The Android Thread

[Pleng]

You don't need to know about rooting and ice cream sandwiches to use an Android tablet.

The majority of Android users don't know what rooting is. A lot of them don't even know they're using Android.

The techie terms are there for the geeks that want to mess about with their system

[BaaBaa.]

I think I'm going to have a go at rooting later and then install icecream sandwich....

I did have a look at a couple of Android tablets last weekend but I think I'll give it a miss if you have to learn to speak another language to use them.

As Pleng says, you don't need to know, the same as you don't need to be a computer geek to use your laptop.

Rooting is gaining root access, like superuser or Admin on your laptop.

Googles operating system upgrades are named after foods G=Gingerbread, H=Honeycomb, I=Icecream sandwich. Etc.

So I'm doing basically the same as upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.

[STEVE G]

You don't need to know about rooting and ice cream sandwiches to use an Android tablet.

Thank God for that! I was looking at these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARCHOS-10-1-GB- ... 604&sr=8-1
I was just considering it as a cheap portable wifi internet device and as long as it has a browser and a usb port, I wouldn't expect any type of sandwiches to come with it; I think they were only 149 euros here.

[Big Boy]

Personally, if I was looking, I would want 3G connectivity as well.

[STEVE G]

Personally, if I was looking, I would want 3G connectivity as well.

I don't have a 3G account here but I stay in a hotel with free wifi, the airport has wifi, the whole city centre has it and many bars and restaurants have free wifi as well. For where I am, 3G isn't worth the monthly cost for the amount of time that I spend outside a wifi zone.

[Big Boy]

3G account? What's that? I've been using PAYG 3G for a couple of years now. It's very cheap (less than £30 in 2 years), and for the additional flexibility it is well worth it.

[STEVE G]

Yes, it's cheap in the UK, I've used it myself when I'm visiting my parents. Here in Luxembourg it's different, they try to get everyone to sign up for inclusive accounts and data on 'pay as you go' is quite expensive, over 1.7 euro a MB which is not really competitive with free wifi!

[hhfarang]

Googles operating system upgrades are named after foods G=Gingerbread, H=Honeycomb, I=Icecream sandwich. Etc

... and J=jelly bean is next and K=key lime pie has been announced to follow. Wonder what they'll do when they run through the alphabet?

[Pleng]

They'll own the world by that point, so the alphabet will be extended and desserts renamed to fit:



Search results for Crumble:

Did you mean ☼rumble?

[BaaBaa.]

Just rooted using this method, unbelievably simple, really don't know what I was worried about.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthr ... ?t=1103399

Doesn't wipe a thing, change settings or even reset your homepage.

I've not had chance to install ics or anything yet though.

[BaaBaa.]

Done my first flash of a new rom. Its called checkrom. Customisation is much better, looks better, browser and speed are even better than stock.

[buksida]

Google is consolidating again, Android Marketplace is to become 'Google Play' - along with a world of pay-for-view stuff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/m ... eview.html

Looks like they're chasing the tail of iTunes, how long before they release a viral-type application suite that sits on your computer controlling all of your media and reporting back to the mothership what you haven't paid for?

[BaaBaa.]

Mine changed to "Play" on Wednesday, it's just a rebranding as far as I can see, I could already rent films etc so nothings changed for me except the icon.

[Super Joe]

Yeah pretty much the same as BaaBaa. Changed the icon back to the little android robot pretty sharpish though

I did a firmware updates last week, 2.3.6, which improved some features/functions nicely but the phone has been screwy since, could be co-incidence as I've also downloaded a lot of apps, but now the phone randomly reboots itself. Happens like 3 or 4 times in 5 mins every 5 or 6 hours, or doesn't happen at all etc. You don't always know if it's not sat in front of you, cos you'll only hear the short reboot sound. It doesn't lock up or close down, it reboots... which at least is handy. The obvious one, a battery-saving task-closer', I've never had. As I say could be an app doing it, it seems to be a problem a hell of a lot of people have, so what I'm saying is the update isn't worth the risk of this. Or has anyone update 2.3.6 and not have a reboot problem?

Some apps, all free obviously...
1) aFirewall - Block calls or sms or both, while keeping a copy/record of it, or not.
2) GO Launcher - Just gets better and better with the range of themes, icons, lock-screens, notifications, apps/widgets.
3) GO SMS Pro - Does tons of stuff, example a private box, shake the phone to screenshot the sms.
4) Circle Launcher - One icon that will open all your speed dials. Add another icon for websites. Again favourite apps or gaes.
5) Tubemate - Transparent controls over youtube. Prompts you to watch only, D/L in video or D/L-convert in music format.

Anyone know firsthand the battery performance of the 'Note'? Speaking of battery life, I always thought until last week that 'Settings-Applications-Rimming'... showed everything that's running. No, you seem to have to open every app in 'Settings-Applications-Downloaded' manually to find the game that needs 'stopping'. There must be another way to see what's actually running?


SJ

[BaaBaa.]

Changed the icon back to the little android robot pretty sharpish though

How? I preferred the old 1 at first but play 1 is growing on me.

Also I didn't notice when in Thailand but what have you got on the Market? As in Apps, Films, Books? Just Apps?

GO Launcher - Just gets better and better with the range of themes, icons, lock-screens, notifications

Only just started playing with this to freshen things up a bit, any recommended stuff?

Go Locker with ICS theme is class, shortcuts straight to Camera, SMS or Calls straight from unlock.

Another 1 I like is exDialer with ICS theme.