Topic: Smart Phone Tips and Tricks

[mephisto_kur]

How to compress video for the Droid native mp4 format:

http://www.heavybrick.net:8081/tuts/droid_vid/

(I totally swiped this entire site from some blogger - his name is under the title )

[mephisto_kur]

http://beta.swype.com/

Apps:
ASTRO file manager
Flixter
IMDB

Those are the ones I can't live without.
Also, Android finds *all* media files on your SD card and displays it in the gallery... a little hint to those that do not want their porn to show up...
in Astro, navigate to the directory name where you store your things that you want hidden.
Long press on the directory you want to hide.
Choose Edit
Choose Rename
add a period to the front of the directory name.

That's it!  Remember to put your porn in a directory that isn't used for anything else.  You can create a directory using windows explorer when you have your phone attached to your computer in USB storage mode.  Windows does not allow directory names that start with a period without using the command line.  To use the command line:

start\all\accessories\RIGHT CLICK on command prompt, choose Run As Administrator
if your phone is showing as drive H:, type "H:" at the prompt (no quotes).
when you are at the H:\> prompt, type:
md .media
Directory created.

Now, the fun stuff.  Windows sees these directories, and they work exactly like normal.  Copy\paste your naked bear porn files into the new directory.

Android DOES NOT see them unless you use a file manager like Astro, or you TELL it to see them (root user stuff).  You'll need to open astro and navigate to the hidden directory, and click on the file you want to look at, since you no longer have an easy way to do so.

[anomaly]

i love Dolphin browser over the Stock browser, mostly because of the tabs and addons.

launcher pro is a must, stock home launchers still suck in comparison.

if your rooted... clockwork ROM mgr is the best. i create a back up every month. its like restore points for Windows.

[Focused Moments]

loved the stock browser

hated dropping my phone on queen street.  i need a new one now

[mephisto_kur]

Oh shit.  Sorry to hear that fomo.

[Stormgren]

This is just a bunch of app recommendations, mostly:

WIFI Advanced configuration editor, because the stock WiFi Android config kinda stinks, especially if you have to do wierd settings for enterprise wireless.

MSL Reader (needs root) so you can get the MSL off the phone if you need to adjust ##DATA# or ##EVDO# settings due to misprovisioning.

Seconding ClockworkROM manager.

Battery Monitor Widget. 

Aldiko for eBooks.

http://calibre-ebook.com/ - Desktop app for doing an insane amount of really useful stuff TO e-books, including a pile of format conversions.

[mephisto_kur]

I must warn those that root.  There is very reliable rumor that rooted phones are being tracked and targeted for future bricking by both ATT and Verizon.  Seems that the reason is being stated that rooted users are "stealing" (not debating the use of that word) bandwidth by using unsanctioned tethering apps.

[anomaly]

Yea, i heard about that too. i agree with them that these ppl are killing the network for others and should be stopped. but gotta admit that the ISPs are doing this to them selves with the outragously high tethering costs.

Idk if they can brick my phone with OTA push considering the dam boot loader wont even let thier OTA updates push because im rooted. I could see them blocking ppl from service or throttling their useage, but ether way if they did it would be thier loss really... im less than a yr into my contract and my early term is only $250 thats just over 4mths of service.

To be honest... i prob wont be resigning my contract anyway. Unless they reduce prices (dont see that happening) i still dont feel the cost is justified for what i get. i barly ever use data when im out and about. even if i did there are hot spots litterly everware where i live and hang out. if im ever out of range of wifi my 3g service sucks ass anyway...

after this piont i just see myself buying droids off ebay and hitting up wifi when i "need" internet. for a phone ill just get the slimest simplest free phone they have and carry it with my droid.

[Neocorteqz]

Firefox 4 for android is out. so far so good. and allows plugins.
So far the mytouch 4g is being nice to me.

[anomaly]

ive tried the other versions of FF for Droid and they kinda sucked...

i use FF for my PC browser so it would be nice to use FF on my Droid with Sync and all that fun.

[Focused Moments]

looks like im stuck with my dud until next March when I can get another for more like $50, not $500.  My tip of course is not to drop it

It still works, and you can still watch movies on it.  There's just a huge crack on the screen that makes it look like crap if you're not using it.  It looks like the touch-screen is embedded in the glass which is why it cant be replaced.

[raVen]

Any Iphone users here?

[aldog]

YES

At least for a while, until my contract runs out next year.

[GeNe]

yes.  I am too. 

[Focused Moments]

ok who let the iPhone users in the Android thread?

What?

They know Android is way c00ler?