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Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?
DLTempler said:
Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well..
With android (especially with HTC Sense, HTC's UI) you can add plenty of little things to customize your phone. From the top
You can move application icons from page to page on the homescreen along with widgets. to add an application to the homescreen you can open the app drawer/list and longpress it and drag it to the homescreen. Once on the homescreen you can move it around.
Along with Apps you can add widgets to the homescreen, a widget is an app that runs in the homescreen it can do things like display a news ticker, enable/disable settings (power control widget), and other things like play music and search boxes. these can be very useful for getting a quick glance at information without opening up the app.
To change the background you can longpress the homescreen and select wallpapers.
If your phone supports it you can use live wallpapers, search for them on the market or on XDA.
One tip is dont install lots of apps! dont go and download every app you see it will slow down your phone, also dont use task managers as it messes with android native application closing process.
Also the biggest customization of all if your phone is rooted (IE: full permissions and access to the system) and has a hacked bootloader you can load custom roms that are themed or have a big performance boost.
Best of luck!
If you have any questions PM me and I will be glad to help!
Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
DLTempler said:
Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek
Captainkrtek said:
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree dont let the inteface fool you, android works as a tool just as well as winmo if not better
Well this is my first post on XDA, but since BlueStacks came out and I've had a chance to play around with it, I had to ask how other XDA members were utilizing it. I've managed to get ADW Launcher EX on there with a bunch of apps including podcastr, halo reach stats, IMO, 4shared, appBrain and more. When I pull up the emulator the ADW desktop is set to the largest amount of icons on the homepage so it looks just like an Android Desktop OS would look like. I'm pretty excited with home snappy it runs and wondering if this could ever become an actual OS - this is really clean compared to Windows. It definitely needs to be fixed up but I like it.
Seems like BlueStacks might be taking it in a "Premium" direction though. The market won't work so the only way to get APK's is with there cloud app or via 4shared or the browser (apks). Also you have internet but not on your own wifi, I believe it connects to there server and routes you through it so watch what you are doing on it - when you pull up the browser its there homepage and there is no wifi settings even though I turned wifi on with the power widget.
Check out the screenshot and tell me what your doing with BlueStacks
This software dose not have a proxy so don't worry about it, its just a virtual player and its still a baby.
Here is a little post I did on FB about what I use it for
Hey guys, the posts have been a little slow so I thought I would as a question that we all can reply to, when you do use bluestacks what do you use it for?
I use mine for testing my apps I make or apps I want to use on none supported android devices, I also sometimes use it to play that piggy game that comes with it lol I also use it for web dev when I want to see how it looks like without finding my phone out lol
I still don't feel bluestacks is able to do what we all need it to do, I feel its down the bluestacks trying to limit us on how we use it and the player is good but at the moment still very unstable, I really hope they will get better and I keep watching, what about you what do you use it for and what's your view on it so far.
I would give there app 6/10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FreeStacks Group Here
The web uses the connection of the pc and the browsers home page is just set to bluestack so your ok, people have been moding bluestack with no problems, your right they are heading for a pro version but you can install apps via the adb or web and other things like that.
I use bluestacks as a small window I made gizmostack that lets you resize the window, so I hope this lets you see one others might use it for good luck.
For those who spend a lot of time looking at a computer, and can't be bothered to look at their phone very often, Sand Studio has introduced AirDroid, an app that allows users to control their Android Phone from a computer via WiFi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WfNnQxpw7Uw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfXRhSIm-m0
The great thing about AirDroid is that it works - it's easy to start up, and functions flawlessly (in my experience). The interface is also very polished - mimicking a desktop launcher complete with moveable icons, a task bar, and controls that allow you to do just about anything.
One of the most impressive features is the ability to access SMS messages, manage them, and send messages right from a web browser. Users can also manage contacts, uninstall/backup apps (AirDroid will download your apps as apk files), browse files, access the Android Market, and manage music and ringtones, in addition to the ability to look at phone information from CPU status to battery level and beyond.
Best of all, AirDroid is completely free from the Android Market. With all the powerful features it offers, this app is certainly worth checking out.
ITS FREE
DOWNLOAD
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sand.airdroid&feature=search_result
the market is blocked my country
can someone put mirror please
mehdi.moha said:
the market is blocked my country
can someone put mirror please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
befarmain
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AURZDHQ2
wish i could send and recieve whatsapp messages from it...
edit: just installed the app..sometimes the app makes the phone go crazy!! i have to logout fro the browser or turn off wifi for the phone to become normal.
This is without a doubt 'the best' app for controlling your phone from your browser. I've installed and played with many and this one tops the lot in my opinion.
It's clean, easy to use, great interface (both on the phone and PC).
Side note: This thread would probably be much better off in General Android Apps and Themes forum - http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=530. The app isn't specific an LG Optimus.
---------- Post added at 12:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------
mehdi.moha said:
the market is blocked my country
can someone put mirror please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's also available on the official website: http://www.airdroid.com/apk/airdroid_1127.apk
saw this in a google search, was just about to post in the GNote forum....
Anyone else used this? Am very tempted, but concerned of legitimacy of app (never heard of devs and truly paranoid about security )
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
SpyderTracks said:
Anyone else used this? Am very tempted, but concerned of legitimacy of app (never heard of devs and truly paranoid about security )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a little hesitant to try out apps like this as well but they have nothing but good feedback on the market and a good following on both Facebook and Google+, as well as having their own website, so I was happy to give it ago.
@smackdownn Yeah I am with you on the whatsapp, this app is brilliant.
@Nucleotide & SpyderTracks Seriously? Whats the issue with privacy? Scared these devs are going to email or sms your gf while you are out? Either that or learn to hide your porn somewhere that is not your phone. I have said this before on so many occasions, when you were using a nokia/winmo/other NON android phone, they sneakily NEVER asked for permissions, but you installed apps that could pretty much do anything on your phone anyway
This app is by far the best solution I have tried in this regard, it just works and damn well too
@Cornelha
Lol.... I get what you're saying, but I think it's a little naive... the information we hold on smartphones these days compared to "our old nokias" means security is vital. After years of dodgy torrents, malware and hacked accounts, I've learnt to take it a bit more seriously, albeit probably to the extreme
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
This app is fantastic. We were the first to review it:
http://www.androidstatic.com/must-have-air-droid-lets-you-control-your-phone-from-your-browser
SpyderTracks said:
Lol.... I get what you're saying, but I think it's a little naive... the information we hold on smartphones these days compared to "our old nokias" means security is vital. After years of dodgy torrents, malware and hacked accounts, I've learnt to take it a bit more seriously, albeit probably to the extreme
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I don't have anything I would call "sensitive data" on my phone but I do have a lot of contact information such as names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and other information which although not really sensitive, I still don't want other people to have - especially if I don't know about it. Not only that but apps can track your location, the buttons you press on your phone, numbers dialed, text messages sent, websites you visited, and the list goes on.
With that in mind I take caution when installing any app. I check for things like the amount of reviews on the market, the quality of the reviews (good vs. bad), does the developer have a website, a Facebook page with a good following, and so on.
one of the best app i ever know
good job mate
slow files transfers but great app !
have been using it for about 2 days and I have to say it is great...downloading files takes a very long to though
-love the SMS from desktop feature and comes very handy for different ROM users when putting files on devices
Love this app
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA
i love this app!!!! i wish it would have a feature like an android simulator as well so we can open certain apps like whatsapp via mac/pc...
I have been using Lazy Droid but after using this for couple of days, I have uninstalled Lazy Droid. Nice app. thanks
I love AirDroid!!! It helps me to transfer photos and files from my phone to my PC wirelessly. I don't need to carry my cable anywhere with me. It's a great app. Nice job!
what do you have to install on the PC? if you want to link a PC to smartphone, for example
FASAR said:
what do you have to install on the PC? if you want to link a PC to smartphone, for example
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to install on the PC. You just need to open the browser and visit web.airdroid.com to log in. Then you can manage you phone on the web. Easy, right?
Hi all ,
I really hope I'm not duplicating here, but I've had a look and it seems like no-one has had this exact problem. Please accept my apologies if there is someone with an absolutely identical problem and I've just not seen it. I have looked on various different forums however, and to no avail.
Background - I got my shiny new HTC Sensation at the end of Oct. Fell in love with it, and Android, quite quickly, as it gave me the customising ability that I could never get from my iPhone.
Issue - Every 6 days since I got it (a pattern I've only just noticed) the lock screen freezes. The ring and shortcuts are there, but no background - just black. No touch input works, but if I call it, it rings and the status bar responds, I just can't get into it. The only way to get to it, is to take the battery out and do a factory reset. This is obviously incredibly annoying as, even tho I have a good backup system, I still need to do all my widgets and shortcuts and blah blah blah. The reason I've only just worked out that it seems to be a 6-daily cycle, is that my provider have already replaced the handset once, and it still does it even on the new one. The latest episode was on Friday night just gone.
Current situation - On the advice of my provider, I am now using my phone without the SD card in it, and without any apps apart from the the stock ones. Then, if it's still running after a week, they told me to put the SD back in, and then get my apps back on in batches of 2 or 3. This is going to be a very lengthy process, and will therefore be a massive inconvenience.
Question - Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? I'm a total droid noob, but I've read lots of stuff and spoken to a few people and I've come up with the conclusion that it might be an auto task killer that is messing with a process, or it could be something that tries to update every 6 days, but causes a massive conflict somewhere in doing so. I'm really just guessing there, which is why I have come to what seems to be the best source of info on smartphones, to see if any of you guys and gals might have any ideas on this issue.
Thanks so much in advance for any help anyone may be able to throw in my direction.
Mike
a reset wont work? are you ROOTED? or Stock? if anwsered these im sorry its like 48 hour day for me right now and reading and even typing is putting me to sleep,
but back to your problem it could be something updating and causing the issue, if it happens every 6 days, on the 5th day go into phone and turn off background data, this will stop anything that wants to update in background, and see if that stop the problem, then you know it is something that is running that causing the issue
or possible as stated a auto task killer,
what apps do you usually have normally, a list of what you install on your phone can do eliminate of process
Hi ilostchild,
Thanks so much for your response.
In answer to your questions:
Not rooted. I really want to, but because of this issue, have not done so yet. So it's got HTC Sense 3.0, and lots of apps that I have never used and will never use from my provider, Orange.
Here's a list of downloaded apps:
Apps:
Dropbox
Tappin
Evernote
Es File Explorer, Task Manager & Security Manager
AVG antivirus (free)
Viber
Bump
IMDb
Ultimate Guitar tabs (Purchased)
Backup Everything
Dolphin Browser
Tune in Radio (Purchased)
Perfect Keyboard (Purchased)
PowerAMP full (Purchased)
Soundcloud
Zedge (I have "auto change wallpaper" option on)
ebay + paypal
MX Video player
Kindle
Skitch
uTorrent Remote
App2SD
Applist Backup
Various google apps (goggles, night sky, g+ etc)
Games:
Contract Killer
Drag Racing
Non market games:
Gameloft - Asphalt 6 Adrenaline; N.O.V.A. 2; Eternal Legacy
I think that's everything.
So, at the moment I am using my phone without the SD card, on the advice of my provider, to see if it is the SD card that is causing the issue. Could it be the SD card that is causing the problem? It doesn't make much sense to me as I can't see how a corrupt or problematic card would be causing such a time-related issue. However, as I said in my first post, I am an Android noob, so I'm not basing that assumption on anything apart from what I know about PCs.
One thought I did have, was that it may be my Zedge app. I had it installed on both the original handset and the recent replacement one. Plus, I had it set to an hourly wallpaper auto-change, and when the phone freezes, there is no wallpaper visible on the lock screen. Again, that is purely guesswork.
I hope that info is useful for you. And thanks again for taking the time to answer my post.
If you need any other info I will be more than happy to provide it.
It could possibly be that app zedge, ans no can't be sdcard if it was it would fail on the spot , also could be avg virus scanner , I suggest clearing phone and just installing zedge and see by sixth day, if it doesn't try avg, I only can see those 2 causing the problem
Thanks again for your help.
I'll try your suggestions. It's good to know it's not the SD card. I can start taking pictures again!
I wouldn't say it was avg I got it on my senny and its ok try the other app 1st how often does it change ur wallpaper and how many are there
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e with beats mod using XDA App
boroboy69r said:
I wouldn't say it was avg I got it on my senny and its ok try the other app 1st how often does it change ur wallpaper and how many are there
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e with beats mod using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evenin' squire,
Thanks for your input.
I have it set to one hour intervals (I bore easily!) and there are probably about 20 wallpapers that it cycles through. I'll give a go for a while without that app - although I've had a look for any known issues with it and I can't find any that are similar to my issue. I guess it could be a conflict with something else and I'm just unlucky enough to have the exact config of apps that creates that particular problem!
Thanks again mate.
Im not a dev, but i thought of this, what you could do is when it freezes up you can plug it in computer and get a logcat, maybe someone who can read it will know what happen
ilostchild said:
Im not a dev, but i thought of this, what you could do is when it freezes up you can plug it in computer and get a logcat, maybe someone who can read it will know what happen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like a really good plan, only problem is, I have no idea how to do it.
What do i do after plugging it in? Do i need any software on my PC?
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
adb/fastboot/sdk installed, and when it happens just plug phone to computer,
go to adb directory(unless you have it set in windows enviroment)
and do adb logcat and it will output bunch of stuff and copy and paste it here
Thanks man.
Well, I'm on day 8 now with no issues (really hopeni haven't jinxed it now!).
I haven't re-installed Zedge or the avg antivirus and I've kept auto-sync off.
I will come back if it happens again, but in the meantime, thanks so much for your help with this. It's so good to know that there are actually people out there who don't mind helping out a fellow human.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Np, man glad to see it working, i suggest try it with auto-sync now without the app
see what happens, but glad its working good for you
Ok so I did a lot of searching and have not been able to find anything for this... I found a couple of threads started by people asking if it is possible or if there is one that exists but those did not receive any real responses so I'm hoping that one of the amazing devs here can help please. I'm debating making a thread in the general Android Development forum so that maybe I'll reach a wider audience.
So what I'd like is a homescreen widget, or possibly a Live wallpaper, which shows the live cards from Google Now.
There are countless Google Now themed UCCW skins that people have put out. I don't want that.
I also found a way to create homescreen icons that LOOK like Google Now cards. But all those do is launch apps, they do not update with live information from Google Now.
I'm not sure why Google Now wasn't created with a widget. It just seems to make sense. It's kind of annoying that you have to open the app to get all this information, instead of having it right in front of your face on your homescreen where you can access other apps quickly as well. I mean the point of google now is to present you with information before you need it right? How is that possible if I can't get the info without opening the app.
So I'm hoping there is, if anything, some sort of work around here.
Maybe someone knows of a way to create a widget with desktop visualizer that will show the live Google now cards and update them.
I'm hoping for a scrollable widget that will be almost exactly like Google Now (i.e new cards will pop up as they do in the app, you can scroll up and down to view all of the cards you currently have, you can swipe to remove cards - (come to think of it you probably won't be able to swipe to remove cards, but maybe a double tap or something?))
It would probably be best if this widget did not include the google search bar and simply showed the google now cards.
I remember hearing about an app in the past that could overlay live wallpapers on each other. Is there a way to overlay an app into a live wall paper? so that you could see Google Now as your live wall paper, even if maybe you can't actually interact with it this way?
For now I'm going to try setting up something with tasker, so that google now will automatically open every morning when I turn off my alarm, and possibly at other points (maybe when a new card pops up or something). Something similar to this could probably be done with the smart actions app if people are interested in trying that out. But honestly I feel like this is not the best solution because I'd rather not have tasker running constantly, eating my RAM and therefore my battery.
So I don't know if the reason there is no widget already is because it simply is not possible. And if it's not possible could someone please explain why?
Also, so that I can try to work on this myself - can someone please help me by telling me which files Google now uses for getting and updating cards? (i.e. the file names I would see in Titanium or under Settings>Apps or in a file explorer where they would be located - I'm guessing somewhere in the /system/ folder) If I can access these I can play around with them and try some things out
TIA to all who reply...
Given that Google Now is a bit of a battery drain already, I'd imagine that having it constantly running and updating cards would use even more. The cards ARE available in the pulldown menu, aren't they? I haven't used it in a while... Still on ICS until Moto+Rogers updates the OS sometime in Q1 '13 now. >.<
EdwardN said:
Given that Google Now is a bit of a battery drain already, I'd imagine that having it constantly running and updating cards would use even more. The cards ARE available in the pulldown menu, aren't they? I haven't used it in a while... Still on ICS until Moto+Rogers updates the OS sometime in Q1 '13 now. >.<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a Razr Maxx HD because I don't want to worry about battery drain. It's been something holding me back with every other phone I ever owned. I hear that the regular Razr HD gets pretty amazing battery life as well. I'm not looking for reasons why I wouldn't want this. I'm looking for reasons why it would not be possible or a way to make it possible.
Sorry to hear about Rogers...
But if you are rooted you should be able to install Google Now for ICS
This might work http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1983337
And I just found this http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-news/232046-gnow-handlebars-easy-solution-google-now-ics.html
I am looking for the same thing as you but maybe we need to be writing to the Google dev team instead.
dhigby said:
I am looking for the same thing as you but maybe we need to be writing to the Google dev team instead.
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Click to collapse
I also discovered that pressing the home button and swiping up brings up Google Now. That is good enough for me, and I can live without the widget.
Sent from my HTC One S
dhigby said:
I also discovered that pressing the home button and swiping up brings up Google Now. That is good enough for me, and I can live without the widget.
Sent from my HTC One S
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Click to collapse
This. It works from any app and it only takes a second to load.