• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Lets start to list the cool new widgets and apps in the upgrade

gm991

Android Enthusiast
Nov 24, 2009
294
6
Don't know if this has been started yet, but was thinking we should start a list of the cool new apps, widgets or controls that we now have with Droid 2.1.

I will start
Navigator
power control widget (lets you get rid of all the toggle widgets we had)
 
Speaking of widgets, I'm really disappointed that a lot of the widgets I used every day (especially the favorite people list, calendar grid) are now gone! Is there any way to get these back? The ones available thru "Get more HTC widgets" are small in number and no replacement :(

So favorite people widget is gone??

Is that why I can't populate it with my high use contacts?

edit:fixed that problem...:)
 
Upvote 0
I'm digging the power bar, but I am not sure if it was in 1.5 and I just missed it. but it covers everything I needed in one widget.

the Twitter client available for 2.1 is really good.

Lots of little things seems more polished.

Power bar is cool. Just wish it had one more box for airplane mode. I travel a lot and used the airplane mode toggle switch in 1.5 all the time.
 
Upvote 0
Voice recognition for search and navigation seems to be better in 2.1 even with a lot of background noise.

One cool thing I just noticed today is that when you go into People and tap on a picture, it brings up a small icon bar that allows you to instantly edit, email, message, facebook, etc that contact.

Also, I downloaded Google Goggles, which I've been waiting to do for a very long time. It works pretty well. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but it's ability to identify text astounds me. When I scanned a friend's business card, not only did it recognize all of the text on the card, but asked me if I wanted to add them as a contact. I did and it filled in every field almost perfectly. Very cool!
 
Upvote 0
I've only used Navigator for driving directions. I briefly opened Navigation, and it seems much more basic. There are more noticeable features for Navigator. Maybe someone who has used both could compare/contrast them.

I have them both on my home screen, I us the Navigation as a "car dock"
And navigator (blue arrow icon) as the GPS, only because you can speak an address and bang it shows up and hit GO...very cool,
Wonder why when you open up the gps from Navigation there is no voice input for destinations??...at least I couldn't find it.
 
Upvote 0
Power bar is cool. Just wish it had one more box for airplane mode. I travel a lot and used the airplane mode toggle switch in 1.5 all the time.

One of my favorite apps is Quick Settings, it has everything you need and works flawlessly. Has a flashlight which I use often, and all other controls with one click. One of the best apps out there.

Other favorite apps:

Calendar Pad, CalWidget, Sticky Memo, TweetCaster, ShapeWriter Keyboard.
 
Upvote 0
Power bar is cool. Just wish it had one more box for airplane mode. I travel a lot and used the airplane mode toggle switch in 1.5 all the time.

Today I saw this app on AppBrain, and it's awesome:

Dazzle Configurable Switcher
by Moonblink
1,000 downloads, 151 ratings (4.5 avg)
Free
rating9.png
chart

It's a configurable version of the Power Control Widget. It lets you choose which items you want on the widget, and you can make it any size you want.

Favorite features:
1. You can choose to cycle through the ring/silent/vibrate options OR have a popup to choose one.
2. The brightness button works with auto brightness!!!

Pictures from market:
screen
screen


This is a cool App.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ericDylan
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones