Lately, my Android tablet that I bought six years ago, back in 2019, has kept reminding me that it's no longer able to update some of the apps that I have on it. Checking up on Android versions, I found that the tablet is stuck on Android 7, while the latest ones now seem to have Android 15. So perhaps really more suprising that there are still quite a few apps on it that I am still able to use...
No real panic, as my laptop and my phone are both younger, and have been able to keep up with the necessary app updates so far. Nevertheless, I decided it was probably time to look into getting a new tablet as well.
I did some online research; but somehow, I still have this old-fashioned wish (when possible) to see what I'm buying - and perhaps be able to ask some human "tech guy" a question or two as well. So this past Thursday, I took a bus to an electronics shop "across town". I had seen online that they had tablets of the same brand as my old one (Lenovo), which on the whole I've been getting along with very well (until its recent hints of not quite being able to keep up with everything any more).
Ironically, it turned out that of the tablets on display in the shop, the one that I fell for (Lenovo Tab M11) was not in stock there - but they could order it for me, and have it delivered to a pick-up place close to where I live the very next day. So I went with that option.
The parcel arrived as promised; and after reading some basic instructions it seemed like it would be easy to set up, as I could simply copy all data from the old one to the new one using an USB cable. So I got that job started already on Friday afternoon. So far, so good...
But then, somewhere along my fiddling about with adjusting various settings etc, the screen keyboard disappeared, and no matter what I did, I found no way to get it back. Super frustrating. The first thing I did was of course to google the problem. And I did find plenty of people in various forums asking the same question (about disappearing screen keyboards). But alas no applicable answers!
So finally I decided to reset the tablet to its original settings (removing all my transferred data) and start over. That did restore the screen keyboard (phew). But since I still don't know how I came to lose it in the first place, I'm now afraid of it happening again. So now I'm taking things really slow. So not repeating the copying of data from the old tablet, but instead installing one app at a time, and trying to keep better track of what I'm doing. It's time consuming, but after all (I keep reminding myself) there's no real hurry. All my important apps are still working somewhere, even if not all on the same device...
It has taken a lot of time that might otherwise have been spent on blogging, though.
One answer found when I googled the definiton of "android":
"The Latin root androides literally means “resembling a man,” and androids really know how to blend in. Androids mostly appear in science fiction novels and films, but who knows, maybe you're friends with an android and you don't even know it. Yet."
There is always a phone number to call for help!! If it was not included in the package, google Lenovo customer service. This way always works for me, I just used it for something last week. Phil just got a new tablet too. His was old, and we needed to buy one before the high China tariffs take effect. I bet the prices will at least double then.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, Ginny. I didn't actually expect Lenovo to have a Swedish website and even less a Swedish phone number, but it seems they do. I'm hoping not to have to use it, but I'll explore further if I get stuck again!
DeleteYou sound pretty tech savvy though. I also have a Lenovo tablet that is a few years old but I hardly ever use it, I have a laptop too and use that more but it's at least 5 or so years old and I think it's on it's last legs.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I wouldn't call myself "tech savvy" but I suppose I've built up some practical experience over the years. Living alone, there's usually no one else at hand to ask!
DeleteIt sounds like your new tablet adventure has been a mix of modern tech trials and old-school patience
ReplyDeleteRo, that seems to pretty much apply to everything these days!
DeleteI admire you for undertaking that task of setting up your new tablet. I've never done that, one of my sons always does that for me. I am sure I would get very confused and hit the wrong key, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteTerra, I have no children or grandchildren to ask for help... My brother (who also used to work with IT) often helped me with various tech stuff in the past, but as he lives four hours drive away, I can't just ask him to "pop over"... ;-)
DeleteYou have so much patience! If I buy anything technical or computer related I call on my computer Guru, rather than making a hash of everything.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I don't have a computer guru nearby (cf my reply to Terra).
DeleteAs you say, there is no hurry, especially not because you still have your other devices to access any data you may need.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I want to understand how my devices work and be able to look after them myself. Also, I want to keep them as long as possible, and when a replacement can not be avoided any longer, I prefer to buy refurbished instead of new - not for the money, but for sustainability reasons.
For instance, my Kindle is still the first model from 2011 or -12, and has served me well for all these years. But the battery doesn't charge properly anymore, and apparently, it is not as simple as just changing the battery... So, I'm afraid I will need a new Kindle soon-ish.
My iPhone was unable to update for the last two years now, because the model was so old. It didn't bother me much as long as I was able to run the all-important public transport apps I use, and exchange text messages with my family and friends. But when the latest update for one of my most-used public transport apps didn't work because of the old operating system, I knew I had to do something... O.K. gave me a more recent iPhone for my birthday this year, not a new one, but a refurbished one, on my specific request. It works fine and I have never had the impression to have a second-hand item with scratches or anything.
I am sure with your usual patient and methodical approach, you will soon have everything up and running!
Meike, my very first computer I "inherited" (some time in the early 1990s) from my brother who had more or less built it himself, I think. It was bulky and heavy but really just a word processor (with green text on a black screen). But one could write and edit texts on it - and save the results on big floppy discs. I must also have had a printer (or it would not have been any use to me), which was probably just as huge. Some time later, after 1995, I was allowed to buy a used computer from work. (I had used it myself there so was familiar with it.) It ran Works 2.0, and data were still saved on floppy discs. I then also got my first internet modem, which was a dial-up one. As each such call cost money, I only allowed myself a few minutes now and then, mainly to check for and send emails. ... So my "experience" with computers goes back a while! ;-)
DeleteI too got my first Kindle in 2011 or 12. Bought a second one in 2021, partly because I seemed to be having trouble with the old one, partly because I wanted one with brighter background. The old one then got jealous and decided to function again, so I still have both... I also intend to keep the old tablet for now and continue to use that for some of the apps that it still works with. And perhaps for storage of some mp3 audio files.
How very frustrating. Your current method of transfer seems to be the right one to follow. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJanice, today I've given the new tablet a rest and enjoyed a sunny day. :)
DeleteIt can be really frustrating trying to set up a new device. I got a new credit card and it took me ages to update my computer to accommodate that.
ReplyDeleteJenny, that's something that goes beyond my experience, so far...
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