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How to restart an Android device?
Is there a way to restart an Android device? Now I have to shut it down and manually turn it on again, but I'm looking for a solution where the whole process happens automatically.
This might be device specific, mine is Samsung Galaxy S.

Good question, my galaxy s doesn't have a menu option for that and I couldn't find an application to do that.

A quick way for any phone is remove the battery cover and remove the battery. I have noticed that works on any phone.

@abhi: How is that quicker or more convenient than just turning the thing off and back on again?

@AlEverett my phone gets stuck sometimes and no matter how long I press the power button, nothing happens. So I slide open the cover, remove the battery and pop it back in.

The menu you get when you press the power button should give you a list of options including Shutdown, Restart etc. If it doesn't, your phone's manufacturer might have left it out of the ROM.

Ok. So it seems that it's left out from Galaxy S :(

I can confirm that. On my Galaxy S I have: Silent Mode, Flight Mode and Power Off.

I don't know that any manufacturers included "Restart" in the menu when pressing the power button. I've only heard of that in custom ROMs.

@AlEverett I've always had 'Reboot' in my HTC Hero ROM. The only difference that CM made, for me, was that when I chose Restart, I could choose between 'Reboot', 'Recovery' and 'Bootloader'. It could depend on manufacturer, model or (in the US) carrier.

Is the "shutdown key" the same as the power button?  Pressing and holding the power button (for ~2 seconds, with my FairPhone) should bring up the Shutdown/Restart/... menu.

I'd also like to know what "the shutdown key" is.  I wonder if @Tobias resolved this after commenting?

Use the app Quick Boot to restart your device (a rooted device).
Answer seems to be given partially here:
I've rooted my phone.  Now what?  What do I gain from rooting?
Use the app Quick Boot to restart your device. Start the Quick boot app and choose 'Reboot' and there you go.

In case it's not clear, Quick Boot requires root.

Press (volume up + Power) at the same time. It will reboot the phone. Tested on Galaxy S Captivate.

The volume up + power option also works for the Samsung Galaxy S. You have to hold for about 10 seconds before restart, but it works.

Works also on my SGS! But it puts the ringer volume to maximum too and that seems to stay at maximum after the reboot :)

The correct way to reboot in Samsung Galaxy S is to hold home button and power button pressed until the phone reboots.

Actually, for the Samsung Galaxy S 4G just hold the power button for ten seconds and it will restart.

Does it restart normally or just force shutdown?

@roxan it's a forced shutdown that doesn't go through any of the normal shutdown tasks, effectively the same as just pulling the battery out while its running.

So I assume this is not correct answer. Forced shutdown under normal condition can corrupt data.

huh... that's weird... it doesn't force shutdown on mine... its about the equivalent of telling it from the adb commandline to reboot... the only other way I've seen to reboot it is to root the phone and download an app that reboots it and I'd rather not void my warranty by rooting. Because all the methods listed above do about the same thing as pressing the power off button and holding it...

just found out with my galaxy y. hold Home button first, then hold Power button. just continue holding these buttons for a few seconds and the phone will restart itself. :D

This works with Samsung Galaxy S as well, at least with Gingerbread.

There's a way no one has mentioned yet (for rooted devices):
Use a shell application ConnectBot or SL4A and type:
$ su
# reboot

It will reboot instantly. With SL4A you can create a .sh script and add a shortcut to your home, something like su -c "reboot" would do the job, but I'm not sure.

@jadkik94, what you say is kind of true, it is true that you need root to use the reboot command INSIDE adb shell. Although! You can use "adb reboot" without needing root ;) this is a small trick that you have to know
same counts for
adb reboot recovery
adb reboot download
adb reboot bootloader

So no root is needed to restart the device (when you have your pc with you)
If you run windows you could also use my little tool called Android Reboot

Instructions:

Put your phone on debugging mode: Settings > Applications > Development (GB)
Put your phone on debugging mode: Settings > Developer Options (ICS and UP)
Connect your phone with the usb cable to the computer
Choose one of the options

Download:
http://broodplank.net/files/AndroidReboot_v1.1.rar

For my FairPhone (first edition, FP1, Android 4.2.2), it's pressing and holding the power button for about 2 seconds. This brings up a little menu which offers to switch off, restart (both after an additional prompt), or toggle flight mode.
I suppose this is a common Android feature (because it is described in a beginners's guide to Android smartphones I bought), and thus should at least work for all Nexus devices as well.


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Websites that focus on widgets
I see a lot of sites that focus on apps, but where are the sites that focus on widgets?
For example, I'm trying to find an agenda widget that doesn't hurt my eyes, but it's really hard trying to sort out everything from a Google search. A widget gallery type of site would be nice.

Questions asking us to find or recommend an app, device, ROM, accessory or off-site resource are off-topic for Android Enthusiasts as they tend to attract opinionated answers and spam and become obsolete quickly. Instead, describe your situation and the specific problem you're trying to solve.

Maybe not entirely what you're asking for, but have you tried using AppBrain? It usually does the trick for me in finding any sort of app, widgets included. The screenshots are helpful.
To the secondary (not quite asked) question, I find Android Agenda Widget to be very easy on the eyes and highly themeable.

You might try My Color Screen. It's a customization site, so it focuses on launchers, themes, and widgets. Because of that focus, you might find it's too much about the appearance of the widget instead of the functionality, but it might be just what you're looking for.

source: Stack Exchange

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/

sort: votes


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How to get the stock music player to play WMA files?
I'm using android 2.2 on a stock Nexus one (from the pre-developer phone stage). Should the music player be able to cope with WMAs? I'm sure I've seen references to it coping with them, but they are currently just dead weight on the SD card.
I actually quite like the stock player so installing a new player is the fallback option.

Having been reminded I asked this question, I did a bit of digging and it seems that this is a feature of the nexus one and really something I should have known (or found quicker than I did).
Spec is at: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_google_nexus_one-3069.php
Includes the line: - MP3/eAAC+/WAV music player
...which notedly excludes wma.
As others have suggested, this is nexus one specific and will require extra software to solve.

The stock music player on my EVO plays .wma tracks, but it does not read any of the meta data (track number, artist etc.)
I have tried several music apps and none of them correctly read this meta data.  Music Player Pro is vastly superior to any of the others and is well worth the cost.

Thanks. Guessing the phone is lacking the right drivers. Really don't want to have to re-rip all my CDs. If you don't mind will leave question open.

I used to have WMA support when I first got my HTC Desire Z, and from the looks of things on the net, HTC Sense provides (/provided?) WMA support itself - explaining the lack of love for the format on the Nexus One. I have since rooted and lost this on Cyanogenmod, first with the system failing to read Artist tags but still playing in the stock player, and now failing to play at all.
I would suggest PowerAmp as a temporary workaround as this does recognise WMAs and is, generally, quite a good player. I didn't fancy paying after the free trial, however, so have started re-ripping my music into MP3 format.
The Android library will not index WMA files, but any app that builds its own library of tracks should suffice (Museek used to, before becoming JukeFox).

I had the same problem as well with the stock music player.  I tried this one instead -->
http://www.mixzing.com/  and it resolved my issue.

Mixzing may fix the tag problem, but unfortunately it relies on built in codevs so it can't play wmas on the Nexus one.

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/


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Skinning the Android emulator
I need to have mobile skins for the Android emulator, specifically for testing apps, for which I have referred this site: http://teavuihuang.com/android/.
I would like to have HTC 4G EVO skin. Where can I get one?

you don't need an official "skin". You just need to figure out what screen dimensions and memory capacity the device you want to test has and create a deployment target file.

i want to test application for HTC EVO then how can i make test for that model ?

@Paresh according to the published specs, the Evo has a 4.3 inch screen with 480 x 800 pixels resolution, 512 MB RAM and 1 GB ROM.


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Different notification sounds for sms and email?
Is there a way to use different sounds for a sms text alert and an email alert? I can't find the setting. I'm on HTC Hero, Android 2.1

You can customize the Notification settings for both Gmail and Messaging in each of the apps separately.
In Gmail press menu and go to More->Settings and look at the Notification settings section.
In Messaging press menu then Settings and look at the Notification settings section.

Sorry for the lack of description, I'm using Exchange and Handcent SMS. I'll check Handcent a little deeper

It's important to understand the differences between a platform like Android and the traditional "dumb phone" platform.
With Android, very few applications are "special".  By special I mean the OS is aware of them and treats them differently.  In Android, an application actually has to manage notifications themselves, there's no way for the OS to somehow figure it out and expose a setting for it.  Notification sound customization has to be exposed by the individual application developer, not through Android itself.  When an application creates a status bar notification, by default Android will play the sound that you set in the default Notification setting.  But the application can explicitly provide a different sound to play.  The application would have to manage that themselves (it would be nice if Android allowed apps to register for custom notifications and then it could provide a central location for all of them, but I'm not aware of a facility for doing this).
If a particular application doesn't provide support, contact them and ask them to add it.  Take away a star or two from your rating in the marketplace and explain why you did so.  Many developers actually listen.
Compare that to the traditional "dumb phone" platform where everything is tightly coupled and controlled.  The OS can easily expose settings for individual "apps" because they're baked in and don't really change.

But, sadly, Skype does not allow one to customize their notification sound.
Does anyone know how to customize the notification vibration ?

I use SMS Popup to manage notifications for text messages, and leave the email notifications to be handled by the default notification settings. This allows me to set custom sounds, vibrations and LED flashes (hardware allowing) for SMS text messages that separate them from emails and other notifications.

Sorry for the lack of description, I'm using Exchange and Handcent SMS. I'll check Handcent a little deeper

In the messaging app, click menu button, Settings, scroll to the bottom and click Select ringtone.

See below how to change your email notification sound, or how to disable it. My android is 2.3.5, gmail is 2.3.6.
You open the gmail app, menu > more > settings, tap in the account; in the very bottom there's an option "Labels to notify". In my case I have "Inbox", which I'm assuming is default; when you click on it, you have a few options:

"Email notifications" - notifies in the status bar
Ringtone - this is what you're looking for, you can set any ringtone or silent
Vibrate - well, it vibrates ;)


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Complete Dropbox implementation for Android
I'm looking for a method to retrieve all my files from my Dropbox account and download them to my SD card.
This should download everything with no user intervention. There are a couple of Dropbox applications around but none of them have the ability to download everything and even worse most seem to work incorrectly on huge files skipping the last part or simply not working.

Closest thing I've found is an app that will sync any folder on the SD card to Dropbox. https://www.dropbox.com/apps/1836/sync-folder-with-dropbox

maybe realsync does this? i use realsync pro to sync photos to dropbox, it works good for this purpose.

Another app is now available to be a more complete solution: Titanium Media Sync

The reliable and battery-friendly way of syncing your files to/from the cloud !
This unique app allows you to sync a set of folders from your Android device to the cloud and back. It currently supports the free Dropbox storage service. The official Dropbox app is not needed.
Innovative "setup & forget" sync engine with these features:

Battery friendly.
Works on ALL Android devices.
Will NOT slow down your device when no data changes.
Will backup your new/modified files (eg: photos, videos) in the background, as soon as possible.
Adapts to ever-changing connectivity and power conditions.

Supports 2 different sync modes (both are one-way):

Continuous sync from Local to Remote.
One-shot sync from Remote to Local.

And from Lifehacker's review:

If you've been unhappy with the way Dropbox's mobile app only uploads files manually, you'll want to check out Titanium Media Sync, which will constantly sync folders from your phone to Dropbox, just like Dropbox does on the desktop.
From the makers of the amazing Titanium Backup, Titanium Media Sync is what Dropbox's mobile app should have been. You pick folders from your SD card to sync back to your Dropbox. Any time you add something to those folders—say, if you take a picture on your phone, or download an app you want to try out on your computer later on—it will automatically sync those changes back, so your files will be waiting for you when you get back to your computer. You can also sync folders from your Dropbox to your SD card, but it's only a one-time sync—Titanium won't monitor your remote folders, only the ones on your SD card.
The interface is pretty easy to use, too. The left column shows all the folders on your SD card, while the column on the right shows your Dropbox, and you can just drag and drop folders from one to the other to sync them. Dragging from the the right column will download that folder to your SD card, while dragging from left to right will give you the option of setting up that folder for automatic sync. Because it only syncs one way, it won't constantly call the internet slow down your phone when it's waiting for changes. You can even set whether you want it to sync over Wi-Fi only, or over 3G and 4G in the preferences. By default, it will also sync only when your phone's plugged in to save battery (but you can change this in the preferences too). Seriously, if you're a Dropbox user, this app is absolutely worth having—even moreso than the official Dropbox app itself.
Titanium Media Sync is a $2.99 download for Android devices.

This seems to be the one answer I was looking for. Too bad it costs money.

It's 3 dollars for a great product :)
Sometimes we have to support our developers :)

The app has 3-stars.

Titanium Media Sync offers continuous sync from SD Card to DropBox, but not the other way... the way I do it is setup rsync jobs with tasker and rsyncbackup... (requires your DropBox to be automatically kept in sync on a desktop pc somewhere, running an ssh server). The following should get you up and running:
Step 1: DropBox remote.
First, setup DropBox on a computer somewhere running an ssh server, so you can copy files from it over ssh (with rsync), and make sure it’s setup with private key encryption with an agent so you don’t need to enter passphrases/passwords every time
Step 2: RSync from remote to phone
Then, get rsync4android (market link)
That lets you setup rsync jobs from a remote server to your phone (and vice versa… I use it for this, but also for backing up my photos to my PC automatically every night)
Then create an rsync job to download a particular folder from your remote DropBox on your PC into the DropBox folder on your sd card.
Step 3: scheduled automatic rsync jobs
Get tasker (which lets you schedule jobs to happen on a large number of triggers, including time) (market link)
Create a tasker job to fire off your new rsync job to keep your dropbox folder up to date.
Step 4: Enjoy
Like I say, it’s a bit around the houses, but seems to do the job
I've also posted a copy of these instructions on my blog.

If you are not totally tied to Dropbox, I think SugarSync and their Android app might do what you are looking for.
If it has to be Dropbox, I would say that you should post the feature request to them.
Or, if you are really desperate, fund a developer willing to write an app to do it using the Dropbox API. It would actually be fairly straight forward.
Good luck.

Dropsync also works, it syncs any folder on your sd card (including /sdcard/ ) with any dropbox folder (including the main dropbox folder), so it's possible use it like the desktop client, i.e. to have a directory called /sdcard/dropbox/ which contains your entire dropbox, but it's really much more flexible than that :)

Use FolderSync (Free lite version is also available with some limitations). It has many sync options: Two-way sync, One-way sync (up or down).

This very informative & comprehensive article written for Freeware Genius on September 4th 2012 entitled "How to automatically sync your PC folders with your Android" by Samer Kurdi
http://www.freewaregenius.com/how-to-automatically-sync-your-pc-folders-with-your-android/
This post will describe how you can set this up so it happens automatically without your intervention based on certain rules (for example sync every night, only when connected to WIFI). If you’re thinking ‘Dropbox’ then you’re partially correct: you will use Dropbox for this, in conjunction with 2 other free programs that make it possible to (a) sync a PC folder without moving it into the Dropbox folder, and (b) to schedule folder syncs on your Android so they take place automatically.

The official Android Dropbox app is your best bet. If they don't offer support for what you want, you should request that they add a feature.

I'm looking for a feature thats not in the official client. A mobile client that does complete syncing.

Request the feature.

I'm not trying to be dick but what kind of answer is this?  It's pretty obvious from reading the question that the asker has looked into the official Dropbox app and it didn't suit his/her needs.  That's why they asked the question.  Suggesting they request the feature is a good idea, but it's not an answer. Unless you've tried every other Dropbox app and Dropbox compatible app and can say with authority that the functionality they are looking for does not exist, I see no value in an answer like this.  If you have in fact done this, you should say so in your answer.

I can say that I've tried all other apps I'm aware of that integrate with Dropbox, and the official app is the best. There aren't any apps that offer this functionality yet. I don't think suggesting a feature request is being rude or inappropriate in any way. Its the best answer at this point in time.

Fair enough. I wasn't implying your answer was rude or inappropriate.  I was just expressing frustration with an answer that I felt didn't really answer the question. Given that no 1 has offered in the better answer it's safe to say I may have been too quick to judge. That comment was so long ago, back when we were all so young and brash.  Things were so different back then... last week ;)


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Using LauncherPro lost usb connection notification
In HTC Sense you get a little widget that indicates that you have USB connectivity to a computer and lets you change the mode (charge/storage/etc) is there a similar tool that is not part of HTC Sense which can run in LauncherPro?

If you mean that thingy in the notification bar that upon touching let's you chose your desired mode -- that's still there with Launcher Pro as it has nothing to do with Sense and Launcher Pro has nothing to do with your notification area (unless of course you decide to disable it)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/


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Does juice defender randomly drop your data connection?
Does it drop your data connection? I have experienced that since I installed it a week ago. Sometimes it will randomly choose to drop your data connection.

Please rephrase in the form of a question, like "Does 'Juice Defender' ever drop your data connection?"

If its dropping your data connection, why haven't you uninstalled it already?
Seriously, there are things you can do with stock applications to improve your battery life, like turning off wifi, gps, data connection manually, all of which can be down easily with the Power Control widget.
Also, I noticed that there's a beta version of the app that is noted as being frequently unstable. Is this the version you're using? If so, buyer beware.

I think it's more likely that he is using some kind of default defender setting which drops data at some point to save battery. But yes, people should not be using apps they don't understand.


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Why isn't gmail listed as a recent app when I long-press the Home button?
This would be helpful at times... I usually just end up pressing home and selecting the gmail widget from there but I've gotten used to long-pressing home to get to recent apps.
Could it be due to the fact that I get to email using the widget? Does it work with the native email client or other email apps?
Thanks in advance...

The recent app list is the recently 'started' app list. Aka you clicked their start icon to start them. The recent app list is not the recently opened application list wich would have been much easier to work with.

If you haven't opened the application in a while, it will naturally disappear from the list of recent apps.  Try opening it with the widget and then going back to the home screen.  If gmail is once again under you list of recent apps, you just haven't opened it in a while.  If it doesn't appear at all, then the widget you are using doesn't add gmail as a recent app.

Right, I wasn't seeing it even when Gmail was opened recently. It turns out it was due to the Gmail Unread Count Widget... if I go to gmail using the ordinary app, I see it in my recent app list.

You have to actually open the app from the launcher icon to get it to show up in your recent apps.  Another case of it not showing up is when you access it via the notification bar when you click on your email notifications.


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Looking for a Text Editor that doesn't truncate a file prematurely
I'm trying to find a decent text editor.  I've tried the following apps (in order of preference): TxtPad Lite, Scribtor Notes, AmbleLink Notepad
All of them truncate the text file at 9025 bytes.  The file is fully there, I've verified it with cat from within Terminal Emulator.  Is it a limitation of whatever common text display widget they use or something?  It's really annoying...
EDIT: After trying AK Notepad I got to thinking that maybe it was something with the text files themselves (this is happening on multiple files).  Each paragraph of text was a single line and each file had Unix-style line endings (line feeds).  I first changed it so that each paragraph was formatted with LFs in all the right places; each text editor displayed exactly 1 more character than previous, in terms of the text (it was many more characters in terms of bytes, though, given all of the added LFs.  Next I tried converting from LF to CR/LF (DOS-style endings).  Now I got a dozen more characters of text (which was, again, many more bytes) but they all end at exactly the same spot.  I'm really at a loss to explain it.
EDIT: I found and tried Amoeba and it has no problem with the file; it displays the original file (and the other versions) with no problems.  But the interface is not that great (in particular, scrolling is exceptionally tedious).  Any ideas out there?

What phone are you trying this on?

Galaxy-S (Vibrant, if it matters)

Check out "Need To Write" in the Market! I just wrote this app so i'm shamelessly advertising it everywhere. I was facing the same problems, so I made it to have no file size limit other than your sdcard size. NTW lets you display and edit files small chunks of the file at a time.

Be mindful of the FAQ: "May I promote products I am affiliated with here?"

I've downloaded the app but...how do I open an existing file with it?  Maybe I need some coffee...

Looks like you can open up existing files via a file manager like Astro.  And it does work, so...checkered flag for you!

Try AK Notepad.  I'm not sure what the upper limit is, but I know I was able to create a 30kb file in there no problem.

How bizarre -- I'm having the same issue as before, truncating at exactly the same place.


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Why can't I change the Google Calendar on an event after it's been sync'd?
Galaxy-S (Vibrant), Android 2.1
If I create an event with the stock Calendar app, I can freely change which Google Calendar the event is associated with.  Once it sync's with Google Calendar, however, I can no longer change which Calendar the event is associated with.  I can do change any other aspect of the event, and even delete the event, but I can't move it to a different calendar.  I can change the calendar from the Google Calendar web page, though.
Thanks!

I don't know why, but I can tell you I can't do it on my Moto Droid either.  I believe it is a limitation of the Stock Calendar app and not specific to the Galaxy S.

This is probably because of how the Google Calendar server API interacts with client applications.
An update request has to be sent to a specific calendar on the server.  If you could change which calendar the appointment is tied to, synchronization would have to send a "delete" from one calendar and an "add" to the other.
I've developed and maintained a number of systems which have synchronization and replication... and I suspect that a decision as made to favor simplicity and avoid the possible complexities of cross-calendar edits.

Correct me if I'm wrong but you are just restating the problem that the question is asking about instead of answering the question. Here's the way I read it... Q: why can't I change the cal? Your A: you can't.  BCooksey, am I missing something here? If I am I apologize but please clarify for my sake.

My wording could be better.  I was trying to distinguish that there is no edit option when looking at event details, but there IS an edit option in tap and hold from the event list.  On re-reading the question, it also appears that even with clarification, what I addressed isn't what was  asked!

I've re-written my response to address the question being asked. It took a little digging into the Calendar app source and the Google Calendar API.

You can do this with some third party calendars.  Business Calendar from Appgenix lets me.   I am not affiliated or compensated in any way.


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Is there an app that will vocalize (text to speech) a message (SMS)?
When I'm driving with a headset active (Bluetooth or wired), I want my Android to read me any incoming text messages.
Any references?

Doesn't the built-in text-to-speech feature do that? (You'll need to turn on accessibility)

This is exactly why we don't like "is there an app that does X" questions. Look at all the not-helpful one-line-with-a-link answers this question has attracted.

There are a number of apps that will do this.  DriveSafe.ly is what I use right now, but haven't really had the opportunity to thoroughly test their TTS engine.  It can also be set up to start whenever bluetooth is paired, or if you put it in a car dock.
I did try another one out a few months ago, but can't remember the name right now.  A search through the app market (or your favourite online app site) may reveal some more.

SayMyName Dessert will read SMS text.  When bluetooth is attached, it still uses the speaker or wired output, though.

SMS Speak does text to speech for your SMS messages. It has support for routing audio thru a connected bluetooth too. You can install different speech synthesis engines from the software libraries on the marketplace as well.

Handcent SMS has a "speak text" feature.

StartTalking seems like an app to check out. It will let you listen to incoming text messages and even replay to them. It doesn't require any Bluetooth devices (but I think it will work with one), and it's true hands free - meaning you don't have to press any button to use it, both for listening to it and replaying, it's fully voice activated. Oh and the TTS sounds surprisingly good.

The following is another resource for such apps:
http://eyes-free.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/documentation/android_access/apps.html#ps
At least one of the 5 listed (Handcent SMS) is SMS-specific.

Announcify - currently in beta.
It's the successor of, the already mentioned above, SayMyName Dessert.

There is an app called Smart Receiver, it speaks SMS and incoming call details very well. I use it, it is very nice.

Enhanced SMS & Caller ID will vocalize text messages and allow you to reply using your voice.

Check out Blue Control on the Marketplace. Routes sms messages to your BT headset.

"Assistant" for Android is free and it reads incoming text messages aloud, and it will let you dictate a response. It does many of the other things that "Google Now" does, only not as well.

It would be useful if you could provide a link to the app you're recommending.

By far the best hands free app out there (and believe me, I've tried all of them) is Speak Drive Text by SpeakEazy. So many options, just a great app.

I know this is an old thread but here is some links to a good 100% hands free SMS for Android.
Speak and Hear SMS
in Google Play:
Speak and Hear SMS


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Using Jorte, how can I see which Google Calendar an event is associated with?
Galax-S (Vibrant), Android 2.1, Jorte 1.2.5
I'm using Jorte (a replacement calendar app).  How do I see which Google Calendar a specific event is associated with?  Note that this is while viewing an existing event, not creating a new event.  When creating a new event I see the Calendar selection combo box just fine.  Thanks!

With the default Calendar app, when viewing an event the individual calendar is listed right at the top. Additionally, each calendar even is color-coded.
If Jorte isn't displaying that to you, it sounds like a shortcoming of the app and something you should petition the developer to fix.

I get the colors, but unless I remember which color is which, I'm SOL.


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How do I change gmail accounts when using the share functionality of an app?
I have 3 gmail accounts coming into my gmail app.  I also frequently use the "Share" feature of many apps (Browser, Gallery, BeyondPod...) to share links via gmail however when it opens up the email compose screen sometimes I am given a dropdown to choose which account to send it from and other times it defaults to the account of the last inbox I checked and doesn't give me an option to change it.
This does not seem to have any rhyme or reason to it. Does anyone know how I can make sure to always have the option to choose which account I'm sending from?

Hello? Anyone else have this problem?

HELLO... HELLO... hello... [/echo]

Is it an issue with a particular app? For the apps that give you a dropdown menu, does it at least consistently provide the dropdown?

Well, it is particularly with the Gmail App.  When ever I choose to share something via gmail from my browswer or gallery or music player... it pops up Gmail, however sometimes it defaults to the last gmail account I used as the "From Address" sometimes it gives me a choice.  No, it doesn't consistently provide a dropdown.

I'm sure this is fixed in the latest Gmail App which you should be able to download from the Market.
(This used to bug the hell out of me - sometimes the drop down would work, other times not, completely at random. Haven't had the issue since the last Gmail App update)

Thanks!  It seems to work now.  I'll have to give it a couple days to make sure it's fixed for good.

@Matt I'm genuinely pleased for you! I use this feature a lot and it really drove me crazy, especially as it was so random :)


text:
How can I customize the list of services that pops up when I choose to "share" something in an app?
Many apps give you the option to "Share" whatever it is you are looking at (or watching or listening to).  This usually manifests in the form of a popup list of services that include: Gmail, Facebook, Twitter...)  The list seems to be the same from app to app.  How can I change what services are listed on this popup screen?  Is there any way to change, add, remove, append this list?
I'm running Android 2.2 on a Moto Droid 1.

One imagines editing the order would be almost as helpful. (Something that modified the order on basis of most recently used would be handy)

I added this Android enhancement request

Cool.  I starred your request.
The idea to allow the list to be sorted is also good.

The items in the list are determined by which installed apps support the ACTION_SEND intent.  Any app that supports that intent will be included in the list.  I don't think there is a way for users to modify the list other than installing/uninstalling applications.

This is kind of infuriating when about half of the apps that pop up for "share" are things I will never want to use.  Hopefully this will be addressed some day, even if only in a custom ROM.

Yep. So I'm u installing those.

I personally use AppChooser Pro for about a year already (there's also a free version to test first if you like it). It's quite similar to Andmade Share which already was recommended with an older answer here, but first looks better (OK, that's quite subjective), but for me also works better, somehow more "intelligent":

AppChooser: List and grid view (source: Google Play; click images for larger variants)
First, it offers a list and a grid view – as above screenshots show. You can switch between both using the appropriate icon on the bottom (in the middle; easy to identify in the screenshots). You can sort the list alphabetically, hide items you never (or rarely) use while still being able to show them “ALL” (appropriate icon again), select multiple targets, and more. By default, the list/grid order is kind of LRU: once you used a target, it will be moved to the top.
I immediately went for the paid version (not even taking a look at the free one), and never regret it. Differences between the two are listed on the Playstore page of the free version.

Unfortunately, this app has been removed from the play store by the developer.

AppChooser Pro doesn't seem to be available on the Play Store either. There's an apk for AppChoose on xda.

You can't change the list, short of removing the apps in question. Speaking as an app developer, I can say it's also hard to do it from that side too - so we're pretty much stuck with how the system works.
It may be annoying, but the system makes interop so easy between applications, both from the user and developer perspectives, that it's hard to complain.

This isn't possible from an OS level. That share menu is populated by Android based on what apps you've installed declare they can open. You can look at the technical details here, but the end result is that without extra coding from each individual app to filter the results, you are always going to get the full list in whatever order Android returns them in.

Fliktu Not free but looks great, simple, customisable and very slick

SharedR does this nicely.
4.0 rating in google store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rejh.sharedr

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Can I turn my Android device into a webcam?
If so, how? Could it be implemented via a USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection?

Specifically for USB: How do I turn my Android into a USB Webcam?

IP Webcam (Turns your phone into a network camera with multiple viewing options.)
(alternate direct link)
EDIT: fixed link

It worked as a regular webcam when used in conjunction with this software http://ip-webcam.appspot.com/

Droidcam is supposed to do it over wifi. Qik is a good option if you don't need a computer in the loop.

Currently Droidcam works only for desktop applications. It won't work for Flash.

http://qik.com/ Record and instantly share videos from your mobile phone, Share live video two-ways from one mobile phone to another

Qik is dead https://blogs.skype.com/2016/02/22/skype-qik-is-moving/

Justin.tv just came out with an Android app to do video streaming.
It uses any data connection you have, but the faster/more reliable the connection the better quality you will get.

While it cannot be used in every way a webcam does, it will cover some of its functions.

justin.tv is now known as twitch.tv

I've had very good performance from Qik. It can also buffer your video, so if your 3G/4G connection is bad, it will upload later when you have a better signal. WiFi is of course also supported, very simple, very quick ;-)

I think Qik is more similar to the share with Youtube Gallery function, than Droidcam


text:
Do keypad commands come from Android or the manufacturer?
I'm curious if keypad commands like those listed below come from the Android OS or if they're added by manufacturers. On my N1, I know of these two commands:
*#*#checkin#*#* - Phones home to check for updates.
*#*#info#*#* - Enters a detailed phone information menu.

There are many that seem to be "standard", but they can also be added by individual applications (e.g. provider-installed).
Check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=540483 for a method to extract telephony codes from your installed apps.

Very nice. Thank you! So the real answer is the codes come from APKs, which will vary by device.

Yup, you got it!

It's android based, I tried same commands on Moto Droid and HTC myTouch, both worked exactly the same.

Did you try the ##1472365## command that Dr.Dredel mentioned?

Yup, doesn't work on myTouch. I don't have the Moto Droid on me so I can't try it. I guess that's not android default??

I entered ##info## on my Captivate and got to the same menu.
So, in the interest of adding to the list
*#*#1472365#*#* gets you to the GPS configuration menu (not sure what word that works out to)

No, *#*#1472365#*#* doesn't work on the Nexus One

So that leads me to think the commands come from the manufacturer? HTC has different commands than Samsung?


text:
Gmail app: How can I view the email addresses?
In the gmail app, how can I view the actual email addresses an email has been sent to, rather than just the name. Sometimes the person in question has more than one email address and it would be useful to see which email address was used.
The only method I've come up with so far is to hit reply all and then scroll around the cc: field, but that is clunky, particularly if there are quite a few recipients. Any better options?
I am using Android 1.5 on a T-Mobile Pulse (aka Huawei U8220).

I can't find a way -- very annoying!

I don't see any other way on my Moto Droid/2.2-Froyo, either.

My Magic 32A with CM6 allows me to view the email address. I think you need the latest GMail app in order to do this.

The latest version of the Gmail app (it has not been released yet, but you can find a copy of a leaked official APK floating around somewhere) has this feature. It adds a "more details" link on every email header so you can see the actual email addresses used.
I'm not sure whether this version will work on 1.5 and up, as Google hasn't said anything yet. I know that part of their work in 2.2 was better separating the Google apps like Gmail from the rest of the platform, so that they could ship updates through the Market. So it's possible that this will only become available for 2.2.

I have Froyo (2.2), and it allows you to double-tap the Sender's line
If the email address is not in the contacts database, it shows you the address and asks you if you want to create an entry
If the address is in the email address, a set of icons appear (mail, text, IM, etc...) The Contacts icon takes you to the user info.
Not sure what happens if Contact has two emails, trying to setup test (will run tomorrow).


text:
How to pause a movie using Video Player (Galaxy S)?
Galaxy-S (Vibrant), Android 2.1
I was watching Avatar the other day and paused it.  When I played it again later, it restarted at the beginning.  Is it possible to resume play from where I left off, or bookmark a position or something?  Or is there a different/better player that does this?  Thanks!

I'd change the main question to tell its for the Galaxy S. The default player should remember where you was as long as you don't close it. I don't have any experience with other players.

My T-Mobile Vibrant (Samsung Galaxy S) just received a OTA update from T959UVJFD to T959UVJI6. It appears that this may have fixed the problem you are describing.  It no longer is a problem for me after this update was installed.  It is also mentioned at the xda-developers site along with other changes that were included in the update.

I am using the default movies and player that came with my Galaxy S (AT*T Captivate) without this error. It may be possible that there was a timeout (how long did you pause for?).
You may also want to try the doubletwist video player to see if it resolves your problem.

I have the same issue with my Samsung Vibrant.  I just started dropping bookmarks before "pausing" and resuming from them.

How do you drop a bookmark?


text:
With the Google Voice app, is it possible to send an SMS to multiple people?
I know from the web interface, you can send messages to up to 10 people. However, I haven't figured out how to send an SMS message to multiple people using the Google Voice Android app. Is it possible? If it is, how?

In the current version you can do this easily — just type in another name/number after the first as you would in the web interface.  A comma appears automatically when you click on a suggestion, and all that good stuff.

This is indeed the case. I was very glad when this feature was finally added.

Like the people who responded said, yes you can, but you will not receive group responses - you get each response as if it was a 1-1 SMS from whoever responds to your original group SMS.
Somewhat defeats the purpose of being able to do this when it can't handle things the other way around.
Also incoming group messages are split the same way, as if it was a 1-1..

It's not possible with the stock Google Voice App.  You will have to download an alternative Google Voice SMS app like the aptly named "Google Voice SMS" to send a message to multiple people.  That app costs $2 but there are free apps available.

This is no longer true. The latest version of GV allows for this.

Yes, you can at this time. After each number, type a comma, then the next number, etc. Google Voice gets improved more often than some of the native apps on the phones.


text:
How do I root my Android device?
This is a common question asked by those who want to root their phones. How exactly do I root my Android device? Are there risks involved?

Starting Jan 2012 we are going to allow one "How to root?" question per device. Just search for [rooting] and your device or refer to the index below. If the question doesn't exist yet, create one and add it to this index.

Does rooting have anything to do with Android version? Do different versions have different rooting methods on the same device?

@hims056 possibly, yes. Because the manufacturer could fix security holes that developers were exploiting in order to root a deviec.

Related: How to manually root a phone?

DISCLAIMER: ROOTING YOUR DEVICE WILL PROBABLY VOID YOUR WARRANTY FROM BOTH THE CARRIER AND THE MANUFACTURER. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT FAULT FOR ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ROOTING, THEN DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. HERE BE DRAGONS.

Questions?
Before rooting, you might have some questions about it.  Fortunately, they've already been answered!  Refer to the handy list below:

What does "to root a phone" mean?
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc.?
Are there any risks to rooting a device?
What do I gain from rooting?
Do all applications run as root on a rooted phone?
See the sidebar to the right for more potentially relevant questions!

How do I do root?
Note there is no known method that will root all devices, nor is there any guarantee that any mentioned program or method will actually work. This is because there are many variables at play and device OEMs have no incentive to make the process easy.
A final caution: Your warranties may be voided, you may screw up your device, and there may also be other adverse effects. If you do not want to risk it, stop now. If you are not confident in what you are doing, please do not deviate from the guides and read carefully.
The easiest way to root your device is via "one click" methods, most of which are developed for more popular devices. Examples include applications (.apk files) you can run on your device, or software you have to run on a PC while connecting the device with USB. Other methods may involve many steps or manual editing of files.
Methods typically vary between models and even between firmware versions of the same model. Check your rooting method is compatible with:

Your device model/brand (e.g. Samsung Note)
Your Android version (e.g. 4.4 KitKat vs 5.1 Lollipop)
Your firmware version (e.g. European vs. USA vs. Verizon telecom provider)
Your hardware version (e.g. 32GB model with antenna vs. 16GB without one)

Rooting Guides Index
These are links to questions on this site that have been asked for specific devices.  If the question for your device hasn't been answered, don't post a duplicate — you can attract attention to the question by offering a bounty on it, sharing the link, posting in our chatroom, etc.
Acer

Iconia A100
Iconia A500
Liquid Mini
Liquid Z630S
Liquid Zest

Amazon

Fire TV
Kindle Fire Version 6.x / 10.x
Kindle Fire 5th gen (aka 2015)
Kindle Fire HD

Archos

Archos 70 Xenon Color (Android 5.1)
Archos 97b Platium HD
101 XS Tablet

Asus

Eee Pad Transformer
Fonepad 8
Fonepad K004 (post deleted (aka ME371MG))
Memo Pad HD 7
Nexus 7
ZenFone 3 Max
ZenFone 5
ZenPad S 8.0
Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

HTC

Amaze
Desire 300 (aka "Zara Mini")
Desire 500
Desire 625
Desire
Desire Bravo
Desire Z
Dream (aka G1)
Evo
Evo 4G
Gratia
Hero
Incredible 2 (Verizon)
Incredible S
Legend
Magic
myTouch 4G Slide
myTouch Q
Nexus ONE
One S
One V
One X
One XL
Salsa
Thunderbolt
Wildfire

Huawei

Ascend Y330
Ascend Y530
G330D U8825D
Mate 8 (aka Ascend Mate8)
Mediapad S7-301U
Nexus 6P
P1 U9202L
PLDT Telpad QS S7-961WD
STREAM X GL07S
U8160 (Vodafone 858)
X3 U8510
Y210

Karbonn

A7 + Smart Tab 7 (possibly same for A5)
Titanium Mach Two S360
Titanium S5

Lenovo

A660
A1000 Smartphone
A7000
S920
Thinkpad

LG

Escape
G2
G3
G4
Motion 4G
MS 330 (aka K7)
MS 690
Nexus 4
Nexus 5
Optimus 2X
Optimus 4X
Optimus L7 II - P713
Optimus L7 II - P715
Optimus L70™ LGMS323
Optimus Logic
Optimus M
Optimus Slider VM701
P500

Micromax

A089 Bolt
A25
A65 Bolt
A87
Canvas A1 AQ4501
Canvas A116 (Canvas HD)
Canvas 2 A110
Canvas 2 Plus A110Q

Motorola

Defy
Defy XT
Droid 3
Droid Maxx
Droid Razr
Droid Razr M
Droid Razr Maxx HD
Droid X
Droid X2
Fire XT316
Flipside
Moto G
Moto G XT1032/XT1033
Moto G 2014 2nd Gen (XT1063, XT1064, XT1068 and XT106)
Moto X stock Kitkat
Moto X Play

Nook

Nook Color
Nook HD

OnePlus

OnePlus One
OnePlus 3
OnePlus 3T
OnePlus 5

Prestigio

MultiPad PMP3670B
PAP 7500

Samsung

Admire R720 (Also known as Samsung Vitality)
Captivate
Epic Galaxy 4G (SPH-D700)
Fascinate
Galaxy A3 2016 (SM-A310F)
Galaxy A5
Galaxy Ace Plus
Galaxy Ace S5830i
Galaxy Alpha SM-G850A
Galaxy Attain 4G
Galaxy Chat B5330
Galaxy Core i8262
Galaxy Fit
Galaxy Grand Duos
Galaxy Grand Quattro
Galaxy Note 2
Galaxy Note 3
Galaxy Note N7000
Galaxy Player
Galaxy Precedent
Galaxy S
Galaxy S Advance/S II Lite i9070
Galaxy S2 GT-i9100, GT-I9100P, GT-I9100G
Galaxy S2 plus
Galaxy S3 i9300, i9305
Galaxy S3 Duos3
Galaxy S3 Lite (S6790)
Galaxy S3 Mini GT-i8190
Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 (Android 4.4.2) (build XXUBMH1)
Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
Galaxy S4 SCH-I545
Galaxy S4 SGH-I337
Galaxy S4 SGH-M919
Galaxy S5 SM-G900V (Verizon) on Lollipop
Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge / S6 @ Sprint / S6 Edge @ Verizon (S6 Edge is S6 but has curved screen)
Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge (us carriers)
Galaxy SL GT i9003
Galaxy Star Duos S5282
Galaxy Star Pro (S7260)
Galaxy Stellar
Galaxy Tab
Galaxy Tab A (SM-P550)
Galaxy Tab 10.1
Galaxy Tab 3 10.1
Galaxy V
Galaxy Young 2 (SM-G130HN)
Infuse (i997)
Infuse 4G
J5
Nexus S | on Gingerbread
Spica
Xcover3 (SM-G388F)

Sony

Xperia Arc S
Xperia J
Xperia Mini ST15i
Xperia Mini Pro SK17i
Xperia Neo V (MT11i)
Xperia P
Xperia Play
Xperia Pro MK16a/i
Xperia Ray ST18i
Xperia S
Xperia Sola (MT27i)
Xperia SP (C530x)
Xperia Tipo
Xperia Tipo Dual
Xperia T2 Ultra Dual
Xperia T3
Xperia U
Xperia X8
Xperia Z1
Xperia Z2
Xperia Z3

SpreadTrum

SC6830
SP8810 (Wynncom G1)

Xolo

Xolo One
Xolo Q1010i

ZTE

DL 800
Fury
Score
Optik
Origin
Prestige
Zinger (Z667T)

Other

Alcatel OT-997D
Alcatel One Touch Mini Idol 2
Android Emulator
Arnova GBook
Azpen A727
Casio Commando
Celkon A95 Pro
Chinavasion TechPad
Cruz Tablet
Dell Streak 5 / Mini 5
Doogee Voyager2 DG310
Emdoor EM79 c
EPad MX1014
Freelander PX2 tablet
General Mobile e-tab 7b
Gionee P5W
HP Pro Slate 12
Innos A35
Kyocera Echo
Lava Iris 504q
Mpie MP707
Oppo N1
Pandigital Novel
Pantech Crossover P8000
Prizma VSGK845
RealPower MT65515-C910
TCL Idol X (S950)
Teac TC-7120
Teclast tPad
Toshiba AT100
Viewsonic gTablet
Xiaomi Mi A1
Wileyfox Swift
Yarvik tab 411

Methods/Apps

Chainfire's CF-Autoroot (follow link for a list of supported devices). Supports plenty of Samsung devices, plus some Motorolas and the Nexus line
Droid X Recovery Bootstrap (Motorola Droid/Droid2/Droid X, probably Android 2.x only)
Framaroot - One-click rooting and unrooting; supports a number of devices using Qualcomm, MTK, Exynos, Omap and other SOCs (Android 2.x to 4.x)
Gingerbread exploit app - Works on 2.1 and 2.2, as well as early 2.3 releases (hence the name).
Gnex Toolkit - Software for rooting and handling your Galaxy Nexus phone.
Google Nexus 7 Toolkit - Software for rooting and handling your Nexus 7 tablet.
iRoot a One Click Root (see here for supported devices
Kingoapp Root: Pratically roots most androids in 1-click and supports Android 4.1 to 6.0. Even unlocks some bootloaders. Also see Wikipedia.
KingoRoot: Android 6
Kingroot: Easy to use and fast rooting. Works on almost every Android phone.
Magisk: requires custom ROM to be installed. Also see this guide at AndroidPolice.
Ready2root collected a lot of available rooting methods
Root Many Android (ICS/JB devices)
ROOTx supports a selection of devices produced prior to 10/2014
SRSRoot One Click Root for Android (SuperUser) lists supported devices on their page. Download is an .exe file, so it probably requires Windows. Android 4.1 to 6.0 (?)
SuperOneClick
Towelroot should support all phones with a kernel built before June 3, 2014
Universal Androot - Read the page to see what devices are supported.  Mostly pre-2.2.1 versions of Android
Universal One Click - Make sure your device is support by reading the whole first post (probably not, last release was 10/2010 – so most likely 2.x devices only)
Unrevoked: some older HTC devices only
vRoot: Android 2.2 to 4.2
XDA Developers: The biggest resource for rooting, mods, etc.
Also check out the CyanogenMod wiki for other ways to root your device.

Here is a guide on how to root Android without a computer, naming each of the apps listed above and in-depth guides on how to use them.

I've rooted my device. Now what?

We have another question about that!
If you have another method or know how to root a device that's not listed, feel free to add it to the list!  Just follow the same format.

Feel free to edit the wiki if you see improvements that can be made instead of down voting :)


text:
Why my photos end up half dark?
Sometimes my motorola milestone camera goes crazy and starts out to take photos half dark.
I noticed that it only happens when flash is on. Also, I've seem this happening when the battery is low (~20%), or the system is slow.
As an example, this is a photo I took minutes ago: http://twitpic.com/2q65bs

I've never seen that before....  the flash isn't being blocked by anything (like one of your fingers), is it?

nope, the problem seems to be intermittent; I took a lot of "normal" photos before, then some of them started to be half dark, others totally dark, and some looked normal.

@OtherMichael done! I didn't notice I was allowed to answer my own question :)

Sometimes you ask a question you're already researched, and know the answer, and you're putting it in here for the good of humanity. However, I'd leave the question open for a day or two before accepting in those circumstances -- in case a better answer comes along.

Definitely it is related to low battery, I tried a couple of more tests and if the battery is < 20% this always happens.

Take it back to wherever you bought it and demand a refund.  Regardless if this is a hardware or software problem, you shouldn't have a problem with the sales staff -- show them the picture you linked to.

I bought it 6 months ago, and it was the first time I saw this problem. I tried again some days after, and it didn't happened.


text:
How to use an Android device as bluetooth USB dongle?
Is there a way to use my android device as a bluetooth USB dongle without rooting it?

what are the functionaries you are looking for?

Bluetooth forwarding from my Nexus to my notebook.

If you want to add Bluetooth to your laptop, it's much more effective to just buy a dongle.  Here's a USB Bluetooth adapter for $2.85 shipped.

Thanks for this comment, but this is not what I actually intended to do.

Bluetooth dongles are 1 on eBay.

I asked a similiar question, please look:
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/91645/phone-as-bluetooth-card-for-my-computer

If I understand your question correctly, you are curious if you can plug your phone into the USB port on your laptop and use the bluetooth connection of your phone as if you had bluetooth service on your laptop.
No, that is not possible.  The USB drivers for your phone do not permit that type of functionality.

Yes, that is what I wanted to know. Hopefully one of the future Android versions will support this.

Why is it not possible?  You can tether the wifi and you can tether the GPS?

This is possible or not possible depending on what you want to do with the bluetooth.  If it's something that an app on the phone can do, and you are willing to enable USB debugging mode on the phone and put the SDK's adb driver on the netbook, then you can indeed have the PC make requests over usb for software you create for the phone to do things with its bluetooth.
But if you want to do bluetooth things that applications (sdk, native, or poking around behind the scenes unsupported) cannot, then you are out of luck.

You can, but with remote controller apps that makes your phone control your PC through wifi, therefore giving you access to anything you connect via bluetooth from your smartphone.

Is there any app you can recommend?


text:
HTC Sense crashing often on Incredible since update to Froyo (Android 2.2)
Since I upgraded my Incredible to Android 2.2, Froyo, the HTC Sense UI has been crashing often, but always when I am in an app.  In other words, sometimes when I exit an app, I see that the Sense launcher is restarting.  Anyone know why that is happening and/or how I can fix it?

It could be a memory issue.  How much memory is available on the phone? (Settings -> SD card & phone storage -> Available space under Internal phone storage)
Additionally, do you have too many unnecessary services running?  (Settings -> Applications -> Running Services, look at the memory bar at the bottom of the screen)

I have 1.8 GB free on my SD card and 5.92 GB free on my phone storage.

I actively manage what services I have running and am not running many.  The memory bar is mostly green.

@penti hmm... not sure what else to suggest, I don't own an HTC device (with Sense).  No task killers automatically killing off tasks?

No, I stopped using a task killer after I saw recommendations on this site against using a task killer and I am still seeing the Sense launcher occasionally re-start.

This happened to me when Sprint updated the Hero to 2.1.  I assumed Android was killing Sense due to memory constraints.  I've rooted and been much happier since.

If memory isn't the issue, try going to Settings > Applications > Manage applications > All and then find "HTC Sense" about half way down and click on it. Click Clear data and Clear defaults. Then reboot your phone or shut it down and power back on. Then see if that helps.
If you are still stuck you will need to wipe your phone, start from scratch, and then install apps in batches, a few at a time checking the apps and playing with them to find the culprit. Once you find the trouble maker, uninstall it and have a happy phone.


text:
Sometimes Market update gets stuck downloading. How can I cancel?
Sometimes when I update an app through Market the download gets stuck at 0% or 100% and won't finish download or finish installing. The only way I've found to work around this is to uninstall the app, then reinstall from Market. Is there a better way to fix this situation?

On the "downloads" screen, long press the app in question and click "Cancel download."  Then try to update the app again and see if it'll complete this time.

If you have a lot of downloads stalled change the connection type between 2G and 3G/4G within
Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > Use only 2G networks > Klick the checkbox
or turn Wifi off and on again. Also this keeps your stalled downloads in queue.
Also logging out and back into GoogleTalk has proven a successful solution to this issue sometimes.

Do note that the 2G only network is only available for some phones (GSM only, I believe).  It is not available on my Motorola Droid.


text:
How can I create a settings shortcut for always on data?
I have always-on mobile data set to off most of the time to conserve battery, but I find the need to switch it on every once in a while - using Pandora, the odd large file to/from Dropbox, etc.
The question: Can I make an easy on/off icon (much like the WiFi or 4G widgets preloaded by HTC) so I don't have to go through the settings menu every time? App recs or how-tos appreciated.
I've got an Evo with 2.2.

HTC doesn't have a data one for that?  They used to.  I believe CurveFish has one on the market.  I think it is APN OnOff.  Or search for other APN widgets.

Close, but not quite (thanks for that app though; also useful) - I'm looking to enable/disable the "always on" part, not manually shut the whole thing on and off. The setting in question on the Evo is under Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile Networks > Enable always-on mobile data (toggle).

Yes the APN widgets turn on and off the data to conserve battery.


text:
What functions are in the ROM of an Android phone?
I would like to get a clear picture of what is in the ROM vs. what is in the OS. This will help me understand what those custom ROMs are all about.

Well, the OS is in the ROM, to start with.
You're suffering from a terminology problem: "ROM"s these days are all typically Flash memory, which is erasable and rewritable, but not byte-by-byte. So the OS may even live in the same physical ICs as the 'main' phone memory.
Basically, custom ROMs can enhance/modify/break EVERY aspect of your phone's operation. There is a separate 'radio rom' which includes the low-level drivers for the wifi/gps/3g/gsm/bluetooth functions, and these typically aren't 'customised' but you may still find newer versions available that can improve certain aspects of your phone.

Thanks. Is there something that is analogous to "BIOS" on a PC?

@Henry: Not really, as far as I know. But, Google for "Android Recovery ROMs" which are a little bit like a bios... On DOS PCs, the BIOS used to be a core part of the system run-time - but with Windows it's almost an anachronism. In most cases it just configures some low-level hardware and provides the first stages of the boot loader.

ROMs are still mostly compiled official Android source code (or apps, etc. ripped from dumps of newer phones backported to older phones) with tweaks and some minor custom utilities or features that are not included in the stock ROM for a specific phone.
The biggest point of ROMs is getting newer versions of the Android operating system (or as much as the phone's hardware can support - see the G1 as limited device example when it comes to Android 2.1+) on older phones.  This is perhaps the main point of the CyanogenMod.
ROMs also may be very similar to stock ROMs but are of different "themes" that change the colors of the notification bar, etc.

Thanks. So no clear delineation between firmware, OS, drivers, apps, etc?


text:
Is there a way to customize vibrate patterns?
Like many people my phone is most of the time in silent/vibrate mode. I was wondering if there's a way to assign different vibration patterns for different notifications, just like we do for ringtones and alerts with sounds.
Maybe there's an app that allows us to do that? I couldn't find anything yet.

SMS Popup does vibration patterns on a per contact basis (or for all texts).
Handcent does it only for all texts.
Missed Call will do vibration patterns for SMS (per contact), phone calls (per contact),  Battery, Calendar events, device storage, etc.

Using the Notification plug-in for Locale, you can set separate vibrate patterns for different conditions.

Vibromaker is has pre-defined patterns.

New app called WhoIsIt lets you customize the ring/notification audio and vibration.
Lifehacker review

Llama lets you create custom vibrate patterns for a variety of simple or complex events including location, either by typing in the pause,pulse,pause,pulse... numbers, or tapping out the pattern on a button
(Llama is free, funded by donations)

ViBe lets you select one of ten custom vibration patterns to attach to a contact for phone calls and SMS/MMS messages. (There's also a way to unlock and make custom vibration patterns.)
Free in the Market.
(Lifehacker review)


text:
Installing Froyo on Milestone
Is there a way to install Froyo on the Motorola Milestone?
I understand that Motorola is planning a deployment of this release in Q1 2011 but I just wish I had it now!

See: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/2696/when-will-my-phone-get-android-2-2-froyo

Official update has been released.

Stock Froyo?  No, not at the moment.
Custom ROM?  Take a look at XDA Forums, there are some ROMs currently in progress, but might be unstable on your phone.

Froyo is released for the Milestone
Go to this page to get it from motorola: http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Support/GB-EN/froyo/milestonenotification.htm


text:
Switch between ringer and vibrate based on schedule?
Certain times of the week I would like the phone to be on vibrate and other times of the week I want it to be on ringer. I would like to setup a schedule for these changes to happen automatically. Can this be done? If not natively is there an app that can do this?

Check out Locale (more expensive, but easier to use) or Tasker (less expensive, more complicated to use/more configurable).

For a simple and free app to schedule changes ring tone/mode based on time of day and day of the week I recommend SoundManager.
Another free app that does this is Profile Changer.  I've looked at it but haven't actually used it.
For full featured automation including time based, location based, app based... I'd go with Bryan's recommendation of Tasker.


text:
Is there a way to disable "call from" when I use Google Voice?
I love Google Voice, but I don't want people calling me to be asked to say their name and I don't want to be told to "press one" to accept their calls. I just want to get my calls. Is there a way to disable that feature?

Go to voice.google.com. Top right, click on Settings -> Voice Settings.  Go to "Calls" tab.  Turn Call Screening to "Off"


text:
Can I get a shortcut to the Downloaded Files folder?
When an file or app downloads from a browser (as opposed to installing directly), the downloads open up.
Otherwise, I can't seem to navigate in there.
Is there a way, on a stock, un-rooted Android, to navigate to the download list?
Update: browsing through "File Manager", I see I've been staring at /sdcard/download -- how does this view "normally" open after a file download?
I'm on an HTC Incredible, Froyo 2.2, but I'd expect this to be similar for most, no?

Are you talking about downloads in the Market, or files downloaded from the internet (ie. in the browser)?

Yes, I second that question.  Didn't even think of reading it that way until I saw keightjgrant's comment.

updated to clarify, FIVE YEARS LATER, that it is browser downloads.

Usually your apps are downloaded using your browser. For accessing them you open your browser, press menu > more > downloads.

I use Dolphin as the browswer, and with there it is simply menu >> downloads -- and that's the screen I was seeing before. Sheesh. Without title-bars, there's no context for what I'm staring at. I never know if I'm looking at an application screen, or an OS screen. Well, sometimes.

If you want to add a shortcut on your home screen to your Downloads folder or any other folder for that matter get ASTRO File Manager (free).  The app is pretty useful on it's own, but it also adds the option to create a shortcut directly to any folder on the homescreen.  To do this, simply long click on the homescreen, choose "Shortcuts", then choose "ASTRO" then choose the particular folder you want a shortcut to.
I had ASTRO for a while before I realized I could do this because the option is deceiving.  At first look I thought it would create a shortcut to the app, not to a specific folder like it does.
Edit: After reading Keith's comment I realized you are probably talking about market downloads.  In that case do what Al Everett said.

Very helpful to me Matt, as I couldn't find the question "how do I create a folder shortcut on Home screen" on here.

Yes. Open up the "Market" app, open the menu, and choose "Downloads".

Go to your home screen, long press on any area then choose to add "Shortcut" => "Activities". Then you'll see a long expandable list. You need to find here "Downloads". Click on it to expand it and then choose second entry - ".DownloadList"
(Tested on Android 4.4.2 - Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini)

Just open the marketplace and under menu, you'll find Downloads.
Another suggestion, if there are apps you use a lot you can create a shortcut to your homescreen by long pressing on an area of the homescreen where there is room for an icon, select Shortcuts > Applications and pick anything to save to your homescreen. I made a few folders on my homescreen of apps, for example one is called Games, one is called Utilities. Then I filled them with the apps I use most. Long press on the homescreen, select Folders > New Folder, keep it open and press on the application launcher, long press on anything you want to save into your folder and it will save there.

With Ice Cream Sandwich, I have a new app in my app drawer called "Downloads" which brings me to a list of recently downloaded files.
Obviously you can drop this as a shortcut on your home screen.


text:
I have rooted my phone, but why can't I Telnet?
I have a T-Mobile G1 and rooted it using AndRoot. I've confirmed that I have root by using Wireless Tethering, I get all the required request superuser permission dialogues.
However when I go to the Telnet application and try to telnet it refuses to let me, I get:
Error While connecting to server localhost/127.0.0.1:23 - Connection Refused.
I've tried various different connection strings (e.g. just 127.0.0.1, 0.0.0.0)
I read that you might need to reboot the phone after rooting so I did and then confirmed again that I still have su by using wireless tether and superuser permissions app.
Is there anyway I can get this working as I'd like to flash Amon Ra's Recovery mod and start playing around with the Roms again.

AFAIK, mostly port 1-1024 on android phone are reserved for system, so the application other than system must use port > 1024.
I never use telnet, but I used ssh frequently to remote my phone, I use SSH server on phone using http://teslacoilsw.com/quicksshd maybe you can use ssh as an alternative to telnet.

I am using ConnectBot but it is quite the same functionnality http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/

In the end I used connectbot and set to local then localhost and it connected fine, I su'd up and logged me in as root.

Another option is to telnet over USB debugging, using adb forward

Digital,
You need to be more clear about your intentions. What are you trying to telnet to/from? If you want to telnet to your phone, it's not as easy as running telnet on your computer by entering your phone's IP address. You have to run a telnet server on the phone -- otherwise the connection is refused. The best way to tell if you are actually rooted is by using Terminal Emulator. When you run Term you will see a "$", this is a user prompt, where you type in commands. The "$" means you are a normal user, not root. HOWEVER, if you type "su" and hit enter and you end up with a "#" prompt, that means you are superuser (root). If you can successfully get a superuser prompt, you are properly rooted. (You might get a superuser permissions request for Term when you first run "su").
Once you are on a superuser prompt you can run a telnet/SSH server (telnet is not recommended, as it is insecure).
To see if you have an SSH server installed on your phone (you should already if you run a mod, otherwise you will probably have to install one manually), type the following command (as root) in Term:
find / -name dropbear

It should return "/system/xbin/dropbear", unless your mod has a slightly different filesys structure, in which case it might return a slightly different string, or error out altogether.
If you do have dropbear, you can continue reading (otherwise install dropbear first, then continue from here).
Now, as root in Term (make sure you have the "#" prompt, or type "whoami" to see what your username is), enter the following commands one at a time (stop if any give an error). Be VERY cautious when entering commands as root! Make SURE you type everything exact including proper case.
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
mkdir /system/etc/dropbear
cd /system/etc/dropbear
dropbearkey -t rsa -f /system/etc/dropbear/dropbear_rsa_host_key
dropbearkey -t dss -f /system/etc/dropbear/dropbear_dss_host_key

IF THE ABOVE COMMANDS WERE SUCCESSFUL enter the following commands to complete the process:
sync
mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system

You now have SSH server capability on your Android device. Note that this does not mean you are running and SSH server at this point, only that you are capable.
To run your SSH server, first enter the following (again, as root) in Term:
dropbear -p WANIP

(Replace "WANIP" with the external IP of your phone -- the IP you want to SSH in to)
Your SSH server should now be running. You can check this by typing:
ps|grep dropbear

It should return a line that ends with the word "dropbear"
NOTE Depending on your version of Android or mod, some of these steps may vary. If you encounter a problem (dropbear doesn't run, or you can't SSH in), first check if dropbear is still running (above command) and then run "dropbear -E" to see why it won't start if it is not running.
I'm more than willing to answer any further questions you may have. Happy hacking!

Hi thanks for the great reply. I've confirmed I have SU now. When I first rooted my phone over a year ago I could use the app Telnet fine, I guess things must have changed since.

That's correct, in earlier Android releases, telnet was more accessible. They (the Android developers) were quick to lock it down a bit better once custom ROMs started making the rounds.

First off, read this thread on XDA Forums to make sure you are properly rooted. If you are positive you are properly and fully rooted then what app are you using? I have never heard of the app Telnet. Try SwiFTP. It is easily configurable and has always worked on my rooted devices.

I mentioned the app in the op, AndRoot. I've read that guide the first time I rooted my phone and while it is a good guide I thought I'd try it a different way.

No what app are using to attempt to telnet into the phone?

Telnet isn't an app, it's a protocol. The OP needs Terminal Emulator or ConnectBot - or to telnet from their desktop.


text:
Access synced Exchange calendar from desktop browser
I know this is a bit tangential, but bear with me.
The Exchange calendar sync works perfectly for me, however, it would be AWESOME if I could see my exchange calendar with my other Google calendars in the desktop browser, just like it does on my phone. :) It looks like the Exchange Sync uses Google Calendar to merge both my personal Google calendar and my business exchange calendar on the phone.
Any way to recreate this on the desktop browser and see all my calendars together? I have a rooted Nexus One running the stock Froyo 2.2 rom.

If you have Outlook 2007, you can use the built-in Publish My Calendar feature to publish it to Microsoft servers, which will make the ICS feed available to add as a calendar in Google Calendar.
In Outlook 2007, go to the Calendar section and click the "Publish My Calendar..." link. Fill out that dialog and it will start syncing.
If necessary, feel free to adjust which calendars are shown in your Android device via the Calendar app's Option menu item "Calendars".

This is a good idea, but I'm trying to avoid setting up another sync, especially one that is reliant on my desktop app running. It seems like the built-in sync is using a Google Calendar, but maybe not.

Everything that's synced to your Google Calendar on your phone should also be on your Google Calendar on the net (https://www.google.com/calendar).  You can have multiple calendars in Google Calendar, perhaps the calendar you're phone is syncing to isn't set to be visible in the web view?

My workplace has Exchange email and I've managed to have it sync with my Google account and NOT use my main Google calendar, with relatively little work.
I have the following setup:

Me@google personal Google account
Me@work Exchange account
Me@work Google account (go to Google, Sign Up for new account, use Me@work as "existing email address") that is separate from my main Google account
Google Calendar Sync on my work computer linking to my Me@work Google account
Me@work Google calendar shared with my Me@google Google calendar

It does have the downside of needing the a computer to be active (no easy way around that that I know of) but it has the upside that it partitions my work events into a separate calendar and integrates tightly into my heavy personal Google use.
There IS a .NET application that someone wrote that lives as a service on a Windows server and periodically does the sync itself.  But I can't seem to find it now, and it does require you to have a Windows server you'd be allowed to run it on.  And if you have to leave a Windows machine running anyway, you could just put Outlook on it and use Google Calendar Sync.
If you had admin rights on the Exchange server, this might also be an option: http://code.google.com/p/google-calendar-connectors/wiki/Overview


text:
Why does my Xperia X10 spontaneously reboot?
Several times a day I find out that my Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is waiting for PIN entry, probably because of a soft reboot. It annoys me to no end, and I end up missing calls beacuse of this. Is there a tool or another way to help me find out what actually happened, when, and what caused that?

This isn't unique to your Xperia, it happens on my Droid (Milestone) too. Check out my more general post here: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/370/sometimes-my-android-just-restarts

I read similar reports lately, related to Titanium Backup.. When it runs, it kills apps to back them up, causing the phone process to restart. If you aren't running something similar, I would recommend using USB debugging and the SDK to capture log data..  Known as "logcat" in the Android world.
Oh -- Here's an easy way to capture and review log data on the device without the SDK --
Is it feasible to disable the SIM pin requirement to avoid the problem in the meantime? Could replace it with the Android pattern lock to retain some security.


text:
custom arrangement of favorites in default (HTC) browser?
can I arrange my favorites in default HTC Desire (2.1) web browser the way I want? Not only by newest, mostly used, alphabetical?

Yes, one solution is the Bookmark Sort & Backup app. Visit here from phone or search for "bookmark sort" on android market. (Pro version comes without ads.) Hope it helps.
EDIT: Bookmark Sort & Backup Free and Bookmark Manager Free on appbrain.com.

Bookmark Manager Free is another alternative.

I used Bookmark Manager Free and it does great job. Thank you

Do these work for the standard Android 2.2 browser too?

Actually I just downloaded it and it works like a charm!


text:
desktop shortcut to phone options?
can I have shortcut to

airplane mode and/or
phone options (power off/airplane mode etc)

I do not like the  current way of holding power on/off button for some time

The Quick Settings app puts that at your fingertips and, by default, is launched with a long-press on the search button.

long-press on the search button (very right one) gives me 'Speak now' window

Yes. With this installed (until you choose a default) it will prompt you for which action you want.

I didn't get it first time... works marvelously ... thank you Al


text:
shutting down takes ages (HTC Desire 2.1)
I wanted to reboot my HTC and it was shutting down for more than 10-15mins so I removed the battery...
What can I do next time? Is that ok to be shutting down for ever?
The mobile is almost new one. Not much stuff installed. Primarily used for web browsing.

Has every subsequent reboot taken just as long? If so take the phone into a local store or call your carrier support line and ask them to wipe your phone so you can start out fresh. See if a fresh start helps.

I tried one more time to power off my Desire and it was never ending. So I tried to uninstall some apps and it's as quick as flash. I suspect that is was caused by 'Advanced Task Killer'

so your suggestion of wiping the phone will work...

Ah, never ever ever ever (are there enough of those?) ever use a task killer of any kind with Android 2.1 or 2.2. Both versions have a kernel that is designed to handle it's own task killing and process management. A task killer just messes that up and makes things worse.


text:
Can I override the default DNS settings on an HTC Evo without root access?
Is there any way to override the Sprint DNS server(s) used by default on the 3G connection of an HTC Evo running Froyo without root access?
The reason I want to do this is because some sites are able to resolve when I'm using OpenDNS or Google DNS while connected via WiFi at home, but when I'm on 3G, the same sites come up as page not found, so the easiest culprit to blame is DNS.

Everything I've seen suggests you can only do it if your phone is rooted.  Here's a tutorial for those with rooted phones.

Bummer...I am pretty sure you're right. Thanks for the link, though!

As this question got very old but seems to be the first result when searching for DNS setting on both wifi and mobile, I would like to answer this to provide a more up-to-date result - I also searched for myself earlier. First of all full disclosure: I'm the author of the app, which can provide this also without root. Take a look at Lilly, this may help you to set your DNS settings.


text:
Alternative keyboard with Czech language dictionary?
Is there any alternative keyboard for Android HTC Desire 2.1 that supports English/Czech dictionary and easy way to switch between them?

I went for SwiftKey. Still waiting for Czech language dictionary though :-)

Czech dict is available for SwiftKey now :-)

You can install HTC_IME modified http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416 and make a gesture for cycling between EN / CZ.

I am happy with Smart Keyboard.

AnySoftKeyboard is a free application with many keyboard layouts and themes, and after installing it you may download langue pack for many languages, including the Czech one (or directly from Google Play - Czech for AnySoftKeyboard).
Czech dictionary from AOSP has more than 100,000 words. English langue pack with English dictionary is included by default.


text:
How can I boost the volume on my Droid's speaker?
I used to have an app for my Treo called "Volume Care" that let me boost the volume of my speaker beyond what the factory settings allowed.  Is there any app or hack that would allow me to push my Droids speaker further than Motorola wants to allow?
Edit: I thought I was clear before, but let me clarify.  I am not looking for just any volume control app, I have one, I know of many, and believe it or not I am capable of searching the market for the word "volume."  I am specifically looking for a solution that will allow me to push the volume out of my speaker past that current manufacturer set limits.
Update: I just added a bounty so I'll add a bit more clarification.  I have seen apps out there that work with HTC phones only.  This solution/app/hack must work on the Original Moto Droid rooted or not, I want a noticeable increase in the volume.

Is this a good idea? I wonder if installing something like this could actually blow out your speaker.

It most definitely could, but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

I'm sure there are music apps that can amplify the song before passing the audio to the system, but you are looking for a system-wide amplification?

Yes, system wide, but I'd be interested to see those granular solutions.

If you root your Droid and install CyanogenMod there is something called DSP Manager included which seems to do what you want. [The link is dead, but the off-shoot projects still exist on GitHub] -- edited by Moderator Firelord.

It seems that Android DSP apps all do different things and you'll have to try different ones to see if they work for your particular phone and ROM.  I haven't had any luck tracking down why this is the case, or even what the apps are doing.  One time I even tried modifying a config file that by all appearances controlled volume levels, to no avail.
I have found one that works for my Note II running OctOS L, and it's called Volume Booster.  It's ad supported, and occasionally stops working, but it's great.  I boost about 25 - 30%, which is loud enough to hear music across a room at a decent level.  At that level, there are sometimes some distortions.  Also, I think it negatively impacts phone audio, but since I don't make many calls, I haven't looked into this problem.
Given the distortion, I think that this app meets your requirement to get louder than the manufacturer intended.  I presume that if I boost too much with this app, it will blow the speaker.
From the Play store:

Simple, small, free app to boost your speaker or headphone sound
  volume. Useful for movies, audio books and music.
Use at your own risk. Playing audio at high volumes, especially for a
  prolonged amount of time, can destroy speakers and/or damage hearing.
  Some users HAVE reported destroyed speakers and earphones. If you hear
  distorted audio, lower the volume (but it may be too late).
By installing this application you agree that you will not hold its
  developer responsible for any damage to hardware or hearing, and you
  are using it at your own risk. Consider this to be experimental
  software.
Not all devices support this software. Try it at your own risk and see
  if yours works.
This app does not work on most 4.2.1-4.3 devices. It should work on
  4.4 and higher, as well as on devices below 4.2.1.
This is not for adjusting the speakerphone volume in phone calls (that
  has its own boost, I think), but for adjusting the volume of music,
  movies and apps.
When you set the boost to zero, Volume Booster will be off. The
  notification icon is just for ease of launching. If you don't like
  seeing the notification icon when Volume Booster is off, just go to
  Volume Booster's Settings and set it to appear only when Volume
  Booster is running.

Magisk modules are the answer to your solution, but which one depends on a trial and error method. Viper4Android & Dolby Atmos are the 2 options that come to mind.


text:
How can I stop Android from automatically searching a term when I choose it from my search history?
Currently if I search for something like "Why am I so awesome," then at a later time I want to elaborate on that search and start typing in "Why am..." my search history will show the previously searched term.  When I click on the term it automatically searches for it.  I don't want it to automatically search for it, I just want the term I click on to populate the search field so I can edit as I please before actually searching, for example, I'd like to be able to click on the aforementioned search term "Why am I so awesome" and add "everyday" without having to retype the whole things.  It's not that big of a deal in a google search because I can just wait for the results and edit the search field, however on a market search, the search field disappears when it searches and I have to start all over again.
Edit: To me this seems to be an Android issue, not a hardware issue but to preempt any more hardware specific solutions that don't apply to me, I have a Moto Droid 1 on 2.2.

+1. Glad you asked the question. I will need to start using the trackpad when using search history...

The anonym with the vague answer is correct, just not nearly complete.  For keyboard-less phones (like my N1), the trackball or trackpad can be used to scroll down the list of suggestions, and that will enter them into the text field for editing.  For most phones with a hardware keyboard like your Droid, use the d-pad next to the keyboard to select the suggestion for editing (some of them still retain a trackball or trackpad).  Once you have the correct entry in the search box, tap it to continue editing.
BTW, I just discovered this, and it's going to make my life a lot easier.

That's bothered me a few times too, it's annoying to find that the answer is to use the trackpad/ball when I'm on a phone that doesn't have one (Samsung Galaxy S). I thought about it when I upgraded from the HTC Magic, but at the time I could count the number of times I used the trackball on one hand. Seems it does have a use after all :(

But nothing for those of us with no trackball or d-pad, like the X? :(

If you update to the latest version of "Google Search" in the Market, it includes a pencil icon next to each item in the search history, for this exact problem. Tapping the pencil loads the search term into the search box, but doesn't initiate a search for it.

That is great, I never noticed that.  Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work on searches initiated directly from the Market, Maps... but it works from the search widget.  Thanks!

I don't see a pencil when I google search and I don't see any Google Search app in Marketplace. I'm on eclair (Motorola xt720).

I think you need to be on froyo for this.


text:
Two Google calendars on my Android (HTC)?
I can access my personal Google calendar.
Can I also access my work Google calendar (we use Google Apps)?
Can I

Merge these two, but not share my personal calendar with work mates?
Set it up not to receive work emails?

EDIT:
HTC Desire on Android 2.1

Which HTC phone do you have, and which Android version is it running?

Yes you can add the eMail adress from your GApps account via
Settings > Accounts & Synchronisation > Add Account
Then enter your credentials and you can access your accounts eMail, contacts and calendar without automatically sharing information from your private calendar with your colleagues.
But you need to watch out which account you use creating new calendar entries from now on.
After that you need to open your calendar application and press Menu > Calendar > Select the calendars you want to see.
If you don't want to see your work eMails you can easily decide which items you want to synchronize with your device.
Merging the calendars is not really necessary since you can view many different calendars in the calendar application.

I shared my work calendar and added to my personal one. But I can see only busy if in my personal calendar. If I can make it work that I can see details for the calendar item on my mobile it would be great. I cannot see the shared calendar from my mobile :-(

This is something with your sharing settings for your work Google Calendar. You need to make a few settings there. You might find help on this over at SO.

SO would not be the right venue for asking for help with Google Calendar. Rather, Webapps would be the place to ask.

True, but providing an answer here is ok IMHO.


text:
How do I enter proxy server details?
My work WiFi routes traffic through a proxy server. Is there a way to enter proxy server settings so that my Android can successfully make web requests?
My previous phone was a WinMo 6.0 and this was easy to do (part of the setup wizard).
I have a Milestone on Android 2.1

There is an outstanding bug on this, from November 2008, with no sign of a fix.  It's a real PITA, and a really obvious issue.

Anyone with this problem should visit the bug page above and 'star' this issue so it may get more attention. Unfortunately it's flagged as a 'feature request' whereas I'd consider it as a lack of basic functionality.

I think the bug is https over proxy rather than http.

You can get to the hidden http proxy settings via the 'Proxy Settings' app.

This should work for http sites and services but Android doesn't currently allow https via proxy!?! (so no Gmail or app downloads).


text:
Limit sync'ed address book entries to bluetooth car-kit
Is there an app (because I don't see it as a feature) to limit the address book entries to a particular category when accessing via bluetooth?
My car will only take 1000 phone numbers, but my address book on the phone is about 1400.  My colleagues car will only take 500, and his list is 900 long.
If there was a way to limit the list it would allow it to sync quicker and not miss vital people...
Anyone seen anything like this? When I was using WindowsMobile I used a product from http://www.jetwaremobile.com/ to do this - is there an Android equivalent?
-Craig

Please note, this solution will work on SOME Android phones, but not all of them.
As of right now your best bet is to make a group. Go to Contacts or People (depends on phone), view your groups, and then create a new one (usually done by selecting menu and then Add Group. Then add the contacts you want to that group (it might be easiest to go online from a computer and do this.
Then go into the settings of your groups or from the main contact screen and see if you can only show that group as visible.  On my phone I cannot select individual groups to show and not show. But I think other Android phones can do this. Look for a "View" option.

(HTC Desire) It has sync'ed my groups from Exchange fine - but no option to View group-by-group. Just the ability to view/not-view synced accounts.

Yea this functionality doesn't exist. You should be able to email the Google team that works on this somehow, or you can go find the Google group that discusses this and leave your comment there. In the meantime keep an eye out for an app that solves this.

Have there been any progress on this? I did find a program, "Bluetooth File Transfer" from Medieval Software, but have not been able to try it yet.
http://www.medieval.it)
OK, I tried it, but was unsuccessful

Nope. This just allows you to manage file/media transfers between BT devices.

As a workaround, and taking inspiration from @webs answer - why not create an additional Google account, enter your Bluetooth contacts in that account (by importing/exporting via the web interface) and sync that to your phone.


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Why don't some widgets work on Cyanogen?
I have a HTC Hero CDMA that I upgraded to Cyanogen 6.  I'm on version 6.0.0-Heroc-testing2.  Before installing Cyanogen, I had the official Twitter widget and official Facebook widget on one of my screens.  Ever since upgrading, I have not been able to add the Facebook widget or Twitter Widget.  Both of the apps work fine, but when I go to the list of widgets I can add, neither of them is there.  I'm using the default home screen/launcher that comes with Cyanogen.  Other widgets such as Beautiful Widgets work just fine.
Is this a problem with Cyanogen, the home screen, or something else?  I have a hard time believing these widgets are only compatible with HTC Sense.

Are you sure that you're using the official, downloaded from the Market versions of Facebook, and Twitter? From what I remember most Sense phones come with HTC versions of Facebook pre-installed with Sense widgets (can't remember about Twitter, no one I know with an HTC uses it). Try redownloading from the Market and double-check to see if you've got multiple Facebook widgets?

Can you download another home launcher like LauncherPro (I highly recommend it) and see if the widgets also don't work there?  It could be a problem with the launcher you are using (ADW or Launcher2).  Or you could re-flash CM6 with the other launcher than the one you chose.
If these are the official Twitter/Facebook app widgets, then I doubt it is because of HTC Sense no longer being available.
Additionally it sounds like you are running a test build of CM6, so it may be a bug.  Check out their forums to see if anyone else has your problem or to report the issue.

Just checked and there is now a stable version of CM6 for my phone, so I'll see if that fixes it.

@Jay that might fix your problem.  You may want to do a full wipe of data/apps/cache before you upgrade to the release version.

I updated CM to the latest stable build and now it seems to work.  The problem was with the test build.

The version the OP is running should not be a test build. 6.0 is their stable, but checking out their forums is not a bad idea.
Changing the launcher is a good troubleshooting step, but shouldn't make a difference in this case since CM ROMs do not have sense running. So if a widget works with LP it should work with the default launcher of CM and vice versa.
The OP should follow GAThrawn's advice and make sure the official widgets from the marketplace are being used. Since the OP has a Hero it is possible they might have a sense version of one of those apps installed and sense anything will not work on a CM ROM.

The testing2 part of the build version is throwing me off which why I said that :)

Ah, maybe he is using an older version of the 6.0 build. The latest 6.0 for the Hero should be a stable build.

I'm not able to reproduce that. On my g1, with actual cyanogen mod 6.0 i'm able to add the facebook and also the twitter widgets (both, big and small).