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[Q] Some Serious Questions about Android

Hello All,
My friend is planning on getting an Android phone. This will be his first Android phone as he mostly sticks with one platform for a long long time.
His current phone is an old palm device.
He's very serious about security and has a few other questions as well, which i pasted down below. I am not as experienced in this stuff, so I hope some of your could help. Thanks.
Security
When you lock out the handset, what happens to the raw data? Is the data overwritten or is only the file system wiped?
Right now my handset keeps the files that I don't use all of the time in an encrypted format. If I need to access a client file, I have to enter a password that decrypts the file. It takes some time, but this way if I loose my handset in a taxi it's only my cash that's gone & not my credibility as a professional. If I choose to remotely wipe my handset, random data is entered across the entire memory device, not only the file system, making most data recovery tools irrelevant.
Automated calling card apps
1) I buy a calling card from 7-11 to make long distance calls (not a SIM)
2) I put the phone number & password into my handset
3) When I dial a non-Hong Kong number it calls the calling card number instead & puts in the password for me
This saves me a wack of dough, especially when calling to China.
Would this work on Android?
Calendars
Are the calendars color coded? (Stupid Q, but iPhone can't do it)
ex) Work = Red, Personal = Blue
Syncing
If I sync through the cloud is the data all raw? Can anyone just look through my contacts up as easy as they can look through my email? I've found a way to avoid the cloud with contacts, but I'd use the Cloud if all the data is encrypted on each end.
Password Management
I've been using an encrypted password manager for years now. I have a desktop client and a handset client that sync across the cable. Any changes on one are reflected in the other, but it be locked up and secure.
Hope some professional Android users here could help answer some of these questions.
Thanks.

CrazyDelta said:
Calendars
Are the calendars color coded? (Stupid Q, but iPhone can't do it)
ex) Work = Red, Personal = Blue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Every 'account' you add will be given a different calendar colour by the HTC Stock widget. Eg. Work - Red / GMail - Blue / Facebook - Green etc.

[Q] How do you keep your phone synced?

How does everyone in the Android community go about keeping their phone synced up with their computer? This is a question directed mostly at those who have a lot of media to keep synced with their phone, such as a music or photos collection. I use MS Synctoy to get the job done for me, with the configuration shown in the image I've attached.

I don't need to sync huge amounts of data. Everything that i want to be able to access on my phone i simply drop into my dropbox. Dropbox is incredibly convenient, especially since everything can also be accessed from any computer. This works fine for music & photos as long as you have a fast mobile connection

[Q] Attaching file to emails

Long time WM user, fairly new WP7.5 user.
Love the platform and for the most part, don't miss WM at all.
Except, I used to be able to attach files to my emails like MP3 and Wav files but I have yet to see a way to do that under WP7.5.
I have searched and scrolled through this section to see if I could find something however nothing really addressed the question. Based on some of the threads I read, it looks like this cannot be done.
Can it? Does anyone know if it is coming out in a relase fix?
Thanks,
Rick

The EmailComposeTask class does not support attachments which is ridiculous and it's been a long time complaint. Microsoft doesn't seem to bothered by it and I haven't heard anything about them supporting it. I think it's part of their strategy to get devs to start using the cloud more.
Just noticed this wasn't the developer forum. My post is development related and doesn't really apply to question.

I agree about the cloud but you still need to be able to send a link in an expeditious way. Openning windowslive and finding the folder/file and then specifying share and sending an email is a PIA.
I do like the cloud for my contacts and other stuff since it is not taking space on my phone. I like it until I travel into the boonies of Texas and want to make a call but the contact list is not there cause there is not connection to 4G, 3G but to whatever was there before God created cell phones. Not looking forward to that day.

For most things it is done under the application. For example, in office word, you can hit share and choose the email account. Same within most apps. Zune though does not have this option. probably because your not supposed to pirate them to your friends.

Yet more prof that Windows Phone sucks and Windows Mobile still rules. What a damn shame. I tried to email someone and attach my resume but couldn't I had to go through the stupid office hub to do it, what a bunch of B.S. And they wonder why their sales suck ass.

ROCOAFZ said:
For most things it is done under the application. For example, in office word, you can hit share and choose the email account. Same within most apps. Zune though does not have this option. probably because your not supposed to pirate them to your friends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not trying to imply that I would send MP3's that are illegal are you?
Just kidding.
Actually they are my own files and sometimes ring tones that I created and want to share.
As for the resume email... kind of hard to attach a file to an email when it is not located on your phone. I am liking the fact that the cloud has the files and not the phone. There just needs to be a simple way to access and send it. Like Sinister1, I would prefer to have it attached to an email that I authored like we have been doing every since email allowed attachments rather than going to the file on the cloud and sharing it with an individual.

Is there any way to extract files from our phones and store them in Dropbox or Skydrive? for example pdf files or mp3.

Office files will sync on SkyDrive, or if opened on the phone (from email or web) can be saved to SkyDrive or to the phone itself. In either case, you can then send them as attachments (but only that one file at a time) in email.
Sadly, though, that's the only way I know of to send email attachments other than pictures. Microsoft really needs to either add the API for attachments, or they need to allow Outlook Mobile to open files from the public parts of your phone.
Irony-mode: Zune (the hardware, all the way fromt he HD to the original 30GB model) allowed sending files by WiFi - a feature MS has not bothered to add to WP7 even though I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be difficult (both run on some variant of CE, both have WiFi, the HD even used a touch interface similar to the phone...). Instead, forget sending music, forget sending video, and you can barely send a Word doc!

GoodDayToDie said:
Office files will sync on SkyDrive, or if opened on the phone (from email or web) can be saved to SkyDrive or to the phone itself. In either case, you can then send them as attachments (but only that one file at a time) in email.
Sadly, though, that's the only way I know of to send email attachments other than pictures. Microsoft really needs to either add the API for attachments, or they need to allow Outlook Mobile to open files from the public parts of your phone.
Irony-mode: Zune (the hardware, all the way fromt he HD to the original 30GB model) allowed sending files by WiFi - a feature MS has not bothered to add to WP7 even though I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be difficult (both run on some variant of CE, both have WiFi, the HD even used a touch interface similar to the phone...). Instead, forget sending music, forget sending video, and you can barely send a Word doc!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there another way to extract pdfs, zips or mp3s of our phones even through data cable?

My PDF files are adding up. Whenever I open up Adobe reader, the files are pilling up. I know I can press and hold on any one of them and delete the file but some I want on my PC and this just is too funky.

@Rickgig, what phone do you have? Some WP7 devices are able to use apps that will access the phone and move/copy/transfer files.
Alternatively, don't you have other copies of those PDFs? I mean, they got onto the phone from somewhere, so wouldn't it be easier to get them from there? Then you could safely delete the unneeded ones off the phone.

GoodDayToDie said:
@Rickgig, what phone do you have? Some WP7 devices are able to use apps that will access the phone and move/copy/transfer files.
Alternatively, don't you have other copies of those PDFs? I mean, they got onto the phone from somewhere, so wouldn't it be easier to get them from there? Then you could safely delete the unneeded ones off the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Titan with AT&T.
You're right... I can get them from someplace else. They are mostly menu's from restaurants but then they are business documents too. I have since learned to upload them from my PC to Skydrive and access them there.
There's a work around for everything I just wanted some of the WM features to be here. Like the file that prompted me to start this thread in the first place. My son did some work on his car and took a short video of the results and MMS'd to me. I can forward it to others but that is about it. Can't save it, can't email it to myself... if I deleted the text thread, it's gone.

[Poll] Opinion about App

I have an application that is about personal finance. I wanted users to be able to use an online service to add and remove data from a specific website. The question that arises is that I have two ways of syncing the data. They are listed below:
1.) Allow people to sync their data online that whenever they add or remove or do anything with their SQLite database, it syncs right that very second. This is slower since the app has to send data online and sync it each time a change is made.
2.) Allow people to Add and Remove Transactions but a manual sync button is pressed to sync data online. Simpler but does a batch sync rather than only doing it once. The only issue is that when a person doesn't press the button the data is not synced.
Each of those have pros and cons but the idea remains the same, being able to sync data to cloud storage and the ability to add transactions from the website. What do you think?

hafridi said:
I have an application that is about personal finance. I wanted users to be able to use an online service to add and remove data from a specific website. The question that arises is that I have two ways of syncing the data. They are listed below:
1.) Allow people to sync their data online that whenever they add or remove or do anything with their SQLite database, it syncs right that very second. This is slower since the app has to send data online and sync it each time a change is made.
2.) Allow people to Add and Remove Transactions but a manual sync button is pressed to sync data online. Simpler but does a batch sync rather than only doing it once. The only issue is that when a person doesn't press the button the data is not synced.
Each of those have pros and cons but the idea remains the same, being able to sync data to cloud storage and the ability to add transactions from the website. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Application looks very nice but I don't need personal finance application. Maybe someone to download?

But in your opinion, would you think a person would like the sync button to sync all the transactions all at once or an automatic sync that does it right after a transaction

Anyone? All I need is your opinion?

only sync data when the sync button is pressed..
I've got the feeling that it's the real answer, you know the pro & cons..

emblazonpunk said:
only sync data when the sync button is pressed..
I've got the feeling that it's the real answer, you know the pro & cons..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you say that sync it only when the user selects to sync it. Thats another vote for sync when user calls it.

Best leave it to the user's choice. It's common sense.

I recommend u have both.
1) not every second, but let the user set the interval between syncs.
2) if the user wants to sync before the time is up, the user can easily sync using the button.
Smack that Thanks button if I helped!
KitKat came in on my OmniROM, running on my Note 2.
Sent from a small country called Singapore.
P.S. Time for school, not much time for XDA

app's auto sync function sounds like autosave in word.
better leave an option to user

davidtc said:
app's auto sync function sounds like autosave in word.
better leave an option to user
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am actually planning on rewriting cloud sync functionality.

[APP][BETA] Wifi Based Social App

Hello everyone, new here at XDA forums and just trying to get some feedback from the community on a project I have been working on. This application is not done, but I do think that *most* of the main features are in place and its a good time to get some feedback on the UI and maybe more importantly the overall idea behind the application. Basically this app will connect anyone who is connected to the same wifi network. I think this will be cool in large places that share one wifi network, like a college campus, large office buildings, etc.. When you are connected, the app calls it a "zone", so, when you are in a zone with other users, you can live chat with any other user in the zone, and there is also a public board where any user can make posts (images & text). When you make a post, you are able to see how many views that your post has gotten, and exactly who has viewed the post, which is something people may like, I want you guys to be the judge of this though. Please, play around with it, send me a chat message in the app if you'd like, my name is "Dylan Rose", you will be able to just click my name and send a message.
Something you may be wondering is, if this app only lets users interact when they are connected to the same wifi network, how are we going to interact right now? Good question. I have the app set up in debug mode right now so the system thinks that any user who signs in is in one zone called "Test - Zone", so if you see that in your toolbar after you sign in, you're in the right place! :good:
Overall, let me know in your experience, will people want to use this app? I see it being used in larger areas like college campuses where lots of people are connected to the same network, but I want you guys to be the judge of that, so let me know!
Link to the APK: wikisend.com/download/519920/app-debug.apk
Cant thank you guys enough for trying this out and leaving me with some feedback!
This application does use a Google API to allow you to sign in with any google account. All I actually use is
Display Name
Profile Photo
User ID
GCM-ID (To send push notifications, when you get a chat message)
This application also uses the persmissions
INTERNET
CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
GET_ACCOUNTS
USE_CREDENTIALS (credentials actually used described above)
ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (Used to store photos when you take a photo in-app)
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (used to grab a photo that you would like to include in a post)
CAMERA (Used to take a photo in-app that you would like to include in your post)
RECEIVE (Receive GCM push notifications)
C2D_MESSAGE (Receive GCM Push notifications)
Tried to post some screenshots but since I'm a newer user here at this forum I was not allowed to post outside links!

I might try it
This sounds like something that would be fun for a business or school environment. My question: what do the following permissions do:
find accounts on the device
use accounts on the device
I'm concerned of course that this app which isn't vetted yet by anyone, might be doing something I don't want it to do.

Permission concern
kettir said:
This sounds like something that would be fun for a business or school environment. My question: what do the following permissions do:
find accounts on the device
use accounts on the device
I'm concerned of course that this app which isn't vetted yet by anyone, might be doing something I don't want it to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! Thanks for taking the time to check out my description. As for the accounts permissions that this application uses: The app lets users sign in via google account. In order to use googles sign-in API, I did need to use these permission in my manifest. The find accounts is used when you first click the login button, a dialog of the google accounts that you have linked to your device show up, and you choose which one you would like to sign in to the app with. The use accounts is for allowing my application to know some general data about the account that you sign in with, these include your Display name, Account photo, and your user id.
Please let me know if you have any further concerns, and I look forward to hearing what you think of the app!
Thanks again,
-Dylan R.