Help New to Android, need some advice

[GinasMuffins]

All,

I need your help. I got my first Android 9 days ago after hearing so much good things about Android. Over the past days I've been finding more and more things that are really not a huge deal, but I want to keep this phone for the duration of my contract with Verizon (2 years) and these things that I'm finding, I just know will frustrate me in the long term.

With that, I would like to show you my list - if there are ways to fix these things, I will gladly do that and keep this phone. (Samsung Fascinate) All in all, I do really enjoy the phone. I love the swype texting and the interface, don't get me wrong. But I've had an iPhone in the past and I'm finding myself wanting to go back to it.


what i do not like about my android

• 
  Runs too many apps in the background, they power up by themselves hence wearing down my battery (yes, i have the app killer, that's how i see that all of these apps are starting themselves)

• Can't get rid of apps that are pre-programmed on the phone that I won't use. has 4 screens of apps i will never use, can't even simply delete the icon

• Android boasts more apps that are free,but they are mostly apps that i wouldn't use anyway

• the phone froze up twice the 2nd day i got it. it made some weird lines across the screen and each time i tried to hit the button to unfreeze it, more and more red-ish lines came up eventually covering my screen, forcing me to take the battery out. though it hasn't happened since, mind you i've only had a short time

• When I want to use a picture as the background, it won't let me use the entire picture, even if it's portrait shaped, but only a small swatch of it and it stretches it out and pixelizes it. i could understand that about a horizontal picture, but not portrait

• The button on the right side to power the phone up from it's sleep/dormant state is hard to get to, and too small. (i have small fingers, not fat ones)

• Doesn't have podcasts like itunes does, i listen to a lot of podcasts

• the app, words with friends, constantly freezes and i have to re-start phone, however this could just be the app and not the phone. its the only game i play so it's not a huge deal

What I might not like about the iphone/or miss about android

• iphone will be a smaller screen

• swype texting

• the puzzle piece unlock screen thing

So if you have any input, I'd greatly appreciate it! I have 14 days to take this phone back.

Thank you!

 

[MutantCheese]

We can't convince you of anything. You either like/accept Android for what it has/doesn't have or don't. There are many opinions and the only one that matters at the end of the day is yours. Go with what makes your existence a happy one.

 

[GinasMuffins]

We can't convince you of anything. You either like/accept Android for what it has/doesn't have or don't. There are many opinions and the only one that matters at the end of the day is yours. Go with what makes your existence a happy one.

MutantCheese, I like that name by the way..

Maybe I should have changed the subject line to be something different and framed my question in a different way.

Re-framed question: Are there ways to get around these things that I do not like about the Android, like getting rid of excess icons and not having apps start themselves, or there is not a way to get around those?

Thanks for your contribution

 

[nunyazz]

1. App killers only make the phone use more memory, please do some research.
2. Can get rid of them by rooting, but you also cannot get rid of those app on the iPhone ether.
3. Same for iPhone.
4. At least you can take the battery out.
5. You don't know how to stretch the box obviously.
6. o well.
7. Supports all the podcast with the correct podcast player.
8. Dont play that game.

I had all the iPhones before moving to android and couldn;t be happier. You need to research more and learn how to use the device correctly.

 

[MutantCheese]

OK, The best way to do what you want is to

#1 dump the app killers. Ignore the running apps and go about your business. Android handles running apps differently than Windows. They aren't using any cycles and are "frozen" instate for when you or the app associated with them needs to be used. I never use app killers, ever, on Android.

#2 Rooting your device is the best way to freeze or remove bloat. I use Titanium Backup for those purposes, but you must be rooted to use them. Another method to hide apps is to use an alternate home screen like Launcher Pro, which allows you to hide unused apps.

Hope this helps with your choices...Happy Droiding!

 

[GinasMuffins]

1. App killers only make the phone use more memory, please do some research.
2. Can get rid of them by rooting, but you also cannot get rid of those app on the iPhone ether.
3. Same for iPhone.
4. At least you can take the battery out.
5. You don't know how to stretch the box obviously.
6. o well.
7. Supports all the podcast with the correct podcast player.
8. Dont play that game.

I had all the iPhones before moving to android and couldn;t be happier. You need to research more and learn how to use the device correctly.

Nunyazz,

I appreciate you taking the time to answer some of my questions, but did not fully appreciate the negative overtone in the post..just sayin' - I've come to find there are a lot of people who give a slight attitude while posting in forums, I don't get it. (I was not directing that last sentence towards you, I have not read other posts by you) But just stating an observation.

I do know how to stretch the box, it's the first thing I learned how to do when changing the background.

Yes, you can take battery out, but I end up having to re-start the phone several times a day because I'll hit my messaging button and the YouTube application opens or something will freeze. It's technology though, it's not flawless by any means.

Another method to hide apps is to use an alternate home screen like Launcher Pro, which allows you to hide unused apps.

Mutant, Thank you! I'll look into LauncherPro today. I have a few more days before I have to switch if that is what I'm going to do.

 

[nunyazz]

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as 'negative'. Just seemed like you were bashing the phone before you gave it a chance.