How did you learn Android?

[sleedeane]

How long have you been using Android devices?
To what or who do you attribute your knowledge of Android to?
Did you go to computer school or learn everything from here or learn just by playing with your device?

I'm on about my ninth device and learned everything I know from here.
I went back and looked in my profile and was kind of suprised to see that I've only been a member here since July of 2011. Seems a lot longer than that.
I wonder how long the Android Forum has been around, I wonder what people did before the Forum.

 

[Crashdamage]

I'm strictly self-taught, which explains why I don't know much. I learned everything from experience. Just reading and doing it wrong 'til I got it right.

As my signature says, I started with Android with v1.0, on the original HTC G1. Pre-ordered it within minutes of ordering opening up. Couldn't wait to get a Linux-powered phone in my sweaty hands! I still have it and it still works. It's a very early production unit. A couple of years ago I put it back to totally stock, original condition.

Before that, in 2001 I had converted to Linux for home use 100%. No wishy-washy indecision. No dual-boot safety net. I wiped out Windows and just went full Linux cold-turkey. I figured that would force me to learn to use it quicker. It did!

But I started out on computers long before that, with a i286 and a CompuServe dialup connection. I had the latest, screamin' fast US Robotics 1200 baud modem, DOS 5.0, X-tree Gold, PC File...man, I was more state of the art then than I am now. That was kinda high-end stuff at the time. So I was lucky. I had to teach myself everything, but I got started on good equipment for the time.

 

[alextop30]

I like to play and brake my stuff and then fix it and brake it again differently. I was excited about a more polished Android so kit kat, Ics and aster that Lollypop. I have been using Linux for quite a while and really like it. You can do a lot with it as you can do a lot with a rooted phone. I am not a full on convert of Linux, I like my windows because I like my games. I love my Linux because as a software developer I can do some really cool stuff with it and not have to jump through 1000 hoops or feel like I am part of a circus to do anything! Android has become very nice and stable, probably not as polished as ios but that has improved a lot and it will be getting better! In any case I think to go a little deeper I will go and take a class on how to make Android apps soon. I haven't even taken a look at the api! Also these forums have been great when I screw something up and I do not understand what is going on. The people will help you out and are very knowledgeable!

 

[mikedt]

Living in China and being interested in tech. That's what taught me. I don't care about things breaking or bricking, because I don't pay so much for this stuff, and don't have to deal with locked devices and commit to two year contracts.

 

[sleedeane]

Also these forums have been great when I screw something up and I do not understand what is going on. The people will help you out and are very knowledgeable!

If it weren't for these forums, I wouldn't be able to take advantage of all that you can do with these PDA's. I'm no developer by any means, but I have rooted a few phones, done a little ROMing and tweaking, understand launchers and themes, micro SD RAM and storage, CPU and GPU, etc. etc.
The knowledge you can gain in these forums makes all the difference. I think you can learn from AF as much as if you took a class on Android.
Totally invaluable.

 

[pool_shark]

I learn what my phones can do the day I buy them. I open all of the settings and apps, open menus, press and hold just about everywhere to see if it does anything, etc.

As for root I learned all of that from this website and one other. I learned about custom recovery and ROMs from xda, though I didn't post there a lot early on due to the number of snobs who like to insult new comers. Once I was able to hold my own I started posting and correcting and insulting the snobs.

 

[jefboyardee]

These forums and countless other sites taught me about androids and how to root them, or should I say, brick them. I had to teach myself that I really don't need what rooting adds, even when it's done correctly.

 

[sleedeane]

I had to teach myself that I really don't need what rooting adds, even when it's done correctly.

I've been thinking the same thing anymore. Especially since you can disable bloatware on the new phones nowadays. No need to root to uninstall bloatware.

 

[Deleted User]

How long have you been using Android devices?

Since Christmas 2014 when I bought myself a Nexus 5. Best phone I ever had, and never looked back.

To what or who do you attribute your knowledge of Android to?

Me! Developing apps teaches you a lot about the platform.

Did you go to computer school or learn everything from here or learn just by playing with your device?

see above

I wonder how long the Android Forum has been around, I wonder what people did before the Forum.

Probably played around on their iPhones until something better came along

 

[lunatic59]

My fist Android phone was a Nexus One. I've been using Linux since the '90s, though so it wasn't hard to pick up. No classes, just reading and testing and playing for the most part.

I wonder how long the Android Forum has been around, I wonder what people did before the Forum.

First post, March 31, 2008

 

[mrex]

Dont know how long i had an android phone... Since "sword and ax"...

I always learn how to use them by playing with them. I grew up with dos so i learnt to play with os's. Not hesitating to try and make errors. It is not going to explode. But nowadays im just too old for playing and switched to ios (ipad/iphone), lol ... Not really, im abit worried about a privacy when using android: too many (paid) apps want too much accessing... I dont think that my calculator app needs to read my contacts or accessing my photos.

People should just try, learn and make mistake. It is not a rocket science and the device wont blow up if you make a mistake.

 

[sleedeane]

These forums and countless other sites taught me about androids and how to root them, or should I say, brick them. I had to teach myself that I really don't need what rooting adds, even when it's done correctly.

I don't know if anybody really needs to root...
I thing it's the adrenaline..
The rush.
The danger.

And then the reward.
The satisfaction. The feeling that you just won not lost.
Which feels good.

Most of our friends don't quite understand what we're talking about or what we're Trying to accomplice.

Or why.

But they don't understand why we jump out of perfectly good airplanes either.

Pretty much the same thing.

But we know.

We get it.

And we will always want to do it.



At least now I get it.

AF made me understand.

That's what this place has done for me.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Nice bump.
A bit sad when Crash's old posts come up though.
Had my first Android for over a year with just minor poking around, but then I joined this forum and did my first root and the rest was history-
I've had a bunch of devices since, all rooted and tweaked although I don't do custom ROM's. This forum, plus XDA, are the primary resources for the DIY'er at all levels.

 

[AZgl1500]

I learned Android the Hard Way, from Hard Knocks University....

Frustration was the 1st grade given to me on Day 1.

I have never tried to root a phone.... I just learned to get along with what the phone came with, and what I could do with it.

Read a lot of forums, some good, some way too cliquish for me to deal with....
and settled down right here, amongst friends.

they tuaght me, I larn'd a thang or three, maybe????
and I try to pass it on when I can....

when I get too funny, I tangle my tungle a lot.

 

[bcrichster]

From our esteemed @SuperR on our ZTE Warp Sequents N861 !!