Best Current Android Apps

[Grant Lamontagne]

Actually, they do survive the odd wall impact.

Def

Sent from the place I sent it from

[dks]

some apps banned by apple, of which most are available on Android.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10226145/The-apps-that-Apple-does-not-want-you-to-use.html
the one that measures how high you throw your phone seems good for most here.. 

[Shorty66]

I still use my trusty old defy as I feel, that the modern waterproof phones are too big. The often don't let you replace the battery either. And on top of that, they cost an incredible amount of money.

I use one of the newer realeses of Cyanogenmod 10 and admittedly my defy sips a lot of power (a bettery a day). But apart from that its really snappy and runs all the apps i need - so why buy a new one?

My favourite apps are:

kiwix    - offline wikipedia reader WITH images
OSMAnd - offline vector maps (Open Street Maps) with routing
FeedEx - a good RSS reader
APV Pdf Viewer
Neuron Music Player - Plays .opus files

Short of the music player all apps are open source and free.

[Whoey]

now that I'm no longer dependant on my Defy I may get it unlocked and try some custom roms on it...

[Whoey]

A nice post to bring this thread a bit back on track

Now that I've had a few days with my Nexus 4 I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed with app options that I couldn't use on my Defy, plus a few useful apps that helped transfer stuff like SMSes. Ironically my Niece visited yesterday, and she got a Nexus 4 over a month ago. She only had it a few days when I first saw it, and since then dropped it and the back screen shattered... my biggest fear with this phone... Luckily it was only the back, and while it's a bit ugly (and sheds little fragments all over her purse) she now has it wrapped up in a rubber case. Guess that's number one on my shopping list.

I pulled the Brodit mount for my Defy out of the car yesterday as well. I need to find some sort of solution for the Nexus now, and I see Brodit has other versions apart from passive/active(no charger/charger) for without case and with case. It's a shame the QI wireless charging still hasn't been worked out for car mounts, but I read they are working on it. In any case it probably wouldn't be strong enough vs direct plug in connection when the phone is running GPS etc.

I love the fact that the Moto X has still yet to hit the street and some of the features that it have are already surfacing such as the active notifications: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.greatbytes.activenotifications and the twist launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prometheusinteractive.twisty_launcher I'm rather disliking the limited free versions of useful apps (such as the twistylauncher) where you can only use the other options/change apps in the paid version. The active notifications seems nice however, even though there is a more advanced paid version. The only shame with these is I believe they don't work from a locked phone yet like they do on a Moto X.

Also I found this app which supposedly lets you specify what color the led flashes for different types of notifications, I haven't figured it out completely, but it looks interesting: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rageconsulting.android.lightflowlite obviously free version has some limitations vs paid.

Another useful discovery was Box, as they give 5gb cloud storage to normal users and there is a promotion for LG phones (I think all LG phones, not only the Nexus 4) that gives you 50GB free. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.box.android

Also one of the things I always hated was remembering to switch off my wifi when I left home on the Defy, as it wasn't as easy as it is in newer android versions where it's in the settings drawer. I found this option which seems to work fairly well, I think however when I get home it doesn't switch back on until I unlock the screen, which I guess is fine. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sebouh00.smartwifitoggler

Also for on phone photo editing: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.niksoftware.snapseed

I am trying out the lite/free version of a recommended alternative camera app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.lite and if I like it, the pro version is only 3eur: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.pro

And if all that wasn't enough I'm using Nova Launcher on my Nexus 7, and loving most of the customization options it brings, not decided if I need/want it on the Nexus 4 yet. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher

[Grant Lamontagne]

There is some cool stuff there, but like your Defy, much of it won't work on my Atrix.  I particularly would have liked the hand gesture/camera thing as I use mine a lot at work for photos- I have over 4500 photos on my phone and I could save a good portion of time in my day by having some method of automatically turning it on to camera mode rather than turn it on, enter password, click on camera icon then snap the photo.   

I know it doesn't sound like much, but when you do it a couple of dozen times per day it adds up.

Def

[Whoey]

on my nexus 4, I can use the camera without unlocking my screen, I just slide to the right and the camera app launches... same lock screen widgets as the nexus 7...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes, I also noticed that I could install the camera app on my Nexus, which doesn't have a camera.  As helpful as that seems, I figured I'd pass on installing it.   

Def

[Whoey]

I meant that the lockscreen widgets can launch the camera app on the nexus 4 without unlocking, the nexus 7 lockscreen widgets are the same, but useless unless it's for doing self portraits...

[enki_ck]

A nice post to bring this thread a bit back on track
...

 

 

Also one of the things I always hated was remembering to switch off my wifi when I left home on the Defy, as it wasn't as easy as it is in newer android versions where it's in the settings drawer. I found this option which seems to work fairly well, I think however when I get home it doesn't switch back on until I unlock the screen, which I guess is fine. https://play.google.com/s...sebouh00.smartwifitoggler

Don't you have a wife useage option?

I had that forgetting to turn off wifi problem a lot. Then I noticed a setting to fix that. In my Wifi settings if I go to advanced options there's a setting: Keep Wifi on during standby and options: Always/ Only when on (screen unlocked)/Never (Increases data usage)

I am trying out the lite/free version of a recommended alternative camera app: https://play.google.com/s...ionet.android.camera.lite and if I like it, the pro version is only 3eur: https://play.google.com/s...vionet.android.camera.pro

I'll have to try that. I've been searching for a good replacement app for the camera.

on my nexus 4, I can use the camera without unlocking my screen, I just slide to the right and the camera app launches... same lock screen widgets as the nexus 7...

That's similar to mine and I like it a lot. From the lock screen slide right to unlock screen, slide left to turn on the camera app.

[Whoey]

I'm using pattern to unlock...

The idea with that app was to switch off wifi when I'm not in range of configured wifi access points. What you suggest may also work, and is a suggested option for longer battery life. I think perhaps the two options together help even more as when you're not in range it switches the wifi completely off, even if you are using the phone, so it's more of a "only on when Screen unlocked & in range". I find that more often than not I'm at home so I use my wifi vs my limited monthly data allocation, thus allowing me more data when I'm out and about. Obviously download updates is set to wifi only.

[Whoey]

Just ordered this semi generic car bracket to replace my Brodit(Defy) one:
http://www.arkon.com/mobile-grip/mobile-grip-dashboard-mount-mg178.html

I had looked at the available Brodit models, but since I cannot be sure that the "with official bumper" will fit with the bumper case I ordered after reading quite a few positive reviews:
http://www.rearthusa.com/google-nexus-4-hybrid-fusion-case

[Whoey]

With only some light use over the past few days I plugged my Nexus 4 in after being about 40h on battery, and it was still reporting ~40% remaining

[Grant Lamontagne]

Very cool.  I'd still kill it by mid afternoon, but it's nice to know it would put up a fight!

Def

[jph0200]

For me mapfactor Navigator.

Its hard to setup as you have to download the map of the state or country you're in 1st time.
However after that it will navigate from map on your sd and not require 3G, just GPS 

[dks]

Based on my use of 3 android devices during the past few months I would advice people to get the maximum extra (MicroSD) memory they can. 8Gb or even 16 may sound plenty but if you add a few larger programs or games (2Gb each) and some high resoloution pictures and videos, or some large emails with attachements, documents, books etc., you will run out of space.

The problem is that these devices are basically handheld computers so once you start using them like that you need  computer sized storage memory (Terrabytes instead of Gigabytes).
The idea is that you can delete some data/spftware to add new or use a different memory card but if you are using/playing some large games/software regularly you will want to have them on your device all the time.
Many android devices seem to be limited to 32Gb of external memory, so get that as the extra money will be worth it.

[Whoey]

The thing that's eating the most storage on my phone is my GPS maps, as I have the entire Europe map set for Co-Pilot installed (2.5gb). I did bounce back and forth on that very issue, as my choice between Galaxy S3 (with microSDcard slot) vs the Nexus without. But I preferred to have a device that will be maintained whereas the Galaxy S3 will likely not see many more updates which imho was the biggest issue on my old phone. Also The Nexus has double the ram vs the equivalently priced Galaxy S3, there is an updated Galaxy S3, but costs about 100eur more...

I'd have liked to have had a nice collection of music on my phone, but can do without. In any case, the main use would have been in the car, and I have a stereo that allows me to plug a USB stick with MP3s on it. I can still have a small library of tunes on my phone to avoid eating up all my monthly data limit using streaming.

I don't need to keep everything on my phone. I have set the photos so that they autobackup to G+ so I can clear out older stuff on the phone if and when space becomes an issue, plus there are plenty of cloud storage options for keeping files readily available, yet not on the phones storage.

[dks]

I have the maps of a few countries too, 3 larger games, some videos and several large databases that I thought would be usefull to have, though I would probably not really use some of them (Airplanes, knife steel etc..    )
 I do not take many pictures with the phone, but I like to take some if I want the GPS coordinates added to them.
I have 16Gb and wish I went for the 64Gb option (possible upgrade, though I do not know whether if I just copy everything from my current card to a bigger one the software allready installed will work or not.)

[Shorty66]

I second that call for big sd-card. I got a 64gb one - only 59 gb are actually accessible.
~ 10gb - Maps  for OSMAnd (whole of euorpe in detail, basic world map)
~ 20gb - Germand wikipedia with images
~ 10gb - english wikipedia without images
~  5gb - Music
~ 10gb - videos
~  2gb - books on mechanical and material engineering
the rest is for occasional use and apps - just 2gb left
I would really like to have a 128gb or bigger micro-sd...

copying will work with installed software. Just make sure to put the 64gb-card in your android first to format it. Formatting on the pc might not work with android.

[dks]

copying will work with installed software. Just make sure to put the 64gb-card in your android first to format it. Formatting on the pc might not work with android.

Many thanks. I will give it a try!

[Whoey]

You could pop the new card into the phone, format it, and then transfer the files off the old one to the new one on your PC.

I find that formatting memory cards within the device I plan to use them with usually helps.

[dks]

I did it. 

I got a new card (32Gb Transend 10 as I was not sure if 64Gb will work + cost) put it in the phone and I assume the phone formated it itself as the file manager showed that it had the same file structure (with empty folders) as the original card. (I could not see any format function, easily)

I then copied the contents of my old card, via a PC, to the new one and it seems to work fine, for the past few hours. I tried some programs with data  on the SD card and they are ok.

I am keeping my original card intact for a day, in case something goes wrong. Then it will be used in another android device.

[Whoey]

for reference:
http://www.techedified.com/2011/10/how-to-format-an-sd-card-on-android/

[enki_ck]

I second that call for big sd-card. I got a 64gb one - only 59 gb are actually accessible.
~ 10gb - Maps  for OSMAnd (whole of euorpe in detail, basic world map)
~ 20gb - Germand wikipedia with images
~ 10gb - english wikipedia without images
~  5gb - Music
~ 10gb - videos
~  2gb - books on mechanical and material engineering
the rest is for occasional use and apps - just 2gb left
I would really like to have a 128gb or bigger micro-sd...

copying will work with installed software. Just make sure to put the 64gb-card in your android first to format it. Formatting on the pc might not work with android.

I'm assuming it's more like 59,6046 GB, right? It's an old wrong calculations thing and it amazes me that they are still doing it. Your card is actually 64000000000 bytes big, so 64000000000 bytes / 1024 = 62500000 kilobytes /1024 = 61035 megabytes /1024 = 59,6 gigabytes.

[detron]

I second that call for big sd-card. I got a 64gb one - only 59 gb are actually accessible.
~ 10gb - Maps  for OSMAnd (whole of euorpe in detail, basic world map)
~ 20gb - Germand wikipedia with images
~ 10gb - english wikipedia without images
~  5gb - Music
~ 10gb - videos
~  2gb - books on mechanical and material engineering
the rest is for occasional use and apps - just 2gb left
I would really like to have a 128gb or bigger micro-sd...

copying will work with installed software. Just make sure to put the 64gb-card in your android first to format it. Formatting on the pc might not work with android.

I'm assuming it's more like 59,6046 GB, right? It's an old wrong calculations thing and it amazes me that they are still doing it. Your card is actually 64000000000 bytes big, so 64000000000 bytes / 1024 = 62500000 kilobytes /1024 = 61035 megabytes /1024 = 59,6 gigabytes.

enki_ck, you are correct!  the power of 2 calculations are why we have those odd numbers 1024, 2048, etc. 

what amazed me, is that they can make a card with 64000000000 bytes, and call it 64 Gig.  I understand the math all too well, since I am a certified cell phone forensic examiner.  and I know there are 2 ways to count,  but if I as a student, end user, forensics examiner, or programmer have to count in power of 2's then so should the manufacturer

[Shorty66]

Yep, that's the reason for the lower numbers. I knew that but i thought it might be useful for people interested in 64gb cards.

The reformatting process is actually only needed when using cards with more than 32gb (SDXC-standard) as those cards come preformatted with an exFAT filesystem. Android can't read that and automatically reformats.

[Grant Lamontagne]

People want numbers and no one cares what they mean as long as they are bigger than the other guy's.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[nuphoria]

People want numbers and no one cares what they mean as long as they are bigger than the other guy's.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

Tru dat!


Thanks for all the input here, especially the advice on current devices... still mulling over what to do. I went to my O2 store and asked about upgrades but they had nothing tasty to offer. May be provider shopping in the near future

[Whoey]

Carphone warehouse?

[enki_ck]

And I'm gonna be smartphoneless for a while. Both speakers on my Prestigio 4040 died on me on friday evening. They'd work if I applied pressure at just the right spot of the back panel though. The guy at the at the shop/repair center said it was probably some contact on the motherboard. But as it's still under the two year warranty they have to send it in to headquarters. He said though I'll probably get a new one back. The processing time is 10-15 working days though. I've been using the old Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro since friday but quickly remembered why I replaced it. It kept restarting on me 5, 6 times a day without no apparent reason. I'm back to using a Nokia 5310 and a Samsung C170. (I have two numbers and the Prestigio is a dual sim phone) Feels like going back in time.