***ANDROID Links, app recommendations, and technical explanations here ONLY.***

**Xiphos** · 03-29-10, 10:54 AM

Good News/Bad News for AT&T Android fans.

The Motorola Backflip is coming locked down and will be missing Google apps. It's preinstalled with Yahoo. You are also locked down to only installing from the Android Market. The Dell Aero is supposedly also going to be similarly locked down. Don't know if it will also be tied into Yahoo.

AT&T apparently fails to understand that the appeal of Android is it's openness.

If you are on AT&T and are crushed that the carrier is trying to force the round Android peg into the iPhone square, here's the good news. The Nexus One is available and it's open. You have to buy it from Google, unlocked and without carrier support (no contract subsidy.) It'll run you $529 but it's open and the carrier can't touch it. You can also root it (quite easily) and load it up with the latest CyanogenMod goodness.

**Xiphos** · 03-29-10, 11:16 AM

Titanium Backup Info

I switched my Google account that I'm using for my phone. If you want to know how to do that without a factory reset, follow these instructions:

Go to Settings - Applications - Manage Applications

Scroll down to "Google Apps" and open it. Clear the cache/data.

Reboot, and open the Market. It will start your sign in process again.

Anyway when I did that, and switched to my new Google account, I lost all my market data. Market didn't know what apps I had installed. That sucks considering I paid for some of them. All the apps worked on my phone but I wouldn't be able to uninstall/reinstall them.

Titanium Backup has a "Market Doctor" when you upgrade to the paid version. This thing paid for itself this morning. I ran a full backup from the app and then the Market Doctor. It scans all the apps on your phone and then restores the links to them in the Market App. I rebooted my phone and the market saw all of them there.

I haven't upgraded my rom and reinstalled from the backup but I suspect that will work well based on this experience. I'll update when I try that.

**Xiphos** · 03-29-10, 11:19 AM

Those looking forward to the amazing EVO 4G on Sprint, rumor has it that the device is going to begin preselling at Best Buy in May. Evo 4G straight from Sprint's playbook; Best Buy reportedly preselling in May | Android Central

**Xiphos** · 03-29-10, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

I am awaiting a Mildot Master app.

Ballistics Calculator

There's another called Shooter Lite.

**MacLean** · 03-29-10, 11:49 PM

I had the truly entertaining chance to get in between a conversation at my son's cubscout pack meeting tonight.

A Dev at Microsoft over in Redmond who had the new and supersecret unreleased Windows 7 phone, and a Dev at Motorola who told me their next new phone will eat the Droid as a light snack.

The Windows phone was flashy and had a lot in common with the looks of the Droid, but was all beta. Half of the stuff worked, but it was neat to see it before the public.

We all quickly left the iPhone advocate behind.

**MacLean** · 03-30-10, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Five-0

How do I use those handy little bar codes you guys are posting?

Hit the market and get an app called mobiletag.

When you use it the camera will turn on. Hold the camera up to the tag. It takes some getting the hang of it, but eventually your phone will beep and take you to the link.

It will also read UPC codes.

**Xiphos** · 03-30-10, 05:54 AM

You can use barcode reader too. That will work with Shop Savvy, which is a must have app.

**gopherpuckfan** · 03-30-10, 06:10 AM

Here's a list of the apps I'm using so far...

Barcode Scanner, Compass, Dictionary.com, Documents to Go Full Version, Droid Light, Facebook, Gmote, Google Goggles, Google Sky Map, Google Translate (VERY cool app!), iheartradio, Key Ring, Movies, My Coupons, My Backup Pro, Open Home, Pandora, Ringdroid, Save MMS, Shazam, Shopper, Snap Tell, SportsTap, Stop Watch, The Weather Channel, TuneWiki, TweetCaster, and United States Constitution

**MacLean** · 03-30-10, 06:16 PM

Verizon begins Android 2.1 update rollout for Motorola Droid -- Engadget

Last update to Eclair supposedly rolling starting today.

Post if you get it.

**Xiphos** · 03-30-10, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

I meant how do I get them and use them on message board land such. I can post them on other boards, and those in the know will follow them here. I'm already using that mobiletag app.

qr code generator - Google Search

**Xiphos** · 03-31-10, 04:31 PM

Droid 2.1 do it yourself: Manually Update Your Droid To 2.1 (ESE81) | Android Phone Fans

**Five-0** · 03-31-10, 10:48 PM

Xi,

Any idea of how to link a Droid to the Horde Email system we use? I did my work email today and it is an exchange system. If I'm not mistaken the Horde is an IMAP system and it is more involved. I would love to have site stuff alerts sent to my phone so I can deal with them.

**MacLean** · 03-31-10, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Xi,

Any idea of how to link a Droid to the Horde Email system we use? I did my work email today and it is an exchange system. If I'm not mistaken the Horde is an IMAP system and it is more involved. I would love to have site stuff alerts sent to my phone so I can deal with them.

The setup for IMAP is pretty straightforward.

All you need is the mail server address and your password. All the rest of the stuff is usually default settings like ports and what have you.

**MacLean** · 04-01-10, 12:23 AM

I attempted to set it up using the usual settings and it did not work.

We need to get the info from the bossman.

I was able to set up my POP accounts without issue.

**Xiphos** · 04-02-10, 12:58 PM

As much time that was spent preparing this, you'd think this would be taken care of.

You guys see any noticeable issues since you updated?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TweQ0VJhUD0&feature=pl ayer_embedded]YouTube - 2-D Graphics Slowdown After Motorola Droid 2.1 Update[/ame]

**Xiphos** · 04-08-10, 09:54 PM

Android FTW!

Apple's iPhone OS 4.0 No Threat to Android - PCWorld

For the rest of the smartphone world, however, these features are old news. The truth about Apple's iPhone 4.0 update is that -- despite Steve Jobs' tendency to describe it with words like "amazing," "wonderful," and "delightful" -- it doesn't offer anything substantial that Android-powered devices haven't offered for quite some time.

That's why the iPhone's new software alone shouldn't pose much threat to Android's ever-increasing growth within the mobile market.

**Mike325** · 04-13-10, 03:19 PM

Yay, I learned stuff from this thread..

I've had my droid since november, but it's been bone stock since day one with only a few apps.. So hopefully you guys can help me a bit.

1. The one thing I find actually lacking the most on the droid is the phone, specifically speed dialing. I do miss being able to hold down buttons on my BB pearl to iniate a speed dial. A friend showed me how to set icons up to direct dial, but I now basically have an entire 1/3 home screens dedicated to icons.. Is there an easier way?
2. Default MP3 player works fine, but making playlists is such a tedious hassle. Anyone have any solutions there?
3. I'm tired of waking up to the same song every morning. I'd really love to be able to set my alarm to play either pandora or from a playlist?

**Xiphos** · 04-13-10, 03:22 PM

1: Shortcuts are the best way I know of. I have just a couple on the main screen for the most common stuff like "Home." I have the next home screen dedicated to Text and Phone shortcuts. I use AnyCut app for making them.

2: MixZing will automatically create playlists based on the Genre and other meta tags in the music. I don't use the stock player at ll. MixZing is the way to go.

3: Don't use the alarm much, can't help you there.

**Mike325** · 04-13-10, 03:29 PM

Any reason you use Anycut? Making those icons is built in to the default..

**Xiphos** · 04-13-10, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mike325

Any reason you use Anycut? Making those icons is built in to the default..

It may work differently on the Droid. It's easier than what's on my phone. If you have a profile picture for the contact that shows up as the icon too.