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Slowly getting up to speed...

PaddyC

PaddyC

Newbie
First post in the Desire-specific forum for me...

Ok So I've had my refurbished Desire for nearly 6 days now and I'm getting to know it pretty well as it comes from the factory. First off a little background spec...

Android version: 2.2.2
Baseband Version: 32.49.00.32U_5.11.05.27
Kernel Version: 2.6.32.15-gf5a401c htc-kernel@and18-2 #1
Build number: 2.29.207.4 CL345089 release-keys
Software number: 2.29.207.4
Browser version: WebKit 3.1

After some tips from some seemingly well-informed friends and other forum users I speak to I have taken on board some recommendations and am slowly making my mind up on how much I like them. I have been reading up in this forum and have found some absolute gems of information. However I realise that some of the threads are from a long time ago and some of the info in them is no longer relevant. Hence why I am posting here...

Apps I love/have downloaded and installed...

Advanced Task Killer (don't love this so much)
Android Antivirus
Anti DT
App 2 SD Free
Astro
Dolphin Browser
Elixir
Navigation (IMO it works really well and has already helped me out!)
Quickoffice

Other stuff/Games

Angry Birds
BBC iPlayer
Compass
Ebay
Flashlight
Sky Sports Football
Fruit Ninja Free
iRunner
Lottery
O2 Priority Moments
Shopper (google)
Tone Picker


So far I have learned that most people believe that Advanced Task Killer is rubbish. I'm starting to agree. It doesn't kill everything and some of the tasks simply reappear without me asking them to. I'm seeking a more effective tool to do the job properly.

Also I am aware that I should get FolderOrganiser (Haven't decided on Full or Lite yet, actually I'd like your recommendations...)

I am researching the rooting threads and I think I'm going to give it a bash. I have a lot of questions about rooting as well as custom ROMs etc because it seems I am absolutely SPOILED for choice and don't know how I go about choosing one!! Please can someone give me some starting points? Basically what I want to know is..

What is the best method of updating software/firmware/android version... ie via PC with HTC Sync or using the handset via Wi-fi?
What is the best Android version to update to before rooting? See my existing spec above...
What information will be lost/remain after rooting and what are the potential pitfalls of rooting?

I understand I have asked a load of questions and I absolutely do not expect all the answers, never mind expecting one person to answer them all! I would just really appreciate someone who knows their HTC Desire and can point me in the right direction so I don't make a Royal mess of it all.

I'm very technically minded in a mechanical sense but am more of an Intermediate when it comes to Computing and Mobile software. And this is my first outing on Android.

It rocks my current universe :cool:

I eagerly await a response and thank you in advance for your help/suggestions.

PaddyC
 
Task killers were only necessary a long time ago. V2 Android fixed most (if not all) the issues they addressed. You can always Force Stop any task from the Applications section of Settings. You do not want to kill tasks without thought (and so you don't want anything doing it automatically).

Anyone who tells you you do doesn't understand how Android works - basically you want the memory full of the apps you use regularly. Just because they're in memory doesn't mean they're "running" in the traditional computing sense, they're just available to pick-up immediately. Killing things off causes them to be re-loaded and thus takes longer and uses more battery.

Spare Parts is an app that gives you access to some useful admin stuff (which you can get to by typing a long access code anyway).
Disk Usage (is poorly named) but tells you what's taking-up your space.
System Panel is useful to show you what is _actually_ running on your phone.
App Cache Cleaner does what it says on the tin (and is good for freeing memory if you need some)
I like Bluetooth power manager to switch Bluetooth on when I stick the phone on charge (useful since I have a powered dock in the car).
Smooth Calendar widget is much better than the stock.
As is Touch Calendar.
3G Watchdog should ship with the phone - it's essential.

Can't help with the rooting/ROMs since I've never got p****ed off enough with the phone to do it (although there are very helpful folks here who'll hold your hand through it if you decide to do it).

Welcome, and enjoy.
 
Some good pointers there Griff, thanks very much!

You mention Smooth Calendar as well as Touch Calendar, I presume you don't use both and are just giving me your opinion of two alternatives to the stock calendar? Of course I'll take a look anyway, cheers!

And What is 3G Watchdog? You say it should ship with the phone but I haven't seen it anywhere...
 
I only use the Smooth Calendar widget but you can hook it up to any other calendar app.

3G watchdog keeps track of your OTA (and now WiFi) data usage - you can put in your monthly data usage date and it'll warn you when you get close to the limits (which I never have but that's nice to know too).
 
Id recommend asking your root questions in our root sub forum. It's also worth reading our faqs there first. Then, anything you don't understand, ask.

We rooters spend most our time there and you get better responses ;)
 
Welcome. If you're thinking of rooting as SU said everything's in there - my advice read the guides, twice (can seem a lot to absorb but stick with it it's worth it), and ask questions first before jumping in. You'll see much of SU (main guide author), Rasta and others in the root sub-forum - v knowledgeable and v helpful folks.

Dump any task killers, as said already you don't need 'em.
 
PaddyC said:
First post in the Desire-specific forum for me...


What is the best method of updating software/firmware/android version... ie via PC with HTC Sync or using the handset via Wi-fi?
What is the best Android version to update to before rooting? See my existing spec above...
What information will be lost/remain after rooting and what are the potential pitfalls of rooting?


PaddyC
Click to expand...

Hi Paddy

You've got yourself a great phone but to realise it's full potential you will need to root it. There is no need to update the version of Android & rooting it alone will not remove any data. However the benefits of rooting your current (stock) ROM are minimal. You will probably want to change to a 'custom' ROM but before you do so download Titanium Backup from the market. Your phone will need to be rooted before you can use it. You can then back up your Apps & Data to restore on your new ROM because you will need to wipe all data & cache before flashing a new ROM.

As you have already seen the choice of ROM is vast but fall into 3 categories:

Sense (usually with fixes for the limited data space like Apps2sd+)
AOSP (Andoid Open Source Project which are much smaller & lighter on battery. They don't have all the bloat you get with sense.)
MUIU (For something completely different)

Read the guides, the FAQs & the ROM threads on XDA which is linked to in the guides.
 
Thanks for the great feedback guys, I'll definitely be hanging around absorbing all the info. before I take the dive into rooting. Backing up was another query I had ie. which app to use but I have heard Titanium mentioned a few times with nothing bad written about it so thanks for that tip in particular Nicka!

At the moment I am liking the sound of the Sense and Oxygen ROMs but also with you mentioning the AOSP ROMs that are better for battery etc I'll definitely be looking at those as well :cool:

I'm off to look at different SMS layout apps, I've spied a few screenshots on here (pretty sure it was here) with some SMS layouts that looked really slick compared to the standard Sense one....

I fear this phone may lead me into being moaned at by the missus... ;)
 
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