Preparing for launch: which tablet would serve me best using Roon? If I understood correctly, the Android app will be available at launch while the iPad app will take some more time. A few questions:
@Brian - Are you able to tell us what tablets you are using to test the Roon Android app with? I understand from the various screen sizes and iterations of Android that it is quite difficult to develop a decent interface that fits all Android devices. I’m thinking of a buying a Nexus 9 but haven’t been overwhelmed by the reviews. is there a preferred screen ratio?
Cheers
Tom
In anticipation for the big release, I went out and bought a Nexus 9, against my iPrinciples… 
Basically, all reviews ring true: light bleed, mushy buttons, floppy backside. But all in all, it’s fairly decent and rather fast – and bare Android is quite acceptable, with 5.1.1 on its way. I’d guess 4:3 is perfect for Roon, but we’ll see in a few days…
Concurr with RBM, my assessment of Android tablet options leaves a lot to be desired compared to my ‘i’ gear. Can’t wait for a Roon ipad app to be released.
However, ‘priority’ typically doesnt mean ‘tomorrow’, so looking at an interim android tablet option.
I’ve shortlisted:
Where i’m leaning towards the nvidia shield for its raw power (assuming Roon will like that) and it fairly stock Android.
But it has the smallest screen size.
Any beta testers or Roon users of any of the above tablets? Thoughts?
We primarily use Nexus devices over here.
Most other devices have undesirable vendor extensions + bloatware and don’t get OS updates on time.
If I were buying right now, it would be a Nexus 9, but I’d feel a little bit icky buying so late into the cycle, and would probably try to hold out till the fall when a successor will become available.
I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2". Huge screen real estate and the overhead isn’t too bad, once you switch off and disable lots of the Samsung “value added”.
Unfortunately there was a battery problem (it kept rebooting itself and resetting the clock) so I returned it last week.
I’m probably going to chance it again though; but I may also opt for a pair of the 10" tabs.
@brian Which is why I was looking at the nvidia shield, which runs latest hardware, and limited bloatware.
Waiting till fall is an option, but was hoping that we would see an ipad version thereabouts.
So, would need someting to bridge.
Just a crazy idea, would running remote desktop from an ipad mini 2 to an intel NUC be an option that would work suffient to bridge till fall? Or would that kill the experience?
Ipad pro? Assuming it is actually going make an appearance, wwdc 14th June.
Russ
@brian I’m afraid you underestimate the level of anticipation you guys created…
Not really worried about tablet release cycles in the grand scheme of things. 
Just a crazy idea, would running remote desktop from an ipad mini 2 to an intel NUC be an option that would work suffient to bridge till fall? Or would that kill the experience?
Eek. I think that would be pretty awful.
@brian I’m afraid you underestimate the level of anticipation you guys created…
I hope you’re right 
@brian Which is why I was looking at the nvidia shield, which runs latest hardware, and limited bloatware.
I’m sure the shield will be fine.
For us, the software updates issue has always been a bigger deal than the bloatware. Getting the latest from google on day-0 is critical for us as developers. Personally, every time I’ve bought a non-nexus android device, I’ve lived to regret the decision later. Until the Nexus program goes away, that’s where I’ll be.
Ipad pro? Assuming it is actually going make an appearance, wwdc 14th June.
I’m sure this will provide a great experience once our iOS support is done.
@Brain - Thanks for the advice. Is there preferred screen ratio 4:3 then?
Good news about the mid-cycle Nexus 9 - Down to £199 at PC World (yes I still feel weird buying at this stage)
Yes, 4:3 will be a little bit nicer than the alternatives.
message received.
Thanks for all the candit feedback! Looking forward to the release. Will score a shield in the meantime.
Have you Roon chaps tried the Nexus 10? I agree with you wholeheartedly about the vanilla Android experience (my phone is a Nexus 4 which has taken two major OS revisions with ease). If I do get another Samsung, I will almost certainly shove a Cyanogen image on it.
At the time it came out it was far-and-away the best performing device. Really impressive for late 2012.
I have a Nexus 10 running 5.1 that I use for testing sometimes. Roon runs on it, but it’s a little bit sluggish and there are some GPU bugs/glitches.
It’s a 2.5 year old tablet (Released Nov 2012)…so it’s hard to give it a ringing endorsement with faster stuff out there.
Thanks Brian. My Tab Pro 12.2" purchase was fairly impulse, but I have a chance to reappraise. TBH, I had completely missed the fact that the Nexus 9 was 4:3 and is only half an inch smaller in the diagonal than my iPad 3. Plus the 16GB model is now available in the UK for £200. That’s great for a Google device. And yes, the newer and better model will always come out the day after you buy…
Next question… Nexus 9 or iPad mini 2/3?
Nexus 9 at launch and iPad mini 2 after the iOS release (mini 3 has the same hardware plus touch ID – slightly unnecessary for a couch tablet…)
I’ve had my Nexus 9 for 10 hours and my daughter is really pleased with it! It’s noticeably quicker then the 7. (and you can fit a lot more icons per page)
No new Nexus announced at Google I/O, so I guess it’s Nexus 9’s all round.