I'm debating on buying a NST and rooting it and I was wondering what you guys use yours for? What apps do you use?
Truthfully? It's a techie toy that I like playing with. I'm enthralled with the idea of doing so much with what is, essentially, a disposable device. Not that I'm throwing mine away, but I'm willing to risk things with it that I wouldn't consider doing to a more expensive gizmo.
The big draw of the NST for me is the outdoor-readable screen. I'm relegating it to the role of my "beach computer", something I can grab and take along easily, yet get a few important things done when needed. Those are:
1. Reading. I use the stock B&N app, as I find it just fine for basic .epub files. I use the B&N Library for organizing files.
2. Email. I'm using maildroid for corporate (Exchange), gmail and IMAP access (total, 4 accounts). I don't use the Gmail app at all. On demand to save battery.
3. Calendar viewing. Calendar pad lets me see any calendars I sync to Google Calendar. Unfortunately, I can't find a 2.1 Eclair-compatible program that will integrate my Exchange calendar and contacts. Enhanced Email is ideal, but only runs on 2.2+.
4. Tasks. I use Astrid tasks. On demand to save battery.
5. Subscriptions. In addition to a few B&N magazine subscriptions, I have Calibre set up on my home system to download content for a number of newspapers and magazines each night. Those are dumped into a Dropbox folder that I sync to my NST on demand using Dropsync. They all show up in the B&N Library under "Newsstand", complete with pretty covers.
6. Notes. I use Evernote to sync between my other devices. Given the small keyboard on the NST, I'll probably mostly use this to view notes, though I can punch them in on the NST in a pinch.
7. Newsfeed aggregation. I like My6Sense.
8. Casual (infrequent) web browing. Opera Mobile works, but it's no joy to use given the device limitations. Still, in a pinch, it works pretty well.
9. Voicemail. I read my voicemails transcribed by Google Voice. I suppose I could send SMS text messages, but I haven't done much with this. On demand to save battery.
10. Weather. On demand to save battery. I use WeatherBug.
11. Password safe. I use Keepass, synchronized with other devices via Dropsync.
I've also found it handily replaces that stack of magazines on the coffee table, so I keep it laying around the family room when not otherwise in use.
bobstro said:
8. Casual (infrequent) web browing. Opera Mobile works, but it's no joy to use given the device limitations. Still, in a pinch, it works pretty well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean "device limitations? With the norefresh hack isn't it relatively quick?
taC nayN said:
What do you mean "device limitations? With the norefresh hack isn't it relatively quick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly the small screen size and poor contrast. I haven't found lack of multitouch to be a problem with Opera Mobile (yet). The flicker is annoying, but tolerable. It certainly works on a technical level, and it's fine in a pinch, but I wouldn't call it my "preferred browsing experience". Non-techies will be unimpressed. However, if it allows you to check a reservation when something else isn't around, it's well worth it.
For Opera, you can use a custom CSS file. I recall a thread that had a really nice CSS file that covered most everything on websites.
Questions don't belong in development. Thread has been moved.
reading : Nook original reader, unless I need to buy a book in which case I have to use the kindle app (I don't have a US credit card so I can't buy from B&N)
The only other thing I'm doing with it for now is running Anki, a flashcard program that helps me to learn Chinese (but can be used to learn anything), it's free and synced automaticaly with an online server so it downloads the latest flashcards you wrote on say your computer. (and it also sync. your progress in memorizing stuff)
in the future I'd love to turn my nook into an outdoors computer for text input, and to take notes in class by managing the usbhost function and using an external keyboard, not quite there yet but that's what I'm really excited about
bobstro said:
2. Email. I'm using maildroid for corporate (Exchange), gmail and IMAP access (total, 4 accounts). I don't use the Gmail app at all. On demand to save battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you been able to disable sync on the GMail app? I cannot seem to access Account Settings on the GMail app. It does a soft reset when I access Menu->Account Settings for the account.
I was wondering if it is possible to sync on demand for the GMail app.
Am on TouchNooter.
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cbay said:
Have you been able to disable sync on the GMail app? I cannot seem to access Account Settings on the GMail app. It does a soft reset when I access Menu->Account Settings for the account.
I was wondering if it is possible to sync on demand for the GMail app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am able to get into Account Settings on mine, but all I did was turn off notifications. Not sure if that disables the polling. I did finally freeze it using Titanium Backup to make sure. I don't use the gmail app at all.
Freeze is a good idea if you have Titanium Backup Pro, I finally just renamed Gmail.apk.
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for me, main thing I need is to read RTL language, as I have lots of Arabic books, and NST is not supporting this natively. I had to root it to get moon+ reader to read Arabic.
Related
I really hope that Google starts improving the Gmail app on Android soon as it feels pretty lackluster compared with the mobile Gmail web app. I just find that everything looks and feels nicer on the web version than the native app.
A couple things I like better about the HTML version:
- Colour scheme is much nicer. The app is very bland.
- Copy and Paste is possible.
- When replying, quoted text is editable.
- If you have Gmail checking a POP account for you, replying to those emails sends from the correct account.
I'm still using the full app though as it loads faster (once loaded it doesn't seem a whole lot faster though), provides notifications and is the only way you can add attachments. I hope the Gmail team starts improving the native app at a similar pace to the web version.
a couple apps that may help you with your gmail app, even though you didn't mention these as an issue:
blackmoon attachsave - lets you save attachments to the sd card, not just view them
file sender - lets you attach any file to send
i absolutely agree with you.. gmail app needs to be improved..
another lack i'd like to say is that for older messages you can only read the day it was sent without the time!
But I have heard that this is the best gmail application on any platform. I'm not an email heavy person but it works fine for what I need to do and never had to say, "I wish I could do this" or, "I wish this was better."
I think Google has put all app improvements/updates on hold for now, such as the Gmail app and the obvious Music app.
Most likely they are waiting for FroYo, which is rumored to separate the Google Apps from Android's framework. Then they can update the app whenever they feel like without a new Android version (like they have done with Google Maps) and anyone on any Android version can download/update the app as they please.
I can't wait for FroYo. Along with full Flash 10.1 and rumors of all these new features, it's sure to be a major game changer.
Does anyone else find it a little strange that on a google phone that the standard email app allows you to pinch and zoom in emails, but the gmail app (or the mobile site for that matter) don't?! If I get an email with a large embedded image there seems to be no way to do this.
On a separate note, why has the third swype page with the cursor arrows gone? That was really useful when you're trying to navigate through text?
Nicolopolus said:
Does anyone else find it a little strange that on a google phone that the standard email app allows you to pinch and zoom in emails, but the gmail app (or the mobile site for that matter) don't?! If I get an email with a large embedded image there seems to be no way to do this.
On a separate note, why has the third swype page with the cursor arrows gone? That was really useful when you're trying to navigate through text?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree they never allow gmail application to zoom i don't understand why !
the built in email app is just a stripped down version of k9mail which has more features.. recommend you try it.
May I add that it's frustrating that you cannot copy/paste text from the Gmail app?
It seems to me that some of the stock Google applications like the browser and gmail are left very vanilla - maybe, in the belief that 3rd party apps will fill the gap - maybe, that will be some of what they will be working on for Gingerbread (since they are claiming it will have a focus on user experience).
lgkahn said:
the built in email app is just a stripped down version of k9mail which has more features.. recommend you try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just quick question
Does the K9 Mail app allow for multiple Signatures for the different emails.
Currently the Samsung Email only allows one signature for all accounts which is a step back from my Blackberry.
This multiple-app thing is exactly why the iPhone does so well...
It's not a positive when you've got two programs that do the same thing out of the box.
I realize Google doesn't have much control over this, and even if they improved their stuff that Samsung/ATT/etc would probably put all their crap on it regardless. I'm just saying there's an advantage to the iPhone found here.
I was thinking how great it would be to have home and work logins for different gmail accounts, apps, voice, etc. Even others such as one for my daughter, wife, guests? Does this exist and did I miss it in my search results?
Thanks in advance! Don't be too harsh if its a boneheaded question.
It don't exist but I agree it would be awesome.
Maybe someday... Google wink*wink*
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
yeah it would be a nice feature but adds a lot of complexity to the OS and also to App purchases.
I know right now LG and VMware are working on a project together where you can basically run a virtual machine on your android device. I think this is due out later this year as they had a demo in December. So, once it is available for the LG, I am sure some smart people will port it over.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Inphinitizeit said:
yeah it would be a nice feature but adds a lot of complexity to the OS and also to App purchases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why, except to the os. But it would still be the same UDID so the apps would stay on the phone.
It would just basically make different folders that would save the shorcuts for the homesceeen and allow you to save specific files and settings for different accounts.
Think of windows.
User settings
C\Users
And apps and drm protection settings
C:\Program Files
Apps would be fine, but it would take up space. I don't exactly know the specifics of designing it into an os.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Honeycomb does support multiple logins for apps like gmail, calendar, and contacts. My wife and I currently have both our google accounts on the Xoom and it works great. There is just a drop down up in the top right corner where you can select between the account. Hope this helps.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
i"d love this, as my wife could have a diff set of shortcuts on her homescreen, Smartkeyboard as her default input device, and the locale set to Japan.
Anyone who pulled this off would get a purchase from me hands down.
I wish there is the same for Facebook app
Nvious1 said:
Honeycomb does support multiple logins for apps like gmail, calendar, and contacts. My wife and I currently have both our google accounts on the Xoom and it works great. There is just a drop down up in the top right corner where you can select between the account. Hope this helps.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well it looks like interest is there. I too was thinking along the widows users folders. Ive always maintained a device between work and homed on my laptops. Different wallpaper, bookmarks, personal email seperate from business. So my daughter can plant pokemon bookmarks and youtube links on the home account. Or not email someone on my business emai account.
Yeah, I'm currently trying to navigate a screen for my work, a screen for my girlfriend, and the rest just w/e. I hate the one all the way to the right as my work. Luckily my work uses an @att e-mail address, and i use firefox only for work which helps me keep my bookmarks seperate.
It would be awesome to have specific files for different users, but for now, this will have to work.
Please star this for me.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=15030
I put it up a few days ago. Stars == attention
multi profiles would be a good start?
Something like firefox profiles where one could login an sync to their gmail account bookmarks, etc. Could be a start from the last post? Now if only I were talented enough to code! I'm glad to see I'm not all nuts with the idea.
found iOS has a hacked feature like this
http://vr-zone.com/articles/ios-hack-brings-multi-user-support-to-apple-s-ipad/13005.html
login SwiftKey Facebook url
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"
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.