Related
Hi everyone,
I'm searching for an efficient, fast, and well designed google reader application but have not come across one that is really good.
What I'm looking for area these:
- the first level should show the folders, such as Android folder, economy folder, technology folder, etc.
- When I click on the folder, I do not wish to see the feeds such as CNN, engadget, but to the items list. I want the option to say how many items I want to show, and whether to show only new (unread) or all item.
- I want to be able to mark the items as starred item with merel one swipe, or to unmarked it.
- I want a to with one button indicate all e item on the screen as read, and fetch the nest batch of unread items. I want another button to mark all items in that folder as read although they have not been listed on the screen yet.
- when I click on the item, I want to read part of the news. Then I want to be able to swipe to the next item or go to previous item. I also want to be able to share that item to facebook, to mail to friend, etc. And I want to be able to bring up my default web brewer to go the the original web page.
More importantly, I want all these operations to be instant, without lag.
For those of you coming from iPhone background, you will recognize this as the RSS g Flash application.
I love that design very much and hope to get something like this from the market place, or as close as possible.
Could anyone help? TIA.
I use Feedr its simple yet powerful can sync folders structure. Try it
Try Newsrob.
You want NewsRoom. I found it does everything I wanted from an rss reader... it's now on my first homepage.
Thanks guys. Keep the suggestions coming. I'll try everyone before deciding which one will stay on my desktop.
Cheers.
eaglesteve said:
Hi everyone,
I'm searching for an efficient, fast, and well designed google reader application but have not come across one that is really good.
What I'm looking for area these:
- the first level should show the folders, such as Android folder, economy folder, technology folder, etc.
- When I click on the folder, I do not wish to see the feeds such as CNN, engadget, but to the items list. I want the option to say how many items I want to show, and whether to show only new (unread) or all item.
- I want to be able to mark the items as starred item with merel one swipe, or to unmarked it.
- I want a to with one button indicate all e item on the screen as read, and fetch the nest batch of unread items. I want another button to mark all items in that folder as read although they have not been listed on the screen yet.
- when I click on the item, I want to read part of the news. Then I want to be able to swipe to the next item or go to previous item. I also want to be able to share that item to facebook, to mail to friend, etc. And I want to be able to bring up my default web brewer to go the the original web page.
More importantly, I want all these operations to be instant, without lag.
For those of you coming from iPhone background, you will recognize this as the RSS g Flash application.
I love that design very much and hope to get something like this from the market place, or as close as possible.
Could anyone help? TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for Feedr....
Tyxerakias said:
You want NewsRoom. I found it does everything I wanted from an rss reader... it's now on my first homepage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same, i like the look and feel of it, very nice
it has that elegant yet simple clean look, that makes reading feeds and news update a joy.
+1 for feedr
+1 for NewsRob
I've tried a lot of the client apps but they all take too long to sync (and I don't like things like that happening in the background).
I've yet to find anything as good all-round as the mobile webclient from the browser.
Is there a trial version of feedr? I would like to try first before I buy.
I love the interface and response time of newsroom. It's just a pity that I can't view it by the google reader folders. I would also love to be able to see the item list first before going down to the article itself. On my iphone and iPad, I usually skim through a couple of thousand articles each day, some are repeats, or articles that don't interest me. I've also no time to read all of them. So the item list view is useful.
The news-rob is so slow I don't think it's useable for me. Too much waiting at the black screen and syncing takes too long to complete.
I've also tried out gReader which is also incredibly slow.
News reader, together with browser, music players, picture viewers, and YouTube, are among the extremely high usage application, and I don't mind paying good money of it if it is really good. But I must be assured that it meets my expectation first.
Any other recommendation?
Thread dedicated to the initial challenges when changing from a Tilt 2 to an LG Quantum.
Why is this thread needed?
AT&T insurance for the Tilt 2 is now sending the LG Quantum as a replacement.
The phones are hardly comparable. Windows Phone 7 is vastly different than Windows Mobile 6.5. It is not HTC. Does not have Sense.
Windows Phone 7 has some very annoying characteristics that can be avoided if you set things up with specific care and knowledge originally.
I just got me replacement phone today. I will continue to update this thread with information as I find it. Hopefully it will help others in the process, since there will be more of us as insurance replaces people's phones.
Tips from day 1 of use
#1. Your intial live account can not be changed without a hard reset. Do not use an old hotmail account as you Windows Live ID. Create a new one. I recommend one that you will only use for this purpose. If you need to change it, you must wipe your phone (hard reset) to replace this. Your primary hotmail account cannot be removed and there is no way to not sync the contacts from it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2430020
I recommend telling no one this id. Do not use the email for anything. Include some number or something, so it will not be guessed. do not store information in this account, such as emails or contacts, if it can be avoided. Plenty of other options like gmail for this purpose.
#2. Common email domains are easy to setup. Even custom ones are. But it first will try, then let's you configure.
#3. There is a list that has settings. Swipe from right to left to get to the list. Then go to settings. Now you can change things how old of emails to get and how much of it.
#4. Open an email with an attached pdf. Get the viewer. better to do this earlier than later when you need it. By default, the phone has no ability to view a pdf. The pdf viewer lets you do this.
#5. Stop looking for tasks, you won't find them. They don't sync with Exchange.
#6. There is not a built in twitter app. I am downloading moTweets, because I liked that before. I am using the Try option. There is also a free Twitter and a free Foursquare.
Looks like there is some map software. Not sure if it costs money yet.
Not finding Bing or Google Maps.
Bing is built in. just press the button in the lower right. Not sure why that is the only way to launch it though.
#7. Installed Zune with no issues on Windows Home 64 bit. It updates the software on the phone. You do not loose settings during this. Not like a ROM flash. Synced Videos, pictures, and music.
#8 Blue tooth paired easily. Remember most devices are 0000 for the pin.
#9 Found my WiFi and I connected it fine.
#10 Uninstall the bloat that AT&T puts on. It's not much, but you don't want apps that cost a monthly fee when free ones exist.
First impressions after 1 day
Allthough the look and feel is not customizable, it is very consistent.
A few things are not 100% obvious, but once learned is not difficult.
Things do just work.
Very fluid display. Nothing lags.
It's easy to get your stuff onto it. I need to still test copy and paste with Office.
I was thinking that I would be totally unhappy with the phone. But, I think it might just be doable. A non technical person should have no trouble with this phone.
Marketplace has alot of free apps.
Day 2
Not all clock alarm apps are equal.
Big Clock, which I downloaded from the marketplace failed to wake me this morning.
Tested the normal Alarms this morning and it did work with the screen locked.
As always test your alarm before you need it.
Annoyed that there are no snooze options. Just 5 minutes.
Glad Mango is coming soon. Mango gives all the snooze options we used to have.
Back in Windows Mobile 6.5 Digital Outcast gave us the snooze options that we were used to. M$ had taken them away.
For Win Phone 7, I haven't found a short term solution to this yet. Going to have to wait for Mango.
Liking the OS more and more. Marketplace makes the downloading and installing of apps very painless. Wish it was more clear about what has live tiles though.
AccuWeather weather app appears to be live. LG Clock and Weather does not appear to have a live tile, but lets you put in multiple cities.
Wish I could find the HTC tile with weather and clock. HTC Hub is not it.
Post #5
Intended to later have more info.
I like to have 5 posts of each thread I create.
As a potential future WP7 Device owner, I can't think of a better thread to follw than this one, so on behalf of myself and other TP2/Tilt2 owners who may one day move on, thank you very much for creating this thread...a lot of people move on from a deice earlier than the majority but don't leave the majority much of anything to work with in regards to what to move on to or to stay away from, or how to dial in the new device a better way than what the manufacturers have configured, so this thread is indeed very much appreciated...at least by me, and I am sure others as well.
While you will be missed in the Energy thread, I'm glad I have someone familiar to work with the new OS so should the time come, I will be versed as well as can be on what to expect, and do or not do...thank you for all you did for us with the Rhodium, and thank you in advance for all you will do for the WP7 community...you better the community here wherever you go or whichever thread you are posting in ....
Now for my first WP7 noob question...can the live tiles color be changed...and are there alternatives on this device to the live tiles?
GT247 said:
... Now for my first WP7 noob question...can the live tiles color be changed...and are there alternatives on this device to the live tiles?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. They can be changed, but you get to change them all from 1 color to another.
slide the panels to the left. This now shows a list. Slide down to settings.
In the section titled Theme, tap it and pick a different color.
Other tiles, like music and video, and pictures get the image from what you have played or viewed.
The Me tile gets it's image from Facebook.
And apps can choose to follow the theme or provide their own image.
For the pictures tile, you can manually set it, by: "Open the Picture hub and tap and hold on an empty space and you'll get the option to select the picture you want." source of quote
End of day 2
Realizing that I do not dislike the phone or Windows Phone 7. This is very hard to admit.
With Windows Mobile 6.5 and 6.5.3 and Sense 2.5 with Cookie 2.0. It was fun figuring out all the ways to make the phone do what it should just do. With Windows phone 7. It just does them the way it is supposed to do it. It might not do it how you are used to it doing it, but it does it and it does it well. It can't do everything you're used to it doing, but it does what you actually need it to do and want it to do.
I was expecting to be extremely disappointed in the phone. But I'm not. Things work. You rotate to landscape. They still work. Energy Roms are much prettierand NRGZ28 did a fantastic job at making it do what it should do.
But Windows Phone 7 does a great job.
The things it falls short on will soon be corrected with Mango.
And no M$ did not pay me anything for this post. I am totally surprised that I would feel this way after just 2 days.
I suspected this would be the case....when everything runs faster and smoother and better without having to tweak it to do so, and the initial worry of not being able to tweak to your hearts content to make something you want to work work...when that worry wears off because you dont have to tweak it...well...when any worry wears off and you realize the new phone with the new OS actually really does improve a lot of things.. when everything opens up as your finger is leaving the screen and just starts doing what it's supposed to do...really...how can that be beat?
I'm glad you're giving us positive feedback, as I knew everything would run butter smooth, like yourself, I had reservations about liking the new platform and the new appearance and other changes you're going through with the new device could be overcome by functionality (lol)....
Yep....Mango should come out and lock you in my friend...I imagine after that you'll be glad that usb port died (just please, if you do end up happy about it, don't tell me so...cuz I'm bummed it happened still lol)
I'm curious as you explore...if there will be little things wp7 doesn't have, that the old winmo did...as I have two android devices and the tilt2, I'm finding some things lacking in "the other OS"...little settings (that are sort of kinda actually big deals, to me) are missing...one is...on the tilt2 I can select to show my caller ID to everyone, noone, or just to contacts...can you do that on the Quantum? Have you noticed a need to wonder how ram is controlled? Have you tried opening a zip?.....I'm happy you're on wp7 now (kinda)....I will want to buy a wp7 if someone I trust tells me theye tested it out, put it through it's paces and that it's a solid performer that's user friendly that I can count on to keep me connected to my customers and employees calls and messages and navigates me through my day and gives me awesome browsing and streaming media over the net between my appointments...yep...I'm paying attention to your thread my friend...my usb could go any day too....lol
Thought I found something that I could not do
Thought I could not accept an appointment from Outlook.
In the email, there is a link that takes you to your calender. You accept it from the tentative meeting. I like this better, because you can actually see what your day looks like when accepting it.
Have not found a free twitter program with a live tile.
For weather, the only free one with a live tile update seems to be The Weather Channel. Weather bug does not show anything on the tile. AccuWeather is not updated live.
As plain as the tiles look, they are clear too read. And everything scrolls so fast and smooth. I'll take plain with function for that responsiveness any day.
GT247 said:
I suspected this would be the case....when everything runs faster and smoother and better without having to tweak it to do so, and the initial worry of not being able to tweak to your hearts content to make something you want to work work...when that worry wears off because you dont have to tweak it...well...when any worry wears off and you realize the new phone with the new OS actually really does improve a lot of things.. when everything opens up as your finger is leaving the screen and just starts doing what it's supposed to do...really...how can that be beat?
I'm glad you're giving us positive feedback, as I knew everything would run butter smooth, like yourself, I had reservations about liking the new platform and the new appearance and other changes you're going through with the new device could be overcome by functionality (lol)....
Yep....Mango should come out and lock you in my friend...I imagine after that you'll be glad that usb port died (just please, if you do end up happy about it, don't tell me so...cuz I'm bummed it happened still lol)
I'm curious as you explore...if there will be little things wp7 doesn't have, that the old winmo did...as I have two android devices and the tilt2, I'm finding some things lacking in "the other OS"...little settings (that are sort of kinda actually big deals, to me) are missing...one is...on the tilt2 I can select to show my caller ID to everyone, noone, or just to contacts...can you do that on the Quantum? Have you noticed a need to wonder how ram is controlled? Have you tried opening a zip?.....I'm happy you're on wp7 now (kinda)....I will want to buy a wp7 if someone I trust tells me theye tested it out, put it through it's paces and that it's a solid performer that's user friendly that I can count on to keep me connected to my customers and employees calls and messages and navigates me through my day and gives me awesome browsing and streaming media over the net between my appointments...yep...I'm paying attention to your thread my friend...my usb could go any day too....lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had no idea that you could control the caller id being sent on a per contact basis with the Tilt 2. I imagine it was just inserting *82 or something before dialing. Ultimately the carrier needs to handle the *82 since they do know your number when sending from the tower to the rest of the phone network.
Still early in the testing.
I don't know WP7 settings, on the tilt2, to control caller id setting, I go to start menu>settings>personal>phone>services and then from there I can select "call barring" "caller id" "call forwarding" "call waiting" and "voicemail and text messages"....once an item is highlighted I can click "get settings"...once "get settings" is selected it checks the network settings and then displays the current setting on the network...on the TP2 caller id settings they can be changed on the network from the device...I'm hoping this is possible on WP7
Another question I have is if pinch to zoom works in emails and other apps, not just the browser
GT247 said:
I don't know WP7 settings, on the tilt2, to control caller id setting, I go to start menu>settings>personal>phone>services and then from there I can select "call barring" "caller id" "call forwarding" "call waiting" and "voicemail and text messages"....once an item is highlighted I can click "get settings"...once "get settings" is selected it checks the network settings and then displays the current setting on the network...on the TP2 caller id settings they can be changed on the network from the device...I'm hoping this is possible on WP7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GT247 said:
Another question I have is if pinch to zoom works in emails and other apps, not just the browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pinch to zoom works when reading emails, but not when replying or text messaging.
found the setting about sending caller id on the Quantum
Settings - Apps - Phone. You can pick send to everyone, no one, only contacts
when the device is on a call does the lockscreen lock the buttons and touchscreen? ie: is it a waste of time to try to lock the device while on a call? lol
GT247 said:
when the device is on a call does the lockscreen lock the buttons and touchscreen? ie: is it a waste of time to try to lock the device while on a call? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The exchange server that I use for work pushes a policy forcing the phone to lock.
Pressing the power button on the top not only shuts off the screen but it also locks it.
When I answer the phone, it is easy to unlock, if I want. Just slide up, and enter the code. Then I can do anything while on the call.
The proximity sensor disables the touch screen when you have it by your ear, so you don't actidentally hang up.
Something the phone does not have is physical talk and end buttons. But, I honestly have not had a need for them.
Custom Ringtones and Alert Sounds
Although it's real eay for a developer add ringtones to their device or for anyone that has unlocked it. It is annoying that they have locked this down.
Mango is supposed to allow custom ringtones, so just need to wait.
Supposed to be on September 15th.
Wow...ringtones are locked down? Amazing....really. Please don't think I'm knocking them for doing it, I'm sure there's a reason for it, I just find it surprising is all. Have you examined the GPS Capabilities?
GT247 said:
Wow...ringtones are locked down? Amazing....really. Please don't think I'm knocking them for doing it, I'm sure there's a reason for it, I just find it surprising is all. Have you examined the GPS Capabilities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS works great.
Good news is that the LG Quantum has a built in reg editor. Kind of clunky. Nothing like the good old Total Commander or Dot Fred Reg Editor.
And the location of there is an app the runs on your computer to make a xap files for ringtones.
And you can then sideload the xap onto the device and the ringtone remains.
First you need to unlock the device.
I have not unlocked mine yet. I should be able to unlock with just a few reg ediits. Haven't done it yet though.
On the 15th Mango officially will be available, and that allows custom ringtones without any hacks.
Some Good threads
Use your Windows Phone as a thumb drive.
Registry mods for WP7 - NoDo
Custom Ringtones
mp3 files work just fine, at least with the NoDo 7392 update.
All the built in ringtones seem to be mp3 as well
Lot of good links here
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Tired_ said:
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's kind of easy what you want...but not every thing can be erased
1ownload eles ROM
2. Open the archive with WinRar or other app that you use
3. Go to /system/apps and you will find all the app there with the extension .apk
4. Delete what you think that they won't use (but be very careful): for example market.apk (you said that they don't need it)
4. Close the program and you will see that the rom is more lighter
5. Flash the rom
6. Enjoy
For the part with the lock screen i don't think i can help you...
Hope you get work done
Stefan
The lock screen part is really the important part. The other apps can still be installed, just abstracted away from my parent's eyes, if they're locked into the dialer. I guess I wasn't clear enough when I described what I was looking for. I want to make it so that the dialer program is the only program accessible to the user...when they press the home button, I want it to go to the dialer rather than to a launcher. When the screen goes off due to inactivity, I want it to go to the dialer right away when any button is pressed rather than showing a lock screen. On iPhone (sorry, it's a platform I'm more familiar with), there's a jailbreak app called IncarcerApp that can do this...is there anything similar for Hero?
Lockscreen
Hi there! If you want to get rid of the lock screen what you can do is go into settings on the phone then Cyanogen mod settings then tablet tweaks and in there, there is a tick box or similar that you can press to disable the lock screen!
Hope that Helped
Thanks for the tip, PP337, but that's still not what I am looking for. I did some Googling last night, and I found a lot of developers refer to what I am looking for as 'Kiosk Mode'. Unfortunately, everything I found on that is in the context of creating a new app, rather than using an existing one.
I'm obviously not making myself clear enough, but I'm not sure how I can phrase it more clearly. I really hope we won't have to go buy a junky SIMlocked Nokia phone that we'll have to throw out in three months when they come home.
i can't understand one think....why is it so hard to unlock a phone??? especially when it's so simple...
Stefan
Unlocking a phone is indeed simple, for you and I. But for an elderly person, particularly one who is unfamiliar with technology, being confronted with a screen full of app icons can be intimidating. I tried to get my mom to use the Android phone as it is, and she is terrified of breaking something or doing something wrong, to the point where she won't use it for those fears.
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
Could you not just remove all the homescreen icons? Can't remember which launcher comes with that ROM, but if you install launcher pro for example, you can remove all the icons even the dock. You can then choose to have just one homescreen and just the dialer icon. Or you could leave it blank to just select the dialer button to make calls. Then disable the lock screen as described above. Would that be ok for them ?
Tired_ said:
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
Don't want to be rude or things like that but it's easy on android...
Stefan
stefpaul said:
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Tired_ said:
She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are they traveling alone? That sounds like something you should worry about more then just having a phone for them
You could use adw and lock the desktop by pressing menu and choosing 'lock desktop'. That would prevent any accidental menus popping up. You could also hide the status bar from adw settings and disable the lockscreen from cm tweaks menu. You could also download a dialer widget (https://market.android.com/details?id=dialer.impact) and set that as a widget on a single homescreen and lock the desktop on adw launcher.
Hope that helped
Car Home may help
My Titan (WP7) was stolen, so I updated to WP8 earlier than I was planning to.
Aside from about a third of my apps not being available for WP8 yet, I'm enjoying what the new system has to offer.
However, WP8 lost some functionality which is really annoying the hell out of me.
Gifs. In WP7, you couldn't save them, but you could "share" them and email them to yourself. When I try to do this in WP8, it takes one frame from the gif and shares a single frame jpg file. What the ****. Now there is no way to save gif files at all, which is problematic when sites like 4chan don't host them for long.
Unable to uninstall the Help and Tips app. ........ Just... why?
"Remove location data on uploaded images" is no longer an option. As a privacy nut, I loved this. Well, great, now I have to turn off location in pictures all together.
There are a few other things that are missing I'm not remembering, and granted these are all small problems, but now that they've been arbitrarily removed, they're never going to be re-implemented. I'll submit a "feature request" and it'll sit at the bottom, never to be seen...
I got the 820 over the 920 because a non-removable battery is a deal breaker for me. Funny thing is, when the titan first came out everyone was complaining about how hard it is to press the buttons... Well now I can't pick up the damn lumia without accidentally hitting one of the buttons.
I am not sure what your talking about. I recommend that you go to wpcentral forums because they can answer your question. Everyone has left xda in terms of windows phone, all the action here is android.
lovenokia said:
I am not sure what your talking about. I recommend that you go to wpcentral forums because they can answer your question. Everyone has left xda in terms of windows phone, all the action here is android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've noticed that the portal features nothing about anything related to Microsoft, even when every other site was having a field day with all the WP8 related announcements...
Sent from my Windows 8 device using Board Express Pro
Side note: you could alternatively turn off the photo uploading, and leave the geotagging enabled. Then, sync your images to your PC and upload the images to wherever after running them through a de-geotagging program.
Not suggesting this is a *good* option; I hate feature regressions at least as much as anybody. Just a possible way for you to get around the problem.
I've had my Essential Phone for about three days and I've got mixed feelings about it. This is my escape from the Samsung ecosystem, and I love love love the fact that it isn't bogged down with bloat. Generally, the PH-1 does everything faster than any phone I've ever owned, even the much lauded iPhone. But there's a number of functionalities I'd like to get.
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
3.) Keyboard: Okay, sometimes Samsung just does it better. Their keyboard app was perfect and I'd gotten used to the layout. Now I'm wishing I could have my Samsung keyboard back. The Google one sucks, truth be told. Most keyboard apps you find searching Google Play are all about being pretty or fancy or whatever. I just want the same simple functionality back: All letters and numbers on the same screen and the most common special characters as alternate long-press options on that same page. Decent intelligent autocomplete. Larger buttons. Extensions such as .com when they make sense and not when they don't.
I'd also like to get any and every recommendation for apps. Is there any point in rooting the PH-1? That sort of thing.
Thanks in advance!
BonkersTheClown said:
I've had my Essential Phone for about three days and I've got mixed feelings about it. This is my escape from the Samsung ecosystem, and I love love love the fact that it isn't bogged down with bloat. Generally, the PH-1 does everything faster than any phone I've ever owned, even the much lauded iPhone. But there's a number of functionalities I'd like to get.
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
3.) Keyboard: Okay, sometimes Samsung just does it better. Their keyboard app was perfect and I'd gotten used to the layout. Now I'm wishing I could have my Samsung keyboard back. The Google one sucks, truth be told. Most keyboard apps you find searching Google Play are all about being pretty or fancy or whatever. I just want the same simple functionality back: All letters and numbers on the same screen and the most common special characters as alternate long-press options on that same page. Decent intelligent autocomplete. Larger buttons. Extensions such as .com when they make sense and not when they don't.
I'd also like to get any and every recommendation for apps. Is there any point in rooting the PH-1? That sort of thing.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
barleysoda said:
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer the SwiftKey Beta keyboard, been using it for years.
barleysoda said:
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the timely response. Yeah, got the Gboard sorted. Weird how you have to look to find settings and minor tweaks like that. Oddly found that I prefer ASUS file manager. Strange that the Android OS doesn't have file management built in. Is there a way to enable full control of my PH-1 files and folders from my PC?
Next problem: Sounds. Once again, Samsung made it all so much easier. Need to sort out how to specify sounds for specific apps. For example, if I get a text message, I am used to setting one sound just for that and different sounds for other specific events. What I am seeing here is ringtones, media and notifications. And quite annoyingly, EVERY APP seems to be enabled to span notifications by default. Apparently,you have to block each one individually. It's also be nice to set my phone to silent easily but on a timer so I don't forget to turn it back on. Used to just pull down top of the screen and tap the icon to silence. Had an app to turn it back on on a timer called Shush, but it didn't work reliably.
Had another "damn I love this phone" moment yesterday when I realized that I can actually just uninstall my longtime nemesis, Google Music.
BonkersTheClown said:
Thanks for the timely response. Yeah, got the Gboard sorted. Weird how you have to look to find settings and minor tweaks like that. Oddly found that I prefer ASUS file manager. Strange that the Android OS doesn't have file management built in. Is there a way to enable full control of my PH-1 files and folders from my PC?
Next problem: Sounds. Once again, Samsung made it all so much easier. Need to sort out how to specify sounds for specific apps. For example, if I get a text message, I am used to setting one sound just for that and different sounds for other specific events. What I am seeing here is ringtones, media and notifications. And quite annoyingly, EVERY APP seems to be enabled to span notifications by default. Apparently,you have to block each one individually. It's also be nice to set my phone to silent easily but on a timer so I don't forget to turn it back on. Used to just pull down top of the screen and tap the icon to silence. Had an app to turn it back on on a timer called Shush, but it didn't work reliably.
Had another "damn I love this phone" moment yesterday when I realized that I can actually just uninstall my longtime nemesis, Google Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the msgs app, you can set the notification sound for that.
For the timed silence, when you pull down the notification bar, you will see the do not disturb icon. A circle with a stroke through it. When you turn that on, you can set a duration for it.
I use Ex File Explorer on my phone and I use the blackberry keyboard.
There is another thread on this forum that's dedicated to the Google cam port where you can get the APK.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
BonkersTheClown said:
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you search on the play store, there are a bunch of free file managers for download. There's a bunch of them, pick one that fits your style
2. Did you get the ported one? Havent tried it but I don't think the actual pixel camera apk will work on any phone. Check out the most recent port in this thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/themes/google-camera-port-t3665197/page4
flakko86 said:
1. If you search on the play store, there are a bunch of free file managers for download. There's a bunch of them, pick one that fits your style
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got that part sorted. As a pure Android noob, I was surprised the OS doesn't have one built in.
2. Did you get the ported one? Havent tried it but I don't think the actual pixel camera apk will work on any phone. Check out the most recent port in this thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/themes/google-camera-port-t3665197/page4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am pretty sure I got the right one, but I'll try the one you linked along with the instructions. We'll see how it goes.
Okay I have downloaded the APK, how do you access changelog and make the prescribed settings changes?
BonkersTheClown said:
Got that part sorted. As a pure Android noob, I was surprised the OS doesn't have one built in.
I am pretty sure I got the right one, but I'll try the one you linked along with the instructions. We'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock Explorer:
Settings - Storage - Explore
onenexus said:
Stock Explorer:
Settings - Storage - Explore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah true, found that before. It's a lot of steps. I wanted and got something to stick on my home screen that gets me there in a single tap.
BonkersTheClown said:
Okay I have downloaded the APK, how do you access changelog and make the prescribed settings changes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While you're in the app, tap the 3 horizontal lines on the top right corner of the screen. That should take you to the settings menu
More fun stuff. I would have thought that this would be simple. I dumped Google Music because quite frankly it sucks and I have always hated it. Shopped around and found a music player that I liked: Pi Music Player. Now when I try to play music via voice command via Google Assistant, it doesn't know what app to use. I'm offered the choice between Google Play and YouTube. I have looked and looked, but haven't found steps for changing the GA default music app to Pi Music Player - at least no steps that actually work. Another one of those, "this should seriously be easier than this" things.
Also, on my old Samsung phone, I was able to get the home button working in Google Chrome. Frankly, I'd rather use Brave as I prefer to not spend my bandwidth on letting Google spy on me. Same is true in Brave and Chrome: No home button possible.
Thanks so much for the help!