Augen's Kmart tablet and smartbook won't have Google-branded apps from now on

The future for Augen's $150 tablet and $100 smartbook isn't looking good -- not only do the blue-light specials have slow processors and resistive touchscreens, but their official Google app privileges have just been revoked. To be fair, Android Market actually wasn't working on either device from the get-go, but Augen just sent us a statement confirming that the entire proprietary suite (including Market, Gmail and more) was preloaded on the devices without Google's permission, and won't appear on new batches that make it to store shelves. Augen says it's working with Google to secure rights to these apps for new products further down the road, but if you want a dirt-cheap mass market Android device with these apps preinstalled, you'd best head on down to Kmart... assuming they're finally in stock, of course. Press release after the break.

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Florida- August 07, 2010 – Augen Electronics Corp., an innovator of tablet pc's, netbooks, and eReaders, would like to deliver the following statement to address the circulating media gossip regarding Augen's preloaded apps.

On July, 29 2010 Augen had a constructive conversation with Google Inc. The topic of the discussion was Google's Application Suite. As you know, Google Inc. has released the source code for the entire Android platform under the flexible and commercial-friendly Apache 2.0 open source license. Augen is free to use that open source code; however, the suite of applications comprising Google Mobile Services on Android are proprietary to Google and have not been released under open source licenses. The Google Mobile Service and Android Apps were pre installed during the development process on our tablets for testing purposes, and were not removed unintentionally before releasing the products in the market place.

Google and Augen came to a mutual understanding that the Google Mobile Services Application Suite pre-installed on the GENTOUCH/ GENBOOK Series; could not be removed due to technological constraints for the products that were sold, shipped, or already produced.

For future production runs and deliveries, Augen will block and remove the Google Mobile Services Application Suite from the current devices until further notice. We are currently in communication with Google Inc. to obtain the required licensing for upcoming products, and will announce in our future statements the timelines and availability of these products as it will become available to us. However, for your convenience Augen will add applications to accommodate the absence of the Google Mobile Services Application Suite.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU...

The future of Augen holds a key to develop market conscious products with a vision of delivering the latest and emerging technologies, being available and affordable to every household, big/small corporation in the United States of America and worldwide.

We are at the final stages of releasing an entire new line of products which incorporates the newest technology and concepts, that will make a difference in your every day lives. We encourage you our Gen Nation, to follow the exciting products that Augen will be unveiling in the very near future. We are here to put the world at your fingertips and take you beyond the realm of the market that exists today, bringing you with us into a new era of open world communication and computing.

We are a US based company and understand and incorporate your wishes, desires, and requirements in our company's DNA. We are here for you and are looking for your continued support, and excitement in our current and future releases.

Gary Gofman
CEO
Augen Electronics Corp.

[zonemad96 Posted Aug 10th 2010 4:13AM]

@IO Kain i wasnt talking about the spelling mistake

[zonemad96 Posted Aug 10th 2010 4:23AM]

@TheConstruct the basic design is good the product itself is a good design just not implemented well

[darthgault Posted Aug 8th 2010 2:53PM]

Even though this product is crap you can't even make it into a kindle book reader because google is blocking the marketplace ... Boo on apple .... I mean google.

[hotwire32 Posted Aug 8th 2010 3:39PM]

I just took my 2nd one back, the first one failed before I got it home. The second one worked for a while but then when I tried to shut it down it wouldn't, it pretended to but next time I would try and turn it on it would come up with a white screen and I had to 'feel' around to get it to shut down. Then it took searching the internet for a way to get my personal data off. I had high hopes for this but it unfortunately is a low quality product build and news of them not being able access the Google branded apps was the final nail to drive me to back to return it.

[hill60 Posted Aug 8th 2010 5:51PM]

So where's the outcry over Google's dictatorial control over devices running Android?

It's Google and they have 'Do no evil' as their motto so it must be alright to control what people can and can't do with their 'open' system.

[iheartgadgetz Posted Aug 8th 2010 7:43PM]

KMart doesn't carry this model anymore. If you visit their site, you see the Gentouch78 - not just the Gentouch - for 20 bucks more with (supposedly) Android Market (look in the description) and an 800 mhz processor and the ability to play 720p videos. Is KMart just lying, or has this tablet received a bump up in specs (and Android Market)?

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_020W023705190001P?vName=Computers+%26+Electronics&cName=Laptops&keyword=augen&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

[zonemad96 Posted Aug 8th 2010 9:34PM]

@iheartgadgetz that is the model on the link you poseted its always been the gentouch 78 their never was just a gentouch its 20 dollars more beacuse the sale ad is no longer good and no they always labed it with those specs even thoug their a lie when its really 600mhz and it can play 720 p video but it doesnt play in 720p quality

[ksheehan56 Posted Aug 8th 2010 9:58PM]

Here's my review.

I found a Kmart that had three left in stock. When I got home with it I found the box had already been opened or at least not sealed properly. I started up the device to find someone had owned this before me and their email was still the registered account on the device. I tried to do a factory reset multiple times. It never worked. I had access to whoever this was email. In there I found plenty of personal info that had I been a criminal I'm sure would have come in handy. Yeah sure this person never should have returned it without ensuring they wiped it clean, but even worse of Kmart for just putting it back on the shelf without checking it out.

I got in touch with Augen Tech Support through email since it was the weekend and they have terrible Tech Support hours. In the meantime I started doing some research on my own and found that I wasn't the only one with this problem, and found a way to actually get it to wipe clean.

That's when I started playing around with it with my own google account. Just like everyone says you get what you pay for. It's very plastic, the screen is terrible with response, the battery is very meh, and the android market doesn't actually download. It also gets very hot on the backside after it's been running for a while. To the point I didn't want to hold it anymore. All it was good for was going to websites and checking email...everything my phone already does.

By Monday I wiped it clean again and returned it. While I'm sure it's okay for someone that just wants something cheap it is not what I wanted at all.

Oh and finally this past Friday Augen Tech Support sent me a reply email. All they said was "wait for the update to come soon." No explanation at all of what the issue is.

In the end I give the company and their product one massive FAIL!!!

[mkarias1 Posted Aug 8th 2010 10:11PM]

@zonemad96 Your the idiot. True tablets do not have keyboards. Those are just touchscreen laptops. As for the Archos, for that price, its not worth it. Its just a laptop without a keyboard. True tablets should be less than $300. Running Windows 7? WTF? You don't know anything.

[John Doe Posted Aug 9th 2010 8:58AM]

@mkarias1 No actually you are an idiot. What you are talking about are slates: devices that do not have keyboards. Tablets by their very name have a screen you work on as a tablet. If it has a keyboard and it can hide out of the way its called a convertible. Get your facts straight before slamming someone.

[zonemad96 Posted Aug 10th 2010 4:04AM]

@mkarias1 tablets with keyboards have been around for years and yea price dosent matter it comes down to the device itself and the ipad is not worth the price and "laptop without a keyboard" yeah way to make no sense and if their only laptops with touchscreens how come you can put the screen over top the keyboard that makes them tablets and the ipad os blows its a damn operating system ment for a phone hmm lets see windows 7 or ipod touch with a huge screen hmm what would i choose apple is a great company but it wont ever beat windows

[John Doe Posted Aug 9th 2010 8:54AM]

*shrugs* Its a $150 tablet. Contrary to popular belief you do get what you pay for in many cases. (Apple being the exception where you get screwed for what you pay for, but that's a different topic.) At $150 I'm surprised the thing even has anything in side the case.

[zonemad96 Posted Aug 10th 2010 4:26AM]

for people who want to buy this as a toy if you have the money buy a smartq v5 its around $190 but its a better quality product plus it comes with android windows ce and linux

[AugenDev Posted Aug 21st 2010 1:19PM]

Dear Augen Customers,

The update for the GENTOUCH78 has been posted, and is available for download at http://augenus.com/indexhome.html/Updates.html

The update includes a reset to factory default settings, along with a volume control, page back, and instant access to home page button on the top bar of the user interface.

Thank you for your support,

Augen Development Team
Augen Electronics Corp.