battery life, and prevent lockups. Here's the ones I use and therefore would recommend on this device:

1. Under Settings -> Developer options, check Force GPU rendering, Don't keep activities, and set Background process limit to 'At most 4 processes.'
2. If you go to swype.com, you can sign up for their beta for free. On a stylus-based tablet such as this, Swype becomes very, very helpful.
3. Download SetCPU, and use the excellent guide here to configure it. This will not only let you conserve battery life by throttling the processor when idle, but control how responsive and speedy your machine gets when you do use it.
4. Can we say, Hulu? Yes, our little machines CAN do Hulu- no money needed. The trick is getting an app called Wondershare Player. If playback gets a little choppy, dropping it from the default 480p to 360p may help.

Congratulations! Your single-core budget tablet is now a mean little multimedia machine