New essential Android apps thread

unwashed potato! · 25 Jun 2018 at 20:28

Jony27 said:
Anyone known of a free app that can automate some tasks like switching off mobile data when I'm at home/work?

you may have other reasons for this, but as soon as you're connected to wifi, mobile data is disabled, so assuming you use work wifi there's no need to be disabling or enabling anything.

i used to disable wifi when not in use, but really there's no point now as the power saving is minimal and life is sweeter not thinking about it

Scam · 26 Jun 2018 at 12:49

Fairly sure the answer is no said:
i used to disable wifi when not in use, but really there's no point now as the power saving is minimal and life is sweeter not thinking about it

Is it really? I always turn wifi off when not at home or at work. I'd imagine constantly scanning for networks uses a lot of battery no? :confused:

AndyCr15 · 26 Jun 2018 at 14:12

These days I think Android turns mine on and off as I leave and come home. Not sure what version that started in tbh.

unwashed potato! · 26 Jun 2018 at 19:54

Scam said:
Is it really? I always turn wifi off when not at home or at work. I'd imagine constantly scanning for networks uses a lot of battery no?

even if you switch off wifi, android will as standard still switch it on and off to check location and anything else they fancy doing.

but seriously what phone do you have? if it's anything newer than the first nexus 5, then don't worry about it. one app will use far more battery than wifi being left on constantly.

plus imagine the app you're downloading will be using battery to check location however often it does this, and will potentially be using wifi any way to get that location, even when it's switched off

iMacMart · 7 Jul 2018 at 08:53

Managed to get some odd advert popups on my XL2

Any good tools to remove it? I've never got anything like this I'm always reallycareful

Got over £10 in my reward funds if I need to spend a few pounds

Matteysan · 7 Jul 2018 at 13:41

iMacMart said:
Managed to get some odd advert popups on my XL2

Any good tools to remove it? I've never got anything like this I'm always reallycareful

Got over £10 in my reward funds if I need to spend a few pounds

Check what apps you have installed first.

Is it popups in chrome or when you are on your homescreen?

iMacMart · 7 Jul 2018 at 21:11

Matteysan said:
Check what apps you have installed first.

Is it popups in chrome or when you are on your homescreen?

Installed madlipz a few days back, might be that ....

bimmerboii · 8 Jul 2018 at 07:02

Can anyone recommend a good business card scanner app? Doesnt matter if paid or free

unwashed potato! · 8 Jul 2018 at 09:57

What would the app do that the camera can't?

AndyCr15 · 8 Jul 2018 at 13:38

I believe (although not used it) Google Lens makes contacts from a business card photo.

mithrandir · 8 Jul 2018 at 17:02

I've used office lens to scan stuff including business cards previously. It's free and does the job

unwashed potato! · 8 Jul 2018 at 23:26

can't remember if i asked this before, but is there a good way to control a mobile/tablet from a pc? or at the least read/send text messages without having to do anything on the device? i know of airdroid, and as good as it is, from what i understand you have to click "allowed" each time. i want to be able to have the phone in the office tucked away and access the device texts/whatsapp without having to get the device out.

millsy888 · 9 Jul 2018 at 00:45

Fairly sure the answer is no said:
can't remember if i asked this before, but is there a good way to control a mobile/tablet from a pc? or at the least read/send text messages without having to do anything on the device? i know of airdroid, and as good as it is, from what i understand you have to click "allowed" each time. i want to be able to have the phone in the office tucked away and access the device texts/whatsapp without having to get the device out.

I think Googles own messaging app let's you use texts from a pc.

bimmerboii · 9 Jul 2018 at 06:14

Fairly sure the answer is no said:
What would the app do that the camera can't?

Camera just takes a picture. Want an app that automatically saves the info to my contacts list

bimmerboii · 9 Jul 2018 at 06:15

AndyCr15 said:
I believe (although not used it) Google Lens makes contacts from a business card photo.

mithrandir said:
I've used office lens to scan stuff including business cards previously. It's free and does the job

Will give this a go. Thanks

JRJ · 9 Jul 2018 at 14:02

bimmerboii said:
Will give this a go. Thanks

Also using Office lens for works receipts, tried a few camscanner etc but this was the easiest and better designed.

toasteh · 9 Jul 2018 at 14:16

Fairly sure the answer is no said:
can't remember if i asked this before, but is there a good way to control a mobile/tablet from a pc? or at the least read/send text messages without having to do anything on the device? i know of airdroid, and as good as it is, from what i understand you have to click "allowed" each time. i want to be able to have the phone in the office tucked away and access the device texts/whatsapp without having to get the device out.

Pushbullet lets you send texts from your PC, and you can use the whatsapp web app on PC too (web.whatsapp.com)

AndyCr15 · 9 Jul 2018 at 14:33

millsy888 said:
I think Googles own messaging app let's you use texts from a pc.

Yep, just tried it - https://messages.android.com/

Pair up once and I think it remembers the connection (if you click to remember this PC)

LiE · 9 Jul 2018 at 14:54

There's also a desktop app in the works.

Orcvader · 9 Jul 2018 at 17:44

+1 to Android Messages, seems to work pretty well.

I have Cortana installed as well which works nicely when receiving messages, you can respond to them, but you can't initiate a new message. Still, it works nicely to see 2 factor SMS codes pop up on screen, avoids having to even touch the phone.

I did use Pushbullet, but I've moved away from them for other alternatives (Using Pocket to save links now).