What are some things you may not know your driod can do?

[sirwillis]

So i was wondering what are some little tricks or shortcuts that the phone can do. i am a new driod user (actually a new smartphone user entirely) and was wondering about what i dont even know my phone is capable of. today i figured out that if you flip your phone over while a call is coming in, it silences the ringer. yea, thats how much i dont know about this phone haha. so do you guys know of anything like that? or anything more interesting that a new smartphone/driod owner should know about?

 

[DRW315]

I'd suggest heading over to the Incredible Tips and Tricks thread. Lots of useful information over there for these types of things!

 

[necosino]

It has a built-in magnet to use as a compass, and can also be used as a metal detector.

 

[TokedUp]

Do not use Antivirus or ATK apps, they do not play well with othersand drain your battery. I had to learn the hard way

 

[Bug Splat]

It has a built-in magnet to use as a compass, and can also be used as a metal detector.

Wait, what? Metal detector? Really? Holy Crap you are right. What a cool little app. Great for impressing friends. I was able to find the nails in my wall.

Metal Detector - Android app on AppBrain

 

[Steven58]

wow. it works!

 

[jj3699]

wow. it works!

+1 especially after coming from an Eris

 

[Deleted User]

Do not use Antivirus or ATK apps, they do not play well with othersand drain your battery. I had to learn the hard way

can i ask how u had to learn the hard way? are atk's really that bad?

 

[NightAngel79]

can i ask how u had to learn the hard way? are atk's really that bad?

do i search just here in the forums or google it, dont have any links handy right now. they truly seem to be more trouble than their worth. Have heard from friends that battery life greatly improved after uninstalling task killers.

 

[bucfanjeff]

I haven't used any other ATK but SystemPanel. First I tried the free version, then I bought the Pro\paid version. Absolutely LOVE it.

For what it's worth.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Here's a tip that I have shown to a few existing Android owners and none of them knew about it:

You can set a shortcut to Navigate to a particular place on your homescreen.

Long Press (or "+") > Shortcut > Directions & Navigation. Enter address, Select your mode of transportation, give it a shortcut name and select from several available icons.

Anytime you press that shortcut, it will launch Navigator and give you directions to the destination. I made a "Take me home" button for my wife's Moto Droid.

- - - - -

And here are a few off the top of my head that have made several iFriends jealous:

• Google Sky Maps
• Talk To Me
  • This is a real-time voice-to-voice translator. It blows people's minds
• Live wallpapers
  • Earth Live Wallpaper
    • Show them some of the Star Wars planets
  • I like 3d Tunnel
• Google Googles
  • Sort of like a barcode scanner, but on crack. Show it a painting, it tells you what the painting is; show it a sign in a foreign language, it figures out what language it's in and translates it
• Metal Detector (already mentioned)

 

[euph_22]

do i search just here in the forums or google it, dont have any links handy right now. they truly seem to be more trouble than their worth. Have heard from friends that battery life greatly improved after uninstalling task killers.

Yeah, I just uninstalled mine, and my battery life seems better (granted I've been using my phone less the last couple days, but based on usage it seems better). I'm planning on installing a task MANAGER, so I can FC specific apps easily, but I haven't found one yet.

 

[RawlingsSc]

Yeah, I just uninstalled mine, and my battery life seems better (granted I've been using my phone less the last couple days, but based on usage it seems better). I'm planning on installing a task MANAGER, so I can FC specific apps easily, but I haven't found one yet.

Astro file manager has a tool that will show you running apps/processes/services and allow you to see details and kill them if you want. Haven't used it much, so I don't know how well it works, but it's there.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Do not use Antivirus or ATK apps, they do not play well with othersand drain your battery. I had to learn the hard way

....they truly seem to be more trouble than their worth. Have heard from friends that battery life greatly improved after uninstalling task killers.

Yeah, I just uninstalled mine, and my battery life seems better....

I currently have 5, count 'em, FIVE app killers installed (only one is running in the background at any given time). I've been evaluating them to see which I like best. If one is bad, I guess I'm *really* screwed, huh?

I just got a new battery about a week ago, once I get a feel for how long it lasts me I'll try to uninstall all app killers to see if battery life really improves.

 

[colnago]

Talk To Me

• • This is a real-time voice-to-voice translator. It blows people's minds

Had a Moto Droid back in Nov...used Talk to Me to talk to my g/f's dad (Spain) over the phone. Apparently he understood everything very clearly. Gave back my Droid (reception issues) and now he's here visiting, along with her sister...I'm hurting with out it.

Also killing me that I can't remember what Sci-Fi TV show/movie that had "universal translators" that were "implanted". I want to say Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, but it may just be Star Trek.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Had a Moto Droid back in Nov...used Talk to Me to talk to my g/f's dad (Spain) over the phone. Apparently he understood everything very clearly.

Holy crap that cool. We live in the freaking future (with the notable exceptions of jetpacks and flying cars).

Actually the app has gotten a lot better just over the last few weeks.

Also killing me that I can't remember what Sci-Fi TV show/movie that had "universal translators" that were "implanted". I want to say Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, but it may just be Star Trek.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has Babel fish that you put in your ear. Is that what you're thinking of?

 

[cp1]

Star Trek had universal translators as well.

I don't understand why people need a task killer. The operating system kills activities as it needs, so using a separate automatic task killer is redundant.

 

[rapidsandroid]

Agree, using a task killer is pointless on this device. Even HTC support says it is unnecessary and they built the phone.

Tip- Turning the DInc upside down and leaving it on a table mutes the phone.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Tip- Turning the DInc upside down and leaving it on a table mutes the phone.

The OP actually mentioned this in the first post.

Also, your description is not accurate. If your phone is screen side up & you get a call, flipping it over will mute the ringer for that call. If you leave the phone screen down and get another call, it will ring again.

 

[NightAngel79]

• Live wallpapers
  • Earth Live Wallpaper
    Show them some of the Star Wars planets

• where you get star wars planets for this, i must know

Had a Moto Droid back in Nov...used Talk to Me to talk to my g/f's dad (Spain) over the phone. Apparently he understood everything very clearly. Gave back my Droid (reception issues) and now he's here visiting, along with her sister...I'm hurting with out it.

Also killing me that I can't remember what Sci-Fi TV show/movie that had "universal translators" that were "implanted". I want to say Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, but it may just be Star Trek.

Deff sounds like Hitchhikers

 

[AnotherHiggins]

where you get star wars planets for this, i must know

Here it is at AppBrain.

Or go to the Market on your phone and search for "Earth Live Map Pack"

It has everything from the Death Star (1 & 2) to Tatooine to Dagobah.

There are also Futurama planets, a Borg Cube (and other Star Trek planets), Pandora (from Avatar) and other fictional worlds.

There are also real planets and moons.

And even a soccer ball for the world cup fans.

 

[NightAngel79]

Here it is at AppBrain.

Or go to the Market on your phone and search for "Earth Live Map Pack"

It has everything from the Death Star (1 & 2) to Tatooine to Dagobah.

There are also Futurama planets, a Borg Cube (and other Star Trek planets), Pandora (from Avatar) and other fictional worlds.

There are also real planets and moons.

And even a soccer ball for the world cup fans.

dude thanks a million, thats fat as hell

 

[koolaid25]

I have seen many GPS on/off widgets in the market. Apparently it is the 'law' for security reasons to upload a 1 click widget. If you go to Shortcuts/Settings/Location you can make your own 2 click short-cut for GPS.

koolaid25

 

[Deleted User]

Do not use Antivirus or ATK apps, they do not play well with othersand drain your battery. I had to learn the hard way

I use Lookout, which is always running and has antivirus built in. That's not the main reason... the main reason is it allows GPS locating of a lost/stolen phone. Saved battery life is not worth a lost phone in my opinion.

 

[jamor]

Don't jump into a pool to save a kid with the phone in your pocket.