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New iPhone to Android Convert - Looking for App Advice

Z

zadillo

Newbie
Hi all,

Well, I've decided to make the switch, and am now the owner of a shiny new EVO 4G.

So far I'm really enjoying it - the reason I'm posting is that I'm hoping people with more Android experience might be able to offer some suggestions/guidance as I look to replace what I did/used on my iPhone with Android.

1) I've got a pair of Klipsch s4i headphones with the iPhone headset and remote controls. So far in my experience I've found that at least the middle play/pause button seems to work.... and in the Pandora app at least, double-clicking the middle button advances to the next song as well, just like on the iPhone - but I've tried the default Music app and DoubleTwist, and this double-click to advance doesn't seem to work. It also seems like the volume controls on the remote don't work. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice? I'm perfectly willing to buy new headphones that would offer a full remote system - is there anything like this available?

2) I used Beejive IM as a multiprotocol IM app - it doesn't look like Beejive is available, but can anyone recommend a good multi-IM service app?

3) I'm also very interested in streaming media from my desktop PC to my EVO (especially with the large screen and 4G connection, this seems like a much nicer option). I have been using Orb for music streaming, (I believe there's an OrbLive app for Android although I haven't tried it yet) and I've been using an app called Air Video for video streaming (primarily because Orb seems to just choke and do a terrible job on video on my system, while Air Video does an amazing job). Unfortunately it appears Air Video is iPhone specific, so I'm wondering what you would recommend for streaming/live converting video files from a desktop PC remotely (over wifi and over the Internet).

4) I use ooTunes for radio streaming, and would also love to hear about a good Android equivalent.

5) I use an app called Logitech TouchMouse which allows my iPhone to act as a wireless keyboard/touchpad to control my desktop PC. Would love to find something similar (I don't think TouchMouse is anything special, but it's the only one that I could reliably get to work - the other ones like AirMouse would often lose server connection).

6) On a more general note, if anyone has any recommendations for other music/video apps, I'd love to hear the recommendations. So far as I mentioned, I've tried both the default Music app and DoubleTwist, and they seem a bit barebones - I'd love to find out there's some excellent music/video app out there.

7) I've got Advanced Task Killer installed, and I also have the EVO's widgets for turning on and off the radios. If there's anything else that you might recommend for getting the most out of the battery, I'd love to hear it (the one negative thing I kept hearing about the EVO usually centered on battery life issues, so I'd love to do what I can to avoid those).

Thanks!

-Zadillo
 
2) Meebo
5) Search the market. There's a similar, free program. AppBrain has had it as a featured app the last couple days.
7) Disable apps (like gtalk) that run in the background. I found that rooting and removing a bunch helped. Turn off/down the frequency of background updates on the news, weather, etc. Also, ATK is somewhat controversial. I've stopped using it for the most part. In my experience, it causes programs to force close after prolonged use.
 
Try Startup Auditor to stop certain apps from starting like NFL, Navigation, etc. I use it on my Sprint phone and it is flawless.
 
Help with Battery Life-
http://androidforums.com/tips-tricks-evo-4g/89161-official-htc-evo-4g-battery-thread.html
A warning about Task killers and Android (strongly suggest you read it!)-
http://androidforums.com/tips-tricks-evo-4g/85554-task-killers-must-read-new-android-users.html

As for your questions.
I don't use my Evo for music or to stream much TV/Video, so I can't really help you.

There's an app that is in BETA stages right now, it's called "LogMeIn", It lets you control your PC from your phone. I am part of the closed BETA, and it is one of the best PC controllers I have used. Just going to have to watch for it to be released.
 
Very cool, thanks for the answers so far...... I'm going to remove ATK and not worry about using it.

For the wireless remote stuff, I looked through AppBrain, and it looks like Gmote is pretty close to what I was looking for, so I'm going to give it a shot.

Meebo also is doing a good job for me as far as IM goes.

At this point probably the big questions I have from above still relate to music and video apps, remote streaming of media from my desktop PC, and being able to use headset remote mic controls with my EVO (like the iPhone remotes that give you control over volume, pausing and playing and advancing to the next track). For that last one I'm wondering if it depends a bit on the app - as I mentioned, with my Klipsch headphones, pause and play works with every app, and the double-tap to skip to the next track at least works in Pandora (but not DoubleTwist or the default Music app).
 
zadillo said:
1) I've got a pair of Klipsch s4i headphones with the iPhone headset and remote controls. So far in my experience I've found that at least the middle play/pause button seems to work.... and in the Pandora app at least, double-clicking the middle button advances to the next song as well, just like on the iPhone - but I've tried the default Music app and DoubleTwist, and this double-click to advance doesn't seem to work. It also seems like the volume controls on the remote don't work. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice? I'm perfectly willing to buy new headphones that would offer a full remote system - is there anything like this available?
Click to expand...

There are such systems. And the same way you bought an iPhone compatible one, you now need to buy one that will be fully compatible with your new headset.


4) I use ooTunes for radio streaming, and would also love to hear about a good Android equivalent.
Click to expand...
Lot of apps like this. I use A Online Radio.
 
4) RadioTime is a nice streamer. It is 2.99 though.
6) Try bTunes (1.49). It is like the iPhone music player.
 
Szadzik said:
There are such systems. And the same way you bought an iPhone compatible one, you now need to buy one that will be fully compatible with your new headset.
Click to expand...

Right..... any recommendations on one in particular?

When I looked for Android headsets I found some stuff like an HTC model for $15, although it just mentions answering and ending calls - so I'm not sure if there are universal ones for pause/play/advance to next track as well as volume control.

I'd also still like to use something with better audio quality like my Klipsch headphones (or Shure, etc.) - I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the HTC headphones are about what you'd expect for $15.

I'd be willing to go to stereo bluetooth headphones too if they'll make it easier to remotely manage music control.
 
zadillo said:
Right..... any recommendations on one in particular?

When I looked for Android headsets I found some stuff like an HTC model for $15, although it just mentions answering and ending calls - so I'm not sure if there are universal ones for pause/play/advance to next track as well as volume control.

I'd also still like to use something with better audio quality like my Klipsch headphones (or Shure, etc.) - I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the HTC headphones are about what you'd expect for $15.

I'd be willing to go to stereo bluetooth headphones too if they'll make it easier to remotely manage music control.
Click to expand...

I have not searched for anything like that as I do not listen to music on my Moto Milestone.

The only thought I have is to find a cable with these controls that allows you to attach any headphones you want. I remember Sony Ericsson used to have these with their phones, but I am not sure if these are made for any other phones.
 
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