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Help Excited Brand New Android Owner (Droid 2) Questions...

DROIDing

Android Enthusiast
Aug 1, 2010
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1
Hello fellow Droid'ers! :)


At any moment now a ratta-tat-tat will come at my front door... and I'll have the power of the new Droid 2 placed into my hands! This is both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time - but I know from my time here on Android Forums THIS is the place to come for useful informative help!

Android Life has already offered some excellent invaluable guidance regarding getting the most from my new advice, but I thought it could only help taking this all encompassing question 'public' into the Droid 2 sub-forum!

I have been a life-long Windows Mobile Smart Phone user, and have enjoyed it but have reached the end of my love for it to put it lightly! So, for someone who has never dipped their toe into the awesome waters of Android, I am going in head first cannon-ball style with Verizon's just-released power phone... so I'm hoping I (and countless other new users who might read this thread) can organize some useful hints and advice here!

- What are the most useful free and paid apps that will allow me to harnass the true power of my phone (BOTH rooted and non-rooted... since I'm not sure how long it will be until the one-click root is available). I am a big fan of the bar-code scanning apps I've heard about, but would like an app that is all-inclusive and doesn't just display prices from one vendor such as Amazon.

- My ultimate wish-list is highlighted with my desire to make my Droid 2 a TRUE wireless hot-spot that can be shared across ALL devices, such as PS3 and Wii etc... but in order to do this I need to have Android WiFi tether that supports Infrastructure Mode (which I have heard has already been done on other devices) - how can I make this 'dream' a reality so I can get my gaming consoles online without my phone being seen as an Ad-Hoc connection?

- Lastly, for now, I would love to hear some ideas and suggestion about what other programs and software will allow me to truly take my Android experience to the next level. I would like to become full integrated into Google's services... such as Voice, Picasso, etc so I can just migrate ALL of my digital comings-and-going into Android/Goolge... where should I start?

Thanks so much for any help! Also, I would love to know if there is a good Face Book app for Android, or if I should just go to Facebook.com with the browser since it supports full flash and I can just access the actual website (by making the homepage link a widget on my home screen)?

:D
 
So far today I've gotten acquainted with my Droid 2, and it was obvious off the bat it was light years ahead of my previous Windows Mobile phone.

I am still foggy on how to get the most out of Speech-to-Text and the Turn-by-Turn Navigation (can I dictate entire paragraphs like on this forum for example, and do I use the Navigator app that came on the phone or Google Maps for turn-by-turn)?

Also... I saw a web update on the Phandroid homepage that was outlining a new extended voice capability that came on the Droid 2 that is going to be integrated with all Froyo devices, but I didn't understand what it was or how to take advantage of it?
 
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First of all, holding the search button will open the voice command app. I would click the Help button and watch the video. If you want to keep talking after the voice app cuts you off, you can just click the voice button again under your text and dictate more in one-to-two sentence chunks.

I'm not sure whether to use Navigator or Maps myself, but since I'm in the city and do mostly public transit, I think I'm sticking with Maps. I think Navigator is just for driving directions, and the advantage of that seems to be the spoken directions. To use voice commands for navigator, say "Navigate to [Location]." To use voice commands for maps, say "Get directions to [location].

Just a heads up, I think the voice commands for the timer, alarm clock aren't working. If you try it, you get a link to a web page that says google is trying to patch it. Which is really unfortunate, since I don't have a timer on my oven and it'd be really nice to just be able to say "Set timer for 25 minutes."
 
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First of all, holding the search button will open the voice command app. I would click the Help button and watch the video. If you want to keep talking after the voice app cuts you off, you can just click the voice button again under your text and dictate more in one-to-two sentence chunks.

I'm not sure whether to use Navigator or Maps myself, but since I'm in the city and do mostly public transit, I think I'm sticking with Maps. I think Navigator is just for driving directions, and the advantage of that seems to be the spoken directions. To use voice commands for navigator, say "Navigate to [Location]." To use voice commands for maps, say "Get directions to [location].

Just a heads up, I think the voice commands for the timer, alarm clock aren't working. If you try it, you get a link to a web page that says google is trying to patch it. Which is really unfortunate, since I don't have a timer on my oven and it'd be really nice to just be able to say "Set timer for 25 minutes."

Thanks a lot! I tried sending a text via voice, and after saying "Send text to Adam," it opened up a Text Message dialogue window with "Adam" in the body of the text, not the recipient. Also, I said "Call Jen," and it called some out of state College campus! :(
 
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I posted this in another thread, but didn't want multiple replies getting the thread off track... so I thought it would be best posted here, especially since this thread is dedicated toward furthering my knowledge of the phone!

Q: This is very pressing/discouraging... I REALLY wish I knew how to properly play games (roms) on the Emulator(s) I downloaded. I went to Dope Roms Roms, Emulators, and Cheats - DopeROMs - GBA Roms, SNES Roms, N64 Roms, Playstation Roms, NES Roms, GB Roms, GBC Roms, MAME Roms, SG Roms..., from my phone's browser (which is going at a snail's pace for some reason) which has A TON of Roms, and I even downloaded the 1200-in-1 regualr Nintendo (not SNES) rom with supposedly 1,200 games I guess, and I tried Mario which worked great... but as soon as I died the game froze, and after I exited the Rom I couldn't find it ANYWHERE on my phone! Where is it (the Rom), and why doesn't Android ask me 'where to save' the file when I download something online?

Q2: How on Earth can I set my phone's native built-in browser up so it DOES NOT auto-display and link to Mobile versions of websites? This is HUGELY annoying, especially since with Froyo it handles flash, and by forcing me to mobile pages I lose massive amounts of content and user-ability like banking pages and news sites like Gizmodo etc.

I downloaded the Skyfire beta App since I loved it so much for desktop-like browsing on my Winmo phone... but it is truly a 'beta' browser, and would not auto-play any videos :(

THANKS!
 
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Aside from the questions above... I thought I would just quickly post all my other concerns/questions after my first few days of Droid 2 usage:

1. What is a great call recorder that has good voice quality and can record without speakerphone?
2. What is the best way to get some of my DVDs onto my Droid 2, so I can watch full films while flying, traveling, etc?
3. Is there any way to stream media such as Netflix or watch Hulu?
4. What browser or technique can I use so no mobile versions of websites pop up?
 
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Roms are a bit easier to handle using your computer. Just connect your Droid 2 to your comp under USB mass storage and create a new folder like "SNES." Download the roms on your computer, extract them (not always necessary but I always do it) and place them in your newly created "SNES" folder on your micro sd card. Then just open SNESoid and select the rom from that folder.
 
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Roms are a bit easier to handle using your computer. Just connect your Droid 2 to your comp under USB mass storage and create a new folder like "SNES." Download the roms on your computer, extract them (not always necessary but I always do it) and place them in your newly created "SNES" folder on your micro sd card. Then just open SNESoid and select the rom from that folder.

Oh alright, so these are mostly meant to be played on a desktop/laptop then? I was just so stoked when I saw the PS1 emulator, but I suppose only certain games are truly 'made' for the phone. Kind of makes me sad :( I just wish I could play all those games from my phone and have a way to save the Roms to the SD card.
 
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Oh alright, so these are mostly meant to be played on a desktop/laptop then? I was just so stoked when I saw the PS1 emulator, but I suppose only certain games are truly 'made' for the phone. Kind of makes me sad :( I just wish I could play all those games from my phone and have a way to save the Roms to the SD card.

You can download them with your phone and play them. It is just much easier to download them to your computer and transfer them on your phone. I've gotten many games to work with SNESoid, gameboid, and psx4droid. It's just a lot easier to manage from your computer.

I play FF7 on my phone all the time! Except with psx roms, they're a little to big to try and download on your phone. Plus with those you can't just play them. You have to extract and do other steps to get them to work.
 
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You can download them with your phone and play them. It is just much easier to download them to your computer and transfer them on your phone. I've gotten many games to work with SNESoid, gameboid, and psx4droid. It's just a lot easier to manage from your computer.

I play FF7 on my phone all the time! Except with psx roms, they're a little to big to try and download on your phone. Plus with those you can't just play them. You have to extract and do other steps to get them to work.

Oh I see what you're saying now... I thought you meant these roms are meant to be PLAYED on the computer, and not the phone. You mean the downloading and management of the files should be done via PC and once everything is set up THEN access the games from the Droid 2 and play!
 
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Is any other D2 users having issues with battery life? This is my first android device and hubby has D1 so he has helped me with alot of helpful apps...but taskkiller isn't closing the apps that aren't being used I read a task killer isn't needed but my battery lasts 6 Hours tops and its turning off dead! Not sure what im doing wrong... or maybe im expecting more battery life... but normal texting and normal usage shouldn't kill a phone... am I crazy? My old env touch used to go days on a single charge! Any help?
 
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Have you taylored your battery settings to fit your needs?

I'd give you specific directions of how but I'm currently factory resetting mine.

No I have not... I read about a battery app that shuts the phone down and doesn't constantly access the net and GPS etc, but I think my phone has to be rooted and I have not heard anything about a Droid 2 root yet :(
 
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Aside from the questions above... I thought I would just quickly post all my other concerns/questions after my first few days of Droid 2 usage:


3. Is there any way to stream media such as Netflix or watch Hulu?
QUOTE]


Are you talking streaming to the droid 2, or from the droid 2 to another device?

there is blockbuster, I have not got anything from it yet, but I might to test another app out.

You however can stream videos you have saved on your droid 2 to another device. the app for this is preinstalled, and called DLNA.
 
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Are you talking streaming to the droid 2, or from the droid 2 to another device?

there is blockbuster, I have not got anything from it yet, but I might to test another app out.

You however can stream videos you have saved on your droid 2 to another device. the app for this is preinstalled, and called DLNA.

Yes I was talking about being able to watch Netflix or Hulu directly on the phone.
 
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Yes I was talking about being able to watch Netflix or Hulu directly on the phone.


Ok then, I don't think you can, Even though the droid 2 as flash 10.1 built in. When I tried to go to hulu and watch a tv show, it says "Unfortunately, this video is not available on your platform. We apologize for any incoveniece."

As far as the Netflix goes there would have to be an app for that. Wich i'm sure there is not. I checked and all there were was apps to add to your existing queue. But not one to actually be able to watch movies. The blockbuster app is the only one I think that will do that.
 
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Netflix is working on an Android app, but I don't expect it any time soon.

Hulu specifically blocks mobile devices and tv-connected internet boxes because of licensing restrictions with content providers. The paid-subscription based version of Hulu should enable all these devices, but it's stupidly overpriced, especially compared to netflix.
 
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Is any other D2 users having issues with battery life? This is my first android device and hubby has D1 so he has helped me with alot of helpful apps...but taskkiller isn't closing the apps that aren't being used I read a task killer isn't needed but my battery lasts 6 Hours tops and its turning off dead! Not sure what im doing wrong... or maybe im expecting more battery life... but normal texting and normal usage shouldn't kill a phone... am I crazy? My old env touch used to go days on a single charge! Any help?

task killer is not needed on the x or the 2. i'd uninstall the app.
manage the battery settings, under settings go into battery manager, from there you can manage your battery usage. i have mine set as "maximum battery saver"
i also have the usage widget on my home screen so i can turn on/off bluetooth at ease and adjust the brightness. when im inside i have auto dim off, when i'm outside and it's sunny i turn the autobright on.
my d2 has been dieing quickly as well, although from what i hear you have to condition the battery. a couple charges from dead to full.
 
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Oh I see what you're saying now... I thought you meant these roms are meant to be PLAYED on the computer, and not the phone. You mean the downloading and management of the files should be done via PC and once everything is set up THEN access the games from the Droid 2 and play!

A great way to REALLY enjoy emulators is to pick up a GameGripper game-gripper

I don't know if this will fit the newly minted Droid2, but it works FABULOUSLY on my original Droid. One would suppose that it should still fit the new model. If not, the developer has had lots of success in creating these for a few different phones and I don't think it'd be too far a stretch for one to be slightly altered for the D2.

I have emu's playing roms for the Commodore64, Nintendo, and Nintendo64. Before I bought the game gripper though, it was pretty hard to enjoy them using just the buttons on the keyboard or using the touchscreen directly.

UPDATE: I've emailed the manufacturer of the GameGripper to find out if it does indeed fit the D2. I'll let you know what I find out.
 
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I realize the keyboards are different in terms of button placement. However, the physical dimensions of the two phones are the same. Therefore it would come down to button placement in correspondence to the Game Gripper and its buttons. Even if different buttons are beneath the GameGripper buttons, you could still map those keys in the emulator. However, if two buttons overlap under one of the buttons on the GameGripper, then yes, you're correct and this would not work.

I'll wait and see what I hear back from the GameGripper manufacturer.
 
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UPDATE: I've emailed the manufacturer of the GameGripper to find out if it does indeed fit the D2. I'll let you know what I find out.

GameGripper has gotten back to me with the following:

Because the button placement is so different, we don't think it will work. However, we will be making one for the Droid 2 and hope to have it available within 2 months.

Thanks
GG LLC

So there's some good news there :)
 
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