faster contact/call menu - Hero, G2 Touch General

Hi all,
First please don't flame me, I'm quite "THE" end-user in android but I hope you will understand my statement.
I'm curently using the villainrom 12. It's good for me, fast enough and really stable.
I have used non sense UI but really, without sense, the interface of Android is really not functional.<-- This is my point of view but I do think that a lot here are sharing it ;-)
I'm mostly using my phone for calls, yeah it's strange but it is the case.
Lots of my contacts have differents numbers fix, cellphone, work or home..etc
So when I want to call someone I mostly use the HTC contact widget and press on the contact to get the detailed contact menu and then choose the one I want to dial.
My problem is that after pressing the contact in the widget I have to wait something like 2 to 4 seconds to get the details of the contact where the phone numbers are listed.
This is definitively too slow :-/ My old nokia 3310 was waaaay faster...
Is there any way to get this thing faster? Like a simple menu where the numbers are listed?
I'm really happy to have 3.4Mflops or 32fps but to be really honnest I'm more concerned on the speed for "simple tasks". That's why I use the sense because evrything is "under the hand" but for the call.. it really sucks :-/
I hope to get some great ideas from you guys
Grüß von Regensburg,
Dodjob

That's what bothering me as well. You can try using Dialer One instead (a free app from the Market), it seems to be a bit faster.

U can select a default number for the contact and then as the person to a people widget. That way u can scroll to the person and with one press phone the default number. If you dont want the default u can still get to the persons contact card to select an alternate.
Default numbers are also visible when u press the phone button

Related

Changing the Froyo default dialer

Ok got the update woohoo! and felt a tiny bit dissapointed that some Nexus issues still haven't been addressed boohoo!
I like the new browser and dialer buttons at the bottom now how do I change that default dialer into the far superior "Dialer one"? Is it possible?
I would like to do the same thing. Hopefully someone can figure out how to do it.
well i am just waiting for launcher pro to get that feature and will replace the default one anyways
Well, that is something I would like to do too...
Yep, weakest stock dialer I have seen in about a decade. Will be installing the first fix that hits.
The default android dialer is an embarrassment, I installed Dailer One and set it as default.
It is free from the market place and has full smartdialer functionality seen on the HTC Dialer. However, by default it doesn't search numbers, only names, so you will need to change a few settings to get everything right.
But once you do, it is perfect.
Scrtcwlvl said:
The default android dialer is an embarrassment, I installed Dailer One and set it as default.
It is free from the market place and has full smartdialer functionality seen on the HTC Dialer. However, by default it doesn't search numbers, only names, so you will need to change a few settings to get everything right.
But once you do, it is perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right, thats what we use the problem is linking the phone button on the froyo launcher to open dialer one instead of default google dialer
Yeah, I should have been more specific. The first thing that allows me to replace the stock shortcuts. I use dialer one also, have been since about 15 minutes after I turned the phone on for the first time and figured out I had a better dialer somewhere around 1995 or so. Whoever designed it, had anything to do with approving it all the way to Andy Rubin should be fired. And I mean kicked in the nuts, dragged across the parking lot, thrown in a ditch, and pissed on fired. In order to be an epic failure it would have to get better. Calling it crap would be an insult to turds everywhere.
Wow lot of exaggeration here
The stock dialer is not bad at all, it just doesn't suit your needs
I could go on about how craptacular Dialer One is after trying it, but I realize it just isn't for me, stock works just fine for my needs
What problem linking to the Dialer One app? Just replace the stock dialer link with the Dialer one link on the desktop.
If you use Launcher Pro, it will then ask you what dialer you want to make the default.
My LauncherPro Phone link opens Dialer one just fine on FroYo. No Special tricks involved.
Not exactky wht I meant, what I meant wa, the default icon, left side from apps drawer, when clicked to summon dialer one and not stock dialer, got it?
yea. launcher pro is a lot better than stock launcher anyway.
player911 said:
What problem linking to the Dialer One app? Just replace the stock dialer link with the Dialer one link on the desktop.
If you use Launcher Pro, it will then ask you what dialer you want to make the default.
My LauncherPro Phone link opens Dialer one just fine on FroYo. No Special tricks involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Pro is really good, and I used it with 2.1, but I prefer the layout of the Froyo launcher. I would also like to know how the change the phone shortcut to open dialer one instead of the default phone app.
While yes the default phone app does look better than dialer one, it is no where near as functional. Being able to type names to search for them on my phone is important to me because all my HTC phones since the wizard could do this. Long time smartphone uses should be annoyed by this, but if you are new to the game you just haven't experienced it.
z0phi3l said:
Wow lot of exaggeration here
The stock dialer is not bad at all, it just doesn't suit your needs
I could go on about how craptacular Dialer One is after trying it, but I realize it just isn't for me, stock works just fine for my needs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your needs stop at pushing ten numbers and hitting the dial button yes the stock dialer can meet your needs but smartphone users are used to more functionality. A lot more. I wasnt kidding when I said I had better dialers somewhere around the mid nineties. I did. That doesnt take much though when you need only add speed dial to have a more fully featured dialer than the stock android dialer. This is a smart phone, I have the expectation that my dialer will be similar to what has been in smartphones for years. That means, speed dial, t9 search of logs and contacts, intelligent search (brings the most frequently called numbers to the top of the list of numbers meeting the search criteria), and more. Does that sound much like the stock dialer? Are you actually aware of what dialers can do for you or how to use the functionality in dialer one? Because it doesnt sound to me like you understand what you are using or what can be done with those tools.
Get real, you don't have to dial 10 numbers to use the stock dialer. Just use the address book and hit dial. Besides most of my calls are already in my call log so It's super easy. Then of course there is the favorites tab.
I used dialer one and went back to the stock dialer because I like it better. You can't speak for all "smartphone users". You can only speak for yourself.
I cant speak for all smartphone users and should only speak for myself, true that. Lets examine further. Anybody think I'm pals with Jon Rubinstein? Bill Gates? Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo? I wish because I would be living in a big fancy house and drinking champagne on a corporate jet. Nope, just an ordinary joe like everybody else here and I'm fine with that. Now despite lacking my direct influence all these people have seen fit to put far more functionality into their smartphone dialers. Think maybe it was because millions of other peoples wishes shaped smartphones into what they are and what features are standard fare? I mean no one here thinks they did it because I asked right? Features vary among all the outfits but android dialer has NO features. None. Thats a pretty weak resume when compared to what others bring to the party.
Lets look at the specifics. Contacts is much slower than T9 when your contacts run up into the hundreds. Nor is browsing through a very long call log easy or quick without a means to search it and this is best done in the dialer itself because it means less clicks which equals less time to get where you are going. Going to faves is again more clicks than simple speed dial for the most frequently used numbers, I dont use it at all.
I hate to break this to you but getting work done is a core smartphone usage and not because of me, I'm just one guy out in the grind. Millions of other people in total are what got advanced dialer features into smartphones and they got there because they needed them. The stock dialers shortcomings are why there are so many dialers and other enhancements that add speed dial and search on the market. I am aware that smartphones are now going through a fundamental change in user base and they are not just for work anymore. A lof of people are using them and for many different reasons. I dont think my usage is any more imprortant than anyone elses but I dont think it is any way singular either. The stock dialer may work fine for you or anyone that doesnt need more capability but that doesnt mean that it is up to the standard of the segment. Its not. Thats a fact. Get real? lol
krabman said:
I cant speak for all smartphone users and should only speak for myself, true that. Lets examine further. Anybody think I'm pals with Jon Rubinstein? Bill Gates? Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo? I wish because I would be living in a big fancy house and drinking champagne on a corporate jet. Nope, just an ordinary joe like everybody else here and I'm fine with that. Now despite lacking my direct influence all these people have seen fit to put far more functionality into their smartphone dialers. Think maybe it was because millions of other peoples wishes shaped smartphones into what they are and what features are standard fare? I mean no one here thinks they did it because I asked right? Features vary among all the outfits but android dialer has NO features. None. Thats a pretty weak resume when compared to what others bring to the party.
Lets look at the specifics. Contacts is much slower than T9 when your contacts run up into the hundreds. Nor is browsing through a very long call log easy or quick without a means to search it and this is best done in the dialer itself because it means less clicks which equals less time to get where you are going. Going to faves is again more clicks than simple speed dial for the most frequently used numbers, I dont use it at all.
I hate to break this to you but getting work done is a core smartphone usage and not because of me, I'm just one guy out in the grind. Millions of other people in total are what got advanced dialer features into smartphones and they got there because they needed them. The stock dialers shortcomings are why there are so many dialers and other enhancements that add speed dial and search on the market. I am aware that smartphones are now going through a fundamental change in user base and they are not just for work anymore. A lof of people are using them and for many different reasons. I dont think my usage is any more imprortant than anyone elses but I dont think it is any way singular either. The stock dialer may work fine for you or anyone that doesnt need more capability but that doesnt mean that it is up to the standard of the segment. Its not. Thats a fact. Get real? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took a look at dialer one, and, while it probably offers good functionality; it's nothing I can't get by having google gesture search & gesture bar installed; Stock dialer's fine for me and I have over 800 contacts. (facebook, twitter, Gtalk, last.fm, phonebook)
Gesture bar's intuitive too; so you can say G for example and if you've used it previously for grandmother, then it'll bring it up with just one. Quite sweet.
Saying that the stock dialer's crap though is kind of over the edge IMO, it's simple, usable, just like most of the default apps. That's why the market exists: for improved functionality. For the general user; stock's fine. For more advanced needs; see the market.
The address book has the drag bar on the right where you can get to anywhere in a second with just a drag of the finger.
So you're saying the stock dialer is fine for you but you dont actually use it except to tap 10 numbers and hit dial right? Not that you could do anything else with it but thats actually kind of funny.
It remains that you compare things with similar things and then make an objective determination about how something stacks up against those comparable items. Thats how I make a call on something. Isn't that kind of how its done? There is no dialer available which does less to my knowledge. Is it unfair to say the least capable tool of its type is crap? I'm honestly asking.
Dialer one itself is not the best dialer I have used. I had a better one over on winmo. The functionality was similar but it was more prettied up and had deeper integration. It is about the best I have tested so far for my usage on android though. I want to make it clear that I am not selling a dialer. My post from the start was that in my opinion that stock dialer is a turd and I want to use that shortcut for something else. Not a dialer one ad. This will be my last word on it since utilizing that shortcut is the real point of this thread. I will gladly respond off-line for those want to verbally *****slap me for being mean to the stock dialer.
Lol I don't even use the dialer application anymore, I just hit the search softkey - and type in in a small amount of the name I need to dial.. I've gotten use to this.
HTC does make their dialer application nicer than the stock Google experience, though.. I can really see why people would want to complain about this. HTC Sense for Android seems to have the implementation you people seem to urge for :/

Some ridiculous problems with HTC touch HD

Greetings.
I just bought me a new HTC touch HD and although overall seem a decent phone,it has some "features" ( or lack of it thereof) that I find awfully annoying to say the list.
Condisering that I am a noob regarding smart phones ( this is my first) I would REALLY appreciate if any guru's here will take the time to answer to my questions,as idiot proof as humanly possible ( I'm a retard... :/)
So here it goes:
1. I syncronized my e-mail account ( hotmail,windows live ) with my PC and that brought in all my e-mail contacts. In addition to that,I also have the phone contacts from my previous phone.
My problem is that now I have TON of contacts of all kind ( whenever I tap the "contacts" key) and I find it VERY annoying that it wont let me decide which contacts I'd like.
I mean,I will only like to see the contacts from my previous phone not ALL 160 e-mail contacts. Further more,I would like to have those contacts in my new HD but if I copy them from the sim card,then I will have ALL the contacts in double.
HD just wont let me "hide" either of them. Solutions if any please?
2. There is a ton of problems with syncing music files via WMP. They keep dissapearing ( shown with a ! in the library) and re-appearing but they wouldnt play etc. This isnt really a problem but I'm sure there are some geniuses out there that fixed that.
3. I would like to determine my own ( at least given the freedom to choose among a list) how my HD should sound like when I get an SMS. Ofcourse,there is ( as far as I can tell) no way in hell I can get anywhere NEAR such settings. Maybe someone could help out ?
4. The enormous clock display.I already read something about installing a 3rd party software but due to several reviews,it's a gamble. Since in some cases it didnt work,other got really slow and others down right screwed their HD's. So I wonder: is there any tweak ( some file that can be modified/erased) to fix this without having to install any additional soft/app?
5.Sometimes when I take my cell off the table ( after being "inactive" for several hours) the clock wont display the correct time ( I have to tap it for it to update to current time) and sometimes the upper half of the display looks as if the graphic card was damaged/smoked. Though as soon as I tap home ( or whatever it turns back to normal. Any ideas? P.S. I have gyrator2 and fingerkeyboard 2 installed)
5. I apologize for the wall of text and my poor english.
I would also like to thank to ALL members here for their absolute amaizing ability to help the community as well as the dev's for their amazing tweaks and app's for our smartphones.
This forum/site is the ABSOLUTE best I have ever seen in terms of help,support,development etc.
You guys are awsome. A big/giant/enormous/gianormous THANK YOU from me and my friends here in Norway. Your site is bookmarked and subscribed to since the first 3 min we found it.
Thank you!
Hi
I can help you out with a few points..
1. I had the same problem not only once...there is a little utility called DupeDeDupe which removes duplicate contact in your phone and is free (as far as I remember)...
There is also another app, which is much much much better - it lets you customize cleaning of your outlook, therefore the name OutlookCleaner...this one is not free though as far as I remember, but there are ways how to obtain software....just google...
use google for everything you need....anywas, I recommend using OutlookCleaner as the results were far more satisfying in my case..
2. I advice never to sync your music...I also do not like listening to music via phone - choice is yours though...I recommend Nitrogen Player instead of WMP...it is very simple yet much quicker, customizable and what not....just google the app, it is definitely here on xda somwhere...dont remember if its free...I never had problems with nitrogen player.. (of course we are talking about audio, not video, right?)
3. Go to settings -> sounds and notifications -> notifications tab -> for event choose Messaging: New text message -> below you have different options to choose from....
4. I dont know what clock you are talking about
5. this might be the manila flip or whatever it is called issue...it is built in in the system so whenever you go home, or wake up your phone, system flips the clock so you can see the epic animation google manila clock flip fix or something like that...you shoud defeintely find the fix here on xda..
Hope I helped you...google if you need anything else
Well,first of all,thank you.
You fixed at least half of my problems
Second,I dont have outlook on my HD. I got hotmail/windows live and that's it.
So...maybe you have alternative solutions.
The SMS alarm tone: fix'd. Thank you! Much to learn I have obviously.
The WMP thingy: downloaded and installed Nitro. Havent tested yet but I'm sure is better than anything else Bill Gates came up with. Again,thank you. How do I unninstall WMP btw?
The clock I'm talking about is the enormous one that covers hald the display. The one with animation you know? I want that GONE if at all possible.
Manila is an app that allows you to tweak your HD. I dont have it installed because there was a sufficient number of forum members that had bad experiences with it,everything from ruining other gadgets on the HD to completely rendering useless.
The vast majority was satisfied but however,the ones that werent were enough to matter. At least to me
So yeah,all in all you helped me a great deal and for that I thank you yet again.
You're a good man
as for the big clock at 'home'..you can flip upwards for the clock to disappear(like how you do scrolling)..hopefully it helps..if that's what you wanted...
amigo81 said:
as for the big clock at 'home'..you can flip upwards for the clock to disappear(like how you do scrolling)..hopefully it helps..if that's what you wanted...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THAT easy ha? lol,I'm an idiot.
Thank you buddy
So anyone with some help for the rest of my problems?
Btw,Klaxon doesnt work as it should.
I tested it but it didnt ring at all.
Sir_Hannibal said:
So anyone with some help for the rest of my problems?
Btw,Klaxon doesnt work as it should.
I tested it but it didnt ring at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are looking for alarm clock, I use G-alarm. Google it
For music. Try cut and paste or drug and drop from your PC to your Phone

New Android User Questions

Hi everyone. I just purchased my Droid X last week, and I'm having some migrating pains coming from Windows Mobile 6.5 (HTC Touch Pro 2, Mighty ROM) over to Android. I'm wondering if the fine folks here at XDA can help me ease into the Android OS a little easier.
Here are the things I miss most about WinMo, maybe you can tell me some viable alternatives.
1) The Dialer. - Skip the next 3 paragraphs if you're familiar with HTC Sense on WinMo.
The dialer absolutely sucks compared to the TP2. Having to click different tabs juts annoys me. In the TP2, the dialer and recent calls were displayed in a single window, so if I wanted to dial Steve, I had 2 ways of doing it.
The first way was to dial 7(S), 8(T). The phone would recognize I am spelling out Steve, and list everyone who fits the ST criteria sorted by most recently called. The more I spelled out his name, the narrower the results got.
The second method was to dial his number. Pretend Steve's number is (123) 456-7890. If I dialed 123, it would sort all contacts with numbers who matched the area code, and it would narrow the results as I typed more of his phone number.
I really hate having to tap between Contacts (there is a contacts soft button next to the dialer anyway), I would just click that if I wanted to from the beginning.
Are there any dialers out there closer to the HTC Dialer?
2) Contacts.
There has to be a better contact manager. Not being able to quickly tap a letter to get to contacts is really dumb.
3) Ninja Applications.
Why do I keep seeing applications running that I never started when I load Advance Task Killer. It's really annoying when I load up an App, and go to close it, and see Skype and CityID running when I never launched either of them. I'm almost afraid to set up AIM on my phone at this point.
4) GPS.
If I keep my GPS on, my battery gets killed. With my TP2, it would only use the GPS when it needed it, so for weather updates, and Google Maps, otherwise it stayed off (or was in a suspend state). I turned the GPS on my first day and had 0 battery by around 2 (left the house at 8). Is there any way to set the GPS to only be used, as needed?
5) APPLICATIONS EVERYWHERE.
Is there anyway to sort these into folders? Also, is there anyway to add an X to the application so I can close it when I'm done with it rather than having to launch an App just to close the App I just used?
I really liked the Sense way of doing it, where I had an X in the Application, and a drop down on the home screen that would list the open Apps so I could close them 1 at a time.
6) MotoBlur.
Ugh, I really hate this UI. Has anyone had any experience with SenseX?
7) Custom Roms.
I've seen a handful of Custom ROMs, and I'm planning on putting one on when I have some time next week. I need a good way to backup contacts, after I just spent an hour linking everyone, but I'd like to know if there is a decent Apples to Apples comparison of the ROMs. They don't seem to be outlines as detailed as I'm used to.
On this topic, are there any problems setting up things like MMS once you install a Custom ROM? It was a nightmare on the TP2, but those ROMs were also made for multiple carriers, which isn't a problem with this phone, so I imagine it shouldn't be an issue.
----------------------------------
Thank you for taking the time to read this wall of text.
Other than the 7 things listed, I love the phone. Finding MortPlayer for Droid made my day. I'm looking forward to unlocking it's true potential, and I hope my list isn't a bunch of things I'm just going to have to adjust to.
Thank you again, have a great day.
EDIT:
Also, it's really annoying that every time I connect my phone to my PC, it launches a Verizon web site. Is there anyway to disable this?
Ok... I will take a stab at this.
FIRST, You DO NOT have to settle for the apps that come preinstalled on your phone! Just had to clear that up... Ok, here we go:
Check an app called "Dialer One" and see if that fits your needs... I haven't used it in a while... but heard it still a great replacement for the stock dialer.
Searching for a better Contact Manager is on my To-Do list.. hope someone comes in and help out a little more with that one
Don't worry about the "ninja" apps TOO much. Android Froyo has an amazing task manager and even though you SEE the apps as "running applications", they are not really RUNNING. They are more like... in a queue.. so they are ready for whenever you come back to them....but you still have to watch what the apps are doing. Some do not play nicely and hog memory. I'll link a good post here in a minute explaining that a little better.
There is a widget that can help you out here.. it's called "Power Control" put that bad boy on your homescreen and the option to turn on/off wifi, bluetooth, gps, etc is at your fingertips (for even more controls... check out "Extended Controls" in the market. It cost like $1 and some change)
I'm... not really following this one. For one.. you CAN use folders on your homescreen and put whatever your heart desires in them.. and label it accordingly. I'm not sure what you mean by the "X" in the app
SenseX?? What is that?? Anyway.. as you will find out soon, 99% of the Droid X community despise MotoBlur!! You can use a different Home Launcher and not use Blur. Two of the major Home Launcher replacements are Adw.launcher & LauncherPro... which one is better is a whole different story. They are both great and only YOU can choose which one is best. There many threads comparing them and they run neck to neck mostly. I'm on LauncherPro personally
Custom Roms?? Eh.. I personally do my own developments and theming on my phone and do not use them... there not really all what they cracked up to be because whatever they have on them... I can do myself. So I'm not much of an help on that one... Somebody else maybe will chime in.
P.S-To fix the Verizon thing, go to the "M" in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen by the clock on your PC and right click it.. there should be an option saying to tell it to NOT send you to the Verizon site when you connect your phone. I don't know the EXACT wording of the option menu.. I'm on a mac
Thank you for your reply.
I will check out the Dialer. Thank you very much.
Darn!
A friend of mine told me that, but it's hard for me to not be a bit OCD about background Applications. I've been a Windows user most of my life, and coming from WinMo, background apps really kill performance.
More than anything, my issue is with things like Skype loading when I do not want to be signed in. I want auto-login when I launch the Application, but I don't want the application loading when it feels like it, and me getting a random IM or call from someone when I didn't even tell it to log in.
It also bothers me that Amazon MP3, something I've never even loaded, has turned itself on. It makes me feel like I don't have control over my phone.
I do have a widget that lets me turn these things on and off, I was just hoping for a way to set it up so that the GPS is "pinged" and only used as needed, and turned back off. My TP2 did this, and was a great battery saver. Having to turn the GPS on and off just to get a weather update based on location is a bit annoying.
I didn't mean on the home-screen, I meant in the application list. So when I hit the application list, I can sort them by "Games", "Google", etc.
For the "X", what I mean is in reference to closing an App. In WinMo, the top right of the screen had an X, and if I touched that X, the app would close. Now, once I exit the App, I need to use an application killer to close said App.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=764840
Looks like Sense for the Droid X. In Beta now, so I'm waiting for a stable release.
Really, it's just to get rid of bloatware and take advantage of some performance optimizations that have been made.
A couple of other things that have come up.
I need a better keyboard. One with arrows so I can navigate text. Touching isn't precise enough, and I don't have a stylus with this phone. Today I voiced a text message, and I went to correct an error, but I couldn't get the curse to go in the exact spot I needed it to go into. My old OSK had arrow soft-keys I could tap to navigate with.
Also, I notice when I pull my phone out of the leather pouch I have, when I hit the power button it comes up in landscape, and the accelerometer doesn't pick up on the turn. I need to turn the screen off and turn it back on.
Finally, I'm having extender issues, but I think I need to call VZW for that. When leaving my house, I can't reconnect to Data without a power-cycle.
Thank you for the reply.
my .02
3. Break yourself from the taskiller need. If you have programs allways running that you dont need, ie skype or city id. Root and delete those SOB's. you can look around and there are plenty of articles of why not to use them. Android is a linux based os. Linux is far supirior to Win in memeory management. You dont need task killers.
4. if your gps is turned on its not always running. It only runs when needed. Is by chance your wifi on? that will run all the time by searching for access points. if not you might have maps running, make sure to always back out of maps and not just hit home. That way it closes and doesnt just run in background. (actually goes for most apps)
5 organization- you cant sort the app drawer, you can hide apps (just the icons) using launcher pro, not sure if ADW has that option. Useing folders or the app "app manager" is your best bet
extra. swype has arrows. swype from the swype icon to abc and it will bring up a new keyboard.
I came from winmo- so I know all about your "X" pains. But I say forget about a task killer or even killing tasks (except maybe maps and navigation). I did a little reading about pros and cons and decided to try the "no task killer" approach. I haven't had any problems. the task killer is a pain anyways. you can kill apps all day long and there are a bunch of them that are just going to repopulate themselves in like 5 minutes. I just said, "fegetaboutit". My phone runs great.
if you open the dialer and are on the contacts tab just long press the menu button (the physical button) and your keyboard will pop up. start typing and contacts will appear.
I like "Zeam Launcher". There is a thread here on XDA. I have Launcher Pro+ -but actually liked Zeam so much I use it. Just different preferences though.
that's all i got for now.
Thank you for your replies.
I will try to be a bit less OCD regarding my tasks. I did kill a couple of services of applications that kept starting, like Skype.
I'll check out those launchers and see if I like them better.
Any good stock widgets?
EDIT:
So I just tried to check my location on Google Maps with GPS turned off, and it says I need to turn it on.
How do I set it up to use the GPS as needed?
I leave location services on (GPS)
My theory is that applications will only enable GPS when they need them, so if you have a application running that wants GPS, it will use it.
The GPS icon appears in the notification bar when I'm using something that is using GPS, so I assume its only actually on when this icon is present. Leave it on in settings just makes is available.
Any widget or application that has a setting for manual location (Weather, IMDB) I use it, and disable GPS location, to keep GPS from running all of the time.
To exit an app you are using, either hit the back button or the home button.
If you are worried about "ninja" apps using cpu and memory, you can try a minfree adjustment application such as AutoKiller Memory Optimizer. It fine tunes android's inner memory manager to be a bit more aggressive in closing applications.
I use another Rom (rubiX, link in sig) that already has minfree adjusted (according to the author) and it does help in keeping the X smooth. It also removes all (well most) of Blur and default installed apps as well, so you start with a very clean X.
The default home screen (blur) is crap. I would also suggest replacing it with LauncherPro or ADW
For removing the pre-installed applications. Follow this guide
http://www.droidxforums.com/forum/d...ta-3-ways-super-easy-safe-safe-easy-free.html
Some apps in /system/app/ are not named what they are
(IE. mynet.apk = 3g Hotspot)
For a keyboard anywhere, you can hold the menu button, and it will pop up.
Swype is really a few keyboards. Swype from the icon to the SYM button, it will give you the edit panel (arrows, home, end, copy, paste, etc...) press the ABC button to go back.
Swype from the icon to the f key, it will turn into a number pad. Press the ABC button to go back to the normal keyboard.
Run the tutorial on Swype too, it will give you some very nice pointers on it's use. I used Swype on windows mobile and I found out a few things about Swype I never knew.
Also, as for touching where your cursor is in a text field, if you press and hold, and magnifying bubble will pop up. This makes moving the cursor easier
Did you find a dialer yet? I saw these posted and thought about this thread...
http://www.appbrain.com/app/kz.mek.DialerOne
http://www.appbrain.com/app/acontacts/kz.mek.aContacts
Haven't had a chance to try them yet.
bad4u6669 said:
.... swype has arrows. swype from the swype icon to abc and it will bring up a new keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG. thanks. been loving swype but that has been driving me nuts. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for the replies.
One of the things I liked about my TP2, is I could leave location services on, and it used very little battery.
I guess Weather Bug just SUCKS battery out like crazy. I turned on the GPS last night for something, and decided to see how well it did with battery today. It turns out that some grocery shopping app I wanted to try was sucking my GPS dry (no idea why)... yet another "ninja app" that just started up because it felt like it (this kind of **** really makes me , programs should only start up when I tell them to, not when a component of my phone turns on).
I live in an apartment that has really bad signal (I actually have a Network Extender), so that might be my GPS constantly trying to update when I'm at home killing my battery.
WeatherBug is set to update every hour, so I'm going to see what happens tomorrow with the GPS turned on. It would be nice if I could just set it and forget it, not need to turn it off every time I come home.
Thank you for the contact program, I might check it out. I've been pretty content since I got DialerOne and found out I can get the keyboard up by holding the options.
I tried LauncherPro, and I LOVED it at first, and my phones performance was fantastic!
Then I found out it charges me to resize widgets... WTF is that crap?
I'm going to try some other launchers and see what happens. I'm getting the hang of it, but I still do not like things starting up on their own. Regardless of memory management, my phone should not just decide to boot up programs on it's own.
the phone only does what the app or the user tells it to do. If theirs an app that you don't like, delete it.
And complaining that launcher pro charges for every thing it offers is ridiculous. Every thing it offers for free already ( 7 home screens, 10 rows and columns, unreal speed improvement, etc. ) then to get the extras its less than most people throw away on a daily basis. Where as this three dollars its money that pays off on a daily basis
Adw and lp should be paid apps from the start for all they offer.
You have 3 options, write your own program, use the stock launcher, find a free one.
-end rant
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
I usually leave my location setting on "Use Wireless Networks" and don't bother with GPS other than for maps and navigation. Works fine for all of my other apps that need a location (e.g., weather).
There are apps out there that can turn GPS on and off automatically when you run a particular app, such as Tasker (which can do a whole host of things, but that is one one of them). Tasker is a paid app, but there might be something free out there that does something similar.
Also, I agree with the previous poster re: Launcher Pro. It's really a fantastic home launcher and well worth a few bucks to support the developer. The LP Plus widgets are also a lot better than any of the Blur widgets.
In the end, I probably will buy it, but I'm going to play around with some of the free ones first.
Tasker sounds like it might be worth it for that feature alone (being able to turn the GPS on and off at will). I'm just surprised a feature like this wasn't built in to begin with, considering WinMo has had it for years.
On an unrelated note, can anyone recommend a good media player? I'm going to be flying soon and want to test the battery out on Airplane mode while watching a movie from the SD card. I need something that can decode a variety of formats, mostly XviD for stuff like digital movie copies and TV shows.
EtherBoo said:
In the end, I probably will buy it, but I'm going to play around with some of the free ones first.
Tasker sounds like it might be worth it for that feature alone (being able to turn the GPS on and off at will). I'm just surprised a feature like this wasn't built in to begin with, considering WinMo has had it for years.
On an unrelated note, can anyone recommend a good media player? I'm going to be flying soon and want to test the battery out on Airplane mode while watching a movie from the SD card. I need something that can decode a variety of formats, mostly XviD for stuff like digital movie copies and TV shows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to look into RockPlayer. That's the only one I found so far that decodes ALMOST anything on the spot.
The "Ninja Applications" are running because Android is a true multi tasking OS.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
I hope necromancy isn't frowned upon on this board, so my apologies if it is.
I found a new problem because I had the nerve to attempt to update a contact photo after Facebook had saved it's picture to it.
This is especially frustrating because I'm going to want to override a lot of these photos very soon.
Apparently, updating the photo updates the Google Contact photo, but the phone only displays the Facebook photo. This is a bug confirmed by Moto that will be fixed in a future update.
This leaves me with 2 options.
De-Sync FB, which I'm not thrilled about only because I like getting the most recent status update prior to receiving a call, and There is a lot of info that FB fills in for me.
Copy down all the FB info, and fill it in manually. With Google Contacts not being the best contact manager (I'm very OCD about uniformity in the way things are formatted), I really don't want to do this.
So I figure I need a new contact manager. I tried AContacts, and it crashed every time I tried to edit a contact.
I would love something like the HTC one that comes with WinMo, or maybe even the iPhone one.
I would be willing to pay for this.
P.S.
I'm now rooted and running a custom ROM (zapX I think it's called). I'm loving my phone much more now. My battery life has skyrocketed, and my performance is amazing now. Very iPhone smooth (one thing I was always jealous of, and I hate the iPhone).

Review of SGS 2 - really bad sms-software

Hey.
I'm not used to publish anything here, but i have ordered a SGS 2, and while it is on the way - i'm looking on a great danish site for reviewing mobile phones, as they are reviewing it right now, with a section covering parts of the phone every day. So far, it has been VERY promising - but today, they have found something really annoying on the phone... the SMS- and MMS-software on the phone.
It is (and i just repeat there words) like this...
"The SMS- and MMS-software works, but there really is things that should be made better next time. As this function is one of the basic parts of a phone, it is crucial to make this part really flying, in terms of usability - unfortunately it really doesn't feel like this works in reality on this phone."
"The keyboard is really precise, and is very fast. But for example is smileys inserted as text, and not converted to graphic smileys like on other phones - only first when the message is sent, it is converted, which seems odd. And it is not described anywhere, that the symbol "." calls the available smileys on, and is a very limited collection by the way."
"Another BIG minus is that the symbol "," is gone from the main keyboard, and it seems idiotic to remove one of the most used symbols from the main screen."
"The word dictionary works fine, but has a tendency to make the textbox above jump up and down, which makes you crazy over period of time."
"The mobile also supports delivery reports for the sent text messages, but these works just crazy. The phone shows a "message is sent", but if you want to see if the message is received, you have to choose details of the message. This is just not good enough, as other phones has much better ways to show this." (the SE Arc is mentioned here as a much better way to show this)
"The MMS-part is just catastrophic. When a picture is received, its not possible to zoom the picture, without saving it in gallery first. And is goes completely wrong, when a picture is sent from the phone - it is very violently pixelated at the receiver. Why, when the camera is so good????. We have tested the mobile up against others, and it clearly sends pictures as MMS, in the lowest quality. Most of the other phones is very clearly superior, compared to the SGS 2."
"Verdict!!... clearly not good enough. We recommend getting the application Handcent, which handles SMS'es MUCH better then the original program on the SGS 2. But its just not good enough, that a user has to get thirdpart-programs to get the most out of this phone, which is branded as a high-end phone. It seems like Samsung just has forgotten that this is a basic function of a phone, and it has to work. So this part of the otherwise very good phone only gets 1 out of 6 stars. It still gets a star, as it CAN receive and send SMS text messages, but thats basically it..."
A very harsh verdict from a magazine, which is otherwise very happy about the new SGS 2, and Android-phones in general. As of that, I'm not in any doubt, that they really mean this - they hate this function in the phone. Happily i'm not using this function much, so my order stays where it is - just wanted to show you other this...
If you can read any danish, it is on mobilsiden.dk
I guess they never worked out that you can download new keyboards, and that the awesome swype keyboard comes pre-installed?
To be honest
I am one of those people who don't use SMS/MMS on the newer smartphones as I dont feel the need to as I connect with my friends on facebook or just chat with the google talk or msn messenger in real time.
To me SMS/MMS is a bit outdated with mobile phones pulling your emails and social networking is a breeze
Just a thought
You dont need to read finish. Get chrome to translate for you.
Seems to me that it is more of and issue of software bugs than anything will can easily be fixed. The keyboard issues is irrelevant and there are plently of keyboard replacements on the market that will fix (smart keyboard pro, thumb keyboard, swype). And I never use stock messaging apps either as Go SMS and handcent are vastly superior. The mms bug is a little weird and should be easily fixed with software tweak.
Sent from my Xoom
Ive always used handcent anyway so no worrys
Go SMS Pro is another option, I prefer it to Handcent SMS.
AS usual one magazines review cannot be taken as the de facto standard .
jje
These guys don't have a clue about Android.
Sorry pals but you miss the point here.
I need a unbiased review on the installed software not what I can download or install later.
Please just have a look at sense it's awesome with facebook, keyboard contacts and SMS mms function . So what can do Samsung? Just take care to upgrade the firmware because it's just not acceptable to customize a brand new phone before it can be used properly!
Take care.
bzpwhx2 said:
Sorry pals but you miss the point here.
I need a unbiased review on the installed software not what I can download or install later.
Please just have a look at sense it's awesome with facebook, keyboard contacts and SMS mms function . So what can do Samsung? Just take care to upgrade the firmware because it's just not acceptable to customize a brand new phone before it can be used properly!
Take care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But would you go and ask for a review on an iPhone, but refuse to listen to anything they said about the app store? One of the key features of Android is that it's open and you get choice...
If you want a different SMS app, go to the market, search for "SMS", and take your pick. You'll probably like one more than what was installed, as that's the wonder of choice... Same for dialer apps.
Android isn't just what you get out the box. Treat it as a canvas, and start making it your own
Heck, I'll be removing touchwiz when mine appears, as I prefer the customisation offered by launcher pro
Just wanted to add that I think their review is just bad:
On a completely stock SGS2, here are the reasons I think the messaging app is pretty good:
1. Swype comes pre-installed, just hold down on the text box, select input method, select swype, and off it goes. So it's not 3rd party software, it comes with the device. As far as keyboards go, the swype keyboard is generally MUCH faster for writing messages to friends than most keyboards could ever hope to be - and the dictionary is top class.
2. When you get an SMS, the nice lockscreen notification and Android top-bar notification systems beat the hell out of the annoying "pop-up, disturb what you're doing" systems in most non-Android phones. As far as other Android phones go, it's much the same.
3. The speed of the device makes jumping into the SMS app and browsing around much nicer than most phones.
4. MMS - do people really use this more than once a month?
This is all just personal opinion - but then, so is the review. Zero facts involved in any of this - I don't see them having completed any sort of study on SMS productivity here...
I do agree that the samsung messaging app is not as good as the stock android one . Now all we need are some talented devs to put out a vanilla android build for this beast.
RyanZA said:
Just wanted to add that I think their review is just bad:
On a completely stock SGS2, here are the reasons I think the messaging app is pretty good:
1. Swype comes pre-installed, just hold down on the text box, select input method, select swype, and off it goes. So it's not 3rd party software, it comes with the device. As far as keyboards go, the swype keyboard is generally MUCH faster for writing messages to friends than most keyboards could ever hope to be - and the dictionary is top class.
2. When you get an SMS, the nice lockscreen notification and Android top-bar notification systems beat the hell out of the annoying "pop-up, disturb what you're doing" systems in most non-Android phones. As far as other Android phones go, it's much the same.
3. The speed of the device makes jumping into the SMS app and browsing around much nicer than most phones.
4. MMS - do people really use this more than once a month?
This is all just personal opinion - but then, so is the review. Zero facts involved in any of this - I don't see them having completed any sort of study on SMS productivity here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once a month for MMS? Wow that's often I've only sent 3 MMS messages in a large number of years... (more than I care to recall)
darkninja157 said:
I do agree that the samsung messaging app is not as good as the stock android one . Now all we need are some talented devs to put out a vanilla android build for this beast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or to get the stock messaging app running as an "installable" app?
pulser_g2 said:
Once a month for MMS? Wow that's often I've only sent 3 MMS messages in a large number of years... (more than I care to recall)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was referring to hardcore power users of MMS when I said 1 MMS per month - I've personally only sent 1 MMS ever. I don't even know if my SGS1 can even send an MMS, and I used that phone daily for a year.
I need a unbiased review on the installed software not what I can download or install later.
But i repeat one bad review is not worth a cent three or four yes .,
So what about the other reviews of the phone .
like
Again, we're giving the Samsung Galaxy S2 a big tick for its messaging capabilities – there's a plethora of options here, and it's very easy indeed to stay connected through pretty much any method you can think of.
jje
Not to make this a beat down or anything, but does ANYONE who uses sites like this and own an Android phone remain with manufacturer standard software without any form of customisation?? (unless of course your happy with it!)
i know a couple of girls with Android phones who don't really have a clue about its true potential in this sense, and certainly don't look on forums such as this, and use their phones as they come 'out the box'... but surely any user here could not care less about such a silly issue, as they would understand that all that was needed was a couple of clicks and POW! you've got YOUR phone the way YOU like it...
just sayin', rant over
Dickie
The stock app is pretty good i think. I was an iphone user until u broke my phone and used a cheap wildfire until my contract expired. The stock app on the wildfire was terrible. I switched to go sms and didn't like it either. But as another poster said, the beauty of these phones are their ability to be completely customized. One galaxy s2 issue i have is the keyboard. Swype is ok but i can't.get used.to it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I think the stock messaging app is freaking AWESOME. TRY LANDSCAPE MODE
Its like the galaxy tab email app. Loving it. And even thinking of porting it over to the original SGS

Slow Dialer, Contacts and phonebook takes more tha 10 secs to load!!!! HELP

Just got my S$ upgraded to the lates version in my country which is 4.2.2 when I click on the dialer icon the screen freezes for 10 secs and it shows the numbers but when you press the numbers notheing happens and I guess when the program completely loads suddenly all the numbers pop up and aside from that whenever I type in a name in the messages or the contacts menu to look up someone to message or call it takes to long to load that my screen turns black and which I need to go back until I get the proper contact to be able to do some action with.... I know how to lenghten the time before it goes into energy saving mode or for screen to turn back but this is the exact problem I was staying away from since opting to get the Iphone 5... Since this has the best hardware as of the moment but to lag and freeze and sometimes even crash the phonebook or message app is ridiculous..... Sure you can do a lot of cool stuff but if it can't do this and the answer to my solution is to wait for an update just for a simple task of calling or messaging someone Samsung really brought out a half baked product. Hope you guys can help me with this because everytime I want to call or text someone I just do it on facebook a nokia 5110 would do better than this as far as calling and messaging.... Have they focused to much on the advanced features that they didn't fix the most basic elements of the phone. I had the HTC sensation, iphone 3 before that then this.. Since I'm into computers and pro open source I opted to stict with the android... but this is really pushing me to switch to Apple (who I hate but is really efficient at doing things its supposed to) or windows 8.
Help me with this problem so I don't give up on androids for my next phone I'd rather have a phone that is working lag free than the latest phone with the best specs that can't even do what it's supposed to do, basically reducing it to a bar of soap....
pokerbarlo said:
Just got my S$ upgraded to the latest version in my country which is 4.2.2 when I click on the dialer icon the screen freezes for 10 secs and it shows the numbers but when you press the numbers nothing happens and I guess when the program completely loads suddenly all the numbers pop up and aside from that whenever I type in a name in the messages or the contacts menu to look up someone to message or call it takes to long to load that my screen turns black and which I need to go back until I get the proper contact to be able to do some action with.... I know how to lenghten the time before it goes into energy saving mode or for screen to turn back but this is the exact problem I was staying away from since opting to get the Iphone 5... Since this has the best hardware as of the moment but to lag and freeze and sometimes even crash the phonebook or message app is ridiculous..... Sure you can do a lot of cool stuff but if it can't do this and the answer to my solution is to wait for an update just for a simple task of calling or messaging someone Samsung really brought out a half baked product. Hope you guys can help me with this because everytime I want to call or text someone I just do it on facebook a nokia 5110 would do better than this as far as calling and messaging.... Have they focused to much on the advanced features that they didn't fix the most basic elements of the phone. I had the HTC sensation, iphone 3 before that then this.. Since I'm into computers and pro open source I opted to stict with the android... but this is really pushing me to switch to Apple (who I hate but is really efficient at doing things its supposed to) or windows 8.
Help me with this problem so I don't give up on androids for my next phone I'd rather have a phone that is working lag free than the latest phone with the best specs that can't even do what it's supposed to do, basically reducing it to a bar of soap....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey this isn't an issue with the phone....its a problem with the update....there are a few things you can try out
1. Go to settings and go to application manager in the last tab....scroll to the 4th tab in the app manager...which is All.....and find your contact and contact storage apps.....clear their memory (note this will delete all your contacts....so backup) and retry accessing contacts as usual.
2. Usually the first step helps...if it doesn't... try to do a factory reset of your phone.....(This will delete all your app data....so backup)
3. You could also try to reflash the same firmware or a better update via odin.... Google and XDA are your friends so search the forums....there are many good tutorials.
4. Finally if you still feel like this isnt the answer...i suggest you to root your phone and install a new custom firmware....lots of good tutorials and roms on the XDA forums so check it out. If you dont know about rooting....approach with caution as this will void your warranty....
So try these out...hope it gave you some idea good luck!!

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