I just purchased an off contract Commando from Amazon Wireless today and will be selling the free Incredible 2 that came with the unlimited data plan I took over. Now the question is where do I start? Do I need to root before installing a bunch of apps and configuring the phone the way I want it? I plan to take the phone down to the bare basics by rooting and removing crap, which I've read up on how to do, and then install a few apps I'd like on there. What about when I get to installing apps - is there some way I can do a batch install? I have a list of about thirty apps I'd like right away.

On a totally unrelated note, is there some way to make Apple's iCal sync with Google Calendar so updates made in one place are synced across the board? What about contacts - I know Google Contacts and Android work great together, and I already have my Apple Address book syncing up to Gmail, but is there some way to have the separate groups synced so they appear as such on Google?