Android phones, apps and tablets

If you have any Tasker how to's for common tasks, be interested to see them?

Their wiki page has some.
http://tasker.wikidot.com/

Anyone know of an app/widget that allows me to view my MP3's and assign them as ringtones. teh "ringtone" widget only lets me access teh defaults and no longer has an option for other mps's since I upgraded the software.

I thought the default player could do this? Yeah: In Music, press Menu, then Set As Ringtone

I tend to copy ringtone-specific mp3s into the ringtone folder on the phone so I've not used an app for this.

i'm mega tempted to convert my htc hd2 from win to android 2.2 or froyo. anyone have any experience with this and is it something i can do myself.

Yup - running shubcraft froyo2.2 on my hd2, works perfectly, really quick too. You need to make sure that your radio version and rom are correct versions otherwise it wont work.

It doesnt actually replace win mobile - it runs it instead - you can run either (before anyone asks - android does NOT run on top of winmo - you stop the win kernel and boot the android one up from windows)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740963

Inbuilt Maps on the Desire are pretty good. Turn GPS on for superior accuracy.

Ta Zed, I actually turned it on as a test last night and it showed my location as in my house within seconds! it used to lag for ages and when I enterd a route it would update about once a minute - really frustrating. Not tried teh new map on teh road yet though. and looking forward to trying some voice function so I can listen and navigate as i ride etc.

I thought the default player could do this? Yeah: In Music, press Menu, then Set As Ringtone

I tend to copy ringtone-specific mp3s into the ringtone folder on the phone so I've not used an app for this.

Yeah hippy, i used to use it also. but now use 3cubed and loving it - remember the default used to stick and needed force closeing a lot.

However 3Cubed does not allow me to assign as ringtone - unless I am using it incorrectly. More play needed.

I still have the default in the settings list so will use that if desperate. i just need to explore the phone more tbh!

I know handcent sms lets you set custom ringtones, and becomes an option to select whenever you chose a notification. Might be worth a try?

handecent is great.

I'm having a problem setting up new gmail accounts on my Legend now. When I try it stops after a while and says I am having problems with my connection and that I should try and find a secure connection or speak to my service provider. My connection is fine, I have tried it on various routers and in areas of very good network coverage. Anyone have the same problem or know how to fix this?

Yup - running shubcraft froyo2.2 on my hd2, works perfectly, really quick too. You need to make sure that your radio version and rom are correct versions otherwise it wont work.

It doesnt actually replace win mobile - it runs it instead - you can run either (before anyone asks - android does NOT run on top of winmo - you stop the win kernel and boot the android one up from windows)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740963

awesome, did you have to unlock your phone first? i've never done this before, can it be attempted by a relative computer numpty?

Sorry to butt in Dale, but I just wanted to say that I'm trying out the WiFi (right now)
generated from my HTC Desire, and itd f*cking immense! Amazing that I can be on my
laptop in one room, and and a friend be in the next room on their netbook is surfing the net,
based on a WiFi hotspot generated from a mobile! Its a Star Trek moment. :D

I love how it just works with like two clicks as well.

It is teh awesome. Although I still USB tether so it doesn't kill the battery.

I've got mine plugged in at the wall, and the battery was only 39% when I started, and its now 44% and rising,
while still providing a WiFi hotspot. I am well impressed.

I know handcent sms lets you set custom ringtones, and becomes an option to select whenever you chose a notification. Might be worth a try?

Ta Branwen will try it out...

The Desire is now up to 100% battery. Rising battery life while providing a WiFi hotspot.
Can the iPhone 4 compete? ;)

http://blogs.computerworld.com/16281/iphone_4_vs_android

I'm so impressed with how easy it is aswell . Really good stuff.
Anyone got some good videos in hd yet?

awesome, did you have to unlock your phone first? i've never done this before, can it be attempted by a relative computer numpty?

You shouldn't need to unlock (hspl) it if it runs ok on your ROM version as you just launch it from your sd card.

Basically, all you do is download the image - save it to a folder called Android on the root of your sd card, open file explorer and navigate there, run clrcad (it appears to do nothing but sets up the sound to work) then run haret - that boots Android (first boot often takes a while as it creates various files etc) and away you go :)

if it doesnt work - then its probably down to your radio version - you can update this without unlocking the phone iirc

I don't think anyone answered this - yes, the GPS records the route for you to map, mobile signal isn't needed for that bit.

Very good idea.

I don't want to sound like an idiot but if you only have GPS on and then get home and want to map the route does that still work even if you haven't had 3g/2g on when riding the route?

I cant upgrade until September next year, unless I save money for a handset only. Until then I will try and root this gorgeous looking phone, and just use it. I love it for other shit though <3

For now, I'll continue eyeballing this forum

I'm looking at the new entry level android phones on the market at around the £100 mark.

I've narrowed it down to either the LG Optimus or the Orange San Fransisco
User experiences to help me choose please?

LG Optimus

Orange San Fransisco

Useless answer, but try them both out :)

Both are running custom versions of Android, so you will be stuck for upgrades, that said Orange might be more willing to do stuff for customers than LG. But then the Orange one might come with more bloat-ware that you can do nothing about.

Someone on here had the Optimus from what I recall.

Edit:
Ok, i've just done some reading, and the San Francisco is actually a re-branded ZTE Blade, and there is already a root exploit + custom rom for it. Its also got a higher res, capactive screen, compared to the LG's resistive, and is running 2.1, as opposed to the LG's 1.6 [just ask lil how annoying being stuck on 1.6 is!] so I would give a huge vote for the San Francisco

http://android.modaco.com/content/zte-blade-blade-modaco-com/318597/progress-update-mcr-et-al/

This dude is the dogs bollocks, I believe Hippy is running his Desire Rom. Seeing this I'm sorely tempted to grab one myself!

Just been reading some more, looks like an awesome bit of kit for your cash. Going to get one the moment it gets unlocked

Great info Branwen

I think all Orange pay as you go phones are unlocked
You can get a 10% discount with an NUS number at the moment too.

I'm new to the world of android - don't understand whats the difference between the google standard OS and a manufactures 'custom' version?

If the phone can run android whats to stop me just deleting their OS and downloading/installing googles?

I'm also looking at the Samsung Galaxy Apollo from orange at around the same price
Closely comparing it to the San Fransisco from Orange

The Orange has 3G+
The Samsung has only 3G
(what does the plus mean?)

The Orange is tri band
The Samsung is Quad band
(does this help with reception in poor areas?)

The Orange is smaller And heavier - I thought this might mean a bigger battery but no
Orange talktime is 4 hours
Samsung talktime is 9 hours

Great info Branwen

I think all Orange pay as you go phones are unlocked

Unfortunately not

You can get a 10% discount with an NUS number at the moment too.

Yep. Or a £12 discount from
http://www.quidco.com/mobiles/pay-as-you-go/orange/

I'm new to the world of android - don't understand whats the difference between the google standard OS and a manufactures 'custom' version?

If the phone can run android whats to stop me just deleting their OS and downloading/installing googles?

Unfortunately not. It needs to be hacked - hence why I'm so happy that MoDaCo are on the case for the San-Fran. Its already got a rom made that removes all the Orange stuff

The Orange has 3G+
The Samsung has only 3G
(what does the plus mean?)

Slightly faster connection speeds

The Orange is tri band
The Samsung is Quad band
(does this help with reception in poor areas?)

Nope. Quad band means it should work anywhere in the world. Tri is UK, Europe and some of USA, I think.

The Orange is smaller And heavier - I thought this might mean a bigger battery but no
Orange talktime is 4 hours
Samsung talktime is 9 hours

I would be dubious about talk-times. So much else happens with an Android phone its a bit un-natural. People are saying 24 hours with 65% battery left, so should be fine on the San-Fran

:)

Oh, and talk to Hippy about Samsung's history with software updates ;)

its gets worse if you look at the standby battery time

Orange 9 days
Samsung 24 days

Both have simlar sized OLED screens, I wonder it just a really cheap battery that could be upgraded.