Essential Android Apps

tals · 29 Apr 2013 at 12:49

ShortWarning said:
Going back to android for the first time in years.

What are the best twitter and reddit apps (currently using tweetbot and Alien Blue on iOS)?

I use falcon pro, good support from the dev and good if you are interested in specific people in your friends

I use Bacon Reader for reddit, hooked me on reddit so must be good

benjo · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:04

Cuchulain said:
Baconreader for reddit

Noooo.

Redditsync is the best

mrk · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:06

I find Reddit Is Fun is best, official Reddit app isn't it?

Steve_bullockuk · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:06

Simian said:
I think you pay for each 'tune' as you download/stream it.

I've just uploaded all of my music to it, so I don't need to purchase any more at the moment. (well that's what the wife said!!)

You can upload upto 20,000 of your own 'ripped' tracks to your account, or sync your iTunes account. Most other services (Amazon etc) charge for storage size, and give you a 'Free Capacity' of about 5Gb, but I uploaded over 100Gb to google and I've not been asked to pay as it's 3,500 short of the 20,000 mark!!

Jesus! How did I not know about this?! What do I need to upload? Is it just a web based system?

benjo · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:08

mrk said:
I find Reddit Is Fun is best, official Reddit app isn't it?

Nope, there isn't an official one.

RedReader is quite good too. It's quite new, completely free and opensource.

TheVoice · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:08

Steve_bullockuk said:
Jesus! How did I not know about this?! What do I need to upload? Is it just a web based system?

You download the Google Music Manager to your PC, then point it to your Music folder(s), and it uploads everything in the background.

Annoyingly there's no way to exclude folders or files, so if there's anything you don't want it to upload, you'll have to move it out of your Music folder.

The service is fine, but the manager app is terrible really, it doesn't give you enough control over what's uploaded, nor can you easily delete music from it that you've removed from your PC. A lot of my album art is screwed up on there too.

Steve_bullockuk · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:17

TheVoice said:
You download the Google Music Manager to your PC, then point it to your Music folder(s), and it uploads everything in the background.

Annoyingly there's no way to exclude folders or files, so if there's anything you don't want it to upload, you'll have to move it out of your Music folder.

The service is fine, but the manager app is terrible really, it doesn't give you enough control over what's uploaded, nor can you easily delete music from it that you've removed from your PC. A lot of my album art is screwed up on there too.

Many thanks!

What app do you use on Android?

TheVoice · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:26

Google Play Music, if you have a new phone it probably has it installed already.

Simian · 29 Apr 2013 at 13:34

Yep, I think the later versions of ICS have it, but it's usually there on Jellybean (unless Samsung remove it etc...) just grab it from the Market - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music&hl=en.

Then on your PC go here - https://play.google.com/about/music/ as long as you are logged in to your Google Account, you can then download the Music manager which sits in the tray monitoring what ever directories you want and uploads the contents to Your Google Play Music, to a Maximum of 20,000 Tracks!!

Simples!

rogueblade · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:44

Guys I have an issue on the Nexus 4 where the Play Store crashes every time upon launch. I've tried restarted and clearing all app data on the Play Store app with no luck. What else can I do?

TheVoice · 29 Apr 2013 at 15:52

Try installing the newest version:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/04/25/download-latest-google-play-store-4-0-27/

rogueblade · 29 Apr 2013 at 16:03

Thanks but I don't know how to install apps via the techy way....
The Play Store doesn't even have the Play App!

rossk26 · 29 Apr 2013 at 16:12

TheVoice said:
The service is fine, but the manager app is terrible really, it doesn't give you enough control over what's uploaded, nor can you easily delete music from it that you've removed from your PC. A lot of my album art is screwed up on there too.

You need to use the online page to rectify your problems.

I was in the same boat, for some reason my Ben Howard album has Miley Cirus or whatever she is as the album cover...

You can also arrange playlists and remove songs as you wish.

https://play.google.com/music/listen

benjo · 29 Apr 2013 at 17:10

rogueblade said:
Thanks but I don't know how to install apps via the techy way....
The Play Store doesn't even have the Play App!

Try force stopping and clearing data on Google Play Services and Google Services Framework.

Matteysan · 29 Apr 2013 at 17:14

mrk said:
There is that

Yeah it kinda sucks cause I like PowerAMP, Although Google Music isn't too bad.

GMusicFS is a good alternative but it seemed to drain my battery like crazy. It basically puts your Google music as a virtual drive so PowerAMP can read it.

TheVoice · 29 Apr 2013 at 18:06

rogueblade said:
Thanks but I don't know how to install apps via the techy way....
The Play Store doesn't even have the Play App!

You just download the file via your phone, then run it and it'll install over the top of your current one.

rogueblade · 29 Apr 2013 at 18:16

It's cool thanks, I found the solution, I needed to enable Download Manager in the All Apps section at the very bottom of the list. Somehow it had disabled itself.

Korsun · 29 Apr 2013 at 18:51

Hope you guys can help me please. I have just purchased a Samsung Galaxy S3 on an O2 contract. My problem is the you tube app loads but refuses to play any video. If I load you tube via google it works fine! Any ideas as I'm confused.....

tals · 30 Apr 2013 at 07:02

Nexus18 said:
What is the new swype like?

How does it compare to the 4.2 and swiftkey flow keyboards? Personally find the 4.2 keyboard to have better swype/gesture typing than SK flow.

I was quite a fan of swift flow, but for the price purchased Swype. Seems more accurate and gives more choices. Sticking with Swype now.

mrk · 30 Apr 2013 at 08:44

I'll skip the google music system then until other apps can read it. I see it a point of a waste of space syncing local and google music when I have a 64GB card in my phone anyway!

I've been using Swype BETA alongside SwiftKey up until this morning. bought Swype for 69p off Play Store and it's more up to date than the BETA it seems. The Holo theme is nice and the key spacing is ideal compared to the Android stock keyboard..

Overall I am impressed so far.