Updated: TouchPad Speed Woes? Faster Speed Is Just A Phone Call Away

Gizmodo AU

Want a faster TouchPad? It’s pretty easy to do; all you need to do is tone down the error logging. HP’s even made it so you’ve got your choice of ways to do it.

One of the most common criticisms of HP’s now-dead-but-seemingly-staying-alive-as-a-zombie TouchPad tablet was that for a unit packing a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, it was surprisingly slow at times. With the remaining stock having flown out the door at bargain prices on Monday, you might think that if you did pick one up, you’d be stuck with slow forever.

You’d be wrong. It turns out that a large part of the sluggishness of the TouchPad comes down to the error logging code, which is set by default to quite high. Over at ZDNet there’s a guide to cracking your TouchPad. Normally jailbreaking a Tablet can be a rather painstaking affair, but toning down the error logging is as simple as going into the dialler and punching in ##5647#.

That’s it. Job done.

Update: As commenters have pointed out, this isn’t the only way to lower the error logging on the Touchpad. Those who like official looking menus rather than phone codes can use the menu. With thanks to Klaw81, simply:

1. Open the Device Info applet on the Settings page of the launcher.
2. Select Diagnostics in the menu at the top left.
3. Select Collect Logs from the menu at the top left.
4. Tap Change Logging Levels…
5. Tap Set Logging To Minimal

Alternatively (with thanks to Crumpy), if you’re a fan of old school retro gaming, typing the Konami code (that’s “upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart” if you never had a mis-spent youth the way I did) apparently also allows you to lower the error reporting as well. It’s almost as though HP wanted the TouchPad hacked.

ZDNet’s guide also follows installing what amounts to — or will probably be as close as we ever get to — custom WebOS ROMS, if further hackery entices you. Even if it doesn’t the idea of speeding up your tablet via a phone call? That’s truly wacky, but brilliantly easy..
[ZDNet]

Discuss

(9 Comments)
  • [–]

    klaw81

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Alternatively, you can access the settings through the menus:
    1. Open the Device Info applet on the Settings page of the launcher.
    2. Select Diagnostics in the menu at the top left.
    3. Select Collect Logs from the menu at the top left.
    4. Tap Change Logging Levels…
    5. Tap Set Logging To Minimal
    Done!

  • [–]

    GK

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    works a treat! Noticeably Faster!

  • [–]

    Crumpy

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    Developer mode Just Type command is pure awesome… the konami code.

    longer then the easier version but not as fun

  • [–]

    Russell Lavell

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    Also it’s pretty easy to overclock it to 1.5Ghz

    http://www.webosbuzz.com/hp-touchpad/694-how-overclock-hp-touchpad-1-5ghz.html

  • [–]

    Big Windows

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    So the big Leo killed off a tablet that, with word of geek mouth, could have actively been promoted to friends with simple steps to make it quicker… Giving it a little time to develop and mature. Clever.

  • [–]

    soupiejr

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 11:40 AM

    Thanks for the credit, Alex! (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/08/is-this-a-real-video-of-android-on-touchpad/comment-page-1/#comment-167508)
    :)

  • [–]

    Jonathan

    Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Thanks to Giz & commenters, I thought it was okay before but there is indeed a noticeable performance increase! Great!

  • [–]

    Derek Jenkins (@OzDJ)

    Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    With thanks to this Giz article for the inspiration, I’ve just finished tweaking my TouchPad and I’ve documented all of the steps taken. Might be helpful for someone: http://clubduh.com/blog/2011/08/25/hp-touchpad-purchase-and-tweaks/

  • [–]

    Lee H T

    Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    Step2: Select Diagnostics in the menu at the top left

    there is no menu at the top left, I am unable to find Diagnostics

    Please help

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