Android phones, apps and tablets

Some news.

Apparently some Galaxy Notes have been seen to have screen issues.......banding it seems. In fact it's happened on my Note twice, but turning it off then on again, fixed it immediately. Coincidentally, it happened when I was gaming for hours, and the screen had gotten quite warm, but like a clever boy, I ignored it. Silly me.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_plagued_by_display_issues-news-4563.php

Also, the word is that Note 2 may debut in just a few months. It appears to have a bigger screen but still is slimmer than the the original Note. And it will be quad core. That will be my Xmas prezzie to myself.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_plans_to_unveil_the_galaxy_note_2_on_august_30_at_ifa-news-4514.php

The full change list for Jelly Bean has been published:
http://www.android.com/about/jelly-bean/

I've had it on my Galaxy Nexus (still the best phone you can buy) for a couple of days now. I'm not too bothered by Google Now, and that may be because of the way in which I use my phone and it not yet having gathered enough data to be worth while... but the speed improvements and savings on battery are both noticeable.

I did a test yesterday, and I can now get 28 hours of use out of the phone on a single full charge and with moderate use of the phone. Which means no playing games... but I kept WiFi and 3G on the whole time and accessed email, search, web browser and maps as I usually do.

The phone feels nicer throughout as well. A side effect of all of their smoothed transitions.

It's nice... definitely worth the software update.

To those who haven't received the software update, I believe there's some trick to trigger it involving accessing Settings > Apps > All and choosing Google Services Framework and clearing the cache... trying to check for an update and repeat a few times. Not sure if that works or how, as mine just came OTA... but for those who haven't yet received the OTA automatically that apparently works.

that's the only thing that annoys me about having left the nexus line of phones. I have to wait for samsung now to produce their version

I shouldn't worry, the Samsung version of JB will be the same as the ICS version and the GB version... you have a Samsung phone with a Samsung skin and a Samsung experience. So you won't see the differences that JB bring unless Samsung suddenly change their behaviour and want you to... but that's unlikely to happen.

In effect, you already have the latest Samsung experience, as the experience doesn't change just because Android does.

Same goes for HTC.

Hence my enormous rant some many pages back about how HTC, Samsung, etc are failing Android and how the only Androids worth anything are the ones running stock Android and receiving timely updates and an unfiltered experience.

Of course, all of this changes later this year when there is rumoured to be many Nexus devices (one per OEM)... so you'd finally get the choice of hardware in the Nexus line. Until that happens I firmly believe that software differences are greater than all of the hardware differences and that the Galaxy Nexus is the best phone on the market.

Everyone will recommend something different, but for me PowerAmp is great

I have just tried a number of players and PowerAmp is the best.

It sounds the best.

I used Oasis - Definitely Maybe to test it, with some nice headphones. Basically Rock 'n' Roll Star is one of those songs that sounds terrible on the vast majority of small devices, and PowerAmp actually is noticeably better than all of the other music players I tried even though I'm using FLAC input.

It's so much better that I've just paid for it... and I'm a tight bastard these days, so this says quite a lot.

Oh, and one other thing whilst I'm in this thread:

If you're on Linux, then MTP works best with mtpfs:
[code]
sudo apt-get install mtpfs
sudo mkdir /media/Android
[/code]

Then to mount the device:
[code]mtpfs -o allow_other /media/Android[/code]

And to dismount:
[code]fusermount -u /media/Android[/code]

And if you like your Bash aliases:
[code]
echo "alias android-mount=\"mtpfs -o allow_other /media/Android\"" >> ~/.bashrc
echo "alias android-dismount=\"fusermount -u /media/Android\"" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
[/code]

Then it's as simple as:
[code]
android-mount
android-dismount
[/code]

So, I posted this a couple of days ago but (a) the problem persists and (b) I know slightly more about the issue.

When I try to use skype on my phone (HTC sensation XE, Android 4.0.3) it doesn't work. It doesn't matter if I'm using the 3g network or a strong wifi connection, it also doesn't matter what account I use - neither of mine work. For the past few days every time I try to log on it says "skype has stopped working: would you like to sign in again or exit skype". A few days before that I got a message saying that the SMS rate could not be retrieved even though I could happily send SMS via skype on my computer.

can anyone think of a solution? I have reinstalled skype and am currently installing system updates but as yet no luck. It would be really good to solve this as I'm in Indonesia, my GF is in Peru and for the next 3 months this is likely to be our best, f not only means of communication.

Alternatively does anyone know of any apps that allow me to send texts over the internet? I've got whatsapp but I need it to send to an olschool, non-internetty mobile in Peru? I'm happy to pay if it works.

Hi

Can anyone offer any advice on getting mms to work? on 3 network, but handset is unlocked. std sms working but nothing else. Tried 3 help..but not successful. Read about an app called tweakker...but the version on the play store isnt compatible with my device apparently...

Any help would be great
Tks

Mus

Check your Access Point Names.

Weirdly, to get mms to work on my phone, I had to send an mms message to myself, to activate it.

Worth a shot.

So, I posted this a couple of days ago but (a) the problem persists and (b) I know slightly more about the issue.

When I try to use skype on my phone (HTC sensation XE, Android 4.0.3) it doesn't work. It doesn't matter if I'm using the 3g network or a strong wifi connection, it also doesn't matter what account I use - neither of mine work. For the past few days every time I try to log on it says "skype has stopped working: would you like to sign in again or exit skype". A few days before that I got a message saying that the SMS rate could not be retrieved even though I could happily send SMS via skype on my computer.

can anyone think of a solution? I have reinstalled skype and am currently installing system updates but as yet no luck. It would be really good to solve this as I'm in Indonesia, my GF is in Peru and for the next 3 months this is likely to be our best, f not only means of communication.

Alternatively does anyone know of any apps that allow me to **send texts over the internet? ** I've got whatsapp but I need it to send to an olschool, non-internetty mobile in Peru? I'm happy to pay if it works.

Mighty-Text, install on android phone, can type away on your PC and send via your phone. Might not be what your after though.

Check your Access Point Names.

tried it...nada

Nada as in you haven't any? I'm on orange and have one for internet access, one for mms.

I'm on Vodafone and likewise you need access points for MMS: http://www.mphone.co.uk/mms_wap_settings_vodafone.html

Usually the network sets this stuff upon access, but a lot of phones need to be configured either manually or via a text message or something.

called 3, who created another apn for mms and talked me through settings..but this didn't work.

Recently been having some problems with my Desire HD..

Basically, the in-built navigation app seems to have a mind of it's own. Regularly and without warning, it will turn on and attempt to go into car mode. Each time, it opens in front of whatever I am doing and requires me to cancel and close it. It also has the annoying side effect of making speaker phone the default for calls.

From a bit of googling, I can surmise that my phone appears to think that it is docked which makes it automatically go into car mode and open up the navigation app. The reasons for this have a bit of speculation surrounding them. The suggested causes range from magnets (how do they work?) to dusty (or shorted) connections in the micro usb port at the bottom of the phone.

I'm inclined to think something along the lines of the latter as the problem gets infinitely worse whenever the phone is charged (yet to try connecting to my PC yet and see what happens).

If this is the case, there are only a couple of possible solutions.

A) Somehow delete the navigation app which I don't use or at least somehow disable the automatic start aspect. Neither of which are possible as the app is built in and I haven't rooted the phone. The settings have nothing relevant and killing the app in watchtower gives only temporary reprieve.

B) Somehow fix the faulty connection which would probably mean sending the phone to voda if I've got some kind of warranty..

Anyone else come across this or have any suggestions?

so who got the nexus 7?

Recently been having some problems with my Desire HD

............... Looooong explanation....................................................

Anyone else come across this or have any suggestions?

If it is lint shorting the micro USB buy a can of this:

From here and give it a good blast. At 99p + P&P you won't lose anything and it may fix the problem.

Recently been having some problems with my Desire HD..

Basically, the in-built navigation app seems to have a mind of it's own. Regularly and without warning, it will turn on and attempt to go into car mode. Each time, it opens in front of whatever I am doing and requires me to cancel and close it. It also has the annoying side effect of making speaker phone the default for calls.

From a bit of googling, I can surmise that my phone appears to think that it is docked which makes it automatically go into car mode and open up the navigation app. The reasons for this have a bit of speculation surrounding them. The suggested causes range from magnets (how do they work?) to dusty (or shorted) connections in the micro usb port at the bottom of the phone.

I'm inclined to think something along the lines of the latter as the problem gets infinitely worse whenever the phone is charged (yet to try connecting to my PC yet and see what happens).

If this is the case, there are only a couple of possible solutions.

A) Somehow delete the navigation app which I don't use or at least somehow disable the automatic start aspect. Neither of which are possible as the app is built in and I haven't rooted the phone. The settings have nothing relevant and killing the app in watchtower gives only temporary reprieve.

B) Somehow fix the faulty connection which would probably mean sending the phone to voda if I've got some kind of warranty..

Anyone else come across this or have any suggestions?

Had this with my desire S, it was a complete ballache. A) doesn't work, I tried every app that claimed to do it, this worked temproarily DockNothing Free but eventually it didn't.

Problem was internal and water damage.

Also, anyone got an S2 or similar for sells?

s1?

Aah, want something a bit newer and with a reasonable camera as it's for someone else.

Fair enough.

Thanks though!

Bobbo, did see lots of suggestions for aerosol-ing the port to clear it up but none with anyone saying it actually worked for them. May give it a blast..

Cake, bugger..