Help My Epic 4G Gripe thread

[kooldino]

I'll be adding to this list as time goes on, but here's a start.

I'm coming from a pre, which has it's shortcomings, but the interface is great.

I'm currently running Android 2.2.1

Without further ado:

• In the text messaging program, you can't filter by starting to type a contact's name. It just searches the contents of the text messages. This forces me to manually scroll down to find someone's name.
• There's no card view to see and manage running apps. There are no gestures for the OS. I realize this is a webOS exclusive thing, but goddamn I miss it.
• You can't paste a phone number into the phone app.
• It seems as if you cannot select text from a web page.
• It seems to rotate the screen prematurely a lot. I tried to reconfigure this to no avail.
• While my contacts are auto synched, it's not pulling pictures from my friends' facebook accounts to use in their profiles.
• I cannot change the four apps "stuck" to the bottom of my home screen.
• When searching through contacts, I cannot simply enter someone's initials to find them. Not the end of the world, but it's a shortcut I used often.

If anyone knows any workarounds for these, I'd love to know.

 

[alanamaslama]

- Filtering by Contact name

I don't use the native SMS app. I started using Handcent SMS about 2 months after I got the phone. In Handcent, you can hit the Menu button, go to search, type a contact's name, and hit search. It may not list it AS you type the name, but that's one way. Plus, you can customize the appearance of Handcent, which is cool.

- Not really sure what you mean by "card view." Gestures...

You can longpress the home button, which will show the last 6 apps you used. Below that should be "Task Manager." You can see which apps you're running and close from there. Regarding gestures, I know that Launcherpro (an alternative home launcher) allows for gestures to be used.

- Pasting #s into the phone app

You can paste phone numbers into the phone app. Just long-press on the dark empty space above the dialpad. There should be a paste option (given that you've copied something).

- Selecting text on a web page

Again, I don't use the native browser. I replaced it with Dolphin HD, which I like much better. You can select text in Dolphin after going through the menus to choose the "Select Text" option. The quickest way to do it in Dolphin is to assign the "Select Text" function to a gesture swipe.

- Syncing facebook contacts

There could be a number of reasons for this. Firstly, is this occurring for all of your contacts? If not, are your facebook contacts and your phone contacts actually linked? For example, if you have already had a John Smith listed in your phone, but he's listed as Johnathan Smith on facebook, you might have to manually link them in your contact list.

Also, if you already have photos assigned to certain contact profiles, the Facebook app won't override the ones in your contact list.

If neither of those are the case, maybe it depends on how you sync'd the contacts. Did you got to Settings -> Accounts -> Add Account? Or did you try doing it from the Facebook App -> Menu -> Settings -> Sync Contacts? If you only did one of those, try the other.

- Changing the four apps in the dock

On the Epic, this is only possible by switching to an alternative Home Launcher program. ADW and LauncherPro seem to be the more popular ones. Personally, I use LauncherPro. For me, it runs smoother and allows for more customization (without "rooting" your phone). If you go to the Post your desktop or the Android Phone 7 Theme threads, most people there are using alternative home launchers.

Note: All of the apps I listed--Dolphin, ADW, Launcherpro, Handcent--are available for free on the Market.

 

[kooldino]

- Filtering by Contact name

I don't use the native SMS app. I started using Handcent SMS about 2 months after I got the phone. In Handcent, you can hit the Menu button, go to search, type a contact's name, and hit search. It may not list it AS you type the name, but that's one way. Plus, you can customize the appearance of Handcent, which is cool.

SWEET! Now how do I get it to replace my default messaging app so I don't get a notification from both apps? Also, When I click on messaging on my launch bar, I want to to launch handcent.

- Not really sure what you mean by "card view."

On the Pre, when you press the "home" button, it will zoom out whatever app you're currently using and display all of your current apps as their own "card". You can swipe back and forth to see a live view of each card. Click the card to focus on the app and activate it to full screen. Bad example:

Easily the best multitasking I've seen on a phone.

Gestures...

Yes. For instance, in the card view on webos, if I swipe a card up and off of the screen, it closes the app. If I have a text conversation i wish to delete, I simply swipe it left or right - off of the screen, etc.

You can longpress the home button, which will show the last 6 apps you used.

I do like that, however, some of them may or may not be running, and there is no indication of that.

Below that should be "Task Manager." You can see which apps you're running and close from there.

Right, but I can't switch to those tasks from there. Seems kind of silly for them to omit that ability.

Regarding gestures, I know that Launcherpro (an alternative home launcher) allows for gestures to be used.

I'll have to look into this.

- Pasting #s into the phone app

Dear god, thank you.

- Selecting text on a web page

Again, I don't use the native browser. I replaced it with Dolphin HD, which I like much better.

What rendering engine does Dolphin use?

You can select text in Dolphin after going through the menus to choose the "Select Text" option. The quickest way to do it in Dolphin is to assign the "Select Text" function to a gesture swipe.

How does dolphin compare to the stock browser overall? Does it have any shortcomings compared to stock?

- Syncing facebook contacts

There could be a number of reasons for this. Firstly, is this occurring for all of your contacts? If not, are your facebook contacts and your phone contacts actually linked? For example, if you have already had a John Smith listed in your phone, but he's listed as Johnathan Smith on facebook, you might have to manually link them in your contact list.

It doesn't work for anyone even though I enabled synching in my settings.

Also, if you already have photos assigned to certain contact profiles, the Facebook app won't override the ones in your contact list.

Everyone is photo-less.

If neither of those are the case, maybe it depends on how you sync'd the contacts. Did you got to Settings -> Accounts -> Add Account? Or did you try doing it from the Facebook App -> Menu -> Settings -> Sync Contacts? If you only did one of those, try the other.

The facebook app allows me to select settings, but doesn't allow me to force a sync.

- Changing the four apps in the dock

On the Epic, this is only possible by switching to an alternative Home Launcher program. ADW and LauncherPro seem to be the more popular ones. Personally, I use LauncherPro. For me, it runs smoother and allows for more customization (without "rooting" your phone). If you go to the Post your desktop or the Android Phone 7 Theme threads, most people there are using alternative home launchers.

So is this just a simple install from the app catalog or is it more involved?

Note: All of the apps I listed--Dolphin, ADW, Launcherpro, Handcent--are available for free on the Market.

Thank you!

 

[alanamaslama]

About double SMS notifications

Go the native messaging app. From there, it's Menu -> Settings. Uncheck "Auto-retrieve" and "Notifications." After installing handcent, hitting the SMS icon MAY prompt you to choose between the native messaging app and Handcent. If not, then I know that Launcherpro allows for you to change the Dock Apps and their icons. Shoot, LauncherPro allows for 3 docks to swipe through...

Card View

Ok, no card view. Launcher Pro has a pinch gesture that shows all of your homescreens, but definitely not the apps. I don't use gestures on my homescreen, so I wouldn't know too much about gestures in LauncherPro.

Dolphin Browser

Not sure about the rendering engine, to be honest. There are three different Dolphin browsers, though. Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Browser, and Dolphin HD. That's listed from the lightest to the most taxing.

I haven't used the native browser since last October and before Froyo, so I'm not sure what the current browser is like. Back then, I switched because Dolphin allowed for tabbed browsing and gesturing.

Facebook contact syncing

Try uninstalling it and re-installing it from the Market. I've heard that may do the trick for some people.

Alternative Home Launchers

Yup. Just download and install. After it installs, hit the "Home" face button, and it should prompt you to choose one of the home launchers. All of your icons and data will be intact. (at least for LauncherPro, I don't have experience with ADW)

 

[Kelmar]

So which questions are still unanswered?

 

[alanamaslama]

So which questions are still unanswered?

I don't think we've figured out the facebook contact syncing quite yet. And i didn't address the issue about premature screen rotation. I wasn't sure about tha tone.

 

[Kelmar]

Don't use FB... but try going to Menu/Settings/Account&Sync and syncing your FB info. Additionally, you can try clearing the cache of the FB app to see if that helps.

IIRC, there was a thread around here recently with directions for that.


As far as screen rotation, how has the OP tried to reconfigure it (to avoid confusion) and when/how is it having this issue.


The 4 apps at the bottom can be changed by hitting the app drawer then Menu/Edit... drag and drop the apps you DO want to the bottom... then Menu/Save.

 

[Puddin422]

I use Handcent, and as I start typing a contact's name, it starts showing me suggestions. I don't have to go through all the stuff listed in Post #2.

 

[kooldino]

About double SMS notifications

Go the native messaging app. From there, it's Menu -> Settings. Uncheck "Auto-retrieve" and "Notifications." After installing handcent, hitting the SMS icon MAY prompt you to choose between the native messaging app and Handcent. If not, then I know that Launcherpro allows for you to change the Dock Apps and their icons. Shoot, LauncherPro allows for 3 docks to swipe through...

Beautiful, done.

LauncherPro is an impressive app.

That said, while setting up my custom icons at the bottom, i've noticed that it won't allow me to add certain things back in. For instance, if I want to add a launcher for the phone or web browser, neither are selectable in the shortcut list. I realize they are on the dock by default, but I wanted to change the order of them. What am i missing here?

I also like how you can gesture.

Card View

Ok, no card view. Launcher Pro has a pinch gesture that shows all of your homescreens, but definitely not the apps. I don't use gestures on my homescreen, so I wouldn't know too much about gestures in LauncherPro.

:-(

I would absolutely love to be able to do this.

As an alternative, perhaps there is some kind of task manager which will ONLY show me running applications and allow me to kill them OR switch to them?

Dolphin Browser

Not sure about the rendering engine, to be honest. There are three different Dolphin browsers, though. Dolphin Mini, Dolphin Browser, and Dolphin HD. That's listed from the lightest to the most taxing.

I like the tabbed interface, but I still have to play with this just yet.

Facebook contact syncing

Try uninstalling it and re-installing it from the Market. I've heard that may do the trick for some people.

It looks like this is working so far...

Alternative Home Launchers

Yup. Just download and install. After it installs, hit the "Home" face button, and it should prompt you to choose one of the home launchers. All of your icons and data will be intact. (at least for LauncherPro, I don't have experience with ADW)

New Gripes:

• When I first got my Epic, I simply synched to gmail to get my contacts. It appears that my Pre had done a lousy job of this, and only put a few hundred (of over a thousand) on my gmail account. Therefore, I had to have Sprint use their machine to transfer over all of my contacts. This led to me having a few hundred duplicates. So, I went into my contacts on gmail and had it merge all of the duplicates. My phone is synched with my gmail, howver, it appears that the duplicates still exist on my phone. How do I remedy this easily?
• I had another one, but forgot it while typing the previous.
  

 

[kooldino]

As far as screen rotation, how has the OP tried to reconfigure it (to avoid confusion) and when/how is it having this issue.

I used the calibration in settings>Display>Horizontal calibration

The 4 apps at the bottom can be changed by hitting the app drawer then Menu/Edit... drag and drop the apps you DO want to the bottom... then Menu/Save.

Could I have accomplished this with the stock dock?

 

[Kelmar]

Yes, with stock dock

 

[Kelmar]

Do you want to just disable the phone contacts and use your google contacts?

 

[alanamaslama]

Beautiful, done.

LauncherPro is an impressive app.

That said, while setting up my custom icons at the bottom, i've noticed that it won't allow me to add certain things back in. For instance, if I want to add a launcher for the phone or web browser, neither are selectable in the shortcut list. I realize they are on the dock by default, but I wanted to change the order of them. What am i missing here?

[/LIST]

Web Browser and the Phone apps should be in your Application list. If you're using the Dolphin, you'll find that in the list. The native web browser's app name is "Internet" and the phone app is just "Phone."

Not sure about your other gripes, I'd kinda like to know the same as well. It was a bit of a hassle when I had to wipe my phone.

And as forddna pointed out, I think that I did misunderstand what you were asking about regarding contact filtering in the SMS app.

 

[kooldino]

More gripes:

• I can't seem clear single notifications from the pull down notification area.
• There doesn't seem to be a way for apps to auto-update to the most recent version

 

[kooldino]

Yes, with stock dock

Is that a 2.2+ thing only?

 

[kooldino]

Do you want to just disable the phone contacts and use your google contacts?

Eh. I'd rather fix the actual issue rather than bandaid-ing it.

 

[Kelmar]

Is that a 2.2+ thing only?

Yes. You said you were on 2.2.1, right?

 

[Kelmar]

Eh. I'd rather fix the actual issue rather than bandaid-ing it.

Try going into "Contacts" and pressing long pressing on a contact and selecting "join contact."

 

[Kelmar]

More gripes:

• I can't seem clear single notifications from the pull down notification area.
• There doesn't seem to be a way for apps to auto-update to the most recent version

First one, not sure.

Second one, when you install an app, select "auto update". You can do this to previously installed apps too. Typically though if the updated app needs additional permissions it won't auto update (for security reasons).

 

[kooldino]

Web Browser and the Phone apps should be in your Application list. If you're using the Dolphin, you'll find that in the list. The native web browser's app name is "Internet" and the phone app is just "Phone."

Ah, got it. I tried that earlier, but it takes forever to pop up that list, so it threw me off.

Not sure about your other gripes, I'd kinda like to know the same as well. It was a bit of a hassle when I had to wipe my phone.

And as forddna pointed out, I think that I did misunderstand what you were asking about regarding contact filtering in the SMS app.

Well, the solution with the other messenger is good enough. It doesn't filter on type, I have to hit the search button first, but it's good enough for now.

 

[moviemngr]

"Sync my pix" (free in the android market) is a great app to sync fb pix with contacts...if youre still having that issue.

 

[kooldino]

Yes. You said you were on 2.2.1, right?

Yes. However, one of my friends is on 2.1 so I was curious.

 

[kooldino]

Try going into "Contacts" and pressing long pressing on a contact and selecting "join contact."

That works, but I'm going to have to do that about 300 more times. There's gotta be a better solution that involves synching.

 

[kooldino]

First one, not sure.

Second one, when you install an app, select "auto update". You can do this to previously installed apps too. Typically though if the updated app needs additional permissions it won't auto update (for security reasons).

Where exactly do I find that option?

NM - found a checkbox on the download page for the app.

 

[dbpaddler]

Your contacts problem was kind of your fault in letting sprint put them on your phone since they could only put them into the phone's contact list. You should've just let google do the syncing, and the sales rep who did it was probably not the brightest to steer you in that direction.

I'd just backup some stuff I needed and hard reset. Start from scratch with a clean slate. Then google will be your only contacts. You'll load up facebook and probably sync no problem for photos and all. Just choose existing contacts all you'll have everyone on fb in your contact list.

Multitasking is what it is. No way to differentiate active from recent, but does it really matter. You just care about what you want to go into.

You'll miss some of the polish aand slickness of webOS, but you'll soon appreciate the functionality and customization aspects of android. I still wish I could swipe away msgs and emails, but oh well.