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kwm1800
kwm1800
Join Date 03/2008
+26

Getting a smartphone. Seeking app recommendations.

May 17, 2013 10:06:57 PM from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

I have a gingerbread android phone (Droid 3). But due to many reasons, I was unable/unwilling to use it with full potential. I have an Ipad too, but I literally use it only when I am doing exercising on a treadmill for web browsing.

 

 

But things have changed and I need a new smartphone now. So... after good amount of research and stuffs (wow, just when did Nokia go down? Weren't they no.1 in cellphone world?) I bought Samsung Galaxy S4 32gb Unlocked. It is coming tomorrow...

 

I have absolutely no idea anything about apps these days really.  In my gingerbread phone, right now I have...

 

Spotify

Sipdroid

KakaoTalk (it's a messaging app)

Amazon Kindle

 

and..... that's it I think. Rest of apps are all pre-installed. Now my questions are....

 

 

1.) What's the best weather app?

2.) People say I can change the locking screen. If so, what's the most used/best app?

3.) Even though I use spotify, I still have a huge FLAC file library and I'd like use them with a SD card. Any good music player which has a good FLAC support? If android does not handle FLAC files well, I guess I have to transcode them into mp3 when I copy files.

4.) Current I am using Sipdroid (Sip/Voip app) but this is just not very good. Any good recommendations for this?

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kwm1800
Anthony R
Join Date 01/2003
+59
Reply #1 May 17, 2013 10:28:47 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

When you get you S4 with JB you willl be in a whole new world. Great music app that works very well is Doubletwist. Thats my favorite music player. I know it will run Wav files, but I converted to MP3 @ 320 cbr. Sounds very good and I can store more on my 32gb card. 

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kwm1800
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+79
Reply #2 May 18, 2013 9:29:53 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Nokia didn't go down, the Windows Phones are awesome! Congrats on the S4. I hear good things.

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kwm1800
kwm1800
Join Date 03/2008
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Reply #3 May 18, 2013 10:10:12 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Anthony R,
reply 1

When you get you S4 with JB you willl be in a whole new world. Great music app that works very well is Doubletwist. Thats my favorite music player. I know it will run Wav files, but I converted to MP3 @ 320 cbr. Sounds very good and I can store more on my 32gb card. 

 

Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely check it out.

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kwm1800
LightStar
Join Date 12/2002
+1417 moderator
Reply #4 May 19, 2013 5:34:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

One must also think of security and anti-virus, even on a SmartPhone. If you happen to misplace it an app called LookOut Security has AV and will locate your phone for you should you lose it.

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kwm1800
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #5 May 19, 2013 6:13:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

There are music apps for android that will play flac files.

 

EDIT:

According to the specs, your phone should support FLAC files natively: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9500_galaxy_s4-5125.php

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kwm1800
flagyl
Join Date 06/2008
+22
Reply #6 May 19, 2013 8:55:58 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

1)The Weather Channel's weather app is nice. It is free, but does have ads (they are unobtrusive in my opinion).

 

3)I have a few music players for my S3-

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neutroncode.mp&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5uZXV0cm9uY29kZS5tcCJd

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.n7mobile.nplayer&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5uN21vYmlsZS5ucGxheWVyIl0.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxmpz.audioplayer&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5tYXhtcHouYXVkaW9wbGF5ZXIiXQ..

 

4) I am not familiar with Sipdroid, but I quickly searched and found that Google Voice can be used with Sipdroid. I hope this helps.

 

PS-Amazon gives away a free app every day, if you were not aware of it.

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kwm1800
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+79
Reply #7 May 20, 2013 1:00:07 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting LightStar,
reply 4
One must also think of security and anti-virus, even on a SmartPhone. If you happen to misplace it an app called LookOut Security has AV and will locate your phone for you should you lose it.

I've been told that many cell phone professionals that AV apps for smartphones are a waste of resources. Slows the phone down.

Oh and my Windows phone has that "locate the phone" built in, no need to download an app. 

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kwm1800
LightStar
Join Date 12/2002
+1417 moderator
Reply #8 May 20, 2013 7:38:50 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting kona0197,
reply 7


Quoting LightStar, reply 4One must also think of security and anti-virus, even on a SmartPhone. If you happen to misplace it an app called LookOut Security has AV and will locate your phone for you should you lose it.

I've been told that many cell phone professionals that AV apps for smartphones are a waste of resources. Slows the phone down.

Oh and my Windows phone has that "locate the phone" built in, no need to download an app. 

 

Doesn't slow it down at all, been using it for a couple of years now. I mainly like the locate feature in case it is ever needed, it is free too and gld they built it into the Windows phone. I just got a Samsung Galaxy S4, but I actually wish I would have stayed with my Motorola Atrix II. The S4 is OK, but there are a few things I don't like.

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kwm1800
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+79
Reply #9 May 20, 2013 9:04:11 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I've sen an android based phone get slowed down because of AVG. It happens. 

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kwm1800
kryo
Join Date 05/2003
+456 moderator
Reply #10 May 20, 2013 9:08:30 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

4.) Current I am using Sipdroid (Sip/Voip app) but this is just not very good. Any good recommendations for this?

I use GrooVe IP myself and it works well enough, though I don't use it super often (and mostly from my tablet when I do).

It's $5 though if I remember right, if you're only looking for free apps. But the upside is that you don't need to set up and rely on some additional PBX provider like you do with Sipdroid in order to route via Google Voice.

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kwm1800
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2197 moderator
Reply #11 May 20, 2013 11:07:28 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I have had an Android smartphone and an Android tablet for a few years now, have had no need for an A/V.

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kwm1800
the_Monk
Join Date 01/2008
+221
Reply #12 May 20, 2013 1:34:44 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

 I also second the suggestion for looking into security software on your droid.  Both windows phone and ios are more 'locked down' than droid and while not necessarily more inherently secure the apps for same also tend to undergo more scrutiny.  In the end I would say it comes down to how one uses the OS platform.  If you are the type of person who buys a phone, adds one or two well known apps and uses the phone mostly 'stock' and are prudent when it comes to basic security practices........well then I'd agree with RND that security software might not be needed.  If however, you are the type of person who routinely installs/tests newer apps etc. then I would suggest the need for security software on any device.

 

Some app suggestions....

 

For weather apps I've found both Accuweather  and WeatherBug quite satisfying in terms of accurate (as accurate as any weather prediction can be I suppose) and up-to-date information.   For a somewhat less-useful but prettier weather app (something I use on my iPad for instance when it is sitting on the corner of the desk etc.)  I  use an app called Weather HD. 

I would give you more app suggestions but not only are some of my favourite and most useful apps for windows phone they are also Nokia exclusive apps 

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kwm1800
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+79
Reply #13 May 20, 2013 3:28:00 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Yeah the Nokia apps are really good. I use several of them on my phone. 

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kwm1800
kryo
Join Date 05/2003
+456 moderator
Reply #14 May 20, 2013 4:12:37 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting the_Monk,
reply 12
For a somewhat less-useful but prettier weather app

In that category, check out Rainy Days. It overlays the NOAA radars over Google Maps (just radar, no forecasting, but that's generally more useful for near-term anyway).

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kwm1800
kwm1800
Join Date 03/2008
+26
Reply #15 May 25, 2013 12:40:05 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Thank you for the suggestions, I am checking things one by one.

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kwm1800
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1720 sdemployee
Reply #16 May 25, 2013 2:07:43 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Only accurate weather app....

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kwm1800
BovineMan
Join Date 12/2002
0
Reply #17 May 26, 2013 10:43:41 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Swiss Army Knife

Red Laser-Very useful to convince stores that do price matching. Just scan the barcode and it will tell the price of the item at all your local stores.

Advanced Task Killer

I Can't Wake Up!-Alarm clock app

Drippler-news about android apps

Convert Pad-Convert just about anything

 

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kwm1800
sydneysiders
Join Date 04/2004
+1042
Reply #18 May 29, 2013 5:00:12 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting the_Monk,
reply 12
For a somewhat less-useful but prettier weather app (something I use on my iPad for instance when it is sitting on the corner of the desk etc.) I use an app called Weather HD.

thank you... like that one... 

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