# Just Got an Android Phone. What do I need? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543 "2009-11-14T11:51:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/21 "2009-11-16T19:13:42Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > [Tricorder.](http://code.google.com/p/moonblink/wiki/Tricorder) > > Yeah, at first it may sound like some lame prop for some sort of Star Trek LARP, but it’s really a seriously cool app. This is fantastic! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/22 "2009-11-16T19:19:29Z")
Ok…need to talk business. What data plan does everyone have with their Droid? Not that I am super cheap, but aside from the cost of the phone, and plans…what data plan should I get? I am not looking to spend countless hours surfing the internet, and could probably do without ANY physical internet…but I don’t know if the apps use it, and would therefore require me to get it. An example of this would be if I get a Gmail app, and open it, am I using data/internet time? or am I just using the app as is and not using data. Or does the app use data? Also, does it use data to actually download the apps? I know a lot of apps are linked to the internet so I am kinda assuming that it would be dual internet and app…but I don’t know. Sorry if I sound like a total newbie at these things…but…I kinda am. ---
**Author:** ![Peg\_Leg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90db22/32.png) [@Peg\_Leg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg_Leg)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/23 "2009-11-16T19:53:39Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Ok…need to talk business. > What data plan does everyone have with their Droid? Not that I am super cheap, but aside from the cost of the phone, and plans…what data plan should I get? I am not looking to spend countless hours surfing the internet, and could probably do without ANY physical internet…but I don’t know if the apps use it, and would therefore require me to get it. An example of this would be if I get a Gmail app, and open it, am I using data/internet time? or am I just using the app as is and not using data. Or does the app use data? > > Also, does it use data to actually download the apps? I know a lot of apps are linked to the internet so I am kinda assuming that it would be dual internet and app…but I don’t know. > > Sorry if I sound like a total newbie at these things…but…I kinda am. If your apps require access to the internet (ie, ShopSavvy) then you have to have some sort of connection. If you’re using your carrier’s network for that internet, then you’re using your data plan. If you’re using your phone’s wireless, then you can do whatever web activities you please provided you don’t wander outside of the wifi zone. Same with downloading apps. Data transfer over the network is data transfer over the network. I’ve got an unlimited data plan w/ unlimited texting. Seemed worth it when most of my time was spent back home. I liked having the option to google a random thought while I was in a restaurant or the bathroom. For now though, I pay for far more than I use. Don’t use my minutes, don’t use my data. My phone’s only used for camera, wireless, and time. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/24 "2009-11-16T20:00:06Z")
I just learned of “Bump”, an app that allows users share their contact information (and other data) by tapping their phones together. > **[Bump Goes Cross-Platform With New Android App; Upgrades iPhone Version Too |...](https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/11/bump-goes-cross-platform-with-new-android-app-upgrades-iphone-version-too/)** > > It's a big night for Bump Technologies, the mobile software startup that recently landed a round of funding led by Sequoia Capital. The company makes mobile apps that let users share their contact information (and other data) simply by tapping their... It works cross-platform, so you can “bump” between Android phones and iPhones. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/25 "2009-11-16T22:17:39Z")
If you are on T Mobile with an Android phone they are going to upgrade their entire 3G network by Christmas. The new speed will be up to 7.2 Mb per second which is the fastest in the US. Current 3G speed for T Mobile tops out around 1.2 Mb per second. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/26 "2009-11-16T22:47:32Z")
I don’t have a data plan, as I live on campus and we have campus wide wireless (which I help to keep running for my job!). I use wifi for everything, and it works quite well. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/27 "2009-11-16T23:23:59Z")
I pay 27.50 pounds a month. The phone was free as an upgrade and I’ve got unlimited data and texts. The call allowance is so much more than I typically use it might as well be unlimited too. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/28 "2009-11-20T04:26:22Z")
My plan is T-Mobile with unlimited data and text and 500 minutes of talk time per month for $80 per month. I pay another $6 per month for insurance with a $135 deductible. The myTouch phone was $150. I’m pretty happy with it, but the screen keyboard is pretty hard to get used to. I’d definitely look at a Droid, but I like the small size of the myTouch. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/29 "2009-11-20T19:28:38Z")
I am getting my droid today! SO excited!!! ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/30 "2009-11-20T20:24:31Z")
When you get a chance, take a look at the autofocus issue with the droid. A really ridiculous bug, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/31 "2009-11-20T21:00:03Z")
FYI, the ‘Listen’ app, which handles podcasts, can be used to to listen to the Straight Dope Podcast. Add this URL as a feed: [http://straightdope.infoble.com/Podcast/TemplateGenerator.aspx?ukey=c9751a93acbf4c979cf2e11b357e0a77&source=audio](http://straightdope.infoble.com/Podcast/TemplateGenerator.aspx?ukey=c9751a93acbf4c979cf2e11b357e0a77&source=audio) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/32 "2009-11-20T22:14:15Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > When you get a chance, take a look at the autofocus issue with the droid. A really ridiculous bug, if you ask me. It’s a :smack: bug if nothing else. Surely they’ll patch it before the next 24.5 day/ 2^31 milliseconds incorrect behaviour cycle starts on December 11th? ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/33 "2009-11-20T22:18:19Z")
Yes, but why does autofocus have _anything_ to do with the date? Smacks of bad coding if you ask me. It does not bode well for the rest of the code developed by Motorola. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/34 "2009-11-20T23:22:30Z")
Time slicing to decide whether the autofocus had had enough cycles to fix on a setting? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/35 "2009-11-21T01:28:39Z")
I have yet to get it to focus on ANY barcode… ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/36 "2009-11-21T01:48:42Z")
Someone please confirm that the skymap app actually works well, please. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/37 "2009-11-21T02:05:33Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Someone please confirm that the skymap app actually works well, please. It works very well so long as you allow GPS to fix your location. You’ll need an internet connection for your phone obviously, at least for a while ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/38 "2009-11-21T02:18:23Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > If you are on T Mobile with an Android phone they are going to upgrade their entire 3G network by Christmas. The new speed will be up to 7.2 Mb per second which is the fastest in the US. Current 3G speed for T Mobile tops out around 1.2 Mb per second. Is that systemwide? I presume that My BlackBerry and I will also benefit. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/39 "2009-11-21T02:20:06Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Someone please confirm that the skymap app actually works well, please. The skymap app helped me locate and observe the Leonids this year, so I’d say that yes, it does work quite well. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/40 "2009-11-21T02:50:49Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > The skymap app helped me locate and observe the Leonids this year, so I’d say that yes, it does work quite well. Same here. It was a big hit with the group of friends I was with. And it’s probably one of the most used Apps on my phone. (HTC Hero) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543.md?page=3)