Help Couple Noob questions about my X....

[BIG CAT 7]

This sounds like a very noob thing to ask but I am going to ask it anyway. I just received my X yesterday and I have a couple questions.... On the app screen, how do you create a folder and drop your unused icons in it? Also when you open something (apps and such) and you back out of it, how do you close the app or once you back out does the app automatically close?

I apologize if these are very easy dumb questions and hope I don't get flamed for asking but I am a long time BB user and finally decided to convert to the "Good Guys Side" lol. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[xander66]

You shouldn't worry about flaming, people here are very friendly.
For your second question; some apps will have a menu/close option. Otherwise backing out will do the trick. But remember, in android when you "close" a program it goes into a dormant mode where it uses no resources but can be easily opened. If the os decides it needs more space it will automatically kill the least important processes.

 

[xander66]

Edit: double post

 

[BIG CAT 7]

Edit: double post

I thought that was the case but wasn't sure. I know with blackberry you have to close out everything or the phone runs like garbage, lol. It already doesn't run that great to begin with....

Can anyone answer the first question for me????

 

[ghdtpdna]

I thought that was the case but wasn't sure. I know with blackberry you have to close out everything or the phone runs like garbage, lol. It already doesn't run that great to begin with....

Can anyone answer the first question for me????

Android OS is SUPPOSED to manage the unused apps properly but there will be some rogue apps that actually runs while in sleep mode. Most of the time you will know if this happens and just have to find it and remove the app from your phone.

On that first question what do you mean by creating a folder for unused icons?
do you want to delete the icons or just store them for later?
to store them hold the screen to create a folder => new folder =>
drag and drop the icons.

 

[MisterEff]

Why not just delete the unused icon from your home screen and keep it in your app tray if it is unused?

But, to make a folder you just long press on an empty spot on your homescreen and then Folder->New Folder.

 

[BIG CAT 7]

Android OS is SUPPOSED to manage the unused apps properly but there will be some rogue apps that actually runs while in sleep mode. Most of the time you will know if this happens and just have to find it and remove the app from your phone.

On that first question what do you mean by creating a folder for unused icons?
do you want to delete the icons or just store them for later?
to store them hold the screen to create a folder => new folder =>
drag and drop the icons.

So if you delete them you can get them back? Was just trying to hide the ones that I don't use.

 

[BIG CAT 7]

I tried to press down in the app screen so the folder option pops up and it doesn't. Only on the homescreens????

 

[ghdtpdna]

I tried to press down in the app screen so the folder option pops up and it doesn't. Only on the homescreens????

Where are you trying to hide these icons?
App tray or in one of the home screens?

 

[bigbadwulff]

I haven't gotten my Droid X yet but I was thinking the same thing(being a BB user). All that crap on the home screen(s) on the X is pretty annoying.

Maybe try LauncherPro. From what I read you can customize the home screens about all you want with it......and you can use the phone in landscape then(if you had a Storm, you will like that)

 

[_Aardvark]

I think he's asking if you can organize the full app list in the application tray. This is something that BBs do - in fact I just found a folder full of some default applications on my wife's BB I didn't know were installed last night. Unless a custom launcher/home screen replacement provides this, I don't think this is possible. (anyone?)

This is separate from the question about closing running programs. Android is different than many other OSes WRT application lifetime, multitasking, and memory management.

Take a look at this:
FAQ: Why You Shouldn’t Be Using a Task Killer with Android Geek For Me – Sprint Evo 4g & CDMA Hero

It explains how android works and why you shouldn't need to worry about when applications are closed. BUT, people do worry and have written "task killer" apps to make android work they way they think it should. That article is targeted at debunking task killer apps (which you weren't asking about) but it gives a good background on how things work. Task killing is a hot topic of debate - so know that not everyone agrees w/ the conclusions of the article, but the details of the theory of Android are sound.

I'm a software developer so I have a hard time knowing if that article is too technical - so let me/us know if it doesn't make sense.

 

[ghdtpdna]

@OP
to answer your question, I don't think you can organize the app tray.
It is there just so that you have all the apps in one place. I don't expect to go into the app tray much other than when I am trying to use an app that is used very often.

 

[BIG CAT 7]

I think he's asking if you can organize the full app list in the application tray. This is something that BBs do - in fact I just found a folder full of some default applications on my wife's BB I didn't know were installed last night. Unless a custom launcher/home screen replacement provides this, I don't think this is possible. (anyone?)

This is separate from the question about closing running programs. Android is different than many other OSes WRT application lifetime, multitasking, and memory management.

Take a look at this:
FAQ: Why You Shouldn

 

[_Aardvark]

@OP
to answer your question, I don't think you can organize the app tray.
It is there just so that you have all the apps in one place. I don't expect to go into the app tray much other than when I am trying to use an app that is used very often.

Right, the intention (i think) is that you'd use the home screens for organizing frequently used applications. Home screen folders can provide some extra level of organization to application shortcuts on the home screen. I don't use folders, I put common stuff directly on the home screen and dive into the cluttered app tray for everything else. But home screen folders would be a nice way to organize things if the tray and/or direct home screen links becomes too cumbersome.

 

[_Aardvark]

This is what I was asking actually. If I can't do it then it is no big deal. Guess I just have to get out of that BB frame of mind..... It's been too long since I have used anything other than them that I was completely brainwashed, lol...

I'd try to live w/o it, use the home screens. You do know how to move things around on those screens and how to quickly add applications shortcuts to them, right?

 

[BIG CAT 7]

Ok I have another question. i just downloaded Beautiful Widgets and want the clock on the home screen. I held down and chose Android Widgets and don't see the clock??? Is it called Beautiful Home Weather????? Where are all the skins and optimizations for this widget?

Was just using Fancy widget and wanted to switch to see what BW was all about but can't find anything, lol...

 

[_Aardvark]

Ok I have another question. i just downloaded Beautiful Widgets and want the clock on the home screen. I held down and chose Android Widgets and don't see the clock??? Is it called Beautiful Home Weather????? Where are all the skins and optimizations for this widget?

Was just using Fancy widget and wanted to switch to see what BW was all about but can't find anything, lol...

I'm cheap and use fancy, sorry.

 

[BIG CAT 7]

I'd try to live w/o it, use the home screens. You do know how to move things around on those screens and how to quickly add applications shortcuts to them, right?

What are the shortcuts? Haven't tried that yet..

 

[_Aardvark]

What are the shortcuts? Haven't tried that yet..

Maybe "shortcut" is the wrong term... what I mean is:

Open the application tray, long press on an app icon. The home screen will re-appear, keep pressing the icon. Now drag it to an open location on a home screen. You should be able to move between home screens while dragging by moving close to the edges of a screen.

 

[cypherx82]

The downloadable Home called Launcher Pro allows you to hide apps shortcuts in the drawer that you don't use.

I renamed the bloatware and hid the icons of the things I don't use but still wanted to keep (like Voicemail, etc. I just use *86.)

 

[_Aardvark]

The downloadable Home called Launcher Pro allows you to hide apps shortcuts in the drawer that you don't use.

I renamed the bloatware and hid the icons of the things I don't use but still wanted to keep (like Voicemail, etc. I just use *86.)

How do you hide them in LP?

 

[TheDave]

Ok I have another question. i just downloaded Beautiful Widgets and want the clock on the home screen. I held down and chose Android Widgets and don't see the clock??? Is it called Beautiful Home Weather????? Where are all the skins and optimizations for this widget?

Was just using Fancy widget and wanted to switch to see what BW was all about but can't find anything, lol...

I have this app..what you do is long press home screen and select Widgets and I believe what you want is called beautiful home weather.. click on that and I think it takes u to a screen where you can download different clock "skins" and weather "skins" hope this helps man.