Andriod newb... HELP!

[buzzkill]

So I got this nifty new Android tablet, but it turns out that I don't have any Android-centric friends and despite being a PC guy, I don't know too much about it myself.

It is not a "modern" tablet, probably a year or two old. Most app store apps say they're incompatible, but downloading and installing an apk (from a 3rd party) often results in a working app. The touch screen is way less responsive than a modern phone (registers touch well, bug dragging and sliding requires focused effort). I believe its wi-fi only, no 3g, 4g, or gps. Despite it's obvious flaws, I find it quite indispensable (as I don't have a smart phone).

It's running Android 2.3.4. What I'm looking for is general Android advice and some GOOD apps. I've yet to find a game I really like playing on it, so I spend a lot on time with sudoku, words, and facebook, oh and netflix. Pleeease, point me to some GREAT apps. Also, is it possible and/or desirable it upgrade the OS?

[tg122]

I recommend a game called Dungeon Raid. Its a puzzle/rpg hybrid that has a lot of depth and strategy. You can find more about it on google play.

[Magnate]

Originally Posted by buzzkill

So I got this nifty new Android tablet, but it turns out that I don't have any Android-centric friends and despite being a PC guy, I don't know too much about it myself.

It is not a "modern" tablet, probably a year or two old. Most app store apps say they're incompatible, but downloading and installing an apk (from a 3rd party) often results in a working app. The touch screen is way less responsive than a modern phone (registers touch well, bug dragging and sliding requires focused effort). I believe its wi-fi only, no 3g, 4g, or gps. Despite it's obvious flaws, I find it quite indispensable (as I don't have a smart phone).

It's running Android 2.3.4. What I'm looking for is general Android advice and some GOOD apps. I've yet to find a game I really like playing on it, so I spend a lot on time with sudoku, words, and facebook, oh and netflix. Pleeease, point me to some GREAT apps. Also, is it possible and/or desirable it upgrade the OS?

Hiya. Yes you can upgrade the OS version - this process is roughly analogous to the iOS upgrade for iPhones/iPads, if you've ever done that. A kind of long slow reboot with your fingers crossed. 2.3.4 is ancient (current is 4.something) so an upgrade should solve most of those app compat warnings you're seeing. Probably best to google the make + model of tablet with "upgrade android".

Despite being a big android fan I don't actually play many games on mine, so I'm not best placed to recommend. (Other than the superb Angband and Angband Variants apps, of course - hats off to David3x3x3 for those.)

Apps I use a lot are:

ConnectBot (for using my phone as a terminal of a remote machine)

DropBear SSH Server (for allowing me to remote into my phone from another machine - this one requires root access, and gaining root access is very device-specific)

Terminal IDE (for any kind of coding, but primarily because it has a better keyboard than my device's default one)

DAAP (for playing songs from any DAAP/iTunes server, rather than only songs stored on the device)

Facebook, eBay, Amazon Kindle, National Rail timetable (all kind of obvious apps, like the built-in maps / mail / YouTube etc.)

Shazam or Soundhound for trying to recognise snatches of music in bars

Battle.net mobile authenticator for indulging other people's security paranoia when playing WoW or D3.

[david3x3x3]

There are probably better places to find good Android games than this forum, but here are a few games I like: Angband, Enjoy Sudoku, Astraware Sudoku, SpaceChem, Trainyard, Refraction, Cut the Rope, Simon Tatham's Puzzles, Solitaire Chess. As you can see, I like puzzle games.

For non-game apps I would add Dropbox, Evernote, Glympse (maybe not on a tablet), Tripit, Starbucks, and Barcode Scanner.

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by Magnate

Hiya. Yes you can upgrade the OS version - this process is roughly analogous to the iOS upgrade for iPhones/iPads, if you've ever done that. A kind of long slow reboot with your fingers crossed. 2.3.4 is ancient (current is 4.something) so an upgrade should solve most of those app compat warnings you're seeing. Probably best to google the make + model of tablet with "upgrade android".

I'm a bit of a hacker of the denials don't bother me much if I can (and I often can) work around them. I had to hack my Pandigital Novel (that's my pos tablet) in order to install the Android Market. I've since (last night) discover the Amazon Market which seem to me to be way better than other markets I've tried (but requires credit card even for free stuff, which put me off at first).

DropBear SSH Server (for allowing me to remote into my phone from another machine - this one requires root access, and gaining root access is very device-specific)

I've achieved root access, should I ever need it.

Terminal IDE (for any kind of coding, but primarily because it has a better keyboard than my device's default one)

Just found SwiftKeys, which is a HUGE improvement over the default keyboard. I can actually type stuff now.

DAAP (for playing songs from any DAAP/iTunes server, rather than only songs stored on the device)

Though I'm a huge fan of music/MP3's, I'm also a big fan of Pandora and Pandora on a tablet actually makes sense. I never use it on my PC, that's for my MP3's.

Facebook, eBay, Amazon Kindle, National Rail timetable (all kind of obvious apps, like the built-in maps / mail / YouTube etc.)

I don't like mail on my tablet, rather keep it on my PC where it belongs. Could probably have it both ways but I'm not interested enough to look into it as my email is sparse and strictly personal. Kindle, maps, facebook... check.

Shazam or Soundhound for trying to recognise snatches of music in bars

Yep, I'm aware of these things and need to get one.

Battle.net mobile authenticator for indulging other people's security paranoia when playing WoW or D3.

Using Avast for system security, though I suspect that it's largely unnecessary. Indulging others? Not my style . Thanks for the reply.

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by david3x3x3

There are probably better places to find good Android games than this forum

Yeah, but I trust you guys.. at least I'm working on the assumption that someone who enjoys RL's enough to join a forum devoted to RL's might have other similar interests. Just in case I'm wrong I've also been through any number of top 50/100 lists and installed Drippler (which I'm not too sure about).

but here are a few games I like: Angband, Enjoy Sudoku, Astraware Sudoku, SpaceChem, Trainyard, Refraction, Cut the Rope, Simon Tatham's Puzzles, Solitaire Chess. As you can see, I like puzzle games.

I got the Angband Variants (not V yet), don't know if I play them given that I don't have a real keyboard. I look into some of your suggestions.

For non-game apps I would add Dropbox, Evernote, Glympse (maybe not on a tablet), Tripit, Starbucks, and Barcode Scanner.

Not sure what any of these are (yet). Tried a barcode scanner (RedLaser maybe?) but it was incompatible. I've yet to try another, do you use it very often?

[buzzkill]

How about web browsers. I've just been using the default browser... I don't even know if it has a name or not. Is it worthwhile to install something better?

One more thing I need to know. I seem to have 5 desktop screens that I can switch between. Is there a way to add more?

[freyathedark]

For an Android, I highly recommend Plague Inc. It's free to download, and you can pay to get a few upgrades. Very addictive and easy to learn how to play.

[david3x3x3]

Originally Posted by buzzkill

One more thing I need to know. I seem to have 5 desktop screens that I can switch between. Is there a way to add more?

You can replace the default launcher program with one that supports more screens. There's a comparison of launcher programs here:

http://www.android.gs/best-android-launchers-of-2012/

[Mondkalb]

I like ColorDict which allows to use a lot of dictionaries and includes online use of Wikipedia too.

Reading comics and graphic novels on a tablet can be fun too, there are special apps for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, or Comixology which combines DC and Marvel and some more. The guided view of comics which takes you from panel to panel and zooms in and out is a dynamic new way to read them.

Also, OpenStreetMap or Google Maps are useful.

For music I use Poweramp which has very good equalizer functions and can read directories; there are a lot more mp3 players but not all of them can use directories.

For occasional short time reading there is the free Kindle Android App. If you don't like Amazon there are other, e. g. Ebook Reader or Moon Reader.

A fun little game is Archmage which is a clone of the ingame Arcomage from the Might and Magic RPG series VII and VIII.

Other than that I use several news readers.