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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: o2dazone on Wed, 24 March 2010, 10:51:09

Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 24 March 2010, 10:51:09
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4452344939_7d79ab13b2.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/81073151@N00/4452344939/)

I picked up a Motorola Droid about a month ago. Got close to rooting it a few times, but I still like my warranty (yes yes I know, I can unroot). Other than that, been test driving tons of apps. Anyone have any favorites?

I currently use TaskPanel for my task manager. It offers an "autokill on sleep" feature, a one click widget that kills all processes that aren't in an ignore list. Also, it's free.

I'm also using Twicca for a twitter client. Slightly less featured than Twidroid, but it's default UI is really enjoyable.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 24 March 2010, 10:55:22
I want the new 4G, Android-based, HTC phone Sprint just announced.  Right now, I have a Palm Pre, though.  I love WebOS, but I don't think Palm is going to be around long enough to see any future revisions of the OS or any new hardware.  It's a shame, too; I really like WebOS.  I am also taking a hard look at Windows Mobile 7 (or whatever the new name is).
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: rdjack21 on Wed, 24 March 2010, 16:02:37
I keep debating weather I want to get the Droid or wait for the Nexus One (Verizon version). With the current special of Buy one get one Free I may just jump on the Droid.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: elservo on Wed, 24 March 2010, 18:34:09
My wife is constantly on her Moto Droid.  She can look up reviews of things she sees in stores before she plunks down money on anything, so shopping with her is now 5090 times less efficient.  Thanks Moto Droid!
Title: Re: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: HaaTa on Wed, 24 March 2010, 20:21:19
Got myself an HTC Magic last July from NTT Docomo.
Mostly use it as a mini computer rather than a phone.

Hmm, most commonly used apps...

AnySoftKeyboard (for Colemak)
Tapatalk (Geekhack)
K9 Mail (Nice for managing multiple email accounts)
My Tracks (I use this all the time for cycling/skiing)
Amdroid (still need to write some more patches for it but works great with my music server on the other side of the planet)
NewsRob (RSS Feeds)
Opera (the new beta is amazing, though lacking a little in OS integration)
Sipdroid (True VOIP)
Wapedia (whenever I need Wikipedia)
BeamReader (nice pdf reader)
ConnectBot (can't live without an ssh terminal)
AziLink (Tethering for my netbook, a little tempermental but easy to setup)
World Weather Widget

Random Others
AndExplorer (decent file manager)
Google Translate
Built-in Japanese keyboard
Age of Conquest
Barcode Scanner (for the QR Codes in Japan)
TaskManager
Wifi Analyzer
Some japanese app that forces vibrate

Been happy with it so far. Only gripe has been the lack of a headphone jack. I also wish it had a longer battery life.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 24 March 2010, 20:29:36
I want a Droid bad, but I have heard better reviews about the Motorola than about the HTC.  Plus I just like the way the Motorola looks.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 31 March 2010, 18:11:12
HaaTa: Thanks for the Tapatalk link, absolutely amazing application for an avid forum reader like moi. I also tried Opera Mini 5, and while its blazing fast, the user-agent string returns something non mobile for a lot of websites :( also no geotracking

I was wondering about Newsrob. Is there a way to directly load up a specific folder? I'll go through stints where all the news I care about, is in one folder of feeds, and then I'll switch when I get interested in another topic. Seems Newsrob has me drill down my feed chain every time, so I've been using Google Reader's mobile website in the meantime. Would like something native though...

CLiB: I liked Motorola's form factor. I've used an HTC before, and they are great, but I much prefer the Droid when it comes to feeling it in my hand (thats what she said).



2.1 OTA started a few days ago, and I had a chance to manually update it. Not a mindblowing upgrade, but cool enough to keep me entertained while I don't root. But I can feel myself getting bored one day and rooting.

I've been using a home screen replacement called Helix. It's pretty amazing, and lightweight. More screens, slightly bigger dock, and the ability to add global shortcuts at the bottom. Get it from the market.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: HaaTa on Wed, 31 March 2010, 18:37:44
Hmm, haven't tried Helix yet.

There are a few bugs with Tapatalk, but overall its amazing (its how I waste my time at work, other than planning for my bike trip to Fukuoka).

As for NewsRob, I don't think I see a way to just load up a single folder.

I'm still using 1.6, only had one update push so far. Though I do get updates for Google Maps, which is nice.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: rdjack21 on Thu, 01 April 2010, 15:20:49
Just picked up my Droid today now the fun part of getting all the stuff I need for it. I guess I will need to buy Tapatalk just so I can keep up with GeekHack :)
Title: Re: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: rdjack21 on Fri, 02 April 2010, 01:05:28
I just went a head and got the paid version. Actually I'm using it right now. It is not to bad but this touch screen keyboard is a real PITA. I think I will just us the  built in keyboard instead.


Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Fri, 02 April 2010, 09:03:28
My mom just got a Samsung Moment smart phones.

It is Phaedrus approved and I'm getting one as soon as I can afford it.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: kishy on Fri, 02 April 2010, 13:01:50
I have no phone smart or otherwise besides what's plugged into the wall.

However...friend has an HTC Dream. He really likes it, and if I were to go for a phone, it's that one (the only HTC running Android that has a keyboard, it appears).
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 07 April 2010, 11:42:55
I heard HTC Dreams are awesome. In fact a lot of the phones HTC is pumping out are just amazing. I had a chance to play with the Nexus One (1ghz chip over Moto Droids underclocked 550mhz). It definitely makes me want to get root for 2.1 and overclock this son of a b.

They also just released a Rhapsody app for Android. P cool if you're a "I like to pay for music" type of person.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: Superfluous Parentheses on Wed, 14 April 2010, 17:30:13
I received my HTC Legend yesterday. I like it reasonably well so far.

Also gave me an excuse to move my mail to my server and setup IMAP so that I've finally got a decent always-on centralized mail functionality on all my machines.

The main annoyance is waiting for HTC and/or google to fix whatever it is so that I can install apps that use the camera without messing with the packages.

Oh, and the browser doesn't support animated GIFs!? I might have to start using opera mini to browse b3ta.com, and I don't like opera mini.

Another annoyance; the google maps app doesn't support pinch-zoom. That's actually really annoying when pretty much everything else uses it.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: o2dazone on Wed, 14 April 2010, 19:05:33
The updated version of Google Maps has pinch zoom, look for it in the Market
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: Superfluous Parentheses on Thu, 15 April 2010, 03:55:04
Quote from: o2dazone;172208
The updated version of Google Maps has pinch zoom, look for it in the Market


I installed the update yesterday. Still no pinch-zoom.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: o2dazone on Thu, 15 April 2010, 11:00:28
Interesting...I watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFIcZPdfVe4&feature=channel and it showed him trying to use the pinch-zoom feature, but it wasn't working.

 I've heard of people have problems using Google Maps pinch-zoom feature with Live Wallpapers. I have not had any pinch zoom issues on my Droid. In fact, before 2.1 Google Maps was one of the few native apps that had pinch zoom. Probably something to further investigate if it matters that much (I really like it...but I know some people don't really care either way)
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sun, 18 April 2010, 01:43:38
Quote from: kishy;168925
I have no phone smart or otherwise besides what's plugged into the wall.

However...friend has an HTC Dream. He really likes it, and if I were to go for a phone, it's that one (the only HTC running Android that has a keyboard, it appears).


I don't own any cell phones or things like that. Brain cancer in a shiny piece of plastic.

I never even owned an MP3 player until last christmas (someone gave me one for a present).
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: HaaTa on Sun, 18 April 2010, 09:25:22
Lemme guess Wifi gives you headaches (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6172257.stm) too.


Though I'll admit, in high school, due to lack of sleep (games), I had headaches all the time. I had a hyper sensitivity to the high pitched sounds from crappy CRT television electron guns.
Since re-adjusting my sleep habits (6-8 hours rather than 4-6), no more problems.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: timw4mail on Thu, 22 April 2010, 06:16:27
Yesterday I got a Motorola Cliq. Touchscreen and keyboard.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: HaaTa on Thu, 22 April 2010, 06:29:25
Liking it?
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: zXWF on Thu, 22 April 2010, 06:49:00
A port of Android OS was today revealed for the iPhone by a hacker of the iPhone-Dev team, so I will definitely try to install this when I get home! :)

http://linuxoniphone.blogspot.com/2010/04/ive-been-working-on-this-quietly-in.html
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: timw4mail on Thu, 22 April 2010, 16:21:45
Quote from: HaaTa;174367
Liking it?

Yeah. especially after finding a tethering app for it.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 22 April 2010, 16:40:18
Quote from: HaaTa;173205
Lemme guess Wifi gives you headaches (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6172257.stm) too.


Though I'll admit, in high school, due to lack of sleep (games), I had headaches all the time. I had a hyper sensitivity to the high pitched sounds from crappy CRT television electron guns.
Since re-adjusting my sleep habits (6-8 hours rather than 4-6), no more problems.


Even worse, the Zionist Shadow Government can use them to track you.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: xsphat on Thu, 22 April 2010, 21:37:07
Jesus, you people are nuts! Realize — NO ONE is tracking you.

BTW, I've had an HTC Hero for a couple months and I absolutely love it. The Sense virtual keyboard is the best one I've ever seen. I also have an iPod Touch, which I am really happy with. Both OSs have advantages and disadvantages, so it would be a difficult decision if I had to pick one.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 23 April 2010, 05:55:57
Quote from: xsphat;174730
Jesus, you people are nuts! Realize — NO ONE is tracking you.


Either you're stating the obvious, or my sarcasm flew right over your head =P
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: zXWF on Fri, 23 April 2010, 07:34:58
Quote from: xsphat;174730
Jesus, you people are nuts! Realize — NO ONE is tracking you.


Google is tracking us.
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 23 April 2010, 09:21:58
Bring a gas mask, formaldehyde is toxic.  The good thing is, if you die from it, your family will save big on "processing."
Title: Any Android OS smartphone users?
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 03 May 2010, 07:41:00
I occasionally run Android on my HTC Touch Pro. The builds that are available right now are battery hogs, though - 4 hours battery life on a good day. And, a lot of the hardware still isn't supported, and it's not very optimized. (Which reminds me, I need to try an updated kernel and maybe image.)

If you ever have a need to use SSH... ConnectBot is incredible.