[Q] android new guy asks some questions - Motorola Droid X2

ok folks, I've had this phone a couple months, and here's some things I wonder if you can help me with since I am new to android. This phone has great potential, I just don't know the OS as well as my last phone.
#1
what should I use to set the phone to vibrate during "busy" calendar appointments? I swear my first palmphone from 2002 and everything since has done this automatcially. I'm using light flow to shut the phone up at night so it doesn't wake me up with notifications, but it doesn't do well with calendar notifications.
Tasker?
#2
What calendar widget would you recommend that will show me full day events, and will show them on the day of the event. The stock widget blows. Ideally I'd want something scrollable, but I may have to get a new launcher for that?
#3
As a corollary to the new launcher, how can I get things like messaging icons & vmx icons that actually show new messages? Like as a little number over the icon like in sense? The other day my phone crashed & rebooted (as it seems to be prone to do) and even though I had new emails I didn't know it because the notifications were cleared.
#4
Would a new/different launcher update profile photos of contact shortcuts that were placed on the "desktop"? When people update their profile photos it doesn't update the photo on the shortcut (using contact shortcut, not the moto ones)
#5
Is there anything I can use that will create seperate volumes for when the headphones are plugged in? I'm so used to my old TP2 having seperate volumes, I've blasted my ear drums out twice because I hit play without checking the volume first. I ended up puting a "sound settings" shortcut on my home screen, but thats only kind of a workaround.
#6
How can I add widgets to the lockscreen? I'd like to be able to see weather on my lockscreen. I miss my CHT locker that showed shortcuts to unlock directly to text/email/vmx if they had any notifications.
#7
How can I merge contacts? I have a few contacts where these people must have put their middle initial as part of their last name in their facebook/linkedin profile, so there are two seperate contacts listed in two different places on the contact list.
#8
While on the subject of contacts, is there any sort of manager that can consolidate the communications with that contact into one place? I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but I liked the sense people tab where I could swipe from the contact card to text message conversation with that person, to emails from that person, to their social media updates.
I didn't think that I really loved sense that much, but after I had it all tweaked with CHT I find that I really miss being able to customize so many things. Is there anything like CHT for android? Maybe I should have stuck with HTC, then again I don't really know, maybe sense for android is different too.
Ok, thanks for reading, and please share any suggestions you may have.
I DO like the phone, I just want to like it more!

I'm too busy right now to answer everything, but it sounds like you need Launcher Pro Plus and Widget Locker. As far as merging contacts, go into the contact, hit menu then edit contacts, hit menu again and there is a join contact option.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium

Also download AutomateIt for your headphone volume problem.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium

android new guy
ahh, tnx wolfman, I knew I had seen that join thing somewhere!
geez, I'm such a noob I can't even spell android right in the title!

No prob. Launcher Pro Plus has scrollable widgets like you're looking for. You can set a profile on AutomateIt to do about anything when a certain action occurs. Let me check if there is one for headphones...
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium

Score. AutomateIt has a profile for headphones. Plus it's free in the market. Just the app you were looking for (*waves fingers down*)
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium

Related

Slide 2 Unlock for Android (called S2U2 for Windows Mobile)

I'm gearing up to get my first Andoid phone hopefully next month, and was wondering if there's a port or an app already out there that's similiar in look and functionality as S2U2?
thx.
There's Lockbot out there ;-)
It has iPhone lock style, Hero lock style, Donut lock style and even flair lock style!
Good new: it's free except uf you want to download skins (which doesn't even work on my magic) or want the flair theme (which is the ugliest one)
and even free version let you customise your own themes
cheers
Maybe "Lock 2.0" many skins available for this app!
http://de.androlib.com/android.application.com-google-code-slideunlocker2d-BmA.aspx
http://groups.google.com/group/lock2
Thanks!
Lock 2.0 sure looks just like it.
Yes,you can get a free demo or buy full version!
Just bringing this back up since I just got a new Evo and am coming from a Touch Pro which had S2U2. I have tried some of the options on Android, but have not found anything even close to S2U2.
Does anyone have any other thoughts on how to get my calendar entries, notifications, texts, etc to show up on my lock screen (it also needs to look as good as S2U2 did 2 years ago).
Thanks.
Check out WidgetLocker.
I think it's by far the best lock screen replacement, and is fully supported by the developers at the thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732986
You should just youtube search "widgetlocker" and you'll see many video reviews of it in action. Note: hardly any of the videos go over the fact that it can change from stock Android slide to HTC slide even to iPhone slide to unlock.
And to rs1990, yes it can add whatever widget you can think of including ones relevant to everything you mentioned.
Funny that you just mentioned WidgetLocker. I am actually looking at that right now. It seems ok at this point, but not as polished as S2U2 is.
I actually think that the problem that I have right now is that the calendar widget kind of stinks. I am looking for a widget that just shows any upcoming events and nothing if there are none upcoming. The default one shows that obnoxious white box that says "No upcoming calendar events," which is ridiculous.
OK, I just found Pure Calendar and it looks somewhat promising. It will allow me to put a nice looking widget in WidgetLocker to show my entries. So, I am going to look into that a bit and see if it suits my needs.
rs1990 said:
OK, I just found Pure Calendar and it looks somewhat promising. It will allow me to put a nice looking widget in WidgetLocker to show my entries. So, I am going to look into that a bit and see if it suits my needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WidgetLocker + Android Agenda Widget + Music Mod Widget + Beautiful Widgets = NO reason to ever unlock
You could try CalWidget
rs1990 said:
Funny that you just mentioned WidgetLocker. I am actually looking at that right now. It seems ok at this point, but not as polished as S2U2 is.
I actually think that the problem that I have right now is that the calendar widget kind of stinks. I am looking for a widget that just shows any upcoming events and nothing if there are none upcoming. The default one shows that obnoxious white box that says "No upcoming calendar events," which is ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to try CalWidget http://www.androlib.com/android.application.net-eggenstein-android-calwidget-qxjt.aspx - sorry I don't have the Marketplace url.
It's not bad. Can be a bit slow to load up and refresh but it's surprisingly good for a free productivity app. And it works well with WidgetLocker
Is there a way to get something beautiful and usefull like S2u2 for android? i think Lock 2.0 is a real flop, widgetlocker is ok but s2u2 is way better... i would say it's the best lockscreen i've ever seen.
There is nothing even close to S2U2 on android. I only miss S2U2 app from WinMo world. There was so many options/customizations..
I agree with both of the last 2 posts...S2U2 is unmatched on Android. I have "settled" on using WidgetLocker and Pure Calendar. It's ok, but not as good as S2U2.
I agree 100 percent with both of you. WinMo was ok... android is great... but damn... i miss s2u2 like hell.
s2u2 is the swiss pocketknife or Macgyver of lockscreens...
Yeap,
I also miss S2U2 from WinMo. I just bought a new android phone (ZTE Link) and I do miss S2U2. May A_C could port S2U2 for android? Does somenone knows him?
The application I think is closest to S2U2 is GOTO (although its paid :-()
Best,
Jº
WidgetLocker, as already mentioned in this thread, is a very capable, attractive, and flexible lockscreen replacement. There are also others on the market.
I for one won't miss the random "won't unlock" weirdness with S2U2, although infrequent, sometimes I had to yank the battery to get out of it as the screen would be frozen after. SOMETIMES I could long-power press and get the reboot dialog and I could get to a task manager and kill it but usually it was stuck.
Is there any possibility that the creator of WinMo S2U2 try to code that app for Android? Or make some coop with somebody who can do that for/with him?
Asked somebody something like this to creator of S2U2??
Thanks so much.
tomas
I can just agree to the above, the only thing i miss on Android is S2U2 and G-Alarm. I tried widget locker and i had to reinstall my whole system. When it was active i pulled the right thingy on the locked screen and then it was all black and locket. But i liked it the little i did see when i was exploring it. Now i don't dare to install it again..
EDIT:
Yesterday i tried LockBot but it could not get it to work at all, when i read what it could do it was ONE of the most imprtant thing i miss from S2U2, it was locking the hardware buttons. But nah... no go here either.
I never used S2U2, but what are the features all of you miss so much from it? In the videos I see on youtube, I don't really see anything that makes it standout from any other lockscreen, like WidgetLocker...
The key with widgetlocker is getting the right widgets installed to work with it, but because of that it is pretty much infinitely flexible.

Couple questions about my new Galaxy S3...

So far I love the phone. This is the only phone I've had in a long time where I haven't wanted to load a custom rom the day I got it. There's just one thing I don't know if there's an option for, and something else I'd like to change that I hope it easy being rooted.
1. Is there a way to make the vibrate patterns apply to text messages? So far they only seem to apply to incoming calls.
2. The little dots on the bottom that show what page I'm on. Can I get rid of those or move them to the top of the screen?
ok, there's a 3rd I guess. The green phone icon, is there an EASY way to change that? Not thrilled about a couple others either like the contacts one. Don't know if there's a simple way to go in and swap out the image file for a different one or not. On my Galaxy tablet I was able to go in and create custom icons on the computer and use a program on the tab to select what program I wanted it to open, but that was a long time ago and I forgot how to do it, or what programs I used. If that's what it comes down too though, guess that's what I'll have to do. Just wanted to know if there was an easier way. I don't mind the icons themselves, just the colors. Not a fan of green or orange. Blue would be nice.
Thanks in advance for any help on these. Besides this stuff, absolutely LOVE the phone...
hope this helps...
1. I don't see any place in the touchwiz messaging app's settings to customize the vibrate pattern for texts... some possible solutions would be a custom ROM with the stock google messaging app rather than the touchwiz app, or somewhat less extreme would be to install a 3rd party texting client from the play store and see if that setting is present in that app.
2. I'm not sure if the touchwiz launcher allows you to hide or remove those little indicator dots, but you can open up a million options for homescreen launcher settings by installing a 3rd party launcher from the play store like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. Currently I'm using Apex and it is great (still rocking the stock experience until CM9 gets a stable release).
3. As for changing icons like the phone, calendar, calculator, etc. This is another thing that can be customized using a launcher like Apex.
ShawnDobie said:
So far I love the phone. This is the only phone I've had in a long time where I haven't wanted to load a custom rom the day I got it. There's just one thing I don't know if there's an option for, and something else I'd like to change that I hope it easy being rooted.
1. Is there a way to make the vibrate patterns apply to text messages? So far they only seem to apply to incoming calls.
2. The little dots on the bottom that show what page I'm on. Can I get rid of those or move them to the top of the screen?
ok, there's a 3rd I guess. The green phone icon, is there an EASY way to change that? Not thrilled about a couple others either like the contacts one. Don't know if there's a simple way to go in and swap out the image file for a different one or not. On my Galaxy tablet I was able to go in and create custom icons on the computer and use a program on the tab to select what program I wanted it to open, but that was a long time ago and I forgot how to do it, or what programs I used. If that's what it comes down too though, guess that's what I'll have to do. Just wanted to know if there was an easier way. I don't mind the icons themselves, just the colors. Not a fan of green or orange. Blue would be nice.
Thanks in advance for any help on these. Besides this stuff, absolutely LOVE the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Have heard others complain of this issue, so I don't believe that there a way to do it. Don't use that feature myself so...
2. Again, I'm not sure, but I think you're stuck with them. You could use a launcher that allows more customization. I like apex.
3. Download an app called "icon changer" and a icon pack or theme with the icons you would like to use. You can then open the application and select the app you want to change the icon of and pick a new icon. It will create a shortcut of the app with the custom icon on your home screen. Great for changing icons on your home screen if you want to remain using TW. If you decide to use an alternate launcher like apex this feature is already integrated and you have the ability to switch the icons within the app drawer as well.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Thanks for the quick replies. Trying to stay away from a custom rom on this phone. There's just nothing I'm really unhappy with that much. There's always something that goes wrong when I load one. Not saying there's ANYTHING wrong with the roms themselves, there's just not that much on this phone I'm not happy with, unlike phones I've had in the past. I'm coming from a Desire.
Thanks for the Icon Changer app also. Changing them on my tablet was a pain in the butt, this was nice and simple. Any way you know the dimensions of the icons though so I can create some of my own?

Help! Former IntelliscreenX Users Confused About Widgets

Just got an HTC One X+. First Droid phone. Impressed with the hardware and having fun finding my way around the OS. Coming from a jailbroken iPhone 4, the hardware is like night and day, but the lockscreen/widget functionality is another story.
Previously on iOS 5.1.1 with Intelliscreen X, my lockscreen would have bars going all the way across the screen that showed number of new sms, voicemails, calls, emails, and you could expand and see the messages and then collapse. Or as new notifications came in, it would already be expanded and you could collapse. You could also hit a 'clear' button (when expanded or collapsed) to clear all the messages/notifications (just on the lock screen - not in the actual app of course.)
If you haven't used Intelliscreen X before, If you want to see what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwx9PUX_tz8
I see there is some widget functionality on 4.1.1 but it seems limited to only the Home Screen. In addition, the formatting looks terrible as there is all this wasted space around the widgets and the app icon spacing is pretty huge too. It won't let me put more than 2 4x1 widgets and 8 icons on the home screen. This seems very limited, and looks very poorly to me.
I understand widgets on lockscreen are not implemented until Jelly Bean 4.2. Was hoping Android was going to be a little farther along than this as my research seemed to indicate for a user like me it was up to speed with iOS, which it seems it is in most other areas.
I realize with such a new device, that can't even be rooted yet (AT&T HTC One X+) that it may be a while before I'm going to get a custom ROM with 4.2 let alone a 4.2 update from HTC.
Haven't used the phone a ton, but there is a chance this could potentially be a deal breaker for me and may have to go exchange it for iPhone 5 in a couple weeks (and wait for iOS 6 untethered jailbreak).
Is there a course of action (any apps?) that people that know where I'm coming from could recommend to maybe hopefully tide me over until I can get a ROM with the capabilities I want? Seems there must be some Android user out there that has used iPhone with Intelliscreen X before?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
WidgetLocker is the answer but pales in comparison to Intelliscreen X on iPhone. Seems this is the issue with Android, the lockscreens aren't standard across phones so you have to use whatever HTC or whomever is using unless you use WidgetLocker.
Problem is, even with the Tesla Unread Count plugin installed, I can't seem to get unread counts on the phone and mail icons. I'll ask this in the One X forum as there's barely anyone here yet since the phone is so new!
Are you not worried about your privacy? with a lockscreen like that anyone can pick your phone up and see your missed calls/SMS's/Emails ect
Well I'm not cheating on my wife, and even if I was my mistress wouldn't be using my normal phone number. LOL.
I don't have any top secret info, like business data, that a competitor might want to see if they glanced at my phone in a meeting.
But I do see your point and have seen others make this point.
You can control what can be seen and I just tested the phone's lock and you still can assign a pin/pw to get into the phone as when you hit the back arrow on any apps you launch from the lockscreen it goes back to the lockscreen, at least on my HTC One X+.
I finally got it all setup and WidgetLock with Tesla Unread Counter has got me to where I need to be with Jelly Bean. Not as good as Intelliscreen X. Someone should copy those guys or they should do a port to Android. The ability to have the widget show you a summary (one line of text and a counter or something ) and be able to expand it to see more data and collapse it, is SO useful. I'll miss that. Can't have everything I guess. That's really the only thing I'll miss about my iPhone (I think so far). But I had to jailbreak it to get that functionality.
AndroHero said:
Are you not worried about your privacy? with a lockscreen like that anyone can pick your phone up and see your missed calls/SMS's/Emails ect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

iPhone style lockscreen

Hope I don't get shot for this, however, I am in need of some advice to help me get iPhone style notifications on stock sense Rom. For example, right now I can only get notifications from the android mail app but not Google mail app or my touchdown mail app. my text messages do show up, but I can't make it show the name of sender but hide content. It either hides both or none. Phone is rooted, is there any program that lets me do this without removing the stock Rom? If I have to flash a other Rom to get this level of customization, which Rom and subsequent mod would you suggest. This is the only thing I don't like about this phone.
Sent from my HTC One
There's a lot of lock screen apps but i don't think they have shortcuts like that. Also they don't usually work well.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Those lockscreen apps tend to drain battery too.
Sent from the Sexiest Android Device (HTC One)
Yes, exactly. I couldnt find one that just works and works well.
Sent from my HTC One
I use to use widget locker. I never really noticed it killing my battery.

[Qs]vzw-sgs4

Hello XDA I’ve been away from android for some time; switched to iPhone for a bit, from the htc evo 4g. I have switched to Verizon and the galaxy s4 sense then and I want to make some changes to my phone (hence the post). I have rooted my device but haven’t put any custom roms or kernels on my s4 just different launchers. Here is a list of thing I want to change:
Quick disclaimer: some of my wording may be off, I don’t have my phone in front of me to check everything and do proper background research
Phone UI-I want to change the phone app entirely. Its ugly it’s white and it’s [for lack of a better word] fat and cartoonish. I hate the stock dialer and the in-call ui. It has to go; please if nothing else give me some ideas on how to change this! Im using ex dialer and contacts but that doesn’t change the in call experience.
Unread Notifications- I’m currently using nova launcher prime and action launcher pro the kicker is that neither have a proper unread counter for calls texts and emails. Nova works the best because it does in fact have an unread counter but it only works for phone and texts but not for Samsung emails which I use for both my Gmail and my exchange emails. It irks me; I’ve emailed the developer but haven’t heard anything back from him.
Wi-Fi- is there a way to move/add wifi to the notification panel? The panel being the quick access buttons on the top of the notification scroll down. I hate that is “floating” in the other part of the notification list.
Volume- how can I get rid of the volume alert I get when I have something plugged in to the headphone port? I feel that it’s the dumbest warning in the world and it’s even more annoying because it keeps coming back after each reboot (I think). We aren’t 5 years old we already know that loadnoises arnt good for our ears…
App drawer icon- I love the touchwiz app drawer icon and that’s probably the only thing I can’t live without. I’ve got a similar icon from a touchwiz icon pack but it’s not the same one. How can I extract it from touch wiz so that I can use it with various roms or launchers?
Google play- I buy things from Google play every now and again and would like to continue to do so. The only problem is, is that I can’t move the content over to the SD card I would like to store it there because 16gb can only hold so much. I saw that someone figured out how to move Google play music over to SD which is great but I want my magazines and movies on the SD too.
I would like to keep as many Samsung features as I can when I rom my device I enjoy a lot of the Samsung gimmicks that came with it; such as multi-window and the smart stay, view, scroll and pause it’s fun to play with.
Are there specific roms and kernels I need to use for my specific device? If so please refer me to the thread.
Is there a rom that adds a professional and sleek look to the device and adds the discussed features from above? If so what is it and where can I get it!?
J.L.Greene
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium

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