Essential Android Apps

Richie · 3 Oct 2010 at 17:34

Ratbag said:
My mate was watching the football live off ESPN on his iphone today, and he also has something called TV catchup which allows him to view a raft of TV channels.

Is there anything similar on Android? it's the only thing I envy from iphone!

Go to http://m.tvcatchup.com/ on your mobile and you get the same thing... Works very well.

_Jimlad_ · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:09

fornowagain said:
Cheers, works pretty well on my SGS. Like how it automatically starts 'Car Mode' when it detects my cars hands-free bluetooth.

i installed, how do you start it?

fornowagain · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:41

_Jimlad_ said:
i installed, how do you start it?

You can use LauncherPro or ADW to create shortcuts for activities.

_Jimlad_ · 3 Oct 2010 at 23:07

fornowagain said:
You can use LauncherPro or ADW to create shortcuts for activities.

i don't use launcher pro, i mean it says it installed but how do i fire the thing up?

fornowagain · 4 Oct 2010 at 00:16

You need a launcher of some sort, something like the LP shortcut or a custom apk. Can't help you with the latter.

_Jimlad_ · 4 Oct 2010 at 00:24

so what u cant use it without a 3rd party app?

mrk · 4 Oct 2010 at 00:28

If you've installed Car Home then it's in the launcher tray...

fornowagain · 4 Oct 2010 at 00:35

_Jimlad_ said:
so what u cant use it without a 3rd party app?

If you're using com.google.android.carhome-1.apk then yeah I guess. The full google app must have a launcher of some sort. You asked how I started the app, I used LP to create a shortcut.

Ratbag · 4 Oct 2010 at 18:42

Richie said:
Go to http://m.tvcatchup.com/ on your mobile and you get the same thing... Works very well.

Its a nice idea but it doesn't work well for me on my desire with 2.2 - artifacts and bleeding all over the place even with a strong wifi signal. I shudder to think how it would run via 3g.

Android could definitely do with some kind of tv app.

ChroniC · 4 Oct 2010 at 21:46

Really, I use TVcatchup all the time, over 3g and it runs very smooth and no artifacts.
I only ever run the HQ over Wifi.

Who's your network?

Ratbag · 4 Oct 2010 at 22:27

ChroniC said:
Really, I use TVcatchup all the time, over 3g and it runs very smooth and no artifacts.
I only ever run the HQ over Wifi.

Who's your network?

Orange.

I do have a moderately crap connection where I live, but it doesn't explain why it looks so poor over wifi. It says 'poor signal' in the top left, even on low quality settings - whereas it's actually a full bar wifi signal. Weird.

brummie · 4 Oct 2010 at 22:33

Ratbag said:
Orange.

I do have a moderately crap connection where I live, but it doesn't explain why it looks so poor over wifi. It says 'poor signal' in the top left, even on low quality settings - whereas it's actually a full bar wifi signal. Weird.

Im on Orange and it works fantastically well for me. Obviously get poorer display in low signal areas but always great on wifi

gumbald · 5 Oct 2010 at 09:22

Skype is available!

If you sign out it removes your stored password though. Seems very persistent, there's no way of just backing out of it. Suppose they want it prominent.

_Jimlad_ · 5 Oct 2010 at 09:57

MyPhoneExplorer now for Android!! happy days!

Hen_Dawg · 5 Oct 2010 at 10:39

gumbald said:
Skype is available!

If you sign out it removes your stored password though. Seems very persistent, there's no way of just backing out of it. Suppose they want it prominent.

Great! But galaxy S not supported

mrk · 5 Oct 2010 at 10:52

Skype has no videochat yet, Fring will suffice

Also, Skype has free calls over wifi in USA only.

_Jimlad_ · 5 Oct 2010 at 11:22

nevermind that get myphoneexplorer this rocks!

IrishChr1s · 5 Oct 2010 at 12:47

Installed launcher pro 0.8 last nite and upgraded to pro as it was only 2.99.

Still getting used to it, but overall I'm happy as my HTC desire running 2.2 is
A lot more responsive. I've removed all task killing programs also.

I like the fact you can reduce the amount of home screens to 1, as I
Never really don't use any others and like my main screen customized fully with
A nice live wallpaper. Before the install my live screens were running
Kind of sluggish. Now they run smooth.

I need a nice clock widget, any suggestions? Nothing to fancy.

Also how do I get my msgs and emails to show notifications on launcher pro as I
Still think sense is the default program for notifications atm.

unwashed potato! · 5 Oct 2010 at 12:54

is there an app that will show me everything that is on the phone and let me control it from my pc? i like myphoneexplorer especially for texting but it's annoying that when i finally go back to my phone that i have to read all the messages so the'yre marked as read and would also be cool so i can play the games on big screen

roboffer · 5 Oct 2010 at 12:58

IrishChr1s said:
I need a nice clock widget, any suggestions? Nothing to fancy.

I use Retro Clock