Eris...and why it works for me and the apps that got me there.

[Baldguy]

I have read a lot of threads on problems and complaints. I also have noticed people really wanting the ever illusive 2.1, 2.0 update. So I decided to write about the things that I currently like about my new phone.
I had a envy 2 before this phone. I am that guy that has been doing the new every 2 for 80 years it seams. This is the first "smart-phone" that I ever had.
So after 31 days of owning it...I blew the speakerphone speaker. I have never seen a person do that yet....I am special. Went back to the store...replaced it with a brand new one....back in business. After reloading 300 apps it seemed I learned my first valuable lesson...back up apps weekly.

So onto why it works for me...and the apps that make me smile.

Eris by itslef-Its a fun toy for the kid in me. Look I work 60 hours a week and have 3 kids....daddy needs a toy.

Pandora Music-I use the shit out of this...I have it hooked up to my audio out into my radio at work streaming endless hours of music into the shop...I will never buy music again...I also said goodbye to my Mp3 Player.

Handcent-Texting...easy......lots more fun with this app then with the standard one.

Bloo- Check on Facebook updates and drop my own updates easy...

Sports Tap-Finally able to keep up with my sports with SportsTap

Waze- GPS I hear people complain a lot about GPS but I have no probs using Waze to get around everywhere.

Assistance Free-Finances app finally lets me check all my credit cards and bank balance in the comfort of wherever..

Car Mode- Automatically forces my phone into speakerphone so I don't crash while driving.

Screebl- Finally a app to keep my screen from shutting of while I am reading
NewsRoom My daily news streams (NewsRoom)

My Tracks- I walk every day and love to compare my speed and distance to previous...works great!

Advance Task Manager- Well...5 million things running at once cant be good so there you go...my answer.

PKT Auction- My eBay auction tool...5 secs to drop a bid on a auction cant be wrong.

Weather Bug- I hate this damn thing on my computer but on my Eris its Golden...

Movies- Going to a movie...easy as 1,2,3 lookup for show times and locations.

Quickunistall- Just in case I change my mind on one of these I can easily take it off with out going thru 3 menus.

Trapster-Going on a trip...nice to know where lots of police traps are.

Car Finder-Well...sometimes I lose my car...its small..

Astro- File manager and backup all my apps to card...sooooo important.

Beautiful Widgets- Just great....looks awsome and love the small home.

Ahh...Long Winded but these are the current must haves for daily use. Now dont get me wrong...I have a bunch of dumbass games on her too. The list was just of the stuff I love and need. I always wondered why people were so addicted to these phones...and now I know why!

 

[Heliotropic]

Nice post. I like to hear from people what apps they use, how, and why. It gives me ideas of my own, and suggestions of new apps to try.

And I too use it as a toy more than a phone, but I knew thats how I'd use it before I bought it

 

[hrbib21]

Baldguy, you sound just like me (well, I have all my hair...): First smartphone, last phone was Env2, been with Verizon for a long time. I have a lot of those apps you mention plus a bunch of others just for the hell of it. Just installed the Directv app a few minutes ago, actually.

 

[Tmaccy]

Thanks for the tip on Sports Tap, I used to use Live Scores, but Sports Tap is far superior, in fact I used my Quick Uninstall to get rid of Live Scores immediately after my first use of Sports Tap lol!

 

[Baldguy]

50000 damn apps out there and half are crap so its nice to hear what works for everyone else. Today I am trying out FoxyRing. It modifies your ringtone based on location. For example, if you have a spongebob ringtone turned on for everyday use but don't want that for the ol work environment, you can add that location and a regular ringtone. Also, it turns on silent during sleep hours so you don't get woke up by random ******s. And finally, it adjust the loudness of your ringer based on the noise in your location. Thought it would be cool so I am trying it out. Later.

 

[thetomlin2]

Assistance Free-Finances app finally lets me check all my credit cards and bank balance in the comfort of wherever..

I still refuse to look up financial information on my phone ... it would be handy, but it worries me.

 

[mc48]

Baldguy, you sound just like me (well, I have all my hair...): First smartphone, last phone was Env2, been with Verizon for a long time. I have a lot of those apps you mention plus a bunch of others just for the hell of it. Just installed the Directv app a few minutes ago, actually.

Me to...except for the bald part...and the guy part. but long time Verizon customer, came from an Env 2, new phone every 2 years..I never buy the insurance. If something happens to my current phone, I pick up a cheap one on ebay to tide me over. My first smart phone and having a ball with it. thanks for the heads up on some of your apps, I will esp. check out Assistance Free. I especially like the apps Evernote for note and document keeping/organizing app, Mediafly and Listen for podcasts and Queueman for netflix picks. I am always hearing about or seeing a movie I want to put on my queue. Now I can, instantly (just put Bottle Shock on there today).

 

[deathratlehead]

FIOS DVR is a real treat. I can see all the stuff saved on my dvr, delete shows, set up recordings and view the entire schedule. I was sitting on my couch controlling my dvr with my phone last night....really cool.

 

[aleis]

I still refuse to look up financial information on my phone ... it would be handy, but it worries me.

+1

 

[eurotrash323]

Great post !

 

[karib]

Lovin' my Eris too! Thanks for the positive thread... I installed trapster and car locator apps, thanks!

 

[Heliotropic]

50000 damn apps out there and half are crap so its nice to hear what works for everyone else. Today I am trying out FoxyRing. It modifies your ringtone based on location. For example, if you have a spongebob ringtone turned on for everyday use but don't want that for the ol work environment, you can add that location and a regular ringtone. Also, it turns on silent during sleep hours so you don't get woke up by random ******s. And finally, it adjust the loudness of your ringer based on the noise in your location. Thought it would be cool so I am trying it out. Later.

I've tried a similar app to the FoxyRing called Locale. It does the same type of stuff where it can change settings on your phone (ringtone, wifi, wallpaper, etc) per your situation (at home, at work, everywhere else, etc) based on certain condions (location, time, etc). The main problem I found is that when you "location" as a condition (which uses GPS) it will revert back to its defaults when you lose the GPS signal, i.e in the building at work or at home.
Maybe there's something I'm missing, some setting, i dont know. I'll probably try messing with it again one of these days when I get time. I really like the idea of the app though.

 

[JrzDroid]

Baldguy, you know that ATM has an uninstaller right?

 

[ChiTownJim]

I'm loving my Eris as well, I love the Android software ... The first few days it was an aggorvating learning curve but now that I've got it setup the way I want I'm loving it .. I'm constinetly changing it up and discovering new and nifty things this phone can do apps that I use regularly

Handcent SMS - Way better then the stock texting app, slightly slower loading up but well worth it

Dolphin Browswer - Really like the gestures and taps

Anysoftkeyboard- Way better feel then stock and does a better job with new words ( betterkeyboard is also really good, anysoft just is better for me)

Astro File Manager - Very easy file managing

Bump - Just cool dont use much but worth ahving

Trapster - Pretty reliable speed trap finder will just get better as more people download and update

TasKiller - Helped with battery life and I think performance as well

Sports Tap - Awesome customizable sports widget

Happy Hour- This will also get better as more people use it, but it's pretty accurate and has lots of deals for Downtown Denver where I live

Gentle Alarm- Best alarm clock ever

Gmote- I have my computer hooked up to my stereo and when I have get togethers I can controll the songs from my Eris... Very Very COOL

Carmode- Always is on speaker so I don't wreck

Kayak- Awesome for finding great travel deals

TV.com - Don't use often but when i do very cool to watch movies and shows from my cell phone

Spareparts- Just a good OS utility

 

[WARRIIOR]

I have been following this forum for a month and this thread is a huge help. Instead of trying to figure out the marketplace, this thread has helped figure me out. I now know some of the apps I need. Thanks

 

[ChiTownJim]

I have been following this forum for a month and this thread is a huge help. Instead of trying to figure out the marketplace, this thread has helped figure me out. I now know some of the apps I need. Thanks

agreeded i found a lot of usefull info here and searching the net for top android apps .
The marketplace has so much crap in it that it's hard to sift thru the nonsense

 

[dhrandy]

I like a few you had. I'll post a few more that I use.

gStrings - Great tuner for tuning guitar or any other instruments.

FindMe - Gives your current location.

Aloqa - Great for finding local places, food, stores, etc.

Free Wi-fi Finder - You guessed it.

iheartradio - Has my local radio station on it.

Key Ring - Scan all your key ring cards to your phone.

Location Scout - find movies filmed near your location.

Flixter - Best movie app. ever.

Shazam - Hold to the radio and find out what a song is and the album.

Where - Great for finding gas station prices.

Zedge - ringtones and wallpapers

smartpark - I like this car locator.

ShopSavvy - scan bare-code and find local prices.

SafeNeighborhood - Find local sex offenders on map.

Ringdroid - Make your own ringtones.

FunnyJokes - Great joke app.