Help xoom wifi, where are most of the apps?

[capuman]

Hi guys,

just got my brand new xoom wifi model in the UK but it does not seem right. When i check the software version it says 3.0.1, kernel 2.6.36.3. However i seem to be missing things.

For example, when i go into my apps, i dont see the google books app..i thought that was built in? Also when i go into the market, i only seem to see the 'free' apps and when i try to install some of them (such as angry birds) it says something along the lines of (cant install in your country..). Also when i search in the market many of the apps seem to be missing such as google earth and now actually any of the angry bird games!!

Whats going on? When i do the same on my HTC Desire (using the same google account) i dont have these issues..

Also, when i click on check for software updates it says there is nothing, so i cant see flash or use my sd card etc.

Has anyone else experienced this?

By the way, im currently NOT in the UK, but surely this should not be a problem right? i mean the device was bought in the UK.

 

[JustDroid]

By the way, im currently NOT in the UK, but surely this should not be a problem right? i mean the device was bought in the UK.

Just throwing some thoughts around... under Settings -> Language & Input - what is your Language set to?

 

[capuman]

Its set to English(united kingdom).

Im in Gibraltar right now (southern spain) so im guessing its detecting my location based on the wifi network im using here. I thought it would use my google account settings and since my google account works fine on my htc desire hd I don't see why it does not work here.

I see other people in different countries have the same problem too..

 

[JustDroid]

Its set to English(united kingdom).

I doubt that this will work, but change to English (United States) and restart the Xoom. Check the market again.

 

[capuman]

Nope that did not work. Didn't hink it would to be honest. Its clearly something to do with the wifi network location. As in I think the xoom is setting its location to whatever the wifi network im using is. Even if I create a new google account and set it to uk or usa I still have the same issue.

Im guessing that whenever I go back to the uk, if I use a wifi network there the problem will be solved, but that does not make sense..especially since I don't live there. There has to be a way around this---anyone?

 

[halfasleep]

Well, google books you don't get cuz only US Xoomers get it, I'm in canada and I don't get it either, as for the other things missing, I don't know.

 

[capuman]

Its def a country issue. Is there anyway of fooling the xoom to make it think im in another country?

 

[capuman]

yep my theory was correct. I went to Spain over the weekend and found a free wifi spot and as soon as i connected the xoom i went into the market and i was able to download all the apps that i wanted where as when i am in Gibraltar i cant. This is so lame!!

I checked for the update whilst i was there too but didn't get any..ill try again this weekend.

Is there no way of changing the country manually??

 

[jaiotu]

Google's servers can locate where you are based on the source IP address of your request. Chaning the country settings on your Xoom won't have any affect... you have to change your IP address. You basically need to find a proxy in the United States to route your internet traffic through so that it appears that you are in the U.S.

Same reason why I can't use BBC's iPlayer App to watch Doctor Who from the United States. I could change my locale to say I'm in the U.K., but the BBC's servers aren't looking at that... they're looking at my IP address, seeing that the address range is in the United States, and then blocking me.

Trust me. Having to wait to watch the next Doctor Who is WAY worse then not having Google Books or the ability to access the Market...

 

[MutantCheese]

I agree, find a US based proxy to channel through.

 

[capuman]

Google's servers can locate where you are based on the source IP address of your request. Chaning the country settings on your Xoom won't have any affect... you have to change your IP address. You basically need to find a proxy in the United States to route your internet traffic through so that it appears that you are in the U.S.

Same reason why I can't use BBC's iPlayer App to watch Doctor Who from the United States. I could change my locale to say I'm in the U.K., but the BBC's servers aren't looking at that... they're looking at my IP address, seeing that the address range is in the United States, and then blocking me.

Trust me. Having to wait to watch the next Doctor Who is WAY worse then not having Google Books or the ability to access the Market...

That's great jaioti, thanks for the advice! Any proxies you guys can recommend?

Shame that wont speed up getting the update though, I so want flash!

 

[capuman]

Actually I found a couple of proxies online but none seem to work. Im able to get to the market and I see all the app I never usually see, however when I try to download any of them nothing actually happens. I click on the install button and the page simply refreshes :-(

 

[capuman]

Still no luck in finding a proxy that will work. Anyone know of any?