Related
Hey, might be a very limited market, but I was wondering if anyone knew, or could code an app that overlays the video camera (or is its own video camera) with GPS information.
In theory it shouldn't be too hard to do, poll the GPS for speed, the compass for direction and stick them at the bottom of a video overlay along with the system date and time on top of the camera, then record the total image/video to the SD card.
I got thinking about this after picking up my car dock and having a play around with it (inadvertently managing to record a drivers eye view of my journey home!). It would be a great app for trackdays etc, you could even output the GPS NMEA data to a KMZ file and import it into google earth, or given some fine tuning make it into a very basic GPS data logger...
Anyways, thinking out loud here If anyone can do it let me know, I can code basic stuff, but something like that is way out of my league...
Cheers
Sounds like a nice application. To take it even further: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgXzdUb_fug I think this is an even greater use of camera + gps.
The only thing about making it into an augmented reality nav system is that it will still require mapping information, and the prob with that is that the free ones have pretty mad amounts of errors, and the paid ones need megabux spending (and they still have loads of errors).
With my idea, it's not an A/R system - it's simply a video overlay of info that's already in the phone. The major problem I see would be polling it, interpreting it, and writing it to the video at 30fps or whatever the unit captures at.
I do like that app tho, but it's not really what I envisaged with this
So you want to record a video similar to this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdAIaIOySoA for afterwards playback only? If so, I think this is possible only to store video + gps information in seperate files. The recorded video will be recorded as a normal video. The gps data can be stored using a kmz file with a sort of timestamp. Afterwards these 2 files can be played back with a application on the android device which reads these two files and overlays the video playback with the data from the kmz file.
I guess it will be to hard to create an application that records video and embeds the recorded gps data into the recorded video. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the android API can say something about this?
yep, got it in one... Although it would be for playback on the PC rather than on the phone.
The standard format is .3GPP, which is nice and small (comparitively speaking) and good quality too, and plays on a PC through Quicktime / VLC no problem.
I honestly think it would be perfectly doable... I just can't do it!!!
It sounds cool, but is it useful? Will anyone actually read the data/time/lat/long on the bottom of the screen during playback?
On top of that it will make the cpu work extra hard putting the text on every video frame.
Another idea is to use the timed-text stream (subtitles) in the mp4 file. (more)
Dont know how much work is involved.
It is a pretty specialist app, however I reckon people would use it for timing laps etc.
Look at how many in-car videos there are of trackdays on YouTube, and the ProVida system that is in use in the video above... there is a definite use for it imho - even if it's just used to show off people's VMAX on the autobahns etc!!
Must admit, I wouldn't see a point in the lat/long info - all I was guessing at was a simple overlay on the video with speed and direction bottom left, date & time bottom right so as not to distract from the actual video.
Hep hep hep
Don't put this idea underground (please). This app could be REALLY interesting for a bunch of freak I know (I'm one of them too :-D)
I'm in a very big forum of EV and there, such video is really really researched. The fact that it has to be processed afterward made by a separate soft is no problem...our main target is to upload a video with speed, altitude...etc for comparison or simple burning thing like "Yeah I've the freakiest e-bike..ever" X-)))
This is interesting for e-bike but also for EVERY (on the road, in the wood...etc) people which are searching performances and want to share them
Hope someone like the idea. If not I make a thread on the endless-sphere forum that the guys come "show their motiviation" here
Cheeeeers and do it ;-)
Grüß,
H.
A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time, but I don't think its possible on android yet.
Lets hope it will be on 3.0.
A friend said that one guy will release a update to his track logging app, for the iphone 4 within a few days that will add this functionality.
B1ny said:
A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time, but I don't think its possible on android yet.
Lets hope it will be on 3.0.
A friend said that one guy will release a update to his track logging app, for the iphone 4 within a few days that will add this functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'd love to be updated if something is released ^_^
I installed something along that line for my Jeep-carputer using Xport and what not...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdB7FksRd68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRzWAWOjnH0
More info on minicam project: http://www.curioustech.net/minicam.html
screen shot: http://www.curioustech.net/images/front.jpg
But I would love to see something like this for android. (would love this on my evo)
0okami said:
Well, I'd love to be updated if something is released ^_^
I installed something along that line for my Jeep-carputer using Xport and what not...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdB7FksRd68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRzWAWOjnH0
More info on minicam project: http://www.curioustech.net/minicam.html
screen shot: http://www.curioustech.net/images/front.jpg
But I would love to see something like this for android. (would love this on my evo)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like there is something out there and its FREE! :
http://www.dailyroads.com/voyager.php
DailyRoads Voyager
Hello,
I present you my first application for Android called Lazik/Lazik+!
It's a remote control for Winamp media player compatible with versions 1.6 to 2.2 of Android.
Here are a few screenshots to get an idea of rendering:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Two versions are available, Lazik which is free and supported by ads and Lazik + (1.69 €)
Lazik features:
.playback controls
.playlist
.media library
.search
.display album covers
Lazik+ features:
.no ads
.conection over 3g,edge,...
.fetches missing album covers
.more to come
Possible actions from the madia library have been thought to be as practicable as possible:
- Enqueue at the end of the playlist
- Enqueue just after the current song
- Enqueue just after the current song and play immediately
- Play immediately at the current position in the playlist or at the end of it
To operate Lazik you must install a plugin for Winamp, More information and a tutorial are available at: http://www.bypops.com.
Feel free to comment and report any bugs you might encounter
Lazik :
Lazik+ :
Sweet! This is the best program to control winamp I've come across. It's 99% perfect! (apart from a few grammatical errors )
Works brilliantly on my rooted Desire!
IceBone said:
Sweet! This is the best program to control winamp I've come across. It's 99% perfect! (apart from a few grammatical errors )
Works brilliantly on my rooted Desire!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comment
About grammatical errors, feel free to send me corrections on the support email address if you are motivated enough. I'm french so my English is not perfect ...
Will do so. In the mean time, the only gripe I have with it is that you can't use the scroll bar to advance a track. In fact, it doesn't move at all. Is that a Lazik+ feature only? Also, sometimes it takes a while for the controls to show when you press the album art.
Well, the only things wrong with the text I've found were in the server management: "Search for servers" would sound nicer. As well as Searching for servers when the app is looking for them.
Keep working on the app, it's awesome, but I have a few suggestions if you don't mind, hehe...
Would be nice if the search would use the standard Android search functionality, as it is, it's kinda odd.
Also the colours are quite ghastly. The design isn't bad, but the colour choice is quite off, if you ask me.
But these are just my suggestions, still your app.
IceBone said:
Will do so. In the mean time, the only gripe I have with it is that you can't use the scroll bar to advance a track. In fact, it doesn't move at all. Is that a Lazik+ feature only? Also, sometimes it takes a while for the controls to show when you press the album art.
Well, the only things wrong with the text I've found were in the server management: "Search for servers" would sound nicer. As well as Searching for servers when the app is looking for them.
Keep working on the app, it's awesome, but I have a few suggestions if you don't mind, hehe...
Would be nice if the search would use the standard Android search functionality, as it is, it's kinda odd.
Also the colours are quite ghastly. The design isn't bad, but the colour choice is quite off, if you ask me.
But these are just my suggestions, still your app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The seeking scrollbar should be working, even in the free version. Maybe it's too small for you to be able to drag it. It's size will be changed as some people asked for that.
For the grammatical problems, I'll update it, maybe with your suggestion, or maybe by changing the way it's told.
Concerning the search suggestion, I will consider it but I can't say if I will change it or not. It will depend on how it have to be implemented and if it would prevent some current functionnalities ... The colors have been choosed to integrate in the android UI, because they are colors used in Android. They won't change for the moment as I have some more importants things to implement, but I will try so change them to see what result I can have when I'll have some time to. Maybe it could be a theme option in a future version (but certainly only for Lazik+ users).
By the way I have seen some posts of you on other forums about my App, so I want to thank you for that, since I don't know all good english forums for Android ...
Yeah, no problem, great apps should be shared. As for the design, I REALLY REALLY like the way DoubleTwist is done, it's a real treat to look at.
First of, great great work!
Works really well!
Side note: People please note that you need to have proper firewall settings.
Some things I noticed.
The app found my winamp server, I then flipped open my keyboard to type in my server name (This was on a HTC DREAM: G1) , yet the little window disappeared and went behind the add and search server window.
When installing the plugin, the installer automatically kills winamp. Dunno if its stated somewhere, it didn't bother me though!
Anyways, thanks again! Real nice app!
Works great with my 2.2 Desire!
But... When I start the App, WiFi is enabling itself. I would like to control my Winamp trough my 3G connection.
I'm using a VPN, so the local ip-address is no problem. Also with a portmap in my router it should be possible to use it externally. All you have to do is turn off the automatic WiFi enabler and add support for connections over 3g?
Keep it on!
I love the app, simple and works a treat
here' s a couple of suggestions:
+1 on scrollbar size, it's a bit tricky to use it
would it be possible to add bookmarks support? I have all my radio links there...
I' ll play with it a little bit more an post more
I've been looking for something like this to control music playback on my PC from bed, thanks!
IceBone said:
Yeah, no problem, great apps should be shared. As for the design, I REALLY REALLY like the way DoubleTwist is done, it's a real treat to look at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really agree..
Double twist's gradients look bad and it all looks a bit 'cheap'.
There is too much wasted space and no instant easy access button to get back to library or playlist. Stock HTC music app is much more practical and usable, and looks cleaner and more profession.
Judging by the screenshots the design of this app looks great
Well, to each their own. A sort of theme would be nice, yes. Standard for you, a bit different for me.
PieP said:
Works great with my 2.2 Desire!
But... When I start the App, WiFi is enabling itself. I would like to control my Winamp trough my 3G connection.
I'm using a VPN, so the local ip-address is no problem. Also with a portmap in my router it should be possible to use it externally. All you have to do is turn off the automatic WiFi enabler and add support for connections over 3g?
Keep it on!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already thinked about this possibility, but judged it would be too hard to use for a simple user without computer skills. Anyway, your post shows me some people would like to use Lazik over 3g. I didn't gave it a try but it should work. Maybe it won't be in the next release but I'll add an option to disable automatic wifi in the future, so that "experimented" users would be able to test it over 3g. The way I thinked it would be not to hard was by using a service like no-ip.com, so that you could use an alias, and not your internet ip. By the way, router configuration will be necessary, but you seem to already know that Send me an email on lazik support so I'll be able to contact you when a version with this option will be available
Gorkytje said:
First of, great great work!
Works really well!
Side note: People please note that you need to have proper firewall settings.
Some things I noticed.
The app found my winamp server, I then flipped open my keyboard to type in my server name (This was on a HTC DREAM: G1) , yet the little window disappeared and went behind the add and search server window.
When installing the plugin, the installer automatically kills winamp. Dunno if its stated somewhere, it didn't bother me though!
Anyways, thanks again! Real nice app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comment
The fact that the installer kills Winamp is normal, because Winamp needs to restart in order to see the new plugin.
Concerning the problem you mentionned while entering the server name, I wasn't aware of it since I never had the possibility to try Lazik on a G1 or any device with physical keyboard. I'll try to find why this occurs ... For the moment I advice users to use the virtual keyboard here.
vigin said:
I love the app, simple and works a treat
here' s a couple of suggestions:
+1 on scrollbar size, it's a bit tricky to use it
would it be possible to add bookmarks support? I have all my radio links there...
I' ll play with it a little bit more an post more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comment
Concerning the bookmarks, I never used them in Winamp but it could be a good thing to add them to Lazik. I can't promise it will be added quickly but it will be added to my todo list for a future version
THIS APP IS AMAZING! It works so unbelievably quick and well its really astonishing. Not quite perfect, but oh so close. (Winamp is also still the best music player in my opinion)
Bugs:
- The seek bar doesn't "seek"/There is no way to seek through a song
- There is no way to remove songs from playlist
Suggestions:
- Make seek and volume bars larger in the 'play screen'
- when you tap on a song on the playlist (or on the play button to the right of the song), a "back, play/pause, next" should hover up at the bottom or top of the playlist to give you more control within the playlist. Also, a seek bar should hover over the playing song. (I realize this would kinda take the place of the playback screen...)
- Alternate suggestion to previous one: Add a 'tap to play' queue to the playback screen.
- long press song in playlist to remove or move. Something similar to the home screen icons where a trash can pops up would be consistent and nice.
Suggestions that I'm not sure are possible:
- In the media library, when you navigate to a song, you should be able to tap it (not on the "+") to play the song, but NOT add it to your playlist. (should have similar hovering controls as in the playlist but of course no next/back cuz its not a playlist, its your media library)
- A way to save the playlist to the phone or to the computer
- A way to transfer song to phone or download all playlist songs to phone
- A way to stream music to the phone exclusively or at the same time as the computer
- Be able to 'screen' a song on your playlist from your phone WITHOUT having it play back on the computer (this builds upon the previous suggestion)
- Have the streaming music to the phone perfectly in sync with computer (Mac's Airport does this as well as a PC application called "Airfoil")
The last two suggestions would be absolutely invaluable to this app as it would CLEARLY distinguish the app from anything of the like. They would also be an incredible asset in a light DJish environment. Not to mention the phone would basically turn into a wireless speaker access point which I would gladly pay cash monies for if it worked as excellently as the app currently does.
Ridiculous Suggestions:
- Since you're already installing a plugin, add a simple VPN client built into the application so that you can access your music from your computer and play the music over the phone. (this builds upon the previous suggestions)
- Link multiple computers on the network using Winamp and send songs to be played on different computers (I don't even know what I would do with that function)
- A way to play songs from the phone, on the computer in the same synced/exclusive manner
- Ummm, don't hit me, but, video playback support?
Many of these suggestions require the app to have a full music player within the app which just might be FAR outside the scope of a "controller app". I personally don't like DoubleTwist at all, but I could see the majority of these suggestions (if possible) being rolled into the DoubleTwist app.
Ultimately I believe the implementation of the majority of my suggestions are limited by the audience. Unless this app becomes like a renowned/feature app on Android, I couldn't see anyone expending that much energy developing it...
Excellent app! AMAZING job! Thank you VERY much! Keep up the exemplary work!
Just bought your app. Works very well, but I've got one bug to tell you:
When I create a playlist in Winamp and select a track via your app, it doesn't show the cover on my device (HTC Desire with 2.2). In Winamp the cover is shown properly. I tried it with several mp3s, so I don't think it is a problem of a specific mp3.
I just tried to find the problem and I think it is a problem concerning the media database. All mp3s included in the main- and subdirectories are display with cover. But sometimes you wanna listen to the mp3 before archiving them. They are stored temporarily on my Desktop, but not on my media drive.
Would be very nice if you are able to include cover support for this setting (mp3 which are not in the database) as well.
Another 'bug': When Playing a track of your playlist and removing it while playing in Winamp, the main view of your app switches to the next song, but Winamp continues to play the song you just removed (which is a feature). Would be better if the plugin updates the current song after the song has finished to play.
Just found another small bug: When you search in your media library the searchbar at the bottom covers the last entry of your search results.
added on 28.08.: isn't it possible zu merge all tracks of one album together? Now all tracks of each album are show seperatly, even when i search for an album explicitly.
Nice work Mr.
I have a suggestion that might be doable.. Can you hook into the fact that a phone call is coming in and have it pause the music during the phone call? Might also be nice to have it as an option.. also to have it so u have to manually press play again so u don't get blasted as soon as you hang up the phone.
Really excited about this app. A lot of positive reactions. And indeed there hasn't been a proper winamp remote app on the market. But finally here it is!
But i have the following problem on a Windows XP sp3 installation at work:
I can't find the server and cannot connect to the IP adress the server should be running. Also, I'm not sure the server is installing like it should. Because I can't find the plugin in Winamp's plugins list. (Anyone know what it is called?)
Furthermore i'd like to add that Winamp had an iTunes plugin installed, but it did not have iTunes installed. So it would promt that it needed iTunes installed in order to use that plugin. Maybe this could mess things up? I'm just guessing.
The Windows firewall is turned off, but I do have Norton AV 2008 running. I couldn't find any settings for port managing so i thought Norton leaves this alone.
I tried turning the Windows firewall on and make an exception on port 5976, but no luck.
I'll try it in a few minutes at home on a Windows 7 64 bit box. (Without the iTunes plugin.)
But does anyone have some suggestions on how to get it to work at the bar I work in.
Regards,
DaanJordaan
edit:
Works fine at home! Really cool app!
Great app.
Working on Magic 2.2
and on Hero 2.2
A lock screen widget/controlls could be cool
So let me preface by saying Ive gone from iPhone to Android and have been watching WP since launch and plan on it being my next OS after I can get a hold of an off contract Verizon phone relatively cheaply or when my upgrade is up. I love how fluid it seems with its native apps and I want to get away from my buggy and laggy/stuttering Droid X (Which is the same for everyone I know with one).
But there's some things that you really don't take into account when you don't actually use the device everyday, so I figured Id ask here and see how WP stacks up.
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
I only know of TouchXplorer for HTC for file management but im sure there are others for the other brands. Not sure how you would go about storing files for re installation. Dont think anyone has figured out how to invoke the xap installer from files on the phone. Most of these apps are found here on XDA
Most apps are pretty smooth. Depends on the dev. Id say they are all smoother than android though.
Dont think you can download to the file system from IE
You can access Skydrive from the office hub. You can open media files and pdfs etc. Once again not sure about install files.
I havent had a problem with the volume. I use my phone for media and games. I just put it on vibrate when i need to which is easy to do on the lock screen.
Cant toggle from the homescreen yet, there are apps that are shortcuts to the setting though
There is a homebrew backup program here on XDA somewhere
I dont get annoyed by the animations. They make for a nice experience
The XDA app is a version of board express i believe and its not too bad. I Haven't tried any of the Reddit apps
There is a bit of panning. I find its just easier to find a good zoom level that you can read it on
Hope i helped
Mike415 said:
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
I've never used TouchXplorer, so I don't even know if it is compatible with Mango, but if it is it would be the only file explorer option I know of. WP is not designed as an open system, so file explorers are not officially supported.
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
I have around 175 third party apps installed on my phone, and at least half of them exhibit enough lag/stutter that it is noticeable, and some are quite annoying, even some of the major apps (such as Accuweather.com and USA Today). Generally, it seems that if an app is fetching data from the internet while it is also rendering to the display, you will probably notice some lag/stutter. I've never owned an Android, but from the videos I've seen on YouTube and also from what I've observed watching my son use his Samsung Captivate, the lag (at least in third party apps) is comparable.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
All apps are sandboxed on WP, so downloading to "the filesystem" is not supported.
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
Again, I don't know about homebrew, but generally speaking SkyDrive only supports photos and Office documents from your phone.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
This one is a bit tricky. As far as missing alarms due to turning the ringer on or off, that is probably not likely. Turning vibrate-only mode on or off is remarkably simple on WP. Just wake up the phone, press either volume control, and then tap the ringer icon to toggle it on or off.
However, that is the good news. The bad news is that the universal volume means that having the volume high enough to be able to hear the phone ring from your pocket also means that any app, game or media will also blast out of the phone at annoyingly loud levels. And conversely, if you turn the volume down far enough to play a game or listen to music at a comfortable level, but forget to turn it back up when you are done, you will miss calls, guaranteed. It has happened to me more times than I care to count.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
Quick setting toggles are not supported. You can, however, get a reasonably adequate shortcuts to the four main toggles (WiFI, 3G, Airplane mode, and Bluetooth) on your start screen. The unfortunate annoyance is that, depending on how you lay out your start screen, you may have a few button presses/scroll swipes necessary to complete the toggle of a setting). As for brightness, there is no toggle support for that.
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
There is no support for backup of app settings, game saves or SMS messages, period. None at all. You can (using a homebrew app) perform a complete device backup, but it cannot be transferred to another device.
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
Do the animations annoy me? Yes. Contrary to the apparently popular opinion here, I find much of the animation on the start screen to be gimmicky (the people hub, game hub, and "me" hub icons especially so). And many third party apps flip their icons for no reason at all, just for the sake of flipping it. For example Flixster flips the tile between a static photo of a currently-playing movie on one side (with the program icon in the corner), and the program icon filling the tile on the other side. It serves no purpose.
With that said, SOME of the app tiles are VERY useful, such as most weather apps, which usually flip between current conditions and forecast conditions. Being a weather junky, I love that feature.
Regarding the app list, it is more than just an annoyance, it is a major frustration for me, every single day. With no app grouping capabilities at all (I wouldn't care HOW it was implemented, I just want SOMETHING implemented), finding apps in a long list can be a real chore. I don't like it at all. If you only ever plan to have 20 or 30 apps, it might be OK. But if you need more than that, the number of taps and flicks and swipes needed to find and launch an app can be time-consuming.
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
I've only used the trial version of Board Express, and didn't like it at all. Most of the reports from people here are that it is painfully bad to use.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
That depends entirely on the layout of the web sites you visit. On some sites, the tap-to-zoom works very well, and makes the text fill the screen (without reflow, of course) at a nominally readable size. But on other sites, it just doesn't help at all, and I end up panning quite a bit.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
I've never owned either, so I can't say. However, unless things change I will most likely be moving to an iPhone within a couple of months. WP has a LOT going for it, but unfortunately (for me) it still has too many gaps in its features, and some of them are too annoying to just live with them and wait patiently on Microsoft.
I hope the features that I need do get added in future updates, because I'd be happy to switch back. But after reading the snarky attitude of many of the fans here, I can't help but wonder if that same attitude isn't prevalent at Microsoft, which would kind of imply that those features won't be coming any time soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My answers are in blue.
To be honest, from your questions, I would say you would be better off staying with android, don't get me wrong, i love wp7 and it does everthing i need it to do, but you may find some of the stuff you want is not available and get frustrated.
I just switched and am very happy! After two years on android, wp7 feels so smooth and coherent
IMHO, go to a store or carrier centre and request a WP7 and play with it, as from what I believe, everyone has their own preferences.
My advise would be to stay away if you're a tweaker, which is sounds like you are.
pillsburydoughman said:
My advise would be to stay away if you're a tweaker, which is sounds like you are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was though, but sometimes you get sick of constantly flashing roms, chaning things around, and want something that just works.
I'm happy that now it seems as if I have much more time since I'm not constantly fiddling with my phone 24/7.
I guess that is dependent on the person themselves though
What I am looking for info on:
-I use Android's file system to store non-market/root APK's to reinstall apps after wiping/updating the phone and such. I would like to unlock my WP for things like screenshot utilities; how does that whole scene work in a quick summary? I know about Chevron, but how are these apps distributed, updated etc.?
*No, you will be stuck at your pc for deploying XAPs. However Dotcomp says there is a way to deploy XAPs from IE.
MS security is a complete joke, you can just download the XAPs from MS.
-How are non-native apps with scrolling smoothness these days in Mango? I cant stand the lag and stuttering in Android.
* Well get used to it, its the exact same on WP7. However there aren't many apps with long scroll list, most take advantage of Metro.
-Can you download from IE to the file system with homebrew? How about natively?
*NO, and no
-How does Skydrive work for installers/loading installers, PDF's and other non-Office files? Can you browse it like a filesystem, as I currently use it as a Network Drive on my PC anyways.
*Skydrive was a afterthought on this OS, my opinion. Works great for Office documents, OneNote, and pics. That's it.
-Does the universal volume setup become an issue? I use my phone as my PMP with headphones all the time, then I need it to be on vibrate for class and in general, also alarms randomly, and occasionally I play games with the media on. Will I be missing alarms or leaving the ringer on in class if I don't pay close attention or is it mainly just when going headphones to media? I dont quite understand how it works specifically.
* Depends on you. I'm used to multiple volume settings, so its a pain to me.
-Quick ways to toggle WiFi and screen brightness with homebrew?
* If you can call a wifi icon on homesreen quick, then yes, other than that NO.
-Back up options for app settings and things if a wipe happens?
*If on the go, NO. If at your PC, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19341502#post19341502
-Do you find yourself ever getting annoyed with the animations or the app list for less used apps that still get accessed once in a while?
* Actually the animations are what make this phone. They're pretty quick and elegant. I like the live tiles, but they ruin the glance and go concept, because I have to wait on it to flip.
The app list is horrid.
-How bad is board reader for browsing forums or the free reddit apps? They dont have great ratings.
*Board Express made by Tapatalk, is nothing like Tapatalk on Android or IOS. It is like a sick joke. The browser is faster on WP.
-Am I going to be panning a lot in IE without text reflow? I usually browse/do everything in portrait and dont like landscape much FYI.
* Double tap usually makes the text readable, but if the site has text and pictures you want to see, you're SOL.
Also if you like to read comments, or deal with a HTML5 website, you will find yourself having to load the full website a lot. I can't even get the smartphone version of mobile sites, IE9 doesn't render some correctly.
Anything you really miss about Android or iOS?
YES! GOOGLE APPS! GAMES!
Youtube on Android is the greatest, Lazytube comes close but you have to pay for it.
Im used to sitting on my couch and flinging websites and videos from my phone to the TV(google tv), impossible on WP7.
Custom SMS, ringtones, and email notifications. You can do custom ringtones but its a hassle.
I can say I like the Email on WP7, however its not instant like on IOS or Android.
Oh, there is no auto update option. If there is a app that needs updating you have to open the market and tell it to update.
---
All of that being sad, you could still be Happy using WP7. It just totally depends on what you use your phone for.
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my lady took over the vibrant, lol.
-------------
Another thing, some people say they get tired of flashing custom roms on Android. The exact same OPTION is avaliable on WP7. You don't HAVE to flash either.
there are no custom roms for my phone...
I was continually trying to get my phone smoother, and smoother on android.
I just don't feel the need to with this. Once again, just my own two cents. I never said that it would be the same for everyone
Thanks for the replies so far. It helped me get a better feeling for WP and it seems like I should really just wait for all the new OS updates like Ice Cream and iOS 5.x+/iPhone 5 before diving into WP. I am a slight tweaker of Android, but I don't actually want to do that very much anymore. I just want a phone that works and suits my needs. Android suits my needs, but doesn't really work great and it annoys me.
WP seems like it would be okay for me. Im not an app whore anymore since Ive been a smartphone user for several years now and I pretty much just like to be able to get the news, read some forums, text a lot, use yelp to find places to eat, and occasionally pass some time on leisure games. Android is pretty weak as far as finding decent games IMO and I think WP could actually be better in that regard (iPhone is the only one I would consider good for leisure games, but if Ive gotten by on Android this long I think WP could be okay, especially since I still would have an iPhone and Droid for those games). Right now, using Launcher 7 on Android I only use 2.5 screens of tiles so Im not going to have too much of an issue with the app list I think (Homebrew folders support will do me fine in that regard as I can toss all the leisure games in there also).
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
--
I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
Mike415 said:
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Mango both of these issues are addressed. You can put your ringer on vibrate and still listen to music, and even adjust the volume without affecting the "vibrate only" setting. However, when you turn the ringer back on, it will be on at the current volume setting, not what it was before.
Also, you can have the ringer on vibrate and still hear alarms. In fact, alarms are now treated as "special" by the OS, and they ignore both the volume and ringer (vibrate) settings. They start low, and get progressively louder until dismissed.
Mike415 said:
I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WP will eventually be fantastic, and the ecosystem will mature. But I have to be honest and say that for me it isn't there yet, and it is unclear how long it will take to get there. If your only option right now is to go off contract to get a WP device, I would have to suggest that you wait at least until Apollo is released (which, by all credible accounts will be Q4 of next year).
My reason for saying this is because each time Microsoft does fix a problem, they do an admirable job. But they need to (IMO) be more aggressive with their release schedule. Following the "one small release mid year and one major release annually" model isn't enough. There should be smaller patch releases to address issues, rather than making people suffer with them for 6+ months.
Mike415 said:
Thanks for the replies so far. It helped me get a better feeling for WP and it seems like I should really just wait for all the new OS updates like Ice Cream and iOS 5.x+/iPhone 5 before diving into WP. I am a slight tweaker of Android, but I don't actually want to do that very much anymore. I just want a phone that works and suits my needs. Android suits my needs, but doesn't really work great and it annoys me.
WP seems like it would be okay for me. Im not an app whore anymore since Ive been a smartphone user for several years now and I pretty much just like to be able to get the news, read some forums, text a lot, use yelp to find places to eat, and occasionally pass some time on leisure games. Android is pretty weak as far as finding decent games IMO and I think WP could actually be better in that regard (iPhone is the only one I would consider good for leisure games, but if Ive gotten by on Android this long I think WP could be okay, especially since I still would have an iPhone and Droid for those games). Right now, using Launcher 7 on Android I only use 2.5 screens of tiles so Im not going to have too much of an issue with the app list I think (Homebrew folders support will do me fine in that regard as I can toss all the leisure games in there also).
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
--
I like how well Microsoft has seemingly written WP and I think eventually it will be great after Win8 and WP8. Maybe I just need to hold off for those phones and not waste money getting an off contract phone. If Win8+WP8+XBOX+Live services doesnt bring very tight integration and some nice new features, I think I'll lose all the faith Ive put into Microsoft the past 15 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mike,
Like you I mapped Skydrive as a network drive and simply drag/drop my pdf files there. PDFs are natively supported on wp7 once you download the official adobe pdf app.
The PDFs will show up on skydrive in the Office Hub. Infact if you use the Documents folder as the "root" of all your files and simple create folders within there, they will all show up in the office hub's skydrive folder. As you see I have a "PDF" folder with all my pdfs. You download them when you select it and it is saved to adobe's app storage locally on the phone.
Skydrive on the phone will also stream audio and video files! Sometimes my friends would share a video or some music with me and I'd be able to access it natively!
You can view any pdf or office document (provided it is in later version format i thnk office 2007 up) hosted on websites. It will download and open in adobe/office.
Also OneNote is absoulely terrific in the Office hub for syncing notes to the PC/web and phone. I use it extensively to manage my classes!
Hope this helped.
Mike415 said:
What I am still unclear on is viewing PDFs that are hosted on websites because its a situation that I run into frequently enough that I need it to be able to view PDFs from sites or Skydrive (Either one). Can I navigate with IE to a site with a link to a hosted PDF and view it or not?
Can I leave my phone on vibrate (no ring) and still play headphones without turning the ring back on in doing so? This would be a huge issue if not because I can't be having my phone go off in class all the time. I rarely take my phone off vibrate, so I want to make sure I can leave silent/vibrate on and still play Zune without turning the ringer back on.
Does vibrate mean that alarms only vibrate and dont sound? ie. do I need to take my phone off silent ringer/vibrate all night if I want to hear an alarm in the morning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PDF's are just working fine. Just install Adobe's PDF app and IE will automatically hook them and forward them to the app. Same on SkyDrive, you can even zip those PDF's as WP is able to look into zips.
As for the sound it should work the way you described. Volume control is for everything on the device but the button for vibration is only for the ringer. So if you mute your device via volume rocker then everything will be muted. If you only press the vibrate button then only the ringer will be silenced.
Awesome, guys. Great replies. The volume issues and PDF issues seem like they would be fine for situations like mine. Loved the screenshots!
Really I dont see too many issues not to switch over eventually, as the replies here have quelled my main doubts. As more apps come and current apps are optimized theres very little reason to not switch for most people. Its just that damn app list!
Good thing there's homebrew folders now though!
Mike415 said:
Awesome, guys. Great replies. The volume issues and PDF issues seem like they would be fine for situations like mine. Loved the screenshots!
Really I dont see too many issues not to switch over eventually, as the replies here have quelled my main doubts. As more apps come and current apps are optimized theres very little reason to not switch for most people. Its just that damn app list!
Good thing there's homebrew folders now though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
scoobysnacks said:
thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and search too. I actually prefer the app list to iOS pages of icons. The applist I know exactly where to find it alphabectically using the jumplist. Need twitter? Tap a letter jump to T and its in that group. iOS its a "which page is it?' scenario.
The homebrew folders is also pretty nice. I use it for all my "News" apps and "Social" app but it doesnt have live tiles so it defeats the wp7 purpose of glance and go
scoobysnacks said:
thankfully the games go into your xbox live folder though...
also you can tap a letter to quickly bring up all letters where you can quickscroll from letter to letter to find apps you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sayonical said:
and search too. I actually prefer the app list to iOS pages of icons. The applist I know exactly where to find it alphabectically using the jumplist. Need twitter? Tap a letter jump to T and its in that group. iOS its a "which page is it?' scenario.
The homebrew folders is also pretty nice. I use it for all my "News" apps and "Social" app but it doesnt have live tiles so it defeats the wp7 purpose of glance and go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just planning on throwing all my leisure games (non-XBOX LIVE) in folders. Does the XBOX Live hub hold non-Live games too? I wouldn't really need folders if all my games were in the XBOX hub, but I was thinking that it was only for Live games.
Mike415 said:
I was just planning on throwing all my leisure games (non-XBOX LIVE) in folders. Does the XBOX Live hub hold non-Live games too? I wouldn't really need folders if all my games were in the XBOX hub, but I was thinking that it was only for Live games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the live hub holds all games!
It's a good thing too, I have a ton of games
scoobysnacks said:
the live hub holds all games!
It's a good thing too, I have a ton of games
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only drawback of the xbox live hub is that is missing the jump list. I'd really love to see it in there too.
On topic:
I'd really recommend you go into a mobile shop and try different devices. I for one came from Window Mobile 6.1 over 6.5 and Android (2.1 and 2.2) all the way to Windows Phone. First I was missing several things I know from my former mobile OSes. But once I got used to the limitations (which were a lot more before NoDo and Mango), I've never ever looked back. I'm a proud WP7 user. But it really depends on what you use your device for.
a good friend of mine was showing me an ios app called "pandora downloader":
http://forum.iphone-developers.com/...der-remove-limits-pandora-download-music.html
and I was wondering if there was anything like it for android?
I don't generally put music on my phone due to the small amount of space that I have, but it would be nice if i had the ability to download songs from pandora that I have cd's for at home once in a while (note: i'm not condoning piracy, and all songs that I'd be downloading, i'd make damn sure i have licence for before i did). I often find myself away from my cd collection for long periods of time and the thought of ripping it all and then trying to manage all that data is just plain daunting... i'd rather hear a track i know on pandora and click the download button.
any love?
Serching too for long time ago
let me know if you find something
Anyone????
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Iphone gets all the good stuff.
http://www.cyberdevilz.net/f128/pandora-1-5-18-ad-free-android-15886.html
Your welcome...
ASMAteMe said:
http://www.cyberdevilz.net/f128/pandora-1-5-18-ad-free-android-15886.html
Your welcome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already have that. we are looking for a downloader like the iphone has.
Why not google specifically
Anyone ever find a good substitute for this? I know you can google what you need but whats nice about pandora and my ipod is sometimes you get songs you have a hard time finding like some acoustic versions and stuff.
i to want something like or atleast a radio app that allows mw to save song to mp3
cpgeek said:
a good friend of mine was showing me an ios app called "pandora downloader":
http://forum.iphone-developers.com/...der-remove-limits-pandora-download-music.html
and I was wondering if there was anything like it for android?
I don't generally put music on my phone due to the small amount of space that I have, but it would be nice if i had the ability to download songs from pandora that I have cd's for at home once in a while (note: i'm not condoning piracy, and all songs that I'd be downloading, i'd make damn sure i have licence for before i did). I often find myself away from my cd collection for long periods of time and the thought of ripping it all and then trying to manage all that data is just plain daunting... i'd rather hear a track i know on pandora and click the download button.
any love?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
best ive got is the same way on the desktop.
download firefox (not beta).
open it and go to menu>tools>add ons
click the add on icon in the top right
search the add ons market for "download"
download and install the first add on.
from firefox, go to Pandora.com, it should request you to download the app.
press menu>request desktop site
wait for it to load and sign in
when you hear a song you want, click the "down" arrow on the bottom left
accept, and wait for the download to finish.
open your favorite file manager and navigate to firefoxes download path (more than likely sdcard/Downloads.
find the "blah,blah,blah,blah.null" file and rename it to "the song you are trying to download.mp3"
accept any warning/ prompt about changing the file extension.
enjoy your music!
If opening FF is a pain for you for pandora, you can do a few things to make it almost like an app. use some ingenuity!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2231342
Installed this on my ATT Galaxy Note 2 but says the device is not compatible!?!?! Whhhhhhhyyy? I had my hopes up and it was shot down by a nuclear missile.
Its in the works on the main thread were keeping track of what works and what doesn't, were adding new devices almost everyday.
Good afternoon,
With the release of Android Pie for more and more Galaxy phones, Samsung is deploying new versions of their own apps following the One UI scheme. It is the case for Samsung Music, which is now available on the Samsung Store in a new version with an updated interface.
The problem I have is that I don't want to update my A8 from Oreo to Pie as I hate the new One UI interface (general look and layout, icons, multiwindow...), and that the new Samsung Music app theme follow the Pie mode: dark if night mode is enabled, white otherwise. So, when the app is used on a phone under Oreo, one can't switch to a dark theme and has to endure the bright background interface.
I therefore chose to keep the previous version of the app, but since the release of the new one, each time I launch Samsung Music after it was closed (not if only sent to background) and if wi-fi is on, the app shows a pop-up asking for update. I can discard it by clicking on "later", but it is painful to have to do this each time, and I am afraid of clicking on the "update" option, and then having to uninstall the app, reinstall the previous APK, reconfigure it and etc...
So here is my question: is there a way to prevent this pop-up to appear ? Auto-updates have been turned off under the Galaxy Store, but it seems that the check for update is built in the app itself. This pop-up is not considered as a notification by the Android OS as disabling them has no effect on it.
Thank you in advance if someone has got an idea.
I used to use that app and was somewhat happy you could tag with it and it might work. You may not want to switch, but if you give this app, musicolet a try, you might not need the samsung app anymore. No ads or anything and it gives you an eq, but if you want you can switch to system eq in the app. Very easy editting for tagging. If you export the M3U playlist, it'll be pretty much ready for car audio sd cards. Give it a go.
One thing, and i am not sold on pie either, but i've noticed the bluetooth operates consistently with any chosen eq and it's possible the days of "maybe the dolby will turn on this time" are gone.
First try musicolet. Colour it up too.
I think the Samsung app will not allow you to add lyrics, only show by tapping the art (if it's there)
The app i suggested you can add. You can also omit any directory or just allow one folder. No more ringtones or stuff that you can't omit. Sure, .nomedia but that is ridiculous. I am going to see if i still get Over the Horizon in my music collection. Gonna be sweet!
Thank you very much for this suggestion, I am going to give this app a try.
After all, it is what Samsung deserves, people dropping their apps because they behave in such a stubborn way, ignoring all negative feedbacks from users and willing to force them to accept silly changes (the same could be said about the new browser, which lose the video player).
I think you'll be happy with it. It has a lot of settings but you can back it up. It gets updated every so often and always gets better.
As far as Samsung goes i seem to either really like or really dislike what they offer. The email app is perfect for me now and i am as i said very pleased with the audio system functioning, as it should, without errors. It will bring up eq settings the way you set them for each audio source.
You can give it a try, can't recall if you did, and revert. I made a debloated one and posted it as a ROM but it isn't really. Just snips. Unless you're a W anyway...
Set Musicolet to system eq if you use viper and it'll use Samsung tone as well so i flattened the stock tones and let viper colour it.
Can't believe i am promoting pie, but besides the goofy icons and (likely temporary) theming options, it appears that it may be the beginning of major audio improvements. But, until i can plug my guitar into my phone and get zero latency and link with identical pc programs....
Anyway ever gone bald trying to install Viper? See the photos? I installed the apk from the xda labs app, rebooted because why not, played music and ticked that box. Never tried in Oreo. Tell me if it is the same. Huge leap for that app since i spazzed out a couple years ago installing it.
* just noticed it is aided by Magisk module. Not credit to Samsung i think.
Wow i screwed up a screw up. The magisk module was left over from the magisk version. Uninstalled that and after reboot the one i have needed to install the driver, reboot and works the same. Oops. A bit off topic too.
So, I tried the app you advised me, and I must say it does the job. At the beginning, I was a bit disthraugted in front of the complexity of settings, but once it is done, the UI is rather intuitive (far simpler than PowerAmp for example), and you easily find whatever command you need for a daily use. Editing tags in the app is a useful feature, I have been using MixPlorer Silver tagging plugin for that purpose so far.
I certainly am not as demanding as you are regarding audio quality and other features, as my needs are rather basic: plug earphones, navigate through my music files, play them, and control with the buttons of the earphones.
I could not install Viper, as it needs root. I have this phone only for two months, and I want to make sure it has no defect before voiding the warranty. I also need to read more thoroughly the posts dealing with the process and its consequences, as it seems that rooting the A8 induces some losses of useful features, such as the use of the fingerprint reader.
As for the email client, did you try K9-mail ? I don't know if the app works well under Pie, but it has exclusive options, such as the possibility, in IMAP mode, to delete a mail on either the client or the server, but keep it, on the contrary, on the server or the client.
Thanks again for everything.
I tried the email app and was impressed at how minimal the apk was. I have to get more information to set it up with my a accounts later and if all goes well it's stayin'.
So, in case you don't already know, the music app has a great feature that's a time saver and puts the whole idea of playlists consisting of the same song different in folders to rest.
When you look at it as text it's easy as hell. I think almost everyone here knows that. It's just a location like any computer file. But anyway use the export as M3U in playlists. I have all my songs on ext sd in a folder called music. Musicolet treats the music folder as root, so you'll get an output as i've pictured if you keep everything contained within one folder. All i have to do is stick my playlists outputted to an sd card and paste everything WITHIN
the music folder which is root, so all tunes are now as such and you need only edit.... NOTHING. Now this may be common to xda users, but think how many people have no idea the simplicity or that if they wanted they could type it out. That was me not long ago. If they had called M3U files, "buddy this is just written text of a filing system representing a portion of your music" it would have been..... stupid. But helpful.
So easy it's crazy.