Author Topic: Android phones n00b questions (Read 5458 times)

Clock'd 0Ne · **on:** July 10, 2012, 23:50:25 PM

Android phones n00b questions

on: July 10, 2012, 23:50:25 PM

I have finally upgraded my phone after what seemed like an eternity and while there's a few threads dotted about on apps and things, there's some questions popping up I think are useful to have answered by you knowledgable users

For reference I'm on a Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 running 2.3 Gingerbread (supposedly I'll be able to f/w update to 4.0 ICS soon).

1. Is there a way to force all updates, etc through wifi? I don't want to use 'packet data' at all if I can avoid it, but turning it off bombards me with notices about failed updates, etc.

2. Is it possible to actually move stuff around on the 'home page'? I can add widgets and shortcuts but seem to have no control over how they display, the size of them, position or even be able to delete them without deleting that whole page, which is frustrating.

3. Does upgrading the Android OS involve wiping everything and reinstalling? If so is it really worth it and having to reconfigure everything (is there lots of cool new stuff in ICS)?

Main thing really is I don't want to get fleeced on data traffic usage as I get 100Mb a month and I know it will get eaten very quickly if I'm not careful, I'd be interested to hear what everyone else does/ways around it.

Bacon · **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2012, 04:22:54 AM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #1 on: July 11, 2012, 04:22:54 AM

Use a GiffGaff Sim for Data.

addictweb · **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2012, 12:20:20 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012, 12:20:20 PM

1 - Not sure

2 - Press and hold on any icon or widget on home screen and you'll then be able to drag it to where you want it.

3 - No, upgrades dont wipe your settings, they just upgrade the OS.

Leon · **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2012, 12:59:56 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #3 on: July 11, 2012, 12:59:56 PM

There are quite a few program specific menus that you won't find under settings:

1. Open up Market / Play > Hit the menu button > Settings > Update over Wi-Fi only!

2. As addictweb said you can hold on them for a second or so and they 'pickup' and you can either drag the to a new place, drag them to the bin (to delete the icon not the app) or drag them to the edge of the screen to move them to the next screen.

3. Again as said above if you just do the manufactures upgrade then it doesn't wipe anything... only time that happens is when you DIY/Root/Custom option

ICS adds a few nice things, I found it runs faster but I guess thats down to the hardware but mainly is the menu changes. Resizing widgets & dropping one icon onto another to create quick access folders are great for the homepage

Also 100mb a month is pretty damn small for any provider to give these days?! If your not on contract I would agree with Bacon and go over to GiffGaff for £10 a month unlimited web, text and 250 minutes (unless calling is your requirement then look around for something else

)

Though I do only use about 60-80mb a month on my phone but I don't do much with it anymore.

Last Edit: July 11, 2012, 13:03:37 PM by Leon #187;

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2012, 13:20:21 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #4 on: July 11, 2012, 13:20:21 PM

Thanks!

I'll try turning off packet usage after setting Play to wifi only and see how it gets on (I'll also remember to try the settings page in other apps that whinge).

It was a free phone (1p actually) retention upgrade on O2 (I told them I was thinking of switching to GiffGaff), I believe I'm on a 12 month contract now at £10.50 pm, 100 mins, unlimited text, 100MB data, so I'm not complaining

100Mb suits me as I wouldn't want to pay more for data when the phone will sit on my desk connected via wifi 99% of the time, if I'm away I'll use hotspots and such.

bear · **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2012, 14:36:24 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #5 on: July 11, 2012, 14:36:24 PM

Yeah I have mine N9 set on WiFi there is many hotspots etc. and I have it at home and at work so not much need for 3G-turbo.

addictweb · **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2012, 15:17:53 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #6 on: July 11, 2012, 15:17:53 PM

Same. Wifi at home and work so its only the commute and when I'm out on evenings and weekends that I use data, I've been using about 80mb a month outside of wifi and I consider myself a quite heavy user.

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2012, 16:22:32 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #7 on: July 11, 2012, 16:22:32 PM

I've read loads of reports of the battery not lasting and turning off 3G seems to help, I've had this running for two days now and its not packed in yet and i've been fiddling and taking loads of calls. Pretty impressed!

Bacon · **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2012, 18:24:37 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #8 on: July 11, 2012, 18:24:37 PM

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on July 11, 2012, 13:20:21 PM

Thanks! I'll try turning off packet usage after setting Play to wifi only and see how it gets on (I'll also remember to try the settings page in other apps that whinge).

It was a free phone (1p actually) retention upgrade on O2 (I told them I was thinking of switching to GiffGaff), I believe I'm on a 12 month contract now at £10.50 pm, 100 mins, unlimited text, 100MB data, so I'm not complaining

100Mb suits me as I wouldn't want to pay more for data when the phone will sit on my desk connected via wifi 99% of the time, if I'm away I'll use hotspots and such.

O2
100 Mins, Unltd Text, 100MB Data £10.50

GiffGaff (Uses O2 Network)
250 Mins, Unltd Text, Unltd Data £10
(No contract, if your skint one month then you don't need to pay! Payg freedom with Contract Minutes!)

Jump ship now!

If not, just get a sim from my link and we both get a fiver when you topup!

Leon · **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2012, 18:57:05 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #9 on: July 11, 2012, 18:57:05 PM

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on July 11, 2012, 16:22:32 PM

I've read loads of reports of the battery not lasting and turning off 3G seems to help, I've had this running for two days now and its not packed in yet and i've been fiddling and taking loads of calls. Pretty impressed!

3G and GPS are both big battery drains, 2 days with them off = half a day with them on

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2012, 19:01:49 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #10 on: July 11, 2012, 19:01:49 PM

Quote from: Bacon on July 11, 2012, 18:24:37 PM

O2
100 Mins, Unltd Text, 100MB Data £10.50

GiffGaff (Uses O2 Network)
250 Mins, Unltd Text, Unltd Data £10
(No contract, if your skint one month then you don't need to pay! Payg freedom with Contract Minutes!)

Jump ship now!

If not, just get a sim from my link and we both get a fiver when you topup!

I got it wrong, it was £10.50 a month tariff, for 24 months.

What you get:

50 minutes to call any standard UK mobile or standard UK landline (starting 01, 02, 03)
250 UK text messages
200 extra anytime minutes
The Basics - 100MB of UK data for £3 a month extra
You can upgrade up to one month early

Mongoose · **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2012, 19:59:34 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #11 on: July 11, 2012, 19:59:34 PM

I'm on that contract, it's worked ok for me so far. 100MB is next to nothing, but if you're like me and have Wi-Fi most places you wont need much. 3G is slow as compared to proper broadband anyway.

I have an app on my second home screen which is basically a dashboard for turning GPS wifi etc on and off, means I can keep them off unless I'm actually using them with minimal effort and that really helps my battery life. GPS is the big killer, I pretty much only run that if I'm in the car using the sat nav.

If you want a sat nav app I can't recommend NavFree highly enough. Free app, free maps, option to pay for shineyness like custom voices but everything you actually need is free. Do make sure you download the postcode finder add on though, it's free but not downloaded by default so initially you have to have an internet connection to find a destination. Once you have the postcode finder, it's fully internet independent which helps to save on the data bills.

knighty · **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2012, 21:42:21 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #12 on: July 11, 2012, 21:42:21 PM

nige ADW launcher will let you customise the home screen, add more screens, add a menu at the top/bottom etc...

:-)

get it via google play

oops, i think the top menu might be part of the ROM, mine is Cyanogenmod 7.2, but you'd need to root it for that

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2012, 22:58:22 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #13 on: July 11, 2012, 22:58:22 PM

I haven't played with FreeNav properly yet but it was the first app I got installed, downloaded the maps and the postcode finder so all is good. Speed cameras are coming out soon too apparently.

Can you remember what app it was you're using Mongoose that allows you to quickly turn things on or off, it sounds ideal.

I think I have the home page sussed now knighty, its not so bad once you suss out moving stuff around like Leon said.

knighty · **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2012, 23:03:43 PM

Re: Android phones n00b questions

Reply #14 on: July 11, 2012, 23:03:43 PM

I've got the menu at the top to run things on/off quick/easy too, but it's part of the ROM

unless there's another version out there....

News:

Author Topic: Android phones n00b questions (Read 5458 times)