Droid users... What are the cool apps you're using?

[land_shark3]

I think I got a bad phone. It seems to like to re-boot itself and when it does it takes FOREVER to come back up. It will be sitting beside me and just re-boot out of nowhere.

I had almost that exact same problem with a Droid Pro I was trying out. Needless to say, about 6 hours into the day I swapped back to my BlackBerry.

[ph4ever]

My son is exactly the opposite. He had his Blackberry and once he got a droid he is so happy with it he won't go back.

[Bicycle Bill]

A Droid phone doesn't necessarily have to be from HTC or Motorola. Samsung makes several good phones, such as the Fascinate and the Mesmerize, using the Android OS; they market theirs using the term "Galaxy S" so they don't have to pay George Lucas/Google for the right to use the word "Droid".

As for your problems with the Airave, Connie, I'm assuming that you're with Splint. As the Mythbusters might say, "Well, there's your problem......."

-"BB"-
(currently in training as a Verizon Wireless CSR)

[Snowparrot]

I've had my Motorola Android for a week now. I love lots of things about it. Google Sky Maps is one of my faves. I don't like the way it eats power so fast, even when doing nothing. It's supposed to be a PHONE after all, and a phone is something that should remain ON.

And speaking of phones, it seems a little unimpressive as an actual telephone!
The sound quality is less than great, and it feels awkward to hold, and making the key pad appear in time to answer the voicemail prompts is a challenge so far, but I'll probably learn.

Most issues are with our carrier, WIND, which is not a full-coverage outfit; we went away for the weekend and found we were out of our Home zone and had to reset a bunch of stuff (and buy some roaming time, which was hard, since the phones --one Android, one BlackBerry--didn't exactly connect seamlessly with the carrier). Then when we got home we had to reset it all to Home. At least I did, not sure about NoParrot's BB.

It's a learning curve, and as I said, it's been just over a week, so I imagine it will settle down. It IS fun, and a great sucker of time!

[txaggirl91]

Come March or so, I will have a chance to get a new phone. I can choose from another Blackberry, a Droid, or an iPhone...

This thread is great if I get the Droid...

[pbans]

I've had my Motorola Android for a week now. I love lots of things about it. Google Sky Maps is one of my faves. I don't like the way it eats power so fast, even when doing nothing. It's supposed to be a PHONE after all, and a phone is something that should remain ON.

And speaking of phones, it seems a little unimpressive as an actual telephone!
The sound quality is less than great, and it feels awkward to hold, and making the key pad appear in time to answer the voicemail prompts is a challenge so far, but I'll probably learn.

Most issues are with our carrier, WIND, which is not a full-coverage outfit; we went away for the weekend and found we were out of our Home zone and had to reset a bunch of stuff (and buy some roaming time, which was hard, since the phones --one Android, one BlackBerry--didn't exactly connect seamlessly with the carrier). Then when we got home we had to reset it all to Home. At least I did, not sure about NoParrot's BB.

It's a learning curve, and as I said, it's been just over a week, so I imagine it will settle down. It IS fun, and a great sucker of time!

It's funny you say that, because I LOVE my droid.....for everything BUT a phone. It's not a great phone....but that's not really a big problem for me...I don't actually TALK on the phone that much.....

as for apps...
advanced task killer is a must have
google sky maps
toss it, is a great time killer
I use Magic Eight Ball to make all of my big decisions
Colornotes for grocery lists and what not
...been totally hooked on Tetris lately, reliving my old nintendo days

[pair8head]

Some apps will put a severe hurtin' on battery life,
particularly if they need to frequently check GPS or other updates,
so keep that in mind.

Best to check comments on any apps before deciding to install.

That said ..... Google Sky Map is perhaps too cool for words.

Also, Advanced Task Killer is nice to have.

I was about to ask about that. The clerk at the store installed it for Don.

So, I get the point of it - it kills apps you have running and increases your amount of free memory. But, I do wonder how often it is necessary to do that. And, if you kill an app, do it free ALL the memory that the app was taking or only a % of it (like 90/95%). Like I read somewhere, it's effective a Ctrl-Alt-Del for your phone.

I don't think it does any thing for your memory. As I understand it it just turns off apps that are running in the background that you are not using, saving some battery power.

[Hockey Mon]

Some apps will put a severe hurtin' on battery life,
particularly if they need to frequently check GPS or other updates,
so keep that in mind.

Best to check comments on any apps before deciding to install.

That said ..... Google Sky Map is perhaps too cool for words.

Also, Advanced Task Killer is nice to have.

I was about to ask about that. The clerk at the store installed it for Don.

So, I get the point of it - it kills apps you have running and increases your amount of free memory. But, I do wonder how often it is necessary to do that. And, if you kill an app, does it free ALL the memory that the app was taking or only a % of it (like 90/95%). Like I read somewhere, it's effective a Ctrl-Alt-Del for your phone.

I don't think it does any thing for your memory. As I understand it it just turns off apps that are running in the background that you are not using, saving some battery power.

Well, running apps take up memory so yeah, it does free up memory. From the app description: http://www.androidtapp.com/advanced-task-killer/

Advanced Task Killer Android App allows you to stop running background processes or apps in memory. The Android operating system can run multiple apps in memory concurrently which currently is its own Gift and Curse. Cursed… as some processes and apps can bring an Android phone performance to a crawl.

[pair8head]

Advanced Task Killer Android App allows you to stop running background processes or apps in memory. The Android operating system can run multiple apps in memory concurrently which currently is its own Gift and Curse. Cursed… as some processes and apps can bring an Android phone performance to a crawl.

Well that makes more sense

[Snowparrot]

I'll have to try that. Battery life sucks!

[pbans]

I'll have to try that. Battery life sucks!

It makes a difference. I hit my ATK several times a day, somehow...there always something that pops up....and it stops it!

[Hockey Mon]

I know this isn't an app but but does anyone use protection for their phone? You know, like a plastic screen cover or anything? I know one day I'm going to try to use my phone after eating bbq and I'm going to end up with the bbq flavored phone app.

[Snowparrot]

I installed the ATK (paid $5 for it) and I think there's a difference in battery drain already.

[pair8head]

Down loaded a fun app yesterday.
It's called Animal Translator.
You select which type of animal you want to
translate and let it hear your Dog or Cat or what ever
and it "tells you what they are trying to tell you"
Example : "Bark, bark, bark"
Translation "Have you done something different to your hair"

I love it.

[Hockey Mon]

Down loaded a fun app yesterday.
It's called Animal Translator.
You select which type of animal you want to
translate and let it hear your Dog or Cat or what ever
and it "tells you what they are trying to tell you"
Example : "Bark, bark, bark"
Translation "Have you done something different to your hair"

I love it.

That reminds me of the Far Side cartoon that went something like this:
Owner talking to their dog saying "Fido, don't get on the couch. Off the couch Fido."
What the dog hears: "Fido, blah blah blah blah blah blah Fido"

[LIPH]

I know this isn't an app but but does anyone use protection for their phone? You know, like a plastic screen cover or anything? I know one day I'm going to try to use my phone after eating bbq and I'm going to end up with the bbq flavored phone app.

Mine came with a plastic cover on the screen, but then I generally practice safe phone anyway.

[ph4ever]

I know this isn't an app but but does anyone use protection for their phone? You know, like a plastic screen cover or anything? I know one day I'm going to try to use my phone after eating bbq and I'm going to end up with the bbq flavored phone app.

I'm on my 3rd case. The first two were soft rubbery glove things. Now I've got a hot pink hard case.

Don also took my phone to the service center with my list of issues. They too one look at it and ordered me a new phone, it'll be here Tuesday at the latest. Oh joy I get to start Angry Birds again. I should be getting good at it.

[Hockey Mon]

I know this isn't an app but but does anyone use protection for their phone? You know, like a plastic screen cover or anything? I know one day I'm going to try to use my phone after eating bbq and I'm going to end up with the bbq flavored phone app.

I'm on my 3rd case. The first two were soft rubbery glove things. Now I've got a hot pink hard case.

Don also took my phone to the service center with my list of issues. They too one look at it and ordered me a new phone, it'll be here Tuesday at the latest. Oh joy I get to start Angry Birds again. I should be getting good at it.

I think I need to get a plastic cover and/or case. I feel so unprotected. I guess I need to check out Angry Birds.

[buffettbride]

I love my DroidX. I'm not a super app consumer, but I use the navigation a TON. SO nice and I got the dash mount so it is extra cool.

I love my word-of-the-day widget from dictionary.com and the Mighty Grocery app for my grocery lists.

Still haven't found a good music player that I like or a good task manager or add on for Google Calendar/Tasks.

[buffettbride]

I know this isn't an app but but does anyone use protection for their phone? You know, like a plastic screen cover or anything? I know one day I'm going to try to use my phone after eating bbq and I'm going to end up with the bbq flavored phone app.

I'm on my 3rd case. The first two were soft rubbery glove things. Now I've got a hot pink hard case.

Don also took my phone to the service center with my list of issues. They too one look at it and ordered me a new phone, it'll be here Tuesday at the latest. Oh joy I get to start Angry Birds again. I should be getting good at it.

I think I need to get a plastic cover and/or case. I feel so unprotected. I guess I need to check out Angry Birds.

I have a nice silicon one I really like. It's purple and I like it.