Android apps

[GReaper]

Finally got the HTC Hero a couple of days ago, I generally like the phone - although the number of quality apps seems a bit low, it's also a bit of a pain trying to find the decent ones.

So, to any Android phone users - what apps would you recommend?

 

[MYstIC G]

Without having one I believe meebo (IM) and last.fm (Music) are pretty much essentials on all smartphone platforms atm.

 

[dysfunction]

NewsRon - mobile google reader
Telegraph - more of a Guardian reader but they don't have an app!
1337pwn.com - xbox live friend alerts
last.fm - last.fm
beebplayer - iplayer and live bbc channels
SMS Backup - backup texts to gmail
SMS Schedule -
ES File Explorer - not sure why Android doesn't have a file explorer already
Locale - allows for automatic changing of settings depending on time, location, calendar status
Anycut - puts any shortvut on the desktop
AK Notepad - note taking app
Compass - A compass
Digital Clock Widget - Nice big clock widget for desktop
FotMob - Football scores as they happen
Google maps - Give you Latitude also
GPS Status 2 - GPS satellite positions
Movie Finder - Cinema schedules
My Tracks - Records your movements and displays in Google Earth
Pac Man - Classic
Places Directory/NRU/Qype - Listing of pubs, bars, places of interest
Quickpedia/Wapedia - quick access to wikipedia
ShopSavvy - Scans barcodes and gets prices from web
Shazam - Identify music by recording a sample
Sky Map - Shows stars and constelations
Twidroid - Twitter app
TuneWiki - MP3 playback with lyrics
Weatherbug - Weather forecasts
Voice Search - Voice recognition for Google searches
Toggle Settings - Control phone profiles

 

[Zenith.UK]

The ones that LadyU considers essential on her HTC Magic.

• ES File Manager - Absolutely essential!
• Hi MSN - MSN clone
• Solitaire - She can't let Windows go.
• eBay - duh!
• Facebook - duh!
• TasKiller - Kill programs running in memory
• Toggle Data - switch GPRS on/off
• Data counter widget - keep track of data traffic
• Meridian - music player

I'm seriously considering an Android phone after playing with her Magic. If they can get it to seamlessly link with Google Docs, I'm sold.

How are you finding the Hero GReaper? Do you like the Sense UI effects (look like WinMo TouchFLO)?

 

[nath]

GREAPER! Awesome!

Now tell me, how are you finding the speed of the device? Is it laggy? What SD card are you using in it, the bundled one or something else? If it's something else, what class (speed) is it?

I'm planning on getting one at the end of the month but need to find out if that lag is too much of a problem.

 

[Tilda]

I am still utterly loving my G1.
While I really love the android os, I dont know how I'd cope without the hard keyboard all the other android phones are lacking.

Greaper, how did you get a HERO?

 

[nath]

When I tried a demo Hero at the t-mobile store that's the one thing that struck me as really impressive, the keyboard was near-flawless. Little vibration feedback so you know you've hit a key, excellent correction of mistyping and very quick. I was immediately double-thumb typing on portrait mode with no hassle.

 

[GReaper]

Thanks for the suggestions.

It can seem to lag a little bit at times, I think the engadget HTC Hero review might give you some indication on it being a little bit sluggish - check the videos. Sometimes it feels fairly snappy, other times it can take a moment to kick into action.

Some of the HTC tweaks are nice, although personally I'm not a huge fan on them adding too much stuff. Far too many widgets by default which aren't that great. The Facebook integration for the contacts list is a nice little feature. In general the UI looks pretty damn nice.

If the lag is a concern, maybe wait a little and try one first. For me coming from a Nokia E65 it doesn't bother me, it wasn't the fastest phone around - so this is a damn nice upgrade from my point of view! But for those who might be used to their phone being more responsive could become a little annoyed.

Greaper, how did you get a HERO?

From Play.com (don't forget quidco), eXpansys sell it as well.

A bit expensive to buy PAYG, but it's better for me as there isn't really a contract for the 10 minutes and 10 texts a month but with plenty of data.

 

[Zenith.UK]

It can seem to lag a little bit at times, I think the engadget HTC Hero review might give you some indication on it being a little bit sluggish - check the videos. Sometimes it feels fairly snappy, other times it can take a moment to kick into action

That might be because of programs loaded in the background that you're not using. TasKiller should help with that. If LadyU's Magic starts lagging at all, we just close a bunch of programs. Voila! Instant smoothness.

 

[nath]

GReaper, I'd strongly suggest you get yourself a Class 6 MicroSD card (assuming you're not on one already) as I've read on numerous places online that it really makes the phone more fluid.

So go buy one and tell us if it worked .

For example:

Transcend 8GB microSDHC Class 6 card with P3 USB Card: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

 

[GReaper]

The device only uses the SD card for as external storage, not for running the majority of the little applications. Unless you root the device then it'll only use internal storage.

Removing a few widgets seems to have helped a bit, along with the occasional killing of a useless app.

 

[nath]

Yes but the reason cited for the microSD improving performance is that Android stores a cache file on it and a slower performing one will negatively impact the smooth running of the phone.

It makes sense and there's a fair few people online claiming that it works, might be worth a shot.

 

[nath]

Doublepost yay!

Did you get the Hero on contract or offline? Orange or T-Mob? And if you don't mind, what sort of deal did you get?

I'm upgrading my Orange phone shortly and want this but as far as I can make out the max data allowance you can get with Orange is 500mb. For a phone like this that just seems absurd, especially given that T-Mob have upped their allowance from 1gb to 3gbs.

 

[GReaper]

Think I'll wait and see what others have got with SD card before I give it a go, I'm a little bit skeptical. Apparently plenty of other people on various forums are trying it, so hopefully more info on it will be coming soon.

As I said earlier, got it from Play.com - so it's PAYG. I'm on 3, so I get the 150MB free with any topup or £5/month for 1GB. I know it's not the best network, but it works for me!

Anyway, I believe the T-Mobile Internet addon (£5/month) is 1GB fair usage, with the Mobile Broadband Plus (£15/month) being the one with 3GB of fair usage. Are you really going to use that much data? I think installing apps will take quite a few MB, but surely this is something you can do over wifi at home?

 

[nath]

Well the standard £5/month package on the hero for t-mob is 3gb now due to the more data intensiveness of the phone.

I have a feeling 500mb will be fine and I'll use wifi for the most part, I just hate the idea of having to keep an eye on it. With a phone like that I'd prefer to use all the features and not worry that I'm going to get charged a quid a day for it.

 

[Tilda]

Damn you GReaper! Now I want to get a Hero!
Need to find someone who wants to buy a hero on contract and then swap the hero for my G1 heh!

 

[nath]

Just mod your G1 to run a Hero ROM, Tilda .

YouTube - How To - Load the Hero ROM onto Your G1 (Improved Method) (www.TheUnlockr.com)

 

[Bodhi]

I know I'm about 6 months early but I thought I'd get it in anyway....


My X3 shits on your Hero

 

[nath]

Incorrect, but thanks for playing . I guess it could be better since it's Android, but we'll see. There's no way the X2 would win - that's WinMo and WinMo is fucking gash!

 

[Bodhi]

But it har a 1 megapixel processor, and eine 8 gigahurtz camera. with Mega Bass. L33t.

 

[nath]

YouTube - Sony Ericsson Xperia X3

And a totally shit looking looking keyboard m8z!

 

[Chilly]

if you are a londoner:

tube status

oh and flixster - new movies and reviews.

 

[nath]

Answer my question Chilly!


</stalk>

 

[GReaper]

Anyway, as this seems to have turned into an HTC Hero thread - here are a few opinions after a few days usage.


Pathetic bluetooth support - An Android thing, but I can't connect to the phone with my laptop to send/receive files, tether for Internet, etc. As far as I know all it'll do is pair with a headset - something I'm not interested in at all. Apparently you can get some apps for a little bit of extra functionality, but may require root access.

Poor Internet tethering - Well, as noted above I can't use Internet with bluetooth. The Hero does come with some Internet sharing tool which works over USB - which I suppose is better than nothing. Only problem with this is that it only works with Windows and Linux, it seems impossible to connect with OS X. Yet again hacks around it are possible, but I'm not going to fiddle about with them just yet.

Average app store - Some of the suggestions here have been great, but there aren't that many killer apps. I know this is mostly because it's still early days, but it's something to be aware of. Hopefully this will improve with time.

Facebook contact photos disappear - The Facebook integration with the contact list is great, but if the phone can't connect it seems to end up being logged out and requires you to manually sign in. A great idea implemented in a bit of a poor way.


I think the lack of decent bluetooth support is shocking phones which are quite expensive. HTC needs to sort out the specific issues with their apps, any slowness and bugs need to be fixed.

I still like the phone, but it's a bit hard for me to evangelise it due to the flaws. I'm willing to forgive Google/HTC for the missing features and the minor problems - only if these issues are addressed in the long run.

 

[Tilda]

GReaper, you can get an app to do teathering, and one for phone-pc transfers.

Not sure re hero, but i have an app called facebook sync which does it automatically, no log out issues encountered.

One game I just got which I love is called Wixel - think that game in pubs where you have a grid of random letters and you have to hit connected ones to make words. Simple but lots of fun!

 

[dysfunction]

Another good app to get would be:

Layar

Its kinda like google maps / streetview, but it shows the view through the camera on your device and overlays items requested such as restaurants on in a kind of 3D way, it uses the built in compass to know which way you're looking just like streetview.

also if you want a new on screen keyboard you may like TouchPal

 

[dysfunction]

This website also might be handy:

Cyrket - Android Market Browser

 

[Ch3tan]

"Vibrator" best. ap. ever.

 

[Furr]

Check to make sure the firmware is up to date on the Hero, a lot of online reviews were done with the older version which was seriously laggy but where HTC fixed many issues in a new version.

 

[nath]

It's been a while, anyone got any more good apps to recommend?