[Q] [PA 3.99] Unrestricted, native Facebook sync? - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I'm coming from an HTC One V on Android 4.0 where the Facebook app could sync profile pictures, phone numbers, birthdays, and calendar, and am quite disappointed to discover that Google restricts Facebook functionality on its Nexus devices. I understand that Facebook doesn't want to comply with Google's policies regarding openness either. But for the time being I just want to enjoy full Facebook functionality on my phone and not be held hostage of some corporate wars. I've tried a lot of Facebook sync apps, but none of them replicated the original functionality of the official Facebook app: most of them didn't import phone numbers of missing contacts, and none of them synced the calendar for example, which I rely on quite a lot.
So I'd like to know if it would be possible, on Paranoid Android, to lift the restrictions that Google put in place towards the Facebook app on some of its devices (or restore the favorable exception that was put in place a while ago, if you prefer to see it this way). I think the sync functionality currently exists in the Facebook app, but is not picked up by Android.
Thanks.

This was one of the things I missed coming from my Incredible S. Haxsync works wondrously for me though, check it out

Bobtehblob said:
This was one of the things I missed coming from my Incredible S. Haxsync works wondrously for me though, check it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but it's a paid app. I really don't want to pay for a feature that's supposed to be included in the official app.

Bump.

Related

Anyone else prefer the Gmail mobile web app?

I really hope that Google starts improving the Gmail app on Android soon as it feels pretty lackluster compared with the mobile Gmail web app. I just find that everything looks and feels nicer on the web version than the native app.
A couple things I like better about the HTML version:
- Colour scheme is much nicer. The app is very bland.
- Copy and Paste is possible.
- When replying, quoted text is editable.
- If you have Gmail checking a POP account for you, replying to those emails sends from the correct account.
I'm still using the full app though as it loads faster (once loaded it doesn't seem a whole lot faster though), provides notifications and is the only way you can add attachments. I hope the Gmail team starts improving the native app at a similar pace to the web version.
a couple apps that may help you with your gmail app, even though you didn't mention these as an issue:
blackmoon attachsave - lets you save attachments to the sd card, not just view them
file sender - lets you attach any file to send
i absolutely agree with you.. gmail app needs to be improved..
another lack i'd like to say is that for older messages you can only read the day it was sent without the time!
But I have heard that this is the best gmail application on any platform. I'm not an email heavy person but it works fine for what I need to do and never had to say, "I wish I could do this" or, "I wish this was better."
I think Google has put all app improvements/updates on hold for now, such as the Gmail app and the obvious Music app.
Most likely they are waiting for FroYo, which is rumored to separate the Google Apps from Android's framework. Then they can update the app whenever they feel like without a new Android version (like they have done with Google Maps) and anyone on any Android version can download/update the app as they please.
I can't wait for FroYo. Along with full Flash 10.1 and rumors of all these new features, it's sure to be a major game changer.

Is Facebook Synching a Sense Thing, not an Android thing?

I was using an HTC Droid Incredible to help my friend, and to sync up a Contact with a Facebook account, all I had to do was go to the Contact, hit sync or whatever, scroll through their facebook friends, select the right one, and it was done.
On my vanilla android, it doesn't have that option, and wants to shove facebook news feed onto a panel of my contacts, and if I'm not careful, add everyone from Facebook into my contacts.
Is the scenario I described first a Sense UI feature? Because if it is, Google needs to get on that.
Yes it is, it's built in; had it with my HTC Magic.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
How does it work with Stock Android then, exactly? I don't want it to take over statuses and stuff really, but Profiles Pictures and stupid data like birthdays would be nice to grab.

BBM, iMessage... what are the chances?

so since apple released whatever 'iMessage' for all apple products and its exclusive and what not, and all blackberry devices have BBM, how much do you gander android will release its own form of IM within the coming months before the release of icecream sandwich?
revamp of G-Talk... maybe? LOL that thing seriously need a big overhaul anyway.
a penny for your thoughts?
I personally like the idea of GTalk how it is now. They could just make sure its installed on every phone and maybe even put it on the first screen.
I like having it cross-platform and even available on the desktop.
Most of my friends have Android now, so more and more people are moving to GTalk.
I wish they would come out with a better desktop client though that'll do video rather than relying on the web one.
I think GTalk should be a feature they advertise more. Its already available on every Android phone, uses push for 2.2+ and works really well.
It would be cool
I would like to see google sync google talk across devices. Not sure if it could kill off SMS like everyone thinks though.
ethridgt said:
I would like to see google sync google talk across devices. Not sure if it could kill off SMS like everyone thinks though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The nice thing is that it uses Jabber, so there's lots of clients out there that will support it...all with their own feature sets. So its easily cross-platform, just not always the official app.
I think iMessage is going to be hugely popular as it looks like it's built right into the normal SMS messaging application in iOS and is going to be automaticly used any time you are sending a message to another iPhone user. Once people get used to using the combined messaging app, it's going to be nearly impossible to convince iPhone users to install a 3rd party chat app.
I now think it makes sense for RIM to open up BBM to other platforms, as they have the best chance of getting people to install their app, and if they are going to lose customers to iPhones and Androids (which is clearly happening), it would be in their best interest to at least keep them as BBM users.
Frankly, Google really dropped the ball by not seeing what a big problem all of these propietary chatting protocols are going to be for alternative mobile platforms. Many people in places like Canada (where blackberry and BBM are very popular) fear switching from blackberry as it means giving up all of your BBM contacts, and it's going to be the same thing for iPhone users soon. We needed an open spec protocol like XMPP to be the dominant protocol so that anyone can make a client for any device, but there are parts of Google Talk that just don't meet what people are looking for.
Google Talk needs at least the following, in my opinion:
- Remove the ability to log out
- Delivery (and maybe read) status for messages
- Improved group chat (currently the implementation is clumsy and inconsistent)
- Improved media transfers (photos and videos, but also contacts and locations)
- Combine SMS and Google Talk applications into one messaging super app, like iMessage.
The biggest problem with Google talk is its currently not widely available on every android phone.
Google doesn't need to revamp gtalk. It just needs to make Disco the default messaging program like Apple has done with iMessage. It would need to add MMS and remove the requirement for creating groups before sending messages but I can't imaging either would be too difficult to do before ICS is released.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/23/google-disco-2/
Been wishing this was in gtalk since 1.6. I dont think they need to combine it with the SMS app if they keep the green circle next the contacts name when they are signed on in Gtalk.
If they updated the BB and IOS apps to work with the new Gtalk apps it could dominate. But like google maps with navigation, they reserve group chats and video chatting to the web client and android users.
http://www.cultofmac.com/androids-going-to-help-apples-imessage-kill-off-sms/99831
PrawnPoBoy said:
I think iMessage is going to be hugely popular as it looks like it's built right into the normal SMS messaging application in iOS and is going to be automaticly used any time you are sending a message to another iPhone user. Once people get used to using the combined messaging app, it's going to be nearly impossible to convince iPhone users to install a 3rd party chat app.
I now think it makes sense for RIM to open up BBM to other platforms, as they have the best chance of getting people to install their app, and if they are going to lose customers to iPhones and Androids (which is clearly happening), it would be in their best interest to at least keep them as BBM users.
Frankly, Google really dropped the ball by not seeing what a big problem all of these propietary chatting protocols are going to be for alternative mobile platforms. Many people in places like Canada (where blackberry and BBM are very popular) fear switching from blackberry as it means giving up all of your BBM contacts, and it's going to be the same thing for iPhone users soon. We needed an open spec protocol like XMPP to be the dominant protocol so that anyone can make a client for any device, but there are parts of Google Talk that just don't meet what people are looking for.
Google Talk needs at least the following, in my opinion:
- Remove the ability to log out
- Delivery (and maybe read) status for messages
- Improved group chat (currently the implementation is clumsy and inconsistent)
- Improved media transfers (photos and videos, but also contacts and locations)
- Combine SMS and Google Talk applications into one messaging super app, like iMessage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1, I totally agree with you.
It really has to be promoted. I have a lot of friends with Android devices whom doesn't even know that Gtalk exists, it's a real pain. It needs the option to login with a kind of a "PIN" maybe just like RIM has.
VicToR_AC said:
+1, I totally agree with you.
It really has to be promoted. I have a lot of friends with Android devices whom doesn't even know that Gtalk exists, it's a real pain. It needs the option to login with a kind of a "PIN" maybe just like RIM has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why use a pin though? that just creates more hassle for everyone. why not just tell them to add your gaccount which has everything integrated... your number/whatever you want to share.
FaithCry said:
why use a pin though? that just creates more hassle for everyone. why not just tell them to add your gaccount which has everything integrated... your number/whatever you want to share.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because as I can see, some of my friends with an Android device don't even use Gmail accounts, and there's when the problem using Gtalk begin!
VicToR_AC said:
Because as I can see, some of my friends with an Android device don't even use Gmail accounts, and there's when the problem using Gtalk begin!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough...but then are you telling me they aren't downloading any apps from the market then? And thus not optimizing the android system already? Because if they can access the market they should be able to use g chat ...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
For it to work, any message system has to integrate with the default messaging app. Otherwise, it will be a failure. Apple did get iMessage right by integrating it with the sms app and make using it automatic (without any user input to setup).
^wait, so how does the phone know if the receiver is an iOS user and that the receiver has an internet connection? For iPads, there are no phone numbers associated with the devices. So how does iMessage integrate with the SMS app?
Currently you can see if the person is on gtalk in the SMS app by a green dot next to their name. That seems perfectly fine by me.
NexusDro said:
^wait, so how does the phone know if the receiver is an iOS user and that the receiver has an internet connection? For iPads, there are no phone numbers associated with the devices. So how does iMessage integrate with the SMS app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, even iPad 3G users have a phone number (it just isn't visible to the user). My guess is it will do contact matching (which will check the contact's email against itunes accounts and the phone number). The phone number will probably be automatically registered to your account when you login to your phone with your itunes account. So it isn't hard to do that simple matching.
moelester518 said:
Currently you can see if the person is on gtalk in the SMS app by a green dot next to their name. That seems perfectly fine by me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which sms app? I don't see any green dots (or spaces for them) in the default app, or handcent.
I'm on CM7. Is this a feature in stock roms?
bozzykid said:
Actually, even iPad 3G users have a phone number (it just isn't visible to the user). My guess is it will do contact matching (which will check the contact's email against itunes accounts and the phone number). The phone number will probably be automatically registered to your account when you login to your phone with your itunes account. So it isn't hard to do that simple matching.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what if I switch between iphones and other phones all the time?
J.L.C. said:
Which sms app? I don't see any green dots (or spaces for them) in the default app, or handcent.
I'm on CM7. Is this a feature in stock roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can see who's online on Gtalk on the stock contact list.
NexusDro said:
You can see who's online on Gtalk on the stock contact list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, you can. But the contact list isn't an sms app

Facebook contact updates / contacts in people

Hi all
Forgive me for being a total stupid noob, BUT...
I have just got the Samsung Nexus and have come from the HTC Desire.
I thought, similar to HTC Sense, I could add a Facebook account and in the people app, I would get contact photos and status updates.
However when I try and press the Facebook icon in the add account tab, nothing happens.
I know there are apps out there that can pull in contact photos, but is there no actual Facebook integration as in Sense?
Thanks.
LF
“We believe it is very important that users are able to control their data. So in the over-the-air update for Nexus S, we have a small change to how Facebook contacts appear on the device. For Nexus S users who downloaded the Facebook app from Android Market, Facebook contacts will no longer appear to be integrated with the Android Contacts app. Since Facebook contacts cannot be exported from the device, the appearance of integration created a false sense of data portability. Facebook contact data will continue to appear within the Facebook app. Like all developers on Android, Facebook is free to use the Android contacts API to truly integrate contacts on the device, which would allow users to have more control over their data. We are removing the special-case handling of Facebook contacts on Nexus S and future lead devices. We continue to believe that reciprocity (the expectation that if information can be imported into a service it should be able to be exported) is an important step toward creating a world of true data liberation — and encourage other websites and app developers to allow users to export their contacts as well.”
-- Google, 9 months ago
It's just a Google/Facebook pissing match. What is stupid is the Facebook app allows contact syncing on all Android phones except the Nexus line. So the only people this hurts is Nexus users. I really think Google should figure something out to make it work instead of punishing users for their fight with Facebook over data liberation.
I use friends sync for just that. Download from the market.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
Cyanogenmod puts the Facebook sync back in if you go with that rom.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
Zardos66 said:
Cyanogenmod puts the Facebook sync back in if you go with that rom.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, Bugless Beast and MIUI do also.
It's one line in ContactSyncProvider.apk that blocks com.facebook.katana.
my facebook friends sync
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App
yup you are right!! they should or shouldn't mark give em the thing wt google wants

Android/WP8 apps availability list

Hi guys!
I am a happy android user on a galaxy nexus. I was waiting for the nexus 4 but I live in Italy and it is going to sell for about 600€ versus the 350$ so I'm pretty disappointed. I started looking around and I'm curious about the new WP8 and, especially, the Lumia 920. I haven't had a Nokia in ages!
The deal breaker is the app eco system.
I am a big Google services user and have understood that there is total sync capability while I m still undecided on the app part.
Is there a site with a list where I can find the most common apps or app categories on android and see if there is a counter part in wp 8?
My last resort would be going on the windows market place and just look around.
Thank you!
PS I searched in the forum but wasn't able to find anything very specific
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
The best thing to do is search the marketplace yourself. You will find apps for almost everything you do on android, except those rendered useless by the system (in WP, system apps are actually doing a pretty damn good job and do not require replacement from the marketplace), but they are likely under different names, so a list would be very difficult and pointless to compile.
I switched from Android to Windows Phone 8 and i have everything i used on Android. Sure i miss some apps, like PowerAMP; Google+, a good Facebook App and a AD Blocker app. But i can life without them. There are some apps as well which sucks like WhatsApp, but i guess WhatsApp is goin to fix that soon.
What are your favorite apps on Android ?
I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...
I have to ask what is the point of using Evernote as in Windows environment you have OneNote? You sync your OneNotes automatically to your Outlook (or Live/Hotmail) account and can sync to desktop.
Well, first of all I don't have a Microsoft environment (I have a Mac, galaxy nexus, iPad and nexus 7!) and second I have never had a windows phone so I really don't know how all the syncing works!
Since I work on different platforms I use drop box for documents and evernote for notes and everything is always perfectly synced!
mrc87 said:
I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what Google reader does, but it is not needed.
Adobe reader is present
Kindle is present
Evernote is present, although you have one note.
Drop box is present (although you have skydrive)
whatsapp is not needed
Google maps is not needed (you have offline maps: nokia maps)
As for other medical apps, i am not entirely sure what kind of medical apps you would expect to have, but there's plenty of WP ones.
Even if you use a MAC< getting a Microsoft account and using hotmail/outlook is easy(you only need a browser).
mcosmin222 said:
Not sure what Google reader does, but it is not needed.
Adobe reader is present
Kindle is present
Evernote is present, although you have one note.
Drop box is present (although you have skydrive)
whatsapp is not needed
Google maps is not needed (you have offline maps: nokia maps)
As for other medical apps, i am not entirely sure what kind of medical apps you would expect to have, but there's plenty of WP ones.
Even if you use a MAC< getting a Microsoft account and using hotmail/outlook is easy(you only need a browser).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do say that whatsapp is not needed?
Google reader is a RSS feed app
I already have a hotmail account, I just prefer to use less accounts possible (I know, I can filter and forward messages!)
I prefer Dropbox because all my friends and colleagues have it so it is just easier to handle files.
Off topic: just went to see a Lumia 920 and it looks really nice!
I think "WhatsApp not needed" is a typo. WP has WhatsApp and they are about to update it too.
---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 PM ----------
WP is like Android. MS wants you to have Outlook/Hotmail/Live email address to access marketplace etc. So you need to have the account. You dont need to sync the emails to your phone if you dont want. Also you use that account to connect with Twitter and Facebook chat. With that account you get SkyDrive space of I think 7gb for free (I got it upgraded to 25gb for free, but that offer is not valid anymore)
mrc87 said:
Why do say that whatsapp is not needed?
Google reader is a RSS feed app
I already have a hotmail account, I just prefer to use less accounts possible (I know, I can filter and forward messages!)
I prefer Dropbox because all my friends and colleagues have it so it is just easier to handle files.
Off topic: just went to see a Lumia 920 and it looks really nice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dropbox is present and accounted for.
As for RSS feed apps, you have plenty. Google is not really active in Windows Phone area, as they will do everything to undermine the platform.
As for using accounts, Windows Phone has a very clean way of managing accounts. Just add them one by one, and you get different apps for each one of them, they are all nicely filtered and stuff like that. You can easily make a hotmail account for the marketplace and keep using your old accounts for the rest of the things you do.
ATM i have 3 accounts attached to my lumia 800: My "marketplace" account which happens to be my main email address, my developer account, under which i publish apps, and some yahoo email for family members. They are all working nicely.
@OP that's kind of a hard question. The apps depends on each user. Some people don't use any while others depend on very specific apps.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Is there any good app that plays AVI or MKV files? for Android, there's MX player is there an equivalent app for W8?
I use Nextgen Reader for the Google reader app. Works better than the Google app on Android imo.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
spex714 said:
Is there any good app that plays AVI or MKV files? for Android, there's MX player is there an equivalent app for W8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far, there are no apps that let you play alternative formats/containers.
Regarding the OP: I can't find any medical apps on the marketplace, I'm sorry
You need a Microsoft account but you do not need another hotmail account. My Microsoft account is my corporate email address.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
shield001 said:
You need a Microsoft account but you do not need another hotmail account. My Microsoft account is my corporate email address.
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What, are you saying I could use my o365 account? I dont think so but please say Im wring here. My o365 account is configured so that my address is [email protected].
Loco5150 said:
What, are you saying I could use my o365 account? I dont think so but please say Im wring here. My o365 account is configured so that my address is [email protected].
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can definitely use your O365 account for e-mail, etc.; if you also have a Microsoft Account (a.k.a. .Net Passport/Windows Live/other names it's gone by in the past) set up using that same e-mail address, you can use it as your main account that's tied to the Store, etc. to buy apps and whatnot. I was doing exactly that for a while ([email protected] hosted on Office365 and also tied in as a Microsoft Account). I'm no longer using Office365 to host that e-mail (just moved it to outlook.com for free since it's a personal account), but it's still my Microsoft Account. It all ties together nicely with whatever combination of accounts you use.
I was just looking at the app list for wp8 and its getting better.
mrc87 said:
I consider essential apps like
Google reader,
adobe reader,
kindle,
evernote,
medscape,
epocrates,
Dropbox,
whatsapp (I barely eve use SMS'),
And of course Google maps
I'm a doctor so I use a lot of medical apps but seeing the shortage on android vs iOS I bell believe wp8 only to be worse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being a 4th year pharmacy student I can answer your medical application questions. There is no epocrates, medscape, lexicomp, clinical pharmacology, etc...
But there is a PubMed Mobile not made by them as far as I can tell. Just shows you search results and then when you click one it takes you to the website. Found an application called Drugs&Medications it's a dollar and tells you facts about drugs (company, dosage form, common indications, and links you to the FDA website didn't buy it so can't fact check it).
That being said I found some applications from http://www.unboundmedicine.com/products/windows_phone/ on the store.
So yes you're right it is worse. I've already accepted that I'll have to switch to an iPhone for my rotations lol.
bkaul said:
You can definitely use your O365 account for e-mail, etc.; if you also have a Microsoft Account (a.k.a. .Net Passport/Windows Live/other names it's gone by in the past) set up using that same e-mail address, you can use it as your main account that's tied to the Store, etc. to buy apps and whatnot. I was doing exactly that for a while ([email protected] hosted on Office365 and also tied in as a Microsoft Account). I'm no longer using Office365 to host that e-mail (just moved it to outlook.com for free since it's a personal account), but it's still my Microsoft Account. It all ties together nicely with whatever combination of accounts you use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyway if you could tie marketplace to o365 account, you still need Live (Hotmail or Outlook etc) to connect with Facebook chat and twitter. It is still best to have the Live account as main account and other accounts like o365 secondary.

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