The official ANDROID thread!

[CyberPitz]

Let's go ahead and bundle all of the useful tips, apps, widgets, etc in this thread.

A list of apps I've gotten my hands on that I enjoy IMMENSELY...

Advanced Task Killer - Kill any running tasks *Since we can Multitask!* to free up resources.
Bar Code Scanner - Great for price searching while shopping
Nesoid/SNesoid/etc - Great working emulators. I've not had a single issue with NES/SNES ones.
Home++ - Customize your home page even greater than before!
Beautiful Widget - All sorts of nifty widgets to use. I enjoy the clock/weather in one piece.
vizBattery - An easy icon to see a percentage of your battery, instead of the stock ol' battery icon.
Battery Life - Alternative battery life app with colour customisation (free)
Gmote - Allows streaming of music from your phone wirelessly to your PC and vice versa! (Browse entire music library through wifi) - (free)
Astro File Manager - Lets you browse through your sd card and copy / cut / paste / rename files you download from the net etc. Very handy (free)
beebPlayer - For UKers - BBC iPlayer on your phone (free)
SMS Popup - Gives you a little box with a preview of your text messages without needed to go to 'messages' (free)
Remote Desktop - Lets me access my home PC via phone. Supports pinch functions to zoom in on your PC screen. Works really well (paid app - $20ish)

 

[Warped]

On my HTC Incredible I like to use the 'Task Manager' App to kill tasks quickly, which frees up a lot of resources. The Bar Code Scanner is nice for price searching while shopping. the Navigation program is awesome. theres 'Nesoid' which is an emulator for NES, GBA, Genesis, etc games. I mean I can go on and on and on about how good this was. I just got home from work half an hour late because I was showing Quake 2 off to my friends and also playing dr Mario and other shit. the Android Phones totally beat out iPhone IMO and its much more customizable.

 

[63]

On my HTC Incredible I like to use the 'Task Manager' App to kill tasks quickly, which frees up a lot of resources. The Bar Code Scanner is nice for price searching while shopping. the Navigation program is awesome. theres 'Nesoid' which is an emulator for NES, GBA, Genesis, etc games. I mean I can go on and on and on about how good this was. I just got home from work half an hour late because I was showing Quake 2 off to my friends and also playing dr Mario and other shit. the Android Phones totally beat out iPhone IMO and its much more customizable.

Beat the iPhone in apps?

 

[CyberPitz]

It doesn't beat the iPhone in quantity, but there are still a lot of quality apps in the Android market. I have a feeling it will be bursting at the seems in the next few months, since I know a few people who are waiting for Flash 10.1 to be released....I wonder if that will open up the apps even more? I have no idea how that would work.

 

[63]

It doesn't beat the iPhone in quantity, but there are still a lot of quality apps in the Android market.

No doubt. Android has a bright future, but iPhone is still doing exceptionally well.

 

[CyberPitz]

Yeah, and iPhone has OS4 right around the corner. I'm no iPhone hater, I just like having more freedom in my phones...

 

[Warped]

iPhone came in terms of popularity, but in all honesty I think Android will be the best competitor and is doing things better overall

 

[Shakermaker]

Android <3

My favourite app would be the TF2 backpack viewer

 

[CyberPitz]

I'd use it if I had more than 3 items in my backpack... \=

 

[Bakurei]

Google I/O been going on for some time now... I'm buying the first phone with Android 2.2, also I'll buy all the babies of the developers NAO!

Speed coming, messaging between other devices (like sending pages from PC to android and it'll open that link and the browser automatically), automatic updating of application, programs on sd. And advertisement on every app? FFFUUUUUUUUUUUU

Edit: WTF. Everyone at the conference got a free nexus one/motorola droid.... And now EVO 4G.

 

[No Limit]

I was going to wait until June for the new iPhone to come out and see what it had to offer. But I think I'm just going to go with the Evo 4G when it comes out on the 4th of June. I'm sold on this phone.

I heard they have apps which will let you connect to your computer and use the internet off the phone without paying any monthly fees. With the evo 4G I hope they will hack this so you can use the built in hotspot without having to pay a monthly fee for it. The open source android market makes Android an iPhone killer in my personal opinion.

 

[Bakurei]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/0...or-trackball-car-dock-improvements-with-pics/

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Battery Life - Alternative battery life app with colour customisation (free)
Gmote - Allows streaming of music from your phone wirelessly to your PC and vice versa! (Browse entire music library through wifi) - (free)
Astro File Manager - Lets you browse through your sd card and copy / cut / paste / rename files you download from the net etc. Very handy (free)
beebPlayer - For UKers - BBC iPlayer on your phone (free)
SMS Popup - Gives you a little box with a preview of your text messages without needed to go to 'messages' (free)
Remote Desktop - Lets me access my home PC via phone. Supports pinch functions to zoom in on your PC screen. Works really well (paid app - $20ish)

+1 for taskiller pro, beautiful widget, barcode scanner & emulators.

 

[CyberPitz]

I can't wait for Froyo.....mmmmmmmm

 

[MorganFreeman911]

I'm looking in to getting A: a job and B: an Android phone. Which one is the best?

 

[CyberPitz]

There really isn't a best. You should probably, when the time comes, try all the ones with your carrier.

 

[Bakurei]

Do B, then start developing for Android and BOOM you got AB! ^^

 

[Sedako]

Cubed music player - Creative interface for a standard music player.
Helix Launcher - Replacement launcher that allows you to dock up 4 apps.
SetCPU - Overclocking app for rooted phones. I have my droid running cool and stable at 1.1ghz, almost double the stock clock of 600ghz.
Spare Parts - Allows you to change some of the phone's behaviors, like increasing the animation speed for opening apps.

 

[CyberPitz]

Sedako, why do you speak these things. Now I want a 1.1 ghz Droid

 

[Insano]

I made an Android application about a 1.5 years ago for a class. Too bad it doesn't run on the current Android build anymore

 

[Warped]

I love my HTC Incredible, today though I dropped it on the road and its all scratched up now. one thing they should have done with this phone though is abbreviate the name

 

[kupocake]

Re: Froyo. I thought the term was Frogurt? (That's Bad).

Anyway... only had my HTC Legend for a week, tried the following:

Advanced Task Killer (the last thing I click on when I put my phone in my pocket. Of course, since I've never used the phone without it, it's hard for me to be objective about whether it makes the experience smoother)

Barcode Scanner (Google search / url reader with 1D / 2D Barcodes)

Google Goggles (Search Google with Images. Novelty only at this stage, since it only seems to work on things that you'd have to live in a cave to not recognise).

Google Sky Map (Fascinating, a full spinny-rotatey celestial map. Waiting until I go somewhere more rural to properly roadtest it, but my initial impression is that it doesn't make the constellations any less cryptic )

Gmote (Maybe I'm not doing it right, but it just seems like a clunky, explorer-lead way of navigating through my media. Perhaps it doesn't like iTunes or something).

Layar (Adds information layers over your camera-feed. Huge potential, but mostly just flashy at the moment).

Net Counter (Straightforward configurable data watcher. Perfect for keeping an eye on my tight 500mb bundle).

Shazam (Music identifier. Free, pretty accurate in the limited tests I've done)

Where's My Droid (Text a key phrase to your phone from any phone to get it to shout for help, for those times when you've lost it and left it on silent... and not left it unattended for the five minutes it takes for the battery to die).

I love my HTC Incredible, today though I dropped it on the road and its all scratched up now. one thing they should have done with this phone though is abbreviate the name

Or call it the HTC Incroyable for a bit of European-flair.

 

[Warped]

lol good idea. I use about 60% of the apps you just listed. I really need a case for mine though, its dinged up and i think i've only had it for 3-4 weeks now

 

[arch5]

I'm looking in to getting A: a job and B: an Android phone. Which one is the best?

Nexus One. I have one and it's great.

I suggust flashing CyanogenMod 5 for all android users.
Also, Sketch Online Beta is a great app. Its like Pictionary, but online and on your phone.

 

[Shamrock]

For those that also have the Droid Incredible, I suggest purchasing the Seidio case that's coming out in two days. I've used them before, and they're very protective.

 

[Warped]

Cubed music player - Creative interface for a standard music player.
Helix Launcher - Replacement launcher that allows you to dock up 4 apps.
SetCPU - Overclocking app for rooted phones. I have my droid running cool and stable at 1.1ghz, almost double the stock clock of 600ghz.
Spare Parts - Allows you to change some of the phone's behaviors, like increasing the animation speed for opening apps.

for SetCPU, do I really need to Root my Incredible before I do this?? my friend says I probably won't need to

 

[Shamrock]

for SetCPU, do I really need to Root my Incredible before I do this?? my friend says I probably won't need to

Yes you have to, but the one thing you can do in SetCPU is set a minimum clock speed. You are unable to overclock it without root.

myTextSpeed is also a very fun application. I'm the leader in time on it in 3 of the four categories. Muahaha.

 

[Warped]

Yes you have to, but the one thing you can do in SetCPU is set a minimum clock speed. You are unable to overclock it without root.

myTextSpeed is also a very fun application. I'm the leader in time on it in 3 of the four categories. Muahaha.

I could just wait for Android 2.2 and be happy with the improvements. anyway someone should make an app "Helplife2"

 

[Shamrock]

I could just wait for Android 2.2 and be happy with the improvements. anyway someone should make an app "Helplife2"

If I could code at all, I would gladly. I want to learn how to program for Android.

 

[Cpt Tenacious]

Man, I want one of these. If only I wasn't a broke ass nigga.

 

[arch5]

A HL2.Net "Latest Threads" Widget would be nice.

Also:
LauncherPro- Similar to normal launcher, but adds a dock for SMS, Contacts, Phone, and Browser. Up to 7 screens, and the between-screen scrolling is smoother.

 

[Escaep]

A HL2.Net "Latest Threads" Widget would be nice.

Also:
LauncherPro- Similar to normal launcher, but adds a dock for SMS, Contacts, Phone, and Browser. Up to 7 screens, and the between-screen scrolling is smoother.

A mobile HL2.net would be nice as well.

 

[arch5]

A mobile HL2.net would be nice as well.

Well we do have the option of http://www.tapatalk.com/

 

[CyberPitz]

I'll take Tapatalk, tbh.

 

[No Limit]

Well we do have the option of http://www.tapatalk.com/

Very cool, we should activate that here.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

I've noticed people using that on an android forum I'm registered to and wondered what it is.

We have some major maintenance work going on for the site next week which we'll make an announcement about soon in the feedback forum. After which we'll be updating / upgrading certain things on the forum - and this will be included in that list.

Stay tuned.

 

[CyberPitz]

Sweeeeeetttt

 

[xcellerate]

My roommate got an android phone and honestly, I don't see what the big deal is.

From the first time I turned it on I noticed the clock and battery don't automatically update. If the last time I opened the phone was 4pm, when I open it at 5pm, I'll first see 4pm then watch it change to 5pm. And the phone doesn't automatically change time zones, if you want to update your time zone you have to turn the phone off then on again.

The multitasking seems like a gimmick too because you can't actually *close* apps, just 'minimize' them and save their state. If you actually want to close an application you either have to restart the phone or download a third-party task manager app to do it.

The OS has flash, but literally 100% of the websites I tried to go to were unusable. I stayed away from obvious sites like youtube but hulu was miserably, unwatchably slow. I spent five minutes at 2advanced.com and it never even loaded the first 10 seconds of animation, and even some of the half flash/half html sites were useless because flash relies so heavily on mouseOver's that some buttons and menus don't function properly without a mouse (go figure). Removing apps seems like a hassle as well, you have to navigate through a menu system. Why couldn't they just copy apple as this one part? Touch an icon for 3 seconds, press the X, it's now deleted.

edited: I realize this is a lot of complaining, but I just had such high hopes for droid after all the talk I've been hearing the past few months. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I mean the OS is less locked down, and developers have more freedom to make their apps, and the battery is removable...but none of that translated to the user's end like I was expecting. Is there some feature(s) I missed that I really should be looking at?

 

[kupocake]

From the first time I turned it on I noticed the clock and battery don't automatically update. If the last time I opened the phone was 4pm, when I open it at 5pm, I'll first see 4pm then watch it change to 5pm.

That just sounds like the behaviour of the HTC clock widget. The clock on the top right / unlock screen is always correct. Never had problems with the battery icon's updates.

Proper flash support is coming in Android 2.2, a fact which is no secret. However, word is that the browser is going to be worse off for enabling it. Can't say I care either way. UK data bundles are too stingy for me to use all two genuinely useful flash websites in any place that doesn't already have wi-fi / several bigger screens I can view them on.

App management is a bit circuitous, but it's hardly a deal breaker. Ultimately, Android alone doesn't make for better phones than going for a typical iphone. You have to factor in the way that the hardware specs are simply more punchy for the amount of cash you hand over. Better value components with comparably competent interfaces versus Apple products? A tale as old as time.

 

[xcellerate]

Yea you're right about the cost, I wasnt really factoring it in. I think he paid like $20 for the phone after the rebate.