Best Applications for Android
There are only a few applications in the market now, but I figured I'd start a thread for the future to share your recommendations on cool applications for Android. ShopSavvy made me think to make this thread, as it's something that seems incredibly useful in the future. All of us PPC lovers have been in a store and seen a price on something, saying "I wonder if I can get it cheaper"... Then we pull out the phone, hit up Google shopping or something of the like, and run a search... How nice would it be to just pull out the phone, open ShopSavvy, scan the bar code and immediately know if you're getting a good deal?
http://www.android.com/market.html
Description: "ShopSavvy is your shopping assistant. Using the camera in your phone, you can scan the barcode of any product to find the best prices on the internet and at nearby, local stores."
www.biggu.com
Movie and Music Streaming
i would like to see a program that will allow me to stream movies from my netflix account or stream music from my sirius subscription
dnyperez said:
i would like to see a program that will allow me to stream movies from my netflix account or stream music from my sirius subscription
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Well, for Sirius you need a satellite radio receiver... Not built into the hardware. Perhaps they'll come out with an application that you can pay like $8 a month for, like XM Radio Mobile for Windows Mobile, but definitely not true satellite radio as the phone just isn't capable. As for NetFlix, that'd have to be done by them, send them an email requesting it.
Probably won't get anything done, but ya never know, if they see money in it maybe they'll put something together.
i have sirius on my dash it works with my online subscription i would like to see that on my upcoming G1
i would like to see Music ID its a good app for music enthusiasts
ShopSavvy IS a really cool program, but it doesn't have a huge amount of stuff in the database it's using. I used the barcode reader on a few things in my house and the one thing it was able to was a book I had. When it works it is incredible, one of those "Holy crap that's cool" things.
GiZZy said:
i would like to see Music ID its a good app for music enthusiasts
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http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/ here are some of the winners who made apps for the g1 and gizzy you looking for this TuneWiki it is one of the winners
kron2 said:
http://code.google.com/android/adc_gallery/ here are some of the winners who made apps for the g1 and gizzy you looking for this TuneWiki it is one of the winners
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I thought i looked at all the winners but i guess somehow i missed that one, its a pretty good app. What i meant was you have a tune playing in the background and the app tells you what the song is, I didnt rly see that in the TuneWiki's features.
i know for a fact that there will prolly be new apps bout every week.. and they will all be the best
GiZZy said:
I thought i looked at all the winners but i guess somehow i missed that one, its a pretty good app. What i meant was you have a tune playing in the background and the app tells you what the song is, I didnt rly see that in the TuneWiki's features.
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You are probably referring to Shazam, a program that's been a hit on the iphone. Good news, they're developing it for the Android platform.
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/17746/18770/shazam-developing-app-for-android.phtml
I'd love to see a pandora client as far as music goes. Sirius just axed my favorite music station (29) so it's not that big a deal for me having sirius streaming.
But given how sirius' streaming website works, coding a java app to log you in and get the station information and music streams wouldn't be a big deal at all.
I need to see an android version of eReader before I can by one.. Though they still do not support Blackberry, so I could wait a while....
That would be very slick
dnyperez said:
...i would like to see a program that will allow me to stream movies from my netflix account...
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UMA APP
I am hoping that an APP to add UMA can be created it's a shame T_MO did not demand this out of the box. It would have made the phone more aligned with being unique to T-mobile at launch
I know this is pretty much a NOOB question but we would have to buy the apps right?
beartard said:
I'd love to see a pandora client as far as music goes. Sirius just axed my favorite music station (29) so it's not that big a deal for me having sirius streaming.
But given how sirius' streaming website works, coding a java app to log you in and get the station information and music streams wouldn't be a big deal at all.
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That would be pretty pimp as well.
str8g1 said:
I know this is pretty much a NOOB question but we would have to buy the apps right?
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Click to collapse
So far, they've said the first three months or so would be free-only apps, but that after that they would open the market up, at the developer's option, to charging for apps. Any developer can release his app for-pay, free, or even free/open-source.
Funambol
It may be of some interest to some of you, that a Funambol connector for Android is now available. It's open source software.
"The Funambol Push Email and PIM client for Android aims to synchronize Android email and pim data (contacts, calendar and notes) with a Funambol (or SyncML compliant) server."
You can run it on a desktop machine, or on a server (or exchange server), or through a third party server like my.funambol.com. Various connectors are available to synchronise contacts, and calendar, with a multitude of systems - client and server. The funambol connector runs on your android phone and connects to the server.
https://www.forge.funambol.org/participate/projects.html
aad4321 said:
I believe google has also released a program which connects your exchange calendar to googles calendar.
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funambol is a little different. It will connect any client to any server. Clients now include Funambol, and servers include (but not exclusively - I've also used it with kolab for example) exchange. Funambol is very useful for connecting multi-platform clients (including non-smartphones as long as they have a syncML client) and servers. It may be useful on occasions when the google app isn't appropriate.
Of course the great thing is that there will very soon be a range of options. I'm not saying funambol is better, or worse, but it's certainly handy for people to know about.
I would like to see a few of my favorite apps that i have on dash on g1 such as 10 live or even better an english version lol. A program like the mp3 trimmer for the diamond so i can make my own ringtones would be awesome. Talking phrase books on learning different languages would be a plus as well since I'm trying to learn spanish.
Related
THE PROJECT IS OVER. SORRY.
QUOTE FROM DAVE (Developer)
http://forums.geekstoolbox.com/showthread.php?t=14636
Today, I have some news that deeply saddens me.
As I am sure many of you are already aware, the StarPlayr project has been retired as it is in the best interests of all of those involved to do so.
This includes all Sirius XM projects I have worked on including SiriusWM5 and all products produced by NiceMac LLC under the StarPlayr name.
While the streams and user authentication were sourced directly from Sirius XM's content servers, my server software supplied all of the value added for the system including but not limited to album art, lyrics, purchase links and the sponsor marketing system. This coupled with the clients I had developed for Windows, Windows Mobile, and the almost completed BlackBerry and Android clients are something I am very proud of.
I started working on my first Sirius XM project in December 2005 called SiriusWM5 when I grew tired of reading "Acquiring Signal" while trying to listen to the Stern Show in my office building.
It was then I decided that I wanted everyone to be able to enjoy satellite radio on every cellphone, game console, desktop and media capable platform.
I never dreamed I would later find 3 others that all shared the same goal. We decided to combine efforts and package our individual pieces into a massive multi platform offering. We formed the NiceMac Team.
While I am no longer part of NiceMac LLC, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported both GeeksToolBox and NiceMac.
If anyone is looking for a developer to work on a project unrelated to satellite radio, please feel free to contact me at geekstoolboxmail at mac dot com.
~Dave
__________________
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~Dave
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I've been testing StarPlayer and previous versions for awhile and I'm running the last release before it goes on sale. I love this program. He is going to sell it for $9.99. Anyhow, Dave (creator) has released it!.
http://forums.geekstoolbox.com/showpost.php?p=14351&postcount=1
This has been the best Sirius/XM solution I've found. I used to use selectradio, but it hasn't been updated in years and it's very buggy. The latest version of StarPlayer works perfect..at least for me...
sounds nice
do you have a mirror? I cba to register for just the cab
Starplayer's a great app! I was going to donate to Dave for his efforts, so I'll buy it as soon as it hits retail. Thanks for the heads-up!
It's released and some added features!
Added Presets, very nice!
updated version out!
see first post
Register as another receiver.
I'm assuming this is using the internet and you don't have to register your phone w/ Sirius as another receiver. But I was just wanting to verify. Thanks!
Snyper711 said:
I'm assuming this is using the internet and you don't have to register your phone w/ Sirius as another receiver. But I was just wanting to verify. Thanks!
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Yes it's just like logging into sirius or xm on your home computer using the internet. You will be using data on you phone.
I haven't checked lately to see if it's been updated...hmm...
Latest Update see first post...
Where are the screenshots?
Best $10 ever spent
This is working great for over 1 month.
Anyone got a link to this? The app is not available.
Hmm... it is usually downloadable at: http://forums.geekstoolbox.com/showthread.php?t=11238 but it says "Temporarily Unavailable".
I notice a thread elsewhere on their forum where folks are having trouble logging in with Starplayr. (Running a backup at the moment, so can't try it myself) The issue is being worked on. So I suspect that's why it's unavailable and when the issue's resolved, it will be available again.
STARPLAYER HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN BY SIRIUS / XM
can someone say.. CEASE AND DESIST...
I hate lawyers..
that sucks, I loved that app!!! is there any other app that everyone's using for Sirius now?
c-apri has an app over at ppcgeeks that i've used in the past. it's kind of flaky and crashes alot if you listen for extended periods of time.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=26310
starplayr was the first app that worked flawlessly. plus the album art was kind of neat. as long as c-apri stays on top of things, we should still have a streaming app. i don't see selectradio as being a viable option since they don't seem to stay on top of releases (plus it's $25 per device and not a lifetime).
i wouldn't mind using xm/sirius' website to stream the music, if the site was compatible with WinMo.
Heres the BS part these idiots are to dumb to understand... they say you cant use a third party app to stream sirius with, but Internet Explorer, or Firefox, or whatever browser you use, IS A THIRD PARTY APP. You still have to have an account, Starplayer, SiriusWM5, C-apiSRO are just ways to interface the channels, thats all, no different than a web browser. In no way is the signal being rebroadcast or given away to anyone that is not a member to begin with.
I doubt it's the app per se, but the potential value-added stuff (ads, links to purchase music, etc). They knew what they were trying to do and SiriusXM knew what they were trying to do. I'm surprised they let them get this far IMO.
I am so sad!!!!
There must be a good reason why you have made this decision.
I would like to say that I had the Blackjack II and LOVED my sirius radio that was streamed on my phone. I had to get a new Blackjack with the upgraded 6.1 windows mobile and now can't find anything to work on my phone! I am so frustrated and need help!!! Any suggestions??
You are a genius and will be missed!!!!
I would love to see a music equalizer app created...preferably one that would integrate with Zune.
Yes, I totally Agree. I can't believe there is no eq.
Also. I would love to see a Pandora app. It was promised, but no one delivered.
i would also love this, and something that could also increase the max volume of the headphones
I would love to see a true VLC player that can play any video I put on my phone....I hate converting as it lowers quality and I can't always stream when I am not home
MeCanto has to be one of my favorite apps for both the iPhone and Android. Would also be nice to have tapatalk for browsing XDA ;-)
I am looking for a robust alarm clock app. One that will take into account which time zone I would like it set for, and one that will override the phones volume settings to ensure that it is audible.
The current stock alarm is good, but certainly not great.
For example, if I am based out of Chicago, but travel to London, I should be able to have an alarm set for a phone conference based on Chicago time and a wake up alarm based on local London time.
Basically on my alarm time settings there should be an option to account for Home/Local/ or any other arbitrary time zone.
BB's function a little like this except that theirs fo one further and will turn the phone on from being off at the alarm time. I was never sure that was great functionality. when I want the phone off, it should probably be off. The new BB software though will ask you when you turn it off if you want it to come on at the given alarm time. That could be elegant.
Any ideas? Any of you seen a great alarm app?
nerdslogic said:
I would love to see a true VLC player that can play any video I put on my phone....I hate converting as it lowers quality and I can't always stream when I am not home
Click to expand...
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VLC would be awesome
I know that its coming...
...but if the Kindle reader app doesn't get here soon, I'm going to go crazy.
I would even be happy with the Nook reader app.
chizzwhizz said:
I would love to see a music equalizer app created...preferably one that would integrate with Zune.
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lol funny that the hd7 have a eq but i want to change to a focus because the camera features are a lot more on the focus .. we dont have brightness adjustment and other camera features that the focus have....
I WANT TUNEWIKI/ENGADGET/TAPATALK(I KNOW THERE IS A BOARDTALK) not the same tho...
ugh and no multitasking...lol i feel like im on the iphone again
I'd like to see a Meebo or Google Talk app. As well as a Google Voice app that isn't unofficial.
I really wish there was a free turn-by-turn navigation solution, but at least I still have my Fascinate for that.
One that translates speech to text and can send as text message or e-mail. The Insurance industry and National Highway Saftey Council ought to fund that one.
Better looking Compass apps than what's currently available.
Palringo and evernote and keepass
Or the ones I am really missing from my TP2
MHC48 said:
One that translates speech to text and can send as text message or e-mail. The Insurance industry and National Highway Saftey Council ought to fund that one.
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Click to collapse
I second that!!!
Also, I want a Text message encryption app, so only me and my recipient can read it.
I want Google Locator that works cross platform for android, Iphone, WP7 users.
All in one bar-code, QR, MS TaG, Shipping label scanner.
A sound profile app would be nice, I mentioned this in another thread. The basically the ability to set up preset Normal, night, silent, vibrate only, profiles. Which also give the ability to control and set different sound levels for the Ringer, Alarm, Music, System, earpiece, keyboard clicks, etc.
Also I'd love to have the following apps from the iPhone 4 and Droid Incredible
- Cardio Track (Android - great app for tracking your workouts)
- CBS Pro Football App - on iphone and Android, use it to track and control my fantasy football teams.
- USA Today App...
- XDA Tapatalk App!!!! Someone working on this yet?
- Amazon.com app
- Pandora!!!!!!!!!!
- Sport Tac - App for tracking scores of various sports. Like the Andorid one.
- A true flashlight app that uses the LED Flash!
- PhotoShop App
- Task app that synchs with MS Outlook/Exchange OTA using ActiveSync Why did MS leave tasks out up front?
- I'm sure I can come up with more if given the time..
and what is with all the tip calculating apps out there in the market....
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it but an IRC client would be superb. even if its just something basic like irrsi, that would be God-like.
Am I the only one who thinks the Paid portion of the App market is a tiny bit inflated? Apps that SHOULD be free are a dollar (e.g. xkcd). And apps that SHOULD be a dollar are 3$ or more... even "Glow Air Hockey" is $5.49CAD (The much better iphone version is only 2$) and that's only singling out one of them.
Basically whoever releases an app on the market place has the monopoly for the time being which results in 50-100% markups and I'd even go as far as to say 200% in some cases. It's kinda rough... but with that being said, there definitely are some fair prices to be found if you search well enough.
All in all, I'd love to see discounts across the board!
in time, as you said when competition arrives the prices will drop.
glypmpse
I emailed them and they said they are working on it actively.
I hate to break it to you guys but much of what your requesting is not possible (yet) with the current sdk available to developers. For example, we can't access the compass at all currently. With that noted, I am a registered WP7 developer and I'm fishing for ideas on what to make, so suggest away.
As the title states, suggest away.
direct sync to outlook .pst
What the [email protected]#$% was MS thinking by leaving this out? Even the iphone syncs to outlook.
mightyeric said:
direct sync to outlook .pst
What the [email protected]#$% was MS thinking by leaving this out? Even the iphone syncs to outlook.
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Jesus, how many times is this going to be brought up? The function is NOT there, and it was known BEFORE any device came out. Quit the *****ing and get a phone that supports it, or move on.
Anyways, I'd like a good sports app like Sportacular that has notifications when games start, during and after with the scores. Fantasy updates with custom rosters would be great too.
Not sure what the SDK will let you do, but is it possible to develop an app that can be pinned to the start page, that toggles 3g/wifi/bluetooth? I know we can just drop in to the Settings menu, but I would pay for an app that put those three in one easy place.
I would also like an app that rotates, like a slideshow I guess, all sorts of images from the various Xbox games I've been playing across the tile. That would look cool on the start page. Maybe it does a Bing image search to find the images to rotate, etc. I'm not a developer, but it was something I thought of earlier today.
dougp.me said:
Jesus, how many times is this going to be brought up? The function is NOT there, and it was known BEFORE any device came out. Quit the *****ing and get a phone that supports it, or move on.
Anyways, I'd like a good sports app like Sportacular that has notifications when games start, during and after with the scores. Fantasy updates with custom rosters would be great too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is comming in dec development almost done..
The direct sync with outlook is not possible with the WP7 SDK. That would have to be incorporated into the Zune sync software. The WP7 is meant to be a cloud device so I don't see this coming anytime soon.
The idea about toggling the radios is also not possible im afraid. The SDK does not give developers any direct access to the hardware like that. Hell, we can't even adjust the volume.
rruffman said:
this is comming in dec development almost done..
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love to see more on this...
JMackey said:
The idea about toggling the radios is also not possible im afraid. The SDK does not give developers any direct access to the hardware like that. Hell, we can't even adjust the volume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That really blows. Just thinking about what various iPhone and Android apps can do easily, it seems this platform is much more closed than even iPhone's. The key to both Android and iPhones success has been as much the developer community as it has been the solid hardware the apps run on, maybe even more so the developers. The new WP7 hardware seems solid enough so far. If MS doesn't open up the SDK to a greater array of components, this will just continue to lag behind, even fall farther behind.
...Hoping someone can cook up some nice WP7 ROM's
ability to take any music file and assign it as a ringtone!
an independent youtube app that doesnt simply goto a web page. Also bein able to watch high def on 3g, and not only on a wifi connection.
TOA Duck said:
an independent youtube app that doesnt simply goto a web page. Also bein able to watch high def on 3g, and not only on a wifi connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's already one in the Marketplace for free. You have to have the YouTube app installed to use it, but it allows for searching, etc. from within the App.
prubin said:
ability to take any music file and assign it as a ringtone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is supposedly coming in January according to reports this morning. See: http://www.wpcentral.com/rumor-january-firmware-update-wp7-include-custom-ringer-support-more
(Sorry, forgot to multi-quote.)
not sure if you can make do this or not, but I would like to be able to connect to hidden networks. Also be able to use the device as a wifi router.
Could it be made downward compatible? It would be nice to be able to run some of my already-purchased software.
As an alternative, the single-largest bummer of making this switch for me will be loss of the two coolest apps I have EVER had – “Pocket Earth”, and “Pocket World” by Bluepoint Studios. These apps, especially Pocket Earth, were stunning! I don’t know their status, but if you could buy the rights and the code and somehow rewrite them for WP7, I suspect you would do very well.
I need programs which are NOT web-dependent. Dictionaries, translation programs, an atlas, etc. which are device-based. Traveling internationally is where one needs the language converters and I work a lot on the plane. I’d prefer to give up space in the device than to continually pay for international data.
Best of luck,
Dave
Battery indicator showing remaining strength in percentage or bars.
A recorder...
There are a few out there, but I need it to either have voice activated start/stop, or stop/start control from my bluetooth. I am a sports photographer, and if I can describe what is on a picture that I take right after I take it, it is much easier to do my captioning when I get home. But I don't have time to take the phone out of my pocket and start/stop after each play.
It seems a lot of the suggestions are things to do with hardware. The only hardware access the SDK gives developers is the GPS, Accelerometer, and the radio. We don't even have direct access to the camera. (When an app takes a picture, it opens the camera app then sends the taken picture back to the app).
riceboyler said:
There's already one in the Marketplace for free. You have to have the YouTube app installed to use it, but it allows for searching, etc. from within the App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will we ever be able to watch high quality youtube vids over 3g. Now you have to be on wifi. I know on iphone the vids are HQ over 3g.
1) Something that bypasses Exchange-enforced password entry. Android has it; and frankly, PIN enforcement is a meaningless layer of security that does nothing more than inconvenience the end-user.
2) Something that let's you copy synced Calendar entries and Contacts to the Phone instead of forcing them to exist in the stupid cloud. <--I would pay good money for this. Again, something that Android let's you do that I like.
Edited to Add:
3) An app that keeps the phone on and unlocked. I don't like this forced lock/timeout thing, I'd prefer to have complete control of when it is locked and when it isn't.
1) A Remote Desktop Application compatable with MS's current RDP services
2) Something that periodically rotates the Logon Screen Picture
3) Something that would quickly display Battery Life, Used/Remaining Storage, etc...
- MEK
Saw the announcement today and I got a couple of questions. What's the advantage of having cloud-based music other than being able to listen to music anywhere on any devices? If I were to stream music from the cloud, wouldn't it use up my data bandwidth and consume more battery power on my device? How's the quality of the stream? Is the audio quality going to be as good as the original music file?
As far as battery goes , that would be a yes ....
Yes it will use your data unless you have a constant wifi on the go
All other questions will have to wait and see .. I signed up for Beta .. Hope i get the invite
Chosen_on184 said:
As far as battery goes , that would be a yes ....
Yes it will use your data unless you have a constant wifi on the go
All other questions will have to wait and see .. I signed up for Beta .. Hope i get the invite
Click to expand...
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Lucky you. Google doesn't give any love to their Northern neighbours.
NexusDro said:
Lucky you. Google doesn't give any love to their Northern neighbours.
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I'm in Toronto. I signed up for an invite using a US proxy. This is the same way I successfully signed up for Google Voice. Hopefully it works for Google Music.
I also installed the new Google Music app on my N1 (showthread.php?t=1072655), and it's pretty cool. It replaces the stock music player.
As a customer who has 500MB of data a month it's totally useless for me.
Even if I had a 5GB plan, why wouldn't I just throw it on my SD card?
ot86 said:
I also installed the new Google Music app on my N1 (showthread.php?t=1072655), and it's pretty cool. It replaces the stock music player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The new Google app looks nicer, but I don't really like it. There's no way to queue multiple albums without creating a named playlist and there is no notification bar in the horizontal layout. I don't want my music app to hide my notifications, I don't see the point of that.
It's much prettier, but they REALLY need to implement lockscreen controls. I find those to be a must-have for use in the car.
Well right now I use the Amazon cloud and it works pretty nicely. And at first I wouldn't think I would use it at all. But I do use it on my work comp and my phone via wifi only. But Amazon does have the option of downloading to your device and they actually recommend it because of the bandwidth issue.
I too asked for the invite. As n1 user that has the wave, voice and gmail, this would be a great addition to my google pack .
Matt1408 said:
As a customer who has 500MB of data a month it's totally useless for me.
Even if I had a 5GB plan, why wouldn't I just throw it on my SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Better off just playing directly from my SD card. And FM radio is still useful too
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Actually just read the following on the Music Beta website:-
Not online? No problem. The songs you've recently played will automatically be available offline. You can also select the specific albums, artists and playlists you want to have available when you're not connected.
http://music.google.com/about/
I was in the middle of messing around with my updated Music app when my 2.3.4 N1 rebooted...Anyone else?
I have it
I have the service now and checked it on nexus one and my new tablet. I should say the app is nice and the music service work like charm. You can pin music on your device so you dont need to download them again, but on a new device, you will have all musics again. All playlist will be syncs on all of your devices.
The only feature I love to see now is to sync back musics from N1 and tablet. The only way you can upload now is PC, this is my understanding, I need to play with it more.
updated to new version 3.0 and took almost 10MB of my internal memory!! Using titanium backup to integrate the app's update into ROM fails and it gives a force close...
HHmmm...I don't think I will spare those 10MB's for that one...
No
+10char
has anyone heard on any limits or anything the cloud based music will be? its a nice feature but putting 90gb of music up on googles servers will takes quite a bit of time for me, along with if there is a cost involved, i think my current set up suits me better than relying on someone elses cloud. granted the [email protected] stuff they were demoing puts a much different spin on things with the tungsten devices
I currently use subsonic which sort of makes my home computer the cloud with my music. I can stream my music collection from any pc mac or linux through the web browser or over my n1 or an iphone if i had one. to answer the op's questions about could streaming yes its gonna use a bit of battery and yeah, data usage will go up.
one of the options in subsonic that is helpful to some with restricted data plans is preloading a set list that can be done on wifi and configuring a max cache size in MB, i dont think ive seen settings like this available in the google music stuff yet
I don't see a big sence in Google Music.
Most people have the few songs they listen to on their computer, why store it in a cloud?
I think one of the nice things is it allows us more space on our sdcards for other things. I am constantly moving tv shows and movies between my desktop and phone, and if I cleared up the 15GB of music I have stored on there, that means less moving around of other files.
But, with that being said, I couldn't use this here (and I am not sure I would use it in the states), as they give me a 1GB cap per month which I always get close to or go over (then they throttle your speeds to roughly dial-up speeds)... plus the drive from work to home goes through two different bermuda triangles as far as reception is concerned (and my village is basically devoid of a T-Mobile signal, although I guess Vodophone or O2 has a signal there...). I don't know how much of your collection it will queue. And I definitely wouldn't do it if the songs can't load fast enough in EDGE (never really tested it) as I almost always have 3G disabled to help with battery life.
Just got my invite yesterday...
There's a number of advantages, like always being able to access all your music (I have 100+ gb, so it would never fit on the phone), secure backup for your music (in case of hard drive failure), etc.
You're not forced into using it, so it's just another option. I've previously been using Audio Galaxy, but that requires my home pc to always be available. This is a bit more flexible...
danger-rat said:
Just got my invite yesterday...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still waiting for my invite. I am hoping that I can still use it in Germany (used a proxy for to request the invite... just like Google Voice, which the texting is awesome when overseas), but it may come while I am in the states for a month on leave. Either way, I am always willing to try out new things...
@Rat, how much storage did they give you? I think I remember reading it, but I don't remember... somewhere around 10GB for the free version?
Storage is unlimited and free "while in beta". I've no idea what the final number will be...?
I was a long time Windows Mobile user. Having started on a PDA (Dell Axim) and then moving on to a Cingular HTC model and finally an HTC Fuse. I was pretty excited about Windows Phone 7 but when the wait became too long, I finally went to Android. At the time, I was a little miffed about no Outlook Syncing and VPN on Windows Phone 7 (which I could do via Google's services and CompanionLink) so I've gone through two upgrades of my Android Phones, all Samsung’s (Currently with Skyrocket.) I also own the pretty awesome ASUS Transformer Prime tablet. My work phone is the lackluster (but only Verizon option) Windows Phone 7 HTC Trophy. So, I do get a Windows 7 fix but find that I rarely use it. But, I've always pulled for Windows Phone to succeed.
I enjoy Android to an extend but my life revolved around Windows (work and home) and I often find that I can't do much productive work on the Android platform. I love to consume media (Flipboard and Google Reader mainly) but even with my keyboard dock, I just can't feel productive.
That all looks to change for me with SURFACE, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. I love the one ecosystem that is finally coming to shape (I am also an XBOX owner) and the Pro line of the SURFACE tablets look to be what I am looking for. Windows Phone 8 looks to make some impressive improvements and the wait for both Surface and Windows Phone 8 devices seems to be pretty hard.
Can't wait!
I am in complete agreement about the Microsoft ecosystem coming together.
I had several WinMo 5.x and 6.x phones ending with the slow to age HD2.
I went to Android by choice and find HTC's Android Sense works in the business world very well. However, iPads and Android tablets are truly consumption devices and painful for much else.
Apple and Android are being attacked on a front they didn't see coming. Microsoft dominates livingrooms with Xbox. They also dominate in computer OS. However, people demand portability and simplicity.
Microsoft Surface easily replaces, laptop, tablet and e-reader....in a GUI that they have begun to learn with Xbox and possibly Windows Phone 7.
How fantastic to have one Metro GUI for every aspect of your life....coupled with high quality, cutting edge hardware.
FINALLY MICROSOFT!!
Sent from my HTC Vivid using TapaTalk
And I will echo you again. The ecosystem is what is what is drawing me. I've had good times with Android but I don't want to be a hybrid when it comes to my gadgets. The wait for WP8 and Surface is going to be hard.
Until then, I'll continue to enjoy my Droid tablet and phone and play a lot of WOPR:Wargames!
I'm really excited about this too.
I've always thought the windows kernel is just top notch in a lot of ways. It's great to see Microsoft finally push this stuff into the phone. The convergence of the desktop and phone ecosystems can only mean good things for us devs and the end-user.
Good software is the key of mobile market,Microsoft showed us with Wp7 most important thing was not hardware.Wp7 was faster and stabler than android even with poor hardware.And now Wp8 coming harder.I am very exciting for native game development on wp8.I think wp8 phones will be best platform for gaming..
And metro ui is original and useful..
Do Windows Phones sync well with Google Services? (Calendar, contacts, etc.) That is really my favorite function of my Android phone is the syncing of Google Services.
garak0410 said:
Do Windows Phones sync well with Google Services? (Calendar, contacts, etc.) That is really my favorite function of my Android phone is the syncing of Google Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are going to buy into the Microsoft ecosystem, I would ditch Google Services. Instead, try Microsoft's equivalent, Hotmail. You set it up as an Exchange server. All calendar, email and contacts sync.
Is there any reason you are attached to Google stuff?
Sent from my HTC Vivid using TapaTalk
willgill said:
If you are going to buy into the Microsoft ecosystem, I would ditch Google Services. Instead, try Microsoft's equivalent, Hotmail. You set it up as an Exchange server. All calendar, email and contacts sync.
Is there any reason you are attached to Google stuff?
Sent from my HTC Vivid using TapaTalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not so much attached but liking it. Google Reader and YouTube are my favorite mobile apps and I hope someone will finally make good versions of them for Windows Phone. I do like syncing with Outlook via CompanionLink and I think they have a sync for Windows Phone/Live too...
Use SuperTube for your YouTube-worries. It gets the job done nicely (also allows downloading of Videos btw.). MetroTube looked a little nicer but it's gone due to pressure from Google to remove it.
As for Sync: Google somewhat supports the Exchange Active Sync Protocol so you can sync your Contacts, E-Mail and Appointments from your GMail Account. Due to the fact that the protocol was developed for Microsoft's Exchange Server it does not support Features in GMail that don't exist on other platforms - you would have to check to see if you're using some of those.
Also sometimes Google has been slow to allow certain features they allow for other platforms (for whatever reason). E.g. WP7 learned in Version 7.5 to sync multiple calendars/account. It took several months before that worked with GMail - problem being that Google's servers didn't offer the other calendars.
Apps accessing Google Reader should be available in the Marketplace.
I'm not using Google services aside from YouTube so I can't be more specific. Hope it helps anyway.
garak0410 said:
Not so much attached but liking it. Google Reader and YouTube are my favorite mobile apps and I hope someone will finally make good versions of them for Windows Phone. I do like syncing with Outlook via CompanionLink and I think they have a sync for Windows Phone/Live too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, and forgot to mention Google Music...I did download the Google Music App for my HTC Trophy but it has a ways to go.
If the XBOX Music player will allow for playlists for streaming music and allow those playlists to sync between the phone, Surface, PC and XBOX, then I won't need Google Music! Or even Spotify!
garak0410 said:
Do Windows Phones sync well with Google Services? (Calendar, contacts, etc.) That is really my favorite function of my Android phone is the syncing of Google Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes my phone syncs with google contacts, google calendar and gmail including saving contacts to google.
For Youtube I use Youtube Pro.
For gmail I use IM+
I don't use google reader so not sure about that one.
v_garg said:
Yes my phone syncs with google contacts, google calendar and gmail including saving contacts to google.
For Youtube I use Youtube Pro.
For gmail I use IM+
I don't use google reader so not sure about that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am convinced I can move my syncing over to live without a problem. I can still do YouTube and Google Reader through those third party apps. I am digging Flipboard for my Google Reader stuff, so here's hoping it will come to the Metro Ecosystem.
garak0410 said:
Oh, and forgot to mention Google Music...I did download the Google Music App for my HTC Trophy but it has a ways to go.
If the XBOX Music player will allow for playlists for streaming music and allow those playlists to sync between the phone, Surface, PC and XBOX, then I won't need Google Music! Or even Spotify!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's 3 Google Music apps that I can see in the market.
Gooroovster (free while in beta)
Cloud City Music (free)
CloudMuzik ($1)
I used Gooroovster and it's great. Looks and acts like the stock WP7.5 music player.
I'd be surprised if MS didn't make their own cloud music service for Windows Phone 8.
Sent from my SGH-I777
I was unbelievably sceptical about Microsoft gaining any real traction with the new WP, but it does look like it's going to come into its own within the next year so. I personally was put off before because of a lack of high-resolution displays (which the OS didn't even support AFAIK) so will be on Android for the next year or so, but I'm hoping next time around I can seriously consider Windows Phone 8 or its successor.
StevieBallz said:
Use SuperTube for your YouTube-worries. It gets the job done nicely (also allows downloading of Videos btw.). MetroTube looked a little nicer but it's gone due to pressure from Google to remove it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slightly off topic, but I find PrimeTube to be a worthy successor to MetroTube
garak0410 said:
Do Windows Phones sync well with Google Services? (Calendar, contacts, etc.) That is really my favorite function of my Android phone is the syncing of Google Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Live account is actually my Gmail address, so I have them both synched up to my phone (contacts, calendars and emails). The aforementioned PrimeTube has my Youtube subscriptions covered. I'm not sure what else you could want, besides Google+, but with the Facebook and Twitter functionality on WP being the way it is... I kind of forget about my Google+ account.
Edit: I find Windows Phone is a slow burn. At first everyone I knew sort of shunned it and was all "Why would you even want a Windows Phone?" but as time wore on I've won over a few converts, and I'm seeing more and more people dissatisfied with their current smart phones... and it's not over stuff that can be fixed without major overhauls (like just the way things work, UI and so on).
A friend of mine got an Omnia 7 cheap unlocked after owning an iPhone and an Xperia of some sort. She was never happy with a smart phone until she got onboard with WP. My mum too. Smart phones were always too complicated for her, but now she's finally joined the computer age. My sister has had an Omnia 7 for a while as well after being intensely frustrated with her old iPhone, and she's convinced her partner to get one (it was pretty easy after he realised Office was on there. If I knew that was all it took to convince him I would have said sooner lol).
Anyway I guess my point is, Windows Phone is getting there. Slowly, but surely. Windows Phone 8 is definitely the dramatic step forward the platform needs. I'm pretty happy to have been on board from the get go, and I'm excited to see where things lead
Demaar said:
Slightly off topic, but I find PrimeTube to be a worthy successor to MetroTube
My Live account is actually my Gmail address, so I have them both synched up to my phone (contacts, calendars and emails). The aforementioned PrimeTube has my Youtube subscriptions covered. I'm not sure what else you could want, besides Google+, but with the Facebook and Twitter functionality on WP being the way it is... I kind of forget about my Google+ account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank's for all of the app tips. I am not a "Google" fanboy but when I finally let them take me to the cloud with my contacts, email, RSS feeds and podcasts, I kind of liked it. All of their apps are a joy to use (Google Reader, YouTube, Maps, Listen.)
But I am ready to transition to Surface/Windows Phone 8. If it wasn't a bad "buy", I'd pick up an old TITAN until the WP8's come out so I can begin my transition to Microsoft services. My work issued Verizon HTC Trophy just doesn't cut it yet...
StevieBallz said:
Use SuperTube for your YouTube-worries. It gets the job done nicely (also allows downloading of Videos btw.). MetroTube looked a little nicer but it's gone due to pressure from Google to remove it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slightly off-topic, but in case you guys didn't know, MetroTube is back in the Marketplace
It's by far the smoothest and most functional WP7 app that I've used.
Also, with your original post about being 'into' the Google ecosystem--I was like that when I used Android, and then I gradually switched over a lot of my services to the Live equivalents (hotmail, calendar, etc). I found that the first party app integrations were much more reliable than the third party clients.
garak0410 said:
And I will echo you again. The ecosystem is what is what is drawing me. I've had good times with Android but I don't want to be a hybrid when it comes to my gadgets. The wait for WP8 and Surface is going to be hard.
Until then, I'll continue to enjoy my Droid tablet and phone and play a lot of WOPR:Wargames!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the same boat.
Cant agree with all of you more. Been using WP& on my HD2 since the early days of its release. I cant/wont use anything else now. All my RSS/email/Office on tap! Even able to connect the phone to my classroom projector for my Powerpoints! My phone is slowing dying however and can not find anything i like to replace my HD2WP7(64GB). I may have to wait until WP8 or unless i can find a 2nd hand HD2!
Last month i bought a Samsung series 7 Slate with Win8 and love it. I use it for work, i use it along with my phone (connection to the phones 3G WiFi) and regulary annoy my iPad/android mates by playing Civ5 and other games on my slate.
Ive always believed that if Microsoft pulled their finger out, they could easily group all their systems together (PC/Phones/Consoles/Online services) and win the market. Its starting to ring true as just this month, 4 friends got rid of their iPhones for WP7 after their phones broke/crashed/stopped working.
People need to stop being fooled by fake advertising and apple design and move away from the dark side to app intergration and one platform!
Anyway, my rant over! Keep it up Microsoft!
I was sold on the Windows phone concept in the days of the Zune HD, which was leaps and bounds ahead of its time (well, ahead by a few years at least) in terms of fluidity and interface. I really love the direction that Microsoft has taken with the next generation of its OS, and I was very happy to see Surface premiered.
The only problem I had when I was using the ZHD was the very limited market for apps it provided, but that seems to be a thing of the past.