The Official Android thread.

[quote name='manthing']The Optimus V is the same as the Optimus S(Sprint) in terms of accessories.[/quote]
I know, I was just looking for recommendations. I didn't put screen protectors on my current phone (or a case) since it was going to be a test phone for VM, but on a $150 phone I want to protect it.

When I set up a V for a family member, I went to Amazon.com and grabbed a silicone case and a multipack of screen protectors, and I chose by free shipping options. I spent under $10 for a blue protector and a 3 screen guards.
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I'll probably just use the $10 GC from RS for buying the phone on a case there, and then order screen protectors from somewhere like Amazon. I figure that's probably the best idea. The Body Glove case would only be $10 that way.

And did you know the Optimus V is $130 this week @BB? Why not take a BB ad to Target and price match?
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Yes, I do know about it. I even referenced above that it was cheaper at BB than RS.
I have a RadioShack 5 minutes away, whereas the nearest Target is nearly an hour away. The cost of gas + dealing with the clusterfuck that is the drive to that Target isn't worth $10 savings ($150 - $10 off 40 RS coupon + $10 GC vs $130 at BB/Target).
 
I can safely say that having used a 4 inch phone, I couldn't use anything smaller. Typing can be hard enough as it is sometimes, but having an even smaller screen means an even smaller keyboard. A hardware keyboard would help that, but I still wouldn't want anything smaller.
 
Yeah there is that, that was a good move on LG's part. Some games I could imagine being a little more difficult.
 
[quote name='Altanis']
Yes, I do know about it. I even referenced above that it was cheaper at BB than RS.
I have a RadioShack 5 minutes away, whereas the nearest Target is nearly an hour away. The cost of gas + dealing with the clusterfuck that is the drive to that Target isn't worth $10 savings ($150 - $10 off 40 RS coupon + $10 GC vs $130 at BB/Target).[/QUOTE]

Use this link

http://www.radioshack.com/product/inStoreAvail.jsp?productId=11231368
 
I know about that. However, if you know anything about RadioShack's store locator (especially if you followed their DS Lite Clearance back in November or so), you'd know that it's often quite inaccurate.

Although I must admit, I'm quite miffed what the RS store locator for the Optimus V has to do with the quote above.


[quote name='Clak']I can safely say that having used a 4 inch phone, I couldn't use anything smaller. Typing can be hard enough as it is sometimes, but having an even smaller screen means an even smaller keyboard. A hardware keyboard would help that, but I still wouldn't want anything smaller.[/QUOTE]
I know how you feel. I'm a stickler for a keyboard, and would love to get the Intercept instead of the Optimus, but I can barely justify paying $150 for a phone, much less trying to justify $200 for a phone that in every way except the keyboard is inferior to the Optimus. I think I can adjust to a touchscreen only. From what I have read and heard about the Intercept, I'd likely end up getting just an Android version of the current phone I have, that has faster internet and can actually use apps.
If there were rumors about what VM's next big phone was and when they were getting it, I might be willing to torture myself a bit longer with the X-TC I have, but this thing really blows and quite honestly annoys the hell out of me quite often.
My goal is a new phone every 12-18 months, and I've had this phone for 10 months. Considering that it had a spell for a month where nearly every time the keyboard was opened the slightest bit quick it would restart itself, I'm ready for a replacement.
 
Well, it worked for me when the Optimus V was released a few weeks back.

And I actually own a VM Intercept right now, and had both it and the Optimus to use at the same time, and the Optimus is ∞x better than the Intercept.
 
[quote name='Gden']I would really like to know when Android is getting the netflix app.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I've been wondering this, too. The discussions I've read elsewhere say that when a netflix app comes out, it won't work with phones whose release preceded the app. For hardware and DRM reasons. That's speculation though, no sense in linking to that. Waiting for something official...
 
I'm currently using a free trial of PlayOn to stream my Netflix instant watch on my Droid Incredible. I have had no problems it runs smoothly using the 3g.
 
I've been looking through the XDA theme threads and I really like some of the simpler themes, so I decided to change mine. Still a work in progress but here's what I got:

sc20110304112530.png


sc20110304112538.png
sc20110304112546.png
sc20110304112549.png
 
I hate my lack of any artistic creativity. Everything I do ends up being functional, but pretty it ain't. I guess that's just the type i am, most technical types don't seem to have a knack for artistic creativity. Btw, GO Launcher has some pretty nice themes, nicer than ADW I think, which is what I usually use.
 
Heh, so I didn't get to go get the Optimus V yesterday like I planned. So this morning, I hit up the closest RadioShack at 9:15am (yes, I am insane). They sold out yesterday. So, since I'm going to Best Buy anyway, I decide to check there. Success! $130 for the phone. I ask about their $170 bundle offer, and the one guy goes "uhhh" and the cell phone dept manager goes "umm, as long as it's in the ad, we'll honor it."

After the one guy looked for the Optimus V screen protectors for about 5 minutes (I was starting to laugh at that point) the manager lady just walks to the endcap of the aisle with them and picks up the Optimus S screen protects and the car charger that was right above them and goes "close enough, here ya go." The guy looked pissed. Oh well, his fault for not grabbing them in the first place.

Too bad I'm gonna be busy for the rest of today so I can't play around with the phone. It hasn't even left the box yet.
 
Just updated my Galaxy S (ATT) to Froyo (I know, I'm late to the party, Samsung waited forever to make their official Froyo update). I haven't noticed a huge difference yet, just several small things.
 
If you're not an advanced phone user you probably won't notice. However, I can say it's leagues better than Eclair. My Hero doesn't have official Froyo and it blows.
 
I have an og Droid and it's slow as crap and I can't figure out why. Maybe Beautiful Widgets is slowing it down? It's really annoying :(
 
Anyone know of a quick and easy way to stop an app, and the next time you open it, it NOT go to where you were before?

I have Skyfire installed, and noticed that whenever I closed it and later opened it again, it went back to my last page. It's not like I'm viewing "adult content" or anything, I just would rather it go to my homepage than the last page I was on.
 
lovin n64droid... glad it finally came out.. Hopefully some updates improve it soon.

Also the hdmi mirrorring app for the Evo finally came out recently... still a bit buggy but bad ass nonetheless
 
[quote name='Altanis'] It's not like I'm viewing "adult content" or anything, I just would rather it go to my homepage than the last page I was on.[/QUOTE]

Translation: I was looking at adult content. :shock:

I know Dolphin browser prompts whether I want to clear the browser's cache every time I exit it... perhaps Skyfire has a similar feature built into it's options?
 
:rofl: I wish I was.

I will try using Dolphin instead. I was just using Skyfire because it was the first one that popped up in the marketplace. Laziness trumps all. I did eventually download Dolphin though.
 
Skyfire is great if a page has flash as their servers cache the video but sucks for normal browsing. Dolphin HD is good if you want to use add-ons and Dolphin mini is the same as the HD instead no add-ons and is faster. The default browser is the fastest and does "fit to screen" the best.
 
So I just dumped my old iPhone 3gs for the HTC Inspire, and oh man, i gotta say, the freedom, the customizability, the old 16bit console emulators?! Man, this phone just rocks. TY Android for setting me free.
 
So, I've been playing around with my phone, and couldn't for the life of me figure out what the easiest way to get music on the phone via the SD card was, whether I should drag and drop or create a folder or whatever. Apparently, that is covered in the manual (albeit on page like 120). I really should read that thing...

I really feel stupid after reading it's either or. Drag and drop just to the SD card or create a separate folder. :lol:
 
[quote name='seen']The default browser is the fastest and does "fit to screen" the best.[/QUOTE]

Wot? Opera is noticeably faster.
 
I stand corrected on the speed part with Opera mini (just tested it), however the default browser still does "fit to screen" better and "pinch to zoom" is smoother.
 
Actually from a comparison I saw a few weeks ago it seems that Firefox Beta 4 is the fastest.
 
[quote name='Altanis']Anyone know of a quick and easy way to stop an app, and the next time you open it, it NOT go to where you were before?

I have Skyfire installed, and noticed that whenever I closed it and later opened it again, it went back to my last page. It's not like I'm viewing "adult content" or anything, I just would rather it go to my homepage than the last page I was on.[/QUOTE]

Check the options within skyfire, there's an option on there to start it up with a specific homepage. Also, you might not be exiting properly, use the back button 2-3 times until the exit option appears.
 
I'm pretty sure I'm not exiting the program right. I've never seen anything that asked me about exiting....

It's not a huge deal, it's just that I found it weird.
 
Yeah that must be it then, if you don't exit, it will remain in the background and can drain your battery faster. This is where apps like task killer or the power monitor help out. Just make sure you repeatedly press the back button and you'll see a pop-up appear asking you to exit.
 
That's the weird thing though. I've checked the running processes list under the settings, and skyfire isn't there. It's just the Android OS processes and Swype. Maybe I'm not getting a full list or something.
 
[quote name='seen']I stand corrected on the speed part with Opera mini (just tested it), however the default browser still does "fit to screen" better and "pinch to zoom" is smoother.[/QUOTE]

That's why I use Opera 95% of the time, and Dolphin HD for the rest. Opera doesn't use pinch to zoom, just a tap to zoom, back to zoom out.
 
I figured out what I was doing wrong. I need to push and hold the back button on my phone, and then the exit window pops up. That was the fix I was looking for.

Now to figure out how to get a ringtone that's loud enough from 2-3 feet away to wake me up. So far none I've tried actually wake me up- and with a 930AM exam next Tuesday, waking up is very important.
 
[quote name='Clak']Actually from a comparison I saw a few weeks ago it seems that Firefox Beta 4 is the fastest.[/QUOTE]

Really, was this on a tablet because from my smart-phone testing Firefox was slow and didn't have many of the popular add-ons.

[quote name='LinkinPrime']Yeah that must be it then, if you don't exit, it will remain in the background and can drain your battery faster. This is where apps like task killer or the power monitor help out. Just make sure you repeatedly press the back button and you'll see a pop-up appear asking you to exit.[/QUOTE]

This was one of the first apps I got and am glad to have. It is disappointing how much crap just runs in the background (wasting ram) without user-intervention; makes me tempted to root.
 
Task killers aren't needed folks. Android is designed to manage it's own use of memory. When it needs more to run something, it will close down things running in the background to free up memory. It's harder for Android to start a new program than to bring one up that is already running in the background. Automated task killers are even worse.

I can't remember exactly what that firefox test was run on, I want to say it was a Nexus S.
 
On the grand scheme of things, keeping a little bit of data in RAM is not going to save you anything near significant. The biggest drain will be your screen and sending signals, by far.
 
I didn't know there was an official Android thread :)

About a month ago, I decided it was time to upgrade my 2 year old Samsung Behold to an HTC HD2. I have the $5.99 Tzones plan on Tmobile and didn't want to lock into a 2 year contract with a mandatory data plan and this phone works perfectly with it.

I used Windows 6.5 for a day until I installed Darkstone's Superram Froyo on the SD card and I haven't looked back. The battery life is ok if I turn off data and sync, otherwise, I only get about 12 hours from it.

I'll be reading through the thread to see what are some of the must have apps. So far I like Dolphin Browser, ACV (comic book reader), Grooveshark, and the Tiger emulators.
 
[quote name='Clak']Task killers aren't needed folks. Android is designed to manage it's own use of memory. When it needs more to run something, it will close down things running in the background to free up memory. It's harder for Android to start a new program than to bring one up that is already running in the background. Automated task killers are even worse.
[/QUOTE]

I disagree with your theory of task-killers. If you launch a bunch of apps, don't close them it hogs space in your memory.

Example: My phone has 325 MB of ram, I can see this using the "program monitor" widget which came stock. After the Android OS starts I check the program monitor to see already 160 MB of ram being use of 325 MB. After playing a few games, watching video's & doing some web-browsing goes up to ~175 MB; after seeing this I close everything use a task-killer otherwise the battery will drain faster and they system will slow down and the ram usage will go up.


...Also firefox does hog a bunch of ram draining the battery faster.
 
[quote name='seen']I disagree with your theory of task-killers. If you launch a bunch of apps, don't close them it hogs space in your memory.

Example: My phone has 325 MB of ram, I can see this using the "program monitor" widget which came stock. After the Android OS starts I check the program monitor to see already 160 MB of ram being use of 325 MB. After playing a few games, watching video's & doing some web-browsing goes up to ~175 MB; after seeing this I close everything use a task-killer otherwise the battery will drain faster and they system will slow down and the ram usage will go up.


...Also firefox does hog a bunch of ram draining the battery faster.[/QUOTE]

Let Android handle it itself. Look up some data sheets if you don't believe me, but best case scenario for a cellphone current gen RAM chip with no data versus filled with data will be about 10-15mW more power consumption. You will not notice a difference in battery life. RAM isn't handled so inefficiently on *NIX systems that it will make a difference whether you actively kill the process or not. On the other hand, clearing the RAM will cause the chip to draw 6x idle power, or 60x refresh power, not counting the processor itself. So killing tasks potentially (and likely) does more harm than doing nothing.
 
Android has a built in task killer and ram manager since 2.0. In fact, using task killers in 2.0 and up can hurt your battery usage severely. I do not suggest using one at all.
 
[quote name='seen']I disagree with your theory of task-killers. If you launch a bunch of apps, don't close them it hogs space in your memory.

Example: My phone has 325 MB of ram, I can see this using the "program monitor" widget which came stock. After the Android OS starts I check the program monitor to see already 160 MB of ram being use of 325 MB. After playing a few games, watching video's & doing some web-browsing goes up to ~175 MB; after seeing this I close everything use a task-killer otherwise the battery will drain faster and they system will slow down and the ram usage will go up.


...Also firefox does hog a bunch of ram draining the battery faster.[/QUOTE]
Well I'm not just theorizing, it's a hard fact. In fact, it's the reason why no task killer is usually included on most phones, and if there is it's added by the manufacturer. Programs don't continue to run to the extent you're thinking, like they would in say Windows. Yes, ram usage will go up as you continue to run things, but they will start being closed once your available ram drops below an acceptable point.
 
[quote name='Sinistar']Post your results on how the root went. I'm curious if its worth getting it for use as an Android tablet.[/QUOTE]

Went great, loving my Nook Tablet so far. i used Auto-Nooter 1.1 which was super easy. And i just use Launcher pro for my Home Replacement to the B&N launcher.

main.php
 
The name Auto-Nooter sounds funny.

I know I've been asking a lot of (probably stupid) questions lately, but all I really found from a few minutes on Google was a lot of varying opinions, so:

Is there a decent multi-client IM app for Android? Something like Digsby on Windows? I think I saw Trillian in the Android market, but I don't really like their Windows client.
 
[quote name='Altanis']The name Auto-Nooter sounds funny.

I know I've been asking a lot of (probably stupid) questions lately, but all I really found from a few minutes on Google was a lot of varying opinions, so:

Is there a decent multi-client IM app for Android? Something like Digsby on Windows? I think I saw Trillian in the Android market, but I don't really like their Windows client.[/QUOTE]

Pretty sure I said it before, but I use Meebo.
 
I'll be picking up a free Inspire 4G (the rebranded Desire HD, if I'm not mistaken) this week. Anyone have any impressions/tips for a first time Android user?
 
So if Android can mange itself, why do a bunch of programs I don't use mysteriously start themselves? They do hog my memory!
 
[quote name='seen']So if Android can mange itself, why do a bunch of programs I don't use mysteriously start themselves? They do hog my memory![/QUOTE]

No one's saying it doesn't happen. We're just telling you to not worry about it, because because you're not going to see a difference whether you take action or not.
 
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