So I took the plunge and upgraded from flip phone to smart phone... Folks have told me about all these cool apps that I "just HAVE to have..." So, I went looking at the Verizon sites App Store (yea, free ones, too!). Since I'm new to this game, how do I know which of the multitude are really worth it, and how do I find the ones I don't see listed? Phone is on an Android platform. There seems to be many that accomplish the same task - so I figure there must be benefits of certain ones over the others. So far I've added Walmart, Weather Channel, and Gas Buddy (I'm a slow starter). So, what are your recommendations for:
a Flashlight
a Barcode scanner
an App-killer (?) to turn off those not needed?
making the phone a GPS (so I can read coordinates where I'm at - it has a GPS for Navigation on it, but it doesn't give or show actual Coordinates)
Getting hazardous weather alerts, or will the Weather Channel one do that?
Laptop tethering App vs paying Verizon $20/mo???
I presume I just go to the Pilot/Flying J site to find their App...
Where do I find TV Antenna Helper??? Just a Google search?
Got any other suggestions?
Took me 2 days to figure out how to answer the thing...! This will be a project! No 12-year olds around to help me out except the dog, and he doesn't have thumbs
Thanks, as always! ST
Two and a hound in a 2003 Roadtrek 190P and a pair of Limmers... First 50 done, working on the second pass!
I just had to laugh! I'm only 55 and have been very good with computers over the years. But I still have a flip phone and I tell everyone "I don't do text"! That doesn't always work as my family texts me once in a while.
Ohhhhh.... for the simple life!
1996 HR Endeavor LE,Cummins 5.9 230hp, Allison 3060,
Front-Yamaha Enduro, Rear-Honda Helix Geeser Cruiser + 2 bikes,
22ft 1977 Cruiser in tow.
1 DW, 2 kids.
1 old dog, 1 fat cat.
I wasn't thinking this far ahead!
Barcode scanner.. a shopping list called "Out of Milk." Awesome when you want to make a shopping list, you walk around the house and scan things you're almost out of.
Banking apps: There's nothing like depositing a check via the airwaves.
xClinometer: for leveling your sat dish tripod or your RV.
Facebook, of course.
Imdb: so you can see what other movies that actor has been in.
Yellowbook: hey, the yellow pages are in your phone! Find a business, touch the number, voila.. make the call!
I would think your new phone would have tethering built in. Smartphones are just amazing. Computers in your hands which also happen to make phone calls. Yes, I text. A lot.
loggenrock - Slow down!!! I have been using the droid phone system since it first came out. It is great. But keep in mind that the more stuff you add in aps the more the phone will be burdened and it will start to slow down. Also, aps you just had-to-have at one time might not seem so great six months from now.
a. Flashlight - get one. Using you phone for one is the World's most expensive flashlight.
b. I hate to seem ignorant here, but why do you need to read bar codes?
c. The ap killer is you. Go to settings and the manage applications and disable the ones you don't need. Normally you just turn them off, so if you decide at a later date you want them they are there.
d. For location there are a number of aps that will tell you where you are. I use google maps.
e. I think Weather C will give you notifications - I am not positive on that one.
f. Tethering. I have used both Eazy Tether and PDAnet. I prefer PDAnet.
g. Don't know about flying J or Pilot, but I do know they have an ap. I just don't use it.
For camping aps on android Allstays is a good campground one. Costs 5 bucks. They also have a dump station and Wallmart ap.
Go to the Android Market - now called Google Play and search for what you want an app to do and you will get lists of them coming up. Look at the reviews and look at how many are using each one. Some are free and some cost money. Search antenna and several good apps will come up.
Take a look at Amazon apps everyday - they give a paid app free away everyday. Some are good, some are for kids, and many are a waste of time and storage on your phone.
There are not many RV apps that are free on Android. It seems that the free ones are for Iphone/Ipad/Ipod only. Most of what I have found related specifically for RVs are a waste of time unless you want to pay for them. Most can be duplicated just going to a website with your phone's browser.
There are several good level apps. There are compass apps but depending on your Android phone, some work and some do not - it depends on your model phone. There are check list apps that you can make departure checklists with. Dropbox is a good app to have on your phone and computer and you can access documents and sync them on both. Google Maps and Google Nav for your GPS. Weather channel will give you weather alerts but recently became ad intensive. This one does it well - 1Weather Most apps that are free will put ads on the screen. When you pay for an app you are mostly paying to have an ad free app. Alarm Clock Plus is good. Try TV Antenna Helper Free for setting your digital antenna for your location (determined by GPS). Dolphin is a better browser than the stock Android browser. Lots of apps - so little storage...
Look for a built-in app on your phone called Task Manager. Many Droids come with this. My Galaxy tells me when an app is using a lot of CPU (which translates to battery juice) and I can tap and kill it. The only game I play is Words with Friends and it tends to run away and eat up power so I often kill it. The same happens on my wife's iPhone bu she doesn't find out until her battery suddenly runs down. The came is also a bit buggy on both phones and will sometimes mess up util it is stopped and restarted. The Task Manager on Droid makes this very easy. Too bad we (and our friends) are addicted to it!
Interesting read (to me at least) in regard to apps such as Angry Birds / any app with adds and how they kill your battery. Read here.
As for recommending apps ...... I need to know the Android you bought before I would offer app suggestions. Certain apps perform poorly and more with certain phones.
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* This post was
edited 03/22/12 08:16am by sherlock62 *
loggenrock wrote: So I took the plunge and upgraded from flip phone to smart phone... Folks have told me about all these cool apps that I "just HAVE to have..." So, I went looking at the Verizon sites App Store (yea, free ones, too!). Since I'm new to this game, how do I know which of the multitude are really worth it, and how do I find the ones I don't see listed? Phone is on an Android platform. There seems to be many that accomplish the same task - so I figure there must be benefits of certain ones over the others. So far I've added Walmart, Weather Channel, and Gas Buddy (I'm a slow starter). So, what are your recommendations for:
a Flashlight flashlight I like
a Barcode scanner barcode scanner
an App-killer (?) to turn off those not needed? (not needed)
making the phone a GPS (so I can read coordinates where I'm at - it has a GPS for Navigation on it, but it doesn't give or show actual Coordinates) ( gotta look into this one)
Getting hazardous weather alerts, or will the Weather Channel one do that? (weather channel will do that)
Laptop tethering App vs paying Verizon $20/mo??? foxfi
I presume I just go to the Pilot/Flying J site to find their App...my pilot
Where do I find TV Antenna Helper??? Just a Google search?tv antenna helper (I never used this)
Got any other suggestions?
Took me 2 days to figure out how to answer the thing...! This will be a project! No 12-year olds around to help me out except the dog, and he doesn't have thumbs
Thanks, as always! ST
smartphones can be overwhelming at first but you will figure it out
05 sunline 267 sr
2001 F-250 lariat 4x4 supercab shortbed automatic V-10 4:30LS
1200# drawtite hitch, friction sway control,prodigy
Android(my drug of choice)
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