SubJeff on 17/1/2010 at 14:41
Mmmmk.
Lets talk apps peoples. Which do you have, what do you recommend and so on?
At the moment I have only a few and I'm particularly looking to improve the device in some areas. This is my set atm.
Social and Messaging
Handcent - sms manager/beautifier. I've got it in iPhone mode with speech bubbles for texts.
Facebook Mobile Shortcut - I tried some Facebook apps but they are lacking. The highest rated one in the Market (4 stars) is ok but there are no options to send private messages or access your inbox. A shortcut to the mobile site is far superior.
Talk - great idea I haven't used yet. Lets you talk to your gmail contacts from the phone if they are on gmail or even have an Android phone with Talk on it!
Music
Last Fm - over the Wifi its great whilst I get on with work around the place. Roll on 3G SIM so I can get with this outside the house/at the gym.
Music - I'm still using standard program. It seems ok but I've not really road tested it. I've only ever had iPod shuffles so I can't compare it to other iPod.
Spotify - will be getting this soon.
Productivity
AK Notepad - essentially a "to do" lister. I'd like something that lets me store info with a little more permanence though, to store things like the locums I've done, days of holiday I've taken and so on.
Calendar - standard one. Seems fine, integrates with the Gmail one. If I could combine this with a notepad app it would be great.
Documents to Go - free version - testing this atm. Seems good for reading stuff and I don't think I'll get the full version because I can't imagine wanting to create/edit documents on the phone.
Odd thing - I get the option to open docs with this or Quick Office yet I can't find Quick Office to uninstall (I'd forgotten I'd installed it!).
Tools
SilentMode OnOff - widget for turning sounds on and off when at work.
Battery Widet - gives exact battery charge.
Advanced Task Killer - tool that can sit in the notification bar and is for ending tasks/programs en masse if you need.
Games
Chess - thats all it's called. Challenging.
I'm using all the other usual stuff - the map, the camera, gmail and standard email and the stock GUI.
Any tips?
dj_ivocha on 18/1/2010 at 05:53
How responsive it is, especially compared to the iphone? Is there any delay when starting some application? How many apps can you run at the same time without any performance degradation?
I'd have asked you to test SCUMMVM, but apparently it (
http://sites.google.com/site/scummvmandroid/faq) doesn't work on 2.x yet.
Speaking of which - can you install random apps, downloaded from wherever, or do they HAVE to come from the google app store or whatever they use to distribute apps?
SubJeff on 18/1/2010 at 10:51
Its very responsive. I don't know if the iPhone has some delay but I don't notice any here. I seem to be able to run loads of apps at once without any problem. I'll have Last FM or the Music app on and be surfing the net with some background apps like Voice Search and the Messenger app on and there is no slowdown at all.
You can download non-Market apps but you need to tell the phone that you will accept them. Its the very first option in the application settings - "Allow install of non-Market applications".
SCUMMVM isn't something I'd be installing I'm afraid.
SubJeff on 3/2/2010 at 11:28
This week the Nexus One gets multi-touch pinch to zoom, which is nice. I've coped without it so far and I've been enjoying the phone greatly.
I res'd the thread for 2 other reasons - 1. what DID you get in the end fonz? and 2. any more tips on which Android apps are useful?
dj_ivocha on 3/2/2010 at 19:13
Oh, so the US version will get updated with multi-touch as well? I read somewhere that they plan it for the EU version only due to some patent faggotry on the part of Apple.
SubJeff on 3/2/2010 at 19:36
No that's the Droid. Euro version has multitouch, US not. For the Nexus its worldwide.
thefonz on 3/2/2010 at 22:15
I'm still using my Nokia N95 8gb but dropped onto a Sim Only deal so I am now free to buy a new phone when one comes out that appeals.
More than likely it'll be the HTC Hero 2 since the rumblings I'm reading about the announcements HTC are making this month are very interesting and I've played with Android alot to convince me it does what I want.
SubJeff on 3/2/2010 at 22:24
I can't find any solid info on this Hero 2. Where is it? And why are you bothering when the Nexus One is already here? I've used a Hero lots and its far inferior. The screen is smaller, the buttons are in the wrong place, its got that useless curve...
thefonz on 3/2/2010 at 23:17
Nexus One doesnt have SenseUI though - are you saying its the best Android phone out there?
SubJeff on 3/2/2010 at 23:38
SenseUI, SenseHURGUR.
The SenseUI is a minor tweak. I don't know what the specs of the Hero 2 are but I've used the Hero extensively and side by side with the Nexus One and tbh the SenseUI is nothing special. The Nexus is twice the speed, has a much nicer and larger screen and... ack. The interface is almost identical. It IS identical in function.
Hero doesn't handle multiple apps as well, the Sense GUI Market app is harder to use, it has a much worse software keyboard and the button locations and functions are much clunkier.
Where is this "info" on the Hero 2? I've looked everywhere.
To be perfectly honest, if you're "waiting" for the Hero 2 because of the SenseUI then in reality you're not ready for a new phone because you're not ready to take the plunge.
And as to the Nexus being the best Android phone out there? Unless you have to have a physical keyboard (in which case get a Droid/Milestone) then yes. Even then the processor speed is almost double that of the Droid and the Hero.
