General Android-ness

[Gavin Scott]

Have noticed that my message alert tone (which I finally worked out how to add my own to its list of 10 default beeps) now makes a horrid sound at the end of the wav file - like when you pull a mic cable out of a live amp.

Yuk. Hope that gets fixed.

[Gavin Scott]

The thought occurs that I should also have had new buttons on the "home" screen, but I don't. thought there was a "phone", "browser" and "messages" button in place of the "phone" one alone.

But whatever, its fine as it is.

[Gavin Scott]

Hmm. My music player now has green musical note symbols (rather than monochrome ones), but the buttons on my headphones no longer operate.

That's not a good development.

[scottishtv]

Hmmm.

I like the WiFi hotspot thing - very cool, but will have to get a usage counter app now to keep track of data use if I am to throw my USB dongle away. I also hope the battery life improves with Froyo because that was getting a bit annoying of late.

I dislike that it broke my NexusMod Live wallpaper which I really liked. I also dislike how it seems to have put in a Google News & Weather app. But I really am not a fan of what it's done to texting. I will be sending half-written texts all the time now that they've moved the send button.

Finally, is there anyway you can switch off the newly-added SMS counter next to your contacts names in the SMS conversations screen? It puts the number of texts in your conversation in brackets and seems quite pointless. Also, it is currently pointing out that I text two of my guy mates twice as much as the girlfriend, which I found quite surprising... and a tiny bit worrying.

[Inspector Sands]

I like the WiFi hotspot thing - very cool, but will have to get a usage counter app now to keep track of data use if I am to throw my USB dongle away. I also hope the battery life improves with Froyo because that was getting a bit annoying of late.

Is that just for internet access by another device or can it be used to transfer files from, say, a laptop to and from the phone?

Finally, is there anyway you can switch off the newly-added SMS counter next to your contacts names in the SMS conversations screen? It puts the number of texts in your conversation in brackets and seems quite pointless. Also, it is currently pointing out that I text two of my guy mates twice as much as the girlfriend, which I found quite surprising... and a tiny bit worrying.

Is that new? mine's always had that. I suspect it's quite useful if you have it set to automatically delete texts after x number in a conversation

[Inspector Sands]

Still trying to find other things that are new. There's a "Videos" player program in the apps list - I think that's new.

Yes it is, one of the odd things about the phone (and Android in general I believe) is that there's no stand alone video player unless you download one. Any videos you record have to be played via 'photos' which is illogical. I downloaded and use Rockplayer as the default media player didn't like programmes I'd downloaded from iPlayer.

What's the HD video recording like?

Hmm. My music player now has green musical note symbols (rather than monochrome ones), but the buttons on my headphones no longer operate.

They are a bit rubbish though aren't they? I tried them early on and found a couple of bugs with them (as well as the fact they just look and fit a bit craply). Firstly if i'm using them to control something in Google Listen it was also controlling the music player widget so I had two things playing at once. Also I've heard of others that whose FM radio crashes/locks up, I've only had this with the supplied headphones

[Inspector Sands]

Did you need to do any backup? How straightforward is the install?

I, err.. didn't bother.

I clicked "download via wifi only", and it commenced while I was in the house, pausing on the walk to work, and then finished when I arrived within range of the office wireless.

Asked me to confirm installation, and then it turned itself off and on a couple of times and that was that. Took five mins, with a handy wee status bar to show me it was still installing.

I wonder if it'll work on my office Wifi (I don't have wireless at home)? They've disabled FTP services on it so I can do everything except download from Android Market.

If not I'll have to upgrade in my local, is that 5 minutes for the installation or for the whole process.... i.e. am I on for a 1 or 2 pinter?

[remlap]

Anyone know how to get Google Search button or widgit to default to Opera Mini instead of first opening the default browser then opening Opera?

Opera is set as my default browser but still does this.

Thanks

[scottishtv]

I like the WiFi hotspot thing <snip>

Is that just for internet access by another device or can it be used to transfer files from, say, a laptop to and from the phone?

It turns the phone into a wireless access point so it will appear along like a router would on your laptop/other phones/things that use wireless. Not sure about the file transfer thing. I don't think so.

Finally, is there anyway you can switch off the newly-added SMS counter next to your contacts names in the SMS conversations screen? <snip>

Is that new? mine's always had that. I suspect it's quite useful if you have it set to automatically delete texts after x number in a conversation

Definately new on the HTC Desire I have, but there doesn't seem to be a way to get rid of it.

[Gavin Scott]

What's the HD video recording like?

Ooooohhhh - I'd totally forgotten about that.

Just tried - you need to go in and change the settings, obviously, but it looks good on the phone. I would play it on my HD telly at home, but for horrible reasons I don't have it right now.

I was quite enjoying the use of my headphones - I know they look rubbish, but they fit snugly and were loud. *So* inconvenient not to be able to use the buttons.

[Sput]

How's the frame rate on video recording? Mine's always *felt* a bit choppy and I can't imagine that improving at higher resolution.