The Android Thread

[balli]

Hi Guys,

Just changed from my jailbroken 3GS to the nice new Samsung Galaxy SII - and I gotta say wow, what an amazing piece of hardware. The decision to choose this over iPhone 4 was pretty easy. I loved my iPhone, but geez, this Galaxy is incredible!

Just wondering if anybody can give me a list of good apps - I'm to lazy to trawl through the whole market right now. Any sort of apps, games, widgets or even system mods? Is it hard to "root" the phone?

Root it immediately. It is cake. Launcher Pro is the one app you need. Beautiful Widgets is nice too. If you root, anium backup and SMS backup. Maybe a different Camera- FX Camera is alright.

[MI21]

Root it immediately. It is cake. Launcher Pro is the one app you need. Beautiful Widgets is nice too. If you root, anium backup and SMS backup. Maybe a different Camera- FX Camera is alright.

Is there any chance of bricking it?

Honestly, I think I would cry If I did brick it.

[balli]

Is there any chance of bricking it?

Honestly, I think I would cry If I did brick it.

Sure, it's possible, but if you follow instructions, the chances of that happening are extremely low. It's scary, but whatever, worth it imo.

[Drachen]

Nook Color: now with MeeGo

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Yay for bumps.

Any new and useful apps y'all have been toying with?

Trying to decipher what works well and also be something I use on the regular is a bit overwhelming for a guy who just broke his Android hymen.

Something like Tasker seems completely awesome, just much too involved for me.

These are what I mainly use now, aside from customization apps like launcher pro, bobclock, minimalistic text, beautiful widgets, etc:

quickpic
handycalc
google voice, shopper, goggles
goSMS
hbo go
swiftkey - not a swype fan
widgetlocker
messagecenter
minimal reader

Any recos, even for more customization apps, are much appreciated.

Grazie.

[robino2001]

Amazon is doing a free app a day thing since June 1st-ish... they're hit and miss... I probably grab around half of them for s and giggles... often they have some decent games for free

[Jt.ONE]

Yay for bumps.

Any new and useful apps y'all have been toying with?

Trying to decipher what works well and also be something I use on the regular is a bit overwhelming for a guy who just broke his Android hymen.

Something like Tasker seems completely awesome, just much too involved for me.

These are what I mainly use now, aside from customization apps like launcher pro, bobclock, minimalistic text, beautiful widgets, etc:

quickpic
handycalc
google voice, shopper, goggles
goSMS
hbo go
swiftkey - not a swype fan
widgetlocker
messagecenter
minimal reader

Any recos, even for more customization apps, are much appreciated.

Grazie.

handcent sms > goSMS
smartkeyboard pro > swiftkey

imho

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Handcent was a tad too buggy for me.

Smart keyboard looks pretty good at first glance. Any way to cut down the number of suggestions?

Thanks.

[Phillip]

handcent sms > goSMS
smartkeyboard pro > swiftkey

imho

chompSMS > handcent

[Jt.ONE]

Handcent was a tad too buggy for me.

Smart keyboard looks pretty good at first glance. Any way to cut down the number of suggestions?

Thanks.

suggestions of what?

[Jt.ONE]

to those who still use this thread as recommendation for android

get 'battery indicator pro' asap, is great

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

suggestions of what?

Word suggestions. It's a tad too cluttered with 10-12 on top of the keyboard. I'd prefer to cut that in half, but that ability isn't part of the app.

I really like the ability to change skins, key height and delete comma/period to make the space bar bigger.

Only problem is the lag when you first start typing. Not really a big deal, though.

[Dr. Gonzo]

chompSMS > handcent

I approve of this post.

I just made the switch based on this recommendation and I have to say it is faster and doesn't have the time stamp bug that would piss me the off.

[MannyIsGod]

The apps that I use on a regular basis are Runkeeper, Beyond Podcast, and Tweetdeck. Otherwise its pretty much just Gmail and Dolphin.

[BruceBowenFan]

i use the phandroid app on a daily basis, pretty much tells you whats going in the world of android.

[Drachen]

The free app of the day on Amazon is Swiftkey X. I highly recommend this keyboard for a phone (thumb keyboard for a tablet). It's usually 3.99.

[DJ Mbenga]

since i have a old tech phone like the eris aka hero i rely on opera mini. so fast and doesnt lag as much as the browser

[cheguevara]

Watch Movies Free
Ted Mobile
S cher
News360
InBrowser
Kindle
Kayak
Fandango
Tricoder - useless but cool Star Trek transcoder emulator

all above are free and use them almost daily

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

If anyone is looking to pick up an android tab...
http://reg.e.staples.com/c/s/tagfrm/...pon.html?n=927

[Jt.ONE]

Word suggestions. It's a tad too cluttered with 10-12 on top of the keyboard. I'd prefer to cut that in half, but that ability isn't part of the app.

I really like the ability to change skins, key height and delete comma/period to make the space bar bigger.

Only problem is the lag when you first start typing. Not really a big deal, though.

probably can't, from what i know of, as i'm going through the app settings myself.

[Nathan Explosion]

Even though this is an iPhone app, I'm throwing it out there in case there is an Android version as well. I really like the app Sky Grid because it takes tons of news links and puts them in one app. And the links are for almost anything you'd want to know, politics, current events, finances, tech stuff, phones and gaming, sports, etc.

Maybe there isn't a Sky Grid, but rather a similar app. I like it as I can keep up lots of things going on in the world since I don't have tons of time to surf the internet or watch tv these days.

[Nathan Explosion]

If anyone is looking to pick up an android tab...
http://reg.e.staples.com/c/s/tagfrm/...pon.html?n=927

Too bad it doesn't work for the Nook Color. I've pretty much decided that this is the route I'm going to good, get an NC and root it. I can't justify spending that much money on a tablet.

[Jt.ONE]

Too bad it doesn't work for the Nook Color. I've pretty much decided that this is the route I'm going to good, get an NC and root it. I can't justify spending that much money on a tablet.

with taht $100 off any tablet, the price for a NOOK vs a tablet isn't that much far apart...

NOOK price = ~200 ish?

tablet with above coupon = ~200 or less? ish

[Drachen]

Too bad it doesn't work for the Nook Color. I've pretty much decided that this is the route I'm going to good, get an NC and root it. I can't justify spending that much money on a tablet.

Nathan, you know that I am a big proponent of the nook color but you may want to look at the asus transformer. After coupon it would be 299 compared to 250 for the book color. It also has honeycomb. Be careful though, check to see if there is a lot of development support like there is for the nc.

[Nathan Explosion]

I've seen a NC on Amazon (of all places) going for $199. Tablets can't beat that. I was actually contemplating get a 7" Galaxy Tab. I like the portability more than a 10" screen and I'm sure they can be had for a good price.

I really want a tab in the 7" range as I want to be able to carry it around with 1 hand vs 2. That's another reason I don't want an iPad, other than I have an iPhone and I feel it's more of the same.