Essential Android Apps

AndyCr15 · 27 Feb 2013 at 19:09

iviv said:
I've just got a nexus 10, and there's just one thing I'd like fixed with an app right now. When I'm out and about, I tether it to my phone so that I can browse the net, nothing out of the ordinary. But when I get home, I want it to automatically switch to my wireless router for faster net use and not needing to worry about my data limits. Is there an app out there that will give wifi networks different priorities so that it will stay connected to my phone until it notices that my home wifi is in range and automatically switches to that instead?

Thanks!

Don't you turn tethering off at home? That would be all you need to do, and you probably should do too anyway.

iviv · 27 Feb 2013 at 19:27

AndyCr15 said:
Don't you turn tethering off at home? That would be all you need to do, and you probably should do too anyway.

Well, there's never been any real reason to. I get in, plug the phone in to charge, and that's it. Is there an issue with leaving tethering turned on that I don't know about?
And in that case, is there an android app that will disable tethering when the phone comes in range of my home wifi and disables it when it leaves the range?

twist3d0n3 · 27 Feb 2013 at 19:49

iviv said:
Well, there's never been any real reason to. I get in, plug the phone in to charge, and that's it. Is there an issue with leaving tethering turned on that I don't know about?
And in that case, is there an android app that will disable tethering when the phone comes in range of my home wifi and disables it when it leaves the range?

use power toggles to switch each off as appropriate

StevieP · 27 Feb 2013 at 19:49

Does anyone know how to use the "Top Contacts" widget you get on Xperia phones when using another launcher??

I've done a factory reset today and for some reason its not showing up as an available widget while I'm using Nova launcher!?!? I'm certain it was working before I did the reset!!!!

Any ideas???

Iraklis F.C. · 27 Feb 2013 at 20:43

is the lightning browser that fast as some say? does it worth the money compared to chrome for instance?

Tysonator · 27 Feb 2013 at 20:53

Grrrrr said:
Try
Dolphin browser
Boat browser
Firefox
Chrome
ICS browser +

It seems Firefox and Dolphin are popular with users

Nexus18 · 27 Feb 2013 at 20:56

Stick with the sense browser if you have ICS/sense version 4 on your phone, it is the best IMO.

If you don't then I recommend dolphin or quick ICS browser (better than ICS browser +)

emu · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:10

i have just switched over to opera browser on android and home computers

i like the full screen browsing after turning the navigation bar off and it takes you directly to most full sites instead of mobile ones

photoshop · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:21

Grrrrr said:
BETTERBEAN THEMES http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2128924

Really liking this theme. Email, messaging, settings, all themed to be mostly black. Only downside is lack of circle battery

Just bought the black and white version. Worth the monies

Grrrrr · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:33

Skyfall said:
I have not been able to get 1080p files to play properly over SMB by simply using file explorers on any of the devices I have tried from multiple PCs.

They play flawlessly over DNLA.

I felt obliged to double check I wasn't talking crap so I just ťried streaming a 9.8gig 1080p 130min film. It played smooth as you like and frankly, looked beautiful on my 720p SAMOLED screen

Skeeter · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:35

iviv said:
Well, there's never been any real reason to. I get in, plug the phone in to charge, and that's it. Is there an issue with leaving tethering turned on that I don't know about?
And in that case, is there an android app that will disable tethering when the phone comes in range of my home wifi and disables it when it leaves the range?

There are apps that can do things based on other things, so I'm pretty positive you could make your phone turn off tethering when it detects your home network, and enable it after. That would solve your issue.

Grrrrr · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:36

photoshop said:
Just bought the black and white version. Worth the monies

Aye, after trying the free one I bought the blue version today, love it! The black play store is especially cool

Belloni · 27 Feb 2013 at 21:57

Update to Chrome. Fingers crossed it's improved, not to sure about dolphin browser.

robbobloke · 27 Feb 2013 at 22:05

Belloni said:
Update to Chrome. Fingers crossed it's improved, not to sure about dolphin browser.

Upgraded chrome but now I find all the fonts blurry and when reading a thread there is about 3 different size fonts. Only on OCUK

Belloni · 27 Feb 2013 at 22:07

Yeah I just closed the app seem to sort it.

Iraklis F.C. · 27 Feb 2013 at 22:22

robbobloke said:
Upgraded chrome but now I find all the fonts blurry and when reading a thread there is about 3 different size fonts. Only on OCUK

I second that!

benjo · 28 Feb 2013 at 00:29

AccuWeather has had a Holo update

Just realised I have the Paid version too, think it was a sale purchase..

V4NT0M · 28 Feb 2013 at 03:22

Latest chrome beta (25) scores pretty well in browsermark:

Dolphin was pretty close with 2847 and AOSP scored 1605. AOSP ran the demos in the highest fps though.

trentlad · 28 Feb 2013 at 03:47

Thanks everyone! ES File Explorer is fantastic, been playing everything fine bar DTS audio.

trentlad · 28 Feb 2013 at 03:50

emu said:
i have just switched over to opera browser on android and home computers

I absolutely love Opera.

On the Note II there's a fantastic feature, when you double click on say a forum post it zooms in and wraps the texts perfectly to the window. Utterly fantastic.