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New to Droid, but having some hickups..

carrot

Member
Feb 1, 2010
61
0
GA
I switched to a Motorola Droid 5 days ago (from a Blackberry curve). I'm having some trouble understanding some of the behavior and getting used to it. These are all things that I didn't have to deal with on the blackberry. I know they are different devices but I use my Phone primarily for work. I'm afraid now that I'll miss important messages or voice calls..

- Phone goes Mute (ringer)... No idea how it gets there. Probably a bad finger swipe on the home screen. Is there a way to disable this?
- No easy change from profiles (notifications, ringer, etc...). I tried a few apps but they all seems to fail at turning on/off notifications for e-mail/gmail.
- don't receive my messages (gmail), seems like it doesn't sync all the time
- gapps crashes all the time when downloading an app from the market.
- Random calls...
- Didn't use the browser, battery is 70%. Put it down for a movie (2 hours) and then battery is now 20%... Browser used the battery 50% according to the phone. Switch to the browser, was on the google.com home page.

I did search on all of these and they seem to be pretty much standard issues that people are having. Are they?

Other that that it seems like a great phone. But like I said, I'm afraid of not getting calls sometime because it gets turned to "mute".
 
I switched to a Motorola Droid 5 days ago (from a Blackberry curve). I'm having some trouble understanding some of the behavior and getting used to it. These are all things that I didn't have to deal with on the blackberry. I know they are different devices but I use my Phone primarily for work. I'm afraid now that I'll miss important messages or voice calls..

- Phone goes Mute (ringer)... No idea how it gets there. Probably a bad finger swipe on the home screen. Is there a way to disable this?
- No easy change from profiles (notifications, ringer, etc...). I tried a few apps but they all seems to fail at turning on/off notifications for e-mail/gmail.
- don't receive my messages (gmail), seems like it doesn't sync all the time
- gapps crashes all the time when downloading an app from the market.
- Random calls...
- Didn't use the browser, battery is 70%. Put it down for a movie (2 hours) and then battery is now 20%... Browser used the battery 50% according to the phone. Switch to the browser, was on the google.com home page.

I did search on all of these and they seem to be pretty much standard issues that people are having. Are they?

Other that that it seems like a great phone. But like I said, I'm afraid of not getting calls sometime because it gets turned to "mute".

I am not experiencing any of these... If you are using a Home replacement app that may be the problem to the battery,( thats what happened to me)... Take it to verizon, explain whats happening and get a new one and see if that helps.
 
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Some people are accidently hitting the rocker volume switch on the side and muting the phone. Ring guard is a good fix . Rocker is hit a lot when placing/removing the "Naked" Droid from your pocket. I have a guard cover on mine and the rocker is protected from accidental adjustments.

Well, if the device is locked, then any inadvertent presses to the rocker won't change the notification volume.

The only time the rocker adjusts volume WHILE the device is locked is if it's playing music (which is actually a lot of the time my Droid is in my pocket, and even then, I don't ever experience this issue, though my Droid is 'naked').

Anyways, I guess everyone's mileage may vary. Ring gaurd seems like a good app for those who need it, but getting into the habit of locking the device before placing it in your pocket is probably a good idea too.
 
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- No easy change from profiles (notifications, ringer, etc...). I tried a few apps but they all seems to fail at turning on/off notifications for e-mail/gmail.

Ye i found this strange coming from an n95. However now i just have all my notifications/ringtones setup as I want, and then use the volume rocker on the side to control how loud they all are for various "profile situations". For instance now in work i have the volume down to 1 above vibrate. But when i leave i'll pump it up full, and then back down halfway when at home.
Sounds like an effort, but becomes second nature.

- don't receive my messages (gmail), seems like it doesn't sync all the time
- gapps crashes all the time when downloading an app from the market.
This is purely a setting thing. Just check sync intervals. As for the crashing, dont experience that myself im afraid. Maybe try wifi or 3g depending on what it crashes on

- Didn't use the browser, battery is 70%. Put it down for a movie (2 hours) and then battery is now 20%... Browser used the battery 50% according to the phone. Switch to the browser, was on the google.com home page.

Keep an eye on Settings -> About Phone -> Battery Use. That'll tell you what's eating juice. If something is very obviously the cuplrit, download Advanced Task Killer and kill that app when your finished using it each time.
 
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Actually, the browser 'could' be a BIG culprit for battery drainage if you have location settings enabled. What may be happening is that the GPS is constantly searching for a signal while on the google home page (it wants to find your location in order to facilitate local searches). I turned off the browser automatic location setting. Instead, when I do local searches, I just enter my zip code. That adjustment alone lengthened my battery life.
 
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Thanks for all your comments. I will try a few of the stuff that was said (browser location, ringguard, etc..)

I found out a few things which I might post as single items with HOWTO lines...
- Can't look up microsoft exchange contacts, looks like it isn't supported (from google code)
- Can't copy and paste anything!!! I could do this on blackberry almost everywhere except google mail. For example getting a single e-gmail from a headline.

Still have 20+ days with the device before I can change... I love the device, it can do 200% more stuff than the blackberry curve, but does about 10% of the needs for business users.
 
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- Can't copy and paste anything!!! I could do this on blackberry almost everywhere except google mail. For example getting a single e-gmail from a headline.

Though I'm not exactly sure how to do it from a received gmail, in most places on the Droid you actually have a couple of options for copy and paste:
1. Press and hold on the screen until you feel the feedback. It'll cause an list of options to pop up on the screen, of which will include "copy all", with "paste" being another option (inserting the text starting with wherever you have your blinking cursor).
2. You can slide open your keyboard, press and hold down the shift/up arrow key, and use the directional pad to highlight a specific portion of text. Once you've finished highlighting, you can hold down the menu button (4 horizontal lines, looks the same as the one next to the home button), and press either 'c' for copy, 'x' for cut, and 'v' for paste.
 
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Though I'm not exactly sure how to do it from a received gmail, in most places on the Droid you actually have a couple of options for copy and paste:
1. Press and hold on the screen until you feel the feedback. It'll cause an list of options to pop up on the screen, of which will include "copy all", with "paste" being another option (inserting the text starting with wherever you have your blinking cursor).
2. You can slide open your keyboard, press and hold down the shift/up arrow key, and use the directional pad to highlight a specific portion of text. Once you've finished highlighting, you can hold down the menu button (4 horizontal lines, looks the same as the one next to the home button), and press either 'c' for copy, 'x' for cut, and 'v' for paste.

I tried 1. out in "e-mail" and "gmail". never got a feedback once I open an e-mail when I push on the screen.
As for 2., then you can only do it on an editable field. (I believe 1. is the same thing)

Just noticed that in gmail, you can't reply until you get to the bottom of the e-mail, should be in the bar where it says "Archive, delete or older".

Sorry I'm expanding my list of operating issues...
 
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Though I'm not exactly sure how to do it from a received gmail, in most places on the Droid you actually have a couple of options for copy and paste:
1. Press and hold on the screen until you feel the feedback. It'll cause an list of options to pop up on the screen, of which will include "copy all", with "paste" being another option (inserting the text starting with wherever you have your blinking cursor).
2. You can slide open your keyboard, press and hold down the shift/up arrow key, and use the directional pad to highlight a specific portion of text. Once you've finished highlighting, you can hold down the menu button (4 horizontal lines, looks the same as the one next to the home button), and press either 'c' for copy, 'x' for cut, and 'v' for paste.

Found this :
Issue 3190: Improve copy-paste in Browser/WebView
Issue 3190 - android - Improve copy-paste in Browser/WebView - Project Hosting on Google Code

Seems like it explains my problems... can't copy&paste anything that's not editable.
 
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As far as the high rate of battery drain:

1. "You are in a low signal area." I pulled my phone off the charger and went to my mom's house where phone struggled to keep 1-2 bars. Battery went from "full" to ~15% in 3.5hrs.

2. "You carry phone near something with a magnet"...you could be tripping the "car mode", which would leave screen on, and possibly GPS.

There is an app called Quick Settings that you can use to toggle off radios when not needed, and lower screen brightness (big battery killer) lower than default level, for use indoors. Its still bright enough to use, but saves just a bit more power.
 
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Seems like it explains my problems... can't copy&paste anything that's not editable.

Can't believe that nobody suggested this yet, but slide open your keyboard.

Hold down shift with your left finger, then just select what you want to copy with your right finger. As soon as you're done making your selection, it is auto added to your clipboard.

This works for any text, not just editable.
 
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A lot of your battery drain is because you are leaving the GPS on the whole time? Turn it on when you need it.

Some app may be running when your phone is in standby - check what is draining your battery use in settings, about phone, battery use.

Make sure your gmail is set to sync in settings, account and sync. "Sync ON" make sure you configured it through the gmail app and not a imap or pop account.

The market app should not crash on you.

The corporate directory can be viewed with the paid app TouchDown, or you can download Motorola's freebie fix - if you search the market for "Motorola" scroll down, you will see it there.

Seems like a lot of problems, maybe you should return the phone if none of this resolves.

-droidosis-
 
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Can't believe that nobody suggested this yet, but slide open your keyboard.

Hold down shift with your left finger, then just select what you want to copy with your right finger. As soon as you're done making your selection, it is auto added to your clipboard.

This works for any text, not just editable.

Well.. seems to work for "body" in an e-mail (e-mail app) and everywhere in "gmail". But not for "To" field (I can't expand the e-mail either). Anyway, I got something to play with and try.
 
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A lot of your battery drain is because you are leaving the GPS on the whole time? Turn it on when you need it.

Some app may be running when your phone is in standby - check what is draining your battery use in settings, about phone, battery use.

Make sure your gmail is set to sync in settings, account and sync. "Sync ON" make sure you configured it through the gmail app and not a imap or pop account.

The market app should not crash on you.

The corporate directory can be viewed with the paid app TouchDown, or you can download Motorola's freebie fix - if you search the market for "Motorola" scroll down, you will see it there.

Seems like a lot of problems, maybe you should return the phone if none of this resolves.

-droidosis-

I'm not using the GPS at all... But the dock mode starts when I put it in my holster/case (I got the Droid Eris from Verizon, but I guess I'll return it!). I know the phone turns on for a second.

Anyway, that night where the browsers used all up the battery, the phone was sitting on the couch handle, alone...

My gmail, it syncs well sometimes... but again this afternoon, no sync from 2h20pm till 4h45pm... heard the "Droid" sound and then 6 e-mail came up (for that spawn of time).

Downloading the Motorola app...

My gapps fails "twice" on boot, and twice per market download... Looks like there is other people having the same problem.. could be related to corrupted gmail storage data... tried to clear that, didn't help.

Maybe I need a factory reset again, seems like all these happened after the 2.0.1 update.

Thanks again for the help!
 
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I'm not using the GPS at all... But the dock mode starts when I put it in my holster/case (I got the Droid Eris from Verizon, but I guess I'll return it!). I know the phone turns on for a second.

There is your culprit. Magnets are responsible for putting the phone into dock and car mode. My uncle was having the exact same problem, and wondered why his phone wouldn't last 8 hours. His holster flap was held closed with magnets. Get yourself a new carrying case/holster that doesn't have magnets on it.
 
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I'm not using the GPS at all... But the dock mode starts when I put it in my holster/case (I got the Droid Eris from Verizon, but I guess I'll return it!). I know the phone turns on for a second.
!

Blackberry cases use a magnet to put a BB into standby mode. This magnet will place the Droid into a dock mode which leaves the phone on. You need a different case.

Well.... so much for walking away from your computer and not checking for a reply before posting your own. Double confirmation of the magnet issue anyway. :p
 
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Dont expect bb curve battery life on the droid or any other non-bb. The droid battery life is very good though.

Out of the box notifications suck on the droid compared to the bb. I haven't bothered to see if there is a 3rd party app that mimics bb notifications.

Email delivery is problematic on the droid too.

I might turn off the wifi for a while to see if the phone get better e-mail delivery. I think I noticed some communication issues when flipping from 3g to wifi. Like TCP/IP sockets getting stuck or something. My exchange e-mail gets in right away, the problem is with gmail (funny, isn't a google phone made for gmail?)
 
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I think google is just having its own hiccups today with the nexus updates.

Coincidence and bad timing? Wait it out..

-droidosis-

Well.. The update.zip that was send by Verizon in Atlanta seemed "corrupted" or for the wrong device (they were pushing Droid Eris updates). So I tried to update 3 times to 2.0.1 (and have to do firmware reset and reboot). The only I could actually upgrade the phone was by copying the proper software to the sdcard (I didn't root, just put the real thing).

But both Verizon and Motorola were useless as to why the software update was failing... I also concluded that the software update mechanism in Android was pretty poor... the update fails, then you run 2.0 for the rest of your life. doesn't try to re-download. Anyway, seemed to me this way.

But now looks like I need to do a firmware reset (and find out how to clear my gmail storage data) to get rid of the infamous gapps crash... I can't even start gtalk...
 
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Well I though I solved my gapps crashing... uninstalled a bunch of application and cleared a bunch of data... Rebooting the phone doesn't crash the process.gapps twice anymore. but I still get the gapps crash when downloading an app and also when starting google talk (this application just can't start on my phone).

Next is a firmware reset (again). But I think it's going to fail anyway due to some gmail storage corruption.

It's also funny that if you hit the home screen button, the "settings" task gets started... or when you start gmail, the "messaging" task is started... But that might be tasks needed for those applications.
 
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