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An interesting thing happened when I setup my tablet....

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steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Hello,

I took delivery of a cheap Windows tablet on Saturday as I was interested in having a play with it and finding out what it is like to use and then analyse.

I bought the Linx branded 7" tablet from Amazon for £80 and added a 32GB micro SD card for some extra storage. Initial impressions are the tablet is excellent value and build quality for the price with only one or two minor design annoyances. Windows is SO far off the pace compared with Android or iOS and in my opinion is a terrible first attempt at an OS for mobile devices.

Of course technically it is not an OS for mobile devices and that's part of the problem. I won't go into a review of the OS because that's not why have written this post. Suffice to say anything you can do in Windows you can do in a quarter of the time in Android or iOS.

Two interesting things so far though. Firstly you can use a PIN rather than the account password to unlock your device but you are limited to a four digit PIN only. That is just inexcusable for a new OS. Second thing are WiFi networks…

So I have WiFi at home and have used WiFi at two other locations. I've used WiFi on my laptop (Windows 8 initially and then 'downgraded' to 7) and mobile phone (Android 4 onwards) and I've enabled my phone as a WiFi hotspot for my laptop before. So that's 4 connections used on teh laptop and 3 on the phone.

When I set the tablet up I had to enable my home WiFi in order to sign into my Microsoft account. Having done that I then discovered that all of the WiFi points I had connected to from my laptop were listed under "PC Settings>Network>Manage known networks". So I hadn't been to these other locations yet and I hadn't switched on WiFi hotspot on my phone in a couple of weeks. The correct settings and passwords were saved as well as the SSIDs. When I went to one of the locations it auto-connected.

Now this might not be news to some. I have to say my main areas of expertise are internet artefacts and encryption/privacy tools but it occurred to me the move of 'data' to the cloud is more comprehensive that I had first thought and will continue to be a factor.

It has caused me to look for and download all the small print associated with the various accounts such as Google, Microsoft and so on, so we can work out what things will be carried across from one device to another in addition to user files. Ironically criminals might not put their files on a cloud service but will be unknowingly sharing all sorts of other information about them. From a law enforcement point of view it would be useful to create and maintain (if possible) a spreadsheet of what information these services will host.

When I get a chance to do a capture of the data from the tablet I'll update you but at the moment real work is coming in and it doesn't look like that's going to stop. I could do it in my spare time and it does interest me but I have a life and I intend to live some of it!

Have a nice day!

Steve

 
Posted : 19/01/2015 7:24 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

When I set the tablet up I had to enable my home WiFi in order to sign into my Microsoft account.

A side question being WHY you signed into your Microsoft account? 😯
I mean, is the (stupid) Windows 8.1 on that nice little thingy ) different from "normal" (stupid) Windows 8.1 where - although "hidden" it is possible to login WITHOUT a MS account? ?

http//www.hanselman.com/blog/HowToSignIntoWindows8Or81WithoutAMicrosoftAccountMakeALocalUser.aspx

jaclaz

 
Posted : 19/01/2015 8:21 pm
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
Topic starter
 

Jaclaz,

I am assuming I didn't have to sign into my Microsoft account I didn't check. I chose to go all in for the benefit of science.

I do remember when I was running Windows 8 on my laptop I could sign in locally instead but as you say you have to be aware it's an option, it's not offered to the user.

Whilst I am at it I'll have a quick moan about Microsoft 8. I could go on for pages and I am not a moany person. Overall though I remember thinking how Windows 8 had been written for mobile devices when I first used it on a PC. Now I've tried it on a mobile device I don't think it was written for mobile devices either. Essentially it's a really badly designed piece of software not suitable for any device on sale on the planet.

Calm down Steve, calm down.

KInd Regards,

Steve

 
Posted : 19/01/2015 8:50 pm
PaulSanderson
(@paulsanderson)
Posts: 651
Honorable Member
 

I know my service pro gives an option to log in with a pin - the default is via a M$ login to live or what ever it is now called.

You need to remember that each OEM can configure the machine/OS within reason as they wish. YMMV on other windows platforms.

 
Posted : 19/01/2015 9:42 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

I know my service pro gives an option …

Your WHAT? 😯
(possibly a Surface Pro?) ?

@Steve862
Sure, if it is was "for the benefit of science" it's fine D , I only wanted to make clear how (possibly) you didn't really-really "had to" connect to WiFi (and to the MS account) in order to setup/login on the thingy.

jaclaz

 
Posted : 20/01/2015 1:19 am
PaulSanderson
(@paulsanderson)
Posts: 651
Honorable Member
 

haha thanks - yes a surface pro )

 
Posted : 20/01/2015 1:20 am
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