[Q] New to Android; need customization tutorial - General Questions and Answers

Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?

DLTempler said:
Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well..
With android (especially with HTC Sense, HTC's UI) you can add plenty of little things to customize your phone. From the top
You can move application icons from page to page on the homescreen along with widgets. to add an application to the homescreen you can open the app drawer/list and longpress it and drag it to the homescreen. Once on the homescreen you can move it around.
Along with Apps you can add widgets to the homescreen, a widget is an app that runs in the homescreen it can do things like display a news ticker, enable/disable settings (power control widget), and other things like play music and search boxes. these can be very useful for getting a quick glance at information without opening up the app.
To change the background you can longpress the homescreen and select wallpapers.
If your phone supports it you can use live wallpapers, search for them on the market or on XDA.
One tip is dont install lots of apps! dont go and download every app you see it will slow down your phone, also dont use task managers as it messes with android native application closing process.
Also the biggest customization of all if your phone is rooted (IE: full permissions and access to the system) and has a hacked bootloader you can load custom roms that are themed or have a big performance boost.
Best of luck!
If you have any questions PM me and I will be glad to help!

Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.

DLTempler said:
Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek

Captainkrtek said:
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree dont let the inteface fool you, android works as a tool just as well as winmo if not better

Related

Multitask like pre

Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Aeonys said:
Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love love love this.
That would be way cool Been wanting something like that for a while now
You mean a task switcher
And yes, would be a nice feature
Aeonys said:
Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can simply long press the home button. It's not all your running tasks, just your six most recently executed applications. It's not nearly as cool of an interface as the Palm Pre may have, but it effectively does the same thing. For killing processes I recommend Advanced Task Manager.
I'm sure we'll have a similar interface on stock Android in future releases. 2.5 perhaps?
@mhaedo:
Thanks for the tip! I tried it and it aint bad.
I already had Commantalb and ES task manager.
Both of them and this trick do partly what I ask (and other too.)
Check out the proswitcher on youtube. I'm sure it ain't too hard to have an app running in the back that shows up like commantab show you the windows let you kill them with a vertical slide, etc.
If I wait for this to happen on android 3.1 I may as well buy an Iphone (oh dear no way!)...
Proswitcher looks fantastic.
Now that we have a phone with some decent power, I'd love to see a graphical task switching app with thumbnails and gestures like this!
Aeonys said:
@mhaedo:
Thanks for the tip! I tried it and it aint bad.
I already had Commantalb and ES task manager.
Both of them and this trick do partly what I ask (and other too.)
Check out the proswitcher on youtube. I'm sure it ain't too hard to have an app running in the back that shows up like commantab show you the windows let you kill them with a vertical slide, etc.
If I wait for this to happen on android 3.1 I may as well buy an Iphone (oh dear no way!)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having used the two multitasking solutions available on cydia (multifl0w and kirkae) I can report that they are buggy at best. In theory it works well but in practice, I often had apps crash when backgrounded (pandora was a fine example of this). The phone was not meant for it and could barely support it.
Using backgrounder alone with pandora worked well most of the time but even then pandora would close.
Personally, I have no real compelling interest in a pre-esque multitasking ability on the n1 but if someone came out with one, I would definitely try it out for no other reason than "why not".
coming from a 3gs and having used mquickdo and kirikae, I also would like to see how the n1 would handle task switching.
yep, backgrounding + task switching via card view on the iphone (specially through kirikae) was nice to have and would like to see how a similar solution would operate on the n1 - which supports unfettered multitasking out of the box.
aside from task switching, i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
You're gonna end up with like....8 million cards when you want to switch.
aleitry said:
coming from a 3gs and having used mquickdo and kirikae, I also would like to see how the n1 would handle task switching.
yep, backgrounding + task switching via card view on the iphone (specially through kirikae) was nice to have and would like to see how a similar solution would operate on the n1 - which supports unfettered multitasking out of the box.
aside from task switching, i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you want to use a set of favourites, why not just make the "home" desktop where you keep your favourites? Seems to satisfy that ask, no?
deprecate said:
if you want to use a set of favourites, why not just make the "home" desktop where you keep your favourites? Seems to satisfy that ask, no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop being so logical.
aleitry said:
i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can create a folder on your home screen, name it favorites, then dump shortcuts of all your favorite, top 5 or top 10 apps in there.
legitimate suggestions and really i'm in no way being critical about current support for folders or shortcuts. pre like task switching or swipe-to-invoke features would be cool - but not necessary. bottom line - my n1 runs circles around my 3gs - without jbreaking.
deprecate said:
Having used the two multitasking solutions available on cydia (multifl0w and kirkae) I can report that they are buggy at best. In theory it works well but in practice, I often had apps crash when backgrounded (pandora was a fine example of this). The phone was not meant for it and could barely support it.
Using backgrounder alone with pandora worked well most of the time but even then pandora would close.
Personally, I have no real compelling interest in a pre-esque multitasking ability on the n1 but if someone came out with one, I would definitely try it out for no other reason than "why not".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree with you on this Sir. proswitcher and Multiflow are both apps made by some user to compensate a HUGE lack in the Iphone. They are comparable to Cyanogen making multitouch on the Nexus (on the video it was shaky and unprecise at best). Besides, they can hardly work well because of the phone's design (solo tasking).
Now you've got the Nexus: Lots of power, and able to multitask. So with such a device I don't think it would be SOOOOO complicated to actually make a switching feature like it exists with great success on the Palm PRE.
I had to spend quite a long while the first time on my wife's Iphone just to get Proswitcher (unlock/root/blackstuff/cydia/backgrounder/proswitcher/settings) to get this important app: because quite frankly, yes it's buggy but it's awesome to be ABLE to do more than 1 thing at the same time like looking for apps and installing apps for example... My Pal who's got the PRE now has this feature built it. His PRE is nice, no offense, but the Nexus kills it. This feature would be one of the only thing I'm really jealous about.
lol from the dev of ProSwitcher when asked about making a similar app for Android.
chpwn
@xManMythLegend If you send me an Android phone, sure, but I don't own any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
proswitcher is sooo cool its almost sickening! our n1's can run x2 amount of apps as the iphone and yet we only get to switch between the most recent 6?! thats weak! i bet if we keep this thread alive (and on topic) we can see some development. lets see what dev is up to the challenge. i would definitely pay for something like this!
your posts needs some clearing up.
Iman07 said:
our n1's can run x2 amount of apps as the iphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
N1 can run not just x2 amount of apps as the iphone. More, way more...prob more near 10? 20? obviously depending on the app itself.
Iman07 said:
yet we only get to switch between the most recent 6?! thats weak!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are able to switch between any open apps by loading up the app again from either the drawer or any shortcuts you've made. I understand you may mean by touch holding the home button but tbh its far far easier to press home once and nav to your app, and having it open instantly. Rather than sifting through pages to find it.
m00moo said:
your posts needs some clearing up.
N1 can run not just x2 amount of apps as the iphone. More, way more...prob more near 10? 20? obviously depending on the app itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was basing it solely on the fact that our N1's have twice as much RAM as the iPhone, 512 vs 256 respectively. Of course it depends on size of the app but it wasnt meant to be scrutinized over.
m00moo said:
We are able to switch between any open apps by loading up the app again from either the drawer or any shortcuts you've made. I understand you may mean by touch holding the home button but tbh its far far easier to press home once and nav to your app, and having it open instantly. Rather than sifting through pages to find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I do mean by holding the home button, but I find it more work to have to open the app drawer and sift through my 100 apps, though alphabetical, can be cumbersome. To each his own though.
Still would love to see a more effective and efficient method of switching between apps than the obvious (placing shortcuts on the desktop), sifting through app cards is cooler than sifting through the app drawer. Perhaps if the cards were limited to a certain number so it doesnt get out of hand. Who knows!

Is this guide accurate and easy to use?

I need some peeps to look over my new guide b4 i post it up. Just wrapped it up 10 min ago.
Its a word document attached to this post. Just double check my info or make sure its easy to follow/read.
I'm online if I can do anything to help just let me know.
-D
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
pm sent, if anyone else wants to take a look and throw in their two cents, let me know
sure!
The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.
Heres the guide, alpha version.
man i guess you cant do attachments in pm's. I'll attach the word doc here (first post). Take a look and pm me my noob mistakes
Layout is incomplete, ill take care of that later. Im mostly interested in clarity and accuracy of information.
i love the name to start it off!
I think the overall post is very good. I couldn't test much of it because I have a mac.
One thing I would suggest is once they get launcher pro, to get something like retro clock or a clock widget since I couldn't find one within the widget system using launcher pro.
haha thanks mad, i needed something that would catch people's attention and hopefully get to them b4 they started posting questions that have already been answered.
i love the name to start it off!
I think the overall post is very good. I couldn't test much of it because I have a mac.
One thing I would suggest is once they get launcher pro, to get something like retro clock or a clock widget since I couldn't find one within the widget system using launcher pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, i'll add that info now.
I still need more people to read through this.
Should i suggest that you should provide .doc format too?
Not a lot of ppl have 2007+ MS word.
I have to say this guide is wonderful.
We should start a wiki or something.
Thanks :]
there's a free Word 2003 plugin that lets you read .docx files, and Google Docs can read 'em too.
The only thing I have an issue with is the whole Cult of the Task Killer thing, as I'm an Apostle of Android Memory Management and find it offensive.
But seriously, might want to put some of the cons of Task Killers in that article. This isn't 2008 and we're not using underpowered G1's running poorly disciplined first generation applications. Or Windows Mobile.
croak, i guess im uninformed onthe subject, ill do a google search on that topic. In the meantime, if you drop back in, would you mind elaborating? I'd be glad to clarify/expand what i've written in the guide to ensure users understand their options so they can decide what they would like to do and what they wouldnt .
and thanks alot for the support accinfo. I'll release the plugin officially later tonight in a thread where everyone can read it (woot). Gonna make a few changes first.
Croak said:
there's a free Word 2003 plugin that lets you read .docx files, and Google Docs can read 'em too.
The only thing I have an issue with is the whole Cult of the Task Killer thing, as I'm an Apostle of Android Memory Management and find it offensive.
But seriously, might want to put some of the cons of Task Killers in that article. This isn't 2008 and we're not using underpowered G1's running poorly disciplined first generation applications. Or Windows Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Similarly, I find the whole "oh task killer is a must have" quite misleading. My phone is fast enough for multitasking.
Okay, here are some reasons.
Con: Either the task killer will kill too fast or too slow. The ignore list isn't really 'perfect.' Sometimes, you want to kill the app, sometimes you don't. In the end, you will have to manually delete the app.
In short, task killer does not kill the right app at the right time.
Any objjection, anyone?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
One more suggestion, please add your name in the darn document, so people will recognize for your magnificent work.
________________________________________________________________________________
Edit 2:
You should edit "
I chose only the best I’ve experienced for this section. Ofc, look something up on google b4 buying it to make sure it’s your cup of tea too."
to something along the line thhhhhhhhatttt "you can also try with trial / lite / ad version." to offer more options.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Edit 3:
You should add a FAQ later on :]
systoxity said:
croak, i guess im uninformed onthe subject, ill do a google search on that topic. In the meantime, if you drop back in, would you mind elaborating? I'd be glad to clarify/expand what i've written in the guide to ensure users understand their options so they can decide what they would like to do and what they wouldnt .
and thanks alot for the support accinfo. I'll release the plugin officially later tonight in a thread where everyone can read it (woot). Gonna make a few changes first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a good start:
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/
There's still a time when you need to nuke something, but you can do that with Android's built-in task management if need be. There's even an easy way to access it.
Long-press on the desktop, select Shortcuts, scroll down to the bottom of the list, select Settings, and then select Manage Applications.
Once you have that open, hit Menu, Filter, Running Programs. Find your rogue program and nuke it by clicking Force Close.
I should add there's a few other useful shortcuts you can select under Settings, the most handy for new users probably being Battery Usage.
accinfo said:
Similarly, I find the whole "oh task killer is a must have" quite misleading. My phone is fast enough for multitasking.
Okay, here are some reasons.
Con: Either the task killer will kill too fast or too slow. The ignore list isn't really 'perfect.' Sometimes, you want to kill the app, sometimes you don't. In the end, you will have to manually delete the app.
In short, task killer does not kill the right app at the right time.
Any objjection, anyone?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
One more suggestion, please add your name in the darn document, so people will recognize for your magnificent work.
________________________________________________________________________________
Edit 2:
You should edit "
I chose only the best I’ve experienced for this section. Ofc, look something up on google b4 buying it to make sure it’s your cup of tea too."
to something along the line thhhhhhhhatttt "you can also try with trial / lite / ad version." to offer more options.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Edit 3:
You should add a FAQ later on :]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the great suggestions, i'll write it in now and leave some space for an FAQ. and the document is only there for bad ass mofos like you who actually take the time to proof someone's work when they need it. I'll post the contents of this doc here after i add in some of the suggestions i've gotten and reread it one more time.
Im thinking about adding a section for the recovery that was recently released for us, but im wondering if that will cause too much confusion
You're welcome, you should be being thanked more than me being thanked.
Confusion? If you are able to format document with enough usage of "bold / italicise / underlining" then it would be a breeze for readers to read it.
Usuaully, people combine letters / number assigning to the table of contents. In turn, it'll be easier for users to use search (Ctrl + F) to search that most immediate issue.
For instance,
(PYP) Prep Your Phone
(PYC) Prep Your Computer
(RYP) Root Your Phone
(SO) Speed Optimization
(SO1)Swapping out Slow Samsung Launcher
(SO2)Task Killer
(SO2)Removing ATT Bloatware
(BO)Battery Optimization
(GPSO)GPS Optimization
(SME)Sideloading Made Easy
(RAMR)Removing ATT Market Restrictions:
(RAG)Recommended Apps and Games
Thank you, i will do that. Currently adding an idiot proof section on how to use clockworkmod recovery . I wish i had some mac users that could give me some tips on how to root and set up their macs for the captivate. I really want someone's personal experiences on the subject.
systoxity said:
I wish i had some mac users that could give me some tips on how to root and set up their macs for the captivate. I really want someone's personal experiences on the subject.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a mac, what do you need to know?
badass thanks, where did you get your usb drivers and how do you sideload apps to your phone
Oh i also heard you have to do something different when you root from a mac. did you use the android sdk? what would you recommend other mac users do to root their phones?
Macs don't require USB drivers, but for god know what reason it only connects when you are in debugging mode. I'm assuming this will change with a software update though. Rooting is the same as a PC once you have the update.zip and sideloading apps is supposed to work with the mac/linux version of sideload wonder (android and me) but I haven't been able to try it because the download link is down. Additionally I don't see why the DB solution shouldn't work, but for me it didn't even after correctly altering the database (I did for sure because I confirmed it with a SQL DB editor on the phone. Regardless everything is much the same on the mac, except the actual software solutions of sideloading which require a different program.
You should really consider creating a Mac version to go along with the PC version to cover all bases (granted you don't actually own a mac)

What have you done with Blue Stacks?

Well this is my first post on XDA, but since BlueStacks came out and I've had a chance to play around with it, I had to ask how other XDA members were utilizing it. I've managed to get ADW Launcher EX on there with a bunch of apps including podcastr, halo reach stats, IMO, 4shared, appBrain and more. When I pull up the emulator the ADW desktop is set to the largest amount of icons on the homepage so it looks just like an Android Desktop OS would look like. I'm pretty excited with home snappy it runs and wondering if this could ever become an actual OS - this is really clean compared to Windows. It definitely needs to be fixed up but I like it.
Seems like BlueStacks might be taking it in a "Premium" direction though. The market won't work so the only way to get APK's is with there cloud app or via 4shared or the browser (apks). Also you have internet but not on your own wifi, I believe it connects to there server and routes you through it so watch what you are doing on it - when you pull up the browser its there homepage and there is no wifi settings even though I turned wifi on with the power widget.
Check out the screenshot and tell me what your doing with BlueStacks
This software dose not have a proxy so don't worry about it, its just a virtual player and its still a baby.
Here is a little post I did on FB about what I use it for
Hey guys, the posts have been a little slow so I thought I would as a question that we all can reply to, when you do use bluestacks what do you use it for?
I use mine for testing my apps I make or apps I want to use on none supported android devices, I also sometimes use it to play that piggy game that comes with it lol I also use it for web dev when I want to see how it looks like without finding my phone out lol
I still don't feel bluestacks is able to do what we all need it to do, I feel its down the bluestacks trying to limit us on how we use it and the player is good but at the moment still very unstable, I really hope they will get better and I keep watching, what about you what do you use it for and what's your view on it so far.
I would give there app 6/10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FreeStacks Group Here
The web uses the connection of the pc and the browsers home page is just set to bluestack so your ok, people have been moding bluestack with no problems, your right they are heading for a pro version but you can install apps via the adb or web and other things like that.
I use bluestacks as a small window I made gizmostack that lets you resize the window, so I hope this lets you see one others might use it for good luck.

[Q] Some Stupid Questions/Gripes About Android OS

I've used an Android tablet for about a year now, and although I've put in a lot of time to make it useful and controllable, it still has a lot of troubling mysteries. I have a few questions for developer types that hopefully will help shed some light on things:
1. Why don't applications feature a "Close" button? In both Windows and GNU/Linux with a GUI, you get a neat little "X" at the top right of the window. Usually, when you click this, the application terminates. Is that so much to ask for on Android? The means of closing apps on Android seem to be entirely up to the devs and there doesn't appear to be a standard way at all. Some of the apps I've used on Android don't have any way to close them whatsoever, with the exception of killing them from a task manager or the "Manage Apps" section of settings.
2. Why do many of these programs suddenly and mysteriously start running entirely on their own? It's terribly frustrating for me to kill an app and in a half an hour find it there on the task manager list again, running without my having asked for it to do so. Where is this controlled? If there is some sort of task scheduler making this happen, why can't I easily see a list of scheduled tasks and choose which ones to run or not to run?
3. For programs that *are* running in the background (the ones I *want* to have running), why is it that they usually don't have some sort of taskbar icon to indicate at a glance that they are still running?
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
5. Why doesn't a decent firewall application yet exist for Android? All I seem to be able to find are really coarse ones like Droidwall, where it's an all or nothing proposition (allow/block). I'd like to be able to control protocols, ports, zones and individual IP addresses and ranges like a good firewall on Windows or GNU/Linux allows. I am constantly under suspicion that someone is doing something on my tablet without my even being aware of it.
6. Why are permissions for applications so difficult to control? Maybe I don't want some stupid game getting a look at my contacts list. I realize I can just uninstall the game, but so many apps seem to tap into stuff that they shouldn't be allowed to, I feel like some sort of permissions control should be a default standard thing in Android. Instead all there seems to be are a couple of apps on the market that may or may not work.
7. Do any of you developers feel dissatisfied about the state of Android, and does Google take your feedback seriously?
8. Are there any forks of the Android OS that don't rely on Google for anything? I'm not 100 percent sure about the difference between a GNU and an Apache license. How much of the OS is closed-source? Is it enough to prevent a true, fully open-sourced Android-based OS from being made?
Sorry if any of these questions sound stupid, but even though Android is supposed to be more open than iOS, it's still not open enough for my tastes. I actually feel safer using Windows than Android, and that's just not how it should be. Am I alone in this feeling?
Ok. I would honestly say you should have gone with a Windows tablet if you want all those... It's not a computer. It's a mobile device running a mobile os. It's not gonna be a full blown computer.
McMick said:
I've used an Android tablet for about a year now, and although I've put in a lot of time to make it useful and controllable, it still has a lot of troubling mysteries. I have a few questions for developer types that hopefully will help shed some light on things:
1. Why don't applications feature a "Close" button? In both Windows and GNU/Linux with a GUI, you get a neat little "X" at the top right of the window. Usually, when you click this, the application terminates. Is that so much to ask for on Android? The means of closing apps on Android seem to be entirely up to the devs and there doesn't appear to be a standard way at all. Some of the apps I've used on Android don't have any way to close them whatsoever, with the exception of killing them from a task manager or the "Manage Apps" section of settings.
2. Why do many of these programs suddenly and mysteriously start running entirely on their own? It's terribly frustrating for me to kill an app and in a half an hour find it there on the task manager list again, running without my having asked for it to do so. Where is this controlled? If there is some sort of task scheduler making this happen, why can't I easily see a list of scheduled tasks and choose which ones to run or not to run?
3. For programs that *are* running in the background (the ones I *want* to have running), why is it that they usually don't have some sort of taskbar icon to indicate at a glance that they are still running?
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
5. Why doesn't a decent firewall application yet exist for Android? All I seem to be able to find are really coarse ones like Droidwall, where it's an all or nothing proposition (allow/block). I'd like to be able to control protocols, ports, zones and individual IP addresses and ranges like a good firewall on Windows or GNU/Linux allows. I am constantly under suspicion that someone is doing something on my tablet without my even being aware of it.
6. Why are permissions for applications so difficult to control? Maybe I don't want some stupid game getting a look at my contacts list. I realize I can just uninstall the game, but so many apps seem to tap into stuff that they shouldn't be allowed to, I feel like some sort of permissions control should be a default standard thing in Android. Instead all there seems to be are a couple of apps on the market that may or may not work.
7. Do any of you developers feel dissatisfied about the state of Android, and does Google take your feedback seriously?
8. Are there any forks of the Android OS that don't rely on Google for anything? I'm not 100 percent sure about the difference between a GNU and an Apache license. How much of the OS is closed-source? Is it enough to prevent a true, fully open-sourced Android-based OS from being made?
Sorry if any of these questions sound stupid, but even though Android is supposed to be more open than iOS, it's still not open enough for my tastes. I actually feel safer using Windows than Android, and that's just not how it should be. Am I alone in this feeling?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Well, its a mobile OS and it would be rather annoying to have a close button on every (even most) apps. No mobile OS has had a close button
2. That's an app problem, the developer either wanted the app to do that for some function, or they made some mistake in creating causing that to happen.
3. There would be too many apps, and I doubt people want extra notifications in the status bar just informing them what's running. For example, my friends Stratosphere has a status notif whenever WiFi is connected, and it annoys the crap out of me whenever I use it.
4. Probably, because people don't care... remember Android (like WP and iOS) are supposed to appeal to consumers as a phone for "facebook, games, and internet," and if the splashscreen/bootanimation was a logcat, people would just go "wut?" Also, as smartphones get faster and faster, so does bootup time. And there wouldn't be enough time to read what's on the logcat before it fully boots and you're at the lockscreen
5. Ask the devs.
6. Once again, dev thing. They are entitled to putting whatever permission they want, and Google isn't going to stop them. Just think about it though, most people don't care about permissions. iOS doesn't display them (even though they are there) and people download apps like there's no tomorrow anyway.
7. I read somewhere that the main designer of Android was "40% complete" at ICS. It gets me excited at what's next to come, since 4.0+ is already pretty amazing.
8. I'm too retarded to understand this question
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
As gagdude said for 1-7.
8. There's the Chinese Aliyun OS which looks and feels a lot like Android but doesn't rely on Google - but I would't try it. You could try Ubuntu Linux if your device supports it.
Android needs to be like apple with updates time to close source this already and just have one phone already
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Reopened, but if it gets unproviding and or heads Off Topic, well then I will readdress this thread.....
Thank you and you can Thank user: Syncopath
gagdude said:
No mobile OS has had a close button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby, had a close button for every application.
@McMick, many of your points struck a chord with me and I have often asked myself the same things since migrating to Android from Pocket PC 2002 on my HTC Wallaby. Certainly points 1, 3, 7 and 8.
Since I jumped from PPC 2002 to Android 2.3.6 I've had the same thoughts. And I was for instance surprised to see that only now (Galaxy Note 2) are the very first steps being taken towards multiple windows.
I agree with point 4 too. On a PC (Linux or Windows) you can choose whether you see what's starting (BIOS and OS boot) or prefer a reassuring animation.
5. I have Avast!Mobile Security which has what is reckoned to be one of the best firewalls for Android, but even that only has, as you say, block or allow (individually for WiFi, 3G and mobile network).
6. The trouble with limiting permissions for apps is that if they can't get the access they want, they won't work. Personally I use the app Privacy Blocker which works around that by feeding the apps you choose not to allow to snoop nonsense information.
However it's not enough just to stand on the sidelines and issue one's wishes to "the developers". The point and the spirit of XDA-developers is that we can all start modifying things if we want to. So instead of saying "Why can't I" the thing to do is to start reading and learning and seeing if you might not after all just be able to ... do something yourself when it comes to your device.
Every Android developer does what appeals to them, which is why there is such a wonderful diversity of ROMs and apps for Android, particularly here on XDA.
So get stuck in and start trying to change things on your own device for a start. On point 5 for instance, you do see a logcat screen when you boot into recovery mode, so perhaps there's a way to display that when booting. If you do get started on modifications in the directions you indicate, I shall certainly follow progress with interest.
Thanks to BigJoe2675.
syncopath said:
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby,
However it's not enough just to stand on the sidelines and issue one's wishes to "the developers". The point and the spirit of XDA-developers is that we can all start modifying things if we want to. So instead of saying "Why can't I" the thing to do is to start reading and learning and seeing if you might not after all just be able to ... do something yourself when it comes to your device.
Every Android developer does what appeals to them, which is why there is such a wonderful diversity of ROMs and apps for Android, particularly here on XDA.
So get stuck in and start trying to change things on your own device for a start. On point 5 for instance, you do see a logcat screen when you boot into recovery mode, so perhaps there's a way to display that when booting. If you do get started on modifications in the directions you indicate, I shall certainly follow progress with interest.
Thanks to BigJoe2675.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
---------------------------
PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years :crying::crying: sorry for this....
syncopath said:
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby, had a close button for every application.
@McMick, many of your points struck a chord with me and I have often asked myself the same things since migrating to Android from Pocket PC 2002 on my HTC Wallaby. Certainly points 1, 3, 7 and 8.
Since I jumped from PPC 2002 to Android 2.3.6 I've had the same thoughts. And I was for instance surprised to see that only now (Galaxy Note 2) are the very first steps being taken towards multiple windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, but I wasn't born in 2002.
Lol jk I was, but I wasn't "born" to technology back then. I got my first phone only 3 years ago or so... and that just makes it seem that close buttons are now obsolete (on Mobile OSes, at least
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
gagdude said:
OK, but I wasn't born in 2002.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL as I believe they say these days. I forgive you instantly! I am amazed by your over 1000 posts in about 4 months.
McMick said:
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app [root] live logcat by the one and only Chainfire [/hyperbole] should fix this. There are free and paid versions. Something to check out if you're rooted. Please let us know of the results. Added on edit: from Google Play.
syncopath said:
LOL as I believe they say these days. I forgive you instantly! I am amazed by your over 1000 posts in about 4 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no that just means I'm a loser and I spend too much time on xda
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
@bigjoe,
bigjoe2675 said:
PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years :crying::crying: sorry for this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't quite understand this message, probably due to my inability to correctly interpret emoticons (reverse autism?). Anyway, thanks for re-opening this one because I
think what is being discussed here is worthwhile. Given the pressure of spammer-threat I think the OP should respond soon (or anyone else). Otherwise it will be understandable if you close the thread if you prefer.
bigjoe2675 said:
Reopened, but if it gets unproviding and or heads Off Topic, well then I will readdress this thread.....
Thank you and you can Thank user:
Syncopath
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I understand your priorities as moderator. This is of course a thread near the "top" of XDA and as such will far more readily attract spammers and other lowlife than further down in the more comfortable device threads where I am more used to posting. So you will want to quickly close any thread that seems to be becoming stale. Right?
@gagdude
gagdude said:
Oh no that just means I'm a loser and I spend too much time on xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so, over 200 thanks didn't come from nowhere!
This is off subject having prob w/ no boot sound for boot anim
Sent from my Huawei-H867G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] First Tablet - Where to Start?

Hi all
just got a shield tablet. first time with Android. Got it for portable gaming, and to explore the many possible ways it could be of use in my life. it seems like an endless horizon.
used Windows and mac OS a fair bit, i like tinkering. but this is new.
iv been exploring structure, it seems to be very open.
Iv been looking around for guides and tutorials for Android, but most seem to be centered toward smartphone users. many of the Apps they suggest seem to be optimized for phones and seems a bit naff on tablet.
on top of that, i'm starting out with Lollipop, which has made it trickier to find applicable tutorials.
I would be grateful if anyone could point me towards an Android/lollipop tutorial geared toward Tablets.
many thanks
pw
Not sure what you mean by tutorials. You should just play around with the settings, see what features the tab has. Try out the default apps installed etc. The stylus is pretty fun to use with the Nvidia Dabbler app. Other than that, try connecting an Xbox controller to it using a USB OTG cable. Works pretty well. Connect it to the TV and try out console mode(I still haven't done that ?)
Setup your Gmail account, since that is central to keeping everything synced on your tab. Email, contacts, photos, etc. It is also required for access to the play store, where you can download apps, games, movies and music.
Other than that I generally do the following with all my devices -
1) Root it - Rooting is just getting superuser permissions for your device(which I personally believe should ideally just be a setting which the user can decide to turn on/off). This allows you to backup/restore your app data, uninstall system apps that you don't need, tweak/add certain features (though xposed is not yet working on Lollipop I think), block annoying ads, etc.
2) Install Titanium Backup and restore my data from my previous/other device. A lot of apps still don't have cloud syncing, so you still have to transfer your data. But since this is your first device, you don't really have to worry about this.
I'd suggest posting specific questions about stuff that you'd like to know, as it will be easier for people to help you.
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
Couple of app suggestions for you to try -
Nova/Apex Launcher - Has lots of added features, like organizing the app list, swipe gesture shortcuts, customizable icons, etc.
Bring! - Really good shared grocery list.
MX Player - Plays almost all formats. And has swipe gestures for playback and volume/brightness controls. Pretty awesome.
Feedly - Get your dose of the latest news
Soundhound - Great at identifying a song playing on the radio or even one that you're humming!
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
I'm not sure what you want either
If you have a keyboard you can activate Improved accessibility to reassign some keys.
I have Siderbar Pro, so i can swap and open apps has i want.
Adaptative rotation lock free, i use it to force app to open in landscape mode, useful if you have your tablet in a case keyboard.
Floathing Stickies, i use it to write my ideas while I'm reading or browsing, is a floathing resizable window.
Darker, to low the screen brightness and use a color filter.
Ingles(i speak Spanish), i guess you could find it like English is a Livio english dictionary.
WPS its a word, excel PowerPoint PDF editor.
Ivona Text to speech, is the best i have found
Mouse keyboard 2 touch free, i use it to emulate keyboard keypress as touch points, useful to play with a keyboard, but it didn't reconogize my mouse USB or wireless. I had tried other alternatives but this is which works best. Need root permissions.
Thumb Keyboard, is a very customizable keyboard but it seems that it doesn't have further support.
As you can see there are no limits, but has i said i don't know but you want.
I'm with the people who say explore every aspect of the tablet from start to end. Tapping just about anything in some of the most central screens yields interesting results.
From there you'll just sort of have to decide what you want to explore... the Play Store is still a great place to find apps that do a whole lot of things. Do you, like me, want your phone to be kinda like your desktop? There are office suites and sliding keyboards and a whole lot of apps with cloud functionally and desktop like power under the hood.
Oh, about those keyboards... the Google one treats gliding with extreme respect. Would recommend using it like that,maybe trying Swype or SwiftKey if you want to see what else is out there. Heck, even gestures like sliding from Shift to G or just holding down the shift key work kind of in ways you'd expect.
But that's just me... Android can go in a thousand directions. Maybe one day I'll make a YouTube channel called Android is Awesome and show why.
Like most members said, ROOOT IT. Then your endless horizon will be more like space exploration. Once you root, you can ask those questions on what an android can really do. Using a Nvidia shield too, and theres a lot of bloatware that you probably don't want. If you want to uninstall those, you'll need root! If you want to maximize your tegra k1, you'll need root!

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