[Q] Optimal Configs, Settings and Apps for a New User - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey guys.
So today, I am a proud owner of a new LG Nexus 4 after a lot of research. Unfortunately, I've never owned an Android phone, nor am I familiar at all with the Nexus 4's more intricate settings or may have over looked little useful trinkets and such. So for a completely new user (to both Android and N4), what are your best tips, configs and settings? Any must know shortcuts or advice? (I realize that there's a sticky for useful Android apps, but if there are any "must-haves" for the N4)
Thanks in advance for your advice guys.

explore man.. configs and settings are very personal things.. and what one person likes is vastly different from other person.. so develop your likes and dislikes in settings.. its not something you can copy from others..

For a start, I'd recommend syncing your contacts info on Gmail so that when you try out other roms wiping you don't need to restore one by one.
ROM wise, its always wise to use something close to stock, like Cataclysm.
Kernel wise, franco's kernel is always one of the many favourites of the N4 users, try it out too.
Above is for rooted users.
If you're not rooted, you're missing lots of fun.
Try out some games in the app store. And some cross platform chatting apps such as Whatsapp and Line, some handy GPS app like Waze, a decent movie player that plays everything like MX Video Player.
Explore! Try out some nice launchers out there, although GO Launcher is not for experienced XDA people, non-rooted users might find it sweet to customize. With 2GB ram and top-notch technologies in your hands, try out everything.

Related

The GREATEST Android App Ever!

I'm sure everyone has their own opinion on this. They did a huge study on the greatest invention ever. You would think it would be the automobile or the electric light bulb. The invention that won, however, was the printing press - interesting.
MY FAVORITE:
Without a doubt, the greatest Android App IMHO is NANDROID. (Lol, I'm not even sure it is an "app" per se, or just a part of Recovery...)
It is the ultimate Mulligan. The perfect do-over. Ctrl-Z for flashaholics. We can try any new rom that comes along without risking a thing of the setup we KNOW we like.
That's mine, what's yours?
angry birds is mine....it makes the work day go by faster...lol
Pulse. Not only does it eliminate the need for a bunch other apps (Android Central, Engadget, other news...), but it is beautiful and intuitive. There really is no other app that has that level of quality IMHO.
PowerAMP is a close 2nd.
akarol said:
Pulse. Not only does it eliminate the need for a bunch other apps (Android Central, Engadget, other news...), but it is beautiful and intuitive. There really is no other app that has that level of quality IMHO.
PowerAMP is a close 2nd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow...Pulse is awesome. Thanks for cluing me into it.
Mine are probably:
Angry Birds
Tapatalk
RockPlayer (for playing .avi and .mkv videos)
Winamp
LauncherPro Plus
for me its app brain as it allows you to keep your apps list in a text file to remain consistent from flash to flash.
Pandora Radio. I use it everywhere. While I'm playing Xbox, while I'm driving, while I'm pooping, while I'm eating, plus I use it on every platform.
I never heard of Pulse before. The guys behind this did a great job. Best news app I've ever seen.
For RSS feeds you can't beat Newsrob. Not a fan of Pulse - too busy for me.
My rss reader of choice is Feedr, but app I can't live without goes to LauncherPro plus
Got to agree with th OP on "nandroid"... it was the only reason I rooted in the first place. But like the OP said, not to sure it counts as an app.
With that in mind..... LauncherPro(free), Launcher-X Pro, Switch Pro, mClock and BattStat..... hmmm.... there all just widgets. They court as apps right?
If not.... Mixzing, CardAce: Hold'em and Docs ToGo.
My top twp apps are:
Xiia player - steaming radio, best out of the few available, better than Pandora because IMHO the bit rate Pandora runs sucks ass, sounds like 24kbs mono to me. You can easily find commercial free internet radio like chronix.
Swarm - very nice torrent client.
Facebook! Just sayin'!
I thought pulse was awesome until google reader officially launched the app, I think it's much more functional than pulse though it's not at all stylish, but from a reader I just care about the content, and it's delivered nicely with the reader app.
I have a finite set of apps that I'd call best. As far as making my life easier, Titanium Backup (pro) is just wonderful. I've found myself restoring and backing up apps as I like to flash often. And it restores everything about the app, so I don't have to worry about missing stuff on a restore.
Also launcher pro has helped the convenience of using my phone. I trimmed the screens down to three and have two docks and just use folders so when I use my phone I'm not fiddling around with screens but getting exactly what I need.
indigo0086 said:
I have a finite set of apps that I'd call best. As far as making my life easier, Titanium Backup (pro) is just wonderful. I've found myself restoring and backing up apps as I like to flash often. And it restores everything about the app, so I don't have to worry about missing stuff on a restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup(pro) is number one easily in my book. hell I'm using it right now! I have most of the time around a hundred apps and its made flashing new roms way less painless
I'd say there are a lot of better apps but I end up using Klondike solitaire the most.
Remote web desktop is pretty frakin sweet
xlGmanlx said:
Remote web desktop is pretty frakin sweet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TeamViewer > all remote desktop apps.
Mine would have to be "mikandi"
Sent from the MATRIX... while plugged into my EVO... using the XDA app... from a galaxy far-far away.......
If Nandroid counts it's number one, with Titanium Backup a distant second. Without these two apps there'd be a lot less rooted phones and active rom flashing, as others have mentioned.
TB isn't my greatest app ever pick since its primary use (for me at least) is backing up all apps + data before changing roms, which again I would only occasionally do were it not for Nandroid. To be a truly great app, a program needs to extend the functionality of your phone in a way that creates a valuable new function or enhances an existing one already on your phone, making it a more essential tool in your life and possibly replacing others you currently use.
The first app I bought was LauncherPro. I've tried most of the competition, and LP is the best for my needs. It's awesome but greatest app ever? I have a feeling that many of these features will eventually end up incorporated into Android.
"Pic to pdf" type apps are pretty amazing. Yes, you can do each step individually with other apps and share the same end-product, but in less than a minute I can open CamScanner, create and then upload a finished work order to Google Docs. I purchased CamScanner after trying them all last month, it has the features I need for my job and is already saving me a lot of time.
Final answer: the Google Search widget. Is that cheating? I get access to almost anything with one button press and voice input, from sending texts to maps/navigation to a comprehensive search that searches pretty much anything you want including apps, email, calendar, voicemail, texts, the web, etc. Can anything alse compare?
subsonic is nice too
i was gonna say rom manager.

Hybrid TouchWiz for the Note 2. Did Samsung miss something?

Please take a minute to read my question in the general forum, and see if you agree: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=33401284
*bump*
Just in case no one wants to go to the other forum to read:
Here's a very simple question for anyone out that who happens to know the answer, or who thinks they might know a solution:
Is it possible to force Google Play Music (or any app for that matter!) to use a tablet UI instead, regardless of your DPI settings or ROM? (Kinda like how you can do this for individual apps on Paranoid Android) If so, how? What's involved?
To elaborate, I'm currently pretty happy with my shiny new Galaxy Note II, and honestly, I can't really say many bad things about the stock TouchWiz UI this time around; I think Samsung (mostly) got it right, at least well enough for me that I don't feel the insatiable urge to flash an AOSP/AOKP ROM or something else. I also happen to love using the Google Play Music app as my daily driver for all my music.
However, the phone UI for Google Play Music is, (how can I put this delicately?), utterly and hopelessly abysmal. It's awful! It's ugly! It's nowhere NEAR as fluid and as intuitive or even functional as its tablet UI counterpart!
I dearly miss the Google Play Music experience on my GTab 7.7, and I wish I could bring that same experience over to my Note II.
I already know about changing DPI settings in my build.prop, but since that causes a whole litany of issues with a stock interface (TouchWiz in particular), that's not what I'm looking for here. I'm looking for a way of somehow tweaking a per-app UI/DPI layout for specific apps, much like how you can with a Paranoid Android ROM, BUT while staying on whichever ROM you happen to be running.
As awesome as the Note 2 is, I do kinda feel that Samsung is dropping the ball on this one. If they're going to market the device as a happy medium between a phone and a tablet, a hybrid device for all intents and purposes, then it seems logical to reason that they really should have made a hybrid UI for it right from the get-go. Without a truly hybrid stock UI baked in, it's just another high end phone, with a REALLY big screen and an S-Pen.
Then again, maybe I'm just crazy...
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Just in case no one wants to go to the other forum to read:
Here's a very simple question for anyone out that who happens to know the answer, or who thinks they might know a solution:
Is it possible to force Google Play Music (or any app for that matter!) to use a tablet UI instead, regardless of your DPI settings or ROM? (Kinda like how you can do this for individual apps on Paranoid Android) If so, how? What's involved?
To elaborate, I'm currently pretty happy with my shiny new Galaxy Note II, and honestly, I can't really say many bad things about the stock TouchWiz UI this time around; I think Samsung (mostly) got it right, at least well enough for me that I don't feel the insatiable urge to flash an AOSP/AOKP ROM or something else. I also happen to love using the Google Play Music app as my daily driver for all my music.
However, the phone UI for Google Play Music is, (how can I put this delicately?), utterly and hopelessly abysmal. It's awful! It's ugly! It's nowhere NEAR as fluid and as intuitive or even functional as its tablet UI counterpart!
I dearly miss the Google Play Music experience on my GTab 7.7, and I wish I could bring that same experience over to my Note II.
I already know about changing DPI settings in my build.prop, but since that causes a whole litany of issues with a stock interface (TouchWiz in particular), that's not what I'm looking for here. I'm looking for a way of somehow tweaking a per-app UI/DPI layout for specific apps, much like how you can with a Paranoid Android ROM, BUT while staying on whichever ROM you happen to be running.
As awesome as the Note 2 is, I do kinda feel that Samsung is dropping the ball on this one. If they're going to market the device as a happy medium between a phone and a tablet, a hybrid device for all intents and purposes, then it seems logical to reason that they really should have made a hybrid UI for it right from the get-go. Without a truly hybrid stock UI baked in, it's just another high end phone, with a REALLY big screen and an S-Pen.
Then again, maybe I'm just crazy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pumb...
Good to see someone else taking an interest!
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Good to see someone else taking an interest!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I too miss the elegance of the Google music experience...the album art doesn't show up...when I try to fast forward, the device restarts the song completely. ..

Effective use of SGS4

Hi guys. I am a proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S4. I run the stock rom 4.3 rooted and don't use any launcher. I am overall very happy with TouchWiz and don't see why most people hate it. Anyway, somehow I feel that I don't take a full advantage of the phone. I use it to listen music, the calendar for events and tasks, playing some racing games, use some widgets for a quick info, watching videos on youtube, taking quick notes. I should say that I find most of the s apps useful, don't know why so many people are hating them. What is the reason? Also I will be interested in how you are using your s4
I truly dont understand the touchwiz hate either ... especially for those who have galaxy s line phones before ... If you don't like it why you bought it? Still touch wiz is a heavy skin but I don't actually feel that the phone is slow ... It s just feels slower than nexus and htc one because of its animations not because it's actually slow ... Still If your phone does without problems those things you expect it to do every day them you are using it effectively ... There is no reason of getting to take advantage all of its features of you don't actually need them
AvelonTs said:
I truly dont understand the touchwiz hate either ... especially for those who have galaxy s line phones before ... If you don't like it why you bought it? Still touch wiz is a heavy skin but I don't actually feel that the phone is slow ... It s just feels slower than nexus and htc one because of its animations not because it's actually slow ... Still If your phone does without problems those things you expect it to do every day them you are using it effectively ... There is no reason of getting to take advantage all of its features of you don't actually need them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking just for myself, I do not necessary dislike Touchwiz. However, I do not like the fact that through Touchwiz, Samsung has forced upon myself a myriad of what I (and many others) consider, bloatware. All the bloatware causes the device to function slower and be more laggy. Case and point, I had 4.2.2 on my S4 with most bloatware removed and it was snappy and responsive. I recently flashed 4.3 and it was sluggish to say the least. Then I proceeded to remove all the bloatware and after such, my device restore to the same level of snappiness.
What I suggest is to play around with camera. Just try every mode and know how it works and how to use it properly so you can get the best out of camera at the proper time in future.
Secondly get some nice HD games, Like Asphalt 8 (It is now free), Call of duty etc.
and if you like the multiplayer madness, I'd suggest Shadowgun:deadzone, Respawnables, Modern Combat 4 etc.
I'm planning to make a thread for making a clan/group of S4 users and rule one of those best multiplayer games.
Now i'm the stock rom after flashing dozin of custom rom. Non of custom rom is not as stable as stock rom.
fuser1337 said:
What I suggest is to play around with camera. Just try every mode and know how it works and how to use it properly so you can get the best out of camera at the proper time in future.
Secondly get some nice HD games, Like Asphalt 8 (It is now free), Call of duty etc.
and if you like the multiplayer madness, I'd suggest Shadowgun:deadzone, Respawnables, Modern Combat 4 etc.
I'm planning to make a thread for making a clan/group of S4 users and rule one of those best multiplayer games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets us know when get that thread up, I would like to join in the multiplayer madness:laugh:
The only reason I use TW is battery life and Camera software other than that I prefer AOSP. TW Dialer/Contact/Launcher make me headache. Of course I removed all SS Craps when I use TW fw. If the AOSP kitkat is stable I will switch in a heart beat.
i really like TW and i agree that many S apps are really good.I am sticking with TW till cyan will come with 4.4
fuser1337 said:
What I suggest is to play around with camera. Just try every mode and know how it works and how to use it properly so you can get the best out of camera at the proper time in future.
Secondly get some nice HD games, Like Asphalt 8 (It is now free), Call of duty etc.
and if you like the multiplayer madness, I'd suggest Shadowgun:deadzone, Respawnables, Modern Combat 4 etc.
I'm planning to make a thread for making a clan/group of S4 users and rule one of those best multiplayer games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I actually play a lot of this games. Let us know if you make a clan/group and i will join you guys definitely.
asbanoglou said:
i really like TW and i agree that many S apps are really good.I am sticking with TW till cyan will come with 4.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.4 is already out, with minor bugs.
http://www.droidcrave.com/install-a...galaxy-s4-i9505-lte-via-cyanogenmod-11-guide/
I use my S4 for listening to music (emphasis on this haha), use the camera a lot, play some games, watch some videos and as a "media controller/server" (along with my other two tablets and TV). Also I navigate in the internet a lot and use Tapatalk a lot too. I have dual-booted it, so I have all the benefits from TW on it and when I get bored I can go back to AOSP, which is another ROM I really like. I owned a X10 Mini Pro before S4, so I didn't really know what was a fast phone. But I had a Motorola Xoom, so that was my comparing parameter, and as I was used to AOSP on it I felt the need of installing on S4 too. And by the same time I got a S4 I got a Nexus 10, so AOSP was even better for me by then!
It was just a matter of opinion, I really like the AOSP ROM, as it comes with almost zero things and is way lighter than TW, but if you're happy with TW you should have no worries on keeping it. Here's a small pros and cons by me:
Touchwiz
Pros:
HD Icons
Samsung apps
Group Play
More S4-friendly settings
More customization options
Cons:
Slower than AOSP
Many of Samsung apps are bloatware
If badly set up battery drains way faster
Part of the interface looks childish
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AOSP:
Pros:
Faster
Lighter
Less bloatware
More System space
Simpler
Stock Nexus look
Cons:
Doesn't have S4 "signature" features
Less customization options
Icons doesn't have the same resolution as on TW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope this helps .
fuser1337 said:
What I suggest is to play around with camera. Just try every mode and know how it works and how to use it properly so you can get the best out of camera at the proper time in future.
Secondly get some nice HD games, Like Asphalt 8 (It is now free), Call of duty etc.
and if you like the multiplayer madness, I'd suggest Shadowgun:deadzone, Respawnables, Modern Combat 4 etc.
I'm planning to make a thread for making a clan/group of S4 users and rule one of those best multiplayer games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh! I want to enter that clan!! I'm a monster on MC4 hehe (I'm Brigadier General, I'm just lazy of playing more to level up )... And also on Asphalt 7 (I'm not THAT good on 8) and play a little of Shadowgun Deadzone too lol. Tell me more about this group when you manage to create it hahaha!
XxLordxX said:
Oh! I want to enter that clan!! I'm a monster on MC4 hehe (I'm Brigadier General, I'm just lazy of playing more to level up )... And also on Asphalt 7 (I'm not THAT good on 8) and play a little of Shadowgun Deadzone too lol. Tell me more about this group when you manage to create it hahaha!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2523910
I'm on the TW bandwagon.
What I like:
- Native Facebook syncing,
- AirView handy for quick previews on emails and SMS,
- AirView in stock music player, hover over to see full titles, hover over previous and forward to see track,
- Adapt Sound - makes music louder, also in the phone app, 4 different options, and a button to make it even louder in very noisy situations, useful,
- Camera, many modes and options, unlike AOSP, Samsung & HTC etc implement burst mode, useful,
- S Planner - I like it, better than AOSP Calender, again ties in with native Facebook syncing, when it's mates birthday S Planner allows me to post on their walls,
- Notification toggles, AOSP you have to 2 finger slide for toggles, TW is always their and useful, built in natively yes there are apps that can replicate this,
- Not a TW thing but IR, useful, like having one remote for all your devices, pair it with Smart IR app and you've got a harmony all in one plus more,
- Gestures, I use the quick wave over the phone to see time and if I have had any notifications, and also the call one were you can wave your hand to answer, useful when my hands are dirty etc,
Some features are useful and having somethings built in natively is also useful.
Thing's I don't like:
- The look, it's dated and needs a revamp, Samsung have said they are going to focus on software so things can only improve,
- Not as smooth or fast as AOSP, again due to the bloatware etc but it's not bad at all, Nexus devices are fantastic and feel fast and fluid in comparison, hopefully 4.4 will improve on things,
Other than that I am still happy with my S4 rooted running Omega 4.3. I had the N5 but kept my S4 as I couldn't see the point in changing so soon, may as well wait until next year and see what else crops up and hopefully further software updates improve on the user experience further more.

[Q] Feedback on negative reviews?

Hi All,
Been reading this forum for days, and am really keen on a LG G2. I find that just trying them out in the store doesn't really give me a good idea if I'll like it (can't install apps, tweak it too much). I am still concerned about some of the reviews that have come out, what do people who already have the LG G2 think of them?
Examples - I can't post outside links yet but heres my attempt to obfuscate them: arstechnica-lgs-g2-smartphone-gets-caught-living-in-the-shadows-of-giants androidpolice-lg-g2-review-a-pretty-good-phone-held-back-by-some-pretty-not-good-software
The primary concerns from the reviews seem to be the UI, but I'm guessing I can change most of that to my liking? From what I've read here people seem to love the UI and the features, and the more I read the more I think I might too! The font change is probably the thing I'm most concerned about, even the Roboto option isn't like the default Android font option.
The other concern I have is I like to theme and change the icons, but I've heard that the only way to do that with the LG UI is to change them one by one?
Also I can't root due to some applications I need to run for my job (and RootCloak doesn't allow them to run sadly), so I'd love to know what are the first things to do for a non rooted user?
Thanks all, appreciate the advice.
Don't rely on reviews. Try it yourself as I did, and my former Galaxy S4 lost to this nice mobile
I'm a recovering crack-flasher and absolutely love this phone as is. My only gripe with the ui is the folder design, that's it. The performance is incredible, the battery goes on forever, and custom roms can't match the feature content of the stock rom.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
Buy it.
forget the reviews, most of them are paid to write good things about one brand and bash the other. it's an amazing phone and you'll love it.
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
Cool, so any suggestions on things to do with the phone when I first get it to remove as much of the UI bloat as possible? I'll probably be picking it up next week. Excited, as my last android was a HTC Legend (I do also have a Acer A500 tablet).
Stock LG ui font is Smart Gothic but it gives you the option to change to roboto.
The icons has to be changed one by one Unless you use a different launcher like Nova or Apex.
I agree that the folder on the home screen is ugly. (I prefer Nova)
Sent from my JEE TWO

New S10+ owner looking for setup recommending (came from iPhone)

Greetings android users! I am reaching out to XDA community for some advice on my new S10+ setup, configurations, and some do's and don'ts.
I have been a long time Apple user (since the first original iPhone), but lately the lack of innovation from Tim Cook has been pushing me away. Anyways, when Samsung announced the S10+ with One UI, I was hooked! I picked up my first android device on Friday and have been greatly enjoying the it!
Now, at this time, I have not installed any apps from Google Play store as I have been reading many different things that others are doing to remove Google and Samsung from the phone. I looked around on reddit and various forums for setup guides, what apps to remove/block, and recommendations that iPhone users should do when moving to android. However, I have not come across a guide/list with the various things people have done.
Lastly, I read that many android users have done one of two things. One, some folks do not use the Google Play store to install any apps to bypass Google's analytics. by installing all apps manually. In addition to this, folks are blocking anything google and Samsung related. Secondly, I read that some users are flashing their device and installing custom roms to completely remove anything related to google and Samsung and will install the apps manually.
Based on this information and coming from iPhone, what are your recommendations? Should I not use the Google Play store and install the apps manually? If so, where and how would I go about it? Should I just block Google and Samsung in general to prevent any invasion of privacy and from gaining analytics? Or, should I flash and use a custom rom?
Any advice you can provide would be really helpful! Thanks in advance for reading my post.
I switch from back and forth from iOS and Android all the time. There are certain things you'll come to appreciate about each.
The good news for you is that the there isn't a huge difference in how android (ahem - specifically samung for the past couple years) performs in terms of fluidity and responsiveness. During the early days this was horrendous, and don't let any fanboys tell you different. With the S10, I find myself not having to play the disable/remove apps/features game like before (out of habit I did anyway lol). This means you can really just start enjoying things as is, without having to worry about the best performance. - so far at least.
WIth that said, if you're new to the platform, I'd start with the basics of getting familar with the OS and apps. If you ever run into a situation where you think "i don't like that way that works/feels/looks" figure out how to change it. That's the one of the best parts about android honestly. And since you found your way over to XDA, sometimes it can seem like a never ending game. It seems like the days of custom roms may be slowly coming to an end, but in a way it's a good thing because the phones are so good out of the box now.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth imo.
If you're looking on how to some ideas on where to start from there -
-Play with a different launcher (i love nova premium)
-Figure out which widgets do what you want - you can take this really far into customization if you look at different homescreen setups... the rabbit hole can go pretty deep
-Find the right app for certain things so you don't have to live with double or triple of the same thing (calendar/messaging/keyboard for example)
I wouldn't worry about much else for now. Keep reading the boards, and you'll figure out how things go. Back in the days we used to have to flash custom roms sometimes weekly to try and get good performing, stable devices with great battery life. Then it moved to disabling a bunch of **** we didn't use, and now it's fine so far as is.
Oh and while you can prevent some apps from collecting data about you, in the bigger picture, there's nothing you can do about it. Ask marketing people who are into big data, we are all already profiled. If you don't want data collected, you gotta disconnect, go move to the woods and live off the land.
Danslides1 said:
I switch from back and forth from iOS and Android all the time. There are certain things you'll come to appreciate about each.
The good news for you is that the there isn't a huge difference in how android (ahem - specifically samung for the past couple years) performs in terms of fluidity and responsiveness. During the early days this was horrendous, and don't let any fanboys tell you different. With the S10, I find myself not having to play the disable/remove apps/features game like before (out of habit I did anyway lol). This means you can really just start enjoying things as is, without having to worry about the best performance. - so far at least.
WIth that said, if you're new to the platform, I'd start with the basics of getting familar with the OS and apps. If you ever run into a situation where you think "i don't like that way that works/feels/looks" figure out how to change it. That's the one of the best parts about android honestly. And since you found your way over to XDA, sometimes it can seem like a never ending game. It seems like the days of custom roms may be slowly coming to an end, but in a way it's a good thing because the phones are so good out of the box now.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth imo.
If you're looking on how to some ideas on where to start from there -
-Play with a different launcher (i love nova premium)
-Figure out which widgets do what you want - you can take this really far into customization if you look at different homescreen setups... the rabbit hole can go pretty deep
-Find the right app for certain things so you don't have to live with double or triple of the same thing (calendar/messaging/keyboard for example)
I wouldn't worry about much else for now. Keep reading the boards, and you'll figure out how things go. Back in the days we used to have to flash custom roms sometimes weekly to try and get good performing, stable devices with great battery life. Then it moved to disabling a bunch of **** we didn't use, and now it's fine so far as is.
Oh and while you can prevent some apps from collecting data about you, in the bigger picture, there's nothing you can do about it. Ask marketing people who are into big data, we are all already profiled. If you don't want data collected, you gotta disconnect, go move to the woods and live off the land.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information. I find the OneUI very fluid and responsiveness - I also find the colors more vivid than my iPhone XS MAX. I remember when some of my friends had the older galaxy and pixels phones they would complain about how it slows down over time, while my iPhone would be running strong. However, I have encountered several issues with black screen and freezing on my iPhone XS Max.
The customization is really nice on the S10+. Honestly, it feels great to be able to make theme changes and different customization to my phone in order to make it more personal to me! That is one thing I was also "jealous" about and wished the iPhones had - everyone's phone looks the same!
Makes sense about the custom roms. Not having any knowledge about them I wasn't sure if it was the way to go. Based on what you're saying they are slowly coming to an end, so I guess I won't need to worry about it.
You mentioned "Find the right app for certain things so you don't have to live with double or triple of the same thing (calendar/messaging/keyboard for example)". Do you have any app recommendations I could start with? Also, do you use the default google mail app, or is there a better one that I should use?
Best email app is AquaMail
Nothing much when you install it first. But once you experiment with its options you'll find an ocean of possibilities.
When finally set up it is a powerful monster.
I've gotta agree with Aquamail. I've tried a lot of email apps and stuck with this one. The developer regularly updates the app and responds to problems.
tiho5 said:
Best email app is AquaMail
Nothing much when you install it first. But once you experiment with its options you'll find an ocean of possibilities.
When finally set up it is a powerful monster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tel864 said:
I've gotta agree with Aquamail. I've tried a lot of email apps and stuck with this one. The developer regularly updates the app and responds to problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you both for the recommendation.
@Tel864 and @tiho5 when setting up Aquamail for the first time, do you use the connect feature for "Connet a Gmail account from the phone's Settings" or setup manual?
Curlypx said:
Do you have any app recommendations I could start with? Also, do you use the default google mail app, or is there a better one that I should use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's stuff I'm playing with at the moment
Gcam (grab from the s10 themes and apps forum)
Gboard keyboard, I used to use swiftkey
I haven't decided on Textra or the Google messages app yet
Fluid navigation gestures
Goodlock (using the task switcher and multitasking app)
Other stuff I suggest to check out
Nova launcher prime
Zooper or KWGT widgets
I use chrome beta as my browser, but I love kiwi. Id switch to kiwi of it would sync with my chrome stuff
The rabbit hole is insanely deep. You can get lost in the apps available here on xda alone. Install a bunch and delete a bunch. The fun part is whenever you get board with your phone, enough time will have passed for new stuff to come out. Keeps it interesting.
1. Bluemail - Playstore
2. Nicelock- Playstore
3. ES File Explorer- Playstore
4. Screen Lock- Playstore
5. GBInsta- Alternate Instagram with customised options- Google it
6. Tubemate- Customised YouTube- Google it
7. Fildo- Music- Google it
8. Navbar Apps- Playstore
9. Phone Info- Playstore
10.SMS Backup and Restore- Playstore
11.Zedge Ringtones- Playstore
12 Waze - Navigation- Playstore
13. Team Blackout APK- Google it. It's trusted. Will give you black Telegram etc.
14. XDA Labs
Sent from my Samsung SM-G975F using XDA Labs
ashishpmb said:
13. Team Blackout APK- Google it. It's trusted. Will give you black Telegram etc.
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Click to collapse
Black telegram? Telegram has a dark mode?
Does it also manage to blacken WhatsApp?
Hey there, you might want to check my guide for power optimisation basics, I didn't go in depth with specific apps since it really depends on user requirements/tastes and on date.
If you have doubts about two similar apps but can't decide just google a "A Vs B Reddit", it's the fastest way to hear honest reviews that aren't bought.
For basic phone functions, prioritize Samsung apps over Google ones unless the function is strictly related to a specific Google service such as Drive, I find Samsung apps to be way more polished and seamless than Google ones.

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