All androids all the time

[drksolest]

I just ordered my droid x, coming tomorrow, and I was wondering what are all the NICOnauts favorite apps and why?

[Kompresshun]

I just ordered my droid x, coming tomorrow, and I was wondering what are all the NICOnauts favorite apps and why?

Android is awesome, i've had my HTC EVO for 4 months now and love it.

As far as apps go:

Springpad(Free): Just found this yesterday, you can access it through their webpage or with the app on your phone. Syncs notes, images, ect between phone and website so you can keep up with it everywhere. Kinda nice for me and my wife, for grocery lists and ect.

DoubleTwist(Free, Add-on for Air Sync is $4.99 I think): Works like iTunes for music(doesn't support DRM protected files if you have any), plug your phone up and sync music, videos, pictures, ect to your phone. Also has an additional add-on called Air Sync, which you can sync files over Wi-fi without having to plug your phone in to your computer.

Angry Birds: The most addicting free game you'll ever play. That is all

Dolphin Browser HD: Best browser out there, aside from the stock browser IMHO. Does tabbed browsing like most internet browsers on your computer and has a ton of plug-ins and add-ons that I don't use at all but they have them. I've tried all of them out there though and this one is my favorite.

Pandora Radio: Always a must if you like music

Vlingo: Voice command software, works very well if you're in the car a lot or need your phone to be hands free. Can type e-mails, text messages, make phone calls all by commands. Also can read e-mails and texts back to you as well.

SwiftKey: Best keyboard out there aside from Swype(which you have to get into a beta program for right now, unless the phone came with it). Learns your typing habits over times and helps you type faster after it learns your habits with word prediction and ect.

SoundHound: Works like Shazam, basically if you don't know the name of a song playing, this app will tell you by listening to it through the phones microphone.

Google Goggles: Really awesome app, can tell you what things are by taking pictures of it but the main thing I use it for is scanning business cards. You take a photo of a business card with it and it will scan the information on the card and give you an option to add it to your contacts. Very useful app at times.

Amazon MP3: I buy my music through here 90% of the time now, instead of iTunes. Prices are the same or sometimes better, plus it's just nice to be able to download a new song on the go, rather than having to sync up my iPod to the computer.

There's a ton of apps out there, I test out new ones all the time but Google and Amazon both have some great apps. Other than that, I usually go in the Marketplace on the phone, look under All Applicatons, then look under Free apps first, then Paid apps to see whats new and useful to me

[drksolest]

newb to smart phones question: are all apps compatible with all devices or...

[Kompresshun]

newb to smart phones question: are all apps compatible with all devices or...

No, Android apps only work with Android phones. The great thing is Google remembers everything you pay for, so if you get a new phone you won't have to buy it again. That's one feature I love about Android, it uses a Gmail account(whether you have one already or have to setup a new one) to remember everything. Once you set it up, it will remember everything, like your contacts, app purchases and ect.

[AppleBonker]

iOS > Android

[Kompresshun]

Android > iOS

Fixed that for ya

Adam have you done any hackery to your Droid yet?

[AppleBonker]

Nope. The eFuse has proven to be difficult to get around from what I can tell. And, tbh, the phone basically does what I need without hacking it. That was one of the reasons I got really sick of the iPhone. I had to hack it to be able to do what I wanted. And hacking the phone always causes a little bit more work (updates break things/etc). I just wanted to be able to use my phone without having to spend an hour or two every few weeks to keep it running correctly. Guess my trolling attempt above failed...

Tina, I would recommend downloading all of the Google Apps from the market first. The phone comes with many of them pre-installed, but then they will only update with major OS updates. Google has started to release updates to the individual apps more frequently, so to take advantage you need to download them yourself. Search for maps, voice search, sky map (kinda cool if you're interested), search, youtube, gmail, etc and make sure to select the app provided by "Google Inc." This will give you the latest and greatest of all these apps.

[drksolest]

Ok will do, thanks for the advice. Hope more people put up more apps that they use... I'M SO EXCITED FOR TOMORROW NOW!!!!

[RobPaulson]

iOS > Android

ROFL

Adam have you done any hackery to your Droid yet?

I havent rooted my device, but i'm running raw android OS on a n1, so i've done quite a bit of customization. check it, y0

[RobPaulson]

meh those r a lil old, w/e u get the idea tho LOL

[drksolest]

beef jerky... do want TODAY

[Razi]

I want beef jerky too!

[Kompresshun]

Nope. The eFuse has proven to be difficult to get around from what I can tell. And, tbh, the phone basically does what I need without hacking it. That was one of the reasons I got really sick of the iPhone. I had to hack it to be able to do what I wanted. And hacking the phone always causes a little bit more work (updates break things/etc). I just wanted to be able to use my phone without having to spend an hour or two every few weeks to keep it running correctly. Guess my trolling attempt above failed...

Yeah, I waited a couple of months but I finally gave in. The EVO is pretty easy to hack though, I rooted mine first so I could unlock tethering but i'm running a custom rom now and a custom kernal clocked to 1.2ghz. I went really simple on mine though, the custom rom is by Android Central, which is basically just a cleaned up, lightened version of the most recent update of HTC Sense and the kernal is a really reliable kernal that can be mildly overclocked but also provides better battery life. I wanted mine to still be functional too and not have to worry about messing with it all the time. So far it's been 3 weeks and the phone still runs blazing fast, is getting 12-14hrs on a charge(with heavy use) and functions just like it did stock.

I havent rooted my device, but i'm running raw android OS on a n1, so i've done quite a bit of customization. check it, y0

Nice, that's the cleanest look i've seen so far. I've customized my wifes LG Optimus S quite a bit but I can't bring myself to change from the HTC Sense widgets on my EVO. HTC did a darn good job with their interface and widgets.

[RobPaulson]

updated pix, got an easier to read clock and added some stuff. minimalist ftmfw.

[AppleBonker]

Also, I don't really use too many other crazy apps. I've got the google RSS reader, but oddly not too many people use RSS.

The barcode scanner is handy.

I check IMDB often, so that app is a must for me.

Pandora as stated above.

Shazam is nifty to show to people, but I don't use it often.

The weather channel app is sometimes handy.

And I just added the XBMC remote, but most people don't have an XBMC Media Center on their tv, so they wouldn't find it useful. As you can tell, my apps basically are used for my needs. I don't "play" with my phone often. I go strictly for functionality.

[Kompresshun]

updated pix, got an easier to read clock and added some stuff. minimalist ftmfw.

I love the text clock, have you tried the SiMi clock yet? It's a pretty cool minimalist clock widget but shows weather and battery life as well. It's free in the marketplace.

Also, I don't really use too many other crazy apps. I've got the google RSS reader, but oddly not too many people use RSS.

I check IMDB often, so that app is a must for me.

And I just added the XBMC remote, but most people don't have an XBMC Media Center on their tv, so they wouldn't find it useful. As you can tell, my apps basically are used for my needs. I don't "play" with my phone often. I go strictly for functionality.

I use the HTC RSS reader but RSS is a must regardless, I agree that some people find it useless though. I wouldn't know what to do without it myself.

IMDB is great, especially when somebody is like "Hey is that?". I use it pretty often myself, it's great to prove people wrong

How does the XBMC remote app work? I may have to give it a try...

Also if you have Dish Network(I think DirectTV has one too) they have an awesome app for Android. I can schedule programs and search for programs to record all from my phone. I want to spring for the Slingbox add-on too, then I can watch TV live from my DVR through the app too. I don't know when I would watch TV on my phone, but still.

[AppleBonker]

I'm still setting up my HTPC, so I'm not sure exactly how well it functions yet. But it definitely has limited appeal as most people don't care to figure out how to use a HTPC or want to spend the funds on it. I can't live without mine.

I'm unfortunately stuck with comcast. If they even have an app I'm sure it would be worthless. They can't do anything else right when it comes to television...

[Kompresshun]

I'm still setting up my HTPC, so I'm not sure exactly how well it functions yet. But it definitely has limited appeal as most people don't care to figure out how to use a HTPC or want to spend the funds on it. I can't live without mine.

I'm unfortunately stuck with comcast. If they even have an app I'm sure it would be worthless. They can't do anything else right when it comes to television...

I've got a PC that I keep going back and forth with turning into a HTPC, it's a good candidate but I can't decide if i'll really use it or not. It already collects dust in the office at home. The only reason I would even use it though is to store movies on, browse the net, and maybe play some emulators. I have no use for the DVR function on one.

Cable blows, every cable provider i've had has sucked. They have crappy DVR's, crappy service, and are priced too high. I plan on always keeping Dish Network, our DVR works great and i've never had any issues with them at all. We pay $50 a month for their middle of the line channel package, local channels, and all in HD. We only get TV in two rooms(you can add more of course) so that is the only downside I see from cable.

[Jesda]

Been playing with the Nook Color and my brother's Evo (he just got back into town) for the last 12 hours. I've been rooting, hacking, installed the SDK, and have dived as deep as an end user could possibly go.

iOS > Android

Android is awesome for virgins.
iOS is awesome for gays.

[AppleBonker]

What about gay virgins?

I've got a PC that I keep going back and forth with turning into a HTPC, it's a good candidate but I can't decide if i'll really use it or not. It already collects dust in the office at home. The only reason I would even use it though is to store movies on, browse the net, and maybe play some emulators. I have no use for the DVR function on one.

That's how I ended up with a HTPC. I had an old computer collecting dust so I said, why not? Now I just upgraded it to be running a Clarkdale cpu so I could have HDMI out and go mATX (for the smaller case). I don't have a tuner card on it. I'm only going to use it for media storage/playback and put my emulators on there so I can remove my legacy Xbox from the setup.

Also, Comcast charges me $32/month just for two HD-DVRs. That has nothing to do with the service at all. I'd be spending about 65% of my current bill for identical service on Dish/Direct...

[Kompresshun]

Android is awesome for virgins.
iOS is awesome for gays.

So you're saying you're a gay virgin?

EDIT: Dammit, Adam beat me to it.

Been playing with the Nook Color and my brother's Evo (he just got back into town) for the last 12 hours. I've been rooting, hacking, installed the SDK, and have dived as deep as an end user could possibly go.

iOS > Android

So you got the Nook then? It's friggin scary at first with rooting and hacking, I was scared to death that I was going to brick my phone. It's unbelievably easy once you do it the first time though. I still don't like fooling too much with major parts of the system but basic rom and overclocking are pretty easy.

[Kompresshun]

That's how I ended up with a HTPC. I had an old computer collecting dust so I said, why not? Now I just upgraded it to be running a Clarkdale cpu so I could have HDMI out and go mATX (for the smaller case). I don't have a tuner card on it. I'm only going to use it for media storage/playback and put my emulators on there so I can remove my legacy Xbox from the setup.

Also, Comcast charges me $32/month just for two HD-DVRs. That has nothing to do with the service at all. I'd be spending about 65% of my current bill for identical service on Dish/Direct...

Mine is my old video editing machine, it's a Dell desktop that's about 5 years old. Dual Core 2.93ghz, 3GB of ram, TV Tuner and capture card, and has a DVI out(not HDMI but I have an adapter to convert it so it does the job). I've already got it dual booted with Ubuntu, I need to just finish loading crap on it and put the rest of the emulators on there I want. It's not going any good just sitting in the office anyways... I already bought a nice wireless keyboard too, I just wish the case wasn't so huge.

OUCH! Yeah I think our DVR might be $5 a month, but i'm not sure, it may even be free. I remember Insight(cable provider here) was reaming us for service when we were in our apartment, it was around $90 a month for extended basic cable(no DVR) and 6mbps internet. I was so glad when we bought our house so we could finally get Dish Network.

[ProudNissanFreak]

Must have apps:

Agenda Widget
Pandora
AlarmDroid
Vaulty Free (to password protect docs/pics and hide them on phone)
BBC News
Wifi Analyzer & WiFinder
Battery Life
DailyStrip (if you read newspaper comics)
Coupons
Barcode Scanner
Google Googles
Google Translate (works pretty decently)
PhotoShop Express (free)
Angry Birds & Paper Toss

[numbnuts240]

I just ordered my droid x

i got mine on 12/23. it's the bee's knees. cult of cartman soundboard makes my everyday, in person, conversations so much more entertaining

[MinisterofDOOM]

My list:

ADW.Launcher
Beautiful Widgets
Swype (if you can get in on the Beta)
Smart Keyboard Pro (if you can't get in on the Swype Beta)
Google Voice
ES File Manager
Google Sky Map
Google Goggles
Barcode Scanner
Compass
Pandora
Tricorder (really fun to play with the various sensors on your phone, plus it provides a lot of realtime GPS data that can be really useful)
Google Translate
Picsay Pro (fun image editor program with some neat features)

As far as web browsers go, your options will likely be broader than mine. My G1 does not get along with Firefox 4.0 Beta or Opera Mobile (NOT to be confused with Opera Mini). If it did, I'd be running one of those. But Dolphin HD and Opera Mini both work fine for me...I tend to prefer Opera Mini overall, though Dolphin HD has a lot of nice features as well. I keep them both installed.

Games:

Battleflood
Chess
Quake for Android
Quake 2 for Android
DOOM for Android

And if you're rooting:
Set CPU
Cache Cleaner NG

I'm also running CM6.1 (not available for the Droid X, sadly) which includes toggles in the notification blind, so I don't need any toggle widgets:

BeautifulWidgets does come with some nice individual toggle widgets, though. Otherwise the stock 2.2 Power Control is actually quite decent.

[ProudNissanFreak]

MoD, how is ADW.launcher compared to LauncherPro (which I currently use). I heard the former is better?

[tmeyer29]

updated pix, got an easier to read clock and added some stuff. minimalist ftmfw.

How do you get those your icons to look like that?

[MinisterofDOOM]

MoD, how is ADW.launcher compared to LauncherPro (which I currently use). I heard the former is better?

I actually have never used LauncherPro. I've heard people saying good things about both, but if you look at them their featuresets are pretty damn similar. I've been using ADW for ages, and when I moved over to CyanogenMod it also happened to be the integrated stock launcher for the ROM, which suits me just fine.

The reasons I've stuck with ADW (or at least gone back after short stints with other options) are that it still manages to run smoothly on my gutless wonder HTC Dream, it has TONS of options to fine tune appearance, functionality, and performance, and it gets very regular updates and bugfixes and the dev (AnderWeb) is excellent about responding to community feedback.

ADW didn't support themes at first, but does now (and there are some nice ones, like the Glass themes).

I'd say it's all down to personal preference. I definitely recommend at least giving ADW a try.

[ProudNissanFreak]

Awesome, I'll definitely give it a go. I'm rooting my phone right now, then I'll check it out, thanks!

[RobPaulson]

nice i dig the clean layout MoD, it is odd what you've experienced with launcherPro vs ADW, when i used ADW it slowed my device down SIGNIFICANTLY, however, LP worked like a charm and did everything I wanted.

love LauncherPro.