Related
I've had my Nexus One for quite a few weeks now, and I've made a list of my 'annoyances' from my own experience. These are all to do with Google's own apps, which is a bit disappointing because it is, ultiamtely, their own platform. They are annoyances instead of complaints because none of them hinder me in any significant way, but the length of the list do make me feel that there is no reason for Google to not include these features as soon as possible.
Contacts - Synchronization with Gmail contacts is great, but can't edit Birthdays on an Android phone.
Maps - Can't add an address pinned on the map to an existing contact, can't apply custom labels to starred items, My Maps always gives me "This Community Map could not be displayed because it contains errors."
Calendar - I've got 3 calendars synchronized with Google Calendar, associated with 3 different colours, and while all of them work fine in Day, Week and Agenda views, absolutely no colours show up in Monthly View! This is really annoying.
Browser - Can only recognize US phone numbers, so if I want to call a number on a page which is not in US format, I've to manually copy it and paste it in the Phone app, rather than just a long press or something easier.
Selection of Text - a bit cumbersome given HTC Desire does it better in my opinion.
Account Synchronization - Sometimes doesn't work. I've made changes in a contact and separately in my calendar entry, only to come back and find the change reverted to the original setting. I tried to repeat the change again but it would just revert back again. Finally I had to make the change in my PC browser and force-sync the phone for it to be accepted. Mind you, as I mentioned this has happened only a few times, it works fine most other times.
So as I mentioned, by themselves these issues aren't big. And I do realize in some instances a free 3rd party app is the way to go. But still, surely Google should make sure that their own apps leave as little to be desired as possible.
Thoughts?
A few key apps that aren't even developed yet:-
khaytsus said:
Google should write a good Google Docs
Google Tasks (integrate with Calendar, plus Widget)..
Maybe a nice shortcut forcing the Android browser for Google Reader.. I love Google Reader in the default browser, but if you have Opera set as default it looks horrid.
Google Analytics/Adwords
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TT1986 said:
Calendar - I've got 3 calendars synchronized with Google Calendar, associated with 3 different colours, and while all of them work fine in Day, Week and Agenda views, absolutely no colours show up in Monthly View! This is really annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just realized that the reason nothing shows in Monthly views is because events are all-day rather than during a specific time period on the day. If an event was scheduled for, say, between 1700 and 1800 hours, then a colour would show.
Not that this makes it any better. I still should be able to see something in the Monthly view to tell me that an all-day event is up on that day.
I know you're talking update what they have, but I think they're missing some important things..
Google should write a good Google Docs
Google Tasks (integrate with Calendar, plus Widget)..
Maybe a nice shortcut forcing the Android browser for Google Reader.. I love Google Reader in the default browser, but if you have Opera set as default it looks horrid.
Google Analytics/Adwords
You're quite right. The absence of an editable mobile app for Google Docs, from Google, is mind-boggling.
Infact I'll include your post in the OP. It'll help build a decent list of "Apps to Do or Improve by Google for Android."
Actually the most disappointing thing is that some of those issues are pretty obvious to anyone having used the phone a few days.
Also some were reported years ago ...
For example Google contact sync ridiculous resolution for photos, maps location labels etc ... And it's not like it would take them more than a couple hours work to fix either.
I dont think google will allocate their resources on specific stock apps or them given priority over the development on Gingerbread since with apps they have community resource.
unlike mobileme or exchange, google offers a lot of the cloud services free of charge for our personal use, and we shouldnt take that for granted.
and to answer the op, I too would like to have the listed features applied, but I would categorize them as 'nice to have'.
-Task list (would be very elegant solution to other 3rd party notepad software)
-gtalk video
chuday said:
and to answer the op, I too would like to have the listed features applied, but I would categorize them as 'nice to have'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I'm not too inconvenienced by them, but it would make the platform/apps so much neater and more polished. Some of them are really basic though, and you have to wonder that if Google can include some advanced features in an app (for example - layers or the seemingly defunct My Maps in the Maps app) why not quickly complete the basics?
Here's another thing I've been noticing regarding Gmail's Push mechanism. I've subscribed to this thread and another thread for instant notification and I've received a total of 5 replies, so 5 emails. Two of those emails have been delivered instantly to my phone, but the other 3 emails have had delays, the worst one being 11 minutes.
Again, my Gmail account isn't critical, so it doesn't bother me. However it's a feature which I imagine a lot would like perfected.
TT1986 said:
Contacts - Synchronization with Gmail contacts is great, but can't edit Birthdays on an Android phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I absolutely hate how I can't stop it from syncing auto-added contacts, which should be an option to completely disable in Gmail anyway. It's been almost a year since they changed it but Google apparently doesn't bother paying attention to people's complaints.
I did read somewhere that 2.3 is supposed to be heavily focused on improving the stock design and apps. I certainly hope that's true.
TT1986 said:
I agree, I'm not too inconvenienced by them, but it would make the platform/apps so much neater and more polished. Some of them are really basic though, and you have to wonder that if Google can include some advanced features in an app (for example - layers or the seemingly defunct My Maps in the Maps app) why not quickly complete the basics?
Here's another thing I've been noticing regarding Gmail's Push mechanism. I've subscribed to this thread and another thread for instant notification and I've received a total of 5 replies, so 5 emails. Two of those emails have been delivered instantly to my phone, but the other 3 emails have had delays, the worst one being 11 minutes.
Again, my Gmail account isn't critical, so it doesn't bother me. However it's a feature which I imagine a lot would like perfected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm? Layers and My Maps work in Google Maps... I have a layer of Star*ucks and Kroger Fuel stations and when I need to fuel up (me or the car ) I fire up Maps, turn Layers, My Maps, click the one I need.
I wish Google Maps could do orientation of travel... Navigator does, but sometimes a flat map is just fine.
I think they said Gingerbread would have major cosmetic changes so I think they will improve google apps, overhall the Music app (which has been near enough the same since 1.0) and the messaging app etc etc.
Θmega said:
I absolutely hate how I can't stop it from syncing auto-added contacts, which should be an option to completely disable in Gmail anyway. It's been almost a year since they changed it but Google apparently doesn't bother paying attention to people's complaints.
I did read somewhere that 2.3 is supposed to be heavily focused on improving the stock design and apps. I certainly hope that's true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try going to contacts.google.com and set your contacts into separate groups (friends/family/etc) and tell the phone to only sync those groups. Lifehacker had a post about this awhile back with better directions
Google Apps are BY FAR the worst, most incomplete, apps I have installed on my phone.
How about the fact that you can't change your "send as" address in Gmail for Android? They gave us that ability at Gmail dot com years and years ago, but there's been an open ticket on adding it to the Android version for over a year with NO response from Google at all.
I HATE how the contacts app automatically merges similar contacts. My dad and I have the same name, so it adds my Facebook account and all of my email addresses to his contact after every sync.
The Google Voice App gives you the options to "Never call with GV", "Always call with GV", "Use GV for international calls", or "Always ask"... Why can't you set the option on a per-contact basis? I wan't to call half the people in my phone book with GV and half without it, but I have to tell it which is which for every single call. I opened a ticket on this months and months ago with NO response from Google.
The list goes on... I just can't believe how long some of these tickets have been open, and how many "+1" responses they have, but Google just ignores them. It really makes me wish they'd release paid versions of their software so that maybe we'd have a voice (nevermind the fact that I gave Google $575 for my Nexus One).
The other frustrating part is that Google's "novelty apps" seem to be more complete than their "productivity apps". Maybe it's because I don't use them every day or because I don't rely on them, but does anybody have any complaints about the My Tracks app? Or Google Goggles?
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent!
Billy
Another one of my rants, regarding the Gallery app: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=738590
harrellj said:
Try going to contacts.google.com and set your contacts into separate groups (friends/family/etc) and tell the phone to only sync those groups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you _please_ stop this, it's causing me utter agony
My Samsung Galaxy S is deprived of this functionality by Samsung (!). Groups sync but just don't show... To prove they indeed sync, just create a group in goole with the name "test". Then sync. Group does not appear on phone. Now try to create a group "test" on the phone -> Error "Group name already in use".
Samsung really f... up the contacts management
Customizable snooze times and volume per alarm would be nice.
Is google also responsible for the youtube app? It sucks too ^^
No comments possible for example...
That is def.ly a good topic to debate and I def.ly would say yes they should. It looks like those apps will def.ly be redefined come gingerbread time (3.0). Even the gmail apps is not as defined as it should. At least there should be an unread mail count by default in the app among other things.
TT1986 said:
You're quite right. The absence of an editable mobile app for Google Docs, from Google, is mind-boggling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotta agree with this. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Gmail: needs the ability to send to a group.
YouTube: needs a setting to tell it what resolution of video to default to. It's a pain to load the video and then select "high quality" every time.
And lets not talk about everything that needs to be done to make the Market app not suck.
I think they should. While Sense is nice (even though I'm not using it lol) I think it would be a lot better if Google's stock UI was much better. There's a lot of rumors going around that Gingerbread has Google focused on a much better user experience so that they don't need things like Sense, MotoBlur, etc...And I hope so. I think Google should stack it's main stock options, and then if people want to be able to add extra stuff by putting on some kind of skin/extra UI then they should have the option. Just my 2 cents
OP you read my mind. I really do think google should spend some time upgrading the overall look and feel of the stock apps. I mean they have added about every feature you can possibly need but some basic things they have seemed to overlook. Especially their music, email, youtube, and other almost daily used apps should be more pleasing to use. But as someone mentioned earlier, their 3.0 gingerbread might sexy things up a bit.
Preferably one with a widget where I can quickly view, create, and edit a list of the things I need to do that day. Suggestions?
That would be awesome. I need the same thing. I got a wedding coming up and I have so much to do.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
The htc task pad was awesome! But sadly....it needs sense.
I use note everything...download the free and paid version. Has a widget and nice features
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Try Astrid. I haven't used it for a while but it was pretty handy.
Drybonz said:
Try Astrid. I haven't used it for a while but it was pretty handy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll second Astrid.
I just use the google calendar.... it seems easier to enter the stuff in on my pc....you can do it from the phone too... and then just use the calendar widgets....
I set "to-do" things as all day events.
Rippley05 said:
The htc task pad was awesome! But sadly....it needs sense.
I use note everything...download the free and paid version. Has a widget and nice features
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've actually used Note Everything in the past, but I never used the widget. How does it work?
Drybonz said:
Try Astrid. I haven't used it for a while but it was pretty handy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will look into it.
apristel said:
I just use the google calendar.... it seems easier to enter the stuff in on my pc....you can do it from the phone too... and then just use the calendar widgets....
I set "to-do" things as all day events.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No can do. I'm not about to clutter my calendar with things like "pick up laundry."
I've used "color note" for a while. Basically a sticky note style widget, but the To-do features were surprisingly good. Very easy to add tasks and check them off. Of course, evernote is just awesome simply because your notes are everywhere, but I find it to be too much for the kind of quick To-do list you're talking about.
Sent from your anus using XDA App
I also use astrid, but i have used one that syncs my notes online too so that when i reformat my phone and try a different rom (once a day kinda thing for me lol) i dont lose my todo list for my job. i'll have to try to find the name of that one, but if you look in the market it should be easy to find, their main feature is it syncing online and they put it right in the description.
Eh, I tried Astrid, but the widget is horrible.
--
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.
I like color note... I mainly use it for the note part, but there is a checklist as well.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using XDA app.
ok - now you're talking my language. I live and die by my task manager.
I use the ToodleDo task manager at the office. Its a pretty solid task manager and does everything I need it to (which is pretty extensive) in the free version. There's a web interface where you login to the website to access your tasks (which are all stored online), but there's also FF addon that adds instant access to your tasks in a FF sidebar - this makes adding and editing tasks on the fly quick and easy. They only provide that web access though, so although it can be accessed by a mobile browser (meh), they have no android presence.
Here's where it gets interesting.
I have an app called Got To Do, which is a pretty decent android task manager in its own right, but what's cool is that it can also sync up with my ToodleDo account online. So the app gives instant access to all of my ToodleDo tasks. They have a widget, but it's not that great.
But I also have the Pure Calendar widget (which is an a amazingly customizable agenda-showing calendar widget), which can sync up with Got To Do.
So the bottom half of my main homescreen is the Pure Calender widget, not only showing me agenda items from my exchange and google calendars, but also my relevant tasks from ToodleDo/GotToDo. And I have Pure Calendar to open Got To Do when pressed, so my tasks are always one click away. I find myself accessing my tasks almost exclusively from my Evo at this point because of how easy it is.
Elegant productivity enhancement, or just OCD? You decide.
And before it comes up, the cpu and battery drain from all this syncing have been negligible on BS.
I use gtasks. It auto syncs with my Google Tasks on my gmail account and has a simple and nice looking widget. It is also very simple, which is what I was looking for.
Status Flow said:
I use gtasks. It auto syncs with my Google Tasks on my gmail account and has a simple and nice looking widget. It is also very simple, which is what I was looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah - my system will definitely not work for people looking for a something simple
Try Jorte. It's my fav cal and todo app. (You can sync with google cal and todo)
gtasks
nice widget interface
fachadick said:
ok - now you're talking my language. I live and die by my task manager.
I use the ToodleDo task manager at the office. Its a pretty solid task manager and does everything I need it to (which is pretty extensive) in the free version. There's a web interface where you login to the website to access your tasks (which are all stored online), but there's also FF addon that adds instant access to your tasks in a FF sidebar - this makes adding and editing tasks on the fly quick and easy. They only provide that web access though, so although it can be accessed by a mobile browser (meh), they have no android presence.
Here's where it gets interesting.
I have an app called Got To Do, which is a pretty decent android task manager in its own right, but what's cool is that it can also sync up with my ToodleDo account online. So the app gives instant access to all of my ToodleDo tasks. They have a widget, but it's not that great.
But I also have the Pure Calendar widget (which is an a amazingly customizable agenda-showing calendar widget), which can sync up with Got To Do.
So the bottom half of my main homescreen is the Pure Calender widget, not only showing me agenda items from my exchange and google calendars, but also my relevant tasks from ToodleDo/GotToDo. And I have Pure Calendar to open Got To Do when pressed, so my tasks are always one click away. I find myself accessing my tasks almost exclusively from my Evo at this point because of how easy it is.
Elegant productivity enhancement, or just OCD? You decide.
And before it comes up, the cpu and battery drain from all this syncing have been negligible on BS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you mind posting a screenshot of your setup?
TheBiles said:
No can do. I'm not about to clutter my calendar with things like "pick up laundry."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the app Gtasks, anything you put in will go to your task list on google calendar, thus eliminating clutter.
Or an alternative is to use the app Jorte -- it's a calendar app/widget that links with your google calendar. You can create more than one calendar on google calendars, and turn of the visibility of the new calendar while viewing your calendar online.
TheBiles said:
Would you mind posting a screenshot of your setup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all, but unless you can recommend an app that I can use to blur out some name and company info from a shootme screenshot, it won't be till later.
Sent from my blah blah blah blah.
fachadick said:
Not at all, but unless you can recommend an app that I can use to blur out some name and company info from a shootme screenshot, it won't be till later.
Sent from my blah blah blah blah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh... Microsoft Paint?
Hi all, I noticed this thread but sadly no replies... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=866933
Basically I am a shift worker and am looking for a shift workers app that will replicate a shift pattern through the whole year or between predefined dates. Also as my shifts do vary from time to time the app should allow for replicated days to be changed.
Many of my iPhone colleagues have an app that can do this but not it seems on Android.
I sync my Calendar items with Google Calendar so I could add them manually that way but it will takes ages.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Hello, after reading "iPhone colleagues......" I started to search something. I'm a shift worker too and I've not ever felt the need of, but you are right! so I've found these apps:
-Gemini calendar
-Shifty lite
-Work calendar lite
let me know which is the best, I'm start to testing!
Regards
Hi,
there is an app, called "Quick Addroid" on the market. The app adds shift patterns to the standard calendar. You can define your own pattern.
http://www.streim.de/quickaddroid/
Thanks for the suggestion... I will definitely check it out.
Cheers!!
I have been searching all over and have been unable to find a solution to sync google tasks with the stock android calendar app. I am able to sync multiple google calendars.... but not tasks. I can view the tasks on my google calendar via the web, however there is no option for tasks when using the stock android calendar app. Anyone have suggestions for this? Thanks in advance.
there are various tasks apps that sync with google tasks. Astrid is one that I use.
No native app from google at this point.
Jorte works as a calendar and task app and you can have more than 1 task list I believe.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 2
If you want tasks to show in calendar, you have to add them as events rather than Google tasks. This is because they are isolated items from the point of view of Google (I disagree) and this is why the calendar only shows events and not tasks.
If you don't want to install 3rd party software, you will have to go that route.
This is personally what I do too... For some reason android users have this strange fetish for getting apps for everything even though it should be native.
Sent from my I727
I agree that it would be nice if that functionality was built-in.
Another option is Tasks Free by Team Tasks (I'd search the dev in the store, the app title is too vague). Its more bare-bones than Astrid (but I don't have much experience with Astrid). I've only been using it for a couple of days, but it seems good.
Thanks all for the input. ill give astrid a try.
Ugh. This drives me nuts. I don't understand Google's logic on this one. If 'Tasks' are a part of 'Calendar', then they should be accessible in the same way as calendar events. I shouldn't have to have separate apps/widgets to view tasks and events. That's just plain stupid. They are both in my Calendar.
Adding Tasks as an event is annoying at best, and at worst you can't mark them complete or see overdue tasks. Using a shortcut to the web based version doesn't help and is an even worse workaround. No notifications or even a visible homescreen widget? No Thanks.
People recommend Jorte like its the best thing since chocolate and peanut butter. I've tried it twice and it comes off as Windowsy and way more complicated than necessary.
So I am left with a bunch of crummy choices, most of which involve me having to use a 3rd party app. Why can 3rd parties figure this out and not you Google? Thanks.
I hawe same troubles. Now I use CalenGoo - it's so usefull calendar with a task support. It have a separate widget for calendar (very usable and customisable) and for task (so ugly for me) but inside yhe mail application sinchrinise and show task and calendar relativelu good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
I started using agenda widget calendar and Astrid and they show up. Not bad....
Krakozawr said:
I hawe same troubles. Now I use CalenGoo - it's so usefull calendar with a task support. It have a separate widget for calendar (very usable and customisable) and for task (so ugly for me) but inside yhe mail application sinchrinise and show task and calendar relativelu good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I was having exactly this same problem and your post led me to Calengoo. It perfectly syncs Google Tasks and Google Calendar and both are visible on the same calendar on your android, and both sync instantly to your google account and show up on your desktop google calendar. The widgets are good too.
Cannot believe Google has not implemented this, there are so many posts on their own forums complaining about it all the way back to 2009.
Hey guys,
I'm looking for a stable app that combines a calendar and todo list. I've tried many different things already but none of them really fit my purpose. Wunderlist does not offer any Calendar functionality besides the due date feature, the same goes for Astrid, fetchnotes doesn't even offer that last time I checked. Google calendar is somewhat close, but it doesn't give you the possibility to just drop down a note. Also, I'd like to have notes sorted in lists that I can share with other users. That's probably the most important feature.
These are my criteria, until now Wunderlist has come closest. If anyone knows a good alternative which offers calendar functionality (a monthly and weekly overview plus an agenda for example), please let me know
Thanks a lot in advance
Yorrd said:
Hey guys,
I'm looking for a stable app that combines a calendar and todo list. I've tried many different things already but none of them really fit my purpose. Wunderlist does not offer any Calendar functionality besides the due date feature, the same goes for Astrid, fetchnotes doesn't even offer that last time I checked. Google calendar is somewhat close, but it doesn't give you the possibility to just drop down a note. Also, I'd like to have notes sorted in lists that I can share with other users. That's probably the most important feature.
These are my criteria, until now Wunderlist has come closest. If anyone knows a good alternative which offers calendar functionality (a monthly and weekly overview plus an agenda for example), please let me know
Thanks a lot in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally use Any.do and Any.cal, which integrate nicely and can be used with your Google Calendar and Google Tasks account... But as far as I know, they don't offer everything you're asking for out of the box (at least not the shareable lists, certainly not from the app itself, but I suppose you might be able to use the Google Tasks web interface for that, at least).
GTS6310NUser said:
I personally use Any.do and Any.cal, which integrate nicely and can be used with your Google Calendar and Google Tasks account... But as far as I know, they don't offer everything you're asking for out of the box (at least not the shareable lists, certainly not from the app itself, but I suppose you might be able to use the Google Tasks web interface for that, at least).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay, kinda forgot about these threads.
Well, sharable lists are pretty much my main concern and while using Google Tasks web interface is a good idea I haven't had yet, I hate using two different pieces of software for one purpose, it's to me like using a calendar and a todo app side by side. The distinction between the two (tasks and calendar events) is just too fluent in order to separate them I feel.
If anyone else has a suggestion, please go ahead and leave a reply
Does anyone have any new ideas? Maybe something changed in the meantime which I haven't noticed yet? It's sort of frustrating to always look for a better version of an app you're basically forced to use every day >.<