Android [Phones], Mine, fave apps, etc.

B

brittle

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I picked up a Samsing Galaxy S (aka, AT&T Captivate) yesterday. I bailed on an iPhone 4 since it was just more of the same, plus I wanted to do some development (I have all the tools in place for Android).

4" Super AMOLED, 1GHz proc with a fast GPU, b/g/n WiFi, BT 3.0. 16GB internal and support for MicroSD (at least up to 32GB at this point), 5MP cam and 720P video, GPS, compass, 6 motion sensors.

The display is insane. Amazing off angle viewing, and the AMOs are self lit so no bleedover and super crisp text. Everything is really quick in the UI, email client, browser (webkit based). The gallery app is outstanding too.

I installed a sync app and got my Outlook contacts/calendar on it, all the usual apps I had on the woman's iPhone (Wiki, Netflix, DTV, tides, feed and e readers, etc.). I also rooted it so I have superuser access and can use any app distro, access the root filesystem (I nuked all the AT&T shit-ware).

Stuck on AWD and Launcher pro with Home switcher so I have this slick home page option now too. Samsung loaRAB a UI wrapper on top of Android 2.1 called TouchWiz which is OK (it's like Motoblur or HTC Sense). Can't wait to get Android 2.2 on this, should be out in the next couple of months.
 
I have the Eris on Verizon. Definitely not the best Droid, but it runs fast enough and does everything I need it to do. I have no need for an iPhone or anything else, I love my Eris.
 
I'm currently on the HTC Incredible for Verizon. Favorite/most used apps are probably Magic Seaweed, FxCamera, Handcent SMS, Advanced Task Killer ( must have ), and a few others I can't remeraber off the top of my head. Google Sky Maps is also pretty sweet.
 
I've only heard bad but bad because of moto's shitty blur-software. the hardware blows everything, -even the evo 4g, out of the water in almost every category.
 
apparently you dont have to use blur though. i messed with my frienRAB(whom i never see so i couldnt really ask what he thought of it indepth) and the homescreen and shit is exactly like the og droid
 
O RLY?

well shit then the x looks like the way to go. idk if I wanna switch to verizon thouhg. If I make the switch I wanna go sprint most likely 70$ a month unlimited? sign me up
 
I have the original droid and I still love it. Yeah Id like one of the newer models but compared to what I was stuck with last, this phones fast and allows me to do anything id need it for. Id like to create some apps but dont want to get into all the learning that goes along with it.
 
Pretty close because the reference model is the Samsung Galaxy S, then all the US carriers are doing a tweaked version with it's own name/branding. So the AT&T phone is a Captivate, the T-Mob is a Vibrant, etc.

The AT&T version has pretty solid aesthetics: the front is edge-to-edge glass, and like the battery cover/rear is metal with this carbon imprinted grip surface.

The Galaxy S (line) uses a unique processor too - it's not the same as most of the other CPUs, most of the other 1GHz procs are Qualcomm Snapdragons, the Samsung has a really fast CPU called Hummingbird (like 3X the 3D performance, audio RABP). The Droid X is also using a specilized CPU (TI OLAP) that's supposed to have some faster integrated tech too.

I considered the Droid X, but I would've had to change carrier (and lose all sorts of bundled discounts), and it was a touch on the chunky side. The captivate is ~9.9mm without any bulges or anything.
 
Droid Incredible

Apps- FXCamera, Shazam, GameBoid, Swype beta, Navigation

Edit: also WordUp! is my fave game right now (besides Leaf Green on Gameboid)
 
I got to score FXCamera, that's like the 4th time I've seen it on a list!

My phone came preinstalled with Swype. It's a little funky, but goddam it actually works really well.
 
Droid Hero, favorite apps:

Magic Seaweed
Bump
Wifi on/off Switch
Ethereal Dialpad (sick ass synthesizer)
gStrings guitar tuner
TV.com
Yelp!
 
be ready for a new cross carrier platform to come out soon.

using original droid:
most frequently used apps for me are the
flashlight (DroidLight) - believe it or not i use this one quite a bit
advanced task killer - essential for any smartphone right now. my phones gets really glitchy when i dont use it for 2 or 3 days.
ak notepad - i cant say how many times i wish i had a paper/pencil in public
ringdroid - chop and set your own ringtones out of anything. i dont use it often, but i list it b/c everytime my phone rings, its thanks to this.

also use some of the default apps a lot, but mostly the gps and maps.

imo i dont think the droid has everything or even close to it done right. however, when it comes down to it, if im honest, many of my "problems" are just preference issues they dont let you change. ie vanilla vs strawberry ice cream, i wanted strawberry, got stuck with vanilla, but both ice creams are still very good.

problems:
too many of the menus are too decentralized - some of the menus are too hard to access, sometimes my phone does stuff i dont want it to, those little keys are really big for my fat thurabs, i cant save pictures i get in pic messages, and i dont like how there is a enter key on the keyboard (i send out messages b4 i finish typing sometimes).






btw DT: for app development i say just go for it, but be prepared for A LOT of setbacks and hiccups if you haven't done development before. many people i know were working on phone apps for a class and bottom line is even as computer majors, most of those people couldn't get AMAZING apps, at most the apps were OK (if they wanted to sort all of the problems and glitches out).

not trying to be a downer to u or say u can't do it, but a lot of people, including myself, thought "hmm i think ill try app devo" then we realize it may be more than we thought and we end up wasting a good deal of time working on those apps.
 
Well I've got a specific design target since I'm looking at just building a wrapper for some specific web services in a couple of our apps. They wouldn't be intended for deployment on the market or for "direct" revenue.

Plus my Kung-Fu is way stronger than those girly-boy comp majors you know :D
 
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