Hi y'all,
After my EVO died two weeks after contract expired, on top of the original Nexus tablet that slowed to a crawl due to bad memory chips, I swore off the Android devices and went with iOS.
Now, over a year later, I got a shiny new S5 from my employer, with company policy allowing "reasonable" personal use (no 1-900 calls or direct international calls to Timbuktu but otherwise we're allowed to use it for personal calls and data since they have unlimited plans anyway).
So, I plan on giving my iPhone to my son and getting back into Android. I was missing all the customization options, although iOS really grew on me to be honest.
I do have a couple of question, hope someone can help
1) I still own Nova Prime and I much prefer it over the Touchwiz. However, I am unable to find a calendar widget that would show Exchange tasks. I found that the only service that reliably syncs tasks, contacts, and calendar events between Outlook on my work desktop and my home desktop and all of my Android and iOS devices is Hotmail. With Outlook 2013 setting up sync with a Hotmail / Outlook.com calendar / tasks is finally possible and requires no installation of any additional software. So I can finally copy a work email into a task and have it synced to my phone and tablet. But, the only calendar widget on S5 that actually shows these tasks is Mini Today and it seems to only be available in Touch Wiz. I can't install Outlook on Android because it violates company policy (God knows why, since I can set up a EAS account anyway ?). The only other possible solution I can think of may be Pocket Informant but it's $10 and the Android client interface is ugly as hell.
So, do you know of any other screen widget that would show tasks synced from Hotmail account ? Obviously Samsung calendar app shows them even under Nova, but I need a widget that I could glance at without having to start the app.
2) Is there a way to activate voice commands / voice dialing from a Bluetooth headset without having to touch the home button ? It's probably something obvious but I, for the life of me, can't find it. Press and hold on headset button does nothing and double-press redials.
3) The phone came with Otter box case which may as well just have backpack straps attached, it's so ridiculously huge. Can you recommend me a slim case with a clip holster that is sturdy and looks well and most importantly does not allow the phone to easily fall off / get unhooked by accident ?
4) I never had a Samsung before and they seem to have tons of software preinstalled, is most of it bloatware or are some apps actually worth trying ? Any tips appreciated.
Thanks !
Ummagumma said:
Hi y'all,
1) I still own Nova Prime and I much prefer it over the Touchwiz. However, I am unable to find a calendar widget that would show Exchange tasks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Event Flow calendar widget. it will sync to your exchange account and show events from outlook. I use outlook at work, and the gmail/google calendar on my personal phone (HTC One), and both calendars show up on my Event Flow agenda widget on the GS5. there are many calendar widgets on the play store though, so you may want to try a few.
2) Is there a way to activate voice commands / voice dialing from a Bluetooth headset without having to touch the home button ? It's probably something obvious but I, for the life of me, can't find it. Press and hold on headset button does nothing and double-press redials.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the google settings -- search and Now -- voice, you can enable the "Ok Google" trigger phrase to start voice recognition feature, and enable it to use your bluetooth mic for input. When you say "Ok Google", it will pull up the voice search app.
3) The phone came with Otter box case which may as well just have backpack straps attached, it's so ridiculously huge. Can you recommend me a slim case with a clip holster that is sturdy and looks well and most importantly does not allow the phone to easily fall off / get unhooked by accident ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've only been using the Diztronic slim rubber cases as of late. they are thin, fit great, and look great, but I don't think they have a clip model.
4) I never had a Samsung before and they seem to have tons of software preinstalled, is most of it bloatware or are some apps actually worth trying ? Any tips appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh, welcome to the world of samsung bloatware. tons of stuff you probably won't use from samsung and your carrier. here's a tip. go to system settings - applications, and swipe to the "all" screen. from there you can scroll through every app installed on your phone. when you get to one you don't want, tap it, and you'll see an information screen. Most apps that came on the phone have an option to disable them That will freeze the app from the system, but it it won't wipe it out of the phone's storage, so it can be enabled at a later date if you want. I've disabled nearly all the AT&T apps, and quite a few samsung and google apps I don't use.
down the road if you root your phone, you can remove all the system apps you want. but until then, disabling them is the best you can do. The only samsung apps I still have enabled are the TV remote app, music, video, and polaris office.
Thanks !
Unfortunately Event Flow does not show tasks.
I found a few widgets that show Google tasks, but so far only Samsung's Mini Today shows Exchange tasks from Outlook.com.
(..rant..) Given how many people use Outlook at work and at home, and given that Hotmail / Outlook.com is the only service that can sync Outlook emails, calendar, contacts and tasks to an Android or iOS device without having to jump through hoops or install any 3rd party apps on the desktop (a big ordeal and often outright forbidden in many organizations), it is very surprising just how few calendar applications are supporting it. I mean, to sync Outlook to Google Calendar and Tasks you need to buy expensive software and install it; to sync Outlook to Apple you need to install iCloud, which again many companies forbid or block via firewall; to sync Outlook 2013 to Outlook.com you really don't have to do anything but create an account. Yet this seems to be the least supported option, and many programs won't even read Outlook tasks after Android syncs them via EAS account ! WTF.
Hello!
Ummagumma said:
Hi y'all,
4) I never had a Samsung before and they seem to have tons of software preinstalled, is most of it bloatware or are some apps actually worth trying ? Any tips appreciated.
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only Samsung apps I use are the camera app, the audio & video players as well as the calendar application. I find that all others have bette free alternative on the market. I stop and disable all other stuff. To see what to stop
I usually use GSam battery monitor. Any application I do not use that drains on the battery, I simply disable it.
The reason for keeping the camera audio and video player is that they might use some samsung specific HW/feature (especially true for camera application) that are not fully standard and may not be available to "replacement application"
JM
Oh, if it is not too late...
You might like WatchON preinstalled application. It's universal remote control on your phone...
I use it to control TV, DVD and set top box.
Thanks !
To be honest, the more I use it, the more the darn phone frustrates me. Don't know if it's Samsung, or I forgot the feel of Android, or I just got too used to iOS. The list below can just be me, and I definitely don't want to get anyone offended. But...
1) Can't access flashlight without unlocking the phone. Something I used to do all the time.
2) Can't access calculator without unlocking the phone. Again, something I was very used to.
3) Can't use Google now without unlocking the phone. It listens but most of time I can't get a reply without unlocking.
4) Voice dialing without unlocking the phone is very spotty.
5) When I ask Google Now to tell me my meetings for tomorrow - something I used to do every day driving back home after work, about the only opportunity I have to sit back and relax and plan my day - it tells me that I have a meeting at 7:30, brings up the list of calendar items on screen, and shuts up. Siri would read them to me.
6) S-Voice stops listening after the first few words. Not always. But very often. I was trying to find some kind of a timeout setting but no luck. It just loses interest and runs with unfinished phone number. At least Google Now listens.
Basically using any voice commands without unlocking the phone is very iffy and unpredictable, especially when also trying to use a headphone. I sorely miss Siri.
6) There's no way to get my Outlook.com tasks show up in Widgets. Samsung Mini Today shows SOME of them - I never quite figure out why it would show some tasks due today and not the others. PI for Android is a terrible fugly monster with greatly reduced functionality when compared to PI IOS. Don't know why they couldn't design it to at least look the same. Outlook app could work but unfortunately we can't use it at work because of security concerns (it stores your credentials on Amazon servers so potentially someone could use them to log into company mail). I used to miss Android widgets when I had the iPhone but at least the ones that were available in the pulldown worked well and showed any info I needed and, again, could be configured to be accessible with phone locked.
7) The quality of video chat using Hangouts is worse than what I was getting on same cell or wifi network, calling the same numbers using Facetime. There's jerkiness and choppiness and every now and then the screen would just freeze for a second. Must be something related to Google servers.
The good - huge screen (compared to my old iPhone), customization, can use SD cards, and I am sure that I will eventually get used to it.
Sorry for the rant...
Hi
I have recently bought a black (leather band) Sun S2. I am using Mediatek Smart Device as a sync application with my phone ( LG G3s)
I would like to be able to sync and read exchange emails on my watch, currently I only receive a notification for email received on phone including sender and subject information. Moreover, if I receive more than one emails , even less information is displayed on watch( just the number of emails).
Is there a way to read email body on my watch? Can another android BT notifier support this? This is my main reason for using a smartwatch.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Fundo
Hi,
I tried using Fundo apk. still no email body seen on watch. Any suggestions???
Hi,
I have the No.1 D5 and overall the build quality and feature list is great, especially for the price.
But to me, the most important feature is missing: e-mail notifications!
I used to have a Samsung Gear (1st generation - dead mainboard 1.5 years after purchase - got a refund) and the main benefit to me was being able to see incoming e-mails on the watch (i.e. while driving or in meetings), without having to touch anything.
Why on earth can I configure notifications on almost all installed apps of my Note3, except e-mails?
Is there a better work-around than using BT tethering and a mail client on the watch?
Thanks,
vma
vma said:
Hi,
I have the No.1 D5 and overall the build quality and feature list is great, especially for the price.
But to me, the most important feature is missing: e-mail notifications!
I used to have a Samsung Gear (1st generation - dead mainboard 1.5 years after purchase - got a refund) and the main benefit to me was being able to see incoming e-mails on the watch (i.e. while driving or in meetings), without having to touch anything.
Why on earth can I configure notifications on almost all installed apps of my Note3, except e-mails?
Is there a better work-around than using BT tethering and a mail client on the watch?
Thanks,
vma
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can add all accounts to the watch or you can use this: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103030481054767288558/posts/W1k1NFmWgke
and this: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103030481054767288558/posts/bkhPcN99o2v
vma said:
Hi,
I have the No.1 D5 and overall the build quality and feature list is great, especially for the price.
But to me, the most important feature is missing: e-mail notifications!
I used to have a Samsung Gear (1st generation - dead mainboard 1.5 years after purchase - got a refund) and the main benefit to me was being able to see incoming e-mails on the watch (i.e. while driving or in meetings), without having to touch anything.
Why on earth can I configure notifications on almost all installed apps of my Note3, except e-mails?
Is there a better work-around than using BT tethering and a mail client on the watch?
Thanks,
vma
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thing still working for you 9 mo later?
Device Administrator
Sorry for wrong thread, but I'm having difficulty in removing an app thais was given Device administrator priveliges. Does anyone know where I can find this option on the D5 (d5+). Any help s very much appreciated.
I played with the LG Style, going to return it "no speaker"
The question is can Android Wear 2.0 sync email the same as Android Wear 1.5 ?
The problem is the watch wanted to download the the profiles in my phone.
Run Gmail like a standalone program I guess ? but when this happens the company wants to install Management program on my watch.
It is a watch, and I do not think it works on watches.
Today on my Zenwatch 3, which is taking forever to update.
Emails are managed on the phone.
The company enforces itself policy on the phone
I can just read email or anything else that pops up in notification area of the phone
Everything is processed and managed by the phone.
During Android Wear 2.0 set up when I get the dialog saying import profiles, if I say no thanks then nothing changes ?
Thanks .
Hello everyone, I have bought Joying UL128N2 for my Civic 2010 VIII and im pretty happy with it.
But, I assigned MODE button on wheel to SRC function, it cycle through stock apps like radio / video player / music player .... Is there any way how to choose which apps will be assigned to?
Also, when I pair my phone (oneplus 3) with radio It will not sync my contacts (i have stored them on google account), when i press that "download contact" button nothing happend.
halp plase
No, you can't change the sequence or apps that you cycle through.
Do not sync your phone contacts to your unit. You might discover that the dialer app has a big bug which will remove all your contacts from your phone, which on its turn will sync that to Google, thereby removing all your contacts.
Simply pair your phone without giving access to your contacts.
In settings for your account on your unit, make a direct sync from your google contacts to your head unit. In that case you can also use the contacts, bypassing the bluetooth dialer app.
surfer63 said:
In settings for your account on your unit, make a direct sync from your google contacts to your head unit. In that case you can also use the contacts, bypassing the bluetooth dialer app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how to do this? i can not find any account setting in menu
but i managed to get contacts to my unit via bt pairing today, but all contact are without "+" at the begginig so calls are not working (it will call but operator will say that number is not exist)