So after coming from a Windows phone for years, I'm beginning to realize Android is incredibly different.. and of course, in a good way. I've added all the usuals, FB, emails, twitters, etc.. and finally figured a good way to handle contact photos, emails, social networking, etc... however, I have paid a price in probably changing a bunch of settings I never should have.
Am reading that sometimes (as I am unrooted/unmodded) that doing a factory wipe can help clear some of that stuff out.
Q1: Is this possible on Android without root and if so, what do people recommend?
Q2: I'm assuming it will save my paid apps?
Q3: When creating a new text message, is there a reason I'm having to scroll through work and home numbers of my contacts instead of it defaulting to whichever is listed as mobile? Hoping this is the stock SMS app that has the issue and I can find a separate one to fix?
Thanks in advance.
DNak206 said:
So after coming from a Windows phone for years, I'm beginning to realize Android is incredibly different.. and of course, in a good way. I've added all the usuals, FB, emails, twitters, etc.. and finally figured a good way to handle contact photos, emails, social networking, etc... however, I have paid a price in probably changing a bunch of settings I never should have.
Am reading that sometimes (as I am unrooted/unmodded) that doing a factory wipe can help clear some of that stuff out.
Q1: Is this possible on Android without root and if so, what do people recommend?
Q2: I'm assuming it will save my paid apps?
Q3: When creating a new text message, is there a reason I'm having to scroll through work and home numbers of my contacts instead of it defaulting to whichever is listed as mobile? Hoping this is the stock SMS app that has the issue and I can find a separate one to fix?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.doing a foctory wipe will set your x back to pretty much out of the boxi would just clear cache instead
2.yes your paid apps are synced through the market and google and will always be there
3.if they have more then one number it will show
Awesome, thanks.. How do I clear cache and why wouldn't Android recognize the mobile # as a higher priority when drafting a text? Windows did that, surprised Android doesn't!
DNak206 said:
Awesome, thanks.. How do I clear cache and why wouldn't Android recognize the mobile # as a higher priority when drafting a text? Windows did that, surprised Android doesn't!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to be honest im not sure why it wouldnt recognize it as a higher priority i will do some research on the topic......to clear your cache go into recovery mode
power phone of
then hold the power button and the home button and screen will turn on
keep holding them simultaneously until you see a droid guy with an orange triangle
once you see the triangle let off the buttons and press search button
this will bring up some options for you
now you scroll up and down with your volume rocker and select with the menu button or camera button
select what you want to do in your case its wipe cache
you go back using the power button and just select reboot and thats it
Related
For some reason since yesterday I keep getting this other menu system coming up on the main page which slows my exec down.
It has tabs for home, custom, settings, help along the bottom. And on the left side of screen messages, calls, o2, video, media centre, extras, favorites. How can I get rid of all this?
I just want my main page to display the basic stuff like date, owner, messages, tasks, appointments, msn, battery status.
Thanks!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what the ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
never heard of such a thing as what you are referring to?
Tried hard resetting it?
Have you installed some dodgy software?
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
i just re-read it
you have the ubeaut whizz bang O2 screw up system
hard reset the phone, go into coroprate mode, enter the magic key posted on this web 0506 I think or something similar
this is posted in various ways on these forums, alas I use the Jasjar so no such problem
You have 3 install types, and you want to go back to the basic corporate mode not the o2 bloated stuff
Hey everyone,
first off, I've tried searching (this forum and google) for a lot of stuff, but I still have some questions ( I started out with a ton haha).
I just bought a droid x, and I switched from the original storm (blackberry's first touchscreen phone)
1. gmail- I have my school account (which is a business gmail account) as my primary google/email account, and I don't like that when I check my email on my phone, it automatically marks my actual inbox (that I would check on my computer) as read messages. On my blackberry I would get all my email, but the messages would still be new when I went on my computer. That was very helpful for keeping organized. Can I still do this?
2. computer syncing- blackberry had a nice program that automatically synced everything on the phone with the computer. I realize that google does this over the air, but I'd like to have my contacts/calendar/life in sync with outlook. The blackberry program synced: contacts, calendar, photos, (videos and music if I wanted too, but I didn't bother with that), notes, and tasks (and more?). I found a google calendar sync that I am using to keep my outlook up to date with the android/google calendar, and I found a media manager from motorola that I can use for getting pictures off the phone in an orderly manner. I'm worried about other media. What about contacts and notes and stuff? Google doesn't have a sync option like for the calendar. Is there a program I can use to do all of this? or at least the contact stuff? I'd rather not have to export a .csv every time i get a new contact.
3. Rooting/roms--When I bought this phone, all the reviews basically said that the X was possibly the best hardware available and the worst software. I've gotten confused when I looked around at roms. Is there a standard pure google Froyo build that I can put on this phone? Is there a version of HTC sense that will port over? Has gingerbread been ported yet? Is there a sense or motoblur version of gingerbread yet?
4. speaking of gingerbread- how good is moto about updating there phones with new android builds? Any chance of us getting this in my lifetime?
5. apps. I remember reading a review a long time ago about a really really cool program that would let you do basically anything in your imagination with your phone- it was basically a if-then app that had access to every part of your phone and you could get your phone to do whatever you want when something happened (even as stupid/ crazy as opening the camera app if you received an email and stuff like that).
6. how do you determine which apps are best? is there a trust worthy site that rates them?
7. speaking of apps, are there any ones that I really need? I have Ti backup (im still trying to root this thing, no luck so far), google goggles, and a flashlight app. Any other essentials?
8. Media. I've heard that android has a really bad media player compared to zune/wp7 or ios. Is there an app that mimics either of these media players? or what is a really good media player?
9. what is the difference between a rom and a theme?
10. I've heard that this phone starts out laggy and gets faster over time (according to engadget)- my phone is really laggy only a day in (im not running bunches of apps (yet), I haven't even downloaded that many. Is this par for the course?
I'll have more questions, but that's a bunch to start off. Thanks a bunch everyone, I'm really excited to tear this phone apart and see what it can do!
Edit- I got it rooted, I used z4root instead of the PC based one I was trying earlier
1.?
2.?
3.z4Root is the way to go as you did I see
4.like anyone else when Hell freezes over your local Developer's are the best IMHO.
5. Titanium back up,kouch's Droid recovery. for your specific phone style. Root Explorer, and Astro. too name a few.
6. & 7 ratings and what people have to offer. its still a chance now the Google has a 15 minute window the refund .Marketplace and Appbrain
8.I use PowerAmp But that my choice there a few good one to choose its all your taste most have a demo version.
9.Rom's is the engine...Theme is the paint... froyo is the chassis
10. get rid of the Crapware by reading up, then stepping up, to a deblured Rom KEEP READING....
best to yeah ...
1 & 2 don't effect me so I just use whats available I really don't need a calender.
Ok
5: That was tasker. I found it. Any opinions on it? I think im going to pick it up to help with my next question.
11: Coming from a blackberry, one of the biggest things I miss is bedside mode. Basically, whenever the phone was plugged into A/C (so every night) the phone would switch sound profiles and some other stuff. This let me:
turn off the notification LED, mute email notifications, change the ringtone for texts, lowered the volume of my call ringtone, turned off vibration, and displayed a clock on the screen.
I don't really care about the clock on the screen, but otherwise I'd like to replicate this. Is there an app that can do that? Or should I pay for tasker? If anyone has experience with it, is one of the "if" contexts going on A/C power?
(12, kinda) :I haven't found any way to turn off the notification LED at all; am I missing something?
Thanks again guys
Dictator Bob said:
Ok
5: That was tasker. I found it. Any opinions on it? I think im going to pick it up to help with my next question.
11: Coming from a blackberry, one of the biggest things I miss is bedside mode. Basically, whenever the phone was plugged into A/C (so every night) the phone would switch sound profiles and some other stuff. This let me:
turn off the notification LED, mute email notifications, change the ringtone for texts, lowered the volume of my call ringtone, turned off vibration, and displayed a clock on the screen.
I don't really care about the clock on the screen, but otherwise I'd like to replicate this. Is there an app that can do that? Or should I pay for tasker? If anyone has experience with it, is one of the "if" contexts going on A/C power?
(12, kinda) :I haven't found any way to turn off the notification LED at all; am I missing something?
Thanks again guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For 12) look into batt mon x in the market. I believe you can modify the led indicator for stuff. I haven't tested this app yet, but will as soon as I finish this msg!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
so i have no need of it now but the top line of apps that keep track of what you have opened just keeps getting longer.. anyone now how to clear that out yet?
also if anyone is looking for a password app to bock a few apps from the kids accidently buying apps or getting into your email the app "app protector pro"(also has a trial) is one of the few that work... some on the amazon store do not block at all and some are buggy. this one i have been using since yesterday and it has several good modes. only thing with this is i had to side load a different facebook app(touch client for facebook) because the "app" for amazon just goes to the browser. and this will allow the kids on theirs without logging me out or getting into mine.
.i know people are having problems getting the regular market place in. i stopped trying and just started using blapkmarket side loaded for my apps.
also im finding kobo to be the best ereader app to side load that seems to give the best results.
hope this helps anyone with the same issues
The Recent section is one of the more annoying aspects to the UI in my opinion. First it should need to be SO LARGE... and second, it would be nice to just turn it off. Many of the "icons" displayed are terrible looking especially recent web pages etc...
The other is the lack of control buttons being available without an extra step. Coming from a Android phone it takes some getting used to. I suppose someone who has never had a droid based phone might think it is okay, but I would guess not.
To clear apps from your carousel: Settings->applications->Filter by all Apps->AppManager -> Clear Data
to clear watched videos from your carousel. Settings->More->Applications->Amazon Video-> Clear Data -> Go back to the home screen click on one of the other tabs like books and then back the the home and it is gone.
-D
worked thank you
Now we need a setting that just makes the carousel disappear completely.... most likely a different app launcher though.
Got the new phone other day, really nice so far.
BUT when i choose an uploader button on forums, craigslist or google image search etc… the choose an action menu pops up like normal, but NO gallery icon.
SO how can i upload? Taking a new pic each time is pretty annoying. BTW this worked fine on all my previous droid devices WITHOUT a special craigslist app or google app etc…..
vdubjim said:
Got the new phone other day, really nice so far.
BUT when i choose an uploader button on forums, craigslist or google image search etc… the choose an action menu pops up like normal, but NO gallery icon.
SO how can i upload? Taking a new pic each time is pretty annoying. BTW this worked fine on all my previous droid devices WITHOUT a special craigslist app or google app etc…..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not clear what you are objecting to. What your droid did is irrelevant. It's not reasonable to expect every phone to be identical for your favourite features. And if that is somehow critical to you.. why did you buy a non-droid phone?
As far as I can tell, you are accustomed to having the gallery icon show up on the action menu and don't like that it's (apparently) not there on your S5. Did you try clicking, "documents" on the action menu? I bet that takes you right into the gallery or a file browser.
Or there are a million other ways to do the same thing too - my files (the stock file browser, various apps, upload from your browser, long press on the recents (left soft) key to access a conventional context menu, the command line.. etc, etc.
If you want, go grab the Google gallery apk and install it and I bet it shows up on the action menu..
.
Umm thanks I guess??
Yes document worked.
The other 12 paragraphs you typed why?
Wtf are you talking about ? I guess htc, Sony and Samsung don't count. Lol
fffft said:
It's not clear what you are objecting to. What your droid did is irrelevant. It's not reasonable to expect every phone to be identical for your favourite features. And if that is somehow critical to you.. why did you buy a non-droid phone?
As far as I can tell, you are accustomed to having the gallery icon show up on the action menu and don't like that it's (apparently) not there on your S5. Did you try clicking, "documents" on the action menu? I bet that takes you right into the gallery or a file browser.
Or there are a million other ways to do the same thing too - my files (the stock file browser, various apps, upload from your browser, long press on the recents (left soft) key to access a conventional context menu, the command line.. etc, etc.
If you want, go grab the Google gallery apk and install it and I bet it shows up on the action menu..
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
* plonk *
Dear Vdubjim,
To be completely honest with you the answer you received was quite sensible - outlining many options you do have and hope they can be resolved.
Do note - "droid" - means a Motorola phone with that word in the name (a/p gsmarena.com 4 pieces produced). Therefore - the whole rant about other options in other device maker's skins for Android.
The thing is - there are a lot of people in those forums who do not bother to google for answers and who simply want everything put before them on a plate. This always results in a somewhat sarcastic reply - and personally I'm not surprised. The answer you received was mild and non-offensive - please do take note of that.
Cheers!
Thank you for the insight.
Next time I'll post my search logs.
rnrnrn said:
Dear Vdubjim,
To be completely honest with you the answer you received was quite sensible - outlining many options you do have and hope they can be resolved.
Do note - "droid" - means a Motorola phone with that word in the name (a/p gsmarena.com 4 pieces produced). Therefore - the whole rant about other options in other device maker's skins for Android.
The thing is - there are a lot of people in those forums who do not bother to google for answers and who simply want everything put before them on a plate. This always results in a somewhat sarcastic reply - and personally I'm not surprised. The answer you received was mild and non-offensive - please do take note of that.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious if people use Smart Switch (or similar programs/apps) to transfer all the old data/contacts/music/apps to the new phone or start fresh, re-download apps one by one, etc? When I switch to a new device, I'm usually (maybe unreasonably) fearful that some stray bit of old or unused data or file will transfer over that will affect the performance of the new device, thinking I'm making it 'dirty'. I also use it as an opportunity to purge apps I don't use enough to warrant keeping them. Over time I always collect apps I use maybe one time and I leave them there, no reason why. Time to clean house!
Coming from S7E, when I go into Best Buy to pick up the S8+ I'm sure they'll ask if I want them to OTG the data over... No thanks, I want my baby clean.
With smart switch you can chose what you want to copy. Yo
I might have to check out this smart switch. I usually back up everything with Titanium then restore on the new device. The problem is that often causes problems if you restore the data that goes with the apps (last time I did that it screwed up notifications for things like whatsapp and emails), I think it was due to going from kitkat to marshmallow on my S5 and the difference in permissions handling between them probably screwed it up when restoring data. Of course not restoring the data means I lose all my save games, old messages in whatsapp, call logs, saved wifi networks etc etc so it would be nice to restore these things without screwing up anything on the new device. I wonder if Smart Switch (never heard of it before) could do it better than trying to restore from Titanium?
I guess not, just installed Smart Switch on my S5 and it won't even run. Tap to open it, it flashes up on the screen then vanishes.
I'm going to try smart switch, loading it now on my Nexus 6.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I used smart switch on my last couple of upgrades I usually backup to PC on the morning the new phones due to arrival.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Well I still can't get smart switch to even load on my S5. Same thing constantly, tap the icon to load it, a smart switch screen flashes up then vanishes. No error messages and it stil shows in the recents menu, selecting it from there does the same thing, smart switch comes up, then vanishes again.
No idea why, I am using phoenix rom for my S5 which I think has bits of S7E firmware in it but that shouldnt cause an issue, the phone itself couldnt be running any better and its still a samsung android phone so smart switch should at least run, instead of vanishing without any kind of error message to give me a bluddy clue as to what i need to do to make it work.
Are there any good alternatives to smart switch? googling it just brings up the usual bunch of junk you get in these types of searches that i dont trust at all.
When I use smart switch it always gives me a rouge run away app that kills my batter and I end up factory resetting to correct it so what I started doing was sms backup and restore to restore my call logs, txt and sms messages including pictures and allowing Google to restore my apps ( no data) and go from there. Yeah I know I have to reset up my apps but I don't care at least I start from a somewhat clean slate and have everything I need . That's just my experience and opinion.
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
If we're coming from a non-Samsung device, is there another tool we could use to do the same thing? As the bootloader will be locked, I can't rely on TiBackup or anything which I've always used in the past.
sanjsrik said:
If we're coming from a non-Samsung device, is there another tool we could use to do the same thing? As the bootloader will be locked, I can't rely on TiBackup or anything which I've always used in the past.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Helium backup and mybackup.
I like to tranfer everything because i have so much.
But funny thing is tho when i first got my s7 edge the smart switch didnt work, everything didnt tranfer.
Went to the note 7. Then went to a new note 7 (recall) still didnt tranfer my apps. Back to the s7 i went fresh and it now backs up correctly. So ill try the smart switch again.
Then box up ky s7e and ship it back
sanjsrik said:
If we're coming from a non-Samsung device, is there another tool we could use to do the same thing? As the bootloader will be locked, I can't rely on TiBackup or anything which I've always used in the past.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smart switch works on multiple devices on Android and iOS. I'm going to give it a go first.
I always just start from scratch. Had too many problems in the past with apps misbehaving. I'd rather just devote a few hours to reloading manually than devote days to figuring out wtf is going wrong.
Starting from scratch. Had some issues with my pixel XL when I transferred my data
Nothing works 100% right when you transfer. It's just a fact. I've gone from S6 to S7, S7 to Note, Note back to S7, and other Android to Android transfers. Inevitably some app or setting screws something up. It might be minor, it might cause reboots. Not worth the risk. SmartSwitch is very slick, but it still can cause grief.
This is what I'd suggest based on past experiences.
1) Use an unencrypted SD card to copy photos, music, ringtones, and anything else media related between phones. There is no downside to this. You can save new pics to the SD card on the new phone while keeping all your old pics and it will just work. (Make sure and back stuff up. Phone or SD card, you never know when things will die.) You're coming from an S7, so you have that SD card option. If other users don't have an SD slot, copy the files to your computer and then to the new phone.
2) Make a list of all the apps that are relevant to you. There is likely a lot of baggage on your current phone you just left there. That app you downloaded once for one purpose that you never deleted. The app that is specific for the phone you're coming from and has no use on the new one. The picture editing app you downloaded but then started using something else. Bottom line, only bring along the baggage that you use. Adding back unnecessary stuff can just slow down a phone.
3) Set up your shiny new S8. Get it on your network. Get your Google account signed in. Go through ALL the system preferences. Turn off garbage settings you won't ever use (Edge sports for instance...). Set the timeout and security settings you will use.
4) Look over the apps that are on the phone already. Disable the ones you don't need/want. You can keep it basic and just do it in the app list settings or you can go a bit deeper and use an app from the Play Store to disable apps or go all old school and use pm on the phone's shell to do it. (pm -hide com.vznavigator.Generic for example) Once you've done that, your phone will be as pure as it can be without putting a custom ROM on it. Update the apps now or later.
5) Log into your Google account on a desktop browser and go to the Play Store. Use that list of apps you made before to bring them all up in the browser. Hit install there and choose your shiny new S8 as the destination. (This is just quicker than going into the Play Store on your phone and searching for each of them.) They'll download in the background on your phone as you choose them.
6) The crappy part. Set up the apps again. They're all installed fresh and clean so you'll need to launch them and put in passwords, accounts, settings, etc. It's painful, but it is the only way to guarantee that no gremlins on the phone came along with transfers.
7) Pop in that SD card you had with all your pics, music, ringtones, etc. on it.
8) Finish set up. Set your camera to use the SD card, choose the SD card as the storage location for offline YouTube and Netflix videos, etc.
9) Enjoy your new phone.
---------- Post added at 06:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------
sebastianraven said:
Smart switch works on multiple devices on Android and iOS. I'm going to give it a go first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't do it. It seems so nice and slick, but it's caused grief every single time I've used it. Subtle glitches sometimes, force quits other times.
Averix said:
6) The crappy part. Set up the apps again. They're all installed fresh and clean so you'll need to launch them and put in passwords, accounts, settings, etc. It's painful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comprehensive list, good stuff there. To combat #6, I use a password manager (LastPass) which will autologin to my apps with a fingerprint. Saves a lot of typing, and I'll give the FPS a good workout and get used to the placement in the meanwhile.
i just use google account too download previous google store apps and populate the contacts. then get my 3rd party apk installed, that i keep on my sd card. things like unlimited skip pandora, etc.
I am coming from iOS, not sure how much it can be transferred... I guest only photo and contact, without apps...
Will missed some apps that I bought... need to buy it again on Google Store.
sanjsrik said:
If we're coming from a non-Samsung device, is there another tool we could use to do the same thing? As the bootloader will be locked, I can't rely on TiBackup or anything which I've always used in the past.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cloneIT
i like to start from scratch
skyhew said:
I am coming from iOS, not sure how much it can be transferred... I guest only photo and contact, without apps...
Will missed some apps that I bought... need to buy it again on Google Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't even transfer photos. Just download Google Photos on iOS and upload them and then download them on the new device.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk