New Android Apps thread

smastroyin

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Since more people have them presumably.  And since the other threads are months old and on like page 4.
 
I have a specific app question.  Does anyone know of anything I can use to store/dial conference call codes?  Here's the thing.  I am on a project right now that involves R&D in Massachusetts, Manufacturing in Scotland, Pennsylvania, Contract Manufacturing in Malaysia, and customer in Japan.  This means I have a lot of conference calls during times when I would prefer not to be sitting at my desk (6 AM, 7 PM, etc.)  Our conference call system uses an 800 number and then a 10 digit PIN for each meeting.  We can't assign unique passcodes or anything that you can remember, it's just a 10 digist random string.  I have 5 different meetings every two weeks that I call into.  They each have their own PIN.  I would love it if there was a dialing app that could dial the 800 number and then I could select a PIN and have it dial that.  I'm not the world's most conservative driver, but 10 digits is a lot to read and then punch in so I typically have to pull over to dial in.
 
Any ideas?
 

JerBear

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smastroyin said:
Since more people have them presumably.  And since the other threads are months old and on like page 4.
 
I have a specific app question.  Does anyone know of anything I can use to store/dial conference call codes?  Here's the thing.  I am on a project right now that involves R&D in Massachusetts, Manufacturing in Scotland, Pennsylvania, Contract Manufacturing in Malaysia, and customer in Japan.  This means I have a lot of conference calls during times when I would prefer not to be sitting at my desk (6 AM, 7 PM, etc.)  Our conference call system uses an 800 number and then a 10 digit PIN for each meeting.  We can't assign unique passcodes or anything that you can remember, it's just a 10 digist random string.  I have 5 different meetings every two weeks that I call into.  They each have their own PIN.  I would love it if there was a dialing app that could dial the 800 number and then I could select a PIN and have it dial that.  I'm not the world's most conservative driver, but 10 digits is a lot to read and then punch in so I typically have to pull over to dial in.
 
Any ideas?
How long is the delay between when the system picks up and when it looks for the pin?  If you create a contact for the conference call number then put a series of commas followed by the pin the phone will wait 2 seconds for each comma before dialing the last digits.
 

Hextall

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Mar 5, 2010
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There's a couple of apps that look interesting:
- MobileDay Conferencing
- Conference Caller
 

smastroyin

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You have to dial, wait for the system to pick up, then hash to skip the greeting/menu, then wait for the transfer, then dial the PIN.  But maybe I can tune the commas appropriately.
 
I'll also look at that thread and those apps
 
Thanks all.
 

Nite Vizhun UV

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I want to get either Locale or Tasker, but I can't decide which would be better for me. I like that with Tasker you can have GPS automatically turn on and off when you activate/close GPS-centric apps. I also like that I can have my phone automatically go into silence mode when I enter certain areas, but then GPS would probably have to be activated at all times for this to work, correct?
 
From what I understand, Locale is rather straight-forward and intuitive, making it somewhat simple to use. Tasker is supposedly far more robust but also has a much higher learning curve. 
 
Which is your preference? Have you tried both? Which do you like better? 
 
If it matters, I'm using a GSIII.
 

JerBear

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I've used Tasker before. When I used it you could set it up to turn on GPS every X minutes and check location then turn off again rather than leaving it on all the time.  When I used it it wasn't particularly user friendly but I've heard they've made it easier.  YOu can also set it to go into silent mode based on WiFi network connection, (when I'm connected to "Work" save currnt settings then enter silent mode, when I'm disconnected from "Work" reload saved settings).
 
I haven't used Locale.
 

Hextall

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I'm a big tasker user... but you're right.  There's a higher learning curve than Locale. Much of that learning curve is due to the design of the app (which kind of sucks).  But the developer is redesiging it (I believe the beta version of the redesign is available).
 
You don't need GPS all the time to know where you are.  I set up a profile that uses cell towers to figure out where I am.  The radius of the circle I am in is bigger than using a gps, but if it's accurate to within a few hundred meters at work, then that's fine.  You can also use nearby wifi.
 
Doesn't a GSIII have NFC chip?  You could also use NFC tags (I bought 10 from tagsfordroid.com) and an app called NFC Launcher.  Set up a tag on your desk, tap your phone, and it'll go into the settings you want (silent, wifi on, etc). Then tap it again before you leave, and it'll turn stuff back on/off.  You could set up tags in your car, your home.
 
NFC Launcher also has the ability to use the NFC tags to run tasker tasks. 
 

Monbo Jumbo

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I had Tasker on my phone for a long time without using it due to the learning curve.  Then someone put up some how-to vids on youtube, and now I'm a fan of the app.  As stated upthread, you can use cell towers as location triggers.
 
You can no longer toggle GPS in apps via tasker on later versions of android unless you root - if i recall correctly. 
 

Orange Julia

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I put Tasker on my phone and have yet to figure out how it works. My old phone I was able to set it up so that it stopped making noise except for phone calls from certain people after 9 pm, and then would make noise again after 7 am, but i can't figure out how to do that.
 

Marceline

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I was looking at Tasker and read all the comments about how difficult it was to figure out.  I never ended up trying it but instead got a similar app called Llama.  It's extremely easy to use.  It uses cell towers for location and within about 5 minutes I had set up profiles for home and work settings, and just told it when I was in each location so it could "learn". 

It's free so it's worth trying out if you're looking for that kind of functionality.
 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kebab.Llama&hl=en
 

jayhoz

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Pearl Wilson said:
I'm looking for a drawing/painting app comparable to this.
 
Also wondering if anyone has a favorite stylus model.
If you are going to be using it for painting and such, I would look into the offerings from Adonit.  The tip is a clear disc so that it doesn't cover up the screen when you need to be precise.  They also have a high end ($89) model that is pressure sensitive and allows you to put your palm on the screen without it interfering.  The designer types I work with love them.
 
The only negative I have heard is that the disc is a little bit delicate.  Replacement discs are pretty cheap however.
 

Bosoxen

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Orange Julia said:
I put Tasker on my phone and have yet to figure out how it works. My old phone I was able to set it up so that it stopped making noise except for phone calls from certain people after 9 pm, and then would make noise again after 7 am, but i can't figure out how to do that.
 
I use an app called Quiet Sleep for that.  I have it set to shut off all notifications from 10 pm to 7 am (it also lets you add multiple profiles for weeknights and weekends and such).  You can add people to a White List, which allows phone calls from them to bypass the notification block.  It also has an emergency feature which allows others to bypass the block if they call twice within, say, 10 minutes.  It's really easy to use and has saved my sleeping bacon on several occasions.  I highly recommend it.
 

OttoC

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Bosoxen said:
...It also has an emergency feature which allows others to bypass the block if they call twice within, say, 10 minutes....
I wonder how long it will take junk callers to figure that one out.
 

cgori

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They finally updated The Economist app to work with ICS devices (like the Nexus 7).  Looks very nice and seems to work well.  I see lots of complaints about the audio, but I've never tried to use that part...
 
I almost want to start a new thread for this, but has anyone figured out the best combination of app/physical hardware to do DLNA control/streaming of lots of music? (I want to rip all my CDs/organize all my MP3's and be done with this so that I can actually *listen* to my music).  Sonos Connect might end up being the final answer, but it just seems like a cop-out to me, somehow, when there's this DLNA open standard that should work just fine.  I have a playback device that is a DLNA DMR and DMP, I have a Nexus 7 that I would like to use as a DMC, and I have a NAS from D-link that can be a DMS, but so far all the things I have tried seem very kludge-y.  I've tried a couple apps, but I'm also hesitant to pay for some of the other stuff out there because nothing has been very good so far.
 
If the answer is "get a Mac Mini and run iTunes/jRiver on it 24/7" that's OK too, just have to adjust my plan.
 

glennhoffmania

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I just got a Galaxy tab 2 and when I went to the play store to download my apps some said it isn't compatible with my device. Are there a bunch of apps that won't work on tablets?
 

pmb116

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I just got a Galaxy tab 2 and when I went to the play store to download my apps some said it isn't compatible with my device. Are there a bunch of apps that won't work on tablets?
There are apps the wont work on all devices. Adobe stopped developing flash for Android and it's stock browser so that msybe one issue you are running into. Another could be the difference in screens. Not the size but the type and resolution the app is compatible with. There are many other factors as well. Which apps were you having issues with? Id be happy to suggest alternatives.
 

glennhoffmania

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Tim Naehrings Girl said:
Update the Google Play app.  This happened when I first got mine and once I updated it I never had a problem again.
Thanks, I'll try this and hopefully it fixes the problem.
 
pmb116 said:
There are apps the wont work on all devices. Adobe stopped developing flash for Android and it's stock browser so that msybe one issue you are running into. Another could be the difference in screens. Not the size but the type and resolution the app is compatible with. There are many other factors as well. Which apps were you having issues with? Id be happy to suggest alternatives.
Well flash was one of them.  The biggest pain in the ass so far is Citi and I'm guessing there isn't an alternative if I want access to my bank accounts.
 

Tim Naehrings Girl

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My 3 year old has a death grip on my tablet right now, when he goes to bed I will try to retrace my steps.  I believe I uninstalled and reinstalled it and then it said an update was available. 
 

pmb116

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So how do you update the play store app? I don't see an option to do so.
One way is,if you are currently on ICS, navigate through your app drawer to Settings>Apps>All>Google Play Store. Hit uninstall updates, clear cache, clear data. Exit out. Navigate back to your App drawer, open up Play Store. Now you'll have to sign in like when you first set up. If it doesnt update immediately it will after you download or update an existing app.

Alternatively you can try downloading Citi directly online instead of through the Play Store App.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citi.citimobile
 

glennhoffmania

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Yeah I tried getting Citi online but I got the same message.  Apparently their app just isn't compatible based on other things I've read.  I'm guessing that everything is up to date and I assumed it's on Jellybean but I could be wrong.
 

pmb116

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Yeah I tried getting Citi online but I got the same message.  Apparently their app just isn't compatible based on other things I've read.  I'm guessing that everything is up to date and I assumed it's on Jellybean but I could be wrong.
I did see they offered an IPAD app but not one exclusively for android tabs. I would advise you to keep looking for updates as im sure a JB compatible app is coming in the future. You could also email the developer concerning your issue. Surprisingly they are pretty responsive. Good luck!


Edit: try downloading the Kindle App that should work heres a link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9yk9mq1r7asy2e6/com.mobility.citi-1.apk

Just navigate using a file explorer to your SD card then Downloads. Select the .apk and then install. Make sure you have the option checked to download/install from unknown sources in your settings first
 

glennhoffmania

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What do people do about the lack of flash on Android tablets? I'm using Chrome and I haven't been able to figure out how to watch videos.

And thanks, pmb.
 

Cellar-Door

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glennhoffmania said:
What do people do about the lack of flash on Android tablets? I'm using Chrome and I haven't been able to figure out how to watch videos.

And thanks, pmb.
 
What kind of Videos? Online in browser? If so try Dolphin as your browser, it works with flash on most versions of android.
 

glennhoffmania

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Yeah like imbedded clips on SoSH don't show up.  So there's no way to keep using Chrome and be able to see videos?
 

Couperin47

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Google Flash 11.1.115.48., download and install the Android apk, last version created for Android by Adobe, it works perfectly under Ice Cream and Jelly Bean. I run it under Firefox Android with no issues. It will also work with most other browsers but NOT Chrome.
 

Fratboy

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What keyboard is everybody using these days? I use Swype Beta, but it doesn't seem to play well with Jelly Bean on RAZR MAXX. The auto space function doesn't seem to work anymore in some instances, and that's annoying.
 

Dollar

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I've been using Touchpal Keyboard for a long time now on my SIII and I love it.  Not sure how it compares to Swype because I haven't used that in over a year, but I'm very happy with Touchpal.
 

OrlandoMerced

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I've also been mostly using swype beta recently. It seems fine on jelly bean in terms of functioning as before the upgrade, but more and more I'm getting shocked at how hard it is to find some relatively frequently used characters (*,%, among others) that take some hunting three or four keystrokes away. I'm thinking of switching back to swiftkey for a while. I haven't used it in a while and can't recall what made me switch away from it. I guess there is one way to find out. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure you'll all be on the edges of your seats...
 

Foulkey Reese

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Fratboy said:
What keyboard is everybody using these days? I use Swype Beta, but it doesn't seem to play well with Jelly Bean on RAZR MAXX. The auto space function doesn't seem to work anymore in some instances, and that's annoying.
To me, Swiftkey is the undisputed champ. I find it much smoother than Swype.
 

Orange Julia

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Fratboy said:
What keyboard is everybody using these days? I use Swype Beta, but it doesn't seem to play well with Jelly Bean on RAZR MAXX. The auto space function doesn't seem to work anymore in some instances, and that's annoying.
i've been using Swiftkey which now has the "flow" built into the regular app. I love it.
 

saintnick912

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The % character on Swype is really annoying.  Otherwise I'm really happy with it.  The HTC Jellybean keyboard is an embarrassment by comparison.  I have Swiftkey on the Nexus 10 for the split function but it's pretty slow for me.
 

TallerThanPedroia

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When I upgraded my phone I couldn't get SwiftKey to install for a while, so I went back to Swype until the issue was resolved. It really reinforced how much better SwiftKey is for me.
 

johnmd20

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Nite Vizhun UV said:
swiftkey all the way. Awesome keyboard. The predictive text is creepy good.
 
Holy cow, just downloaded it and it is utterly amazing. Thanks to all for the suggestion.
 

zenter

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I've been a Swype guy for 3 years, and haven't used a recent SwiftKey (didn't like it about a year ago). I'm giving it a go again based on all this praise. Thanks, all.
 
This weekend, a friend pointed me to a useful app if you're not into having icon farms or folders - SwipePad - which creates a hotzone where you can have your most frequent apps show up. NB: it's not a launcher, but a launcher overlay. So far, it allows me to not depend on folders or an app drawer.
 

Marbleheader

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Swiftkey is good but the autocorrect pisses me off at times to the point I have turned it off at times.
 

Fratboy

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Right, zenter. I didn't like SwiftKey because it lacked the swiping functionality, but Flow is pretty damn slick.
 
But that's not the money detail for me. You know what is? You can make the keyboard smaller. My biggest beef has been that keyboards are too big. I use the smallest setting so I have the most screen real estate available. And I love it.
 
Some other things will take getting used to. The suggestion/correction functionality is far superior in Swype, since it goes by trace patterns rather than word meaning, but all in all, I'm pleased with my experience.
 

zenter

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Fratboy said:
Right, zenter. I didn't like SwiftKey because it lacked the swiping functionality, but Flow is pretty damn slick.
 
But that's not the money detail for me. You know what is? You can make the keyboard smaller. My biggest beef has been that keyboards are too big. I use the smallest setting so I have the most screen real estate available. And I love it.
 
Some other things will take getting used to. The suggestion/correction functionality is far superior in Swype, since it goes by trace patterns rather than word meaning, but all in all, I'm pleased with my experience.
 
Yeah, one day in and I'm a little annoyed at the prediction. Hopefully it's a habituation thing. Flow is nice and snappier than Swype, though. My screen ain't big enough (4.27") for the smaller keyboard, but I do appreciate that. I used that feature on my HP Touchpad :)
 
Two things I miss from Swype: 1) I had come to depend on is having common punctuation like "?" and "!" as a long-press under letters. I mean, who uses "/" or "_" or "$" more than end of sentence punctuation? Hiding them with the period (and needing to hold, then drag to the right punctuation) makes less sense than having them separate to me. 2) When the word is incorrectly predicted at the end of a trace, a single backspace will delete the whole word in Swype - that sped my typing considerably, and would be especially useful given SwiftKey's worse prediction.
 

jayhoz

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zenter said:
Yeah, one day in and I'm a little annoyed at the prediction. Hopefully it's a habituation thing. Flow is nice and snappier than Swype, though. My screen ain't big enough (4.27") for the smaller keyboard, but I do appreciate that. I used that feature on my HP Touchpad :)
 
Two things I miss from Swype: 1) I had come to depend on is having common punctuation like "?" and "!" as a long-press under letters. I mean, who uses "/" or "_" or "$" more than end of sentence punctuation? Hiding them with the period (and needing to hold, then drag to the right punctuation) makes less sense than having them separate to me. 2) When the word is incorrectly predicted at the end of a trace, a single backspace will delete the whole word in Swype - that sped my typing considerably, and would be especially useful given SwiftKey's worse prediction.
 
Agreed on the bold.  Very annoying that you have to backspace through the entire word.
 

Turrable

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zenter said:
Two things I miss from Swype: 1) I had come to depend on is having common punctuation like "?" and "!" as a long-press under letters. I mean, who uses "/" or "_" or "$" more than end of sentence punctuation? Hiding them with the period (and needing to hold, then drag to the right punctuation) makes less sense than having them separate to me.
 
You don't need to hold then drag; just swipe right from the period button for a question mark, left for exclamation and down for a period.
 

Nite Vizhun UV

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Just press and hold the backspace for an extra second and it will delete the whole word on swiftkey. Don't hold it too long because it will continue on to the next word too. Also, the voice recognition texting with swiftkey works well too. Press and hold the comma key to start it. It understands punctuation commands too.