Android apps
10 January 2011, 03:47 PM
#1
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Android apps
I received a HTC Desire HD today and would like to know what apps folk are using.
I'd like an app to manage the phone on the PC. I'd also like one that will sync to Outlook if possible too.
What store for apps do people use? The orange one doesn't seem that great - appbrain has been suggested to me.
I'd like an app to manage the phone on the PC. I'd also like one that will sync to Outlook if possible too.
What store for apps do people use? The orange one doesn't seem that great - appbrain has been suggested to me.
10 January 2011, 04:46 PM
#2
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Android market should have most of what you'd need want, rac traffic is good Skype, swype, also if your charged for voicemail try hullomail etc. Though make sure you disable auto updates as sometimes you have a nicely working free app and the writers sometimes take out functionality to sell you an update.
Ray
Ray
10 January 2011, 05:50 PM
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I use Skype and Sipdroid (for VoIP) both of which are good and don't drain the battery that much (at least in comparision to their iPhone counterpart). Task manager as above, and then games like Angry Birds.
You can't manage much from the PC. My Galaxy S comes with some software on the PC but it is quite useless.
Steve
You can't manage much from the PC. My Galaxy S comes with some software on the PC but it is quite useless.
Steve
10 January 2011, 06:36 PM
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banish outlook! you are missing out on so many functions by using it, mover out of the 90's!
angry birds
dropbox
google translate
last.fm
launcherpro
ocado
opera mobile
rebtel
shopsavvy
swiftkey (great keyboard app)
tunein radio
wordpress
youtube
that shold get you started!
angry birds
dropbox
google translate
last.fm
launcherpro
ocado
opera mobile
rebtel
shopsavvy
swiftkey (great keyboard app)
tunein radio
wordpress
youtube
that shold get you started!
10 January 2011, 07:00 PM
#6
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Got a DHD as well. The htc sync SW (on your sd card and/or download it from htc) will sync with Outlook but I found a few issues. Can't remember what as it was a couple of months ago. Downloaded and installed MyPhoneExplorer (PC client plus app on the phone) ... http://www.fjsoft.at/en/ ... and now all is good with the world! They have a good forum where the developer is pretty good at getting back to you. Ignore SS and the 'banish OL' cries. If, like me, you use OL for contacts and calendar and do not want to entrust this to the *cloud* then just keep on uisng it.
3gwatchdog - is a must! To check your internet usage against your limits!
AngryBirds is a must though my 6 year old plays it more than me ...
Poweramp for music - you have to pay but it's the best one I've tried.
I use Sharekeyboard ... http://www.androidzoom.com/android_a...free_lisd.html ... so I can use my pc keyboard via wifi.
Youlu for contacts - I found (and so have others) the standard HTC Sense contact manager a pain when trying to check a postal address. You see the first (short) line of the address, you tap this and a mapping app, pops up that shows you where the location is. Great if you want to navigate their but a pain when all you want is the address to put on an envelope! No way to change the default their but Youlu does the job. You see the full address and ONLY then will it link to the mapping app IF you want to.
Dolphin browser HD. That's the one I use though there are several.
Fotmob6 for the fottie!
Gemini calendar
There's even a Kindle reader if you go look.
I use Handcent SMS for texts - but I hardly send any anyway!
Oh, you DO NOT need a taskkiller with Android 2.2!!!!!
I repeat, you DO NOT need a taskkiller with Android 2.2!!!!!
Go see ... http://android-developers.blogspot.c...droid-way.html ... for one. Plenty of other links via a Google search that explain why they are bad!
Also check out the forums at ... http://androidforums.com/ ... and ... http://forum.xda-developers.com/ ...
As for an app store - the Android market. Other than that you need to check out what you need - then where you get it from.
Dave
3gwatchdog - is a must! To check your internet usage against your limits!
AngryBirds is a must though my 6 year old plays it more than me ...
Poweramp for music - you have to pay but it's the best one I've tried.
I use Sharekeyboard ... http://www.androidzoom.com/android_a...free_lisd.html ... so I can use my pc keyboard via wifi.
Youlu for contacts - I found (and so have others) the standard HTC Sense contact manager a pain when trying to check a postal address. You see the first (short) line of the address, you tap this and a mapping app, pops up that shows you where the location is. Great if you want to navigate their but a pain when all you want is the address to put on an envelope! No way to change the default their but Youlu does the job. You see the full address and ONLY then will it link to the mapping app IF you want to.
Dolphin browser HD. That's the one I use though there are several.
Fotmob6 for the fottie!
Gemini calendar
There's even a Kindle reader if you go look.
I use Handcent SMS for texts - but I hardly send any anyway!
Oh, you DO NOT need a taskkiller with Android 2.2!!!!!
I repeat, you DO NOT need a taskkiller with Android 2.2!!!!!
Go see ... http://android-developers.blogspot.c...droid-way.html ... for one. Plenty of other links via a Google search that explain why they are bad!
Also check out the forums at ... http://androidforums.com/ ... and ... http://forum.xda-developers.com/ ...
As for an app store - the Android market. Other than that you need to check out what you need - then where you get it from.
Dave
Last edited by hutton_d; 10 January 2011 at 08:06 PM. Reason: Tarting up ....
Don't use a task killer, does more harm than good
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11 January 2011, 12:37 AM
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Where to start? Welcome to android and a nice phone you've got. I've had my Desire since March '10 and i'm still tweaking and playing with it. Plenty of reading for you over here: http://androidforums.com/htc-desire-hd/
Launchers; If you get bored of the limitations of Sense UI, then Go and Launcher Pro are about the best. Scrollable docks with swipe actions, hide apps and much more.
Lock Screens; Goto, WidgetLocker and Lockbot are good.
Games;
- Slice It, very addictive angles games.
- Slugs
- Angry Birds
- Moron Test
- Robo Defense
- Shoot U
- Tank Hero
- NFS
- 2 Player Reactor
SMS;
- Go SMS - Light and well laid out
Others include Handcent and Chomp
Utils;
- Apps Organiser is a must,
- Slide-It - an alternative keyboard to the HTC one, similar to Swype, better i thought, - - Smart Volume - locks and manages volumes for all areas, so no changes happen in pocket
- Rockplayer - Plays most video formats (divx, avi, mkv etc)
- Shazam - Music recogniser
- Beautiful Widgets
- ShopSavvy - Barcode scanner, QR Code reader, price checker
* MyTracks - Tracks & maps cycle/walk routes
* Gesture Search - Write on screen to search instead of typing
- Extended controls - widgets for wifi/bt/2g-3g etc etc
When you're ready to find out how different you're phone can look, have a look in here. I've submitted about 5 layouts already:
http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/...mescreens.html
Hope that helps...
Launchers; If you get bored of the limitations of Sense UI, then Go and Launcher Pro are about the best. Scrollable docks with swipe actions, hide apps and much more.
Lock Screens; Goto, WidgetLocker and Lockbot are good.
Games;
- Slice It, very addictive angles games.
- Slugs
- Angry Birds
- Moron Test
- Robo Defense
- Shoot U
- Tank Hero
- NFS
- 2 Player Reactor
SMS;
- Go SMS - Light and well laid out
Others include Handcent and Chomp
Utils;
- Apps Organiser is a must,
- Slide-It - an alternative keyboard to the HTC one, similar to Swype, better i thought, - - Smart Volume - locks and manages volumes for all areas, so no changes happen in pocket
- Rockplayer - Plays most video formats (divx, avi, mkv etc)
- Shazam - Music recogniser
- Beautiful Widgets
- ShopSavvy - Barcode scanner, QR Code reader, price checker
* MyTracks - Tracks & maps cycle/walk routes
* Gesture Search - Write on screen to search instead of typing
- Extended controls - widgets for wifi/bt/2g-3g etc etc
When you're ready to find out how different you're phone can look, have a look in here. I've submitted about 5 layouts already:
http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/...mescreens.html
Hope that helps...
11 January 2011, 10:53 AM
#11
Pontificating
Where to start? Welcome to android and a nice phone you've got. I've had my Desire since March '10 and i'm still tweaking and playing with it. Plenty of reading for you over here: http://androidforums.com/htc-desire-hd/
Launchers; If you get bored of the limitations of Sense UI, then Go and Launcher Pro are about the best. Scrollable docks with swipe actions, hide apps and much more.
Lock Screens; Goto, WidgetLocker and Lockbot are good.
Games;
- Slice It, very addictive angles games.
- Slugs
- Angry Birds
- Moron Test
- Robo Defense
- Shoot U
- Tank Hero
- NFS
- 2 Player Reactor
SMS;
- Go SMS - Light and well laid out
Others include Handcent and Chomp
Utils;
- Apps Organiser is a must,
- Slide-It - an alternative keyboard to the HTC one, similar to Swype, better i thought, - - Smart Volume - locks and manages volumes for all areas, so no changes happen in pocket
- Rockplayer - Plays most video formats (divx, avi, mkv etc)
- Shazam - Music recogniser
- Beautiful Widgets
- ShopSavvy - Barcode scanner, QR Code reader, price checker
* MyTracks - Tracks & maps cycle/walk routes
* Gesture Search - Write on screen to search instead of typing
- Extended controls - widgets for wifi/bt/2g-3g etc etc
When you're ready to find out how different you're phone can look, have a look in here. I've submitted about 5 layouts already:
http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/...mescreens.html
Hope that helps...
Launchers; If you get bored of the limitations of Sense UI, then Go and Launcher Pro are about the best. Scrollable docks with swipe actions, hide apps and much more.
Lock Screens; Goto, WidgetLocker and Lockbot are good.
Games;
- Slice It, very addictive angles games.
- Slugs
- Angry Birds
- Moron Test
- Robo Defense
- Shoot U
- Tank Hero
- NFS
- 2 Player Reactor
SMS;
- Go SMS - Light and well laid out
Others include Handcent and Chomp
Utils;
- Apps Organiser is a must,
- Slide-It - an alternative keyboard to the HTC one, similar to Swype, better i thought, - - Smart Volume - locks and manages volumes for all areas, so no changes happen in pocket
- Rockplayer - Plays most video formats (divx, avi, mkv etc)
- Shazam - Music recogniser
- Beautiful Widgets
- ShopSavvy - Barcode scanner, QR Code reader, price checker
* MyTracks - Tracks & maps cycle/walk routes
* Gesture Search - Write on screen to search instead of typing
- Extended controls - widgets for wifi/bt/2g-3g etc etc
When you're ready to find out how different you're phone can look, have a look in here. I've submitted about 5 layouts already:
http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/...mescreens.html
Hope that helps...
12 January 2011, 02:26 AM
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Glad i could help you'z. I've been "geeking" (as my g/f calls it) for a good while now. DesireMe on the forums 
.....and yes, i've changed my layout twice since i last posted. I'm sure i had a lot less obsessions with phones when i had my STi. 
.....and yes, i've changed my layout twice since i last posted. I'm sure i had a lot less obsessions with phones when i had my STi.
12 January 2011, 03:11 PM
#13
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Gaz - have you rooted your phone?
Mine HD is from Orange and its full of sh1te I don't want/need. None of it will uninstall.
I'm assuming this rooting business is a bit tricky?
Also, can I put in a bigger SD card? Its got an 8GB in now but theres only about 5 free. I would like to put in a 16 or 32 and put all my music on it.
Also looking for a car head unit that will let me stream via bluetooth from the phone.
My phone also gives me a NEW MAIL notifcation (white envelope at the top) which says I have 3 unread messages in my Inbox. I did delete 3 messages the other day without reading them but it won't acknowledge that they have been deleted. They have been deleted from my mail server though.
Mine HD is from Orange and its full of sh1te I don't want/need. None of it will uninstall.
I'm assuming this rooting business is a bit tricky?
Also, can I put in a bigger SD card? Its got an 8GB in now but theres only about 5 free. I would like to put in a 16 or 32 and put all my music on it.
Also looking for a car head unit that will let me stream via bluetooth from the phone.
My phone also gives me a NEW MAIL notifcation (white envelope at the top) which says I have 3 unread messages in my Inbox. I did delete 3 messages the other day without reading them but it won't acknowledge that they have been deleted. They have been deleted from my mail server though.
Last edited by EddScott; 12 January 2011 at 03:26 PM.
13 January 2011, 10:41 PM
#17
Some of my top apps of the mo would be
SetCpu
Astro
Autokiller
Barcode scanner
Cabbage
Elixir
Finger physics
GMote
Hullomail
Locale
Gtunes
Rom manager
Fotmob
Titanium backup
Trapster
Widget locker
SetCpu
Astro
Autokiller
Barcode scanner
Cabbage
Elixir
Finger physics
GMote
Hullomail
Locale
Gtunes
Rom manager
Fotmob
Titanium backup
Trapster
Widget locker
14 January 2011, 02:23 AM
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Gaz - have you rooted your phone?
Mine HD is from Orange and its full of sh1te I don't want/need. None of it will uninstall.
I'm assuming this rooting business is a bit tricky?
Also, can I put in a bigger SD card? Its got an 8GB in now but theres only about 5 free. I would like to put in a 16 or 32 and put all my music on it.
Also looking for a car head unit that will let me stream via bluetooth from the phone.
My phone also gives me a NEW MAIL notifcation (white envelope at the top) which says I have 3 unread messages in my Inbox. I did delete 3 messages the other day without reading them but it won't acknowledge that they have been deleted. They have been deleted from my mail server though.
Mine HD is from Orange and its full of sh1te I don't want/need. None of it will uninstall.
I'm assuming this rooting business is a bit tricky?
Also, can I put in a bigger SD card? Its got an 8GB in now but theres only about 5 free. I would like to put in a 16 or 32 and put all my music on it.
Also looking for a car head unit that will let me stream via bluetooth from the phone.
My phone also gives me a NEW MAIL notifcation (white envelope at the top) which says I have 3 unread messages in my Inbox. I did delete 3 messages the other day without reading them but it won't acknowledge that they have been deleted. They have been deleted from my mail server though.
I know orange are bad for bloatware etc, but if you use a launcher like LP or Go, you can hide the applications from your app drawer, so they're really not an issue.
Yeah, you can change the SD card. Aim for a high class 6+. Just clear the notification in your notification bar and the email should just continue as normal.
14 January 2011, 09:13 AM
#20
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Google Translate with live conversation mode. Awesome app if you're in a Spanish speaking country with an unlimited data plan, otherwise no use at all.
14 January 2011, 01:02 PM
#21
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Thread Starter
I got one yesterday called Juice Defender - I had to pay for it but its done a great job of extending battery life.
Apps2SD - thats storing apps on the SD card is it? Is that useful if you start using up phone space?
Apps2SD - thats storing apps on the SD card is it? Is that useful if you start using up phone space?
Last edited by EddScott; 14 January 2011 at 01:04 PM.
14 January 2011, 02:02 PM
#22
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Go look at the forums I mention above. I've not rooted mine but I have an unbranded and unlocked one from CPW so haven't felt the need to. Plus having been in IT for donkey's years and done my share of installing/trying to use alpha/beta SW I now take a back seat and let others sort the problems ....
One of these ... http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Micro-SDHC...Card---Class-4 .... works fine. Watch out for dodgy card son Fleabay that say they're 32 or whatever but are actually 2GB cards messed with to report that they're 32. ).Dave
14 January 2011, 02:19 PM
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I went from about 11MB left to about 40MB, so no more space problems for me. I followed this simple guide: http://androidforums.com/desire-tips...obs-guide.html
14 January 2011, 09:16 PM
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I use Google Nav all the time.
Overclock widget allows my rooted phone to speed up when needed, and sleep at a much lower speed once the screen is off, saving me a lot of battery power
Overclock widget allows my rooted phone to speed up when needed, and sleep at a much lower speed once the screen is off, saving me a lot of battery power
14 January 2011, 09:40 PM
#25
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If you get into roms and stuff quickboot is a good app , just for ease getting into recovery mode
All the other stuff my wife has in hers has already been mentioned.
All the other stuff my wife has in hers has already been mentioned.
14 January 2011, 09:40 PM
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not sure where you heard that. they do no harm at all. htc has one built in as standard but you don't see it, not very good either.
i never manually kill tasks. have advanced task killer installed and running in background. put the automatic setting to 'aggressive' and you're phone will always be speedy regardless of how many apps you come out of without closing properly. doesn't instantly kill tasks so you can still do multi tasking without worrying about it killing of what you are doing.
Quadrant performance checker ran with nothing running comes out with the exact same results as if you have the task killer running in the background.
The thing that slows the phones down these days is the UI ie Sense on HTC and TouchWiz on Samsung. Turn the UI off and either use the basic android launcher or install something more streamline like LauncherPro.
i never manually kill tasks. have advanced task killer installed and running in background. put the automatic setting to 'aggressive' and you're phone will always be speedy regardless of how many apps you come out of without closing properly. doesn't instantly kill tasks so you can still do multi tasking without worrying about it killing of what you are doing.
Quadrant performance checker ran with nothing running comes out with the exact same results as if you have the task killer running in the background.
The thing that slows the phones down these days is the UI ie Sense on HTC and TouchWiz on Samsung. Turn the UI off and either use the basic android launcher or install something more streamline like LauncherPro.
14 January 2011, 09:50 PM
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Torque is a good app for you car. http://torque-bhp.com/
Bought a bluetooth device off ebay for £18. Plugs into the port for your ECU then sends data to connected bluetooth devices like your phone. Torque translates the information into something useful like BHP, airflow etc.... Also allows you to run diagnostics to check error codes and reset them. Proved very useful when I got an error on dash after leaving the car sat in freezing cold for 2 weeks. It found the error code and told me what it meant. Quick check on scoobynet found that it could have just been a blip and would come back if it proved to be a fault. Used Torque to clear the fault code and it never came back.
Costs much less than the wired units and displays a lot more info.
Bought a bluetooth device off ebay for £18. Plugs into the port for your ECU then sends data to connected bluetooth devices like your phone. Torque translates the information into something useful like BHP, airflow etc.... Also allows you to run diagnostics to check error codes and reset them. Proved very useful when I got an error on dash after leaving the car sat in freezing cold for 2 weeks. It found the error code and told me what it meant. Quick check on scoobynet found that it could have just been a blip and would come back if it proved to be a fault. Used Torque to clear the fault code and it never came back.
Costs much less than the wired units and displays a lot more info.
14 January 2011, 09:57 PM
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That's the phone I just received.
Went into Carphone Warehouse and played with a Desire HD, Galaxy S and a Nexus S. The Galaxy S killed the speed of the Desire HD plus the super AMOLED screen is amazing.
Nexus S is good especially since it have vanilla android 2.3 (plain). It is the same hardware as the Galaxy S though, in fact the hardware on the Galaxy S is slightly better with Bluetooth 3.0 instead of 2.1.
Opted for Galaxy S because the Nexus S isn't worth the extra £100 for the same thing. Galaxy S will be getting Android 2.3 soon and TouchWiz from Samsung can easily be turned off. If I was in a rush the Nexus S ROM has been ported to the Galaxy S but there are very few improvements.
Desire HD is a let down. 1.5GB of internal memory then HD7 released a couple of weeks later running Windows Mobile 7 and having 8GB of internal memory. HTC messed up there.
Went into Carphone Warehouse and played with a Desire HD, Galaxy S and a Nexus S. The Galaxy S killed the speed of the Desire HD plus the super AMOLED screen is amazing.
Nexus S is good especially since it have vanilla android 2.3 (plain). It is the same hardware as the Galaxy S though, in fact the hardware on the Galaxy S is slightly better with Bluetooth 3.0 instead of 2.1.
Opted for Galaxy S because the Nexus S isn't worth the extra £100 for the same thing. Galaxy S will be getting Android 2.3 soon and TouchWiz from Samsung can easily be turned off. If I was in a rush the Nexus S ROM has been ported to the Galaxy S but there are very few improvements.
Desire HD is a let down. 1.5GB of internal memory then HD7 released a couple of weeks later running Windows Mobile 7 and having 8GB of internal memory. HTC messed up there.