Help me configure my new Droid phone

Eddie Dane · 7th August 2012, 02:08 PM

Ok, I''ve got my new S3.

All clean and new.

Any apps, tips, tricks or configuration advice?

(Really impressed with the device btw)

WildCat · 7th August 2012, 05:09 PM

Get the Daily Mail app for a hilarious peek at the mindset of the common clay of modern-day Brits. And see pics of celebrities you've never heard of in bikinis.

Wut?

WildCat · 7th August 2012, 05:14 PM

On a more serious note, there's an Olympics app that works pretty well. Here it's provided by NBC, plus you have to have a cable/sat subscription but it has every event live plus recorded replays. Maybe your official Olympics broadcaster has something similar?

Eddie Dane · 8th August 2012, 01:42 AM

I was thinking more along the lines of a good
-keyboard
-media player
-Voice recorder
-flashlight
-productivity stuff

My own recommendations would include:
-Evernote (store notes in the cloud)

Rasmus · 8th August 2012, 01:52 AM

Llama, for GPS-free, location/time/events based profile changes.
Evernote
Swype (keyboard)
Dropbox

erlando · 8th August 2012, 02:00 AM

Evernote
Dropbox
Swype or SwiftKey (latter is very good at predicting)
Lookout (anti-virus)
Google Chrome
LastCall widget
Google Drive
1Password

Rasmus · 8th August 2012, 02:20 AM

It really depends on how fancy you want to be. I can share my PC Desktop to my phone. Nothing fancy, but it works reasonably well.

There's an app that will track your position using GPS and let people know where you are. great if people tend to worry too much when you travel or want to know when you get there.

Wowbagger · 8th August 2012, 07:30 AM

Angry Birds

Rasmus · 8th August 2012, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

Angry Birds

Overrated, but yes.

Wowbagger · 8th August 2012, 10:25 AM

More serious answers:

For a while, Documents To Go and QuickOffice leap-frogged each other with features for viewing and editing MS Office and other documents. So, I bought them both. Right now, I like QuickOffice a little better. But, that could change. (When I first got my first Android, Documents To Go was considered superior by most folks.)

Bump is great for quickly exchanging contact info with people you meet. It saves business card paper if you both have it installed.

Tapatalk is good if you're using this and other Discussion Forums a lot. The free one lets you view things. The pay version allows you to post. It's nicer that the web interface, for phones.

Be sure to download the official apps for whatever your favorite social networks are: Facebook, Twitter, Meetup, etc. That should go without saying. But, I find the official apps are often better than whatever substitutes they stick on your phone by default.

Technical folks, like me, like to have a file manager on the phone. Android 4 comes with one, but it's burried deep in the system settings, somewhere. The one from Rhythum Software is pretty good, if you want something a little better.

erlando · 8th August 2012, 10:56 AM

Be aware that the Facebook App for Android is a bit broken and can drain the battery if not exited the right way. And pressing the home button is NOT the right way. Exit the app by pressing back until you hit the home screens.

On my Samsung S2 Facebook will use 50% CPU constantly if exited via the home button. This drains battery very quickly. "Fortunately" it's easy to notice because the phone gets HOT..

It MIGHT not be on the S3... http://androidforums.com/android-app...p-browser.html

Rasmus · 8th August 2012, 03:05 PM

also: root

erlando · 8th August 2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Rasmus

also: root

Why?

thenigotoffthebus · 8th August 2012, 04:08 PM

Airdroid - Allows you to share files between phone & computer wirelessly without need to install any software on computer (works via web browser).

Lookout - General anti-virus protection plus ability to find phone via GPS if lost/stolen.

TV apps such as TVcatchup, Sky GO & BBC iPlayer are good for UK folks. I'm sure there are similar apps for other countries.

Emulators like N64oid are good fun if thats your thing. Good for showing off power of the S3 if nothing else.

TheDoLittle · 8th August 2012, 04:20 PM

Smart Tools

It's worth the $2.50, but they offer free versions of each of their tools.

Rasmus · 9th August 2012, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by erlando

Why?

Because I can!

Also, there tends to be little things that root is needed for. Full system backups come to mind. It used to be that you'd need root to share your wifi.

Beyond that, it allows you to make changes to the phone that you otherwise couldn't make - but that's probably nothing the average user would care about. Changing the system fonts, or using custom ROMs, e.g. The latter - while complicated and with the potential to break your device - tends to have good results.

7th August 2012, 02:08 PM	#1
Eddie Dane Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,417	Help me configure my new Droid phone Ok, I''ve got my new S3. All clean and new. Any apps, tips, tricks or configuration advice? (Really impressed with the device btw)

8th August 2012, 01:52 AM	#5
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	Llama, for GPS-free, location/time/events based profile changes. Evernote Swype (keyboard) Dropbox
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	__________________ "Well, the religious community could not just make it up." - JetLeg

8th August 2012, 02:00 AM	#6
erlando Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,006	Evernote Dropbox Swype or SwiftKey (latter is very good at predicting) Lookout (anti-virus) Google Chrome LastCall widget Google Drive 1Password
	__________________ "If it can grow, it can evolve" - Eugenie Scott, Ph.D Creationism disproved? Evolution IS a blind watchmaker

8th August 2012, 02:20 AM	#7
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	It really depends on how fancy you want to be. I can share my PC Desktop to my phone. Nothing fancy, but it works reasonably well. There's an app that will track your position using GPS and let people know where you are. great if people tend to worry too much when you travel or want to know when you get there.
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	__________________ "Well, the religious community could not just make it up." - JetLeg

8th August 2012, 07:30 AM	#8
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 13,520	Angry Birds
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ An open conference on science and skepticism, where *you* could be a presenter! By the way, my first name is NOT Bowerick!!!!

7th August 2012, 05:09 PM	#2
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 48,995	Get the Daily Mail app for a hilarious peek at the mindset of the common clay of modern-day Brits. And see pics of celebrities you've never heard of in bikinis. Wut?

7th August 2012, 05:14 PM	#3
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 48,995	On a more serious note, there's an Olympics app that works pretty well. Here it's provided by NBC, plus you have to have a cable/sat subscription but it has every event live plus recorded replays. Maybe your official Olympics broadcaster has something similar?

8th August 2012, 01:42 AM	#4
Eddie Dane Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,417	I was thinking more along the lines of a good -keyboard -media player -Voice recorder -flashlight -productivity stuff My own recommendations would include: -Evernote (store notes in the cloud)

8th August 2012, 09:33 AM	#9
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	Originally Posted by Wowbagger Angry Birds Overrated, but yes.
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	__________________ "Well, the religious community could not just make it up." - JetLeg

8th August 2012, 10:25 AM	#10
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 13,520	More serious answers: For a while, Documents To Go and QuickOffice leap-frogged each other with features for viewing and editing MS Office and other documents. So, I bought them both. Right now, I like QuickOffice a little better. But, that could change. (When I first got my first Android, Documents To Go was considered superior by most folks.) Bump is great for quickly exchanging contact info with people you meet. It saves business card paper if you both have it installed. Tapatalk is good if you're using this and other Discussion Forums a lot. The free one lets you view things. The pay version allows you to post. It's nicer that the web interface, for phones. Be sure to download the official apps for whatever your favorite social networks are: Facebook, Twitter, Meetup, etc. That should go without saying. But, I find the official apps are often better than whatever substitutes they stick on your phone by default. Technical folks, like me, like to have a file manager on the phone. Android 4 comes with one, but it's burried deep in the system settings, somewhere. The one from Rhythum Software is pretty good, if you want something a little better.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ An open conference on science and skepticism, where *you* could be a presenter! By the way, my first name is NOT Bowerick!!!!

8th August 2012, 10:56 AM	#11
erlando Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,006	Be aware that the Facebook App for Android is a bit broken and can drain the battery if not exited the right way. And pressing the home button is NOT the right way. Exit the app by pressing back until you hit the home screens. On my Samsung S2 Facebook will use 50% CPU constantly if exited via the home button. This drains battery very quickly. "Fortunately" it's easy to notice because the phone gets HOT.. It MIGHT not be on the S3... http://androidforums.com/android-app...p-browser.html
	__________________ "If it can grow, it can evolve" - Eugenie Scott, Ph.D Creationism disproved? Evolution IS a blind watchmaker

8th August 2012, 03:05 PM	#12
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	also: root
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	__________________ "Well, the religious community could not just make it up." - JetLeg

8th August 2012, 03:27 PM	#13
erlando Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,006	Originally Posted by Rasmus also: root Why?
	__________________ "If it can grow, it can evolve" - Eugenie Scott, Ph.D Creationism disproved? Evolution IS a blind watchmaker

8th August 2012, 04:08 PM	#14
thenigotoffthebus Scholar Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 77	Airdroid - Allows you to share files between phone & computer wirelessly without need to install any software on computer (works via web browser). Lookout - General anti-virus protection plus ability to find phone via GPS if lost/stolen. TV apps such as TVcatchup, Sky GO & BBC iPlayer are good for UK folks. I'm sure there are similar apps for other countries. Emulators like N64oid are good fun if thats your thing. Good for showing off power of the S3 if nothing else.
	Last edited by thenigotoffthebus; 8th August 2012 at 04:09 PM.

8th August 2012, 04:20 PM	#15
TheDoLittle Disco King Discombobulator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,658	Smart Tools It's worth the $2.50, but they offer free versions of each of their tools.
	__________________ David O. Little -=The DoLittle 8-)=- America believes in education: the average professor earns more money in a year than a professional athlete earns in a whole week. - Evan Esar / No one can earn a million dollars honestly. - William Jennings Bryan (1860 - 1925) / If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you. - Don Marquis

9th August 2012, 01:05 AM	#16
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	Originally Posted by erlando Why? Because I can! Also, there tends to be little things that root is needed for. Full system backups come to mind. It used to be that you'd need root to share your wifi. Beyond that, it allows you to make changes to the phone that you otherwise couldn't make - but that's probably nothing the average user would care about. Changing the system fonts, or using custom ROMs, e.g. The latter - while complicated and with the potential to break your device - tends to have good results.
Rasmus Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,138	__________________ "Well, the religious community could not just make it up." - JetLeg