Help Couple ?s about the Atrix.

[Cankle J]

Hey,

I finally left my Iphone 3g(jailbroken) and got the Atrix yesterday. I just got to get used using android and so far I really like it, but there are couple things Im wondering about.

Podcasts. Im used to letting itunes update and sync everything. I got Listen and tried to search and suscribe, half of want I want is not there and when I try to add the url it tells me the app has stopped unexpectedly. Is this fixable or is there a better option. I like to DL the podcasts and listen when I want.

No Netfilx on Android! - Is there a good alternative?

Is the a good mail app with an 'all inbox' option similar to Ios? I have 4 mail accounts but only want the notifications on for one.

Virus protection - is it really necessary?

Uninstalling some of the blur bloat - Can I do it?

When I setup the phone and signed up for motoblur it synced with the mail account and added email contacts I didnt want on the phone in the contacts list. Is there a way to still use this email and delete these contacts or will it continue to sync?

Finally, I was thinking about rooting it so I can pick up the lapdock and not pay the tethering fee, but now with Att sending out those warnings Ive decided not to, my unlimited data is to precious to lose. Other than sideloading which isnt that big of a deal of to me, are there any other good reasons to Root?


Thanks in advance.

 

[james27007]

Hey,

I finally left my Iphone 3g(jailbroken) and got the Atrix yesterday. I just got to get used using android and so far I really like it, but there are couple things Im wondering about.

Welcome to AF, we are glad you are here and on the Android side;you are going to like it here.

Podcasts. Im used to letting itunes update and sync everything. I got Listen and tried to search and suscribe, half of want I want is not there and when I try to add the url it tells me the app has stopped unexpectedly. Is this fixable or is there a better option. I like to DL the podcasts and listen when I want..

There a quite a few podcast catchers out there for the phone, I personally like Car Cast Podcast Player, works great and has not given me any issues.

This may also interest you if you are more used to iTunes: Sync Atrix with iTunes it is ok but not perfect.

Also there is the Motorola Media Link application for your PC that also does the job as well.

No Netfilx on Android! - I there a good alternative?.

PlayOn, but the downside is it costs to use, upside it is works great for netfix, hulu and streaming media from your PC to your phone over 3G/4G; plus it has a free 14 day trial, so you can test drive it 1st. Other than that, no.

Is the a good mail app with an 'all inbox' option similar to Ios? I have 4 mail accounts but only want the notifications on for one. .

Not sure, but the pre-installed messaging app is an all-in-one inbox that will take you to all of your messages. As for notifications, it is all or none. I have heard K9 email may work, but I have not tried it.

Virus protection - is it really necessary? .

Some say yes, others say no. Lookout is my personal pref. but I have yet to ever get a virus.

Uninstalling some of the blur bloat - Can I do it?.

Yes, most of it can be uninstalled (menu - settings - applications - manage applications; then just select and uninstall the ones you do not want). You can remove any app but you need to root the device and use an app called Titanium Backup to uninstall or Freeze. Note some of the motoblur services cannot be removed, but if you do not use them, they should not bug you.

When I setup the phone and signed up for motoblur it synced with the mail account and added email contacts I didnt want on the phone in the contacts list. Is there a way to still use this email and delete these contacts or will it continue to sync? .

Which account did it sync your contacts? Gmail or Motoblur? If you click your contacts, press menu, display group, you can select which contacts to display or hide. I only show my Gmail contacts.

Finally, I was thinking about rooting it so I can pick up the lapdock and not pay the tethering fee, but now with Att sending out those warnings Ive decided not to, my unlimited data is to precious to lose. Other than sideloading which isnt that big of a deal of to me, are there any other good reasons to Root?
Thanks in advance.

In my opinion, not really, I'm rooted but that is because I sideload a lot of apps, use Titanium backup and use the webtop mod (even though root is not needed for that). Other than tether, unless you plan on really hacking your phone, there is no need to.

 

[Cankle J]

Which account did it sync your contacts? Gmail or Motoblur? If you click your contacts, press menu, display group, you can select which contacts to display or hide. I only show my Gmail contacts.

Motoblur I think.

And thanks for the other info, very useful stuff.

 

[Deleted User]

Is the a good mail app with an 'all inbox' option similar to Ios? I have 4 mail accounts but only want the notifications on for one.

I thought the Gmail app had been updated to put all email in one inbox?

Virus protection - is it really necessary?

Not really, Android by its nature sandboxes your apps. I rarely see a virus or threat on my PC, nevermind on my phones. Of course the antivirus companies try to convince you otherwise.

Uninstalling some of the blur bloat - Can I do it?

Not easily as it's part of the firmware. But if you want to avoid it, don't setup Blur, just skip it and remove the widgets from your phone. No big deal really and the only thing you lose, other than the obvious widgets and stuff, is OTA firmware updates. But I would be too concerned just yet as there are no updates.

 

[WolfmanRobby]

Most of those questions, I'm new myself and learning.

But, you don't have to ROOT your phone to sideload. I'm not rooted and I use the "Sideload Wonder Machine" app from Android Central. Go there and search for it. There is a Linux, Windows, and Mac version. Download the APK to your computer, hook the Atrix up in Debug mode, and sideload away. It works great!

 

[james27007]

Most of those questions, I'm new myself and learning.

But, you don't have to ROOT your phone to sideload. I'm not rooted and I use the "Sideload Wonder Machine" app from Android Central. Go there and search for it. There is a Linux, Windows, and Mac version. Download the APK to your computer, hook the Atrix up in Debug mode, and sideload away. It works great!

Sorry I did not explain correctly and WolfmanRobby is correct that you do not need root to sideload if you have access to a PC. But if you want to sideload apps on the fly and do not have access to a computer, you must root at least to enable sideloading.