I have joined the Android Army

[ScotiaBurrell]

very cool.

I bought a virgin mobile LG elite after reading many reviews and handling the phone in person.

My priorities were size and ability to ride unnoticed in a pocket plus good web connectivity and performance. I liked the iphone and its size - I had a ipod touch that I liked a lot. It is same size. Turn screens off, and appearance is very similar. I doubt that is a coincidence.

But I did not like the price of the iPhone. For what I use the phone for, the $130 price and the drop to $35 a month cannot be beat.

Coming from ios, I really like the sharing menu! It makes evernote so much more useful. I also use Pocket to save articles for later reading, but will move to Instapaper soon now that a android client is there. But some apps are not as good. No good client for simplenote. no good offline dictionaries compared to ios either. Nothing equal to tweetbot. I loved tweetbot.

I like being able to pin contacts to 'desktop? screentop?'. Spending time in Play market is fun. Reading apple bloggers will make you think there is no software for Android -- but that is not true! Lots of fun stuff. And qcodes are useful!

I like that I could change my dialer and my sms program. I also like that I could change the launcher. I don't use many widgets -- they kill battery. I can remove my battery.

I used a program called quadrant it confirmed that the sales specs were wrong: is a 1ghz phone, not 800. Is fast! No lag...but I only play card and word games. Productivity stuff not so demanding on cpu. GPS connects fast! Has NFC, but I dont really understand it much.

Now I am rethinking my intention to buy a iPad. But apple produces portrait and I like that, not widescreen.

What android websites you all read other than mobileread?

[paulsalter]

Welcome to the world of Android

Couple of forums I like to read are

http://androidforums.com/
http://forums.androidcentral.com/

[jabberwock_11]

If you are looking for an android forum you could try www.androidforums.com or www.android.net

I am glad that you are enjoying your new phone and have seen passed some of the propaganda spread by some Apple bloggers. Android is a rich environment with a lot to offer.

If you haven't already I highly suggest checking out an ebook reader app like aldiko or mantano and then trying out some of the many free ebooks out there we have some posted here and there are many other sites out there, such as manybooks.net (mobile site is mnybks.net ).

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by jabberwock_11

If you haven't already I highly suggest checking out an ebook reader app like aldiko or mantano and then trying out some of the many free ebooks out there we have some posted here and there are many other sites out there, such as manybooks.net (mobile site is mnybks.net ).

I have Aldiko and Moon Reader. Will try Mantano too.

I like that I can install from my PC and it magicaly appears on the phone.

Yes...is a rich environment.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

I don't use many widgets -- they kill battery. I can remove my battery.

Not true; there may be some rogue widgets out there, but widgets should not affect the battery in a noticeable way. Most lay dormant unless you click on them, so they have no impact on battery. And those that have periodic refreshes, you usually can configure the refresh period.

You can always check the battery stats on the settings menu and see if anything is using more battery than expected.

Enjoy your new phone.

[=X=]

@ScotiaBurrell Welcome

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

I bought a virgin mobile LG elite after reading many reviews and handling the phone in person.

My priorities were size and ability to ride unnoticed in a pocket plus good web connectivity and performance. I liked the iphone and its size - I had a ipod touch that I liked a lot. It is same size. Turn screens off, and appearance is very similar. I doubt that is a coincidence.

But I did not like the price of the iPhone. For what I use the phone for, the $130 price and the drop to $35 a month cannot be beat.

You are experience one of the greatest benefits of Android... Choice. I'm glad you found something that works for you.

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Coming from ios, I really like the sharing menu! It makes evernote so much more useful. I also use Pocket to save articles for later reading, but will move to Instapaper soon now that a android client is there. But some apps are not as good. No good client for simplenote. no good offline dictionaries compared to ios either. Nothing equal to tweetbot. I loved tweetbot.

Yeah there is not tweetbot, I'm not sure what features your looking for nor do I use twitter that much so I don't know what to recommend. I know seismic and tweeter deck is a popular choice. There are lots and lots of twitter clients. I think one of them should work for you, you'll just have to try a few.

This is the first time I've heard of simplenote so I can't recommend an app. After doing a quick search on it I can say stick with Evernote. The Evernote client is REALLY good and the features Evernote offers is much more powerful than simplenote.

If it is collaboration your interested in I would recommend Google Drive(aka Docs) since it is also platform independent and works on iOS, Android, the Web, etc.... Evernote has some basic collaboration features that seems to match simplenote but both are lacking compared to Google Drive.

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Reading apple bloggers will make you think there is no software for Android -- but that is not true!
And qcodes are useful!

I just read an article yesterday, from a Apple slant site. They where arguing that the Android and iOS app chasm has been closed.

I think folks are starting to question that myth.

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

I don't use many widgets -- they kill battery. I can remove my battery.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Widgets and battery drains. Folks initially probably guessed it was the widgets that caused Android battery to be poor w/o looking at the obvious...literally. The biggest battery drain is the screen size. Your 3.5" screen is small enough that a decent battery should get you trough most of the day if not through several days.

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Now I am rethinking my intention to buy a iPad. But apple produces portrait and I like that, not widescreen.

What android websites you all read other than mobileread?

Android Central
Phandroid
Droidgamers

=X=

[Namekuseijin]

welcome, dude.

Most depressing battery drainer is 3G/4G connection. Unplug it; turn off data; or turn on airplane mode and watch you phone go on for a few days. Reading or listening to music don't really drain much at all.

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

welcome, dude.

Most depressing battery drainer is 3G/4G connection. Unplug it; turn off data; or turn on airplane mode and watch you phone go on for a few days. Reading or listening to music don't really drain much at all.

Yes, I have noticed. I am still playing with it...downloading apps...and it kills battery. Thanks for suggestion.

What about brightness of screen? Or GPS (I started using runkeeper to track my walks--must download music to use -- right now I am streaming)?

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by =X=

@ScotiaBurrell Welcome


You are experience one of the greatest benefits of Android... Choice. I'm glad you found something that works for you.

Not to argue...but there was choice before Android. Will be choice when we all move on too. Right?

This is the first time I've heard of simplenote so I can't recommend an app. After doing a quick search on it I can say stick with Evernote.

Evernote (and dropbox and google drive) are blocked at work. Simplenote no. Lets me work from my desktop.

Android Central
Phandroid
Droidgamers

=X=

Thanks!

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by afv011

widgets should not affect the battery in a noticeable way. Most lay dormant unless you click on them, so they have no impact on battery. And those that have periodic refreshes, you usually can configure the refresh period.

Wow. Thanks crusader.

[Chi Cygni]

You could try Juice Defender app. It DOES improve the battery, I even upgraded to paid version. Also I have Go Task Manager widget where I can actually see what is running at all times and kill'em all in one swift stroke (SW quote, ahem).
I also like Screen off and Lock and ColorNote.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Not to argue...but there was choice before Android. Will be choice when we all move on too. Right?

... Actually you are arguing and sounding quite childish.

I never stated nor implied there wasn't other choices simply lots of choices on the Android platform.

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Evernote (and dropbox and google drive) are blocked at work. Simplenote no. Lets me work from my desktop.

Try Catch, they also have a good web/Android app.

=X=

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by =X=

... Actually you are arguing and sounding quite childish.

=X=

No name calling.

Thanks for the advice, all.

[ScotiaBurrell]

other than putting a picture on every contact, is there anyway to replace green android robot that shows up when someone calls me?

Maybe a generic icon?

Having a second sms program is weird and not quite right. I thought it replaced Messages, but even set as default I sometimes get two alerts for one text, and when I long press to add info to numbers that are not in contacts, sometimes new sms program comes up, other times Messages.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

Having a second sms program is weird and not quite right. I thought it replaced Messages, but even set as default I sometimes get two alerts for one text, and when I long press to add info to numbers that are not in contacts, sometimes new sms program comes up, other times Messages.

You have to disable the notifications for the standard SMS app and you'll only get notifications for your 2nd SMS app. It's in the settings inside the app.