HomeboardWill it work on my tablet?
Very likely. Homeboard runs in the tablet's web browser, so it works on iPads from iOS 12, Samsung and other Android tablets from Android 8, and Amazon Fire tablets from 2018, including plenty that apps have left behind.
iPad: the quick check
On the iPad, open Settings, then General, then About, and look at Software Version.
- 12 or higher: Homeboard works.
- Lower than 12: try Software Update in the same place first. If it can't go to 12 or higher, the iPad is too old for Homeboard.
Every iPad
| iPad | Year | Newest version | Homeboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad (the first one) | 2010 | iOS 5 | Too old |
| iPad 2 | 2011 | iOS 9 | Too old |
| iPad (3rd generation) | 2012 | iOS 9 | Too old |
| iPad mini (the first one) | 2012 | iOS 9 | Too old |
| iPad (4th generation) | 2012 | iOS 10 | Too old |
| iPad Air | 2013 | iOS 12 | Works |
| iPad mini 2 | 2013 | iOS 12 | Works |
| iPad mini 3 | 2014 | iOS 12 | Works |
| iPad Air 2 | 2014 | iPadOS 15 | Works |
| iPad mini 4 | 2015 | iPadOS 15 | Works |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation) | 2015 | iPadOS 16 | Works |
| iPad Pro 9.7-inch | 2016 | iPadOS 16 | Works |
| iPad (5th generation) | 2017 | iPadOS 16 | Works |
| iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch (2nd generation) | 2017 | iPadOS 17 | Works |
| iPad (6th generation) | 2018 | iPadOS 17 | Works |
| Every iPad since | 2018 on | iPadOS 18 or later | Works |
Why most apps won't install on these. Apps from the App Store need a recent version of iOS, and many family calendar apps now ask for iOS 17. Homeboard isn't an app from the store: it runs in Safari, and every version is checked against the Safari on iOS 12 before it goes live.
Samsung and other Android tablets
Open Settings, then About tablet (on Samsung tablets, About tablet, then Software information) and look at the Android version.
- 8 or higher: Homeboard works in Chrome or Samsung Internet. That is most tablets sold since 2018, such as the Galaxy Tab A7, A8 and A9, recent Galaxy Tab S models and Lenovo Tab tablets. Some older ones updated to 8 as well, so check.
- 7 or lower: the tablet's browser can't check Homeboard's security certificate, so it won't connect.
Amazon Fire tablets
| Fire tablet | Year | Homeboard |
|---|---|---|
| Fire HD 8 (8th generation) and every Fire tablet since: the Fire 7 from 2019, Fire HD 8 and HD 10 from 2019 on, and Fire Max 11 | 2018 on | Works, in Silk |
| Fire tablets from before 2018 (Fire OS 5) | 2017 and before | Too old |
To check, open Settings, then Device Options, then System Updates: it shows the Fire OS version. Fire OS 6 or later works.
Screens that go to sleep. Most Android and Fire tablets can't be set to keep the screen on for ever. Homeboard asks the browser to keep it on while it shows your display, so you don't have to.
Anything else
An old laptop or a spare monitor with an up-to-date browser can show Homeboard too. If your tablet misbehaves, email hello@homeboard.uk with its model and we'll look into it.