Database Users

New Member, New Atrix, New to Android

So just picked up my atrix from costoc, coming from a BB 8310 and I'm already fully overwhelmed by this phone.
Can anyone point me in the direction of some good starter tutorial material, what bloatware I can/want to delete (im sure most if not all of it), etc.
Basically need a place to start. So far I've looked at google maps and snapped a few pictures, plugged in the HDMI to see the pics on my TV, and linked my google account....so now what haha

LOL well the first thing I always do is find a good launcher; there are a lot of them outbthat, in my opiniojn, ar3all better and offer more customizability than the moto launcher.
After that, I set up my calendar so it syncs to my phone as well.
Twitter, Facebook, and a new browser and you're pretty much set.
What in particular are you looking for? I'd (and I'm sure others here) would be happy to help.
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix

FLAC Vest said:
LOL well the first thing I always do is find a good launcher; there are a lot of them outbthat, in my opiniojn, ar3all better and offer more customizability than the moto launcher.
After that, I set up my calendar so it syncs to my phone as well.
Twitter, Facebook, and a new browser and you're pretty much set.
What in particular are you looking for? I'd (and I'm sure others here) would be happy to help.
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Initially looking for what to take off I would say (not interested in any of the BS stuff moto puts on there, just not sure what I should be getting rid of and what should remain. I'll hold off on root for awhile just until I get more familiar.)
After that, mostly just basic stuff that people like to tweak a little here and there. There are so many options and functions I could spend days just sorting through them all.
One thing I noticed right away that I think was mentioned here or another board before, I added my google account to sync contact, email, and calendar...however I now seem to have EVERY person I've emailed, even random craigslist people that I spoke with once or twice, in my contacts. I'd really like to get it to sync only people that are an actual contact.

OK well pertaining to the applications, I deleted everything that was on there that I could; wasn't all if it but a lot of stuff could be.
For the contacts problem, to go settings, accounts, and click on the email addresses. Deselect contacts.
At this point it wont sync them anymore and you can delete them from the contacts.
You can also hit the menu key and choose different views for which contacts you want to see.
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix

Norcalz71 said:
One thing I noticed right away that I think was mentioned here or another board before, I added my google account to sync contact, email, and calendar...however I now seem to have EVERY person I've emailed, even random craigslist people that I spoke with once or twice, in my contacts. I'd really like to get it to sync only people that are an actual contact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just go to Contacts, hit the menu key and go to Settings. There will be a checkbox for "Phone Number's Only". Select that and the ones without phone numbers will go away.
Also, get ADW.Launcher or Launcher Pro. Figure out which one you like better and then upgrade to the paid version. I have ADW Launcher EX and I use it in all the android phones I've had since I bought it. They are so much better and more flexible than the built in launchers.

you dont need to delete anything since its not doing anything if you are not using it. Get apps like "whats app" and "pingchat" which work like BBM. Use launcher pro and customize your home screen. Download some games and emulators

Squeak22 said:
Just go to Contacts, hit the menu key and go to Settings. There will be a checkbox for "Phone Number's Only". Select that and the ones without phone numbers will go away.
Also, get ADW.Launcher or Launcher Pro. Figure out which one you like better and then upgrade to the paid version. I have ADW Launcher EX and I use it in all the android phones I've had since I bought it. They are so much better and more flexible than the built in launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found the setting you described so hopefully that helps, will I need to manually delete all "extra" contacts that got synced previously? Also, would there be a way either stock or by 3rd party app to only sync people listed as actualy contacts in my gmail account? I have about 300 or so in my actual contacts list in gmail on the webpage, but a few of them that I do use are email contacts only so I would still want to sync those.
Also for syncing in general, does the computer or phone override? So say I delete a contact on my phone, will it delete from my gmail contacts list as well when i get into gmail on my comp, and vice versa?

Concerning synching in general, it goes both ways
Oh a word of advice, if you delete something on your calander on the phone, it is deleted from the cloud (and desktop) calender as well.
So I would suggest to delete all things on the computer if you can; I have my classes set up perfectly and I deleted all next week on spring break and it didn't give me aby options for that week; effectively deleting everything after that.
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix

Norcalz71 said:
Found the setting you described so hopefully that helps, will I need to manually delete all "extra" contacts that got synced previously? Also, would there be a way either stock or by 3rd party app to only sync people listed as actualy contacts in my gmail account? I have about 300 or so in my actual contacts list in gmail on the webpage, but a few of them that I do use are email contacts only so I would still want to sync those.
Also for syncing in general, does the computer or phone override? So say I delete a contact on my phone, will it delete from my gmail contacts list as well when i get into gmail on my comp, and vice versa?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone will push newer data back out to the network. So if you change it on your phone, it will update to google, and vice versa.
I believe the "newer" data will always trump.
It should only push in contacts who are in your gmail contacts, so if you want email addresses only on some of them, then uncheck the box I mentioned earlier and just delete the contacts you don't want out of the google contacts listings.
It shouldn't list a bunch of contacts outside of that unless you have them as facebook/twitter friends and have those sync'd as well with contacts. (application settings)

FLAC Vest said:
Concerning synching in general, it goes both ways
Oh a word of advice, if you delete something on your calander on the phone, it is deleted from the cloud (and desktop) calender as well.
So I would suggest to delete all things on the computer if you can; I have my classes set up perfectly and I deleted all next week on spring break and it didn't give me aby options for that week; effectively deleting everything after that.
Rooted/ROM Captivate (For Sale)
Rooted Atrix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Squeak22 said:
The phone will push newer data back out to the network. So if you change it on your phone, it will update to google, and vice versa.
I believe the "newer" data will always trump.
It should only push in contacts who are in your gmail contacts, so if you want email addresses only on some of them, then uncheck the box I mentioned earlier and just delete the contacts you don't want out of the google contacts listings.
It shouldn't list a bunch of contacts outside of that unless you have them as facebook/twitter friends and have those sync'd as well with contacts. (application settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both good to know. I like the "newest" action being the overriding factor, so I can change from either location.
Looks like selecting the "only phone numbers" got rid of the extra stuff, but not sure what other contacts were email only I may have now omitted, have to look into it further.
Going to DL some "stuff" now haha

Check out some youtube videos. There's some great ones released by google themselves that can save you some frustration
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Any experience with TouchDown for Tablets on the XOOM ?

Does anybody tried to use TouchDown for Tablets in the XOOM ?, does it work OK ?, thanks
http://www.nitrodesk.com/bigscreen.aspx

Best email program out there if you use Exchange. Nothing even comes close. This email program was the nail in my iPad's coffin.

Its pretty good. Way better than the native email app for exchange.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

I use it everyday. Works great.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

I have both RoadSync and Touchdown, and Touchdown is the best, hands down. It looks good and offers better end user configuration such as the ability to delete or not delete a message from the server when deleted on the device AND the option of not marking.the message as read on the server. I have it installed on my Xoom and Incredible. RoadSync is just a little rough around the edges, but it did work on my Xoom as well.

I uninstalled it. Too many crashes while composing and does not support drafts folder. Support said they are working hard to improve stability on Xoom and they were the ones to tell me it doesn't support the drafts folder - when you save message as draft, nothing shows up in drafts folder, although you can get to it with the drafts button displayed when you are composing a new message.

it actully works really well!

While I prefer the looks of the default exchange client it doesn't come close to the functionality of TouchDown. I highly recommend it!
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Tried it...then uninstalled
I have three Exchange accounts, each of which requires a separate Touchdown profile because Touchdown does not support multiple Exchange accounts within a single profile. Accounts in the off-line profiles are not updated. Further, switching between profiles often causes the application to crash.

Customer support is great!
My biggest disappointment was that I cannot see the folder structure of my exchange account. I contacted support and they were very responsive. If anyone is interested here's what I wrote and the reply:
ME:
Dear support,
I downloaded the trial version of TouchDown upon recommendation in a forum. So far I am not really that impressed with the offered features. I was wondering if that is just a matter of updates until this will change:
1. On the main screen it reads "Emails: x (n unread) and
Appointment(s): y. Why can't I get to the emails/calendar when I tap on the summary info?
2. I haven't found a way to browse my exchange folders. I am sure that's a mistake on my behalf but it shouldn't be that hard to figure out!
3. Is there a way to (de)select all emails and delete/move them instead of clicking one after the other?
I understand that this is a new product for tablets but if I were to spend $20 on it I would like to see more features.
Thanks for listening!
SUPPORT:
Are you working on a Xoom? Are you saying that you see the email list but when you select and email it doesn't open? Or that you can't get to the Inbox?
You can choose what folders on Exchange to sync by going to settings>advanced>choose folders. Select what email folders you want to sync there. We are not a browser. We sync mail and you read it, forward etc...
There is a menu>more>select all function in the Inbox. You can then choose to delete or move.
Bottom line is that many features seem to be there but might be hidden and not intuitive. Don't think I'll pay $20 since I am fairly happy with the stock client.

The one thing I hate about touchdown is that he hasn't updated the UI since the days of Windows Mobile. It's just plain bad sometimes.

Bauxite said:
The one thing I hate about touchdown is that he hasn't updated the UI since the days of Windows Mobile. It's just plain bad sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. The UI is painfully out-of-date. I banished it from my Xoom until they freshen up the design and usability.

I used Touchdown for a long time and it has by far has the most options. Tons O options. It was first to give you emails displayed as HTML instead of just text. The UI does need some refinement especially if using on a tablet (yes I know they have a tablet version now) and it is a hare buggy sometimes.
Since the Xoom I went back to just the stock email app. As it's faster/simpler than Touchdown and prettier. I don't like the fact that you can't tell the stock one to sync more than 30 days worth of emails though. (I have a couple saved folders, that I want it to sync all the saved emails in them). Plus the Stock calendar on the Xoom is much prettier than touchdowns calendar.

It Works
I'm using Touchdown and it works very well. It syncs my email, schedule and contacts. This is one of the apps that convinced me to keep the device.

Another touchdown user here, I'll agree with everyone else in that it's far more functional than the stock exchange client. I can deal with the UI because I go a free license from Moto.

Functional but in serious need of a facelift. Maybe one of our themers from XDA could take on the task.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

I've been using Touchdown since I moved to Android. It has its quirks, but I could never use the stock client since it doesn't support push to folders under the inbox. You have to manually sync those folders.
Coming from BlackBerry, it was the closest I could find to their email functionality (I still miss the email experience from my old 8830). They update pretty often. Buy the license from the market, but download the beta off the website. Just Google "Touchdown beta"

HTC Sense "type" apps or similar

I just got my a500 this week and love it. Already have it rooted and have started reviewing Rom's for it, although I will probably leave it stock 3.1, until 3.2 Honeycomb is released (today hopefully, 8/25)...
I carry an HTC Inspire/Desire as a phone and love certain features of that device, in particular the keyboard and spell checker, but more importantly the way my contacts are sync'd between my exchange email and facebook, etc.
Are there any efforts to bring Sense to the a500, or any 10inch tabs for that matter and if not, anyone have a suggested app for sync'ing facebook contacts, exchange and other contacts into one app, as well as maybe a good keyboard with spell check?

conley_jb said:
I just got my a500 this week and love it. Already have it rooted and have started reviewing Rom's for it, although I will probably leave it stock 3.1, until 3.2 Honeycomb is released (today hopefully, 8/25)...
I carry an HTC Inspire/Desire as a phone and love certain features of that device, in particular the keyboard and spell checker, but more importantly the way my contacts are sync'd between my exchange email and facebook, etc.
Are there any efforts to bring Sense to the a500, or any 10inch tabs for that matter and if not, anyone have a suggested app for sync'ing facebook contacts, exchange and other contacts into one app, as well as maybe a good keyboard with spell check?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want Exchange synced properly, I would recommend Touchdown. I have it on both my Inspire and my Iconia and it works perfectly. Documents to go works well and if you want a Sense like appearance, try Beautiful Widgets.

As it relates to Exchange, not sure what features(besides contacts syncing with FB) I am missing on stock ROM... I've read several people asking about Exchange email capability etc, and I was able to get the stock acer program to access mine fine... all my contacts, calendars, etc pull in fine, the only thing I wish I had was the app from my HTC Inspire that will link FB contacts to the contacts on the phone.

Any news about this, I'm also looking for a contacts app that could link FB, Twitter, Skype, pic, email etc to the contacts, I don't need the social updates tabs each contact has in Sense just the linking?

TheOnlyPsycho said:
Any news about this, I'm also looking for a contacts app that could link FB, Twitter, Skype, pic, email etc to the contacts, I don't need the social updates tabs each contact has in Sense just the linking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apw for social networking calendar messages, people ect.
If you search I've already posted a couple threads/post on how to make the a500 look as close to HTC as I could with apps and mods
Sent from my Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

dincdoes.me said:
Apw for social networking calendar messages, people ect.
If you search I've already posted a couple threads/post on how to make the a500 look as close to HTC as I could with apps and mods
Sent from my Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I searched earlier but I'm not looking for a way to make my A500 to look like Sense, I'm just looking for a contacts app that has the extra FB Twitter etc fields.

TheOnlyPsycho said:
I searched earlier but I'm not looking for a way to make my A500 to look like Sense, I'm just looking for a contacts app that has the extra FB Twitter etc fields.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apw
Sent from my Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

dincdoes.me said:
Apw
Sent from my Inspire 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, as I said I'm not looking for the People widget I'm lookihg for the People app. In fact I don't even give a s**t if it has a widget. I am looking for an app, that may or may not have anything to do with the original contacts app, that can link the different accounts of a contact in every possible app (Skype, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.), I don't need to see any kind of social updates or what so ever, I just need it to put all these accounts in one contact form so when I open a person's contact form from this "People" app I can click on lets say Skype and it opens the Skype profile of this person in the Skype app or as it does already show me the options of "IM with ***", "Call ***", "Video call ***" or opens the Facebook profile in the Facebok app.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium HD app

TheOnlyPsycho said:
Nope, as I said I'm not looking for the People widget I'm lookihg for the People app. In fact I don't even give a s**t if it has a widget. I am looking for an app, that may or may not have anything to do with the original contacts app, that can link the different accounts of a contact in every possible app (Skype, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.), I don't need to see any kind of social updates or what so ever, I just need it to put all these accounts in one contact form so when I open a person's contact form from this "People" app I can click on lets say Skype and it opens the Skype profile of this person in the Skype app or as it does already show me the options of "IM with ***", "Call ***", "Video call ***" or opens the Facebook profile in the Facebok app.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck with your endeavor I've given all I can.. anyone else have an option for him
Sent from my Inspire 4G using Tapatalk

Android/WP8 apps availability list

Hi guys!
I am a happy android user on a galaxy nexus. I was waiting for the nexus 4 but I live in Italy and it is going to sell for about 600€ versus the 350$ so I'm pretty disappointed. I started looking around and I'm curious about the new WP8 and, especially, the Lumia 920. I haven't had a Nokia in ages!
The deal breaker is the app eco system.
I am a big Google services user and have understood that there is total sync capability while I m still undecided on the app part.
Is there a site with a list where I can find the most common apps or app categories on android and see if there is a counter part in wp 8?
My last resort would be going on the windows market place and just look around.
Thank you!
PS I searched in the forum but wasn't able to find anything very specific
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

The best thing to do is search the marketplace yourself. You will find apps for almost everything you do on android, except those rendered useless by the system (in WP, system apps are actually doing a pretty damn good job and do not require replacement from the marketplace), but they are likely under different names, so a list would be very difficult and pointless to compile.

I switched from Android to Windows Phone 8 and i have everything i used on Android. Sure i miss some apps, like PowerAMP; Google+, a good Facebook App and a AD Blocker app. But i can life without them. There are some apps as well which sucks like WhatsApp, but i guess WhatsApp is goin to fix that soon.
What are your favorite apps on Android ?

I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...

I have to ask what is the point of using Evernote as in Windows environment you have OneNote? You sync your OneNotes automatically to your Outlook (or Live/Hotmail) account and can sync to desktop.

Well, first of all I don't have a Microsoft environment (I have a Mac, galaxy nexus, iPad and nexus 7!) and second I have never had a windows phone so I really don't know how all the syncing works!
Since I work on different platforms I use drop box for documents and evernote for notes and everything is always perfectly synced!

mrc87 said:
I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what Google reader does, but it is not needed.
Adobe reader is present
Kindle is present
Evernote is present, although you have one note.
Drop box is present (although you have skydrive)
whatsapp is not needed
Google maps is not needed (you have offline maps: nokia maps)
As for other medical apps, i am not entirely sure what kind of medical apps you would expect to have, but there's plenty of WP ones.
Even if you use a MAC< getting a Microsoft account and using hotmail/outlook is easy(you only need a browser).

mcosmin222 said:
Not sure what Google reader does, but it is not needed.
Adobe reader is present
Kindle is present
Evernote is present, although you have one note.
Drop box is present (although you have skydrive)
whatsapp is not needed
Google maps is not needed (you have offline maps: nokia maps)
As for other medical apps, i am not entirely sure what kind of medical apps you would expect to have, but there's plenty of WP ones.
Even if you use a MAC< getting a Microsoft account and using hotmail/outlook is easy(you only need a browser).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do say that whatsapp is not needed?
Google reader is a RSS feed app
I already have a hotmail account, I just prefer to use less accounts possible (I know, I can filter and forward messages!)
I prefer Dropbox because all my friends and colleagues have it so it is just easier to handle files.
Off topic: just went to see a Lumia 920 and it looks really nice!

I think "WhatsApp not needed" is a typo. WP has WhatsApp and they are about to update it too.
---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 PM ----------
WP is like Android. MS wants you to have Outlook/Hotmail/Live email address to access marketplace etc. So you need to have the account. You dont need to sync the emails to your phone if you dont want. Also you use that account to connect with Twitter and Facebook chat. With that account you get SkyDrive space of I think 7gb for free (I got it upgraded to 25gb for free, but that offer is not valid anymore)

mrc87 said:
Why do say that whatsapp is not needed?
Google reader is a RSS feed app
I already have a hotmail account, I just prefer to use less accounts possible (I know, I can filter and forward messages!)
I prefer Dropbox because all my friends and colleagues have it so it is just easier to handle files.
Off topic: just went to see a Lumia 920 and it looks really nice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dropbox is present and accounted for.
As for RSS feed apps, you have plenty. Google is not really active in Windows Phone area, as they will do everything to undermine the platform.
As for using accounts, Windows Phone has a very clean way of managing accounts. Just add them one by one, and you get different apps for each one of them, they are all nicely filtered and stuff like that. You can easily make a hotmail account for the marketplace and keep using your old accounts for the rest of the things you do.
ATM i have 3 accounts attached to my lumia 800: My "marketplace" account which happens to be my main email address, my developer account, under which i publish apps, and some yahoo email for family members. They are all working nicely.

@OP that's kind of a hard question. The apps depends on each user. Some people don't use any while others depend on very specific apps.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is there any good app that plays AVI or MKV files? for Android, there's MX player is there an equivalent app for W8?

I use Nextgen Reader for the Google reader app. Works better than the Google app on Android imo.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

spex714 said:
Is there any good app that plays AVI or MKV files? for Android, there's MX player is there an equivalent app for W8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far, there are no apps that let you play alternative formats/containers.
Regarding the OP: I can't find any medical apps on the marketplace, I'm sorry

You need a Microsoft account but you do not need another hotmail account. My Microsoft account is my corporate email address.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

shield001 said:
You need a Microsoft account but you do not need another hotmail account. My Microsoft account is my corporate email address.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What, are you saying I could use my o365 account? I dont think so but please say Im wring here. My o365 account is configured so that my address is [email protected].

Loco5150 said:
What, are you saying I could use my o365 account? I dont think so but please say Im wring here. My o365 account is configured so that my address is [email protected].
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can definitely use your O365 account for e-mail, etc.; if you also have a Microsoft Account (a.k.a. .Net Passport/Windows Live/other names it's gone by in the past) set up using that same e-mail address, you can use it as your main account that's tied to the Store, etc. to buy apps and whatnot. I was doing exactly that for a while ([email protected] hosted on Office365 and also tied in as a Microsoft Account). I'm no longer using Office365 to host that e-mail (just moved it to outlook.com for free since it's a personal account), but it's still my Microsoft Account. It all ties together nicely with whatever combination of accounts you use.

I was just looking at the app list for wp8 and its getting better.

mrc87 said:
I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being a 4th year pharmacy student I can answer your medical application questions. There is no epocrates, medscape, lexicomp, clinical pharmacology, etc...
But there is a PubMed Mobile not made by them as far as I can tell. Just shows you search results and then when you click one it takes you to the website. Found an application called Drugs&Medications it's a dollar and tells you facts about drugs (company, dosage form, common indications, and links you to the FDA website didn't buy it so can't fact check it).
That being said I found some applications from http://www.unboundmedicine.com/products/windows_phone/ on the store.
So yes you're right it is worse. I've already accepted that I'll have to switch to an iPhone for my rotations lol.

bkaul said:
You can definitely use your O365 account for e-mail, etc.; if you also have a Microsoft Account (a.k.a. .Net Passport/Windows Live/other names it's gone by in the past) set up using that same e-mail address, you can use it as your main account that's tied to the Store, etc. to buy apps and whatnot. I was doing exactly that for a while ([email protected] hosted on Office365 and also tied in as a Microsoft Account). I'm no longer using Office365 to host that e-mail (just moved it to outlook.com for free since it's a personal account), but it's still my Microsoft Account. It all ties together nicely with whatever combination of accounts you use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyway if you could tie marketplace to o365 account, you still need Live (Hotmail or Outlook etc) to connect with Facebook chat and twitter. It is still best to have the Live account as main account and other accounts like o365 secondary.

[Q] Using a Nexus 4 without sending every private piece of info to Google

I got my N4 a couple of days ago. It's my first foray in the Android world.
The requirements that I am hoping to meet are pretty simple:
1) I want to be able to call contacts and send text messages
2) I don't want Google tracking my contact list
3) I don't want Google tracking my location
4) I don't want Google tracking my browsing history
5) I want to be able to use the Play store to download 3rd party apps. I didn't buy an N4 to use it it like a dumbphone. Logically, the Play store shouldn't require constant access to my contacts, location or browsing history.
I am making this post to get help meeting the above requirements. Despite seeming really basic, I'm running into trouble, and I think I will need frequent help. This thread can act as a journal that hopefully other people can follow.
What I did so far is immediately flashed the N4 to AOKP, and applied the OpenPDroid patches (though I've yet to use OPD). From a blank slate start, I declined to create an account, disabled location access, etc, during the startup wizard.
Adding a contact round 1
I was able to create a local, unsynced contact.
Using the Play store
I was forced to sign up for a gmail account, which is normal. I declined to "keep this phone backed up with my Google Account". I then went in Settings > Account and disabled sync for everything, including Contacts. I also disabled background sync in the power controls.
Adding a contact round 2
I am now unable to add a contact without being forced to sync it with my BS gmail account. When I click "Add Contact" in the phone app, a dialog says "Your contact will be synced with [email protected]" and my choices are either "OK", "Add other account", or to cancel out by clicking Back.
So I'm already stuck. Once a Play account is created, I am now unable to do something as basic as adding a contact without sending it to Google. Can someone tell me how to get past this obstacle?

That's how Google makes their money! Your only options are to either start using the amazon app store only or side loading apps if you don't want Google involvement. Good luck.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Why? Like they don't have all your information already? You freely give your information to everyone when you use the internet. Congratulations. You are not that special.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Eurotrash: always in this sort of discussions there's people like you who essentially advocate shutting up and taking it. "That's how things are" is not an acceptable solution to my problem, or I would not have made this post. There IS a way around the creeping, and someone knows it. My last resort is blocking every Google service from accessing the Internet except Play. I'm asking here because I'm hoping there's a less extreme solution that other people can use.
Gotzadroid: I will hold out for a better solution. Amazon appstore will likely be limited. Sideloading is not possible because many devs don't provide APKs

I know you can get an app to block individual permissions of other apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stericson.permissions
It requires root. Not sure about the contacts and other stuff you wanted to block, im assuming you've disabled location services.

Why not try flashing like cm10 and not flashing gapps so no Google apps? Then just manually downloading the apps apks and sideload the ones you need?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?

MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps

OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Michealtbh said:
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?

gotzaDroid said:
OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did in the OP (2nd bolded step). I created a dummy account cause Play requires it. That became my main Google account on this phone (since I declined to set up an account prior to that). That's the account Google tries to sync my contacts to when I try to add a contact.
I looked in the Gmail app, there's no way for me to sign out. All I can do is add more accounts.

A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..

Why you bought an android phone in the first place? Just curious
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account. You can get a sim to USB hub online and plug your sim into the hub and into PC to add contacts directly to sim. I don't know if there's a way to export contacts to sim anymore unless I'm guessing developers somehow add that feature. So look into CM or another well built ROM and ask some questions.
Good luck
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium

MachinTrucChose said:
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock rom comes with gapps already loaded.
Most custom roms come without them and they must be flashed separately. If you choose not to flash them you aren't even given an option to sign into your Google account at first boot, so there will obviously be no option to sync your contacts.
Your phone will be crippled and you'll have to find workarounds for many things. I don't think you'll be able to use Maps for example. To install apps you'll have to download and install the apks or use an alternative app market like SlideMe or Amazon

What's there to hide? They're just contacts
Sent from my Nexus 4

Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

It's disappointing that the thread is taking the direction of Google advocacy rather than finding a technical solution to my problem, hopefully this post answers your questions and we can stop arguing about this.
Drakkula4 said:
You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I sign out of my dummy gmail account?
Vangelis13 said:
A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, not full functionality. I can avoid using all gapps. The only required Google service is the Play store, which is the primary gateway to non-Google apps. I would use Email over Gmail, Navfree over Maps, etc.
The next paragraph is meant as a reply to the 5 posts essentially saying "tinfoil hat, trust Google!".
This is supposed to be an open phone, allowing the user to do what they want, compared to the big bad iOS. That's why I bought it. Now I find out Google is insisting on taking something extremely private (my social graph) even when I don't want to give it to them. I respect my friends' privacy, and I don't want an intersection of my online and offline lives being made by some 3rd party with intentions I don't trust. The insistence is starting to creep me out. You can provide convenience and still respect basic privacy, look at Mozilla with Firefox Sync: even they don't see the data you sync. I'm not even asking for that much, just respect my wish to draw the line at real-life stuff. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this is the company banning people using pseudonyms on Google+.
The most disappointing thing in all this, is that you have 5000 custom ROMs being developed, which mainly differ in pointless GUI BS like scroll animation speed. Not a single one of those projects thought to provide a way to make the phone usable without giving up extremely private data. AFAIK only 3 guys are working on privacy stuff, and even those guys' patches and apps don't protect you from the Eye of Google.
chrisrozon said:
Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if I don't want tailored ads? Or what if I only want tailored ads by tracking the online activity I'm willing to submit to them, and I feel it should be my my right to draw a line? Many people are not comfortable seeing an intersection of online and real life activity. I am one of those people.

MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple question deserves simple answer, only thing I can think of, go to settings > accounts > google > tap your account email address > and uncheck the things you don't want synced with google.
Hopefully it works and you will just have a local copy of everything then.

Again just flash like cyanogen mod since you have to flash gapps separate. Then don't flash gapps and your phone will have nothing to do with google.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2