Smileyguy3000

Do I need a gmail account to use contacts "offline" on this phone? I just want to be able to use contacts on my phone.

Matenrou

I don't think so, but to be able to restore them after a factory data reset or if you buy another android phone. You need to have had them synced to your gmail account.

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Swedroid.se - Swedish android community

Andronix

not true. there are apps that can import and export contacts w/o gmail sync. vcard io.

inFECT

but to use the market you need a gmail account ;-)

anyways.. an android phone without a google account is like riding a quad with two wheels.

atbeyi

inFect: there are two types of android phones one is Google Based the other one is OHA based.

but you are right an android phone without a google account and internet access is worthless

wallysh

That's very true. Google is the bread and butter for android.

angeamon

yeah, its true that v need gmail acnt to use market. However there are different ways by which we can download apps.

For eg one way to do so is:
download the .apk file from net onto pc, transfer onto phone's sdcard n install it.

If you just wanted to do tat, then u should have just bought a non android phone

btw, i totally agree with this :

Smileyguy3000

Yes I see the point of the net being vital to the experience of an Adnroid phone. I sort of bought it by accident - well not knowing what was involved.

I've learnt to set things up and turn off auto synching and stuff, as my only objection was the cost of data on my plan.

I'll have lots of trips to McDonald's for free wifi in the meantime!!!

atbeyi

if you are curious about your data plan you may disable your apn settings so no data can be used.

Smileyguy3000

Yeh I use Quicksettings for that

and disable auto synching too.

At the end of my phone bill month I will synch and get 100 apps if I am under my cap!

atbeyi

what is you quota for a month?

Smileyguy3000

$300 worth of calls, sms and data for $20 but data costs 5c for 10kb. That's $5 for 1 MB! with TPG

My calls cary from time to time.

atbeyi

300 us $ ?

if so why don't you use a voip account?

its too much..

Smileyguy3000

Sorry it's Australian dollars.

I also have a fixed home line and internet connections are not the best in my area (unless you are paying bigger$$$) so I don't trust VOIP yet.

I think Australia is a bit of a world laughing stock when it comes to broadband access . . .

atbeyi

do you have internet access at home?

wired or wireless?

Smileyguy3000

Have wired but setting up a wlan at homes soon. i actually just bought a wireless router/modem to do this but it won't detect my dsl line signal!!! My other 2 routers do!

atbeyi

how many routers do you have

well can you use that wireless modem as an access point? if yes, you can use your phone at home with wifi too

Smileyguy3000

I have 2 old modem routers (one was borrowed for testing and never returned!)

Bought the new one to have wifi access at home for laptop and phone

Smileyguy3000

Where abouts on the sd card do I need to save apk files?

Do I need to install Android SDK? if NO then How do I install apk's?

angeamon

the apk files can be saved anywhere on the sdcard. usually for ease, its better to create a newfolder called apps and place all the apk files there , but thats just me. . .

Then you will have to use a file explorer to explore the sdcard and finally just click on the apk file , use the option "open with app manager" and install the apk file

Smileyguy3000

Thanks. Can you recommend a free "adequate" file explorer?

informale

Astro

Smileyguy3000

just installed it and it looks great!

only 3 days left on beta though! anyone know what's gonna happen after 3 days?

Smileyguy3000

AND do most all or file managers give you the options top open apt files with the right installer? Ths is like Fila Association in Windows I am guessing.

angeamon

yeah, almost all the file explorers out there allow u to open the .apk files with the installer. . . .

Btw, Astro did give me this warning when i opened it .. . dunno wat ll happen after 3 days but no worries, there are other file explorers out there !!!!

atbeyi

someday ago i reinstalled astro after an upgrade and it warned me that this beta will expire after x days. after x day it just wanted me update nothing else.

FadeFx

i`d recommend estrongs file explorer instead of astro, it is freeware and alows to access windows shares or samba servers on lan and also ftp access. also i recomend using swiftp, a ftp server for android and if u use windows, ftpfolder, this mounts your ftpserver as a network drive in windows and you can easily push files to your device rather than pull...

atbeyi

Fadex you are right but i have problems with samba shares..

FadeFx

i must say that i did not have a linux machine arround to test this actually, i just guessd that this should work too but u surely can contact estrongs support for that problem, they will help you for sure... maybe there is a bug somewhere in their software.

angeamon

yeah, its kinda must to have an ftp server on ur android. . It makes transfering files to ur mobile easier (no need to connect via usb etc....)

Use swiFTP all the time and its a great app !!

and i kinda liked astro bcoz of the interface, so havent tried estrong app till now .. ll give it a shot sometime soon !

FadeFx

interface of estrongs is even better in my opinion...

atbeyi

are you aware that we started from "gmail account" and now we are talking about "file managers"

i love we

informale

That's because Smileyguy3000 spared us and did not start yet another topic

BTW, do we still have moderators in i7500 section of the forum? RastamnFB has apparently retired, and kam187 is probably hanging out in Nexus One section now.

atbeyi

there seems 12 or more moderators but i don't know who they are

never seen them

atbeyi

CRPercodani, Fabolous, Fadelight, TheNorthernForest, Anonimac, acidbath5546, justjimjpc, romeosidvicious, lekky, nick325i, KlaymenDK, Trident

i guess i remember klaymendk..

angeamon

HA HA !!

maybe we can change the title of this topic to "gmail acnt -> file explorers -> moderators" or something like tat

atbeyi

lets wait and see how many more topics will be talked here