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[kinggroin]

Hey guys, I have a Droid 2 that has all the latest updates. I'm thinking about rooting my phone, but I have a few questions.

1. What advantages would that bring? Is it really worth it? (I'm not sure if I want to install a custom rom or not)

2. How likely is it that brick my phone? Are the changes irreversible?

3. What kind of stuff could I do with root access?

to answer 1 and 3 - You can overclock and/or adjust voltage for increased performance and/or increase battery life (mine is running at 1.4ghz). You can take screenshots. You have complete access to the file system so moto blur and other bloatware can be removed. You can install custom roms (that will give you a closer stock android experience). You can create nand backups of the entire phone. You can make adjustments to critical system functionality like memory thresholds and the like.

To answer 2 - Changes are reversible 100% if you're careful. However, yes, there is a chance you can brick your phone; though it's very very small.

 

[thespot84]

to answer 1 and 3 - You can overclock and/or adjust voltage for increased performance and/or increase battery life (mine is running at 1.4ghz). You can take screenshots. You have complete access to the file system so moto blur and other bloatware can be removed. You can install custom roms (that will give you a closer stock android experience). You can create nand backups of the entire phone. You can make adjustments to critical system functionality like memory thresholds and the like.

To answer 2 - Changes are reversible 100% if you're careful. However, yes, there is a chance you can brick your phone; though it's very very small.

Don't forget wifi hotspot!

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Google SkyMap just updated - they added pinch to zoom and time travel mode. Very cool, I can see the sky as it was on the day of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

 

[Sai]

Any music players on the market support flac?

 

[CurlySaysX]

Any music players on the market support flac?

PowerAmp I think supports flakes

 

[ziegen]

Hey all

I just got an Android phone and was looking for suggestions / info. I have the Samsung Vibrant Galaxy S phone and I'm loving it so far. Are there any specific apps and or settings that work great with this phone. I read through most of this thread and have all of the common ones that people have suggested and installed the ones I liked, so I would need something specific to this phone if anybody has any good suggestions.

Does anyone know when the Android software will be updated to Froyo for this phone? I don't want to root it, so I will wait for the official release, but everything I have found on line has mentioned dates that have come and gone.

I'm glad to be part of the Android family now.

Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions.

 

[j-wood]

to answer 1 and 3 - You can overclock and/or adjust voltage for increased performance and/or increase battery life (mine is running at 1.4ghz). You can take screenshots. You have complete access to the file system so moto blur and other bloatware can be removed. You can install custom roms (that will give you a closer stock android experience). You can create nand backups of the entire phone. You can make adjustments to critical system functionality like memory thresholds and the like.

To answer 2 - Changes are reversible 100% if you're careful. However, yes, there is a chance you can brick your phone; though it's very very small.

So, if I root, will I be able to receive new updates without any problem? (ie new update from motorola or android 2.3).

Really I just want to root so I can remove the bloatware and motoblur. If I remove these though, will they simple be re-install on a new update? If I remove motoblur, does the stock android UI just take over?

 

[Sarye]

It depends on how you rooted it.

If you installed a custom bootloader to help with root then no. The custom bootloader will block the installation (tho you will get a notification)

If you install a custom rom then no you won't get updates or notification at all.

Also, upgrading will remove root. That is why custom bootloaders block updates.

I'm not sure how to get around this honestly so if anyone has insight please share

 

[beje]

I'm currently giving a try to Google Hotpot and it's cool so far (though I have no contacts at the moment). The widget they added in the last update of google maps lets you quickly take a glance to nearby places and automatically rate them and write a review.

 

[AndyD]

I have a question about the Android apps/market. I have no smartphone or android experience so be gentle.

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Android handsets, along with my parents, all on a large family plan to save on cost. Possibly on T-Mobile.

How does app purchase work? Is it tied to the cell account and bill, or a google account? Also I assume we can log on with our gmail account and sync contacts and everything. Can we log on with a different account for app purchase and contacts/email? I want to buy the apps on my account but I want my wife to obviously sync her email and contacts. Otherwise she won't but a single thing, she is somewhat of a tech neophyte.

 

[beje]

How does app purchase work? Is it tied to the cell account and bill, or a google account? Also I assume we can log on with our gmail account and sync contacts and everything. Can we log on with a different account for app purchase and contacts/email? I want to buy the apps on my account but I want my wife to obviously sync her email and contacts. Otherwise she won't but a single thing, she is somewhat of a tech neophyte.

- Apps are purchased through Google Checkout using your CC
- Not only contacts and mail, but almost everything can be synched with your google account
- I don't think you can use different accounts for purchasing apps, but I think you can configure your CC to be used on her google checkout account as well.

 

[Mercury Fred]

I have a question about the Android apps/market. I have no smartphone or android experience so be gentle.

My wife and I are thinking of moving to Android handsets, along with my parents, all on a large family plan to save on cost. Possibly on T-Mobile.

How does app purchase work? Is it tied to the cell account and bill, or a google account? Also I assume we can log on with our gmail account and sync contacts and everything. Can we log on with a different account for app purchase and contacts/email? I want to buy the apps on my account but I want my wife to obviously sync her email and contacts. Otherwise she won't but a single thing, she is somewhat of a tech neophyte.

Actually, you can by apps through google checkout or have them billed to your account.

 

[AndyD]

- Apps are purchased through Google Checkout using your CC
- Not only contacts and mail, but almost everything can be synched with your google account
- I don't think you can use different accounts for purchasing apps, but I think you can configure your CC to be used on her google checkout account as well.

OK. What about using multiple Gmail accounts? I have a work and a personal one. I would like to sync both email boxes.

I guess what I am asking is if it supports multi account login, or is it pretty easy to swap between them. For example, say I keep my personal account synced, can i quickly hop off and log onto my work one just to check email, without synching everything else? Would I lose everything from my account, including apps and whatnot? Or are apps once installed good to go regardless of which account is logged on.

 

[antispin]

Hey all

I just got an Android phone and was looking for suggestions / info. I have the Samsung Vibrant Galaxy S phone and I'm loving it so far. Are there any specific apps and or settings that work great with this phone. I read through most of this thread and have all of the common ones that people have suggested and installed the ones I liked, so I would need something specific to this phone if anybody has any good suggestions.

Does anyone know when the Android software will be updated to Froyo for this phone? I don't want to root it, so I will wait for the official release, but everything I have found on line has mentioned dates that have come and gone.

I'm glad to be part of the Android family now.

Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions.

As a fellow Galaxy S user, I say root it and install this ROM. Do check whether it works on your version of GS though; if you decide to root (it should):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=814091

The Galaxy S is great hardware let down by poor sw decisions. I really recommend rooting and installing a custom ROM to get the most out of the device

As for your apps question, I don't have anything GS specific to recommend** but some of my favorite apps:

1. PowerAMP
2. Catch Notes
3. AdFree
4. appSaver
5. ASTRO file manager
6. Image Shrink
7. Handcent SMS
8. Music Downloader Pro
9. Smart Taskbar
10. SMS Backup & Restore / SMS Backup +

**there are two recommendations, both for notifications. The first one is Backlight Notification which is baked into the ROM I linked to earlier. The other is NoLED which uses the AMOLED screen to show notifications. NoLED is on the Market, so search for it, if you don't have it already...

 

[Futureman]

HELP!

This is WEIRD.

I woke up this morning and opened the Gallery app.... and something is messed up BIG time.

#1 I got my Droid X about 1.5 months ago, and I've probably taken around 60 or so photos with the camera. There are only 9 photos on my camera roll now, seemingly from random times. So somehow 50 or so photos got deleted from my camera roll... and it's not like it's the first 50 that are missing (which would maybe make some sense?), it's 50 random photos.

#2 I have a folder called "Download" that are images downloaded from the web. There are only 3 photos in here when there was around 30 before...

#3 Ok...... HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS.... there are SIX folders in my gallery app right now that ARE NOT my photos. The folders are labeled s2, s3, s4, s5, s6, and s7. In these folders are random photos from the web and a bunch of screen caps from TV shows it looks like.

what the HELL is going on? haha.

I should mention that the official Google "Gallery" app is not installed in the Droid X by default, and I had to install it from an .apk that someone posted in the Droid X topic on here. I don't know if this has anything to do with my issue or not.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

The Wolfram Alpha app is seriously awesome. Its just like the website.

 

[Futureman]

ok, I figured a little something out.

The new folders (s2, s3, s4, etc) seem to have been created by the PULSE reader app.

In one folder, all the images have a URL of "gawker" while another all has "mashable." These are sites I've never visited, but it appears they are in the "Pulse" news feed.

Did Pulse somehow delete my photos and take over my Gallery app? WTF?

 

[Jack Random]

HELP!

This is WEIRD.

I woke up this morning and opened the Gallery app.... and something is messed up BIG time.

#1 I got my Droid X about 1.5 months ago, and I've probably taken around 60 or so photos with the camera. There are only 9 photos on my camera roll now, seemingly from random times. So somehow 50 or so photos got deleted from my camera roll... and it's not like it's the first 50 that are missing (which would maybe make some sense?), it's 50 random photos.

#2 I have a folder called "Download" that are images downloaded from the web. There are only 3 photos in here when there was around 30 before...

#3 Ok...... HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS.... there are SIX folders in my gallery app right now that ARE NOT my photos. The folders are labeled s2, s3, s4, s5, s6, and s7. In these folders are random photos from the web and a bunch of screen caps from TV shows it looks like.

what the HELL is going on? haha.

I should mention that the official Google "Gallery" app is not installed in the Droid X by default, and I had to install it from an .apk that someone posted in the Droid X topic on here. I don't know if this has anything to do with my issue or not.

open the stock droid x gallery app, it should still be lingering

 

[Futureman]

open the stock droid x gallery app, it should still be lingering

I wish. Already checked that. It appears Pulse has fucked me. I'll plug my phone in later and browse the SD card, but I think I'm screwed.

I'm not going to outright say don't download Pulse, but certainly DO NOT if you are running a Droid X w/ the Google Gallery app.

 

[Epix]

What's the secret behind getting all the golden eggs in Angry Birds? Someone mentioned somewhere how you can which levels you need to go to and what you need to do to get them all.

 

[out0v0rder]

DO NOT download the MEMEgenerator app.

 

[thespot84]

What's the secret behind getting all the golden eggs in Angry Birds? Someone mentioned somewhere how you can which levels you need to go to and what you need to do to get them all.

each one is a little different. If you're gonna ask here why not just google it, I'm sure there's vids explaining each one, I don't really want to ruin the surprise here...

 

[j-wood]

Do you guys feel that that poweramp music app you guys have been talking about is better than the winamp beta?

 

[Noshino]

Do you guys feel that that poweramp music app you guys have been talking about is better than the winamp beta?

Much better, just keep using it and you'll fall in love...

I think at this point my only complaint is that they guy is updating it too often :lol




Anyway, I gave FF Mobile (Fennec or w/e its called) a try, I like the UI in general, specially being able to access settings and the tabs by just swiping to the left or right. BUT I hate its speed, its so fucking slow, I would dare say slower than any other browser that I have seen. Oh, I also don't like the fact that there is no text wrapping.

 

[Sarye]

HELP!

This is WEIRD.

I woke up this morning and opened the Gallery app.... and something is messed up BIG time.

#1 I got my Droid X about 1.5 months ago, and I've probably taken around 60 or so photos with the camera. There are only 9 photos on my camera roll now, seemingly from random times. So somehow 50 or so photos got deleted from my camera roll... and it's not like it's the first 50 that are missing (which would maybe make some sense?), it's 50 random photos.

#2 I have a folder called "Download" that are images downloaded from the web. There are only 3 photos in here when there was around 30 before...

#3 Ok...... HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS.... there are SIX folders in my gallery app right now that ARE NOT my photos. The folders are labeled s2, s3, s4, s5, s6, and s7. In these folders are random photos from the web and a bunch of screen caps from TV shows it looks like.

what the HELL is going on? haha.

I should mention that the official Google "Gallery" app is not installed in the Droid X by default, and I had to install it from an .apk that someone posted in the Droid X topic on here. I don't know if this has anything to do with my issue or not.

I do not have pulse, however I checked my gallery and astro and I cannot find some pictures I took with the camera =( It seems random too. Dunno what's going on.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Just a reminder, if you have an Android phone download the NFL app and this weekend you get a free trial of the live NFLTV stuff. So you can watch Bears/Dolphins tonight and games/red zone on Sunday.

 

[Corran Horn]

Just a reminder, if you have an Android phone download the NFL app and this weekend you get a free trial of the live NFLTV stuff. So you can watch Bears/Dolphins tonight and games/red zone on Sunday.

What app?




On AT&T. Can they tell if Im tethering? I finally got myself a wifi tether for my captivate, only want to use it at random times so it shouldnt be a big deal, but I dont want to be charged the extra fee to tether :lol

 

[j-wood]

Much better, just keep using it and you'll fall in love...

I think at this point my only complaint is that they guy is updating it too often :lol




Anyway, I gave FF Mobile (Fennec or w/e its called) a try, I like the UI in general, specially being able to access settings and the tabs by just swiping to the left or right. BUT I hate its speed, its so fucking slow, I would dare say slower than any other browser that I have seen. Oh, I also don't like the fact that there is no text wrapping.

It looks like the free version is only a limited trial though, and you have to pay 5 bucks for the full. Idk if 5 bucks is better than a free winamp...

 

[thespot84]

What app?




On AT&T. Can they tell if Im tethering? I finally got myself a wifi tether for my captivate, only want to use it at random times so it shouldnt be a big deal, but I dont want to be charged the extra fee to tether :lol

If you're running huge amounts of torrent traffic or something like that they can tell, but if you're just browsing or playing a game or something it's unlikely they'd notice anything amiss.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

What app?




On AT&T. Can they tell if Im tethering? I finally got myself a wifi tether for my captivate, only want to use it at random times so it shouldnt be a big deal, but I dont want to be charged the extra fee to tether :lol

Sorry, think it's Verizon exclusive. NFL app with V-Cast. Apologies!

 

[kinggroin]

So, if I root, will I be able to receive new updates without any problem? (ie new update from motorola or android 2.3).

Really I just want to root so I can remove the bloatware and motoblur. If I remove these though, will they simple be re-install on a new update? If I remove motoblur, does the stock android UI just take over?

There is almost always a way to revert to a stock build so that you can recieve official updates.

Or even better.

Stick with the community and just wait for them to make a custom rom built on the update you were wanting.

I had my Droid X two days before rooting and moving to an AOSP based ROM (basically stock Android 2.2 with no extra bullcrap whatsoever). Haven't looked back, and am enjoying an incredibly fast phone.

 

[Corran Horn]

If you're running huge amounts of torrent traffic or something like that they can tell, but if you're just browsing or playing a game or something it's unlikely they'd notice anything amiss.

Thanks. Was planning to just use when I have no wifi and want to browse web on laptop.

 

[j-wood]

So let me ask you guys this then...I saw a one click root app on the market called z4root. If I use that, gain root, uninstall crap I don't want, and then unroot, will there be any problems with that?

So when I download a new update it won't re-install the old crap?

I really want to hold off on a custom ROM until 2.3 comes out.

 

[jobber]

Sorry, think it's Verizon exclusive. NFL app with V-Cast. Apologies!

O RLY?

I've been using it on my Sprint phone all season for free ;D

 

[skybaby]

Much better, just keep using it and you'll fall in love...

I think at this point my only complaint is that they guy is updating it too often :lol




Anyway, I gave FF Mobile (Fennec or w/e its called) a try, I like the UI in general, specially being able to access settings and the tabs by just swiping to the left or right. BUT I hate its speed, its so fucking slow, I would dare say slower than any other browser that I have seen. Oh, I also don't like the fact that there is no text wrapping.

They dropped support for the Milestone/Droid1. Sucks big time, used to work fine in the alphas

 

[sparky2112]

Can I ask a really dumb, basic question? New Android owner (MyTouch 4G - LOVE it, don't know how I ever lived without a smart phone), but I'm assuming that the apps are MUCH less centrally-available than Apple's App Store, yes? I mean, the Android Market seems to have only a fraction of what I'd expect to be available, given Android's popularity. Do companies sell stuff from their own sites?

Mildly confused,

Me

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Can I ask a really dumb, basic question? New Android owner (MyTouch 4G - LOVE it, don't know how I ever lived without a smart phone), but I'm assuming that the apps are MUCH less centrally-available than Apple's App Store, yes? I mean, the Android Market seems to have only a fraction of what I'd expect to be available, given Android's popularity. Do companies sell stuff from their own sites?

Mildly confused,

Me

The marketplace isn't as... refined as Apple's app store, no. You'd have to know what you're looking for in order to get what you want on the marketplace. Otherwise, you rely on user comments on forums, blogs, etc., to discover things.

Start with downloading the AppBrain app. It's a market alternative that offers much more in the way of searching, sorting, etc.

 

[newsguy]

What's wrong with youtube? No matter what I try to play, whether it be the app or the mobile site, it always says "there was a problem while playing." WTF

 

[Siebzehn50]

Curious, is there a NeoGAF app for Android? I know there is one for the iphone.

 

[thespot84]

Curious, is there a NeoGAF app for Android? I know there is one for the iphone.

www.secondapps.com/neogaf

It's a mobile site, which is awesome, but not an app

 

[Siebzehn50]

www.secondapps.com/neogaf

It's a mobile site, which is awesome, but not an app

Awesome, thanks!

 

[tabsina]

Curious, is there a NeoGAF app for Android? I know there is one for the iphone.

Hrm.. is there a NeoGAF app for iphone now? when I had my iphone it was the same secondapps mobile site, just wondering if they've actually had an approved app go through

 

[JonnyBrad]

Hi there, got a couple of quick q's about custom/stock roms.

I'm about to purchase a stock UK galaxy S and probably put stock Froyo on it. I was just wondering though, when the time comes that i want to put a new rom on it (gingerbread stock when its ready) is there a way of backing everything up or upgrading so i don't have to reninstall everything? I'm moving from an iphone and i hated having to resort my cydia apps and settings after installed the latest jailbreak fw.

I may way for the nexus s but it looks fugly atm.

 

[thespot84]

Hi there, got a couple of quick q's about custom/stock roms.

I'm about to purchase a stock UK galaxy S and probably put stock Froyo on it. I was just wondering though, when the time comes that i want to put a new rom on it (gingerbread stock when its ready) is there a way of backing everything up or upgrading so i don't have to reninstall everything? I'm moving from an iphone and i hated having to resort my cydia apps and settings after installed the latest jailbreak fw.

I may way for the nexus s but it looks fugly atm.

OTA updates usually don't actually erase anything, so you might not have to do anything, but check on the specific update when it comes out.

 

[sparky2112]

The marketplace isn't as... refined as Apple's app store, no. You'd have to know what you're looking for in order to get what you want on the marketplace. Otherwise, you rely on user comments on forums, blogs, etc., to discover things.

Start with downloading the AppBrain app. It's a market alternative that offers much more in the way of searching, sorting, etc.

Wow, do I owe you. AppBrain is MILES better than the generic store. Thanks!!!!

 

[JonathanEx]

Haven't seen the Dev thread in a while but thought I'd ask here -- does anyone know if there's a nice Android equivalent of sites like AppMakr or iSites (but not their Android one as it's rather expensie) where you can turn your site in to an app?

 

[milkham]

Hi there, got a couple of quick q's about custom/stock roms.

I'm about to purchase a stock UK galaxy S and probably put stock Froyo on it. I was just wondering though, when the time comes that i want to put a new rom on it (gingerbread stock when its ready) is there a way of backing everything up or upgrading so i don't have to reninstall everything? I'm moving from an iphone and i hated having to resort my cydia apps and settings after installed the latest jailbreak fw.

I may way for the nexus s but it looks fugly atm.

Titanium Backup in the market will backup and restore all your apps and their data, but the other guy is right usually ota updates don't erase anything

 

[Fatalah]

Is there a camera app that allows you to adjust flash brightness? The Incredible's camera flash is WAY too strong. Everybody freaks out and looks whitewashed in photos. It's really uncomfortable for everybody involved.

 

[JCX]

How do I stop most apps from running? I have advanced task killer, but the weird part is that apps I have not opened run without me opening them.

 

[milkham]

How do I stop most apps from running? I have advanced task killer, but the weird part is that apps I have not opened run without me opening them.

http://www.tested.com/news/android-task-killers-are-deadheres-what-you-should-be-doing/923/