# 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:** 3
**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, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/41 "2009-11-21T02:55:40Z")
Just told me that Jupiter is RIGHT next to Venus in the sky. Never woulda known that otherwise. ---
**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 22, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/42 "2009-11-22T03:25:57Z")
Hmm. And I can’t get this skymap on my jailbroke Iphone… ---
**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 22, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/43 "2009-11-22T03:35:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Hmm. And I can’t get this skymap on my jailbroke Iphone… For fucks sake… ---
**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 22, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/44 "2009-11-22T03:47:25Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > For fucks sake… _What??_ ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/45 "2009-11-22T04:05:35Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > _What??_ You seem to have _my jailbroke Iphone…_ in a thread about Android phones. No offence like, but what are you expecting? Hmm. ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/46 "2009-11-22T04:19:30Z")
Sorry bout that. ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/47 "2009-11-22T04:24:08Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Sorry bout that. Ach, I’m sorry too. Didn’t mean to be so mean. Bit pissed etc. ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/48 "2009-11-22T04:35:22Z")
Well, for the record, I have talked about nothing but that skymap ap since I opened this thread. I have all my techie buddies from work all hype about it. (the few that didn’t know about it already). ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/49 "2009-11-22T14:10:24Z")
Consumer restraint? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/50 "2009-11-22T15:08:56Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Consumer restraint? LOL I have been fairly restrained, I think I have spent about $20 on apps for it, and that includes $10 for an app for my computer to change ebook formats on my various files to epub files. Though I was looking at the tricorder app … and I am thinking about one of the barcode reader apps also. I did get one of the drink recipe ones, and skyscape for the rx drug info, the outlines in clinical med and archimedes medical calculator, and the special forces medical handbook for the fun of it - though I use the rx guide to check meds at the doctors appointment =) ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/51 "2009-11-22T16:06:13Z")
A lot like the “Skymap” thread. Has anybody gotten a barcode to work? I certainly haven’t. I have Shopsavvy by the way. ---
**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 22, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/52 "2009-11-22T16:35:53Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Is that systemwide? I presume that My BlackBerry and I will also benefit. T Mobile is upgrading their 3G network everywhere but I don’t know if the new speed will also work for Blackberries. The T Mobile release I read only mentioned Android phones. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/53 "2009-11-22T19:12:29Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Has anybody gotten a barcode to work? I certainly haven’t. I have Shopsavvy by the way. It works for me, except for sporadic autofocus problems, referred to above, which will soon be fixed via a software update. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/54 "2009-11-22T19:15:59Z")
A couple of questions 1. What Android phone is comparable to an IPHONE? Or at least similar. 2. How good are the Apps in general? Do they have one similar to Stanza? ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/55 "2009-11-22T19:28:51Z")
> [@Estilicon](#): > > 1. How good are the Apps in general? Do they have one similar to Stanza? > **[Aldiko](https://www.demarque.com/en/aldiko)** > > DOWNLOAD ALDIKO NOW BUY Choose from over 1.2 million titles from our online bookstore. BORROW Check out titles from your local library within the app. READ Instantly read all your ebooks and listen to all your audiobooks. DOWNLOAD ALDIKO NOW ---
**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 22, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/56 "2009-11-22T21:36:45Z")
In general Android is similar to an iPhone except it has full multitasking and the iPhone can only run a few apps multitasked. Verizon Motorola Droid is similar to the iPhone along with the T Mobile my Touch 3G. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/57 "2009-11-23T00:58:48Z")
I use a great app called “Where” on my T-Mobile G1. It can link to your GPS sensors to know exactly where you are, and find the nearest coffee shop, cheap gas, Taco Bell, or anything else you tell it to find. Like Google or Dex, but automatically detecting your precise location. If you have an email account other than Gmail, an app called K-9 Mail is a great POP client (better than the included email client). (both of these are free) Other than that, the supplied apps do just about anything you would normally need to do. T-Mobile has a forum for its Android phones where all sorts of apps and other issues are bandied about with great expertise. I would suspect the other carriers have something similar. Welcome to the wonderful world of Android!..TRM ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/58 "2009-11-23T01:02:35Z")
I’m wondering if it would be too expensive to purchase one of these in Northern Ireland and use it in the Republic. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/59 "2009-11-23T01:06:16Z")
The tattoo is supposed to be super cheap with a new plan, if that helps. ---
**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 23, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543/60 "2009-11-23T03:31:55Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > The tattoo is supposed to be super cheap with a new plan, if that helps. 99 bucks IIRC. And I got the barcode to read something, I just need to use it in action. Which I will tomorrow! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-an-android-phone-what-do-i-need/517543.md?page=4)