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How To Droid tips, tricks, and easter eggs

Read all the posts, good thread. I'll try to add something: If you have a Blackberry (or other phones) that you use for work, but want to sync the calendar to your Droid, Google has an app for that (m.google.com/sync). I can sync my Groupwise > Blackberry > Google > Droid and back. It only syncs entries AFTER you install the app though.
 
How to enter in Messaging.
I came from the alias. the first one. and it had a key for that.

and since i don't read directions...
first you hold ALT. then press the ENTER key. this is tricky cause you could end up sending the message without meaning to...

ty.
 
syntrix said:
Open Messaging. Tilt droid at a 45 degree angle. Open a thread with a droid icon.

That droid icon is orientated "upright", ie, it's not straight like normal.
Click to expand...

I noticed this the other day, is this a feature? Does it mean something?
At least I think I'm talking about the same thing... If I open a message from a contact that doesn't have a picture, the little Droid picture that's the placeholder for their picture will be at a funny angle, depending on the angle I'm holding my phone at. Sometimes angled from the left, sometimes from the right, sometimes upside-down.
 
Others may already know this but I jsut discovered how to speak my text message and the phone types it for me!

I use Handcent. Open the contact>press MENU key>press SPEAK. Sooo easy!
 
Gingersnapp said:
Others may already know this but I jsut discovered how to speak my text message and the phone types it for me!

I use Handcent. Open the contact>press MENU key>press SPEAK. Sooo easy!
Click to expand...

Yep I use this method, but it isn't perfect, but comes in handy.
 
aguillon5 said:
I installed the dock runner app and low and behold locks the phone in landscape mode. Everything is functional even home screen and virtual keyboard. I do not use keyboard and makes my android experience that much better. The only drawback I have found is that there is the factory and the app symbols in the notification bar. If I find or anybody else finds a way to disable one or both of these notifications it would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

This was a problem for me too. What you need to do is run the app again and it will turn off the docking mode.
 
enduser said:
You must have the barcode reader app installed.

Go into your contacts and select the contact that you would like to share with another android user. With the contact info on the screen press your menu key, then choose share, then choose barcode scanner.

This will generate a barcode on your screen that another android user could go into the barcode reader app and scan (straight from your screen) and it will allow them to add it as a contact.

As others have mentioned above it seems to choke if the contact has a birthday, or linked to facebook for that matter so still seems to be a bit touchy but an easy way to share info none the less.

kg.
Click to expand...

It only chokes when trying to share from within the contacts list. If you go into the barcode scanner app, hit the menu key, select 'share' from the menu, 'Share contact' and select the contact you want to share, it generates the QR code for you. I'm not sure what the difference is between the methods that lets one work when the other fails, but does.
 
Everytime I try to set up my e-mail for yahoo on the droid it keeps telling me my username or password is incorrect..Im doing all the steps that where posted but when I got Next it says that.. am i doing something wrong?? Help plz..:o
 
Didn't see this mentioned yet.

For those who have a car stero that supports bluetooth and want to stream audio, or have their phone transfer calls to the car mic/speakers, do this:

- Turn on bluetooth and pair the phone with the correct password.

Calling:

- When the stereo tries to get the phonebook to transfer it over, the phone will display a message in the status bar at the top that says phonebook access request (or some reasonable facimile).
- When this happens you have to (and pretty quickly mind you) pull down the status bar, and push the notification to allow access to the phonebook.
- When you do this, make sure you check the checkbox that comes up that says always allow access for this device...then you don't have to worry about that again.
- The phonebook request appears to timeout pretty quickly, so if you don't get to it fast enough the first time the phonebook won't come down. So just start over and repeat the process.

NOTE: I know there is some type of phonebook/bluetooth bug with 2.0..and google is working on it. I'm not sure exactly what that problem is. But i thought that was my problem. Then I realized I wasn't getting to the menu fast enough to allow access to the phonebook.

Audio:

- If your stereo supports a2dp or whatever the profile is, you should be able to stream audio over bluetooth to your stereo from apps like pandora, or A-Online Radio.

- The Google Nav App will transfer the speech from the directions over bluetooth as well...and it works correctly. If you're streaming audio from AOR or Pandora, and the Nav speaks, the audio pauses, and you hear the nav speech...then the audio resumes again.

It's all genius.


- Joe
 
So am I right to understand there is no way of saving your downloaded ringtones for text messaging, and you can not set separate ones for all contacts? again for text messaging?
 
chatileslie said:
So am I right to understand there is no way of saving your downloaded ringtones for text messaging, and you can not set separate ones for all contacts? again for text messaging?
Click to expand...

EDITED TO ADD - Crap. Fighting a migraine. The context of your question finally registered. I have not found a away to set tones for individual contact text and email received, only tones for general inbox notifications. Opted to leave the following instructions anyhow.

2 ways to do this.

OPTION 1

Recommended downloads to make your life easier -
1. Download "Rings Extended" from the market.
2. Transfer your ringtones or other music media to the SD card via best way (NOTE - Ringdroid is another good app that will allow you to select and edit music tracks to make your own ringtones from music tracks on your SD card WARNING - Pre made ringtones may get cut off at the 10 - 15 second mark if they are longer. Not sure what the deal is there.)
3. for each contact, or notification do the following;

CONTACTS -
1. Open contacts list.
2. Select contact you wish to change the ringtone for
3. Press the "Menu" key
4. Select "Options" from the pop up menu
5. Select Ringtone
6. Select "Rings Extended"
7. Select "Select Music Track"
8. Select the ringtone that you wish to assign to the contact.

TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED -
1. Open the "Message" menu by selecting the Messaging icon.
2. Press the "Menu" key
3. Select "Settings" from the popup menu
4. Scroll down to Notifications and turn it on.
5. Select Ringtone
6. Select "Rings Extended"
7. Select "Select Music Track"
8. Select the ringtone that you wish to assign to message received.

EMAIL RECEIVED -
1. Open the Email menu by selecting the appropriate email icon
2. Press the "Menu" key
3. Select "Settings" from the popup menu
4. Scroll down to Notifications and turn it on.
5. Select Ringtone
6. Select "Rings Extended"
7. Select "Select Music Track"
8. Select the ringtone that you wish to assign to message received.

OPTION 2 -

In lieu of using the two downloaded apps, use android system.

I also found an app called "Missed Call" that will allow you to set tones, vibration, and LED light color (not sure if that is applicable for the Droid) for SMS services, Call, Low Battery, Bluetooth, Calendar, Application, and Airplane.

You get a double whammy if you have different tones for receive text. READ - Initial text ringtone, and reminder when the text (or other incoming message) arrives...one after the other.

Open the app and follow the directions.

MAKING CUSTOM RINGTONES ON YOUR COMPUTER -

I found a real nice program on the net made by NCH software. You can download a 15 or 30 day trial version, or buy. The program is Wave Pad Sound Editor. It does the cropping to select a section of a music track, merging, blending, smoothing, output volume, save format...Stupid cool program. I plan on purchase when I get my new laptop. Not sure if the Droid has a max KB requirement for ringtones. My RAZR did, and this program let me selcet options to keep modifying the size down to the required level, and still keep the full 30 second length without loosing any noticeable quality.
 
Leshea67 said:
Everytime I try to set up my e-mail for yahoo on the droid it keeps telling me my username or password is incorrect..Im doing all the steps that where posted but when I got Next it says that.. am i doing something wrong?? Help plz..:o
Click to expand...


This seems to be a bug that has occured (for me) in the last week... the month prior to that YMail worked fine. I've not had a chance to try forwarding Ymail to Gmail (for free?) as read HERE: http://androidforums.com/how-tips/19558-ymail-working-motorola-droid-finally.html

Hopefully the companies will end their little pissing contest soon...
 
Attention game emulator users!

I use the Snesoid Super Nintendo emulator. I was getting very frustrated when playing link to the past because as soon as you'd walk out of the house to start the game, all you'd see on the screen is rain....you couldnt see the "world" around you so obviously hard to play. I tried several different zelda roms and all had the same effect, which led me to believe it was the droid or app.

If you get something like this (Id imagine certain other games may also have this issue) go into settings on the app and select "enable transparency". It says this gives more accurate emulation but may cause the game to run slower. As soon as I did this zelda showed up as intended, and doesnt seem to run any slower. Hope this saves someone the frustration I dealt with!
 
Small but useful tip:
When typing in a text message if you need to delete a lot of text, hitting "Alt" then "Del" will delete that entire line of text. This also works in Handcent and probably many other text entry fields of various programs. A lot better than pressing "Del" 20-30 times if you change your mind about what you wanted to type.
 
Droid421 said:
Small but useful tip:
When typing in a text message if you need to delete a lot of text, hitting "Alt" then "Del" will delete that entire line of text. This also works in Handcent and probably many other text entry fields of various programs. A lot better than pressing "Del" 20-30 times if you change your mind about what you wanted to type.
Click to expand...

It does that in email too. Unfortunately I've done it by accident a few times meant to hit the P key to get 0 but hit Del by accident -- easy to do when using thumbs :mad:. And if there is an undo for this, I haven't found it yet :confused:.
 
eraser said:
There's a free app called Locale that can do this.

Based on your GPS position, time of day, etc, it makes the phone behave differently (silent, loud, vibrate, etc.)

I downloaded it but I can't get it to get a lock on the GPS, never finds my location. Which is weird because Google maps/nav has no problems.
Click to expand...

I had a similar problem- the GPS loacates within several buildings surrounding me but I just move the little flag to the exact spot. Also I enabled the Wi-Fi Option and that helped target me even closer
 
Droid421 said:
Small but useful tip:
When typing in a text message if you need to delete a lot of text, hitting "Alt" then "Del" will delete that entire line of text. This also works in Handcent and probably many other text entry fields of various programs. A lot better than pressing "Del" 20-30 times if you change your mind about what you wanted to type.
Click to expand...

Holding the delete key for long enough will cause it to repeatedly delete, much like that of a keyboard on a computer. This way you don't have to press anything 20 or 30 times!
 
smilepak said:
FYI..

Here are a few created today while mocking around on the Droid


Click to expand...

:D Yo, Smilepak -- Your site is AWESOME! It should be a sticky all by itself... WOWOOWW!
 
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