Database Users

X10 - Need convincing and set-up help

Hi,
I hope I am adhereing to Forum 'etiquette' here.
I've taken ownership of an X10 on Monday, after having experience of the iPhone. First impressions are 'I hate it' in capital letters... I just can't get used to it and have a number of annoyances.
I'm hoping this is a case of user error as some of this forum users seem to think it walks on water, so apologies for this, but a few questions
1) Is there a recommended set up? It is currently configured as it was out of the box
2) Android App Store - I don't want to register for a google email account that I'll never use, do I have to? Can I not access a full app store online via the web?
3) I find the bundled Sat Nav useless... It can't ever find my current location.
4) I really miss the 'notification' of the iPhone, the little red number when you've got a text, facebook update, missed call etc. Timescape does not replace this as it constantly updates and my phone is always on silent 8-6 every day so I'm missing calls, messages and notifications.
5) Recommended apps?
6) Battery Life... I've hardly used the thing today, yet its used nearly 75% of the battery life and I've made 2 calls, a little bit of Facebook and 4 text messages.
7) Any general recommendations?
At this moment, I really am close to sending this back (7 day trial) and getting a HTC Desire or going back to the iPhone.
Thanks in advance
Stuart

1) Is there a recommended set up? It is currently configured as it was out of the box
Unlike the iPhone, Android allows you to configure and personalize your phone as you like, what recommended setup are you looking for ? I have disabled Timescape and use handcent/K-9 for SMS/Email, though I still find Mediascape the best media player.
2) Android App Store - I don't want to register for a google email account that I'll never use, do I have to? Can I not access a full app store online via the web?
To use Googles Android market you do need a Google ID. I have never used mine to send email and it is only used for the Google applications I have downloaded. I only ever registered an Apple ID to be ableto download apps from the Itunes App store.
3) I find the bundled Sat Nav useless... It can't ever find my current location.
Have you got the GPS switched on ? My X10 locks onto GPS faster than my iPhone ever did. Download Google Maps.
4) I really miss the 'notification' of the iPhone, the little red number when you've got a text, facebook update, missed call etc. Timescape does not replace this as it constantly updates and my phone is always on silent 8-6 every day so I'm missing calls, messages and notifications.
These appear in the 'notification' drag down at the top of the screen. I prefer them to the iPhone as they stay there until I decide to clear them.
5) Recommended apps?
See other thread for this.
6) Battery Life... I've hardly used the thing today, yet its used nearly 75% of the battery life and I've made 2 calls, a little bit of Facebook and 4 text messages.
Wait a week or so, battery does improve and should improve further after the next firmware update in the next week or so. The X10 has a much more powerful processor than the iPhone so does use more battery, but having used the phone for a month I actually find that the battery lasts longer than the iPhone, although it does take longer to top-up and recharge.
7) Any general recommendations?
Use it, play with it, get used to it. Android is so different to the iPhone that it does take some getting used to. I personally love Android as it allows me to customize and personalize my phone far beyond what the iPhone allowed me to do.
At this moment, I really am close to sending this back (7 day trial) and getting a HTC Desire or going back to the iPhone.
The majority of the issues you raise above, you would also find on the HTC Desire.

Thanks for the reply, I just wondered whether there was a standard set up that most users used, seems not.
One final question;
There are far too many apps that I'll never use that I don't seem to be able to uninstall... E.g. I've got the Mail app, Google Mail and Moxier Mail... I'm only ever going to want one of these.
I haven't a clue what the Moxier things do full stop mind you, and I don't want GoogleTalk for example.
Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?
And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage.
Sorry if this all sounds picky, I just want the customisation I'm used too.

"Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?"
Not yet. We need to be able to root the device. (Like jailbreak on Iphone)
"And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage."
Press and hold on whatever icon you want to move.

StuartBrookes said:
Thanks for the reply, I just wondered whether there was a standard set up that most users used, seems not.
One final question;
There are far too many apps that I'll never use that I don't seem to be able to uninstall... E.g. I've got the Mail app, Google Mail and Moxier Mail... I'm only ever going to want one of these.
I haven't a clue what the Moxier things do full stop mind you, and I don't want GoogleTalk for example.
Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?
And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage.
Sorry if this all sounds picky, I just want the customisation I'm used too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many of the pre-installed apps are not possibile to un-install. But if you load other mail apps then it will ask you which is the default mail app you want to use. The apps themselves take up such a small amount of space that you don't need to worry too much if you don't want to use them. Moxier etc are primarily used to access work/exchange email. There are many on here who are desperate to delete them but I have no real problem with them.
To add apps to your homescreen, just select he app in your app menu, hold onto it and drag it upto your homescreen. With default Android you have three homescreens to organise and you can add app shortcuts to any of these. From any homescreen, press and hold in an empty space and it will then ask which shortcut/app or widget you need to place there.
My own Android app whinge is that I cannot reorganize the apps in my app page, they are always displayed in the alphabetical order of whatever the developer has decided to name them.

Once we have root (jailbreak for android phones), we should be able to get rid of most of the unwanted apps that came pre-installed.

If those are the annoyances you are talking about, then the Desire won't fix anything because almost all of those "problems" are with android itself.
Battery life isn't much better on the Desire and the GPS is insanely quick to get a lock on almost everyone else's handsets.
I also wasn't aware that the iPhone was customizable...

Use Navigon for GPS navigation. Its by far the best for Android, similar to iGo & Tom Tom. Its also free if you know where to look! ;-)
Also make sure you turn GPS on and off when its used from the settings menu as it can drain battery. A-GPS also helps lock on as it uses the internet to track satalites positions for start up.

[Q] New to Android

I am finally giving android a second chance. About 2-3 years a go I left iPhone for a HTC Hero. I couldn't stand the touch screen. So laggy. I went right back to the iPhone. So now after playing with my friends SG2 I thought I might give the GNote a chance to sway me over to android. I currently have the iPhone 4S and got a GNote in the mail arriving on Thursday. I just want some input on what apps to load. I don't think I will root right away just incase I want to return it. But I saw an app where u can browse and download usenet servers right from the phone. This is the main reason I am leaving ios. I am bored with it and want something new from my phone. Hopefully the GNote will satisfy my cravings for something new and not just make me realize why I had an iPhone in the first place.
So please what are the must have/must do things to do to my new GNote?
Thanks

1) The first thing I do on any Android phone is Google Voice for visual voice mail.
Download and install the app, then make sure you have your www.google.com/voice account setup. Then forward your VM calls to Google Voice(different carriers have different ways to do this, look yours up.)
2) Make the transition to your Google Account/Gmail.
Import/Manage all your contacts over, you will not regret it. You will never lose them again no mater what, and they sync without effort. Alternatively the facebook app on Android can sync your contacts, but because Facebook is lame, they don't let you keep the contact info or export it. In any event, if your contacts are on Google/Facebook or the phone itself will make little difference in everyday use. Use whatever you like the most.

I have the iPhone 4, and I plan to switch to the G-Note come early next year. I have been using android on the 7" tablets, and so far I have been able to find the same apps that I use on iOS. I think the switch will be easier then you think...unless you use Siri a LOT while driving.
My reason for switching is pretty singular. I want that Glorious 5.3" inch screen! Oh and that stylus, I love having it on my Flyer....

This is HUGE for me. I am giving up my iPad 2 to get the ok from the wife to buy the GNote. I really want to like android. I guess what I was really asking for in this thread is what apps make Android stand out from iOS? What will I be able to do with the GNote that I will not be able to do with an Jailbroken iPhone. My GNote arrives tomorrow and all I got from you guys is to start a gmail account (which I already had cause i sync'ed my iPhone with google) and to use google voice (which I can't cause I'm in the UK).
Please help me out and let me know the stuff and apps that you guys use on your Androids.
Thanks

Android apps that are great
iphoneric said:
This is HUGE for me. I am giving up my iPad 2 to get the ok from the wife to buy the GNote. I really want to like android. I guess what I was really asking for in this thread is what apps make Android stand out from iOS? What will I be able to do with the GNote that I will not be able to do with an Jailbroken iPhone. My GNote arrives tomorrow and all I got from you guys is to start a gmail account (which I already had cause i sync'ed my iPhone with google) and to use google voice (which I can't cause I'm in the UK).
Please help me out and let me know the stuff and apps that you guys use on your Androids.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clipper (free) or Clipper Plus - for a clipboard of cut and paste.
AdFree - like it says.
Extended Controls - widget for toggles of wifi, bluetooth, GPS, airplane mode, etc.
Mighty Grocery - nice shopping list app
Tethering Hotspot - not by an app, but by one simple mod to settings.db
Speektoit Assistant - gives you much of what Siri does
Thumb Keyboard 4 - keyboard that has arrow keys for moving back and forth, up and down within your text.
Lots of other apps that are same as (Angry Birds, Cut the Rope) or similar to iOS apps, but the items above give you things that you can't get on most iPhones without jailbreaking. Some of them need rooting, but that is easy enough, and of course rooted phone is untethered, unlike iOS5 jailbreak ATM.

Want something totally different from iOS? SwypePad
IT allows you to create "app menus" that appear when you swipe from the very edge of your screen. The menus are assigned to specific edges, like "upper right" "lower right" "right-bottom corner" and the like. Total of 9 menus, I guess. I love it.
Oh, major bonus: these menus appear when you swipe from any app, even the app menu, inside games and whatnot. But the swipable areas are small enough so they dont interfere with usual swiping natural to those apps.

Thoughts on the Note 3 coming from Touch Pro2

With the Note3, and all that I have been reading, I was thinking the new phones have finally caught up. I hate to say it after spending the money, but the technology seems crude compared to the Touch Pro2. So far I've been quite disappointed.
1. With the Touch Pro2, I can hold down the button on the ear piece and say:
"Call Nicole at mobile"
it will come back with "Call Nicole at mobile?" and it will not be a robot voice. It will be as natural as a normal speech.
Then I answer either "Correct" or "Yes" and it makes the call.
I can also do this with the screen on, and pressing and holding the call button.
With the Galaxy, the screen must be off for it to work. I also have to turn it off or it keeps listening and getting confused. On my TP2 it's always on, but I need to push a button before sending it a command, not activate and deactivate it each time. This is a usability killer.
2. The S-Pen does no better job interpreting text than the TP2 does. Where the TP2 beats the stars out of the Note 3 is that with the TP2, it is simply another keyboard, just like Voice is, and it has little edit icons to fix things, again like voice. The writing area is where the keyboard would normally be, and it translates after the end of each sentence. Thus, any app you install that you can type in, can use it, such as in a Word document, with word wrap.
3. the Touch Pro2 can automatically record all of your conversations, and then ask you at the end if you want to save it. That saved me in a legal suite already where I could prove a $1300 error on a vendor's part. I've also used it countless time to forward conversations, which is far more effective and efficient than taking notes. I hope I can find an app for this that works as well.
4. I also use the TP2's voice recorder in meetings a lot in meetings. While I haven't tried one of them out yet, perhaps there is a Note 3 app that is just as good.
5. Full backups and restores were easy with the TP2, and it backed up via USB to your PC. You can clean it down to the nothing, and restore it completely, no rooting required because you always did have root.
6. With the TP2, you always have root, and you can custom flash to anything you want, and right back to factory if you want to. With the Note 3, everybody sweats warranty, no OTA updates, etc.
The problems with the TP2 is the hardware. Even overclocked it can be pretty slow at times, Microsoft turned of Bing turn-by-turn navigation for it, new apps are no longer written for it, no 4GL, and the list goes on. I like the flexibility that I'm used to from the TP2, but the iPhone app interfaces seem to be more natural and better thought out. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I didn't expect to be at this point after all of these years.
Any thoughts of what I may be missing would be appreciated.

1. If you havent, download and install google now and under settings check the box that allows you to use google now on any screen. Then you dont have to touch the phone just say "OK, Google" then your commamd such as call someone, I use it all the time especially when im driving.
2. Dont use this feature enough.
3. You can thank Verizon for this. The international variant has this feature, Verizon liking to have total control took this option away. There are 2 options though; most custom roms have that feature baked in call recording. And also there are apks out there that have been said to work really well such as AndroRec, automatically runs in the background (if you use this use mode 2 btw for best recording volume) and I believe tbis is a free apk.
4. Theres a stock android apk called voice recorder already installed on your phone. Look under your tools folder if you still have it completely stock, ive rearranged my apk draw so not sure where its at exactly but its there thats a basic apk thats preinstalled, and its simply called voice recorder.
5. You can do this to an extent using Titanium Backup, your Google account to back up apks and data, and even Verizon assistant. I just had to get a new phone 2 weeks ago and it took about 20 minutes on wifi for mt phone to auto download 95% of my old apks and sync all my contacts, email, photos, etc etc. No root required just signed into google services.
6. Dont blame the phone for lack of root. Thus is strictly an OEM/Carrier thing. As I said earlier Verizon goes in and changes things and request manufacturers to lock and block features out all the time. Every carrier does this, except for Apple every OEM listens. Including Google a la Galaxy Nexus. Its just carriers wanting the final say in a product just to hold it over the consumer as to say "It may be your phone, but we're still the boss". You cant hold this to the phone lacking.
The Note 3 and most android phones are great devices from the manufacturers. Sadly most phones are hampered by carrier needs and demands. Apple does make a great phone my wife switched from the GS3 to a 5s, and currently has a 6 plus, and I just ordered one myself for my business line. If you want a stock OS that isnt carrier modified with great support and updates thwn Apple is a great phone, you just cant modify/customize and even do as much with it as most Android phones. On ther flip side except for really Nexus devices, if you want a customizable phone with alot of tweaks and mods but for the most part be carrier locked down then go with Android. Its a rock and a hard plave thats for sure.

amebiasis said:
1. If you havent, download and install google now and under settings check the box that allows you to use google now on any screen. Then you dont have to touch the phone just say "OK, Google" then your commamd such as call someone, I use it all the time especially when im driving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It came on my phone. It's in the Google folder. However, I don't see a check box to allow using Google on any screen. When I turned S-Voice off, it takes over when I'm connected Bluetooth. It does not respond to "OK, Google" with the screen on or off. Perhaps there is a different one on play?
amebiasis said:
3. ...there are apks out there that have been said to work really well such as AndroRec
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is clearer than Automatic Call Recorder it seems, but it suffers from the same problem in that it doesn't record any calls that are made from a Bluetooth headset. (No doubt easily cured by root access)
amebiasis said:
4. Theres a stock android apk called voice recorder already installed on your phone. Look under your tools folder...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And it works better than anything I've installed. Thank you.
amebiasis said:
5. You can do this to an extent using Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That requires root
amebiasis said:
...your Google account to back up apks and data, and even Verizon assistant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't be legal for me. It must be local.
amebiasis said:
6. Dont blame the phone for lack of root. Thus is strictly an OEM/Carrier thing. As I said earlier Verizon goes in and changes things and request manufacturers to lock and block features out all the time. Every carrier does this, except for Apple every OEM listens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you get root with Apple? That would be interesting. Android is a Linux fork. IOS is a UNIX FreeBSD fork, and FreeBSD and Apple work together all the time. I moved all of our servers off Linux to FreeBSD, so the environment would probably be somewhat familiar.
amebiasis said:
...Apple does make a great phone my wife switched from the GS3 to a 5s, and currently has a 6 plus, and I just ordered one myself for my business line. If you want a stock OS that isnt carrier modified with great support and updates thwn Apple is a great phone, you just cant modify/customize and even do as much with it as most Android phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being able to modify the looks is nice to have, but for me, Android+carriers doesn't give me the functionality I need and can get on a 2006 Touch Pro2. If I can get that functionality from an iPhone out of the box by adding a few apps, that makes sense. One other drawback that I heard though is the iPhones cannot walk and chew gum unless it is on a GSM carrier.
My needs are business needs:
1. A good local backup that I can restore the whole phone back to a previous point in time.
2. Local synchronization with Outlook desktop or exchange.
3. Automatically record both sides of telephone conversations, including when on Bluetooth.
4. Be able to initiate calls using my Bluetooth headset
5. Be able to use voice commands to initiate calls from the phone without the headset
6. Decent navigation
7. RDP so I can work on customer's and our servers.
8. VPN so I can work on customer's and our servers.
9. A good file manager like ES that can work over an SSH connection.
10. A good SSH terminal program like PuTTY.
My wants are:
1. Good speech to text. (I could care less about text to speech)
2. Good handwriting recognition in useful apps, like my TP2 has.
Thanks!

I installed "Google Now" from play, and it said it updated what was already on the phone. I haven't gotten the "OK, Google" to work, but when I press the microphone on the home screen and say "Call <somebody>", I get a popup that it wants all of my contacts. It even does that when I tell it the number to dial a number. Thus, needing them for voice purposes as indicated in the message is a deliberate lie. If I skip it, it does a web search on the phone number. I don't need to give them my contacts when I call via Bluetooth, and it works just fine. That indicates to me that Google doesn't need your contacts for voice purposes, it is selling your contacts to anyone who will pay. Those who would pay would only be unsavory characters.

Recommend and/or must have apps

Evening all,
As I'll soon be back on android I've been looking at apps for things like twitter and such. But also trying to see what other useful apps I could will need. I use all iPhone native apps at the moment mainly because I've never really liked the iOS and didn't want to get attached to any apps. The only two external apps I use is Tapatalk and waze.
What are the apps you all use on a regular basis and any that I should avoid?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Allo for messaging is really nice, Duo for video calls, Chrome for your browser, and Swype or Gboard for the keyboard.

Basically avoid anything made by Cheetah Mobile.
Launcher - Nova Launcher
Browser - Samsung Internet Beta
Music - Shuttle Music Player (good looking, has any feature you could want)
Podcast app - Pocketcasts
As for chat apps, they can basically all do voice and video calling, ask your friends what they use and use it.
You'll run into more apps as you get into the world of custom roms and rooting. Xposed still isn't available for nougat.

aalxx said:
Basically avoid anything made by Cheetah Mobile.
Music - Shuttle Music Player (good looking, has any feature you could want) .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this app work with iTunes? From a mac? This is the next thing I need to look at as all my music is stored on my iTunes which is on my mac!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

aalxx said:
Basically avoid anything made by Cheetah Mobile.
Launcher - Nova Launcher
Browser - Samsung Internet Beta
Music - Shuttle Music Player (good looking, has any feature you could want)
Podcast app - Pocketcasts
As for chat apps, they can basically all do voice and video calling, ask your friends what they use and use it.
You'll run into more apps as you get into the world of custom roms and rooting. Xposed still isn't available for nougat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's Wrong with Clean Master?

running water said:
Will this app work with iTunes? From a mac? This is the next thing I need to look at as all my music is stored on my iTunes which is on my mac!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, all my music is downloaded, you could try to download that music on your Mac and then use a USB cable to put it in your phone.
Edit: found something that might help you. This article (http://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/how-to-play-itunes-music-on-an-android-smartphone/) shows how you can upload music from your iTunes library to your google play music library. I'm assuming you can download these songs somehow from one of the services.
choccy31 said:
What's Wrong with Clean Master?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Useless because LMK (low memory killer) exists. Contrary to popular belief android is pretty good at managing ram and "boosting" is unnecessary. Also cleaning junk is easy to do on your own. Basically it's an app which offers little additional functionality and uses misconceptions to make you think you need it.

Here's a couple of apps that I use relatively often, if not daily:
Texting (SMS/MMS): Textra
- Has been my texting app of choice at least the last 2 years. It's clean and simple and is everything I like in a texting app. And, if you're a fan of all things Dark Mode, they have it too.
- Chomp SMS is Textra's sibling app (same developer) and as all of the features that Textra has, plus theming.
Podcasts: Stitcher
Streaming music: Spotify
Keyboard: Swiftkey
- There's a bunch of keyboards out there, but this one's my personal favorite.
Mobile Payments: Samsung Pay
- I've never used Android Pay, but it's basically the same thing as Apple Pay, as both use NFC. I prefer Samsung Pay over both of those for the reason that you can use them at the older MST (magnetic strip terminals), where NFC won't work. If you've used Apple Pay and liked it, give Samsung Pay a shot. Most of the time, Samsung Pay works at places with the MST, in my personal experience.
Send Payment to friends/family: Venmo
- Simple and secure way to send money to friends/family. Useful so you can pay people back quickly, like if they paid for something for you and you have to pay them back.
Sending texts from your Tablet/PC: MightyText
- Similar concept of being able to send iMessages from your iPad or MacBook. As long as your phone's working, you shouldn't have issues sending messages. I've had times where I texted people using this app (there's also a Chrome extension too) and my phone wasn't on me... XD The free version only allows you to send 200 messages/month (I believe, correct me otherwise). Pro is a monthly subscription, but can send unlimited messages.

FluxionFluff said:
Here's a couple of apps that I use relatively often, if not daily:
Texting (SMS/MMS): Textra
- Has been my texting app of choice at least the last 2 years. It's clean and simple and is everything I like in a texting app. And, if you're a fan of all things Dark Mode, they have it too.
- Chomp SMS is Textra's sibling app (same developer) and as all of the features that Textra has, plus theming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got my S8... I've been using Textra for 2+ years and I was going to make it my default SMS app on S8. I have a Gear S3 watch too and when I went to swap the default, phone warned of 'missing functions' if I didn't stick with Samsung Messages app.
Any thoughts here? I'm inclined to ignore!

kartman_canada said:
Just got my S8... I've been using Textra for 2+ years and I was going to make it my default SMS app on S8. I have a Gear S3 watch too and when I went to swap the default, phone warned of 'missing functions' if I didn't stick with Samsung Messages app.
Any thoughts here? I'm inclined to ignore!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be a few things. Sammy's stock messenger works like the Apple texting app, in that you get in-line read/receive notices and "other person is typing" icon things if you are both using the Sammy app. Most other features Textra can probably do just fine, Im betting if you installed a 1:1 clone of the Sammy app but with a different app sig and title, youd get the same warning.

Gentle Alarm app is a great clock/alarm. I've had it on all phones since my Samsung Captivate.

Waze is a good choice to stick to, over Google Maps. I love Google Maps, but Waze is FAR better on your battery for some reason. On my Note 5, with the screen on, fairly bright, and Google Maps navigating me somewhere, even plugged in the battery drains. But with Waze, it not only doesnt drain but charges properly, even if I also run music from the phone over bluetooth. Google owns both, but they give different directions sometimes, which is odd...but not a huge deal.
Google Play Music i think is a good suggestion, you can grab a 4 month free trial (which also includes Youtube Red) to test it out. Ive been using it over Spotify and IHeartRadio for a while.
Battery Widget Reborn is the best battery status monitor.
Dark Sky is the best (IMHO) weather app.
ES File Explorer is obviously a decent recommendation.
PowerAmp for playing music files stored locally.
QuickPic for viewing photos (unless you use the free Google cloud storage for photos).
Textra, of course.
There are others I cant think of now.
EDIT to add another thumbs up for Swiftkey, with a caveat. For me on my last three devices (Note 5, Xperia Z Ultra, Nexus 5) Swiftkey lags HARD on the Hangouts app and a few other apps. It was pure chance I got the issue across three phones, but it is a "common" issue with no real fix and has been around a while. If you do experience that issue with Swiftkey, my next keyboard recommendation would be Minuum. I dont use its teenie tiny mode that its famous/infamous for, I use it in the "full" keyboard layout and it is at least as good as Swiftkey.

Been using Textra for a while now. Tempted to use the S8 default messaging app for a while to see how it feels and what it offers so I'll be able to fairly compare it to Textra.
Agree with the following recommendations others have mentioned:
QuickPic for photo albums
Google Play (free) and Pandora for streaming
Waze for navigation (I live in the DC area and real-time traffic conditions can easily make a difference of 45-60 minutes in my commute)
Any task killer app is counter productive... I've written many posts about this topic in the past explaining why. It basically creates a bunch of work for the operating system with no benefit.
However, using the built-in running apps button and closing some apps you're not using can help because of the way some apps don't play nicely in the background.
Skype for video calls
SwiftKey for keyboard. I've been a long time Swype user (and alpha tester), but Nuance hasn't done much with it since they bought it, and it's losing traction
Nova for launcher
Chrome browser
Hangouts for chat
MightyText -- mixed results with this one. Really liked it for a while, but it took a significant toll on my battery, so I didn't always keep it installed. When I tried it again recently, it was much less reliable than I remembered. I had some duplicate messages and many missed messages that I never received in my browser, and many I sent from the browser that never made it to my recipients. Reliability is fundamental in texting, so I'll avoid this one most likely.
Nine for enterprise email

Useless because LMK (low memory killer) exists. Contrary to popular belief android is pretty good at managing ram and "boosting" is unnecessary. Also cleaning junk is easy to do on your own. Basically it's an app which offers little additional functionality and uses misconceptions to make you think you need it.[/QUOTE]
So true
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Join by Joaoapps (allows sync of messages to chrome desktop so you can sms from there)
PlayerPro (music player)
Nova Launcher Prime
Timely (perfect clock app with chill wakeup sounds)

Multiple user profile support?

Coming from the Nexus 6P, I use the multiple user profile feature quite often to switch between different game users for some games that I use multiple accounts for.
Does the S8 support this android feature?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Not that I know of. But you can use secure folder instead. It will let you set up a secure and independent environment where you'll be able to install any app independent from main interface. You'll be able to fresh install games, use another WhatsApp, viber etc. account.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

No unfortunately it's only on stock android...i think he means profile A-only for his use then profile B- for when kids wanna use his phone or guests.... and he can switch between the two... I've use that feature on like an aosp type rom.... which is stock Android

mlock420 said:
No unfortunately it's only on stock android...i think he means profile A-only for his use then profile B- for when kids wanna use his phone or guests.... and he can switch between the two... I've use that feature on like an aosp type rom.... which is stock Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not just stock android. My Xperia XZ has it.

Oh ok sorry im only used to touchwiz or stock Android sorry bout that

I'd love this too, apparently you could enable it using unrooted TWRP on the S7??

My Huawei Mate 9 has it also.

My S8 definitely doesn't!

Samsung is the only Android phone which mutes the Multiple User function. It's a real shame considering it's an android function activated on all other android phones, I mean all including even the cheapest except Samsung which deliberately mutes it.

You can download kids mode from Samsung, which should give you what are you looking for. Otherwise not sure how many people share one phone together. My kids have their own tablets/phones so never checked kids mode myself, but I know it's there under Galaxy essentials on Samsung website.

pete4k said:
You can download kids mode from Samsung, which should give you what are you looking for. Otherwise not sure how many people share one phone together. My kids have their own tablets/phones so never checked kids mode myself, but I know it's there under Galaxy essentials on Samsung website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Kids mode uses same accounts as normal user, so no good. Secure Folder works, but you can only add one more user, Android stock is 4 users plus guest.
Shame Samsung stop this.

O function that comes in AOSP and Samsung takes it out...m
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

No-one uses it on phones. No-one gives a high end model for kids to play, better that they have their own low end device to play, scratch and break/ lose. Also small kids shouldn't play with smartphones.
Nevertheless on tablets it may be important.

mmick said:
No-one uses it on phones. No-one gives a high end model for kids to play, better that they have their own low end device to play, scratch and break/ lose. Also small kids shouldn't play with smartphones.
Nevertheless on tablets it may be important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multi User, is not for kids. It is for those who want to separate Work/Friends/family profiles where each user/profile has its own contacts, Facebook, Whatsapp, etc....

For rooted phone, add the following two lines to /system/build.prop :
Code:
fw.max_users=3
fw.show_multiuserui=1
Then reboot your phone, and you will see the icon in notification.

Yeah I've been looking for it too, it's not available for Samsung phones I think. I don't really need different accounts but I wanted to switch between work mode where I only had things like email, browser, and phone... For that, I just use a different launcher like Nova and hide all the distracting apps.

AmgAdly said:
Multi User, is not for kids. It is for those who want to separate Work/Friends/family profiles where each user/profile has its own contacts, Facebook, Whatsapp, etc....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I want to have a work profile active during the day, and then switch to personal when I go home. I have a high-pressure job and sometimes I want to simply switch out of that environment all-together - not simply mute notifications or go into Do Not Disturb mode.
I used the switchable profiles a lot on my Nexus and Pixel phones, so I miss it quite a bit now that I'm on the S8!

It is shame samsung, muted existing feature guest mode

xdauser'17 said:
For rooted phone, add the following two lines to /system/build.prop :
Code:
fw.max_users=3
fw.show_multiuserui=1
Then reboot your phone, and you will see the icon in notification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mikedoeslife said:
Exactly. I want to have a work profile active during the day, and then switch to personal when I go home. I have a high-pressure job and sometimes I want to simply switch out of that environment all-together - not simply mute notifications or go into Do Not Disturb mode.
I used the switchable profiles a lot on my Nexus and Pixel phones, so I miss it quite a bit now that I'm on the S8!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now you can
All what you need to do is to root your device and use the above code at the end of buid.prop file.
I have also seen that both Snapdragon & Exynos versions have got rooted.
Chears

rubaiet said:
Not that I know of. But you can use secure folder instead. It will let you set up a secure and independent environment where you'll be able to install any app independent from main interface. You'll be able to fresh install games, use another WhatsApp, viber etc. account.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank god for this member ive been trying parrell space to no avail and i guess i had to word it differently in search but yes secure folder lets you log in another email and it doesnt come with any extra apps unless you downooad them. Of course it doubles the google stuff and whatever app you're using for second account