HTC Desire HD arriving today! - What to do first?

[StevieDog]

I'm sitting here waiting for the postman to deliver my new HTC Desire HD.

Truth is I'm a complete noob when it comes to HTC/Android, I'm coming from an iPhone background.

Are there any vital things anyone can recomend to do first?

 

[El Kroket]

Reading the threads in this forum!!! So you can see that your question is already been asked a few times...

Besides that, welcome to the forum and I hope you'll enjoy your phone!!!

cheers

 

[bonerp]

go to accounts & sync in settings and turn them all down or off, else the battery will die. You can set up email etc to sync only when the screen is enabled.

The battery takes 2 /3 weeks of charges before it settles down and you get better charge from it.

Turn the screen brightness down to 10-20%. You'll soon get used to it.

Add GreenPower free. This turns off wifi and net connections when the screen is off.

Enjoy.

P

 

[El Presidente]

Here's what I've advised my mates to install once getting the phone -

Apps to save battery life -

Advanced Task Killer (there are many called this, but look for the one by Rechild) - Kills any unnecessary apps in the background
Y5 Battery Saver - Switches off Wifi in areas where there is no wifi signal, switches it on automatically if it can find a network you've connected too before.
Battery Minder - Tells you how much battery you have left. Also tells you how much time you have left.

Internet Stuff -

Dolphin HD browser - Could be better than the installed browser (although the installed browser is pretty fast).
Facebook - Just update the already installed app
Youtube - Again, just update the already installed app
Gmail - I have a gmail account, so this is pretty good for me, not sure if hotmail offer an app for android
Netcounter - Monitors your internet access, handy for watching if you're going to go over your allowance

Other Apps -

Angry Birds - Addictive game
Documents to go - Allows you to look at MS Office documents
Amazon Kindle - For downloading books etc
ES File Explorer - Allows you to browse the files on your phone as you would in windows
ES Security Manager - Allows you to block your phone via text message, also backs your phone up at the same time.
VLC Remote - Media Player that plays anything
Uninstaller - Uninstalls Apps which you no longer need as it's quite complicated to do so with out a dedicated app. Advanced Task Manager also does this too.
BBC News/BBC Sports/Sky Sports App - Just quick ways of accessing sports and news on the BBC & Skysports websites.
Camera 360 - An app for taking photos (better effects than the pre installed app, but there is nothing wrong with the app already on there)

Also an app called Barcode Scanner. Scans the barcode of items in shops etc and looks for cheaper versions online

You'll need an antivrus programme on your phone too.

Go here -

Top Android Security Apps: Antivirus, Spam Blocker And Anti Malware | areacellphone.com

Then look at the 3rd app down. Install barcode scanner, Open it via the menu and put the square picture thing next to the third app on the web page in view of your phones camera and it will install the application for you itself. Alternatively, just search for antivirus via the android marketplace. The scanner thing is cooler though.

Also, I couldn't receive MMS messages straight out of the box, I had to update the phones firmware. To do this, Press Menu, then settings, then scroll down to "About Phone", then Hit System software updates and then "Check Now", it's quite a big one so it's advisable to be connected to a wireless network when doing this.

With the amount of stuff on there, it seems totally daunting, but it's so easy to use it's incredible.

Also, check out some of the threads on conditioning the battery.

 

[StevieDog]

Thanks a lot for the tips.

I'm absolutely loving the phone. It's such a refreshing upgrade from the iPhone 4 which seems so limited compared to the Desire HD.

A few questions if anyone can answer...

• I'm using the standard Desire HD theme/skin (the one with the moving colours). does this take up a lot of battery life?
• I use Gmail for my emails but have set it up through the 'Mail' app on the home screen rather than the Gmail app. Can I stop it notifying me when I receive a new email and get it to only update once I click on 'Mail'?
• Same question above but with Friends Stream, I only want it to update when I click on the little refresh button.
• What have you guys got on your other home screens? So far I've only got the standard, wether, friends stream etc. Is there anything else worth while having?
• How do I delete history in the web browser provided?
• Why do I need an anti virus? What ways can my phone get infected? I've never heard of a phone getting a virus before...

Thanks again

 

[Gardium]

I'd say nr. 1 is to condition the battery. And read guides on battery usage and saving juice.

Then just figure out on various webpages and threads what apps fit for your needs. Just think about what apps you want, and google it. Usually you can find a lot of fun stuff

As for the antivirus, I have not installed it yet. It is only if you install apps from "sketchy" developers you run a major risk. Otherwise it's just sms worms and etc, that really aren't that harmful if you use your phone in a normal way.

Until now in history, it is really rare that phones get infected with viruses, as old school phones (Nokia 3310/3330, etc) used their own OS systems developed by the manufacturer, and each phone had a new and better OS system that was designed differently. However, with iOS, Android, Symbian, etc., there is code and structure that hackers actually can go after, as there actually is a high chance they can affect many that have these systems on the phones. It is like with MacBooks. Until recently, there were so few people that had Macs, that hackers couldn't be bothered to write code for them. Now however, this is about to change, and it won't be long before someone figures out how to crack a virus into Macs. The same with phones. Once there becomes a dominant OS out there (or just an OS that sufficiently many use), the hackers will write code to hack them. And that time is coming, as the smartphones become more and more popular

 

[saj_2001ind]

Here's what I've advised my mates to install once getting the phone -


Also, check out some of the threads on conditioning the battery.

hey VLC remote is not a media player for android, it just controls PC or MAC, can u play videos with VLC remote on ur DHD ?

 

[AndroidFan007]

Hi StevieDog. I have Iphone4 and planning to but HTC Desire HD. Please let me know your experience as you also have done the same upgrade.

 

[El Presidente]

hey VLC remote is not a media player for android, it just controls PC or MAC, can u play videos with VLC remote on ur DHD ?

I'm positive in the first days of having it, I downloaded an apk from the vlc website that allowed me to play files on my phone. I can't find it now though.

 

[WigglesGRN]

Thanks a lot for the tips.

I'm absolutely loving the phone. It's such a refreshing upgrade from the iPhone 4 which seems so limited compared to the Desire HD.

A few questions if anyone can answer...

• I'm using the standard Desire HD theme/skin (the one with the moving colours). does this take up a lot of battery life?
• I use Gmail for my emails but have set it up through the 'Mail' app on the home screen rather than the Gmail app. Can I stop it notifying me when I receive a new email and get it to only update once I click on 'Mail'?
• Same question above but with Friends Stream, I only want it to update when I click on the little refresh button.
• What have you guys got on your other home screens? So far I've only got the standard, wether, friends stream etc. Is there anything else worth while having?
• How do I delete history in the web browser provided?
• Why do I need an anti virus? What ways can my phone get infected? I've never heard of a phone getting a virus before...

Thanks again

Live wallpapers do use more CPU than static ones as they are constantly moving, try them and find out is the best answer

For the mail updating go in to the mail app go Menu>more>settings>send& receive>update schdule and set the peak and off peak to manual (its at the very top of the list)

For Friends stream you need to set them in the sync options via Menu>Settings>accounts & sync> then facebook for htc sense and twitter for htc sense. twitter can be set for manual facebook is once a day also make sure that auto sync is off at the top of the main sync menu and that will stop it pulling the updates unless you hit refresh

I have a very basic few home screens to help with battery, lots of app links but very few widgets open and running

For browsing history go to internet>Menu>more>History>menu>Clear history. you can also use Internet>Menu>more>settings then you scroll down to clear history or cache etc etc

 

[choccy]

1st thing is charge the bloody phone or non of the above is possible!

2nd - Root the bloody thing

3rd - Enjoy your phone

4th - Ignore Anti Virus stuff mentioned above u don't need at this point.

 

[KingDong]

How important is it to have a antivirus program on my DHD?

 

[El Presidente]

I've a mate that is insistent on having one, hence my inclusion in the post. However, reading up on it, it doesn't actually seem that essential.

My attitude is it doesn't do any harm in downloading one and it doesn't take up too much space on the phone being there.

 

[widehead]

2nd - Root the bloody thing

Well, don't rush into it like a massive twat.

Some people never root (and for good reasons too).

Rooting is utterly pointless if you have no good reason to do it.

IMHO curiosity is not a good reason to root.

And for God's sake DO NOT INSTALL A TASK KILLER - your battery life and phone performance will suffer.

 

[HER0]

How much better are custom ROMs like revolution or leedroid then the stock rom, in reality?

 

[cevahir34]

mine is coming tomorrow morning.
I am so happy hope everthing is fine with the phone.

 

[mrkashmir]

Mine just came in the last 24 hours and so far im playing with apps.

Set my gmail up.

Added a msn messenger app from marketplace free.

Got angry bird game on it pretty fun.

The fun goes on.....

nice phone yup.

 

[Ronak_005]

Guys could u help me..?
How important is it to have a antivirus program on my DHD?
n m just take this phone today so wt i have to do 1st...?

 

[El Presidente]

[/SIZE]

I am a noob too. Thanks for your advice. My battery just can hold less than 24. Is there angthing wrong with my phone? BTW, the dolphin browser is awesome. You are really helpful!~~

No probs. Incidentally, don't bother with a Task Killer.

How old is the phone? My battery was rubbish for the first 10-14 days. Now, on moderate - heavy usage, I can get a full day out of it. Double that if I'm at home and not using it a lot.

 

[DCTEN]

I'm sitting here waiting for the postman to deliver my new HTC Desire HD.

Truth is I'm a complete noob when it comes to HTC/Android, I'm coming from an iPhone background.

Are there any vital things anyone can recomend to do first?

Yeah send it back!