Desktop<>ereaders<>tablets???

[roger]

I am being told that ereaders (such as Kindle or Pandigital) can
communicate with a desktop (via USB), while tablets (such as Samsung
or Ipad) cannot.

All I want to do is have them recognize each other so as to exchange
pics and docs and ebooks. Am I being led astray?

Thanks

Fred

 

[Paul]

I am being told that ereaders (such as Kindle or Pandigital) can
communicate with a desktop (via USB), while tablets (such as Samsung
or Ipad) cannot.

All I want to do is have them recognize each other so as to exchange
pics and docs and ebooks. Am I being led astray?

Thanks

Fred

Ask yourself one question.

Why was the device invented ?

The answer is, the device wasn't invented for "you".
It was invented to make those companies money on a
recurring basis. You're a revenue stream to them.

A Kindle exists, to sell Ebooks.

An iPad exists, to sell apps from the Apps Store.
Or tunes from the iTunes Store.

And any one wanting to use mobile devices, should
have a Computer Science degree

That doesn't mean all these devices are totally
blocked, but you're going to have to do some
research, to learn how best to use them.

Back when personal computers were invented, there
was a lot less "content" for sale. And a lot less
need for DRM. The boxes were open, so that the
users (who didn't really have any use or need
of the boxes), would be able to play with them.
We used to have to invent uses for the computer,
like "we store recipe cards in them". That's how
pathetic it was at first. There was no content.

Now that computing devices are "appliances" and
a "revenue stream", they'll become more and more
anti-consumer, in terms of value for money. The hardware
will become cheaper and cheaper, but there will still
be a significant "vacuum effect", felt at your wallet.
That's why so many computing related activities,
are headed towards subscription models. You're swapping
the monthly cable bill, for some other kind of
monthly billing.

*******

Look for

"How to Sync My iPad With My PC"

or

http://www.samsung.com/au/smartphone/galaxys/software-updates.html

"Samsung Kies is a Key PC software with Intuitive,
Easy and Simple usability. Samsung Kies provides
Samsung device users with easy data backup,
transfer, powerful multimedia management,
and convenient purchase features." <--- Aha! I hear that vacuum sound again,
and my wallet is a bit lighter.

So the keyword is "Sync", and a lot of research. As a
consumer, you hope the Sync allows free movement of
content, while the provider wishes to wall you off
and only allow you to "buy" copies of the content
you already own.

As a Computing Science graduate,
your task is to get around the barriers.

Paul

 

[miso]

I am being told that ereaders (such as Kindle or Pandigital) can
communicate with a desktop (via USB), while tablets (such as Samsung
or Ipad) cannot.

All I want to do is have them recognize each other so as to exchange
pics and docs and ebooks. Am I being led astray?

Thanks

Fred

I have no idea about the kindle or ipad, but every android and
Blackberry device I own can look like a usb drive. The blackberries go
one step futher in that you get the option of just usb charge (keep it
off the usb port for security reasons), generic usb drive, or use the
fancy device driver and proprietary software. I have to say I have had
issues with Android devices other than being in the usb drive mode, but
that probably varies from device to device. That is, you are at the
mercy of the proprietary software.

But even from linux you can move files around on android and blackberry
devices. I can even side load programs on my blackberry devices via wifi
from linux.

The Android and Blackberry devices can do file transfers over wifi with
SFTP. This is also independent of the OS on the desktop.

Apple devices are meant to be used the Apple way. They are freedom
hating boxes.

Also note I never sync automatically. I just move the files around as
needed. If you want to use usb file transfer and have automatic sync,
you will need to find a program to do that. They exist. Of course, you
have to trust them.

Supposedly this is a good windows program: