Help How can a Newbie learn about Android?

[wunay]

I am with T-Mobile on PAYG. All my previous mobile phones have been purely for convenience of contact.
I purchased a Galaxy S purely for the convenience of a better camera/video than my LG KP500, the purchase being expensive for a retired individual and my then considered usage. I was not totally aware of the capacity of the phone in respect of Satellite Navigation, Bar Code Reader and all of the other facilities. Whereas I am computer literate having three desktops and two laptops I am trying to get my head around the complexity of the Android scenario. I have been viewing this website since my purchase of the Galaxy back at the beginning of January and have learned a fair amount, but the terms being used are new to me - rooting, Darkys, lagfix etc.
Is there anywhere where Android newbies can gain knowledge as opposed to deciphering the content of the postings?

 

[AZgl1500]

Only had my Galaxy S for a couple of weeks and in the same boat as you. The first 3 days were maddening with no over the shoulder help. Being computer literate since the Tandy Keyboard first hit the scene in the '70s did not help much.

 

[wunay]

It is nice to know that someone else (presumably in the same age bracket) despite being computer literate finds Android awkward to get to grips with. I have problems with Layars in that I seem to reach the subsequent aim by different means each time. Can anyone advise as to step by step in the use of Layars?

 

[stylelite]

I am with T-Mobile on PAYG. All my previous mobile phones have been purely for convenience of contact.
I purchased a Galaxy S purely for the convenience of a better camera/video than my LG KP500, the purchase being expensive for a retired individual and my then considered usage. I was not totally aware of the capacity of the phone in respect of Satellite Navigation, Bar Code Reader and all of the other facilities. Whereas I am computer literate having three desktops and two laptops I am trying to get my head around the complexity of the Android scenario. I have been viewing this website since my purchase of the Galaxy back at the beginning of January and have learned a fair amount, but the terms being used are new to me - rooting, Darkys, lagfix etc.
Is there anywhere where Android newbies can gain knowledge as opposed to deciphering the content of the postings?

Post the things you would like to know about/help with and people will be only to glad to help or point you in the right direction.

Lagfix: this is when you open up an app or go into applications and you get a blank screen for a few seconds. It can happen in any app.

Rooting: Rooting is done to give you full access to the hidden parts of the Android OS.

Darky's: Darky's is a custom Rom, usually made by a developer, they take a firmware and improve it with all sorts of things. In Darky's it comes with Root, 2e recovery mode, lagfix and all sorts of enhancements.
Firmware on the phone is supplied by Google and then the networks add there bloatware to it.

One of the first things any body needs to check is recovery/download modes.

Recovery mode, this is very important because, if the phone should develop a problem while updating/flashing new firmware you will need to be able to get into recovery mode, if you can't you could end up with a bricked phone.

Recovery mode: Power phone OFF and wait 60 seconds.
Press and hold the following keys: Volume Up + Home + Power keys.
When the phone gets to the samsung boot screen, the one that says Galaxy S I9000 release just the power key.
Keep the Volume up and home keys pressed.
You will see a screen with a lot of coloured text, still keep the keys pressed until this screen has finished loading.
At the top in blue text it will say something like samsung 3e recovery consul.

 

[AZgl1500]

Post the things you would like to know about/help with and people will be only to glad to help or point you in the right direction.

Lagfix: this is when you open up an app or go into applications and you get a blank screen for a few seconds. It can happen in any app. Thank you

Rooting: Rooting is done to give you full access to the hidden parts of the Android OS.

Darky's: Darky's is a custom Rom, usually made by a developer, they take a firmware and improve it with all sorts of things. In Darky's it comes with Root, 2e recovery mode, lagfix and all sorts of enhancements.
Firmware on the phone is supplied by Google and then the networks add there bloatware to it. Thank you

One of the first things any body needs to check is recovery/download modes. And just how do we do that?

Recovery mode, this is very important because, if the phone should develop a problem while updating/flashing new firmware you will need to be able to get into recovery mode, if you can't you could end up with a bricked phone. Thank you

Recovery mode: Power phone OFF and wait 60 seconds.
Press and hold the following keys: Volume Up + Home + Power keys.
When the phone gets to the samsung boot screen, the one that says Galaxy S I9000 release just the power key.
Keep the Volume up and home keys pressed.
You will see a screen with a lot of coloured text, still keep the keys pressed until this screen has finished loading.
At the top in blue text it will say something like samsung 3e recovery consul.

Stylefix,

You totally overlooked the point of the question that 'wunay' and myself (age 68) are making. there is NOT a single document that will help a 'Newbie to Android' get started.

While you did "sort of" answer the points that he made in his OP, you did NOT answer all of them clean enough for a newbie to really understand what he meant. Can you not remember the first time you ever saw an Android device? Were you lucky enough to have a friend in the same room to get you over that first brick wall of "how do you?"

Rooting: you say it is done to allow access to the real innards of Androd O.S.
Well, yes, you are correct as far as your statement, but a real newbie with only 2 days or 2 weeks (me?) just may not have a clue to what "Rooting" is. The results of Rooting you told us. But not how it is accomplished and that it will Void the Warranty. A minor fact that can greatly influence a newbie's wish to "Root his new toy". Right here is where I am, I do not dare do anything to mess up my toy until I get thoroughly fluent with the Android scheme of things.

'wunay' and myself want to get way beyond the newbie stage. Why should we have to pick out a single word and only ask a question about that one word? That is ridiculous.

For myself, I kept a log of what I learned about the Galaxy S Fascinate in MS Word, and as soon as I get it edited a tiny bit, I am going to offer it to anyone who wishes to have it. Maybe just go ahead and make a post here.

As far as the Fascinate goes. There is a total dirth of information on this version of the Galaxy S. All of those *#1234* codes are useless for a Verizon Fascinate. We get a Verizon "That number cannot be reached as dialed" error message.

So please, don't be so quick to condemn a newbie for asking "how to get started", because that is exactly what is so friggin hard about Android. The process of going from "no Android knowledge" to being able to use it is vertically a straight up Firewall that is difficult to get over.

I will get down off my soapbox and put my tinfoil hat on now.

 

[stylelite]

Stylefix,

You totally overlooked the point of the question that 'wunay' and myself (age 68) are making. there is NOT a single document that will help a 'Newbie to Android' get started.

While you did "sort of" answer the points that he made in his OP, you did NOT answer all of them clean enough for a newbie to really understand what he meant. Can you not remember the first time you ever saw an Android device? Were you lucky enough to have a friend in the same room to get you over that first brick wall of "how do you?"

Rooting: you say it is done to allow access to the read innards of Androd O.S.
Well, yes, you are correct as far as your statement, but a real newbie with only 2 days or 2 weeks (me?) just may not have a clue to what "Rooting" is. The results of Rooting you told us. But not how it is accomplished and that it will Void the Warranty. A minor fact that can greatly influence a newbie's wish to "Root his new toy". Right here is where I am, I do not dare do anything to mess up my toy until I get thoroughly fluent with the Android scheme of things.

'wunay' and myself want to get way beyond the newbie stage. Why should we have to pick out a single word and only ask a question about that one word? That is ridiculous.

For myself, I kept a log of what I learned about the Galaxy S Fascinate in MS Word, and as soon as I get it edited a tiny bit, I am going to offer it to anyone who wishes to have it. Maybe just go ahead and make a post here.

As far as the Fascinate goes. There is a total dirth of information on this version of the Galaxy S. All of those *#1234* codes are useless for a Verizon Fascinate. We get a Verizon "That number cannot be reached as dialed" error message.

So please, don't be so quick to condemn a newbie for asking "how to get started", because that is exactly what is so friggin hard about Android. The process of going from "no Android knowledge" to being able to use it is vertically a straight up Firewall that is difficult to get over.

I will get down off my soapbox and put my tinfoil hat on now.

I wasn't condemning a newbie at all, I was just trying to shed some light on some of the terms used in the Android world.

!2 months ago I to was new to Android and in very much the same boat as you.
So please don't have ago at someone who was just trying to help.

As it turns out, some of what I said will not apply to your handset being a Fascinate, my mistake for not noticing that. You would be better of posting in the Samsung Fascinate part of the forum and not the Samsung Galaxy S international version.

A good forum for most of the questions you will both have is XDA Developers Forum.

There is a list of all the secret codes used by the Fascinate at this link:
Secret Menus

 

[wunay]

I, myself was not looking for a single document to educate myself with regard to Android and I do appreciate Stylelites comments. I would welcome any advice/assistance/guidance in respect of the correct use of Layars - preferably with a step by step guide as I have found several somewhat convoluted ways to achieve my needs. -

i.e. You are in an unknown environment and wish to find generally what is around you within a given distance. Is it possible to select ALL - say shops, restaurants, places of interest etc or do you have to be quite specific?

 

[MAKFOTO]

I am with T-Mobile on PAYG. All my previous mobile phones have been purely for convenience of contact.
I purchased a Galaxy S purely for the convenience of a better camera/video than my LG KP500, the purchase being expensive for a retired individual and my then considered usage. I was not totally aware of the capacity of the phone in respect of Satellite Navigation, Bar Code Reader and all of the other facilities. Whereas I am computer literate having three desktops and two laptops I am trying to get my head around the complexity of the Android scenario. I have been viewing this website since my purchase of the Galaxy back at the beginning of January and have learned a fair amount, but the terms being used are new to me - rooting, Darkys, lagfix etc.
Is there anywhere where Android newbies can gain knowledge as opposed to deciphering the content of the postings?

Go to xda-developers.com and you'll find answers to everything.

Enjoy your SGS.

 

[wunay]

MAKFOTO
Thanks for reply - but I do not find xda-developers.com any easier to read than this forum. Perhaps so, in your eyes as an accomplished user, it is good and no doubt it is but I am trying to find BASIC information in a very technical jargoned area - even though I feel adequately qualified in computer talk. As I stated a seemingly simple request as to how to use Layars in a step by step scenario does not seem available on the forums. It may be there somewhere but probably buried. Can anyone take me by the hand and guide me?

 

[MAKFOTO]

MAKFOTO
Thanks for reply - but I do not find xda-developers.com any easier to read than this forum. Perhaps so, in your eyes as an accomplished user, it is good and no doubt it is but I am trying to find BASIC information in a very technical jargoned area - even though I feel adequately qualified in computer talk. As I stated a seemingly simple request as to how to use Layars in a step by step scenario does not seem available on the forums. It may be there somewhere but probably buried. Can anyone take me by the hand and guide me?

I'm sorry if it's a bit confusing - Try this :
Samsung Galaxy S Series - XDA-Developers

 

[wunay]

MAKFOTO
Thanks again for link. However it is like advising someone that the University is the place to learn everything, but if you go to the university where do you ask for someone to teach you multiplication tables and your alphabet? I have been looking for guidance as to the step by step use of layars and have yet to establish contact with anyone who can/will advise me.

 

[Spiffing]

"It

 

[GalaxyTDM]

To be honest there are some real horror stories out there but the truth is that most forums are populated with people who have a problem and are looking for advice.
I think a lot depends on your interpretation of an issue or problem.
I am running 2.2 and do have lag sometimes, should it happen? no, but it's hardly a problem for which to deride the SGS.
I think the intended use is also to be considered, I listen to music, read books/pdf etc, write documents, text, phone, take/view pictures, use calculator and now I come to think of it, much more than I realized and have never had a performance issue worth mentioning.
The Kies software is admittedly awful but you don't really need it anyway, at least I've not found a use for it yet.

 

[AZgl1500]

First, let me apologize for getting a bit strong with my criticism. I will claim that I was just frustrated beyond belief. I just yesterday discovered a dictionary for Android. Just this one item was a huge benefit to one who is unfamiliar with Linux or Android.

The Android Dictionary | Android Central

I have programmed in machine code back when all we had was a single key pad a,b,c,d,e,f,1, 0 and the total memory available was a whole wopping 128 bytes!!!

I am not new to computers, been using them ever single that tiny developer kit came out. Graduated from that tiny developer kit to programming in machine code for the Apple II and II GS, sold all that stuff and switch to MSDOS.

Fully conversant with Windows and all versions of MS DOS. I still have a box with MSDOS 5.0 and 6.2 in the cellophane packaging. Sentimental stuff, and still works a treat.... just not a GUI with it.

Anyway, to my original thought for this post.

Forums are very good at one thing:
Places for folks to complain about anything and everything with their new "toy" and how it is not worth "crap".

Of course it isn't, they don't know how to use it yet, get frustrated and throw in the towel and leave.

I have had my Fascinate now for almost 3 weeks. I am retired now 2 years, and I have been living with this thing every waking hour since I got it. I have been able to ramp up with it much faster than someone who has to put in 40+ hours a week and take care of a family when they get home.

What is wrong with the Fascinate? For me, not a damn thing.

I am enthralled with its' slimness, it is scarely bigger than my Samsung Sway that I have been using for 3 years. It has a 1 mhz cpu and performs very well compared to the fleet of Android hardware. The benchmark today was about 760ish, better than a lot of good hardware, not as good as some. I am satisfied, it works very good for me.

Today, I learned to control a lot of features with an app called "Vlingo". Amazing what that app can do.

So, keep in mind that all of the horror stories are posted by folks who over stepped their knowledge and tried to do things they were NOT ready yet to attempt. And they bricked it really good. TS is what happened. Their mom did not promise them a rose garden.

I am NOT going to consider rooting my Fascinate until I am totally comfortable with the Android language, and get to where I feel that I can take that step down the dragon's path and survive the flames.

So from here, I want to yell out THANK YOU GURU's who have been willing to put up with a bunch of us uneducated Newbies....

 

[lobo76]

There is no single document, because all the terms are mainly used for purposes that, in turn, usually voids the warranty.​

 

[wunay]

I thank you for your comments.
As I stated I am NOT looking for a single document to give guidance. Latterly I also stated that I was looking for guidance as to the step by step use of layars or give guidance on that. Despite me re-iterating that no-one has replied to that basic request but seemingly concentrated on the higher level of the technical aspects of the Android area..

 

[steeharry]

open layers. select nearby from top menu. press menu button on phone. press layer settings. press categories. select all.

 

[wunay]

steeharry
Thanks for that. However I found that by selecting ALL that nothing materialised. Under Filter settings I found Categories (no categories selected), Hidden layers, Show Paid Content and Custom range which I set at at 2km, but despite that range setting the display showed up to 15km with 90 entries. Any suggestions as to how to set the range down from 15km? Also how with no categories selected why does it show 90 entries?

 

[wobble99]

What the Galaxy S needs is a decent user manual. The one supplied is pretty useless IMHO.

 

[AZgl1500]

Take a peek at the one supplied for the Droid X.
It is totally useless.