Help Several Questions

[0078265317]

Hi, I am new here. But that is only because I have never used smart phone before. Anyhow I desperately need a new phone as I am using an old motorola v197 made in 2005 from ebay. Ancient. No wifi no nothing. ATT charges 35 dollar restocking fee. Its not nuts. But for all stuff at least all phones it is. The z221 was 40 and minus 35 would be only 5 dollars you keep. So not worth it. Went to bestbuy and no restocking fee. But the z221 as impressive as it is not worth it since no wifi and other things I need. So I returned it got the Z221.

Anyhow so went to radioshack and got the AVAIL yesterday. Nobody elese had avail even bestbuy only had the thrive and no avail. So radioshack was it for me. And close by. Plus att store sticker said 150. But the website said 130. He said he will match it. But only If I bought airtime right away and plus with restocking fee if I hated it no good. So radioshack and no restocking fee sounded good. I'm switching to gophone as no data is required to have as apposed to regular service where you have to get the data plan.

Any how really like the phone so far. But one thing bothers me. Battery sucks. Used it off and on yesterday while plugged in and before going to bed it said 91 percent charged. 8 hours later after waking up still 96. Not 100. Then unplugged and plugged it back in and about 30 minutes later 100% finally. Now around 6pm back to 15% warning. And plugged it in right away and 15 minutes later back to 77 percent. I'm sitting in front of my mac mini right now and it is still 77 percent plugged in.

Something is wrong. Or the "Battery Dr Saver" program I downloaded is wrong.

 

[anthony062991]

Hi, I am new here. But that is only because I have never used smart phone before. Anyhow I desperately need a new phone as I am using an old motorola v197 made in 2005 from ebay. Ancient. No wifi no nothing. ATT charges 35 dollar restocking fee. Its not nuts. But for all stuff at least all phones it is. The z221 was 40 and minus 35 would be only 5 dollars you keep. So not worth it. Went to bestbuy and no restocking fee. But the z221 as impressive as it is not worth it since no wifi and other things I need. So I returned it got the Z221.

Anyhow so went to radioshack and got the AVAIL yesterday. Nobody elese had avail even bestbuy only had the thrive and no avail. So radioshack was it for me. And close by. Plus att store sticker said 150. But the website said 130. He said he will match it. But only If I bought airtime right away and plus with restocking fee if I hated it no good. So radioshack and no restocking fee sounded good. I'm switching to gophone as no data is required to have as apposed to regular service where you have to get the data plan.

Any how really like the phone so far. But one thing bothers me. Battery sucks. Used it off and on yesterday while plugged in and before going to bed it said 91 percent charged. 8 hours later after waking up still 96. Not 100. Then unplugged and plugged it back in and about 30 minutes later 100% finally. Now around 6pm back to 15% warning. And plugged it in right away and 15 minutes later back to 77 percent. I'm sitting in front of my mac mini right now and it is still 77 percent plugged in.

Something is wrong. Or the "Battery Dr Saver" program I downloaded is wrong.

Those restocking fees are really crazy these days. I know exactly where your comming from. Most of the time I get my phones either at walmart or radioshack because you can return it within 30 days without a restocking fee.

I don't have att, but I have straight talk prepaid and you get everything unlimited for $45. If you get a nokia phone it uses att network you can use any att phone and it works really well.

Anyways, my battery for this phone is really horible! I charge my phone and it says 100%. As soon as i unplug it it drops down to almost 90% without touching it at all. I'm on my phone constantly and it goes for about maybe 7hours if that. I found some extera batteries from ebay
1500mAh wich is standard for only $15. I bought them and I am waiting for them at the moment. I hope they last a little longer then the stock battery. I will report back when I recaive them.

 

[0078265317]

I saw the same ebay link and was thinking to buy those batteries and the charger. But not sure if they are good. The generic bt50/60 charger for my motorola v197 from ebay is a godsend. Except sometimes it is blue and not red when need be. But works great. Even on my friends verizon it works great. 1 charge gave seven days instead of the 1 as before. I'm hoping these are just as good. When did you order this. Let me know how it works for you so I can decide.

 

[0078265317]

I went ahead and decided to buy the single as it is only 10 bucks. Cuz if I buy 2 batteries I can only charge 1 at a time anyway. Save the 5 and get another pack if I need. But 2 should last a couple of years anyway and after that it will be time for a new phone anyway.

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Same thing except 1 battery instead of 2.

 

[anthony062991]

I ordered them about 3 weeks ago I think? It takes time because it comes from china. I should be receiving mine in about a week or two. I hope they are decent batteries.

 

[0078265317]

Weird. China or hongkong never takes me more than 2 weeks except one in a blue moon.

 

[0078265317]

So got the att zte avail on the 27th. Today the 29th was my birthday by the way. Turned 36. Anyhow really need data badly. But only going to get the 10mb as that is all I can afford. So anyhow but after I get it I really need to make sure I never go over 10mb. So is there a way to disable the data and make sure I'm only using wifi. And when need turn it back on. And also make sure no hidden apps are using data. Like keep the data for email only. Text only and no photos or memory hogs.

 

[mrodgers]

First off, Happy Birthday!

I purchased the 500mb package and am on wifi at home and at work, so I don't use much data. I used 7mb last month (which was my first month, just renewed last week.) I don't get around much outside of home and work, so the phone isn't not in a wifi area very much. A good bit of the 7mb was from updating an app on wifi at work which stretched into 3G as I was leaving.

I have a data switch that I can turn data on and off. It is beneficial because my wife is not on wifi at work and just the phone sitting in her pocket for about 8 hours away from home, it used 5mb just in 1 day. I have 3d Watchdog which monitors the data usage.

Data Enabler Widget, this is the data switch I use. My wife's phone is disabled and I leave mine on.

3d Watchdog, just to monitor my 3G usage.

My wife hasn't used any data since that first day that used 5mb after installing the data switch and turning data off. She is only loaded with 10mb and doesn't use it for anything, only there for "emergency" use. The only problem with that is, she is addicted to looking at the weather and it gives her a location error now when she isn't home.

A problem with having it enabled even on wifi I found out last week. I was at work and was downloading a 25mb app. The wifi signal must not have been that great at the time and I didn't realize it switched over from wifi to the 3G data. The phone was just in my pocket all day and it wasn't until I was leaving work when I realized that 25mb of data was used that day. 3dWatchdog told me of it.

Note that the leftover data will roll over if you keep it active by adding at least the 10mb each month. Thus, if you only think you will use a few mb each month, you can load up first with the 500mb, and keep it active with the 10mb each month. I think that is what most low data users do.

The same goes with texting. I have 1000 texts on each phone. My wife used over 700 texts, so I reloaded her with another 1000, but I only used 300, so I reloaded my phone with the 200 text for $5.

 

[Frisco]

Great app recommendation (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.farproc.data.enabler&feature=search_result) mrodgers (almost thought it said "Mr. Rogers" ).

 

[0078265317]

OK, I just setup the 10mb 5 dollar package and will try some of these tomorrow thanks.

 

[0078265317]

Ok, here is the problem. I setup 10mb package for 5 dollars like about 8 hours ago. But according to my data manager free version it says I have already used 0.2 of the 10mb I'm allowed. But I checked the settings and I'm on wifi at home (got att uverse). So how did I use 0.2mb? What happened? And can I turn the data off somewhere when I am on wifi to be sure I'm not using it.

 

[anthony062991]

I received my batteries in the mail already, but I have not had time to test them out. I think they are a spec bigger than original but I will test them out and report back.

 

[mrodgers]

Ok, here is the problem. I setup 10mb package for 5 dollars like about 8 hours ago. But according to my data manager free version it says I have already used 0.2 of the 10mb I'm allowed. But I checked the settings and I'm on wifi at home (got att uverse). So how did I use 0.2mb? What happened? And can I turn the data off somewhere when I am on wifi to be sure I'm not using it.

The data enabler widget I linked in my post above (link here again) allows you to turn data on/off. As I said, my wife hasn't used any data since installing it on her phone and switching it off (she spends 8ish hours a day away from home not on wifi.)

Does your data manager break down what is using the data? Mine tells me the most used (other than my accidental download on data) for January was 1.6mb for network locator (which keeps my weather widget current to my location I think.) Mine is specifically "My Data Manager Free." I can't tell if you mention the manager in general terms or if it is the same one I have.

I have a weather widget that I think uses the data to locate me. Do you have something like that running? Short of switching data completely off such as with my link, I don't know if you can set things to completely not go to data. In the settings, turning "Background data" off still states, "Some applications may still use the background data connection." Thus, I don't know if you can turn it completely off with phone settings. The link above does turn it completely off though and I can turn it back on when I want to use it.

I responded in another thread (not sure who I was responding to) that data does roll over. If you don't have your smartphone in your face 24/7 like many people do, you can add the 500mb package on, then update monthly with just the 10mb package and it should last for quite a while before having to put the $25 package on again. I estimate it will last me 8-10 months as I've only accidentally used 10mb last month (I expect to use less than 2mb/month normally.) Even using 100mb/month, adding initially 500mb and updating with 10mb monthly until all is used, yearly cost would be about $120, still less than a typical single contract smartphone for just 1 month. I'm not all that worried about how much data the phone uses in the background by starting with the 500mb package and updating monthly with the 10mb as I am hardly doing anything out and about on the phone when not on wifi.

 

[0078265317]

That is a good idea. I just installed something called 3g switch. Links to the settings and works great. I could just go into the settings. But then I risk changing something else. This goes straight to that page. And now data is off. It just would of been nice to do like droid wall and others without rooting so only certain apps get data. So I don't accidentally install a data sucker or forget to shut off all running apps.

 

[0078265317]

I also installed "Wi-Fi Keep Alive". There are 3 options. "Default (Wi-Fi Off on sleep)" "On During Sleep if Plugged" and "Always On". I select always on. So even after sleep I don't accidentally get charged because it goes straight to wifi and never uses data. Unless i'm missing something and that is not how it works.

 

[0078265317]

I just installed wisepilot gsp navigation like around 15mb or something like that. I uninstalled it and no only have 2.5mb free. Where did the rest go?

 

[anthony062991]

Its best when you uninstall any apps titanium back up and wipe data first and then uninstall the app. if you just uninstall it there are parts of the app still in the system and it takes up the memory. Also use titanium back up for storing apps to your SD card. This should help you with some space.

 

[0078265317]

I found the solution. I downloaded "SPackMan" from the market. Can't move apps to the sd card without rooting. But "SPackMan" lets me backup the apps to the sd card. Can't run them off the sd card but don't need all apps all the time. But they stay backed up for when I do. And I don't have to be connected to the market to get them back. Just install them when I need and delete them when am done. Saved 35mb.

 

[0078265317]

Want to hear from anyone who has used co-pilot. Really need a new gps as the old one has maps that are so outdated. Co-pilot sounds good since it can store maps locally and won't eat my data. But while searching I realizes there are two versions. I don't travel much and need locally basically. I'm from Illinois. So no europe or canada or mexico. Strictly USA only.

So anyway what is the difference between the standard and the premium versions?? And do both store locally or only premium does and standard will use my data??

Thanks.

 

[0078265317]

My avail did not come with backup software. So what is the best way.

 

[anthony062991]

My avail did not come with backup software. So what is the best way.

The best way to backup is with clockworkmod recovery. It will back up your entire rom. apps, themes, tweaks,.. what ever you have it will back up.

 

[0078265317]

I did this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY9VSyc8GNA]Force ALL Android Apps to SD Card (FROYO) (NON-ROOT) - YouTube





Now all apps install to sd instead of internal memory.

Not sure what I did but now all of a sudden with any out command prompt or hooking up to computer (except for charging) it goes back to internal. Doesn't install to sd card. I know it did because with no sd card inserted it said it can't install to default location. So it was working. But now with my 20gb in it just installs to the phone memory and not the micro sd card by default.

But I never reset anything. What did I do?? Or do I have to goto a command prompt again and do the adb thing again??

 

[anthony062991]

First off this is for FROYO not GINGERBREAD?
Do not try stuff that is not capable with Gingerbread!!
You can brick your device vary easily!
If you want to force all your apps to your sd card just download move2sd enabler (root only)
Some apps may cause problems so be careful what you move to the sd.

 

[0078265317]

But I don't want to root. That will definately void the warantee.

 

[anthony062991]

But I don't want to root. That will definately void the warantee.

Well you could always unroot. Then you get back your worrenty. Other than that there no other way to put apps to the sdcard unless the app has it already.