Android noob...a little lost.

[KeithTalent]

So I have finally broken the Blackberry shackles and now own a Samsung Galaxy S2X (Hercules): http://androidspin.com/2011/10/04/samsung-galaxy-s2x-headed-to-telus-on-october-19th/ which has me completely blown away (I've just been surfing around and it's lightning quick and looks amazing), but also a little befuddled.

I'm trying to figure out exactly how to get started here. There are certain things I need and I figured I could rely on the Android veterans here to help me out. So far I have done nothing aside from attaching my Google account to the phone. I have 6GB of monthly data, so I'm not too worried about usage; presumably that should be enough for anything I need:

1. I need a Blackberry Messenger replacement. I have friends that I almost exclusively speak with on BBM and I need a way to easily chat with them for free. This is first because it is the most important thing. I've already received a couple of whining texts.

2. This device will be my music player replacement; I bought a 32GB SD, so I am planning on using this as my full portable music player replacement. What is a good application to use to manage my music and sync it to the device? No problem paying for a quality application.

4. Podcast catcher (this may relate to the last question). I listen to podcasts every single day and it is imperative I have a decent podcast syncing/playing application. Again, will play for a quality one.

4. An application to sync my work's Microsoft Outlook Calendar with my device. I am lost without my calendar, so having this synced to my device is huge.

Anything else that's important/useful? Any sort of apps or whatever, whether free or not, that are sort of required for Android users?

Thanks everybody! :awe:

KT

 

[zinfamous]

The only thing that I can answer to is trying Amazon music/mp3. People seem to like--though I've barely tried it out.

I'm also curious about podcasts...

One thing you should go ahead and do is find the Amazon app store application--I think you need to grab a free app off of amazon first, then it will direct you to download the app. I couldn't find it in the market on its own.

--free app of the day is awesome. yesterday was the office pro whatever suite--$14.99 app for free! I wonder if something like that could sync your calender? maybe google docs?

have fun and welcome to the sgs2 world! it's a fantastic device.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I'm new to android too. So far I've found that I can get most of my old podcasts on beyondpod. I'm sure there are other options for podcasts as well. I don't do any messaging, and I find the default music player to be adequate for my needs (I still use my iPod nano for music). Can't help you with outlook calendar either.

I would suggest grabbing the amazon app store. They let you download a random paid app for free every day. I've already gotten some pretty sweet apps in the 2 weeks I've had my bionic.

 

[Anubis]

1) you will need to convince all your friends to either use txts or have them all switch to an IM ap of some kind. there is no android equiv to BBM or any ap that will send to it from any platform besides BB AFAIK

2) Power Amp (not free)
you can also use google music to put stuff on the cloud if you want i still have invites

3) beyondpod should work

4) there might be a way to sync outlook with google calender but im not sure

 

[abaez]

You are out of luck on BBM. They need to switch.

Mediamonkey will work to sync and will also do podcasts I think.

There definitely is a way to sync to Google Calendar but I don't recall what it is.

 

[postaled]

Is your work using Exchange for their email/calendar etc?

If they are ask if they allow non company devices to connect using activesync.

I use the stock mail/calendar apps with my phone connected to my works exchange server through activesync.

If not... Yeah there is an application you can install on your work machine to sync your google/outlook calendars. Can't remember the name though.

 

[AstroManLuca]

For podcasts I use Pocket Casts. It's $3 and worth it.

There is no way to use BBM without a BlackBerry. Your friends will have to switch to using regular old text messages, emails, or IM to communicate with you.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah they do not need to be on BBM, I just need an equivalent that we can both use. I know BBM is proprietary, I just need a free chat application that is relatively similar as far the actual feel and usage goes. I guess I phrased that question poorly; I'm looking for a BBM alternative that can work on my phone and on a Blackberry, not BBM for Android.

I will check out BeyondPod and potentially PocketCast.

Work uses Microsoft Office, I just want to sync my calendar to the basic Outlook calendar.

I have no idea whether the cloud or PowerAmp is good for me; how do I determine that?

KT

 

[Anubis]

poweramp is just a more featured ap for playing back music and such, it may do syncing as well, i dont use it but its one of the highest recommended aps out there for music

as for the cloud. (google music) it actually works really well, you can upload up to 20000 songs to it and then stream them to your phone/comp from anywhere. it takes a while to upload depending on your connection and you have to make sure your id3 tags are correct

 

[s44]

GChat (Google Talk). Not only is there a BB app, it runs natively on Android without an extra process.

Kies Air (Samsung PC client) is apparently pretty good about syncing your library over Wifi. I'd just use the native player unless something about it bugs you.

 

[Dulanic]

Gtalk, viber, or whatsapp are nice alternatives for messaging. Both work off phone number too so no id's to remember.

 

[KeithTalent]

poweramp is just a more featured ap for playing back music and such, it may do syncing as well, i dont use it but its one of the highest recommended aps out there for music

as for the cloud. (google music) it actually works really well, you can upload up to 20000 songs to it and then stream them to your phone/comp from anywhere. it takes a while to upload depending on your connection and you have to make sure your id3 tags are correct

Hmm, that sounds kind of cool, I'm going to check out the cloud. :hmm:

Forgot about Gchat, it's been ages since I used it. I'll try that out.

Do I need to use an anti-virus program?

KT

 

[Anubis]

Do I need to use an anti-virus program?

KT

no

but if you root ad free android is worth installing

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bigtincan.android.adfree&hl=en

 

[KH85]

1. I need a Blackberry Messenger replacement. I have friends that I almost exclusively speak with on BBM and I need a way to easily chat with them for free. This is first because it is the most important thing. I've already received a couple of whining texts.

I use an app called WhatsApp to chat to people on BlackBerrys...... works fine :thumbsup:

 

[Binky]

Work uses Microsoft Office, I just want to sync my calendar to the basic Outlook calendar.

Does your work allow remote (phone) access to your email? The best way is to sync via Exchange, and your phone doesnt need anything new to do this. Your IT guys can tell you the settings. If your work is still stuck in 2006 with a blackberry only rule, you may be screwed.

 

[KeithTalent]

Phew, been playing with the phone all weekend and good lord I freaking love it. Pants have been tented all weekend.

Anyway, still need to figure a few things out.

Is there a way to have the screen stay on while plugged in? I usually have my phone plugged in while at work and it would be nice if the screen would stay active while it was plugged in. I saw that it used to be under the Applications setting, but I don't see it there now.

Outlook Sync: I think my work does have exchange as I believe I was using that with my Blackberry. I guess I need to ask the IT guys.

I Googled rooting and it sounds a bit scary, so probably not doing that anytime soon. Not sure I really get the point of it to be honest.

PowerAmp is awesome, I bought it after using the trial for a day and it's fantastic. Thanks for that recommendation!

For podcasts I found Doggcatcher and so far it is working very well. Once the trial is over I will likely purchase this one. It does everything I need it to do and is quick and intuitive. Like it quite a bit.

KT

 

[vshah]

samsung removed the stay awake option from later Galaxy release and the galaxy s2 for some reason. people have been using this app:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.gmail.developer.runks.enji
supposedly It allows you to configure a schedule, so you could have it only stay awake while you're at work automatically.


for calendar, you can try google calendar sync. install it on the PC that has outlook on it. it works pretty well, but it has some issues with appointments that were on the calendar already. works fine for stuff you add in the future/after it is installed.
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955

 

[KeithTalent]

go to settings>applications>development and check the box for "stay awake while charging"

for calendar, you can try google calendar sync
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=89955

Yeah that "stay awake while charging" setting is not there as I mentioned in my post.

Thanks for the Google Calendar sync, I will check that out.

KT

 

[Red Storm]

Yeah that "stay awake while charging" setting is not there as I mentioned in my post.

Thanks for the Google Calendar sync, I will check that out.

KT

It might be in another settings section, like under Display or something.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah I tried that, but I don't see it anywhere. Even looked in the manual.

KT

 

[vshah]

edited my post - try the app i linked. (btw, you can install from the website and it will magically appear on your phone)
hmm, seems that one doesn't have a widget. but a quick search revealed a several that do.

you could probably also set this up using tasker.

 

[KeithTalent]

Oh sweet, thanks man. I'm going to grab that right now.

Yeah I found out this weekend that you can do that from the marketplace, freaking love it. So convenient.

KT

 

[vshah]

Oh sweet, thanks man. I'm going to grab that right now.

Yeah I found out this weekend that you can do that from the marketplace, freaking love it. So convenient.

KT

if you like that, install chrome to phone on your phone, and then on your chrome browser (or "fox to phone" extension if you use firefox)

one click sending of links to your phone. you can also select text on a webpage and send it directly to your phone's clipboard.

 

[KeithTalent]

if you like that, install chrome to phone on your phone, and then on your chrome browser (or "fox to phone" extension if you use firefox)

one click sending of links to your phone. you can also select text on a webpage and send it directly to your phone's clipboard.

That's awesome. Grabbing it now!

I'm totally geeking out with all this stuff, love it. If anyone else has cool things like to use, please post! ^_^

KT

 

[Red Storm]

Awesome Drop

Install on your phone.

Go to the website from any computer (labs.dashwire.com), enter 4 digit code seen there on your phone

You can now start dragging and dropping files from the PC and they are copied over to your phone immediately. Useful in situations like when you're on a PC that doesn't have Dropbox, etc.