Recommend a smartphone to run EOS Remote with 6D

[Leatherdale]

I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Y with Android 2.3.6 to use EOS Remote app with my Canon 6D.  The phone was not compatible, a fact confirmed by e-mail from Samsung.  What would be the least expensive phone to buy to suit my requirements? Also, since I don't actually need it as a phone, would it communicate with the camera via Wi-Fi without a SIM card?

[Skirball]

According to the Canon specs your phone should run it.  Have you tried sideloading it?

I can only vouch for my Incredible 4g, but I'm sure there are cheaper phones out there.  But if you don't want it as a phone, why not get a cheap Android tablet?  Acer and Asus both have cheap offereings.  I use a Kindle FIre HD, which is cheap, but you have to root it to get to the Google market and get the app.  But you may be able to side load that too.

[hsbn]

You don't need a sim to run wifi. Any phone that use iOS or Android should be fine. There is no app for windows phone yet. Be careful that smart phone is not as reliable or last as long so if you buy used one, the battery may be dead. I am still wondering why your phone is not compatible. The app is compatible with android ver. 2.3.3 or later. Can you install the app at all?

[ajraymedia]

You can also use an iPod touch or iPad since the app works fine there as well over wifi. There ahould be android alternatives as well. You shouldn't need a phone.

[Skirball]

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@ajraymedia wrote:
You can also use an iPod touch or iPad since the app works fine there as well over wifi. There ahould be android alternatives as well. You shouldn't need a phone.

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"Least Expensive" and "Apple" seem to be mutually exclusive.

[ajraymedia]

not sure what you are saying here.  the origingal post was "least expensive phone".  I was simply pointing out another alternative.  since Apple is so popular, one might be able to get a good used iOS device or even a free iPhone with a two year contract.  I also mentioned that there should be android alternatives.  I personal think apple products run better and are easier to use so I am more familiar with them.  I am just trying to help.

[nbphoto]

Dear Skirball,

how exactly does one go about "Root"ing ones Kindle Fire to get Google apps as the EOS remote?

or "sideloading"...

Does this work well for you?

Thank you

[Skirball]

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@nbphoto wrote:

Dear Skirball,

how exactly does one go about "Root"ing ones Kindle Fire to get Google apps as the EOS remote?

or "sideloading"...

Does this work well for you?

Thank you

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Go here:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/

Type in whichever Kindle Fire model you have into the "Find Device" search, and go to the appropriate forum.  There should be a sticky at the top of the forum that will run you through the basics.  It's not hard, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're not at least comfortable with computers.  I did a basic root (unlocked bootloader) on my Kindle Fire HD, and it works great with my 6D; or, as good as the limited software allows. 

There's now a full OS (Cyanogenmod) for it.  But if you've never rooted then perhaps it's best to leave this one be.  You don't need it to load EOS Remote, but you do need it to connect via tether (instead of WiFi).

[TCampbell]

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@ajraymedia wrote:
You can also use an iPod touch or iPad since the app works fine there as well over wifi. There ahould be android alternatives as well. You shouldn't need a phone.

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That's the same thought I had... the app will run on an iPad Touch, which would be less expensive than buyinga "phone" (a phone would require a contract to get the subsidy and without a contract for service, the non-subsidized price tag goes way up.)  So if the device is being purchased exclusively to remotely control a camera... I'd probably skip the phone.

As for iPad... The Canon "EOS Remote" lists in it's description that it was really designed for iPhone and iPod Touch... but not for iPad.  They indicate that you can run it on iPad... but it's optimized for the screen of the smaller devices.  So you'll either see a small display in the middle of a really big screen... or you can double the pixel size to get a larger view of a display that was meant for a small device.

CamRanger supports (and uses) the full size screens of tablets (as well as phones), but that's 3rd party and requires a seperate device dangling off the side of the camera (it wouldn't use the built-in wifi.)

[nbphoto]

i did it- working great with 6D.
http://www.lovemyfire.com/side-loading-apps-on-kindle-fire.html
thanks for the idea general direction.
kindle fire HDX has nice resolution for the price.
Cheers,
Nate