# Question
Title: How do I upgrade to a new version of Android?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How do I update the OS on my device?

So, I got an ePad AKA zenithink zt 180 (I know, I know it's cheap and I should have got a better piece of hardware, but i was too eager to get a tablet and this one was affordable)

It has 2.1 on it and I want to upgrade to 2.2 (for adobe flash).

The copy of Android looks like they just took the developer edition (i see a dev tools app pre-installed... not sure) and slapped it on there with no customization.

So, can you guys help me with step-by-step instructions on how to upgrade and where to find the latest copy?

I have a developer account already if that helps...

I would appreciate any help as I'm afraid of bricking it. There's no way to automatically update this thing either (that i can find) :-/

# Answer
You'll need a version that is specifically designed for your device that has all the drivers necessary to operate your specific hardware configuration. If no one has compiled a ROM for it you'd have to build one yourself from scratch. You best bet finding a 2.2 ROM for you device is over at the XDA Developers forum. Then even if you're able to load 2.2, Flash is going to be a whole different story. I had the Viewsonic g-tablet with Froyo (which as a Tegra2 Processor) but the Flash that I side-loaded wouldn't work at all. Force close after force close. Then with my newest tab, the Archos 70, even after they released 2.2 it was a while before anyone could find a version of Flash that would run without force closing and it still operates poorly. I suspect you're going to be disappointed with your Flash experience, especially if you have cheap hardware.
> 3 votes

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Tags: updates
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# Question
Title: How can I get the stock mail application in Android to sync all my Exchange/Outlook contact folders?
Device: Samsung Galaxy (T959)
OS: Android 2.1 (stock from T-Mobile USA)
Exchange Server 2007 Enterprise

**How can I get the stock mail application in Android to sync all my Exchange/Outlook contact folders?**

I have several contact folders off my "Mailbox" root. Here is the directory structure:

Mailbox - \[my name\]
..Contacts **(\<\< correctly sync'ing to phone)**
..Contacts - Family **(\<\< not sync'ing to phone)**
..Contacts - PRC **(\<\< not sync'ing to phone)**
..Contacts - Vendors **(\<\< not sync'ing to phone)**
..Inbox

I know that originally the iPhone didn't sync all the contact folders but it does now. Any hints on how to get Android 2.1 to do it?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Touchdown is your only option to fix this. An admin at my company got his Motorola Droid 2 and had the same problem. We tried everything we could find online in an attempt to sync all his contacts. Eventually we came across touchdown, paid the 19.99 and it worked fine. With the exception of notes it cleared up all the short comings of the stock Android Exchange sync.

Side Note: I don't personally use Touchdown nor am I affiliated with them in any way.

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Tags: contacts, exchange, outlook
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# Question
Title: What is the dominant factor for evaluating performance for TTS & ASR?
We know that CPU speed ("MFLOPS") alone is not the only factor that determines the performance of an Android device.

Other factors include the I/O subsystem, memory speed and, of course, the software that drives this hardware.

But in the case of evaluating various phones in terms of TTS and ASR performance (e.g. minimal delay from the moment you say a word, until it is recognized, given the **default built-in** engine), can we say that MFLOPS is the dominant factor?

In other words, do you happen to know whether **TTS & ASR** involve mostly CPU cycles with relatively little memory and I/O transfers? Or is it the opposite?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I would expect TTS and ASR to be very memory-intensive as they process input (which needs to be stored and transformed) and generate output. So slow memory would probably be a limiting factor with a fast CPU. There should also be a little I/O -- loading voice samples for comparison and playback -- but I would not expect it to be as much of an issue. I can't get any more specific since I don't know how the default engine works (I suspect few people outside Google do).

You might get a better answer on StackOverflow, since this is more of a question about the specifics of an algorithm and not really about Android use.

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Tags: performance, text-to-speech, voice-recognition
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# Question
Title: Make my screen dimmer than the lowest setting available on my Moto Droid?
I primarily use my phone at night and any screen that is white is super bright, even when the brightness is turned as low as it can go (0%). Dolphin HD has an add-on called Dolphin Brightness that actually turns the screen's brightness down lower than the 0% setting in the Settings menu. Unfortunately, as soon as I leave Dolphin HD, it goes back to the stock brightness level. Is there anyway to dial the brightness level down like the add-on, but for every app and the home screen?

I have tried several apps that give you access to brightness control, like Quick Settings but they simply give you the same level options that the stock settings menu gives you.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You could try this post on the droidforums.net that has a custom app to manage brightness. Requires root though.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I use Dimmer which gives me a slightly lower level of brightness than the stock settings ;)

# Answer
> 3 votes
While I prefer the app kchau suggested because of it's simplicity, this one works as well: adjBrightness

# Answer
> 3 votes
Here's one that works well and doesn't require a rooted device: **Screen Filter**

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Tags: settings, screen-brightness
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# Question
Title: Unable to install bootloader on MotoDroid with froyo FRG83D
I'm attempting to root my phone and have placed an update.zip in the root of my SDCard. I get the message that the zip is not signed and the update fails.

I understand that VZN started added this checksum to make sure that only official OTA's can get installed. Does anyone know howto get past this so that I can root my phone, so that I can install cyanogenMod, so that I can do wifi hotspot tethering?

# Answer
You may have a bad file, either from a bad source or it just got corrupted. I would try again. Follow this tutorial on DroidForums.net. It reportedly works fine with FRG83D.
> 1 votes

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, rooting, motorola-droid, rooting
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title: Sharing contacts on HTC Desire HD

text:
# Question
Title: Sharing contacts on HTC Desire HD
I have a stock Desire HD using HTC Sense and am having trouble sharing contacts. When I choose mail as a method to send contacts it doesn't offer me the choice to use my Gmail account?

Anyone have any idea why?

Really wish there was an option to turn off sense without rooting :(

# Answer
2 suggestions which are more workarounds than answers:

* set up the Mail app to access (and send from) your GMail account via IMAP, or
* send the contact to your GMail account using the 'Mail' option (i.e. from whatever account you do have set up) and then forward it on from there.
> 1 votes

# Answer
In the end, having tried a few things, I installed a free app called qr code (barcode for the app: http://db.tt/sNcfBdS) and used that to create and send a mail with it attached.

Again, a work around rather than a direct solution but thought I would share what I did. This has the limitation that you can't share contacts which you have lots of data stored for unless you only choose to share a couple if bits of info (which qr code lets you do).

The answer seems to be that you can't use your gmail unless you do so via imap, so i have marked matt h's as an answer.
> 1 votes

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Tags: contacts, share-menu
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# Question
Title: How to set alarm for all calendar events synced from Google account android
I used to use my events in Google Calendar for reminding me of my events through SMS alerts earlier (when I had a simple mobile). Now I've got those synced up in my Android 2.1 (Samsung Galaxy 3 Apollo) and I would like it to remind me of my events by alarm instead of SMSes. Is this possible?

# Answer
1. Log on to Google Calendar Online through web browser (I did this on PC. Not sure if these steps are available on mobile calendar site).
2. Go to Settings \> Calendar Settings \> Calenders \> Click Notification against your specific Calendar.
3. Remove reminder for SMS and add Reminder for Pop Up.

By the above steps, whenever a new event is added on-line, it will set an alarm notification for it on mobile when synced.

For already created event, change the notification for each event to Pop Up through web browser.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Using stock Calendar apps, you can `Press "Menu Button" > Tap "More" > Tap "Settings" > Tap "Set Alerts & Notifications"` to set the phone to ring for each reminder you've set for each events.

**EDIT:**

The stock calendar icon:

*press* "Menu", then *tap* on "More":

*tap* "Settings:

*tap* "Set alerts & notifications":

*tap on "Alert"*:

This is on Calendar version 7 on 2.1-eclair Samsung Spica
> 2 votes

# Answer
I believe you can setup something with Tasker.

Create a new event, based off of state --\> "Calendar Entry".

Then create a task based off of it to alert a sound for you or show a dialog or whatever you need for it to do.
> 0 votes

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Tags: notifications, calendar
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# Question
Title: Can I set it so the "Phone" on my phone takes priority over all other apps?
Every once in a while my phone gets very sluggish when I'm multitasking, which is annoying but fine. Is there any way for me to set it so that the Dialer app takes priority over everything else, quickly stealing whatever resources it needs to run as fast as possible?

Also, I am aware of the plethora of task killers available but I'm not interested unless it specifically allows me to set the dialer as a VIP or in some way make sure that the dialer gets first dibs on resources.

Unrooted Moto Droid on 2.2

# Answer
> 5 votes
I don't think there is any way to prioritize threads/apps in Android. Programatically you'd set thread priority here, but it would be your threads in your app. You shouldn't be able to do this against someone else's app unless you had their developer signature as all applications are sandboxed from each other (unless permission is given).

Instead, I would focus on trying to improve overall performance on your phone:

* Conserve memory:
    + Reduce the number of running services
    + Delete apps that you do not use (especially those that are spawning services)
* Overclocking (requires root and will drain more battery, but could be allieviated some by running an under voltage kernel) or installing a custom mod with performance tweaks
    + As a side note, overclocking the Motorola Droid makes it hell of a lot more responsive than the default 550-600mhz clock speed, but I find the battery drain to be too much unless I have my phone plugged in to a power source. If you carry a spare battery around like me, it may not be that big of a deal

You are right to not use a task killer. The Android OS was built to handle tasks appropriately and you would otherwise waste resources running an auto-kill service every X minutes (because those killed tasks are just going to re-spawn) and potentially cause other problems (killing a task that is writing to the SD card, for instance, could cause file corruption). The only thing task killers are good for are for what you would normally use one for: to kill hung up processes.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The Linux command `nice` and `renice` (use terminal) might be what you're looking for. The `renice` program is used to set the CPU and IO scheduling priority of a running process; the higher the nice value (the nicer the program) the lower the scheduling priority, and programs with low nice value (IOW, "mean") have higher scheduling priority.

However, I'm not quite sure how nice values are used by Android framework. In here: http://code.google.com/p/openeclair/issues/detail?id=97 it is hinted that Home apps prevents itself from being killed by setting itself with a very low nice value; and unless Android kernel deviates from upstream linux kernel by way too much, the CPU and IO scheduler should use nice value to prioritize CPU and IO scheduling.

You might need to be rooted and have busybox.

# Answer
> 0 votes
**AutoKiller Memory Optimizer** *(root only)*

It's not specific to the dialer but you can give the dialer a higher priority.

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Tags: performance, phone-app
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# Question
Title: How to browse files on a Motorola Defy (Android) with ubuntu 10.04?
I want to browse files on my mobile with ubuntu.

# Answer
**Android 2.1 (Eclair)**

1. Plug in your phone
2. Pull the notification bar; tap on "USB connected (Select to copy files to/from your computer)". Tap "Mount".
3. Ubuntu should autoprompt you to browse the phone using File Manager (Nautilus)

**Android 2.2 (Froyo) (and *probably* Android 2.3)**

1. Plug in your phone
2. Android should autoprompt you to enable USB Mass Storage.
3. Ubuntu should autoprompt you to browse the phone using File Manager (Nautilus)

(Froyo image shamelessly taken from http://droidfreeapps.com/2010/05/usb-mass-storage-tweaks/)
> 5 votes

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Tags: linux, files, usb-connection-mode
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# Question
Title: Is it possible to type accented letters using the Galaxy S English keyboard?
I have a Galaxy S, and my locale is English (UK). Is it possible to type accented letters, such as **é** to a textfield using the keyboard? If yes, how?

edit: I know I can use swype but please don't recommend it because my native language is not supported by Swype and it's really not comfortable to use swype in my case

# Answer
> 22 votes
I'm not sure if it is the same on all devices, but if you long press on the letter e then you should see a pop-up that allows you to selected accented variations of the letter e. Example: ā ñ ī ē õ ū ķ even ś and it won't give you an option that doesn't go with the letter.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, keyboard, languages, localization
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# Question
Title: How to install a custom keyboard in Android?
I read this article which says that I can "can install any custom keyboard as the default keyboard on Android". How can I do that? Does it require rooting?

# Answer
> 10 votes
Yes you can. I've used Swype as well as TouchPal Keyboard as alternatives.

Once you install any new keyboard, just go to Settings \> Language & Keyboard to set your keyboard/text settings.

# Answer
> 6 votes
I found that even after changing the setting it didn't use the new keyboard. I had to do a long press in a text field. That showed an option for which input method to use. Once selecting the new keyboard it worked all the time.

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Tags: keyboard
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# Question
Title: Can I Bluetooth tether my Android to iPhone?
I am very confused atm. My iPhone 4 says it has Internet Tethering (Settings \> General \> Network \> Internet Tethering \> On) via Bluetooth (Settings \> General \> Bluetooth \> On).

1. Does this mean I can share my data plan with my Android phone? (A Dell Streak.)
2. When I activate Bluetooth on my Android phone (Settings \> Wireless & Network settings \> Bluetooth \> turn on \> Bluetooth Settings \> Discoverable \> turn on) I can both iPhone and Streak to see each other; I get the dialog saying "confirm that number xx appears on the other device's screen" and press the button to confirm that; but that's it. From then on both devices say:

> Paired but not connected.

## What else do I need to do?

While researching for a solution, I found that a lot of posts I see on the Mac forums say that your provider (currently Virgin Australia) must support tethering. Does that cover this use? How do I know if my supplier is stopping tethering from working?

If relevant my Android version is 2.2.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You won't be able to use BT-DUN on the streak unless there is something custom built into the UI. My Archos 70 has a setting baked into Android for Bluetooth Tethering specifically. Without that or some app to enable it, the Streak won't know where to get the internet connection from, even if the devices are connected. Don't bother with PDANet because it only works when you are going the other way, sharing your Android internet connection with another device.

Another option, would be to **put MyWi on your iPhone and make it a wireless access point**, then you can connect to it via your wifi connection. There is one problem: the MyWi creates an adhoc connection and Android doesn't recognize adhoc. You can get around this by editing your wpa\_supplicant file but you need to be rooted to do this. Here are the instructions to do this: http://android.modaco.com/content/dell-streak-streak-modaco-com/316049/ad-hoc-network-connection-for-streak/

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Tags: bluetooth, tethering, ios, bluetooth-tethering
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title: Android and antiviruses

text:
# Question
Title: Android and antiviruses
This is actually three questions:

1. Are anti-viruses needed for smartphones running Android OS?
2. Is the Android Market absolutely safe (because all precautions are taken by Google to prevent any problems)?
3. Which are the big players in the Android Security Software market?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 9 votes
1. **Yes and No**.

**No** because Android's and Linux's security scheme is impenetrable as long as you don't give Root Access or Permissions. Without root, a malicious program cannot take over your system's integrity (there is very little zero day exploit in Linux/Android). And without Permissions, malicious program cannot risk your privacy, e.g. personal data, hardware that can risk your personal data (e.g. camera, mic), location, internet, SD card, etc.

However, **Yes** because **nobody pays attention to those permissions and security warnings**. Also, Android can still be a vector for Windows' viruses, even though the Android itself will not be affected by Windows' virus.

The Geinimi trojan that Matt pointed out relies on the program convincing the user to went through the standard install/uninstall prompt without being suspicious.
2. **No**, Market is not a safe place. Any developers can upload any program to Market, and Google does not screen those programs. However, Google will and do remove any reported rogue programs quite quickly.
3. Refer to Matt's answer.

# Answer
> 4 votes
1. Yes
2. No
3. I prefer Lookout but all the AV companies have apps: AVG, McAffee, Norton...

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Tags: google-play-store, security, antivirus
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# Question
Title: Rooting HTC Evo on Froyo 2.2 and installing a custom rom
I just received the latest update from HTC. They have installed more bloatware on my phone and I've finally had enough. I want to root. I found this rom and this guide on how to root. But the root guide says outdated so I'm worried.

Firstly, however, is my concern about ruining my phone. I consider myself tech savvy, and I plan on following directions exactly, but in my experience sometimes following the directions doesn't yield expected results. Is there a way to back out once I've started rooting/flashing?

Phone Information (HTC Evo)

* Android Version: 2.2
* Kernel version: 2.6.32.17
* Software number: 3.70.651.1
* HBoot: 2.10.0001

Is that guide going to work? is there a better way to root? I'm assuming the version of the HTC software doesn't matter for rooting. How do I root and then flash in the custom rom? Do I even need to root to flash in the custom rom (does the rom it come rooted?) How do I flash in the custom rom?

# Answer
You've got a bunch of questions going on here, but I'll see if I can break this down in a reasonable manner.

For starters, there's another key part of your phone that can be useful for determining which rooting methods will/won't work - your HBoot version. This is effectively a first-stage bootloader for your phone, and you can access it by powering on your EVO while holding the volume down button. You'll know you're at the HBoot screen if you get a mostly white screen with some skateboarding androids on the bottom. It will look something like this, and will have text that says "HBOOT-`<some numbers>`" near the top. This is your HBoot version, and it's good to remember what it is.

Second, that rooting method is, as noted, outdated. I believe people currently use this method or this method on the 3.70 software. You could also try Unrevoked if you want, but I don't know how nicely it plays with 3.70 (especially if you have an HBoot version of 2.02 or later). I have not had to root in a while, though, so I'd just look through some threads a bit to see what is working on your software versions.

You do need root in order to flash a custom ROM image on your phone. Pretty much every rooting process now will unlock the permissions of your NAND, which is the portion of flash memory where system files live. You need to be able to write to NAND in order to flash a custom ROM, and you need root to perform the unlock.

The easiest way to flash a ROM is through a custom recovery image. You can put a flashable .zip file on your SD card, then boot into recovery and flash the .zip to install the ROM. The ROM itself will pretty much always be rooted, unless it's just an unmodified OTA that's been packed into a .zip format. You can also flash ROMs directly from the ROM Manager program, but it can be a little finicky, so I recommend doing it manually. The two main custom recoveries are Amon RA's recovery and ClockworkMod recovery (brief discussion on the differences here on XDA).

Custom recoveries can do other things, too, such as partition your SD card and perform NAND backups. If you're going to start rooting, I recommend making a NAND (also called "nandroid") backup **any time** you are getting ready to make a modification to your system. The backup is a literal 1-to-1 image copy of your NAND when the backup is made, so you can completely restore your phone's current condition (settings, system, apps, everything) by restoring from a backup.

Lastly, it is possible to unroot your phone. If something gets really messed up, you can use one of HTC's ROM Upgrade Utilities (RUU) to effectively re-flash the phone back to stock HTC software. When mucking around with dual-booting ROMs on my EVO I managed to wreck my boot partition at one point. I couldn't get into my ROM, I couldn't get into recovery, but I could still get to HBoot. From HBoot I could still run an RUU, so I just restored to the 3.30 software, re-rooted, restored my NAND backup and went on my merry way. Although there is always potential to brick your phone completely, I've never actually seen a scenario where a phone couldn't be recovered via HBoot somehow (either RUU or another method). There are guides available for this as well.

Also, just as a note, if you only want to root so that you can get rid of Sprint's bloatware, you don't need a custom ROM. Once you unlock your NAND you can just delete apps from the /system/apps directory via an `adb` shell or a terminal emulator. I personally think it's worth it to dive into a custom ROM (I'm a CyanogenMod guy myself), but that's up to you.

And of course, if Sprint finds out that you rooted your phone your warranty is void. I think it's worth the risk, but it's something to always keep in mind.
> 8 votes

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Tags: rooting, custom-roms, htc-evo, rom-flashing
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# Question
Title: Does uninstalling apps leave any traces?
I come from a Windows background where anything you install-uninstall usually leaves traces which are sometimes hard to detect and remove.

Does the same happen when you remove Android apps? I know there is no registry in Linux/Android, but is there any place where traces can still remain?

I have seen some apps creating folders on the SD Card, but that's easy to spot and delete.

Thank you.

# Answer
On an unrooted phone, apps run as distinct users, and don't have access to any files created by other users or system files, i.e. they are 'sandboxed'. Since they can't make any such changes, I would say the only thing they can leave behind is a little detritus on your SD card.

On a rooted phone, an app which has been granted root access can do pretty much anything that is possible in the hardware. Apps that have root permissions can write on non-read-only storage media (including modifying the bootloader), modify other programs' private data, modify system settings, modify system files, etc. A rooted app can also hide itself from the system, and pretend to be uninstalled while being perfectly well and alive.

Basically, rooted apps can do anything that the hardware allows

**Updated** to include Lie Ryan's info on rooted apps.
> 18 votes

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Tags: applications, uninstallation
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# Question
Title: How can I play music from my HTC Desire Android phone in my car?
My car is a 2002 Toyota Camry and the stereo is old-fashioned like this:

I did some research and found out that I could use FM transmitter from iRiver:

Is that the recommended way to play music from my Android without investing too much?

If yes, that also creates a new problem which is the Power Socket needs to be shared between iRiver and Android (which is power hungry). How do I solve that problem?

Thanks all.

# Answer
I have something similar to this Parrot handsfree kit that I use for handsfree calls, but primarily for playing music from my Desire through my car stereo (which is of similar vintage).

That approach has the advantage that you can control the music from the handsfree kit, not having to worry about which pocket your phone is in.

---

> Yeah I'm curious too.. it seems to use Bluetooth. I don't think my car stereo has Bluetooth support

It does, but it handles all of that. My stereo doesn't have Bluetooth either, but the phone connects to the handsfree kit, which then hands either a mono audio stream (handsfree) or stereo (music) to the stereo's appropriate inputs.
> 2 votes

# Answer
The FM transmitter solution works, but can be a bit unreliable as you drive around, moving through areas with different interference etc. The transmitter works by sending the radio signal out at low power on a particular frequency, so if there's something bigger (like a real radio station) broadcasting on the same frequency you'll hear that instead.

I have a transmitter that can be battery-powered or plugged into the cigar lighter - it only works satisfactorily when plugged in.

The quality of the sound also depends on how good the FM reception is in your car.

As for the power issue, you can get splitters for the standard car cigar lighter; search Amazon for "car power splitter" for examples, such as:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001JPRLPM/ref=mp\_s\_a\_5?qid=1293873275&sr=8-5

If the transmitter works for you in your car and your location, and you can put up with the wires dangling around the car, then it's an ok (not great) solution. Another simple method would be to replace your stock car stereo with one that has a 3.5mm AUX input, and plug the phone straight in.
> 0 votes

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Tags: htc-desire, fm-radio
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# Question
Title: HTC Desire, Froyo - Gmail hangs when sending attachments
I have a HTC desire with Froyo, stock rom (Orange 2.17.61.3). I never had any problems with Gmail (version 2.3.2). However, since a couple of days when I try to send attachments (any kind, pdf, pictures, etc.) it just hangs.

The mails are in the outbox but don't get sent and Gmail doesn't synchronize anymore. If I delete the mails from the outbox, Gmail still fails to synchronize. To resurrect it I have to force stop it and clear its cache.

There is constant internet connection through WIFI and I can browse, access the net through other apps with no problems. Current space on the phone, 15.7MB internal and 55MB on the sd card.

Any clues?

# Answer
I've found that Android experiences random hangs and lockups when there are less than ~20MB of internal memory. In particular, I've found that on startup there will be a few force closes from the latin keyboard and the system; also the phone becomes noticeably laggy. When there are less than 10MB, the phone is so laggy that it becomes totally unusable. You might want to clean up your internal memory and see if it helps with your problem.
> 2 votes

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, htc-desire, gmail
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title: How can I configure my phone for MMS?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I configure my phone for MMS?
I can not send or receive MMS-messages (containing an image) on my Nexus One phone. And I can't find many settings to set for it.

I have set an adress for APN. But there is also an IP-address, a proxieaddress and a port number that I should set.

How do I set up MMS on Nexus One?

# Answer
> 3 votes
You will need your operator's APN details (hint: ask the operator's customer service or search on Google), which you can enter through `Settings > Tap "Wireless & network settings" > Tap "Mobile networks" > Tap "Access Point Names" > Press "Menu Button" > Tap "New APN"` (eclair/2.1).

Alternatively, many operators can send a special service message that will automatically configure the correct APN settings. You might need to contact your operator's customer service or send an SMS/text message to a special number before they send you the autoconfigure service message.

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Tags: settings, mms
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# Question
Title: Why is my Samsung Galaxy S not utilizing all of its RAM?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Why is my device not utilizing all of its available RAM?

Samsung Galaxy S GT I9000 comes with 512 MB RAM but it shows only 326 or less. Why?

# Answer
Wrong.

Galaxy S does have 512 Mb. the problem is that you cannot use it all for programs. From that 512 Mb of memory 128 Mb are reserved for graphical purposes and for phone modem. You don't want any call to end because programs running took all that memory, do you?

The problem with the Galaxy S is that if we take into account that 128Mb we should have 384. But for some reason it display 326 and 304 in some cases. That black hole is the mistery.

Still I could not find anyone that explains that to me.

Hope this eases your soul. You have 512 Mb. They just did not told you that you could not use it all. ;)
> 8 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, ram
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title: How to select default application

text:
# Question
Title: How to select default application
How can I change the default application for a given file type or protocol? For example, I have multiple browsers on my smartphone and have selected "Internet" (the default browser) to be "the default browser" because it kept asking on every link.

How can I change that to ask me each time or at least select a different option?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 8 votes
Go to:

```
Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications -> All -> Web [or Internet]

```

Hit "Clear Defaults" and that will change it to again ask every time.

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Tags: default-applications
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title: Android and other OS at the same time

text:
# Question
Title: Android and other OS at the same time
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Can I install Android on my non-Android device?

Is it possible to have Android 2.2 as well as say Windows 7 Mobile on my smartphone? Any idea how that can be done?

Thank you.

# Answer
I don't believe a way has been found to dual-boot. However, the HTC Desire Z (Android) and the HTC HD2 (Windows Mobile 7) are basically the same phone, so I'm sure a dedicated developer could make it work for those. Windows Phone 7 doesn't work on any phone the way Windows works on any PC, and Android is mostly the same.

N.B. Something called "Gen.Y DualBOOT" allowed for Android and Windows Mobile 6 to run on the same phone, but I don't believe it has been updated for WP7. There's a netbook that does it, but not very well.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: windows-mobile, dual-boot
---


title: urlfilter.ini for Opera Mini

text:
# Question
Title: urlfilter.ini for Opera Mini
For Opera or Opera Mobile it's possible to **block certain URLs** by adding a file **urlfilter.ini** to the user profiles. On Opera Mobile this file would be placed at `/data/data/com.opera.browser/opera/profiles/smartphone/urlfilter.ini`.

But this approach only seems to work for Opera Mobile, not Opera Mini. Is there a way to block certain URLs in **Opera Mini** so that the normal user can't change it via the Opera UI?

Another idea I had (my app runs on rooted devices with secured su access) but which wouldn't entire cover all my requirements: Modifying the `/etc/hosts` file and change all urls to 127.0.0.1 - but the problem is that I don't just filter entire domains, but also just certain suffixes, etc. \*.apk, and `/etc/hosts` doesn't allow wild cards just for file suffixes.

# Answer
I don't think this line of thinking would work. The Opera Mini experience is built on the premise of the client being able to connect to Opera's rendering server farms and having a web page that's optimised for mobile view being sent to your phone/device after being compressed in order to save data network costs.

I don't think modifying your hosts file would work on Opera Mini - Mobile and your default browser - yes, because they connect directly from your phone to the page you're trying to view.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: opera-mini, opera-browser
---


# Question
Title: Change application to be launched using Voice Action
Is there a way I can change which app will launch upon Voice action? For example when I say "Listen to Pink Floyd", it currently opens Last.fm app which is more or less useless for me since Last.fm doesn't have streaming in my location.

Can I configure it to open, say, Winamp instead of Last.fm? If yes, how?

# Answer
> 5 votes
I believe if you uninstall the Last.fm app, then use the Voice Action "Listen to..", a pop up should show asking which of the default players listed here, will show up and be used.

If however, you'd prefer the default in-built player to play, use Listen To or the app Choice Dialer, available in both free and paid versions in the market.

# Answer
> 5 votes
You can clear the preferred program from "Settings \> Applications \> Manage applications \> Last.FM \> Clear defaults"

Then the next time you launch the Voice Action, you'd be prompted with a list of players, click on the "Make default" then on your new preferred application.

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-nexus-s, music-player, voice-command
---


title: How can I add the market to my device?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I add the market to my device?
I have a white Pandigital Novel that I hacked to run Android 2.1. The firmware I have did not come with the market. Is there a way I can put the market on it? Is there a "market.apk" somewhere?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Android Market is not a freeware, unlike the rest of Android OS, so I'm not sure if there is a legal way to install it on your custom OS. I suggest you take a look at these threads:

# Answer
> 1 votes
Androidtablets.net has a topic about a ROM for your device that has the Market on it. I'm not sure if you can just take the market.apk from that one or if you'd need to flash the entire ROM, but it looks like you can get the market on that device.

---
Tags: 2.1-eclair, google-play-store, pandigital-novel
---


# Question
Title: What are some Facebook contact integration alternatives?
I'm using HTC Hero.

I really love its seamless integration with facebook contacts. My favorite thing about this feature is that I can link my google contact to facebook contact then automatically get profile picture and birthday information from facebook.

since I can't get any decent froyo ROM for HTC Hero, I use this non-htc-sense ROM and now I miss that feature.

is there any application that (or any way to) bring similar feature?

# Answer
First, in the Facebook app, go to settings -\> Sync Contacts -\> check either Sync all or Sync with existing contacts. Then in the contacts app, go to Display options and find your Facebook account in the list, then check All contacts. They should show up in your contact list then. To join them with existing google contacts, go into one of the contacts, edit it, hit menu and select Join, then find the other contact and select it.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Make sure that your Facebook account is set to sync contacts (Settings -\> Accounts and sync -\> Facebook -\> Sync Contacts). Then in the Contacts app, Select a contact -\> Hit the Menu button -\> Join contact -\> Select the contact to merge.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, contacts, htc-hero, facebook
---


# Question
Title: Widget to show alarm information on HTC Desire
Is it possible to have information about scheduled alarms always visible on the screen? Ideally, as a widget with the list of alarms, or at least just the time of the next alarm somewhere, so I could always know this information at a glance, without opening alarm settings screen.

For now, I have to regularly check my alarm settings by clicking on the clock widget, which is inconvenient. Also, there is an alarm icon in the status bar, which is rather useless because I have several alarms at different times and at least one is always enabled.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I use a widget called "Digital Clock Widget", free from the Market. It's a simple clock/date widget, which can be configured to also show the day and time of the next alarm.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Alarm Master has a widget that shows the next alarm, but i think you need to set alarms from within that app, not the default alarm / clock app.

There's also Upcomings, which has a similar widget for showing the next event.

# Answer
> 0 votes
For the next calendar event the Desire (and all HTC I think) don't need a 3rd party app. The HTC calendar widget which comes with the phone has 3 different view modes, the third does exactly that.

Unfortunately it works only with calendar events and not alarms...

---
Tags: htc-desire, app-widgets, alarm
---


# Question
Title: How can I make the Swype keyboard type "I" when I press "i", now it types "ki"?
I am using the Swype keyboard preloaded on my at&t Captivate (Samsung Galaxy S) phone and I like it a lot. My only problem is that when I try to write `I` I'm used to just pressing `i` and letting the phone capitalize it. However Swype routinely writes `ki` when I am trying to write `I`.

I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if they know how to fix it?

Also, is there a way for me to remove `ki` from Swype's internal dictionary so it'll never attempt to write it? It might be useful to modify that dictionary for other reasons too, so I can add personal names, local street names, etc.

Is there an auto text replacement app that I can use to always change `ki` to `I`?

Thanks!

# Answer
> 5 votes
Actually I had the same problem as you, and I searched the help dictionary. You have to swype from "I" down to the spacebar in order for it to auto-cap. It's not as easy to find or widely known. Also as a heads-up you can do this with "a" too. The brilliant thing about it is that you only have to be close to the "I" and "a" in order for it to space/cap.

# Answer
> 12 votes
Open up the memo application (or anywhere that you can enter text), enter the "ki" that's giving you problems, highlight it and hit the Swype key on the lower left; it will prompt you to delete the word.

In general it will remember new words that you enter; you may have to type them out letter-by-letter first.

# Answer
> 7 votes
Capitalizing in Swype is pretty easy. If I wanted to swype `Joe` I would hit the `j` and then swype to a point above the keyboard on the screen, then back down to `o` and `e`. If I wanted to do `JOE`, I would swype from `j` to a point above the keyboard, then do a little loop while still above the keyboard, then swype to `o` and `e`.

So, in order to get a capital `I`, hit the letter `i` and the sweep up above the keyboard and then let go.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, 2.1-eclair, keyboard, 2.1-eclair, swype
---


# Question
Title: How can I run Flash on a Pandigital novel hacked to run Android 2.1 (Eclair)?
I have a white Pandigital novel that I hacked to run 2.1.

I followed these instructions to the letter(except I don't have the market so I got Apps Installer elsewhere), but when I finished, nothing was different. (yes, I remembered to reboot.) www.whatismyflash.com says my current flash version is "None or Disabled". Anyone know what's happening? There was also nothing related to flash in the launcher. Should there be? However, Apps Installer insists that my flash apk is installed.

*Note: I am aware of this similar question but that question asks for a flash app and my question asks "Why isn't my flash app working?"*

*Other Note: I tried some games in Skyfire and they didn't work so please no "just try Skyfire" answers.*

# Answer
> 5 votes
Those instructions are BS. Flash **does not work** on 2.1. However, there are several devices that run Flash Lite (it came on my Galaxy S Vibrant, for example). Someone with Flash Lite tried that and thought they had real Flash when really they just had Lite, and it spread for a while before being debunked. Just read the comments on that post.

Edit: According to Lie Ryan's comment below, full flash is compiled for ARMv7 chips, and so won't work on other processors even with 2.2.

**Edit 2**: Adobe now has a list of devices that run Flash: http://www.adobe.com/flashplatform/certified\_devices/

---
Tags: 2.1-eclair, adobe-flash, pandigital-novel
---


# Question
Title: Does Android resolution matter for other than clarity?
In Android OS, does screen resolution matter in applications?

Obviously a phone with 800x480 resolution is going to look much sharper than a 320x480 one, but is that the only difference? Do the icons and such scale at different resolutions or just look sharper?

Can I actually fit a lot more on the screen on the higher res phones (such as when you increase the resolution on a desktop PC?) I am looking for an inexpensive Android phone that doesn't require Sprint's bogus $10 "4G fee". Unfortunately, it looks like the only phone that is decent and doesn't require this fee is the LG Optimus S (free right now). However, the resolution is 320x480. I'm going to check it out in a store soon but wanted to see what you experts think.

Thank you!

# Answer
No, what matters for clarity is acuity, or the "number of pixels versus screen size versus viewing distance". A 800x480 image shown on a 100" monitor seen 30 cm viewing distance would look awfully pixelated, while 480x320 screen on a 2" monitor seen at the same viewing distance would look very sharp.

LG Optimus S has a 480x320 pixels on a 3.2 inch screen (i.e. 2.66x1.78 inch screen). The pixel density of LG Optimus S is (480/2.66 = 320/1.78) = 180 pixel per inch, IOW the size of a single pixel is 1/180 inch.

On a viewing distance of 20 cm (the typical viewing distance for a phone), 180 pixel per inch translates to 0.04233 arcminute per pixels. For comparison, human eyes can resolve 0.3 arcminute in a good lighting condition.

The extra resolution gives programs two options; it can either use it to fit more stuff in the same area, or it could use higher resolution images and produce sharper display. Home screens often do not do the first since it will make the icons smaller and more difficult to press, instead they calculate the amount of stuff to fit from the actual physical size of the screen instead of the resolution.
> 8 votes

# Answer
To answer your question, yes screen resolution matters in the use of third-party application. Although by design a application should not care what the resolution is but over all the applications I have installed on my phone it is clear that the larger the resolution the more the application becomes visible.

Take one of the default application, as an example, if you were to use a smaller resolution parts of the application will become hidden. Sometimes the options are not accessible because of a designer forgetting to acknowledgment the possibility of smaller resolution.

I suggest to get a phone capable of larger resolutions, or find an Android Build that can mimic the larger resolutions.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: screen
---


title: What does the IcsService process do?

text:
# Question
Title: What does the IcsService process do?
Under running services, I see the **IcsService** or long name **com.android.samsung.IcsService** . What does that process do? I'm debating about removing it.

Note I have a AT&T Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S)

# Answer
ICS = Internet Connection Sharing. I believe it's the service that lets a computer connect to the internet through your device over USB. You can safely remove it if you don't use it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: services
---


# Question
Title: How do I unroot my Evo (using unrevoked 3.21)
O.k so I have an H.T.C Evo with Froyo 2.2, and I recently rooted it using unRevoked 3.21 but now i'm having some issues with my phone and would like to return it back to sprint. How do I remove the root and change the evo back to stock version so I can take my phone into sprint for a checkup. Can someone pleaaaaaaasssssssse help me? My phone is moving like a turtle.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You could start with this method. It's basically just two steps:

1. If you used Unrevoked Forever on your phone, then flash their S-ON tool.
2. Flash a stock PC36IMG.zip from HBoot.

There's also the RUU method, though I think you'd still need to run the S-ON tool if you used Unrevoked Forever (I don't believe the RUU will re-enable S-ON). Either one of these should get you back to a stock unrooted system.

---
Tags: htc-evo, unrooting
---


title: Nexus One User's Guide Printed Book?

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus One User's Guide Printed Book?
Does the Nexus One come with a **printed** (i.e. real paper, not PDF) User's Guide?

Note: I know that the N1's User's Guide PDF can be downloaded from here, but I would hate to use my poor printer to print 334 pages...

# Answer
No. It comes with a couple small booklets (see this AndroidSpin post for example images) but not the full user guide. (Also see this HowardForums post answering your question).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-one, documentation
---


# Question
Title: Weather app that displays "feels like" temperature?
I have a HTC Evo and while I like the stock weather app, it doesn't show the "feels like" temperature. I know the Weather Channel app has this but it was completely unusable with null errors for me (refer to the marketplace reviews for more on this), and the free Weatherbug app I also tried didn't have "feels like" temps. Does anybody know of any other apps that have this feature?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Accuweather has two apps that give you "RealFeel" - Accuweather and Accuweather Quick.

---
Tags: applications, weather
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to move the keyboard to the top of the screen?
One of the biggest advantages to the Swype keyboard is the ability to effectively type with only one hand. However this dosent work very well since the keyboard is at the bottom of the screen. Is there any way to move the keyboard to the top of the screen only when on portrait mode so that I can grip the phone with one hand and type with my thumb on the top of the screen where my thumb has more range of motion?

# Answer
There is no setting to do this. It would appear there is also no supported method for a keyboard developer to set where their keyboard is drawn (see KeyboardView on android.com).
> 4 votes

---
Tags: swype
---


# Question
Title: Does Nexus One WiFi traffic go through Google?
When I use the default browser (what is it? Is it Chrome? Firefox? other?) to view a site (not necessarily via Google search), does any of that visit information reach Google servers?

How about DNS?

# Answer
Actually the predictive search from the address bar sends the text you enter to Google to provide the search predictions. For example, if you start to type "search" and get to "sea" it suggests "sears", "seattle times", "sean parker" etc...
> 5 votes

# Answer
No, the data shouldn't pass through Google servers unless you are viewing a site hosted by Goolge.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, browser, google, data-monitoring, privacy
---


title: Show dial/call duration

text:
# Question
Title: Show dial/call duration
In Android 2.1 there was the possibility to drag the notifications bar during dialing a number and to be able to see when the phone started ringing (it was starting counting when connecting, then resetting the counter when dialing) and hence be able to "beep" somebody without listening the dialing sound. In Android 2.2 this function disappeared. Is there a way to bring it back or an app in the market for this?

Thank you!

# Answer
> 1 votes
If i understood you correctly, you want to get notified when a call goes through, not when the other person picks up? You could try Settings -\> Call settings -\> All calls -\> Call status tones -\> Call connect tone to get a sound from the speaker when the call connects, so you don't have to hold the phone to your ear. Is this what you were looking for?

Edit: I know, it doesn't answer the title but could help with the problem.

---
Tags: calls
---


# Question
Title: How can you tell if you've been a victim of the recent sms bug?
How would one know if their phone was or is afflicted by the recent bug (sending sms to the wrong people)?

# Answer
From this post, it seems that only very specific conditions seem to trigger this bug. Also, AFAIK, this only seems to affect the default Messaging app, using a replacement like Handcent seems to be the way to go. More info on the bug here.

> Specifically, there is something about certain email-to-SMS messages that corrupts Android's SQLite database, causing unpredictable results thereafter. The most commonly cited offender is alerts sent by Bank of America, though SMS alerts sent by LinkedIn and T-Mobile are also cited. It's possible that any SMS where the sender is an email address will do the trick, or it's possible there's something else these specific senders' messages have in common.
>
> To be clear: if you've never received one of these corrupting messages, you will never be able to reproduce the bug. That's why it's only affecting a small group of Android users.
>
> If you have fallen prey to the issue, you should be able to fix it by performing a hard reset (wiping all data) and then blocking the offending sender(s) from sending you texts in the future.
> 7 votes

---
Tags: sms
---


title: Headset to HTC Desire?

text:
# Question
Title: Headset to HTC Desire?
I'm looking for a **wired** headset to my Desire (no pun intended ;)). My clients complain about sound quality when I use the one that comes with the phone.

All suggestions are welcome.

(I would have made this question a community wiki @ StackOverflow, please do so instead of closing it)

# Answer
I've used both quality Bluetooth and wired headsets adapters with my HTC Desire without anybody complaining about sound quality. In general I don't think you can go wrong with Plantronics headsets, I've been using their landline ones for years.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, headphones
---


# Question
Title: How can I set a custom ringtone for a contact when using Google Voice?
I use Google Voice for all incoming calls. When someone calls me, their contact information (picture, phone number, name) shows up on the screen. However, the ringtone that is used is not the custom ringtone assigned to that contact, but the default ringtone. What can I do?

My phone numbers are currently stores as ########## with no leading 1. I'm not sure if this matters.

# Answer
I would first test by adding a 1 to a number and having them call you. Android should be smart enough to treat them identically but Google Voice might not play nicely.

I'm not sure of the specifics of how GVoice works, but keep in mind that your contacts are calling **Google** and Google is calling you. Somehow they pass on your contact's number, but it's spoofed, and your phone is probably relying on the "real" number (i.e. Google's number) for choosing the ringtone.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Do you have Google Voice itself set to pass through the phone number of the caller or do you have it set to show the Google Voice number? If you currently have it set to show your Google Voice number instead of the callers number then change that setting.

Let me know if that is the case. If you already have that set then we can delve deeper.

The setting in question is in the web version of Google Voice under Settings - Calls - Caller ID (incoming).
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, google-voice, ringtone
---


# Question
Title: How to delete the history and cache in Opera Mobile (10.1) via shell?
I run **Opera Mobile 10.1** on Android. My device is rooted. **How can I clear the history and cache of the browser via shell?** As su, removing

> /data/data/com.opera.browser/opera/profiles/smartphone/cookies4.dat
>
> /data/data/com.opera.browser/opera/profiles/smartphone/cache
>
> /data/data/com.opera.browser/opera/profiles/smartphone/cacheO

and a

> /system/xbin/busybox killall -9 com.opera.browser

afterwards doesn't seem to do the job. Afterwards, bookmarks etc. are still there.

In **Opera Mini** I found it easy to just delete

> /data/data/com.opera.mini.android/cache/webviewCache
>
> /data/data/com.opera.mini.android/databases

but unfortunately, Opera Mini in it's current version has a bug and doesn't work on most devices.

**Edit:**

Another approach I tried is to kill the Opera process, then set an entry in the **opera.ini**, referring to http://www.opera.com/support/usingopera/operaini/#private:

```
[Clear Private Data Dialog]
CheckFlags=1023

```

but it doesn't cause Opera to clear the history and cache after a restart.

# Answer
> 1 votes
How about if you do a dump of the filesystem before and after clearing the cache and compare what has changed? For example, browse something to generate some cache, copy the filesystem to directory `before-clear`, clear the cache and copy again to directory `after-clear`. After this run a diff on the directories, eg. `diff -q before-clear after-clear > differing_files.txt` . After this you can check relevant files for changes and see if you can clear the cache just by removing/editing these files. Although, this only works if the cache is file-based, not in a db.

NOTE: this is just an idea, don't have a rooted phone to test it.

# Answer
> 3 votes
With Opera Mobile open,

* Click on the Wrench Icon
* Click on Settings
* Scroll down and click on Privacy
* From there you should see Options to Clear History, Password, Cookies, Cache, and Shared Locations.

---
Tags: browser, shell, opera-mini, opera-browser
---


# Question
Title: Stop audio player from restarting music after a phone call
Whenever I receive a phone while listening music (with earplugs), I disconnect the earplugs and take the phone through the normal speakers.

The music is paused during the phone call, no problem there, but when I hang up, the music starts again, even without the earplugs. Which is kind of annoying at work, in an open space.

Is there a way to force the music to stay paused after the phone call?

I'm using the Music Mod app on an Froyo-powered HTC Legend, but I believe it has happened to me with every music player I've tried.

# Answer
> 2 votes
What you need is the headset blocker widget \- install it and then put it up on your home screen as a widget and then toggle it ON.

Now, whenever you unplug your headphones, the music player will stop playing. try it and see if it works.

BTW, Meridian Player has an in-built option to disallow resuming playback after a phone call.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You could use the Autostarts app to edit the end-phone-call event and remove your music app from the list of apps that get alerted on that event. I believe it requires root.

---
Tags: calls, music-player
---


# Question
Title: How you can know if a Particular Screen has a "Menu" options available?
I have 2 questions which are making my life difficult in using the Android phone a hell, may be I am/was an IPhone user.

1. I was wondering if there is anyway to know if current screen has "Menu" options available?
2. How I can know how many activities/screens are on the stack?

# Answer
> 6 votes
1. Press the Menu button and see if anything happens.
2. Count.

If you're looking for a programmatic answer, you should be asking on StackOverflow.

---
Tags: user-interface
---


# Question
Title: Android phone<->Google contacts - usage model and best practices?
I am finally forced to admit that I'm completely flummoxed by the communication between my android phone and my google account's contact list. I have tried various usage models and experienced lost/deleted contacts, edits made on my phone overwritten with unedited version from google account, random entries appearing on my phone(i now have 5 different entries for MYSELF)....everything BUT what I'm trying to do.

What I'd like for it to do is for my google account to be the system of record for my contacts, and sync with my phone...simple as that. If I edit/add on my phone, I'd like for that change to be sync'd to my google account automatically. If edit/add using my google account via the web interface, I'd like that for that change to be sync'd to my phone. Obviously this is NOT the way that it works, and it is obvious that, after weeks of trial, error, and fruitless searching, I do not understand how it SHOULD be used.

Does anyone know how Google wants us to use this? How is it SUPPOSED to work? Has Google published a guide for this? FWIW, I have no problem going back and reorganizing everything and adapting to a different usage model as long as I understand how it is supposed to behave and as long as it behaves as published.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Mine's working the way you expect it should.

I had a problem with duplicates when using services to help keep my contacts "clean" and to import from other services. In particular Soocial kept giving me dupes. So, the first thing I'd do is make sure you're not using something like that.

I suspect that something is "out of whack" (to use a technical term) with the synchronization data. I'd try the following:

1. Make sure the data in Google Contacts is in tip-top shape. Merge duplicates, get everybody in the right group, etc.
2. Export all contacts (just in case)
3. Then, delete the contact data on the phone. You'll probably want to turn off synchronization before you do this.
4. Then turn synchronization back on. Everything should be copacetic.

---
Tags: contacts, google-account
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to customize SMS quick text?
I have an LG Ally. I have a market SMS popup app that lets me customize the quick text, but that only works if someone texts you first and it pops up. Sometimes I need to sent a quick text to someone that hasn't texted me first, such as "driving" or "call you in a minute". The stock quick texts on the Ally messaging app are pretty lame, and I haven't been able to figure out a way to customize them.

# Answer
> 3 votes
The Handcent SMS app allows for custom template messages.

---
Tags: sms
---


title: GPS calibration?

text:
# Question
Title: GPS calibration?
I am using the sportstracklive app on my EVO to track my fitness activities. One issues is that elevation profiles are incorrect. For example, a riverfront section of a recent bike ride was recorded on the elevation profile as 101 feet below sea level.

Is there a way to calibrate the gps so that I get more accurate results?

Also, I'm pretty sure that the app itself is not at fault. I've experimented with a couple of other fitness tracking apps that are producing similar results; so that's why I'm thinking that the issue is with the gps.

Here're a couple of screen grabs of the route. The one with the red shading is correct and was generated by ridewithgps. The one with blue shading is generated by sportstracklive on the EVO gps (blue shaded area is elevation profile). A profile from my Garmin looks like the correct (red) one.

##

ng

# Answer
> 7 votes
Your GPS is nothing more than a precise clock, passively receiving signals. There is, unfortunately, nothing to calibrate. Source

If you'd like, consider going to the problem locations with an app such as "GPS Test" to view the internals of your phone's GPS to try and understand the problem, although there isn't much you can do about it.

# Answer
> 3 votes
You can use the GPS Status app to tell you exactly what your device's GPS is doing. It will tell you things like your current GPS calculated position and the accuracy of that position (in the Error field).

It may be that at times your device's GPS is not getting a good lock, maybe one that's only accurate to 30m (which is what mine's reporting curretly in a built up area, and would explain a 100ft altitude error) and the apps you're using aren't taking into account the accuracy of the current fix. Also if you're out exercising in the countryside, your phone won't be able to take advantage of the closely packed cell towers and nearby wifi points that it uses to assist the GPS in urban areas.

You should also be aware that the altitude accuracy of a GPS unit is normally much less accurate than the horizontal accuracy, this is a problem inherent in GPS, particularly with the cheaper GPS chips used in phones as opposed to those used in dedicated GPS units like your Garmin, see GPS Altitude Readout \> How Accurate?.

---
Tags: gps, htc-evo
---


title: Geo-tagging DSLR photos with Android

text:
# Question
Title: Geo-tagging DSLR photos with Android
Is there any app for Android that would assist me on tagging the pictures I take with my non-GPS DSLR camera by using a log of the phone GPS that Android can store?

# Answer
> 3 votes
GPS Essentials app will let you set waypoints of you location, so you could set a waypoint when you take a picture. You could then use software like GeoTag to tag your images on your computer when you get home.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I was looking for a similar solution. Does this help?

**Update**: In short, use *MyTrack* app on android to generate a GPX log and then use *GPicSync* to use that log to geotag your pics.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Just make sure you sync the time on phone and camera. You can edit time in your .gpx files later, if needed, but it can take some time.

In case you have had different time on your camera and GPS, you can use command line utility ExifTool for time shifting. For your convienience, there is also a GUI frontend for that tool.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This application would solve your problem Geo tag photos

This system uses the phone to track the time and location and then you upload your photos from the DSLR to a website and the site will help you geo tag your photos based on your phone's information. Basically the phone keeps track of where you are and sends the info to the site and then when you upload the photos the site matches the timestamps on the photos with locations.

---
Tags: geolocation, photos
---


title: Disconnecting a call

text:
# Question
Title: Disconnecting a call
Can anybody tell me how to disconnect the call in between. The screen on my Samsung Galaxy 3 becomes disabled during the call , it becomes very difficult to get the screen back during the call to disconnect.

# Answer
Generally you simply use the power button to re-enable the screen (if the proximity sensor doesn't automatically do it) and hit "end call".

However, some people like to be able to do it with their hardware buttons, which is addressed in this question: Can I hang up using a button?
> 3 votes

---
Tags: calls
---


title: Looking for a parts list application

text:
# Question
Title: Looking for a parts list application
I am looking for an application like a shopping list, that will let me put in items with the prices and give me a final total...so that if I have a project, I can put in all the prices(scanning barcodes would be a plus) of items in the project while i am out and about.

I have tried a couple different searches, but havent gotten any really good hits on it.

# Answer
ShoppingCalc does this pretty simply if you're willing to live without the barcode scanning (I like the zero-clutter interface).
> 1 votes

# Answer
A quick Google search returned ToMarket . It looks like its original purpose and design is for Groceries but you can use it for any type of item. The description says it supports bar codes and lets you put items with prices and quantity in the cart and gives you a final total. Sounds like exactly what your looking for based on the question. It looks like a nice app, I'm downloading it now for myself.

EDIT: This app is actually pretty cool, it has some default items when you first open it but if you go over to the "need" tab it is blank. When you add an item it gives quite a few details you can add to it, including whether or not it is taxable. I also noticed there is a feature to export your lists or to share it with others via SMS or email.
> 3 votes

# Answer
I've suggested Springpad (their website and on appbrain) as a good note-taking app but it would serve this purpose well too. Especially since it has a scanning feature and web-sync.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Has HTC Sync 3 dropped support for Windows 7 Contacts?
I've got an HTC Desire and since I got it, I've been synchronising the contacts on my phone with the "Contacts" folder in Windows 7 using HTC Sync 2.something

I noticed HTC Sync 3 was available, so I uninstalled version 2 and installed version 3, but it only seems to support syncing with contacts in Outlook or Outlook Express.

Am I missing something massively obvious? It seems odd to remove support for a current feature (Windows 7 Contacts) while retaining support for a program (Outlook Express) that hasn't been current since Windows XP.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Quite possibly, the Contacts folder has been officially deprecated. It exists for Vista compatibility where it was introduced for the first time. I have not yet tested the 3.0 sync app. I am still using 2.x and sync with Outlook.

---
Tags: htc-desire, contacts, sync, windows, htc-sync-3.0
---


# Question
Title: how to carry my HTC Desire on me? no bag, no pocket
In winter time I used to carry my HTC Desire in my jacket's pocket...

It's summer time now :-) and I have no pocket (I don't want to use my jeans pocket) and I don't carry any bags on me when going to work.

I was thinking of carry my Desire **around my neck** but how can I do that? What is **the safe** way to do so?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If the Desire does not have a strap hole, then perhaps you might be able to find a phone case that have an attachment for neck strap.

If there is no such case, you might be able to find a cheap silicone case, and punch a hole in it.

Alternatively, if you wears a belt, some phone cases attaches to your belt.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can try to use the plastic ring (part of a main black panel piece) around a 3.5 jack to tie a strap. You may need to cut the grooves for the strap in the back panel to be tightly attached after that. Sure way to void a warranty due to an "alteration" or s "mechanical damage".

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Tags: htc-desire
---


# Question
Title: Alternatives to a hard reset when screen is frozen on Android Froyo?
My Nexus One has been freezing up a lot lately, particularly in Settings. Are there any good alternatives to pulling the battery when this happens?

# Answer
This may not apply to the Nexus One but when this happens to me on my droid I turn the screen off wait a couple seconds and turn it back on. Sometimes it comes back fine other times it comes back with an option to force close the hanging program. Either way I never have to pull the battery just force close the process.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Try pressing the home button, on unrooted devices, the Home button can only be overriden by Home Screen apps so unless your Home Screen is freezing as well, it usually can bring you back to the home screen so you can force close the freezing app from the application manager (Settings \> Manage applications \> "app name" \> Force stop).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, nexus-one, system-freeze
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to see what application is performing a sync?
Sometimes you see the **sync symbol** appearing in the message bar at the top of the screen (mine being a Samsung Galaxy S running Froyo).

At that time, most of the times, the screen freezes.

So I was wondering : is there an application / widget that **shows which application is performing a sync** operation at the moment ?

And/or is there a **log** somewhere of all sync operations ?

# Answer
> 10 votes
You can check the Accounts & Sync in the settings. This will show you what is syncing.

I am going to throw out a guess that you have the Official Twitter client installed and have sync data enabled. I used to get the "lock up" you describe all the time.

The lock up is not really just from the app that is syncing, but it is causing it... Samsung decided when they designed the Galaxy S that the file systems that existed were not good enough for them. So they decided to use a proprietary file system that was developed by Samsung called RFS. This file system is slow, like, Really Fricken Slow. It is the cause of the "Galaxy S Lag".

Even Google decided, with the Nexus S, that they were not going to use RFS on the device, it uses ext4. There are "fixes" out there to convert the RFS to ext4, but they do require you to have root access, a custom recovery (like clockworkmod) and to flash a ROM or a kernel.

Voodoo is one of the best. Roms like Nero3 from TeamWhiskey have voodoo built right in to their ROM.

Now if you don't have root access and don't want to, there is really nothing that can be done to "correct" the lag that you are experiencing... except to disable the syncing of data that cause the lag.

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Tags: sync, system-freeze
---


# Question
Title: Podcast app which supports old episodes well?
I am looking for a podcast player app which will let me subscribe to a podcast and listen to the *earliest* episodes first, eventually catching up to the current episodes.

I've tried Google Listen and PodCat, and neither one seemed to handle this case well. I don't want to install a paid app and start a 15-minute-trial until I know what to expect from it.

It should also be reliable at remembering the current position in a paused-and-ignored-for-a-while podcast, and download/delete automatically so I generally don't have to manage it except to actually listen.

# Answer
BeyondPod ($7 but well worth it) will do everything you mentioned in your question. I have tried DoggCatcher and a slew of free apps and I've found BeyondPod to be the best.

You sort you podcasts from newest to oldest, or oldest to newest, or longest to shortest, or shortest to longest. You can also break them up into categories which I find helpful.

Also, it is very good at remembering you place. I regularly start one podcast then switch to another, then another and find that I can always return to the unfinished shows without losing my place.

There are also numerous autoupdate and auto delete options. You can set certain categories of feeds update on a certain schedule. You can set the auto delete globally, on the category level or at the podcast level, telling it to delete podcasts of a certain age, or tell it to only keep so many podcasts, or delete after listening. Its also easy to mass delete all "listened to" podcasts with just two clicks.
> 4 votes

# Answer
Personally, I use DoggCatcher and have had no problems with it.

It will always remember where you last were in the podcast, even if you went and played a different podcast instead and came back to that one.

It'll auto-delete based on how you set it up. For me, it auto deletes after I've listened to it. It usually happens pretty quickly too (15 min or so).

You can also tell it when to update and how many episodes of a podcast to download that you haven't listened to yet.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: podcast
---


# Question
Title: Android Browser that Saves and Fills Passwords
**Is there a browser I can install that stores passwords just like regular desktop browsers?**
I'd only use it for unimportant passwords, so I'm really not worried about security. Anything that saves and auto fills my passwords is fine.

*Running a motorola-milestone.*

# Answer
> 5 votes
The standard Android browser does this for me on most (non-banking type) websites. When I start typing my username into the login box it shows a drop down of names used in that login box before. Selecting one of those fills the password box in too.

If you go into the browser and press `Menu` -\> **More** -\> **Settings** and then scroll down the settings window to the **Privacy Settings** section, there's a tick-box there for **Remember Form Data**, then if you scroll down a bit further to **Security Settings**, there's a tickbox for **Remember Passwords**. make sure that both of those are ticked and you should be ok.

I'm on a Galaxy S running the official Samsung Froyo 2.2 release, and I'm sure my old HTC Magic running stock Android Donut 1.6 did this too.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Opera Mini 5 also includes the ability to save / remember a user's login credentials.

LastPass and KeePass also have Android editions that remember your logins / passwords, although they aren't browsers.

# Answer
> 2 votes
There's a LastPass plugin for Dolphin browser that's great. It will remember all of your passwords and sync with the desktop if you use LastPass there as well. Personally I also prefer the look and performance of the Dolphin browser to the stock Android one.

---
Tags: 2.1-eclair, browser, password
---


# Question
Title: Why do Samsung Apps not support the Galaxy S?
Why is the Samsung Galaxy S i9000 not supported by Kies or Google, I have tried to download apps from the Samsung apps list but I get a warning that the Galaxy is not supported by Kies or Google.

# Answer
> 3 votes
The Galaxy S is fully supported by Kies, and it runs Google's Android OS so I'm not sure what that's all about.

Samsung does not support Samsung Apps on the Galaxy S, however. They made that choice for some business reason I am sure. They list supported phones on this page.

The best way to get apps is through the Android Market, which is already on the Galaxy S. Samsung Apps has very few apps and they look sub-par to me.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Could this be regional? I have an application called Samsung Apps on my phone, and it works just fine. If you have this software on your phone try using it instead of Kies.

# Answer
> 2 votes
*Pulling this out of comments and into an answer, so it's easier to see...*

The Samsung Kies software isn't only used for Samsung's Android based phones (like the Galaxy S) it is also used to manage phones running Samsung's own Bada operating system.

The Samsung Apps store in the Kies software (currently) only holds apps for phones running the Bada software, not Android. You can see the list of supported phones here at the bottom of the page.

Samsung phones, like the Galaxy S series, that are running Android should have a Samsung Apps icon in their application list on the phone itself, you can find the selection of Android compatible Samsung Apps in here. Currently there aren't many apps in there, though they are slowly expanding, one good thing is that (currently) they're all free, and many of them are full versions of apps that you'd have to pay for if you got them through the Android Market.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, samsung-kies
---


# Question
Title: Firefox mobile install problem on HTC wildfire
I tried to install firefox mobile edition on HTC wildfire (Indian edition) but it fails anyone faced the same problem or any workaround available to install

# Answer
> 2 votes
*Credit to Matt H's comment for pointing me the right way.*

If you follow through to the System Requirements page on their wiki, the HTC Wildfire is specifically called out as an unsupported device as it has an ARMv6 based processor; Firefox Mobile currently requires an ARMv7 compatible processor.

They do have an experimental build for ARMv6 based devices, which you can download here but according to the warning on the page, that is broken at the moment. If you keep an eye on there they may announce when it starts working.

---
Tags: installation, htc-wildfire, firefox-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Spell Check app or setting while using drop down keyboard
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How can I get word completion with physical keyboard?

Is there anyway to get spell check functionality while using the drop down keyboard?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Most keyboards come with suggestions for common words, so a spell check function is rendered moot. Once a user types a couple of letters, the most common words containing those letters usually show up in a bar above the on screen keyboard.

Most keyboards like Smart Keyboard / Better keyboard also have options that allow for word suggestion to show up if a user opts for the hardware keyboard instead of the "soft" on-screen keyboard.

---
Tags: keyboard, spell-check
---


# Question
Title: What running applications and services are safe to turn off?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Knowing which applications to stop

I just got a used Nexus One and I see a lot of running services and applications. I'm wondering what negative impact there would be if I just started switching them off?

For example, obviously, I don't want to mess with "Calendar," but what about "Calendar Storage?" If I install Handcent SMS, do I still need the Messaging-related services/applications? Same for Media: if I install Winamp, do I still need those?

# Answer
Calendar depends on Calendar Storage; Handcent still relies on the device's services for receiving messages; and I would guess that even if Winamp doesn't rely on Media, your wallpaper or notification sounds or something else does.

I would mostly leave these "System" services alone. If you have battery trouble, it's likely due to user-installed apps.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, settings, task-management, services
---


title: Listening to NBA.com audio on HTC Evo

text:
# Question
Title: Listening to NBA.com audio on HTC Evo
I have a stock evo with froyo. I'd like to listen to the audio streams from nba.com. Even using wifi, the stream is slowed down and unintelligible when using the default browser. I can listen to the same stream, same network, on an ancient Pentium 2 with better quality, so I don't believe it's a hardware problem.

I'm really not sure where to start investigating - would Dolphin handle this better? Is there an app I can use to buffer the stream? Is the site detecting the android browser and degrading the stream? (I changed the user agent string - no effect)

I'm aware there are NBA apps on Android Market but they are getting slammed on the reviews. I bought the GameTime app last year on my Blackberry Curve and was fine with it, but I don't want to pay and find out it doesn't work.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Just wanted to update this in case anyone else cares.

This and many other streaming audio issues seem fixed in the latest OTA: 3.70.651.1

---
Tags: browser, audio, streaming
---


# Question
Title: How to flash a ROM to the Android emulator
Any idea about flash a ROM to the Android emulator?

I found this post:

http://android.modaco.com/content/general-discussion/289928/testing-getting-an-emulator-up-and-running-a-full-rom-with-the-market-etc/

But it just with platform 1.5 and update-cm-3.6.5-signed.system.img.zip,but I want to try the CyanogenMod 6.1.1,I can not found the related system.img.zip.

Any ideas?

# Answer
In theory you could used yaffs2 image of the system and use that following the steps on the link you posted, but you will probably run in to driver issues with the "hardware"
> 2 votes

---
Tags: rom, rom-flashing, android-emulator
---


# Question
Title: HTC Desire HD Android 2.2 disable screen shut off when timer is running
I tried to use the timer for a countdown of 3 minutes. 1 minute in, the screen shut off and the phone locked, disabling the countdown.

After 4 minutes, I realised what had happened. Is there a way to disable the screen shut off just when the timer is running?

# Answer
> 2 votes
You may try to install KeepScreen application from Android market and configure it to disable screen timeout when your timer application is running.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The **Tasker** app should be able to do this as well.

---
Tags: htc-desire, stock-android, screen-timeout
---


# Question
Title: Disable SMS (Messaging) icon in for a Contact
When you tap the contact icon for someone, it always offers to let you SMS a phone number. What if you do not want to ever SMS that number, is there a checkbox somewhere that lets you turn off that method of communication for a specific number in the Contacts database?

# Answer
No, there isn't, AFAIK.

You can however specify a default number if there are more than 1 number. That way the phone will dial the default no. instead of popping up a list when the phone icon is tapped.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I use Handcent SMS in place of standard android one. This has allows you to show only Mobile numbers. This cuts out quite a lot of unwanted numbers.

If there are still numbers you don't want to see then you could change the type from from "mobile" to a custom type of say "mobileprivate"
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, sms
---


title: Good SMS reader app for Android?

text:
# Question
Title: Good SMS reader app for Android?
I'm looking for a good Android application for reading SMS messages. My requirements are:

* Mark all as read option
* Displaying the number of unread messages on the icon
* Some anti-spam filter (option to block messages from specific phone numbers)
* No ads

Is there such an app?

# Answer
> 8 votes
As things stand Handcent would fulfill all your criteria save the last one. In any case, ads are shown only in the options screen - never in the message list or conversation view.

If you're rooted, you can use AdFree to try to eliminate them.

---
Tags: applications, sms
---


# Question
Title: Calendar app on Desire - Can I get Stock Android Calendar?
So i'm pretty sick of the calendar app on my HTC Desire... it's good, and does most things well, but something it does badly which is just really a stupid oversight by htc is this: The date picker does not show the day of the picked date. Even when you have selected the date, the event you're creating doesn't tell you the day. WTF??

I guess i should ask if this is the same onthe stock android calendar app? If not, how can i get that one on my desire?

I'm very tempted to ditch the HTC ROM and install a Gingerbread ROM... the running out of space issue is beyond a joke too. ugh!

thanks heaps greg

# Answer
You probably have the HTC Sense calendar, which is different from the regular calendar. To replace it:

1. Root your phone.
2. Use a file manager like Root Explorer to back up any files you replace and to copy in new ones. You'll need to browse to /system/app and mount it as R/W.
3. Use an AOSP (android-open-source-project) calendar like this one from XDA (has instructions). It's for 2.1, it might work for 2.2 but if not just search XDA for another.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, calendar
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to disable roaming entirely, not just networking during roaming?
When trying to google the solution to this I mostly just find instructions on how to disable data connections during roaming.

To clarify why I'm asking, I have a contract with a small local phone company and they have a roaming contract with a large local provider. When roaming on the large providers network I get calls at the same rate, but no 3G network. My phone seems to quite frequently choose to go roaming even in areas where the home network gets full strength signal.

Is it possible to stop an android phone from connecting to roaming networks?

# Answer
Just go to flight mode ~~or remove the SIM card when you are on roaming.~~
> 5 votes

# Answer
I expect an app like Tasker or Locale could do this.

There look to be some apps that can do this for you. A quick perusal of the AppBrain market found this:
> 2 votes

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Tags: settings, roaming
---


title: paste text to bluetooth?

text:
# Question
Title: paste text to bluetooth?
I'm using the PasswordSafe app and am looking for an easy way to send passwords from my phone to other computers. I can copy the password to the clipboard but what then? *Is there an app that will have the phone claim to be a Bluetooth keyboard and 'type' whatever is on the clipboard?*

# Answer
> -1 votes
It uses WiFi, rather than Bluetooth, but other than that it sounds like you could use an app like ShareText?

From ShareText's description:

> Share text with wifi on pc or other device using your Browser.
>
> Copy/paste between phone and pc. You can copy the text from pc to phone, from phone to pc, from this phone to another phone, from phone to any browser.

---
Tags: applications, bluetooth
---


# Question
Title: How can I check which applications have been granted root access?
I have an SGS i9000 with Android 2.1 and I installed a lot of applications before I fully understood what "root" was. Now I naturally want to review which applications I gave root access. How can I do this?

# Answer
If you root your device using one of the more modern methods, then you should have a SuperUser.apk installed that will prompt you before any apps are given root access. The SuperUser application also keeps track of the applications that have been given root access.

If you don't know about rooting, there is no way you have an apps that uses root except if your phone is a second hand, and the previous owner did not wipe and reinstall a stock firmware.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, root-access
---


title: Questions About Android Privacy

text:
# Question
Title: Questions About Android Privacy
The permissions warning in the Android Market is very vague. As well, I can't see the app permissions in a collective area of all the apps I have previously installed. So, I have no clue whether an app is accessing my contacts, my email address, my name, phone number, camera, microphone, image gallery, and other private information.

Is there a way, or an app I can install, which will indicate some risks to me about my apps and my privacy?

# Answer
> 7 votes
You **can** see the permissions of installed apps. Go to

```
Market -> Menu button, My apps -> select an app -> Menu button, Security

```

There are also apps called Permissions Watchdog, and Permissions, as per Al's comment.

# Answer
> 3 votes
(This may be OS version dependant)

If you go into **Settings** -\> **Applications** -\> **Manage Applications**, you should be able to click on any app whether you installed it via the Market or "side-loaded" it, and there's a Permissions section if you scroll down that lists them all.

---
Tags: security, permissions, privacy
---


# Question
Title: What is the unlock code for Motorola Droid Pro?
I brought my Motorola Droid Pro back from the USA to Switzerland. It has never been actively on any network, as i bought it through Amazon as a "spare phone" on a Verizon network. I never activated the verizon chip. I am now back in Switzerland and when I try and put in my Swiss SIM card and access the network, it asks me for "SIM network unlock PIN". Does anyone know how to unlock it? thanks.

# Answer
> 3 votes
See this thread on XDA-Developers Unlock Motorola Droid Pro:

> You simply call Verizon and tell them you're going to spend some extended time in Europe and you want the ability to unlock the phone and change out the SIM card so you can use the phone as a local phone without all the charges, etc. They'll then tell you that you won't have the Verizon guarantee of service, etc., if you remove the SIM card while overseas.
>
> ... They gave me a code to use when and if I ever insert a foreign SIM card in the phone. At that time, it will prompt me for the unlock code.

---
Tags: motorola-droid-pro, sim-unlocking
---


# Question
Title: Is there anyway to speed up or replace the Sense UI dialer?
I have a droid eris running android 2.1...the dialer for it is awful. I dont know why they chose to put the end call button and send call button in the exact same area. It is also very laggy. Sometimes I will try to call someone and the send button gets hit twice which will initiate the call and then end it immediately. Is there anyway to speed up or replace the Sense UI dialer?

Note: I do not wish to completely remove my sense ui...only the dialer.

# Answer
There are quite a few replacement dialer apps in the market - just search for 'Dialer'.

There are quite a few, both paid and free. I've only tried one (*Dialer One*) just to confirm that it can indeed replace the default dialer, but I don't think it's sensible to go into any particular dialer's merits here.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 2.1-eclair, htc-sense, droid-eris
---


# Question
Title: How practical it is to use an Android phone, bypassing Google completely?
One of the first things that I noticed on my Nexus One as I turned it on the first time, was GMail, Talk, Voice, Maps, Google Calendar and many other Google based services.

I know that even on a Windows or Linux PC it's very hard to avoid using Google... but it is possible, as there are alternatives to every service that Google offers.

On the Android, however, things seem to be very tight. You may recall the time in which Internet Explorer owned over 95% of the market share, simply because it was tightly integrated with Windows. Back then, Netscape was available but even if it performed as fast as Internet Explorer, **starting** it would take considerably longer.

So, my questions are:

(1) What are the non-Google alternatives to GMail, Talk, Voice, Maps, Google Calendar on the Nexus One?

(2) Do they really perform as fast as the "native" Google apps/services?

# Answer
> 4 votes
(1) What are the non-Google alternatives to GMail, Talk, Voice, Maps, Google Calendar on the Nexus One?

Can't say specifically about Nexus One, but the stock Android platform does not come with Google-branded apps; so, yes, it is possible for the phone to live without Google. However, IMO if you're using Android and avoiding Google's services, you're missing a lot.

The stock Email application can sync to Gmail or other mail services through IMAP and POP. However, just like syncing Gmail from desktop through Thunderbird/Outlook, you won't be able to use the unique Gmail features, like Priority Inbox, Archival, Labeling, etc.

Applications that uses Cloud to Device Messaging (a.k.a. Push-to-Device) requires a Google account. Without C2DM, applications would have to poll their servers periodically, therefore draining the battery. There are alternative implementations C2DM that does not connect to Google's servers, however most programs are not designed for those alternative implementations and may have problems.

Google's Android Market is the largest Android market place. Needless to say, you won't be able to download as much apps as easily if you avoid Google's Android Market.

Google Maps and Navigations can be replaced by, e.g. Waze, Navdroyd, NDrive, RMaps, etc. I don't think there's a good replacement for StreetView, however.

There are certainly replacements for Google Calendar, however, I've not used any of them, so I cannot comment on how good they are.

(2) Do they really perform as fast as the "native" Google apps/services?

Yes, if we're to believe Google's words, none of the Google's apps use any "hidden" Android APIs that could magically cause their software to outperform other applications. However, because Google is Google, Google's own apps typically have the best integration to the Android platform and 3rd party programs typically would prefer to integrate their own apps with Google's applications.

Also, since Nexus One is a "Pure Google Experience" phone, this means rooting and installing custom ROMs on a Nexus One is among the easiest from all Android devices.

# Answer
> 4 votes
1. * Android comes with an Email app that lets you use any POP3, IMAP, or Exchange account.
    * Talk can be replaced by Meebo, eBuddy Messenger, and many others.
    * Voice is a fairly unique service but some features can be sort of replaced -- you can use a SIP phone number and an app like Sipdroid for calls, or something like Kik Messenger for text-like instant messages (think BlackBerry Messenger).
    * Searching "Maps" in the Market shows several results that look promising, same with Calendar.
2. The Email app is very, very buggy and low on features. I'm confident there are other mail apps that are better though. On the other hand, Talk is also pretty buggy; I find eBuddy to be much better. And many people have problems with Calendar.

When it really comes down to it, a quality app is a quality app, whether Google wrote it or not. Android doesn't seem to be as biased toward Google's apps as Windows was towards Microsoft's apps. My hodgepodge of Google and non-Google apps works well for me and I'm sure you can get a set of apps that will work at least as well overall as Google's apps do.

---
Tags: google, accounts, privacy
---


# Question
Title: How do I configure Google Latitude to auto-update with location regularly on a Motorola Droid?
On the surface, this is same question as this question, but I've made the changes according to that question's accepted answer and I still cannot get latitude to auto-update unless I have an app using GPS open.

If I fire up Google maps or MyTracks, a location is sent. but once I close or switch to a new application, my location no longer transmits. It has been like this for several weeks.

My Android version is 2.2.1. GPS is on, but the GPS icon doesn't appear until I start an app that uses GPS.

I actually seem to remember that being a requested feature for an earlier version of android (1.something).

Am I missing something else?

More data: Google maps version 4.5.0 (#4519) 5.0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAh4yiCzgKw I guess I'll need to retest and see if I still have the issue)

# Answer
> 0 votes
My issue was resolved by upgrading Google Maps to v5.0.

For those troubleshooting this issue, also see this question (which should probably be your first step): How do I set Google Latitude to auto-update with location regularly?

---
Tags: settings, motorola-droid, gps, google-latitude
---


# Question
Title: What does the new button on the power control widget do?
There are 6 buttons on my power control widget:
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, ???, Data sync, Screen brightness.
What does the 4th one do?

P.S. I'm using an Orange San Francisco (ZTE Blade) with the 'Japanese Jellyfish RLS6' custom FroYo ROM, but I've seen this power widget in other ROMS.

# Answer
> 6 votes
It's either a **mobile network data enabled switch** or a 2G/3G switch, try it and check your data connection.

Edit: got confirmation, see comments.

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, app-widgets
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title: Screen timeout when reading

text:
# Question
Title: Screen timeout when reading
I have my screen timeout set to 30 seconds, which is a good interval normally. However, when i am in a browser reading or Adobe Reader or ThinkFree or whichever other reader, I would like the timeout to be larger or never.

Is there anyway of doing this in Froyo without manually setting it to 30 mins and after I'm done reading all I wanted to read, set it back to 30 seconds?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 8 votes
I use **Screebl** for this. It uses the phones orientation sensors to keep the screen on permanently if it's held at an angle. You can then set the timeout to something very low such as 15 seconds which kicks in when the phone is laid flat.

# Answer
> 7 votes
I use Tasker for this. You can have separate screen timeouts (and other settings) for individual apps. I bump up the timeout for my ebook readers.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I don't know of a quick way to change this setting while reading, except that some reader apps have a setting which you can turn on which overrides the screen timeout while reading. I believe Aldiko has this setting, but it's been a while since I've used it. Not sure of any other reader apps which have it, but it might be a good suggestion to send to the developers of your favorite app.

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, screen-timeout, reading
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# Question
Title: Is it possible to install the Nexus One Calendar app on the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate?
I've been using the Galaxy S for a little while now, first on the stock 2.1, and then on stock 2.2. I'm mostly happy with this phone, but one of the things that I don't like is the Calendar app that comes with it (most of all - the fact that the it doesn't display the appointment titles on weekly displays).

So I've been looking for various calendars in the market, but the version that I remember being most happy with is the Calendar that comes installed in the Nexus One.

Is there some way to install it on another phone?

# Answer
You'd have to find someone who's extracted it to an APK file, and side-load it onto your Galaxy. This link gives a nice tutorial on how to side-load an app.

Probably the best place to start to find it extracted would be in the forums on XDA.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Try using Jorte. It offers several different views (daily, weekly, monthly, agenda, tasks, etc., and several different widgets for the different views. The widgets come in several different sizes too.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This thread, while for the facinate, has the calendar files needed. You will have to delete (backup them first) the TouchWizCalendar.apk & "original" CalendarProvider.apk. Then put the "stock" Calendar.apk and CalendarProvider.apk on the device.

You will have to have root to do this since these files are in /system/app.
> 0 votes

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Tags: applications, calendar
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# Question
Title: Is there a Skype compatible client for voice calls over WiFi?
I understand that operators blocked any Skype over the data connections, but is there an alternative that works on the WiFi network?

Update: I am using a HTC/Tmobile G1 phone, in the US. However, I am not connected to any carrier, as I use it (here) as a PDA over WiFi and not as a phone.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Skype for Android has a couple versions. Most are WiFi-only, so you would be able to use them no problem except that the G1 is not in Skype's list of supported devices, so you won't find it in the Market. Looks like it's Verizon-exclusive. The newest version won't run on your phone even if you grab it pseudo-legally; I'm not sure about older versions.

Skype's API agreement also prohibits other apps from making Skype calls, as far as I'm aware. Fring used to support Skype, for example, but had to remove that feature due to threats from Skype.

# Answer
> 3 votes
What country are you in? Skype have only got an exclusive deal with Verizon in the US, outside the US it isn't restricted to any carrier AFAIK.

If you go to an international version of the Skype site, like http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-mobile/download/skype-for-android there's a different Skype app that will work on any Android 2.1 phone *(even if you manage to download it in the US, it may do further checks to see if you're in the US or not once installed)*.

Also if you search in the Android Market from a non-US phone (that is running at least Android 2.1) you should be able to find this official Skype app.

See here for more on the differences between the Skype apps.

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Tags: skype
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