Help A few things I can't figure out....

[garybeck]

Hello I've had my Optimus for a couple weeks now and so far I love it. There are a few things I can't get from the manual and thought I'd ask...

1) How can I turn off the camera "shutter" sound when I take a picture?

2) Does the built-in (Google) Maps show your coordinates (latitude/longitude) anywhere? Does it show your altitude? Should I just get a different GPS app if I want to know that stuff?

3) I went to go download a compass app, and saw a comment that I should just use the one that is built in. Where is it?

4) If you are typing text and you want to go back a few spaces without deleting anything, is there anything like an arrow key? Or do I have to aim with my fat finger and hope the cursor ends up where I'm aiming?

5) is there a built in text file reader or do I need to download an app?

Thanks very much for any help with these questions!!!!!

gary in vermont

 

[MacFett]

1. Put the phone in silent mode. I have seen some stealth camera apps but never tried any.

4. I just aim my fat finger.

 

[RMdroid]

1) How can I turn off the camera "shutter" sound when I take a picture?

2) Does the built-in (Google) Maps show your coordinates (latitude/longitude) anywhere? Does it show your altitude? Should I just get a different GPS app if I want to know that stuff?

3) I went to go download a compass app, and saw a comment that I should just use the one that is built in. Where is it?

4) If you are typing text and you want to go back a few spaces without deleting anything, is there anything like an arrow key? Or do I have to aim with my fat finger and hope the cursor ends up where I'm aiming?

5) is there a built in text file reader or do I need to download an app?

1. I couldn't find a setting to eliminate the pseudo camera shutter sound, so I just lowered the volume mechanically on the side of the phone.
2 & 3. I like "GPS Essentials" as the one program that has a great compass as well as an altimeter as well as maximum altitude and rate of climb, plus a bunch of other windows you with great information.
4. keep aiming your fat finger, or better yet form one of your fingernails into stylus for better accuracy, but be careful if you pick your nose with the same finger - for more than one reason.
5. for your text to speech you can download and run "eSpeak for Android" from the Android Market.

 

[mkbkr1]

To get the arrow keys to appear using swype, just swipe left to right from the swype button to the sym button. To hop back to the keyboard, just tap the abc button.

 

[garybeck]

5. for your text to speech you can download and run "eSpeak for Android" from the Android Market.

thanks! I should have said "text file viewer" instead of reader I guess. I'm not so much interested inthe text to speech, as I just want to be able to view a text file. Along with this, I would need something like "my computer" or file manager that allows me to see files and folders on in the system and to navigate and open text (and other types?) files. thanks

 

[mkbkr1]

If you are referring to word, excel, pdf files then look at olive office available from the market.

 

[Thorsten]

"text file viewer"

OI File Manager + OI Notepad will do the trick. Even OI File Manager by itself will work somewhat, as you can select the built-in HTMLViewer to view (but not edit) plain text files from within the file manager. HTMLViewer does appear to gobble up line breaks, though.

 

[adam97202]

As for arrows, some third-party keyboard replacements have the ability to show cursor keys. I use Smart Keyboard Pro, and I think Gingerbread Keyboard has that feature as well.

Smart Keyboard Pro also has the ability to define "gestures" (like a leftward swipe) that can cause the cursor to move.

 

[syav]

Yup, Keyboard from Android 2.3 (Gingerbread ) has that feature. But Smart Keyboard is my fav

 

[csx321]

To get the arrow keys to appear using swype, just swipe left to right from the swype button to the sym button. To hop back to the keyboard, just tap the abc button.

Yep, Swype has cursor keys built in, as above. Another handy tip is to get the large number keypad, swipe from the Swype button to the center of the keyboard.

 

[Mistiq]

Along with this, I would need something like "my computer" or file manager that allows me to see files and folders on in the system and to navigate and open text (and other types?) files. thanks

If you're looking for a File Explores then I can't recommend nothing less than ES file Explorer

I know Astro is the popular pick, but I started off with Astro and transitioned to ES strong without looking back. (Honestly, I think since Astro was around 1st people just stuck to it without looking at any more options, but if you try ES File Explorer, by the time you get done learning and using the options, you'll be like Astro who?

 

[Gedd]

To get the arrow keys to appear using swype, just swipe left to right from the swype button to the sym button. To hop back to the keyboard, just tap the abc button.

Thanks a ton for this. I never knew it even existed.

 

[StanO360]

I have to say that some of the stock apps are rather disappointing, the camera app being one of them, texting the other. My old EnvTouch was superior on both counts.

I would love to be able to send pics directly to text or facebook from the camera rather than having to get into the slow gallery.

Texting is much better with Handcent

 

[MacFett]

I would love to be able to send pics directly to text or facebook from the camera rather than having to get into the slow gallery.

Touch the thumbnail of the image you just took (bottom right if portrait, top right if landscape) then hit the menu button and share. You can email, dropbox, facebook, MMS and more from there.

 

[smankins]

To get the arrow keys to appear using swype, just swipe left to right from the swype button to the sym button. To hop back to the keyboard, just tap the abc button.

Thanks. I did not know that little trick with Swype.

 

[garybeck]

Thanks. I did not know that little trick with Swype.

yes, that tip about the arrow keys has been awesome. i've used it a bunch of times since I read that here.

 

[OverBoard]

I wish this arrow/editing keyboard was available with the standard android keyboard!

Anyone know a secret key sequence to bring it up without switching over to swype?