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Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

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Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#61

Post by mrich »

flexd wrote: post #18
mrich wrote: post #10

Apps aside, I can recommend putting the latest beta MIUI ROM on the Samsung. The default Samsung UI is kind of ugly in my opinion. With MIUI you get a beautiful interface which is very customizable. Standard disclaimers apply. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1130951

I actually find myself liking the TouchWiz interface over HTC Sense. I've tried others HTC phones before and my SGS2 is the first android device I've owned. It's quite nice so I haven't bothered changing roms yet. I might if there's a significant battery usage improvement though.

I came from a Motorola Milestone/Droid which has a higher-res screen and the big font/menus of the S2 was a real turnoff for me first. I even thought about getting an HTC Sensation which has a slick UI with small fonts. But once I put MIUI on it I never looked back, the UI is just beautiful (a little iPhone-inspired though, but not copying the bad things - e.g. the 'back' button in the upper left corner). Don't think you will see battery improvements since the UI is mostly black-on-white as opposed to the default, which is suboptimal for AMOLEDs.

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#62

Post by mrich »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #48

An anti-answer: Use as few apps as possible, and when you do download ones, make sure to go into Settings -> Manage Applications and move them to the SD card if they didn't automatically install there. Don't know how the SGS2 is in this regard, but my Nexus S absolutely chugs if I'm not careful to keep main memory as free as possible.

S2 has heaps of internal storage (16GB) so this is not a problem :)

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#64

Post by avar »

Malcx wrote: post #36
avar wrote: post #35

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy S2 that I've rooted. Here's my most commonly used applications, all of which I recommend: * Smart Keyboard Pro: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.cdeguet.smartkeybo... -- Allows me to use a Dvorak keyboard on the phone, but even if you don't use Dvorak it's still a great purchase. It has a lot of options to make your typing more efficient that the stock keyboard doesn't have. * Th…

>>There's no way to turn off the shutter noise on it, Use root explorer to find the sound files (sorry I can't remember where they are off the top of my head) rename them or just delete them and restart your phone. You need make sure you get all the focus/shutter files.

That works for everything but the autofocus sound, I disabled the shutter sound using this method, but the autofocus sound is compiled into the camera application.

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#65

Post by avar »

riams wrote: post #40
avar wrote: post #35

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy S2 that I've rooted. Here's my most commonly used applications, all of which I recommend: * Smart Keyboard Pro: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.cdeguet.smartkeybo... -- Allows me to use a Dvorak keyboard on the phone, but even if you don't use Dvorak it's still a great purchase. It has a lot of options to make your typing more efficient that the stock keyboard doesn't have. * Th…

>> I tried to use Titanium Backup PRO but it didn't work for removing or freezing them. Worked for me. What happens if you launch them after attempting to freeze? >> Screenshot to take screenshots You don't need an app for this. Hold menu + power button.

It just refused to work (i.e. clicking on "freeze" with those apps returned an error), and since it's a paid application I only had 15 minutes to try it out if I wanted a refund.

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#67

Post by mrich »

mrich wrote: post #10

Apps aside, I can recommend putting the latest beta MIUI ROM on the Samsung. The default Samsung UI is kind of ugly in my opinion. With MIUI you get a beautiful interface which is very customizable. Standard disclaimers apply. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1130951

Update: This is the current version (known bugs are listed) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1278306

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#68

Post by mkopinsky »

mrich wrote: post #59
mkopinsky wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For someone currently happily using a dumbphone, who recently had an embarrassing experience that could have been prevented if I had a GPS and is now considering drinking the kool-aid, what can you tell me about the standard disclaimers? I know that rooting the phone means you lose your warranty, but what I'm not sure of is a) how easy is it to restore the original ROM so that VZW can't tell the difference, b) how mu…

First, I can definitely recommend getting a smartphone. I'm normally a late adoptor, but I am glad I switched relatively early to a smartphone. I ran into people now and then who tell me they don't need their phone to do X, they just want to call people, but I'm sure once they have all the functionality in one device they would never give it back. Regarding risks, I ran into a problem with the custom MIUI ROM where I…

For me, so far it's been a lifestyle choice. Seeing the extent to which I am addicted to my computer and am totally glued to it when it's turned on, I am scared the same will happen with a smartphone. On the other hand, being able to look something up quickly on a smartphone might make it easier to keep the computer off and engage with life.

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#69

Post by clopey »

avar wrote: post #35

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy S2 that I've rooted. Here's my most commonly used applications, all of which I recommend: * Smart Keyboard Pro: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.cdeguet.smartkeybo... -- Allows me to use a Dvorak keyboard on the phone, but even if you don't use Dvorak it's still a great purchase. It has a lot of options to make your typing more efficient that the stock keyboard doesn't have. * Th…

This sounds like just what you're after for a N-minute workout

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.skimble.workouts&#...

Re: Ask HN: What Android apps do you use?

#70

Post by pbsurf »

CyanogenMod 7 on N1 here.

* Any Cut (Jeff Hamilton)

* Barcode Scanner - reads barcodes much faster than Goggles

* Droid48 - HP48 calculator emulator

* EBookDroid - djvu and pdf reader

* Google Goggles

* Google Sky Map

* GPS Status (Eclipsim)

* Jorte (Johospace)

* SMS Popup (Adam K)

* Speed Test (Ookla)

* Swype

* Widgetsoid2.x

* Yelp

* AdFree

* Instant Heart Rate (Azumio) - measure pulse by placing finger over camera

* Tide Prediction (Muchoviento)

* SMS Backup (Christoph Studer) - backup SMS to gmail

* JetNote and JetDraw (disclaimer: I am the developer of these apps)

* Torch, terminal emulator, and file manager included with CM7

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