Database Users

[Q] looking for an app pack...of sorts

Im not looking for a literal app pack, but apps that come highly recommended for cheap or even better, free! I've had my vibrant for a couple months now and I love the phone, but I feel that the utility apps I have now are sub-par. Sure I have the "stock" task manager as well as a second party one, I have norton....which I dont think I need, but better safe than sorry I suppose. Im trying to find some apps that will keep my phone rynning neat and fast, as close to as fast as the day I bought it. Any good suggestions?

I've given up on the Android Market. It's like navigating a labyrinth trying to find anything useless in there.
I hope something comes out of this thread.
Maybe there just aren't many useful apps, though.

Get appbrain
It'll help with navigating the market very easily.
Its free.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Also r u rooted I can tell u some apps bit some are root only...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I rooted then un rooted, breaking my ipod was cake, doing things to a rooted phone was entirely out of my comfort zone. Not user friendly at all. I already have app brain, awesome app.
Im more trying to find just a handful of utility apps though, with out the sometimes trivial user reviews. Not to mention the fact that not everyone posts which phone the apps are running well or poorly on. I appreciate the suggestion so far.

[Q] just ordered my first android phone

switched from my bb8900 that finally crapped out on me today. so being as this is my first android phone...what do you guys suggest i do first with it?
best apps to download?
probably not going to root. guess i can be considered a n00b. im good with computers but not programming good. ive read a lot but i dont want to brick my first android. maybe if i get a new one later on down the road i can practice on an old one.
best suggestions for increasing battery life?
games? etc etc.
also i have a question about gps. i downgraded to the 200mb plan through tmobile. i wasnt using nearly enough to keep unlimited. the majority of my use i can use wifi or randomly i'll use the gps when im driving. i know you use data when using gps but how much is it? i have a friend with a droid thru verizon and he looked up directions with google gps. and while we were driving he completely lost service for probably 30+ minutes going through some moutain heavily forested area. but it kept navigating. is this because google had already mapped out the directions? is it possible to just lookup where you are going and then turn off your service to avoid using lost of data?
sorry for being a noob.
thanks in advance.
kevin

Please post questions in Q&A section.

sorry about that

Hi Big Fancy,
I got on Android back in November of 2008 just after the G1 was released. Even though I'm a geek by profession, I wasn't planning on rooting my phone. That changed pretty quickly thereafter.
I was given a free CliqXT at the beginning of 2010 and I didn't root that (I haven't looked, but I'm not even sure if anyone even tried to gain root access on that device). I was hanging on and drooling over the Desire HD and then the HTC Glacier (myTouch 4G) hit the market - it was a no brainer.
I didn't plan on rooting this device either, as I didn't want to "break" my new, pristine baby. Philosophically speaking, one should have root access, but I'm also conservative enough to know when I don't need to play with fire.
What I'm getting at is, once I saw how easy it was to do...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=834225
...it just became another no brainer.
Ok, so most of the apps I would recommend, are going to require root access.
Titanium Backup for Root Users - This is a must have. Whether it's for restoring data or reverting back to a previous version of an app, this is one of those apps I think is a must-have. It's also the first app I purchased and I've been on Android since 2008. I've been quite happy with the free apps on the market, but I loved this app and had to support the dev.
ClockworkMod Recovery - This is also a must have. Essentially, this is like imaging a hard drive or cloning your system. In a way, this trumps Titanium, since you can backup your entire "image." If something breaks though or if there's an issue with the ROM itself, then Titanium is your lifesaver.
AdFree - This just updates your hosts file and nullifies, if you will, any known 'ad' IPs/host names. Basically, you don't see ads in ad-driven apps like Angry Birds or Watchdog Lite.
Watchdog Lite - You really want to avoid task killer apps, to a degree. The developer of Watchdog has a succinct explanation of it on his site - http://www.zomut.com/watchdog/froyo.
SetCPU - Sure, you can overclock your CPU with this, but you can also create nice profiles which will pull the CPU back a bit and help conserve battery life.
LogMeIn Ignition - Those who know a little more might just use RDP or VNC. I've been using RDP to remote-in to my home PCs and any Windows Servers I managed since I got on Android. LogMeIn is great though and for those that aren't familiar with port forwarding, et al, LogMeIn is a dead-simple way to access your computer from the road. It's also a secure connection, so that makes it a winner in my book. I use TeamViewer to support my clients and we're upgrading our license at the beginning of 2011, now that TeamViewer for Android is in beta.
Speed Test - It's nice to be able to show off your speeds, but it's also nice to check your speeds wherever you're at. A log is kept, so you can spot trends if you're experiencing speed/bandwidth issues.
Here's a handful more apps/games I find to be useful...
- Adobe Reader
- Adobe Flash
- Amazon Kindle
- Angry Birds + Angry Birds Seasons
- Barcode Scanner
- Bonsai Blast
- Chrome to Phone
- ES File Explorer
- Gmote
- gStrings (chromatic guitar tuner)
- HootSuite
- IMDb
- Movies (by Flixster)
- My Piano
- OI Notepad, OI Shopping List, OI Safe and OI File Manager (particularly Notepad and Shopping List - I use those daily)
- Paper Toss
- Photoshop Express
- Quadrant
- Reversi Free
- Shazam
- Skype
- Torrent-fu
- Uninstaller Pro
- UPS Mobile
- WordPress
- XDA
- Yelp
Welcome, good luck and I hope this helps!

thank u so much for that very in depth info! i really appreciate it!

Well I got it and this thing is so much more bada$$ than I could have hoped for. Just gotta get used to touchscreen typing. Trying swype. Wish me luck!

big fancy said:
Well I got it and this thing is so much more bada$$ than I could have hoped for. Just gotta get used to touchscreen typing. Trying swype. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I loved swype but now I've got the gingerbread keyboard app from the market, (by Steven Lin) and it's AMAZING. The auto complete feature is SO MUCH MORE convenient than swyping, especially while driving.
It is a must have for one handed operation and it works fine on the MT4G.
Give it a try, it's on the market.
Just search Gingerbread Keyboard and look for the one by Steven Lin.
You'll love it!

nguyendqh said:
I loved swype but now I've got the gingerbread keyboard app from the market, (by Steven Lin) and it's AMAZING. The auto complete feature is SO MUCH MORE convenient than swyping, especially while driving.
It is a must have for one handed operation and it works fine on the MT4G.
Give it a try, it's on the market.
Just search Gingerbread Keyboard and look for the one by Steven Lin.
You'll love it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give it a shot! Swype is just fantastic, but I'll check it out and see which feels better.
Not sure I want to encourage myself or others to text and drive though.
[[[Ice Glacier beats Rock ~ via XDA App]]]

shlongwoodian said:
I'll give it a shot! Swype is just fantastic, but I'll check it out and see which feels better.
Not sure I want to encourage myself or others to text and drive though.
[[[Ice Glacier beats Rock ~ via XDA App]]]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I wasn't promoting driving and texting either..but if you had too. lol.

shlongwoodian, that was a great write up. I've been on and off with Android ever I got my G1 back in Oct in 08 when my contract was up, and ever since then it was either iOS or Android, and now I'm back with Android after using it for a year in 09 and then this whole year with an iPhone. Missed it, got the G2 first with the contract and then this MT4G, and I'm loving it. Rooted this (I won't use a phone if it's not jailbroken or rooted, just a personal thing, I want to be able to control my phone), and it's been great. I don't think I can go back to a BB or iPhone. Even though I really want to give Windows Phone 7 a shot.

nguyendqh said:
I loved swype but now I've got the gingerbread keyboard app from the market, (by Steven Lin) and it's AMAZING. The auto complete feature is SO MUCH MORE convenient than swyping, especially while driving.
It is a must have for one handed operation and it works fine on the MT4G.
Give it a try, it's on the market.
Just search Gingerbread Keyboard and look for the one by Steven Lin.
You'll love it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I tried to install the Fabulous Gingerbread. zip posted on Android Spin and it put my phone into a boot loop. Downloaded this and it is just fine. I do like it a lot. I had been a Swype lover but now I am really torn between the two and am leaning toward the GB keyboard.

tenbeau said:
Thanks for the info. I tried to install the Fabulous Gingerbread. zip posted on Android Spin and it put my phone into a boot loop. Downloaded this and it is just fine. I do like it a lot. I had been a Swype lover but now I am really torn between the two and am leaning toward the GB keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Glad you like it. I'm a big fan now too.
Still nice that the option to swype is there, if you switch back. But yeah. =P

So I did it. Finally got tired of the lag with my stock mt4g. Fully rooted with s off and loaded iced glacier. This runs so much better now. No lag. Totally smooth. Faster quadrant benchmarks. Hopefully the battery lasts longer like I've heard from some here on the board.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

How make make my phone better.

Anyone have any tips that I could use to make my Android/Atrix experience better.
Any tips?
*Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Oh sorry, didn't see it. Don't need to swear at me.

Here is my tip from my shallow experience with the phone and android.
1. do factory reset after your phone has been fully charged to 100% for 4hours-ish while its turned off
2. get before update root
3. update to 1.57
4. do the post update root
5. get titanium backup pro and go to the freeze the applications under the safelist.
6. get an launcher (I bought launcherpro plus, but i think just launcherpro is just as good... because the only major perks i've noticed was the launcherpro widgets and widget resizing)
7. freeze the motoblur home(after installing another launcher like lpp)
8. download screengrabber app (it works on rooted phone and I like using it, you may not need a screen capture program)
9. do the webtop mod if you want to try it. you need android sdk first to do adb commands. (I tried it to see how lapdock would feel like and I found it pretty good)
I love launcher pro, as it looks so nice!!! 3d app drawer and home screen flipping animations, and overall so many settings you can customize. (# of app row, column etc)

hungryeel said:
here is my tip from my shallow experience with the phone and android.
1. Do factory reset after your phone has been fully charged to 100% for 4hours-ish while its turned off
2. Get before update root
3. Update to 1.57
4. Do the post update root
5. Get titanium backup pro and go to the freeze the applications under the safelist.
6. Get an launcher (i bought launcherpro plus, but i think just launcherpro is just as good... Because the only major perks i've noticed was the launcherpro widgets and widget resizing)
7. Freeze the motoblur home(after installing another launcher like lpp)
8. Download screengrabber app (it works on rooted phone and i like using it, you may not need a screen capture program)
9. Do the webtop mod if you want to try it. You need android sdk first to do adb commands. (i tried it to see how lapdock would feel like and i found it pretty good)
i love launcher pro, as it looks so nice!!! 3d app drawer and home screen flipping animations, and overall so many settings you can customize. (# of app row, column etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you so much!

Haven't used the phone, but just look around under the forums and find some guides. Atleast you will be able to find a guide to root it and such which will make life much better and more open for improvement best of luck.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

That was pretty pointless...
no need to cuss...
I was in the same boat as the OP and it was hard for me to search through the massive massive amount of info on this forum.
No need to be so hostile... There has been alot of hate on the forum lately. I know it gets annoying when the new users start asking questions that can be found by searching. But, you have two sensible choices: 1. give them some tips so they know what to search for, or 2. don't reply to thread and let the thread die off...

Dude, You better calm down! I just got banned a couple days for fighting with somebody and cursing and you have a ****load of posts just like this! I had 2 posts then banned! You've been lucky so far but all someones gotta do is report you and then here comes the ban hammer!
No ones even starting with you! This guy just asked a question! Calm down!

if you dont need stuff like email, calendar and contacts updated to the minute its a good idea to disable this feature in settings and with titanium backup. theres a big thread in the dev section about what apps from att that are safe to freeze with titanium. this alone will significantly increase your battery life.

neotekz said:
if you dont need stuff like email, calendar and contacts updated to the minute its a good idea to disable this feature in settings and with titanium backup. Theres a big thread in the dev section about what apps from att that are safe to freeze with titanium. This alone will significantly increase your battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks
__________

and if you're feeling real brave??.... You could root the **** out of it and flash gingerblur or gladiatrix or the newest rom greyblur!! Im about to flash greyblur right now!

If you want a gingerbead look to your phone, as well as getting rid of the hideous white notification bar, you should try out GingerBlur, a pseudo-rom for the Atrix.
GrayBlur has also been released, which I'll be trying out shortly.
Get a launcher. If you have the money (15$) I would buy SPB Shell. That is one amazing launcher. Or just get one of the many others like ADW, Launcher Pro, Go Launcher, etc.
If you want to tether (data plan required), go to the dev section to get the tethering APN for mobile hotspot.
Install Tenfar's custom bootstrap recovery. Allows you to flash ROMs.
Install the Amazon App market. A free paid app a day (games too).
And last but not least: check out the themes section. Lots of cool themes and boot images.

PixoNova said:
If you want a gingerbead look to your phone, as well as getting rid of the hideous white notification bar, you should try out GingerBlur, a pseudo-rom for the Atrix.
GrayBlur has also been released, which I'll be trying out shortly.
Get a launcher. If you have the money (15$) I would buy SPB Shell. That is one amazing launcher. Or just get one of the many others like ADW, Launcher Pro, Go Launcher, etc.
If you want to tether (data plan required), go to the dev section to get the tethering APN for mobile hotspot.
Install Tenfar's custom bootstrap recovery. Allows you to flash ROMs.
Install the Amazon App market. A free paid app a day (games too).
And last but not least: check out the themes section. Lots of cool themes and boot images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see the Amazon App Store on the Android Market. Where can I get it?

Chubby_Skunk said:
I didn't see the Amazon App Store on the Android Market. Where can I get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll have to side load it. you can enable that by running glad root.
Then, download the apk from amazon, put it on your phone, and install
Definitely worth it
http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011
Theres a link there to input your email to download it
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App

PixoNova said:
You'll have to side load it. you can enable that by running glad root.
Then, download the apk from amazon, put it on your phone, and install
Definitely worth it
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright thanks for the info. So I get one free app every day?

Chubby_Skunk said:
Alright thanks for the info. So I get one free app every day?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not of your choosing
But it'll tell which app will be for free. I got sham encore, zenonia 2, and trillian for free.
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App

Chubby_Skunk said:
Alright thanks for the info. So I get one free app every day?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but one thing you gotta know is you can never uninstall amazon appstore or your free apps will stop working which kinda sucks!

Gutterball said:
Yeah but one thing you gotta know is you can never uninstall amazon appstore or your free apps will stop working which kinda sucks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm wasn't aware of that. I do know that every single download oas considered a purchase, so if you ever want to switch devices, you can just redownload them like ever normal market.
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App

PixoNova said:
Hm wasn't aware of that. I do know that every single download oas considered a purchase, so if you ever want to switch devices, you can just redownload them like ever normal market.
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah as long as you reinstall amazon appstore all the time with it and I was reading that the appstore is kind of a form of spyware and require too much info from the user.
Uninstall appstore and you'll see. I had angry birds rio and a few others for free. I uninstalled the appstore and then my apps just stopped working! I heard this would happen but didnt believe it! But it is 100% true! Which like I said sucks!

How do I disable MotoBlur using TiBu?
Never live in the past but always learn from it.

Get GO Launcher EX. It's so much smoother than stock, you'll love it. I just returned to it after using LauncherPro Plus for a few weeks. Features on LauncherPro are great, but it had some stability issues for me, and GO Launcher is MUCH smoother and consistent for me. There are a lot of themes for it as well.

Must have Desire HD apps <App-List Updated 19/11/11>

Hey everyone please post the must have desire hd apps that you think are essential. The apps you think show the full potential of the phone....
So Far this is the List I made from the comments
Free Apps:-
-
-HeyTell(Link)
-BubbleUPnP(Link)
-Xda Free(link)
-Facebook(link)
-Hotmail(link)
-iris. (alpha)--> android's SIRI(link)
-Voice Search(link)
-Note Everything(link)
-Opera Mobile Web Browser(link)
-Tweetdeck(link)
-angry birds(link)
-Swype keyboard(link)
-samba filesharing(link)
-whatsapp(link)
-Moboplayer(link)
-GPS Status & Toolbox(link)
-Mx Player(link)
-setcpu(root)(link)
-adfree(root)(link)
-Rom Manager(root)(link)
-A.I.type Keyboard free(link)
-Task List - ToDo List(link)
-YouTube
-APN Backup & Restore(link)
-PowerAMP(link)
-Dolphin Browser(link)
Paid Apps:-
-SPB Shell 3D(Link)
-myUsage(Link)
-Pocket Casts(Link)
-PLayerPro(Link)
-Wave Launcher(link)-TuneIn Radio Pro(link)
- tasker(link)
- root explorer(link)
- titanum backup(link)
- mybackup pro(link)
-cut the rope(link)
- M(mu) torrent remote(link)
- Zedge(link)
- Medscape(link)
- MyPhoneExplorer(link)
- PowerWifi Pro(link)
-GPS Status - Donation(link)
-Paper Camera(link)
-Tapatalk(link)
-Rom Manager Premium(link)
-Thumb Keyboard 4(for people with big fingers)(link)
-Bootmanager(root)(link)
-mx player pro (link)
-Absolute System Root Tools(root)(link)
[/URL]Comment If i missed Something. i will add it later and also please write if the app is paid or free saves me time.
FOR A LIST OF REGULAR APP A LIST ON this
Page made by GrantBarker.

Just a little question, why do you state you have a "Iphone 3gs(Stolen)". Does the fact your telling everyone its stolen increase the size of your ego and make you seem cool?
Sorry if i'm totally wrong and it means something else, but if its what it seems well there is only one word for that.

affinity121 said:
Just a little question, why do you state you have a "Iphone 3gs(Stolen)". Does the fact your telling everyone its stolen increase the size of your ego and make you seem cool?
Sorry if i'm totally wrong and it means something else, but if its what it seems well there is only one word for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPhone was stolen from me I don't get how this has any thing to do with my ego or my coolness :S:S
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda premium

rakinisbat said:
The iPhone was stolen from me I don't get how this has any thing to do with my ego or my coolness :S:S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah that seemed a bit uncalled for. i think affinity121 misinterpreted the "stolen" to mean you stole it off someone
some apps i've been recommending to people:
- setcpu
- tasker
- root explorer
- samba filesharing
- adfree
these aren't really DHD specific though, and 4 out of 5 require root and not everyone i've been recommending them to has rooted their phone

Ohh k I get how it could have given ppl the wrong idea tnx both of you for pointing it out and I fixed it.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda premium

You've already tried the roms I would have recommended.
Take a look at my sig and maybe you can choose a few apps from those links.
For me it's mostly essentials like a decent keyboard, browser, screenshot app, barcode scanner, note taker (so you can paint/write on the screen), camera app, launcher, music player, YouTube, Rom Manager, any backup app, study app and stuff that makes your job or life easier in as few a clicks as possible.
Many of the best apps speak for themselves and are very popular. But there must be tons of great stuff that isn't well known yet..

Android wifi sync. Sky news lol,spark
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

..........

I wrote the list of my favorite apps on my site (2nd article):
http://projects.lanik.org/AndroidProject.htm

IF u always Look For ROM
Rom Manager is must HAVE !!!

thx for the nice infos
HTC DHD rooted/S-OFF/ENG-OFF
BlackICEv1.00b4 + LordModUE.v7.6b7BFS + OnDemandX
[Radio] 26.13.04.19_M

Swype keyboard, makes typing so much faster.
MyPhoneExplorer to backup everything (and type text messages from the computer).
PowerWifi, turns Wifi on when I put my phone on its stand (or just plug it in), saving data allowance, and also launches MyPhoneExplorer for me, so my phone is always connected to my PC when at home. (turns off wifi when I unplug)
Moboplayer, at least until VLC is out.
Plenty of others I could suggest, but those are the ones I really couldn't do without.

AdFree
Rom Manager
Root Explorer
Titanium Backup

all the above + Pulse

4EXT Recovery

Thanks for tips

Swiftkey X - greatest predictive keyboard I've ever used, especially once it's had time to learn your style. Paid app (worth every penny), but there's a free version in the market that gives you full functionality for a month so there's no excuse not to at least give it a shot.
Don't know what else I'd class as 'essential'; Tweetdeck (twitter/facebook), Tapatalk and Vignette (amazing camera app) are probably my most-used and first-installed, but with the possible exception of Vignette I can't say I'd use them to show off the phone's potential. That's what the ROM's for
Edit: already been mentioned, but Tasker (once you've got your head round it) is great for showing off the kind of automation you can achieve. If you know anyone impressed by that sort of thing.

rakinisbat said:
The iPhone was stolen from me I don't get how this has any thing to do with my ego or my coolness :S:S
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree, WTF has this got to do with "coolness" ? ? or anything?
Jeepers, it's his signature, thats all.
Mind you, could be signature police about, yuh never know..lol
matt

titanium backup

affinity121 said:
Just a little question, why do you state you have a "Iphone 3gs(Stolen)". Does the fact your telling everyone its stolen increase the size of your ego and make you seem cool?
Sorry if i'm totally wrong and it means something else, but if its what it seems well there is only one word for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty obvious what was meant by that.

{news} ouya launchers and apps

I have been trying to tweak (sideload) apps to the ouya to change the user experience, up to now ive only been able to install jellybean launcher, from the play store, from devweloper https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.concentriclivers.launcher&hl=en its the only one that works with the remote and doesnt force close, ive tried adding a notification bar app, but the ouya system blocks it like a bad virus lol, as well as the google anything because i cant even install gmail, xbmc works great, i downloaded it from their site http://xbmc.org/ and a bunch of emulators, you choose, the app thats a wonder although is not scaled for the ouya is http://www.aptoide.com/ is not google play store, but it allows you to search for apps without downloading separate apks, i also have played ouya games from the ouya market and gotta say are pretty snappy, so thats a relief, if you guys want support from your favorite apps/developers, then go ahead to the google play store and send the developers some good ol' emails let them know we want the apps/games we've already payed for on our ouyas too, makes sense no?, hope you guys find this useful
PS do not install " Go Launcher HD" itll make your ouya useless and un-usable, trust me i had ti return my first one stick to simple launchers because fancy ones tend to switch rotation and they'll get stuck like that, good day

What was useless with Go Launcher HD? I have it installed and have zero issues.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

CharlyDigital said:
What was useless with Go Launcher HD? I have it installed and have zero issues.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still trying to figure out what part of this thread was news? Seems more like the kind of thing he'd wanna put in a diary or a thread titled, "things you already know but I'm gonna tell you anyways".

well idk but i installed it and forced my console into bootloop
Sent from my OUYA Console using xda premium

thanks you may know this, great but someone else may not ,if you have nothing nice to say dont
Sent from my OUYA Console using xda premium