A non-techie review to send your friends and relatives - Nexus One General

I was trying to explain to non-technical friends/family why I like my phone and was looking for a non-technical review to send them to.
Unfortunately, 99% of the reviews out there focus on GHz this, AMOLED that, CDMA vs GSM, etc.
I wanted a review that a non-techie would understand, something that would just point out what's so great about this phone. I couldn't find it, so I wrote it -- please feel free to share:
http://www.farleyfamily.net/2010/01/09/the-google-nexus-one/
Btw, I'm not trying to drum up traffic, my blog is not monetized -- it's a family site (e.g. baby pics).

Nice work man. Who's the author of the Locale app that you use? I couldn't find a free one.

uansari1 said:
Nice work man. Who's the author of the Locale app that you use? I couldn't find a free one.
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I found it in the market, titled "Locale (Beta)" -- it's the beta version from the same company that makes the paid version.

Nice writeup. Really shows the wide variety of things you can do with Android!
One thing, somewhat off topic, how do you have your surveillance system set up at home? What camera(s) do you use, and are they all connected to PCs? My brother's girlfriend is interested in setting up a home surveillance system to monitor her cat.

Paul22000 said:
Nice writeup. Really shows the wide variety of things you can do with Android!
One thing, somewhat off topic, how do you have your surveillance system set up at home? What camera(s), and are they all connected to PCs? My brother's girlfriend is interested in setting up a home surveillance system to monitor her cat.
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We have about 6 Ubuntu PC's around the house (server, HTPC's, desktops) and each one has a webcam and runs the ubuntu package "webcam-server" --> http://webcamserver.sourceforge.net/
You can then view a static image of what the camera sees via: http://hostname:port/
Or run a java applet (in an HTML page) that connects to the cam and streams it live.
I have an HTML page that has 6 java applets, 1 for each camera, that streams them in real time. (but my android phone widgets just refresh a static jpg every 30 mins)

6 Ubuntu PC's? You're crazy! But awesome

Good job.
Oddly enough Ive bever used locale despite DLing 4 different times. Maybe Ill try it.

Good writeup with all the cool things you can do with Android!

Related

I can't believe my phone can do this...

Leys talk about those things you just are in awe over our in shock that your phone can do certain things..
I'll start with a few things and leave some for others, or maybe I'll find out some more cool apps..
Heads up display.. I just found out about this, and got an app that will display speed info and compass right onto the windshield at night, and it does an awesome job at it. I use an app called speed view.
Remote control my computer mouse and keyboard..not for everyone but I have my computer hooked up to my fifty five inch tv and sit on my couch, sometimes I don't feel like pulling out my wireless keyboard and mouse,i just load up the remote droid on my phone and it works pretty damn good.
Roku remote..same as above,it copies what my roku remote looks like right onto my phone..works through my network and works flawless..
Sling box.. Watch direct tv on my phone, need hardware but well worth it..again works flawless...
Voice search programs like googles search and vlingo. The accuracy is amazing..
So those are just a few of "i can't believe my phone can do this"
What do you guys have?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
That is just works
Using my HTC Evo phone which I'm using Xda app to post
ruben1221 said:
That is just works
Using my HTC Evo phone which I'm using Xda app to post
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Coming from WinMo, my sentiments exactly.
Good info, but I just created a thread on the 25th with the almost exact same premise that was on the font page as recent as today..lol
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Heads up display.. I just found out about this, and got an app that will display speed info and compass right onto the windshield at night, and it does an awesome job at it. I use an app called speed view.
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Which HUD app is this, i saw a few on the adnroid market.
Speed View
Download Dildroid and AndWobble2.
ruben1221 said:
That is just works
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I must say this is a big one. After 5 smartphones the EVO is the first phone I've had that I don't have a major issue with. It does everything I expect when I expect it.
I must admit though that the speech recognition is pretty amazing for a device this size.
Not really a jaw dropping feature...but does help me because i used to have an issue doing this:
I found out that the easiest way to move an app or widget from the main screen is by holding it, then dragging it onto another app or occupied space. By doing that, the screen will hold the widget/app in that place. Then you just swipe through the screens and place it somewhere.
Sulten said:
Which HUD app is this, i saw a few on the adnroid market.
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you even quoted the name of the app from the OP....wow
deathsled said:
you even quoted the name of the app from the OP....wow
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My thoughts exactly... Some people just can't comprehend !
what does it not do
Time Recorder. Don't have to worry about my boss getting "creative" when he totals up hours for payroll. Tikl Touch to Talk. A repeater radio over the 3G network is pretty damn cool. Seems kinda silly but Google Maps. The amount of info and the speed with which it can be accessed is incredible. This was really put into perspective watching my boss drag out a paper map and try to find an address he was not familiar with. Ouch! The Evo is my third smart phone and it is so far superior to the first two it blows me away.
I like to use my phone for watching movies
1. It just works (came from WinMo and Palm before that)
2. Customizable home screens
3. Angry Birds and Live Hold 'em - I'm addicted
4. Voice recognition is awesome, especially when I'm driving and using GMaps
5. Streaming radio
6. Flash-enabled browser
7. Flashlight - lame, I know, but incredibly useful
8. An app market and an active developer community
Most importantly - it can do everything I need it to do, and it does it all very well. My only 'complaint', if it is a complaint, is that Sense UI is not as buttery smooth as Samsung's on the Epic 4G.
1. It just works(repetitive i know)
2. Wifi Tether
3. kernel/rom/interface customization
4. versatility(i can change things on a whim, not wait for Apple to "release" a feature)
5. GIANT screen. ( i have a hard time using the fiance's iphone. it's too small)
6. Support base here at XDA(the mods and hacks for this thing exceeded anything i could have imagined)
7. expandable memory(the iphone's have to buy new models to get more storage. we just swap a memory card and sell the old one!)
8. High-end camera(video recording still needs some work, but the digital is pretty darn great)
Sprint TV. If I want the kids quiet on my long daily commute, I just load up the Disney Channel, and get sweet silence from the back seat.

[Q] my question is, what can it NOT do?

I hear so much about the Transformers incredible capabilities, but I have yet to hear what it cant do? What exactly separates it from being just as good as a computer?
btw, picking up mine locally on saturday. 32 gig, no dock, 10 hours of use, $400.
It cannot fill the void of a lonely life, nor replicate the caress from a beautiful woman, or the sense of wonder when you hear your child speak for the first time.
Left my TF to make me a cup of coffee this morning whilst I took I shower, but when I came back it hadn't even made an attempt to do it.
Very poor Asus!
Regards,
Dave
straxusii said:
It cannot fill the void of a lonely life, nor replicate the caress from a beautiful woman, or the sense of wonder when you hear your child speak for the first time.
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+1 heheh
Quality. . @ fox
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
In all seriousnes.. For me it cant edit pictures efficiently in a manner I do on my laptop.. And I wouldnt even dream of dropping a Full HD h.246 video right out of my DSLR on it.. Its not powerful enough to play them let alone even try and manipulate those movie files.. Some day I hope to have a TF like device that will.. Anouther thing is that Video playback from the Browser could be better.. It does well but still isnt anything compaired to my i7 laptop.
Another thing is that in the Browser the keyboard has some serious lag issues that will need to be fixed later on in firmware updates.
Hmm .. I am trying to think of what else.. OH big one..
NO NETFLIX!! I know its comming but this is kinda a real bummer at the moment.
Aside from that I absolutly love mine and I think its the greatest money I have ever spent.. I dont expect it to do the things that my i7 laptop does but then again that is not what I bought it for.. I dont need a monster truck of a computer to go get the groceries ever day ( aka Fackbook, email, daily Forum surfing, blogs, etc)
All in all I love it.. I can throw my DSLR SD card in the Dock and view all my pics while charging my Droid X and/or OG Droid and using my wireless mouse plugged into the other USB port..
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
It can't do the most simplest things such as open a CBR file in file manager.
stcardinal said:
It can't do the most simplest things such as open a CBR file in file manager.
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thats nothing to do with the Asus that'd be a android/filemanager thing. If your CBR reading app correctly associates itself with .cbr files then a filemanager would open it.
change .cbr to .rar and most file managers will open the file, or get ACV to read your .cbr files.
back to OP:
The transformer cannot play minecraft (yet).
It cannot edit photos with photoshop.
It cannot play back live tv from a usb tv tuner.
Otherwise I have found a way to do virtually anything that I need it to do.
It can't do anything itself without you.
makec3rt said:
It can't do anything itself without you.
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yeah , not quiet as funny since those amusing comments were at the beginning of this thread.
It can't make folders on the desktop.
Can't make usb->serial to work No damn serial port apps yet.
For the life of me I cannot get it to do my laundry, go to work for me, train my cat, CLEAN ITS LITTER, or take out the garbage for me.
and sadly having a Transformer has done NOTHING for my sex life.
ewingt22 said:
I hear so much about the Transformers incredible capabilities, but I have yet to hear what it cant do? What exactly separates it from being just as good as a computer?
btw, picking up mine locally on saturday. 32 gig, no dock, 10 hours of use, $400.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3rd party. No full MS Office suite, cant run my copy of Photoshop CS, etc. With a dual core 1ghz processor it will be capable of running lighter versions of some very powerful desktop apps.
Also, it doesnt make my breakfast for me, this is about the last straw and I might have to return it because people say the ipad makes breakfast.
Digiguest said:
and sadly having a Transformer has done NOTHING for my sex life.
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Yours cant connect to youporn?
Can't give me superpowers...yet...
I have spent most of the day working on mine doing my reports, what it can't properly do is replicate the productivity apps on your PC, like Word & Excel. The Android equivalents do a fair job of allowing you to see & edit most docs, but using tables & more advanced formatting in a WP doc & trying to edit / create charts is beyond the apps at the moment. I doubt MS will bring out an Android Office, so we have to make do with what's there.
Printing is an issue, I can print, but not always the documents I want to & they don't always come out right.
I watch movies & content from Flash sites & spend a lot of time on email & websites like this, all are good (agree that the current browser typing lag must be addressed urgently).
It doesn't have a decent BBC iPlayer app or Sky Mobile app - UK users need to be vocal about BBC & Sky stepping up support for Android tablets.
If you can settle for the fact that the TF is not a PC & wasn't designed to be you will be happy.
ewingt22 said:
I hear so much about the Transformers incredible capabilities, but I have yet to hear what it cant do? What exactly separates it from being just as good as a computer?
btw, picking up mine locally on saturday. 32 gig, no dock, 10 hours of use, $400.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO Netflix!!! With such a beautiful ips screen, Netflix needs to hurry up and optimize their app for HC without all of the security issues!!! Other than that, it does the things I need it to do (browsing, gaming, twittering, facebooking, etc.)
KB does lag and sometimes it takes to switch app between apps!!!
I use PlayOn for Netflix and Hulu. It's not perfect, but good enough in a pinch. It's also not free, but it also allows Hulu which, even if there were an official client, would require Hulu+ at $7.99/month. So, technically speaking Netflix doesn't need to be on the list.
For me, the biggest thing the TF doesn't do, as mentioned, is allow for editing complex documents. I can use it for my fiction writing and blogging (although the Wordpress interface doesn't work sell, so I still need to finish larger blog posts on a PC some of the time), but not for most of my day job work, which requires the ability to create Word docs with headers and footers, tables, embedded Excel spreadsheets, etc. Oh, and PowerPoint support is pretty sketchy across the board, although of the options I've tried so far the included Polaris Office actually does best with Photoshop. And, of course, there's no robust Photoshop and InDesign support, and so I can't do that kind of work on it.
I think the TF makes a great adjunct device to a good desktop and/or notebook. If I were to go on a trip away from my desktop for a week or so, I'd still take my HP Envy notebook with me. On the typical day or overnight trip, however, I just take the TF.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Doesn't do Hulu (as previously mentioned) and it really doesn't like open office files. And if a file transfer that had huge numbers of small individual files fails, you'll have a fun time having to individually delete sub folders (or I did anyways). But I just got mine, so I haven't really found out what it can do, let alone what it can't (aside from all the humorous stuff already covered).
--Jak

[Q] What are you wishing for in future roms/updates to improve your Xoom experience?

It's quiet in here while 3G Xooms are in transit getting their long-awaited 4G upgrade.
So what is coming down the road that you might feel excited about, or what is on your wishlist?
In this thread I'm not looking for a ***** session, but just an assessment of where we are in terms of software/OS and apps availability for the Xoom. I think we are all aware of any hardware limitations, so unless there may be software fixes, let's not dwell on that, OK?
Anyway, I'll start: I'm pretty happy with the Team Tiamat roms/kernels/recovery and I understand that Team Rogue makes some fantastic kernels/recoveries, too. So that's pretty good, considering Honeycomb Source code is not available.
My real need is smoother integration of productivity activities (file creation/editing/saving/sending/printing) and also design/drawing/paint applications--for my two main moneymaking activities.
I can use a whole bunch of apps but they don't work so well together.
Is there anything good to address this on the horizon?
I think google and microsoft need to get the crap together and integrate some office. I mean it would be nice to see the use of features we have and use at home/work on our pc. Adobe is doing it. MS and google (with all the patents they just bought) could make a lot of money and people happy. We could have xbox live, MS games, office apps that work with our jobs, actual ability to use the system to better our wants and needs. I would love to have android link with my google stuff and my pc stuff.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
+1 for me!
I read somewhere that the average Android user doesn't want to pay for apps. Don't know if it's true, but will that impede MS entry into Android market?
My want/need is very simple. I would love to see a few arrow keys on the keyboards. Rereading emails, texts, etc is a pain to edit without them.
OracleBlue said:
My want/need is very simple. I would love to see a few arrow keys on the keyboards. Rereading emails, texts, etc is a pain to edit without them.
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Been waiting on someone to say that I've got arrows on my phone why not on my xoom
OracleBlue said:
My want/need is very simple. I would love to see a few arrow keys on the keyboards. Rereading emails, texts, etc is a pain to edit without them.
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I use the Hacker's Keyboard. it is configured just like a pc keyboard with arrow keys!
It also splits in half like the thumb keyboard and has a dedicated number pad mode. Sometimes a bit funky in regular keyboard mode when entering numbers, but overall, works great.
Louding keyboard clicking and unlock sounds.
SD write capability similar to my Froyo phone.
Tap-to-Focus on the camera app
Tablet Miui... What? You asked lol
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
Great thread!
I'm very pleased so far, especially considering source hasn't been dropped. Overclocking & undervolting are HUGE to me, adding to an already great charge time as well as an already great CPU power.
I don't know if this is simply a software issue that hasn't been done, or what, but I would really LOVE to see drag n' drop on a file browser. That would really be the icing on the 'productivity cake" for me.
Looking back at the Droid 1 development days, I see that the devs have really enabled quite a bit considering they don't have the SC. Aside of customization regarding font, color, c, I really don't know what else is possible.
As I said, I'm very pleased so far, so even if there were no further great strides to be made, I would not be disappointed with whatever the development teams come out with.
Overall very happy. In addition to the wish for functioning office apps (I have purchased all of them and use each for different functions to fill the gaps), I'd like to see an app (or, better yet, an OS function) that allows 10 or more tablets in a room (around the board table) to talk directly to each other. I want to be able to run a meeting showing the presentation on each (one tab driving), yet allowing each to take advantage of multitasking so that an individual could slip out of the presentation to retrieve a file from dropbox, pull an email, schedule an appt, etc.
okantomi said:
I'm pretty happy with the Team Tiamat roms/kernels/recovery and I understand that Team Rogue makes some fantastic kernels/recoveries, too. So that's pretty good, considering Honeycomb Source code is not available.
My real need is smoother integration of productivity activities (file creation/editing/saving/sending/printing) and also design/drawing/paint applications--for my two main moneymaking activities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You took the words out of my mouth. I measure and draw countertops for kitchens all day long and would like to see an app that I could use to draw them on, kinda like a dumbed down auto cad that you could use a picture or graph paper as a background.
Also the device lags a bit with anything other than a static background enabled, seemslike it should be snappier all around and I wish the keyboard would keep up better.
I love the work the folks here have done so far with this device and I understand that some stuff probably won't/can't be addressed, but those are my desires for the device.
And I want to be able to swipe the bottom bar away, or long press a corner or something.
madamimadam said:
You took the words out of my mouth. I measure and draw countertops for kitchens all day long and would like to see an app that I could use to draw them on, kinda like a dumbed down auto cad that you could use a picture or graph paper as a background.
Also the device lags a bit with anything other than a static background enabled, seemslike it should be snappier all around and I wish the keyboard would keep up better.
I love the work the folks here have done so far with this device and I understand that some stuff probably won't/can't be addressed, but those are my desires for the device.
And I want to be able to swipe the bottom bar away, or long press a corner or something.
Click to expand...
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These are all seriously great ideas. I'm not any kind of developer but it seems like some of these suggestions could be accomplished. I would love a way to draw with a stylus and have the line actually coming from a "point" the way I normally draw with a pen. I know that some apps have less lag and some stylii approximate a point but it just doesn't feel quite right. I would also like to see improved handwriting to OCR.
I'm also interested in what people would like out of their custom rom.
Obviously we can't do everything at the moment and not everything is feasible, but it's always good to have feedback
Tiamat makes Xoom zoom. No complaints there just kudos and gratitude. As for wishing...I wish annotation intigration for both capacitive and digitized displays was universally incorporated throughout OS and apps.
...xoom posted...
simple. I'd like to see support for usb to serial devices such as those using the pl2303 chip. I could use my zoom for hacking/servicing many devices such as the slug, routers, switches, etc. It would allow me to stop carrying a notebook computer.
How about a proper hack for 3g USB dongle support? I only managed to tether my wifi xoom to my nexus one.
And I hope Google will optimize hardware acceleration for android UI interactions. So far honeycomb lags inconsistently.
musashiken said:
How about a proper hack for 3g USB dongle support? I only managed to tether my wifi xoom to my nexus one.
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I think there is some support for 3G dongles, you might have to hit up the devs to find out the details. I know Solarnz helped me get my 4G WiMax dongle working. My modified standard dock, which now has a full-sized USB host port, and my 4G dongle make a great combination along with the BT keyboard and mouse.
kuroguy said:
simple. I'd like to see support for usb to serial devices such as those using the pl2303 chip. I could use my zoom for hacking/servicing many devices such as the slug, routers, switches, etc. It would allow me to stop carrying a notebook computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done. Ill up it tomorrow for testing.
ok guys, give it a run
http://goo.gl/MhIBX
I would like to see some kind of messaging capability without having to do a bunch of hacks to get there, and maybe good codec support written in for the stock video player, eliminating the need to try out every video app in the market to find one that works...maybe a built in note taking app and some other clocks. I really do hate the tron clock
I would like to see multiple user support much like Windows. Have a main logon screen at boot up with the all the users names and their icon, along with a password on each to keep the accounts locked. Possibly a guest account for other people who don't use your tablet a lot, but would like to play something.
This is something that is badly needed. A tablet is a device that can be shared by more than one user. If it is a family tablet it would be great to have multiple user accounts to log into with. Each account would have custom settings and apps for that user, just like Windows. The new tablets have plenty of memory to handle multiple users with multiple app installs.
Also needed for this to work: Admin + parental controls throughout the entire OS for people who are not the tablet admin. Comes in handy so that the minor users can not mess up the tablet for the owner/admin of the tablet. The minor users will not have the proper permissions to mess with anything root and such.

Android that supports windowing?

I'm just curious - with tablets as popular as they are - and with nice big screens, do you think there is any chance Android will provide any sort of windowing system in the future (so you can see more than one app at a time)? I think that would be awesome on tablets...
Any thoughts??
There is always that onskreen thing that is being developed... i heard conflicting sides to why it's not available on android, but itsounds like google is trying to displace apple instead of overwhelming it by showing that tablets can be more than entertainment..
Hmm, haven't heard of Onskreen - I just looked it up and it looks awesome! Has any OEM actually used it yet?? It says that it IS for Andorid, from what I read!
Well, there are several reasons why onskreen cornerstone is having a hard time launching. But here are the main reasons.
(1) Onskreen wants to make a lot of money out of this. So, they want to go through the formal route of having google and tablet manufacturers incorporate this in the updates.
(2) Unfortunately for onskreen, google and tablet manufacturers are not convinced that people would want this feature on their tablets.
About #2, look at the success of the ipad and ipad 2. And you couldn't even multitask on the ipad. Yet, apple is selling them by the tens of millions. Google and android tablet manufacturers think people don't want multitasking on their tablets. These mega companies are trying to catch up to the ipad's success by tailing it. And that means copying how ipad works.
Last there was any info on the development of cornerstone, google and some manufacturers were making onskreen take surveys to prove that anyone at all would like this feature on their tablet. It's sad, really, that these mega companies are perfectly happy tailing apple instead of trying something new to beat it.
If my tablet had a twenty inch screen I would want Xmonad, never mind that. At 10.1 inches Android is good enough at multi-tasking. Maybe if Android overtakes Windows PC someday in the next billion years, we'll get windowing.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Spidey01 said:
If my tablet had a twenty inch screen I would want Xmonad, never mind that. At 10.1 inches Android is good enough at multi-tasking. Maybe if Android overtakes Windows PC someday in the next billion years, we'll get windowing.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
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No way... imagine being able to watch a YouTube video while browsing Tapatalk. Or open GTalk while watching a movie. A tiling window manager for our TF would be really awesome. Not to mention I hook my TF up to a 24" monitor or 40+" TV for doing development work on (ConnectBot SSH'd into a VPS running vim), which would really really benefit from this.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Gary13579 said:
No way... imagine being able to watch a YouTube video while browsing Tapatalk. Or open GTalk while watching a movie. A tiling window manager for our TF would be really awesome. Not to mention I hook my TF up to a 24" monitor or 40+" TV for doing development work on (ConnectBot SSH'd into a VPS running vim), which would really really benefit from this.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
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Click to collapse
+1 - my thoughts exactly!
Unfortunately it seems running eMMC Ubuntu is the only solution to this at the moment, and without hardware accel it's definitely not the quickest solution.
That being said, I run a full dev environment (with VPN) on my Transformer and it's incredibly convenient.
Also, battery life in Ubuntu is incredible! Surprisingly so for me anyway..
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium
Gary13579 said:
No way... imagine being able to watch a YouTube video while browsing Tapatalk. Or open GTalk while watching a movie. A tiling window manager for our TF would be really awesome. Not to mention I hook my TF up to a 24" monitor or 40+" TV for doing development work on (ConnectBot SSH'd into a VPS running vim), which would really really benefit from this.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a _very_ heavy multi tasker and overloader, as in making my laptop want to halt and catch fire kind of multitasking. At a minimal we're talking code compiling, music streaming, and 3+ IM tabs. while surfing the web. If I have a 24" or 40+" to work with, I'll want them each arranged in tiles automatically like XMonad can.
Over the years I have used the following: 15", 19", 22" wide, 10.1" wide, and 15.4" or w/e the wide format is. Resolutions from SVGA to HD. You know what I found when I was using a 10.1" netbook? Most of the time ALT+TAB was more effective with so little screen space. Whether I was reading or writing, watching or chatting, there just wasn't enough screen screen space for more than 1 and 1/3 programs on a 10.1" at 1024x600. I'd rather ALT+TAB than use smaller windows. The TF101's resolution on the 15.x" laptop wasn't so much better, that I would expect the same resolution on 10.1" to be a serious improvement. To be honest I never notied that big a serious gain until I hit 1920x1080 on a 22" wide screen!!!
At work, I run tmux locally (it's like screen) and connect to dtach'd shells on the development server; at home I skip the SSH part. Chrome and Pidgin being the primary GUI needs that matter and corrisponding to Opera Mobile and IMO+jTalk on my TF101.
So I don't really miss adding the 20" Dell on my desktop to it most times. It is a short comming that I can't hook up my TF to my 22" wide at home and have xterm and chrome side by side, the way my netbook and laptop could, and being able to use xrandr to choose if I wanted a mirror or a second screen, or even to make the big screen the only screen. But hey, I can't really complain because most of the time I would just be filling it with a huge ass xterm. For most people that use a tiling wm, probably the same. Regular users have more need of it and regular users are not going to use their TF the way I do.
It was a nice to have feature not a requirement -- because if it was, I wouldn't have been using anything less mobile than my desktop PC to start with! I just don't need that to be productive...maybe if I spent my job in photoshop instead of vim, idk.
edit: if it was to a vote, I'd rather have better access to things like Chrome's debugging tools than multiple windows. Then I wouldn't need my workstation every now and then!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
But remember - as with any windowing system, you would always have the option to run any app in full screen mode.... It would just be nice to have the option to view mutiple apps at once in certain situations... I don't see any drawbacks - just advantages!
The biggest problem I currently have is that when I go back to the home sceeen from some apps, the app actually closes, so there is no way to multitask.... If I had multiple windows on teh screen at once, I wouldn't have that issue...
Currently, I guess it's up to the app to determine if it stays open when going back to the home screen?? It just seems like I don't have the option to multitask all apps....
jtrosky said:
But remember - as with any windowing system, you would always have the option to run any app in full screen mode.... It would just be nice to have the option to view mutiple apps at once in certain situations... I don't see any drawbacks - just advantages!
The biggest problem I currently have is that when I go back to the home sceeen from some apps, the app actually closes, so there is no way to multitask.... If I had multiple windows on teh screen at once, I wouldn't have that issue...
Currently, I guess it's up to the app to determine if it stays open when going back to the home screen?? It just seems like I don't have the option to multitask all apps....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get an ipad.
goodintentions said:
Get an ipad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? I have an iPad - it's even worse than Android at Mutlitasking!
Back to the question - what determines if an Android app is multitask-able? Is it up to the author of the app?
Thanks!
jtrosky said:
Huh? I have an iPad - it's even worse than Android at Mutlitasking!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But... but... according to engadget the ipad is perfect at everything. Surely, the best, most powerful tablet in the world (personally created by St. Stephen and distributed by the Holy Apple Church) would be perfect at multitasking.
goodintentions said:
But... but... according to engadget the ipad is perfect at everything. Surely, the best, most powerful tablet in the world (personally created by St. Stephen and distributed by the Holy Apple Church) would be perfect at multitasking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too funny! I would like the option as well to view both programs similar to cascade in windows. The only thing close I have ever seen is the dual browser whcih is ok but obviously only for internet pages. I truly think android needs a couple more software iterations. However I also don't think eclipse would let u do half of a screen for example because they have specific dimensions and sizes built in. Much like compatibility mode, if the app could default to a smaller size then it could be possible but probably wouldn't look natural.
Fascinate CM7 Stable
jtrosky said:
But remember - as with any windowing system, you would always have the option to run any app in full screen mode.... It would just be nice to have the option to view mutiple apps at once in certain situations... I don't see any drawbacks - just advantages!
The biggest problem I currently have is that when I go back to the home sceeen from some apps, the app actually closes, so there is no way to multitask.... If I had multiple windows on teh screen at once, I wouldn't have that issue...
Currently, I guess it's up to the app to determine if it stays open when going back to the home screen?? It just seems like I don't have the option to multitask all apps....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't really see the development efforts and the major headscrew for the user expirerence as being worth it until we have the Android PC where most people have a Dell or an eMachine on a desk. Maybe someday if Windows 8 flops but not today w/o a freaky fork of Android.
A great plus of Android to me, I have almost all the power my BSD and Linux based systems have, everything I need (personally) to be productive, some useful propritary apps I might not get with FreeBSD, plus it is so easy to use that my mother can use Gingerbread and Froyo. We have had computers for nearly 20 years and she has used Windows XP since 2001 ---- and still struggles with multiple windows, copying and pasting, browsing/saving files, etc. Holy crap, I think it took 7 years for her to stop asking me, "Left or right click". Google has done an awesome job IMHO.
That is just an awesome combo, plus I could probably use x forwarding/vnc magic and get a 1280x1080 GNU/Linux desktop on my big screen, and use a local VNC connection when getting up to go. Maybe even resize it after rather than scroll around. So I can technically have it if I wanted or needed it for productivity, just not with Android apps.
@the multitasking part, usually you can use the copy buffer as an accumulator when that happens. I tend to use Home or the "Multitasking" buttons / ALT+Tab depending on what I'm doing, and rarely have a problem unless I take too long to switch back or launch something memory intensive. Also another reason I switched from TexTab to Tablet Talk, hehe. Most apps that I use don't cause me troubles and those that do on occasion (TeamSpeak) wouldn't if designed properly for the life cycle of an Android application. Then there are some where the activity just dies out, like MoboPlayer lol.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Spidey, fact is, I'd get a lot of use out of a tiling wm on Android. I know we can go without it, certainly, that's why I'm still using my TF for development! The TF offers so many advantages over a traditional notebook that the loss is worth it, but that doesn't make it useless. There are many, many uses for it, especially for IM and video. I suppose we could probably get IM working with window fragments... I'll have to look into it for my #1 l33t IM app! Also tiling things like connectbot and the browser would be great, for so many reasons. It may not be perfect on such a small screen, but it would be useful most of the time.
jtrosky said:
Huh? I have an iPad - it's even worse than Android at Mutlitasking!
Back to the question - what determines if an Android app is multitask-able? Is it up to the author of the app?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He tells that to everyone that even hints at Android not being perfect.
Android sends a signal to an app when you leave it, telling it that you left. It sits there for a while, and if you don't enter it again for so long, Android sends it a destroy signal, and it's up to the author of the app to save the current state so it can be resumed next time it's opened. If it doesn't behave like this, then yea, it's because of the author of the app (or it's too complicated an app to save/restore the state... eg imagine a 3d game).
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Gary13579 said:
Android sends a signal to an app when you leave it, telling it that you left. It sits there for a while, and if you don't enter it again for so long, Android sends it a destroy signal, and it's up to the author of the app to save the current state so it can be resumed next time it's opened. If it doesn't behave like this, then yea, it's because of the author of the app (or it's too complicated an app to save/restore the state... eg imagine a 3d game).
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info! What I've been noticing thuough is that when I try to multitask certain apps, they wont even show in my recents list at all (like tthere is NO chance for multitasking...). From what your saying, it sounds like all apps shoudl be able to multitask to some point, but that's not what I'm seeing... I'm wondering if it's just an issue with the custom ROM/kernel I'm using...
Thanks again! Obviously, not a huge deal, but kinda annoying sometimes.
Regardless, I would NEVER even think of switching back to Apple devices (gave the iPad to the wife) - Android really is so much more powerful!
jtrosky said:
Thanks for the info! What I've been noticing thuough is that when I try to multitask certain apps, they wont even show in my recents list at all (like tthere is NO chance for multitasking...). From what your saying, it sounds like all apps shoudl be able to multitask to some point, but that's not what I'm seeing... I'm wondering if it's just an issue with the custom ROM/kernel I'm using...
Thanks again! Obviously, not a huge deal, but kinda annoying sometimes.
Regardless, I would NEVER even think of switching back to Apple devices (gave the iPad to the wife) - Android really is so much more powerful!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only time I've seen this happen is because of launching one app from another. eg if you click a web link within an app and it opens the browser, it won't show both the originating app *and* the browser for some reason, it only shows one (I forget which).
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Gary13579 said:
The only time I've seen this happen is because of launching one app from another. eg if you click a web link within an app and it opens the browser, it won't show both the originating app *and* the browser for some reason, it only shows one (I forget which).
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks for the info. I can't even remember which apps were giving me issues off-hand - I'll have to start paying attention to this again to see if my system is working properly or not.
Thanks again.
Gary13579 said:
Spidey, fact is, I'd get a lot of use out of a tiling wm on Android. I know we can go without it, certainly, that's why I'm still using my TF for development! The TF offers so many advantages over a traditional notebook that the loss is worth it, but that doesn't make it useless. There are many, many uses for it, especially for IM and video. I suppose we could probably get IM working with window fragments... I'll have to look into it for my #1 l33t IM app! Also tiling things like connectbot and the browser would be great, for so many reasons. It may not be perfect on such a small screen, but it would be useful most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never said it was useless but short of the Android PC on almost everyones desk, I don't see that happening; because I can understand why Google hasn't really done that. And I think we will just get refineme ts on what we already have for multi-tasking by Android 6.x.
jtrosky said:
What I've been noticing thuough is that when I try to multitask certain apps, they wont even show in my recents list at all (like tthere is NO chance for multitasking...).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is most probmatic when one activity lauches another, for example openning a PDF in Polaris via Opera. I hope the mukti0tasking button gets better in ICS, since I need the dock to use the okd one.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Artists - What apps do you use?

I'm posting this here, because I would assume that most of the people who bought a Note did it because of the S-Pen. Therefore, you probably did it for artistic reasons, or because of handwriting support.
Personally, I did it for artsy reasons. For the last couple years (since I got my iPad1) I have been preferring drawing pictures digitally. In order to reference my "style" (might help with my later question) my work is on:
http://niiru.deviantart.com/
I had a few setbacks (apps being a pain, etc) and problems with resolutions and all that, but for the last few months it was ticking along nicely.
And then... I wanted to upgrade my tablet. But an iPad4? The same as what I had pretty much, but the new version? Seemed boring... even though it would be easy, as I could keep the new apps etc...
BUT no... I impulse bought a Note10.1 instead. Because the more-accurate style of stylus could only help, and pressure support? I did without it until now, but it might help in future!
HOWEVER...
I started with Sketchbook Pro on the ipad, a good program. However it was limited in the resolution you could use, which meant that the exported pictures were not very big on my computer screen. And of course, if you enlarge them, they become heavily pixelated. Not good.
So I changed to vector programs, mostly one called "iDraw", which is basically a full adobe illustrator style program. Does absolutely everything. And the main advantage being, the vectors are saved when you export the file... so you can make the pictures as big as you want without any pixellation problems!
My problem with android though... the only vector apps I can find are Adobe Ideas (very very badly rated, 1 star app...) and one called Infinite Design (very highly rated, but still rough around the edges).
BACK TO THE POINT...
So while Adobe Ideas is being made into something thats... not crap. And while infinte design is working out its issues (though I'm still going to try and use it), I wondered what all you guys out in Note-land were using?
Im expecting some nods to sketchbook pro.... and I'm really hoping someone will tell me a way to get around its "canvas size is limited to screen resolution" problem. As this... is pretty bad.
...and I'm also hoping for a few new ideas, some "diamond in the rough" apps which haven't reached my ears yet..
Really hoping I won't regret buying the Note to be honest... I had high hopes for it. It has hit an early hurdle, even taking into account the relative youth of the android tablet app environment.
FOR THOSE WHO SKIPPED THE WALL OF TEXT:
QUESTION - What do you guys use, to make pretty pictures on the tablets. Vector based for preference, or bitmap if the canvas size can be changed!
Thanks y'all.
(excuse any rambling, it is 2am here. 'nuff said.)
edit: I didn't put this in the "questions" thread, because its not a question about the Note itself... sorry if that was a mistake.
I also bought the note to draw on and do some sketching, but have been unable to find a program that I like. I keep getting random lines with some of the apps from leaning on the screen. Very dissapointing, but I would like to see what people would recommend
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
rgane5327 said:
I also bought the note to draw on and do some sketching, but have been unable to find a program that I like. I keep getting random lines with some of the apps from leaning on the screen. Very dissapointing, but I would like to see what people would recommend
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, after another half hour of playing around with Infinite Design, I can see why a) some people give it great reviews, and b) why some people hate it.
I'll start with b) - The interface is a little confusing, and definately needs to be worked on. I think its a one-man project though, so things like UI design may not be at the top of his list. It takes a while to find some things, like certains tools and ways of doing things. I guess thats what they would call a learning curve though.
however...
a) This app does have some very very clever design features. I have found a couple that have actually wowed me, and made me think I could use it to do some really interesting work.
For instance, you can add a line of symmetry to a drawing, so that everything you draw is mirrored along a vertical/horizontal/angled line of symmetry.
Not too special you say? Well you can add this line mid-drawing, without it automatically mirroring your previous work, and do a couple mirrored lines, then remove it. Ive known programs that would simply mirror everything.
Still not enough? The line of symmetry is customisable, it defaults to the centre of where your screen is aimed on the canvas, and can be moved to any location. *This is actually potentially very useful, and I know of no iOS apps that have this as a feature.*
back to b) though, finding out HOW to put in these lines of symmetry, and how to then move them (it involves a tool that is in a different menu entirely) was half judgement and half luck on my part. There aren't any tutorials for any of this stuff *yet*.
But yes, if vectors float your boat (as they do mine) it would seem that "Infinite Design" is currently the one to watch on Android. Its not perfect, it will take some work and getting used to, but with a few more updates (and the guy seems to be working on them fairly regularly, relatively speaking) it could be something pretty special.
SO I have put in an answer to my own question, someone elses turn now!
Edit:
I actually emailed the creators of sketchbook pro (auto desk) because I was so annoyed by the canvas size limitation I wanted to vent my anger in a request for much-needed-changes...
Less than an hour later, I had an actual reply! I was shocked, to say the least.
Apparently Chad (the auto desk guy) was so helpful, he decided to let me know that the new version of sketchbook for iPad and android was coming soon, and would have changes to the canvas limitation, as well as various other "exciting changes in the way people will use this app".
He seemed excited, and now so am I!
So there might be good things coming for sketchbook pro, and I am glad as that was always a very good app on iOS.
niiiice nirurin ! ... Sketchbook pro needs Palm rejection badly and faster input without a lag.
I use
Lecture notes - for fast input line drawings
Paint Joy now known as Doodle Joy :good:
Sketchbook Pro
Photoshop touch
Drawing :good:
Markers
Pretty Painter
Quill
Sketch and Paint
Layer Paint
Snote Jellybean version , for collage type cutting and pasting multiple images and creating new concept characters .
me and my colleagues here @ Dreamworks Animation use the tablet mainly for caricature and painting , so its art all the way .
You may want to check out this thread to see some examples of art Note 10.1 users have done. Will also give you some idea of the capabilities of the apps they used.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1861201
Quill or Papyrus are the best drawing apps in my opinion.
hpblze said:
niiiice nirurin ! ... Sketchbook pro needs Palm rejection badly and faster input without a lag.
I use
Lecture notes - for fast input line drawings
Paint Joy now known as Doodle Joy :good:
Sketchbook Pro
Photoshop touch
Drawing :good:
Markers
Pretty Painter
Quill
Sketch and Paint
Layer Paint
Snote Jellybean version , for collage type cutting and pasting multiple images and creating new concept characters .
me and my colleagues here @ Dreamworks Animation use the tablet mainly for caricature and painting , so its art all the way .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good list! I'm going through them on the play store at the moment, though a few of them fall into the "fun" category, of being nice to play around and doodle on, but no use for any bigger projects. The problem is usually a matter of having no way to export the pictures as a usable file type
edit: layer paint seems interesting, if it ever makes a tablet version it could be awesome. I cant find an app called "drawing" though...
poope said:
Quill or Papyrus are the best drawing apps in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had heard of these before, but I had thought they were just for handwriting (that is what they themselves advertise as) though the quill app does seem to have a few nice drawing tools too. And it can save as a .pdf.. which would usually mean saving any vector information too! Interesting..
TVPaint
If you want a mind bogglingly advanced program, try signing up for the TVPaint beta
http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/downloads/openbeta.php
otherwise, Layerpaint is great and allows you to modify the resolution as well as export files for use in Photoshop
I made a thread a while back with a list of applications and links:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846149&highlight=for+the+artists
Jonphinguyen7 said:
I made a thread a while back with a list of applications and links:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846149&highlight=for+the+artists
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh thanks, I will take a look
I have also found out about an app called TouchDraw... vector drawing, seems to have been a popular one on the iPad store, and is released on android recently it seems....
But its unavailable in my country? I'm in the UK, so I'm guessing its for America only for some reason (As I doubt the developer has a specific grudge against the UK). I may try and find a way around this, so that I can test it out and review it for you guys.
I'll try and post up a review thread of all these apps somewhere soon, so people can find the apps that would be most useful to them (vectors/bitmap/fun/serious/etc)
Assuming this would be useful to anyone anyway, I know it would be to me
My daughter wants an app that's good for inking and has a blend and smudge tool, multiple brush modes, and layers. Do any of the apps out there fit this bill.
Life is better with root and our brilliant Devs
bulletwithbatwings said:
If you want a mind bogglingly advanced program, try signing up for the TVPaint beta
http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/downloads/openbeta.php
otherwise, Layerpaint is great and allows you to modify the resolution as well as export files for use in Photoshop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got this just now. Had an hour of playing around (and looking up windows help guides to figure some stuff out)....
Oh..Em..Gee.
This is an insane program. It is like a full windows animation program, on a tablet.
And strangely, it wouldnt work on any normal tablet, only ones that use a pen. Fingers would be way too thick to hit these menu buttons, and the contextual help only comes up on "mouse-overs".
Colour me impressed, this tool will be something awesome when it is released. There needs to be more like this! Programs that the iPad could *never* have (unless they release a non-capacitive screened iPad, which I doubt they would).
My daughter wants an app that's good for inking and has a blend and smudge tool, multiple brush modes, and layers. Do any of the apps out there fit this bill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sketchbook pro has most, if not all, of these features. Not sure on the blend and smudge for the android version, I know that the iPad version did. Check it out in the Play store, it should list the features.
It is a very good program, and I have been told by an Autodesk employee that a new update that will add all sorts of nice new features, and will be coming out "soon". Though how soon "soon" is, is anyones guess.
Dont take my word for it though (I'd hate for you to spend money and then blame me if I was wrong!!!) so check out the Play listing for sketchbook pro. Make sure you end up buying the "Sketchbook Pro for Tablets" one though, if you do buy it.
Edit: There are blend modes using layers.... but no smudge tool in sketchbook. Not on android anyway, it has been on the iPad version for a long time though. I would *think* that it would get added in the upcoming update. Sorry I couldnt be more help, I haven't yet explored the colouring side things on android...
However, I hear good things about a program called "Infinite Painter", made by the same guy who does the Infinite Design app. The pictures I have seen done using it were very impressive, so I expect that might have smudge/blend tools. I would check that one out if I were you. It has a Note-specific version of the app, which is nice!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brakefield.painter&hl=en
This is a link to the Free version. Probably has adverts or limited saves or something. The paid version isnt expensive though.
I use sketchbook pro, best app for drawing I've used and easy translation from photoshop illustrator but slightly easier for stuff like adding layers.
Lacks the one thing it needs which is palm rejection which would make it a worthwhile purchase.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Samsungnooby said:
I use sketchbook pro, best app for drawing I've used and easy translation from photoshop illustrator but slightly easier for stuff like adding layers.
Lacks the one thing it needs which is palm rejection which would make it a worthwhile purchase.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the app I used on iPad, but trust me when I say the iPad version has a lot more tools in it. Don't know why they've been so slow with the android one.
An update on my infinite design findings... It's good. But it's missing some necessary tools, such as Path joining and being able to select-all. Also it seems you can't have your line be a different color to your fill...
Vector graphics users will hopefully understand what I mean lol. I miss my iDraw program on the iOS. It had everything. Maybe someday soon a program will catch up to it!
Although I still need to try that new TouchDraw program that's on Samsung apps... It looks promising, in theory.
Because people think of Apple users as "artists" and Android users as geeks.
Anyway, tvpaint looks ridiculously complex!
I once was quite good at using TV Paint (when it was called Mirage) but I forgot almost all of it. It's a very specific program. Right now I would kill for MyPaint on Note 10.1. I'm considering porting it - but it uses Python which is not available on Android AFAIK.
asdfuogh said:
Because people think of Apple users as "artists" and Android users as geeks.
Anyway, tvpaint looks ridiculously complex!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its probably generally quite true, but as an artist AND a geek, I am happy with my wacom-powered device. So they need to start making apps for it!
Saying that, I had an email from the developer of the vector app I use, and he has finished his other project for now and is back to work on his next update for this app. So things are moving forward!
I was just about to bite the bullet, and spend the £5.50 for the TouchDraw app from the samsung store when I noticed.... It is only compatible with Jellybean 4.1+.
Which hasnt been released for my device yet, officially.
Lame.
Might be time to root.
nirurin said:
I was just about to bite the bullet, and spend the £5.50 for the TouchDraw app from the samsung store when I noticed.... It is only compatible with Jellybean 4.1+.
Which hasnt been released for my device yet, officially.
Lame.
Might be time to root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash CM10 and never look back. (Until Jellybean suite comes at least)
Jonphinguyen7 said:
Flash CM10 and never look back. (Until Jellybean suite comes at least)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i root and flash cm 10 how do i get all the samsung apps back on my tab?

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