Smart Phones for Dummies

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2012, 08:44 AM

I have owned a Droid now for 2 or 3 years and have added only a handful of apps. I'm curious as to what else is out there that comes in handy. I'm not really interested in games, but apps that have a purpose or that might be automotive related would be cool. When I go to the Market, I am overwhelmed by all the crap that comes up and really am not sure what I am missing out on.

Here is what I have:

Google Sky Map -- totally cool to use and works great.

Timer by TheSpinningHead -- very useful and can be set by voice command.

Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards -- had no clue about this one until about a week ago. Access to police, fire and EMS transmissions.

Ulyssess Speedometer -- kind of neat to use and has a HUD mode.

Drag Racing by Creative Mobile Games -- the only game I have ever played on my phone. Used it for awhile and then not so much in the past few months.

ixMAT Scanner -- bar code and and QR code scanner. Used it on occasion.

Tune in Radio -- too many choices, but seems to work so long as you have a decent signal for streaming.

**0rion** · 03-21-2012, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I have owned a Droid now for 2 or 3 years and have added only a handful of apps. I'm curious as to what else is out there that comes in handy. I'm not really interested in games, but apps that have a purpose or that might be automotive related would be cool. When I go to the Market, I am overwhelmed by all the crap that comes up and really am not sure what I am missing out on.

Here is what I have:

Google Sky Map -- totally cool to use and works great.

Timer by TheSpinningHead -- very useful and can be set by voice command.

Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards -- had no clue about this one until about a week ago. Access to police, fire and EMS transmissions.

Ulyssess Speedometer -- kind of neat to use and has a HUD mode.

Drag Racing by Creative Mobile Games -- the only game I have ever played on my phone. Used it for awhile and then not so much in the past few months.
ixMAT Scanner -- bar code and and QR code scanner. Used it on occasion.

Tune in Radio -- too many choices, but seems to work so long as you have a decent signal for streaming.

I play the hell out of that game......I used to play it on the pc years ago. Look for Lunch Ticket and you can add me as a friend and race against my best times.

**SiggyZ** · 03-21-2012, 09:33 AM

Does the Android OS have any good flashlight apps available? I love the one I got for my iPhone 4S. It comes in very handy.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-21-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ:2758303

Does the Android OS have any good flashlight apps available? I love the one I got for my iPhone 4S. It comes in very handy.

Yes it is called brightest flashlight

**SiggyZ** · 03-21-2012, 10:56 AM

Gotta love you iPhone haters.

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

Yes it is called brightest flashlight

**Knight** · 03-21-2012, 11:28 AM

A great app I've found is called Convert Pad. It's a conversion tool, that has an amazing amount of options. I also have the Photobucket app. Makes for easy and quick mobile uploads.

**KahanaReef** · 03-21-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I have owned a Droid now for 2 or 3 years and have added only a handful of apps. I'm curious as to what else is out there that comes in handy. I'm not really interested in games, but apps that have a purpose or that might be automotive related would be cool. When I go to the Market, I am overwhelmed by all the crap that comes up and really am not sure what I am missing out on.

Here is what I have:

Google Sky Map -- totally cool to use and works great.

Timer by TheSpinningHead -- very useful and can be set by voice command.

Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards -- had no clue about this one until about a week ago. Access to police, fire and EMS transmissions.

Ulyssess Speedometer -- kind of neat to use and has a HUD mode.

Drag Racing by Creative Mobile Games -- the only game I have ever played on my phone. Used it for awhile and then not so much in the past few months.

ixMAT Scanner -- bar code and and QR code scanner. Used it on occasion.

Tune in Radio -- too many choices, but seems to work so long as you have a decent signal for streaming.

What... you don't have the LS1 mobile app for the site?

**Knight** · 03-21-2012, 11:44 AM

I do!

I took a look and I also like ESPN scorecenter, and Strelock ballistics calculator.

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

What... you don't have the LS1 mobile app for the site?

I do have the mobile app -- just figured that went without saying. I surf mobile on here when I am away for the weekend and standing in line at Walmart for the most part.

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Knight

A great app I've found is called Convert Pad. It's a conversion tool, that has an amazing amount of options. I also have the Photobucket app. Makes for easy and quick mobile uploads.

Looks like Android Market has just been switched out to Google Play. I'll try and look Convert Pad up. Thanks!

**GTP231** · 03-21-2012, 01:46 PM

Dragtastic its a practice tree app.
There's Droidlight for Siggy's question.
Swiss Army knife has several useful tools.

**0rion** · 03-21-2012, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ

Gotta love you iPhone haters.

if I knew more going in about phones I would've never bought an iphone. I don't know if it's the least user friendly device on the planet but it has to be in the top 3. What a pain in the ass everything is about that phone. My next phone will not be made by apple.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-21-2012, 06:35 PM

Have a HTC Evo 4G and for a smart phone it rocks. only negative is on some the batteries go to shit quick. The aftermarket extended batteries are pretty good but cost a bit too.

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2012, 06:46 PM

I can go almost a whole week on a charge. No complaints in that department.

**cpop98ws6** · 03-21-2012, 06:58 PM

I can get about 7 hours out of my battery (HTC Incredible) I now have a charger in every room of the house, in the garage, at work, tahoe and in the T/A. lol

**cammed goat** · 03-21-2012, 06:58 PM

Got a Samsung Stratosphere last Friday. So far, it's very good. It's my first smartphone. I only have the fb app but I am still figuring out the ls1 app as I think I need a Google password. The slide-out keypad is good if you want to avoid auto-correct moments. I am surprised I am able to post this with my phone without the app.

**tatertot91** · 03-21-2012, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I can go almost a whole week on a charge. No complaints in that department.

What phone do you have?

**pajeff02** · 03-21-2012, 07:06 PM

Motorola Droid. I think it is a first gen model.

**GTP231** · 03-21-2012, 07:17 PM

Jealous of your battery life I only get around 7 out of mine depending where I am with reception

**Schmalgar** · 03-21-2012, 07:24 PM

Not counting games, the apps I use the most are:

(not necessarily the proper names, but you'll get the idea)
Weather Channel
Atlanta Traffic Cams, very useful as I drive across town often. The Weather Channel app used to have a built-in city DOT cam app as well, but they dropped it apparently
Flashlight, comes in handy all the time
ColorNote, which is just a nice little notepad app
Digital Clock

I get decent battery life except for the Digital Clock app. I use it as an alarm clock, and the combination of max volume audio and active video drains the battery fast if my lazy ass doesn't wake up fast enough to turn it off. When not using the alarms or games, I can go for days on a charge.