I’ve been using a Nook Color for the past few years as a useful place to store manuals, books, and other random PDF style information. It’s also been handy as a web browser and simple gaming device, but I’ve been wanting to replace it with something that could handle the DSLR controller app. Sure I could have hacked my Nook with CyanogenMod 7 but the original Nook Color’s hardware has a hard time keeping up with the an app like that.
I was thinking about pulling the trigger on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but Quad-core Tegra processors had already started to show up in mid range tablets, which would likely destroy the dual core processor in the galaxy tab. I also knew that Google I/O was coming up and there were a lot of rumors that they would be releasing a new tablet.
Sure enough Google announced the Nexus 7 tablet. With a 1280×800 display, 7 inch form factor, and a 9 hour battery life, it could be a beautiful monitor and controller for $199. There is a down side though, right now the DSLR controller app only offers around 15 fps (frames per second) refresh rate, which isn’t quit fast enough to enjoy smooth video. The reason for this has been do to the processing requirements needed for higher frame rates. Hopefully with the extra cores and graphics capabilities of the Nexus 7 tablet, it will give the developers enough power to bring the frame rate up to something a little closer to 30 fps.
Right now the functionality of the app alone gives you most of the features available to a usb controller (like the okii unit), get the frame rates up to speed and you have pretty much everything you would need to run the camera remotely. I’m not counting on the Nexus 7 as a monitor replacement (at least in the near term) but I think it could be a good prospect in the future. If nothing else, it’ll be good for storing equipment manuals and playing plants v.s. zombies. I’m on the pre-order list, so I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Hey Deejay,
I am fairly sure that there already is a setting that allows higher framerate. I used it on my Galaxy Note. However it freezer my phone. On later though I think it might be because of the cheap USB cable I was using (came with my bluetooth headset and is only meant for charging). I should test it again with a decent cable and see if my Note’s processor can catch up with the high frame rate. There’s another problem, which is a slight delay. But that’s workable I expect (never used it for anything other then testing yet).
I use my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 as my monitor with the DSLR Controller app and it works great. I know it isn’t HD resolution but for the money and still being able to use it as a tablet works great. I also use it for remote trigger when shooting in low light to not have any camera shake.
July 5th, 2012 at 1:54 am
Hey Deejay I heard this reported on World News Tonight and Googled $200 iPad and sure enough http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57431991-37/latest-ipad-mini-rumor-puts-price-at-$200-with-8gb-storage/ wonder what processor they will be using? Just throwing this out there!
July 5th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for the heads up, not sure what processor Apple will use or how it’ll compare to the Tegra 3 quad core used in the Nexus 7.
July 8th, 2012 at 5:26 am
Hey Deejay,
I am fairly sure that there already is a setting that allows higher framerate. I used it on my Galaxy Note. However it freezer my phone. On later though I think it might be because of the cheap USB cable I was using (came with my bluetooth headset and is only meant for charging). I should test it again with a decent cable and see if my Note’s processor can catch up with the high frame rate. There’s another problem, which is a slight delay. But that’s workable I expect (never used it for anything other then testing yet).
July 10th, 2012 at 9:25 am
I use my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 as my monitor with the DSLR Controller app and it works great. I know it isn’t HD resolution but for the money and still being able to use it as a tablet works great. I also use it for remote trigger when shooting in low light to not have any camera shake.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:08 pm
I have yoru same setup, but cannot get the dslr and samsung tab 2 7.0 to work. am i doing somthing wrong?
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:41 pm
It requires android 4.1 or higher, is your tab running jellybean?
July 25th, 2012 at 7:58 am
OK I am loving it with my Nexus 7. Is there a bracket anywhere to mount the Nexus on my rig?
July 25th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Searching for a solution. I’ll post some pictures once it shows up.
January 1st, 2013 at 1:44 pm
hey have you Tried the nexus 10 as monitor with the DSLR Controller app? works as well or better than the nexus 10?