Database Develop

[Q] Lots of Captivate Questions

So after looking around through the forums I have learned a lot, and I have appreciated every piece of information I have been given, but there have been some things I have either not found answers to, or have not found complete answers (ie: someone only asked part of what I'm asking).
*Phone info listed in Signature*
When giving an answer, please number it according to the question and/or Quote the question, Please do not quote the entire post.
1. IMEI Device ID: Can I change it? and How?
- After Flashing and Rooting, my email exchange account no longer recognizes my phone and asks me to validate the Device ID. I did get Exchange to work when I had 2.1 and I'm not doing anything different from before. (Note: Android Device ID and IMEI Device ID are 2 different things)
Answer: Your IMEI Device ID is located on the back of your phone. You can find it by removing the battery and then it is the number above the first barcode. Your IMEI ID is something you neither can change nor want to. If a problem occurs trying to get Exchange to work again after messing with your phone, try connecting to the network at the location of your exchange account. Make sure your phone is registered, if it's not, register and wait a day before attempting to connect to exchange again. If that still doesnt work, contact their IT dept and have them manually add your phone. Also, see Post#4 or Exchange Thread
2. Android Device ID:
a)Is the number/letter sequence located on my battery, my Android's ID?
b)In the app "Android ID Changer", when I change it to said ID on battery and click "Save" nothing happens, the ID that the App gives me is still listed at the top.
Answer: If you flash and root with what I've given in my signature, your Android Device ID should be the same or there shouldn't really be anything you need to worry about that requires it. Your IMEI ID is the important one. Also Reference the Device ID Thread, and please make sure you write yours down before flashing and rooting!!!!
3. Sounds Sounds Sounds!!!!!: OK, so I know everyone wants to have their own custom tones right? Well, after looking around for a little while, I haven't really found full solutions as to what I want:
There are 6 Different Kinds of Tones, and a 7th Tone Type I would like added:
- Voice Call Tones: As main ringtone and per contact(As Title)
- Notification Tones: (Text Messages, Email, etc)
- Music: Your media, the only files that should show up in "Music Player"
- Alarm Tone: In the Default Clock App, under Alarm Creation
- Smart Alarm Tone: In the Clock App also under Alarm Creation
- Screen Touch "Pop" Tone (When you click an app)
- Reminder Tone: Reminds you that you have a text or missed call(Not included on phone currently)
a) OK, with that list, when I go in to choose for each one, you get a menu (for example Voice Call gives you: Silent, AT&T Tone, Bird loop, ..., Samsung tune, ...). I would like for my custom sound files to show in the Default list of each according Tone type as listed above. How do I do it?
b) How do I differentiate the Text message tone from the email tone? How do I make make text message tones & settings individual/separate from Notification Tones and Settings?
c) Reminder Tone: When I had a motorola back in the day, if my phone rang at me and I was too busy or not around it at the time to look at it, about every 5 minutes, it would beep at me telling me that something happened while I wasnt paying attention. Is there a way that I can add this feature to my Captivate?
4. ASTRO vs. My Files(on 2.2-Froyo): It seems like "My Files" has everything that ASTRO has, yet I've seen a lot of people saying to get ASTRO. Is there any reason to have it?
Answer: If you have enabled the Side-Loading of apps, there is no real difference between these two other than their appearance since you can bring up the .apk installer that's included in both programs. Other options to using these to programs are: Root Explorer
5. Default Samsung App: Daily Briefing: There has got to be something better than this out there, any suggestions?
- Also, I already have a big clock that has weather(Fancy Widget), so I dont really rely on Daily Briefing for it
Answer: If you are looking for something in terms of a
Widget NewsReader: try Feedr for news, Auto Express for Car News, and ScoreCenter for Sports News
Non-Widget news readers include: Google Reader, gReader, & NewsRob.
6. Tethering/I'm Tethered, What Now?:
a) I know that my laptop can access WIFI via MobileAP, but how can I connect with my Laptop via USB Tethering. I have Windows XP Pro SP3
b) Is it possible for me to use my Laptop to send Txt Msgs?
c) Assuming I have hundreds of Contacts, Is to possible to keep ALL Contacts on laptop while keeping only most used contacts on phone?
Answer:
a) USB Tethering can be accomplished through apps like EasyTether or PDANet, but most ROM's for the captivate do have it standard. It would be under Menu > Settings > Applications > USB Settings > PC Internet.
b)
c)
7. Removing the Default "Latitude" App (2.2-Froyo): I already have Maps, Navigation, and Places. Why would I need "Latitude"? What is the purpose of it?
I use Titanium Backup Pro to "Freeze" most of the default apps (freeze meaning hide them w/o deleting them) but I cannot seem to find "Latitude" in the list of Apps, is there a way to freeze it with Titanium?
8. Allshare Default App 2.2: What does it add to the phone? Do I need it or should I "Freeze" it?
I'm looking for a way to play my media from my computer to my phone, however Windows Media Player doesnt recognize my phone as something to share to, how can I change this? (I use Windows XP Pro SP3)
9. FM Radio: Is there a way I can listen to my favorite channel without using up any data? And if I listen to the channel for about an hour, how much data will I have used? (So far, I've only seen Last.FM and TuneIn Radio)
Answer: Best thing to do if you want to listen to the Radio on your phone is to do it via Wifi. Unfortunately for us, our phone originally had plans to have a FM Chip installed allowing us free FM Radio, but that's just not how AT&T rolls. Another App besides Last.FM or TuneIn Radio to try is iheartradio. Furthermore, if you are wanting to watch your Data Usage, I suggest trying 3G Watchdog, I don't know how accurate it is from month-to-month, but it is an App(and Widget) that does watch your data usage.
10. Is there a way to rename the apps in my App Drawer? Some of them have strange/long names which will break a work so that it is on both lines or the whole title doesnt fit. This bothers my OCD so I was wondering if there was an easy way to do it.
11. Random Reboots When I don't have an Alarm enabled, sometimes my phone seems to go and sleep/hibernate/reset. Meaning I pickup my phone and for some reason it has gone and turned off on me. What's the deal? Does anyone else have this problem and is there a way to fix it?
12. Save Texts: What is the best way to save your text conversations to your computer besides using KIES?
13. Save Contacts What is the best way to Export Contacts to your computer for editing and later Importing back onto the phone besides using KIES?
- I want to have a back up of all my numbers so that I can remove some from my address book, but still have them on my computer in case I need them later.
14. GPS 2.2: Many have commented about fixing the 2.1 GPS, does the 2.2 GPS also need a fix?
15. Editing the System: Where Can I find in-depth threads that tell me how to change things in the system(thread links accepted)? I would like some that cover it in general, but I'd also like ones that also include adding and removing custom ringtones to the default as well as SetCPU and other functions.
16. The Lock Screen: Is there any way in which I can change the Default Lock Screen so that it includes a message on it like "This phone belongs to _______"?
Is there any other themes for the Text Message "Puzzle" Lock Screen?
17. Contacts:
a) Sorting Method - First I would like to sort my contacts by Group, then by Alphabetical Order. Is there any way that I can do this? Basically I want my girlfriend listed first, then all my Family Contacts, then all my friends. Is there a way I can do this other than adding symbols or prefixes in front of everyone's name?
b) Once while on the facebook app, it gave me the option to set a picture to one of my contacts(without saving the image to the phone), however I havent figured out how to do it since, does anyone know how?
c)How do I sync contacts with Gmail? Ive tried clicking Sync Contacts in Contacts under Gmail, and it shows the refresh icon for about a second but when I go to my gmail contacts, nothing is there. What's the deal?
18. Way too Awesome: So we've all seen what phones can do in the movies, hacking into computers and whatnot. Is there anything that our phones can do like in the movies? I personally would love to have a phone that Tony Stark or Sam Flynn would die for. ......Is there at least a way I can use my phone to unlock my car? I'd enjoy turning my phone into a trapper-keeper lol.
19. Custom Sound Settings: Media Volume can only go down as low as 5% before going to 0%, is there any way I can make my phone lower that 5% like when it's late at night but I still want to hear an app's crappy music, just really really quietly?
20. Phone Accessories:
What is the Best phone case for Captivate that utilizes a belt clip (w/screen protector)?
In terms of a 2nd battery, are there any batteries out there that have more battery life than the stock one that comes with the phone?
If I had a 2nd battery, would it be safe to leave it in my car throughout the year in case I need it, or would temperature be a problem?
21. Data Plans: Any chance of AT&T Coming out with a plan that's between 100Mb, and 2Gb?
I'm on Wifi most of the time, so I don't use most of my 2Gb, but I can easily use 100Mb, is there any chance of there being a 1Gb plan?
As I get answers to my questions, if the answer isnt too long I will edit the OP with the answers or link a post below the question for people who might stumble upon this thread with the same question.
EDIT: (Last Edited 1/17)
Added Answers to questions: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9
Added Parts B and C to #6
Added Questions: 15,16,17,18,19,21

1.) IMEI ID is on the back of the phone and don't think you can change that.
4.) Astro also lets you install third party apps that are loaded onto your SD card. My files just lets you browse.
5.) If you dont' need daily breifing, don't use it. I don't use it either.
6.) PDAnet will let you tether via USB and there are a few others.
10.) when you add a app to your home screens, you have the option to change the name. Doesn't help with your app drawer OCD but keeps your home screens under control.
11.) There are multiple threads about random shutdowns. Read them all if you want. So far, increasing the sleep speed minimum to 2000 (in setCPU) has worked for me. Granted it's only been a few days but no shutdowns since doing that.
14.) Reading all the GPS threads will show you that it's not locked into a particular OS. Nobody really knows what the problem is. Some have great GPS, some don't. Some get it working better with fixes, some don't.

axis01 said:
1.) IMEI ID is on the back of the phone and don't think you can change that.
4.) Astro also lets you install third party apps that are loaded onto your SD card. My files just lets you browse.
10.) when you add a app to your home screens, you have the option to change the name. Doesn't help with your app drawer OCD but keeps your home screens under control.
11.) There are multiple threads about random shutdowns. Read them all if you want. So far, increasing the sleep speed minimum to 2000 (in setCPU) has worked for me. Granted it's only been a few days but no shutdowns since doing that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4. My Files has a package installer if you have enabled sideloading of apps and seems to work the same as ASTRO as far as I can tell.
10. I havent seen an option to change the name on the homescreen either, I usually just drag them from my app drawer though.
11. Could you define what the sleep speed minimum is?
EDIT: ANd big thanks on where the IMEI was. I was kind of avoiding taking the battery out, but the number on the back matched the number in the phone info so I was happy. And for some reason my phone now works with exchange. I think my phone was waiting till I knew what it knew lol.

Oh man. I'll see if I can answer them all. LET'S DO THIS!
1. Before you left 2.1 stock, shoulda backed up nv_data. If your Device ID and produce code get messed up, check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881162 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=880223 Use these threads to try and restore it; but if that doesn't work you might be SOL without a nv_data backup.
As for exhange, check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=821297
I work for AT&T, so me and IMEI's are best buds. You can't change your IMEI as it's a number issued directly for AT&T. AT&T uses these IMEI's to determine what type of phone is on your account. Should you change the IMEI, it would appear to AT&T as "Unknown GSM", and you would cease to get data.
2. Read #1
3. It depends on the apps you use to accomplish said tasks. I would imagine very few of us use the stock e-mail client, i would imagine most of us use K-9 or something along those lines, in which case you can specify a sound file in said apps settings.
As for having them show up in the default menu, throw them into /system/media/audio/ringtones and they should show up in default.
I'm not sure about the reminder, although I can't see an app for this not existing. As stated above, some e-mail clients such as k-9 or SMS like handcent may have this feature. If the stock ones don't, what can ya do?
4. Don't get either, get Root Explorer.
5. If you already have a clock, I suppose all Daily Briefing offers is news and a calendar. There's plenty of awesome news readers for the Captivate. If you like the widget variant, i would go with Feedr. If you prefer non-widget news readers, Google Reader, gReader, NewsRob; all good choices.
6. It depends on the ROM. USB Tethering can be accomplished through apps like EasyTether or PDANet, but most ROM's for the captivate do have it standard. It would be under Menu > Settings > Applications > USB Settings > PC Internet.
7. Latitude is bundled in with Google Maps. Not sure how to remove it, or if you can..maybe.
8. You don't need it. It's just a global way to share pictures and videos to multiple sources. I never use it.
9. Connect to WiFi!
10. Aside from decompiling the APK, i don't think so. Maybe NinjaMorph can do it, but I don't think so. You can hide apps from the drawer though, or hide the text, with alternative launchers.
11. The captivate stock firmwares seemed to have a problem with randomly rebooting. I work at AT&T and I sell these phones daily so I can safely say it's just the stock, even the 2.2 stock seems to do it. You can use SetCPU profiles to work some magic, but it's easier to just install a Custom ROM, as I personally no longer have this problem UNLESS i am on stock. Use http://romkitchen.org from your phone, easiest way. Make sure to donate if you use it frequently, it's an awesome service!
12. Can't answer this one. I imagine there's an app to back up texts to files on the phone directly though, if not it wouldn't be very hard to make!
13. From your contacts on the phone, menu > (possibly More) > Import/Export. It will save EVERYTHING about your contacts(Ringtone info, pictures, birthdays, etc) to a .vcf file. These can be altered, edited and saved on the computer.
14. 2.2 stock needs a fix I'm pretty sure. Check out this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881941 , all you gotta do is flash one file, so do it anyway just to be safe!
Phew. Hope this helps!

geokhentix said:
Oh man. I'll see if I can answer them all. LET'S DO THIS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Big thanks
As for my Android ID, I didnt know about it until afterwards. The posts that inform people about flashing and Rooting should mention this, because I didn't see it anywhere until after I was worrying about my phone not being able to connect to my email, but for some reason this morning when I tried it miraculously worked.
As for #3, where is my system folder? is it: I:\media\audio\ringtones ?
with my "system" being "I:"
I recently discovered setting custom sounds for my email accounts, but I am curious about all the default tones.
Are all the ones listed in different setting all just the same file with the exception that they only play for "X" amount of type depending on menu your are in?
And can the captivate not play MIDI files?....you know, old school polyphonic files........
And how the heck do I change the text tone for while my phone is plugged into the USB? omg it is the most annoying sound in the world, why does it not use the tone I have my texts set for? (I forgot this one on my list)
Thanks for your answer to #11. My phone hadnt done it at all until I dropped it down about 10 feet at a concert screen down 6 days after I got it. The next day the phone did the reset thing and I just about cried cuz I was just like I know it's because I dropped it. On the bright side when I picked it up after it fell, it didnt have a scratch on it or nothin'.
How do you alter a .vcf file?

WandererTJ said:
Big thanks
As for my Android ID, I didnt know about it until afterwards. The posts that inform people about flashing and Rooting should mention this, because I didn't see it anywhere until after I was worrying about my phone not being able to connect to my email, but for some reason this morning when I tried it miraculously worked.
As for #3, where is my system folder? is it: I:\media\audio\ringtones ?
with my "system" being "I:"
I recently discovered setting custom sounds for my email accounts, but I am curious about all the default tones.
Are all the ones listed in different setting all just the same file with the exception that they only play for "X" amount of type depending on menu your are in?
And can the captivate not play MIDI files?....you know, old school polyphonic files........
And how the heck do I change the text tone for while my phone is plugged into the USB? omg it is the most annoying sound in the world, why does it not use the tone I have my texts set for? (I forgot this one on my list)
Thanks for your answer to #11. My phone hadnt done it at all until I dropped it down about 10 feet at a concert screen down 6 days after I got it. The next day the phone did the reset thing and I just about cried cuz I was just like I know it's because I dropped it. On the bright side when I picked it up after it fell, it didnt have a scratch on it or nothin'.
How do you alter a .vcf file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, all Custom ROM threads should have a little blurb about it for people installing their ROM from a new stock device. But it seems to be fixable even if you didn't with a little work, so it's not too bad.
You can use Root Explorer to copy them to /system/media/audio/ringtones, but I think they may have to be in .ogg for them to work out of this directory. I'm not entirely positive, but all you would have to do to test it is push a non-.ogg ringtone over and try it. To copy your ringtones over nice and easy like;
Download the Android SDK and extract the android-sdk-windows folder to your desktop for easy copy pasta!
And enable USB Debugging (Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging)
Open a command prompt!
cd %USERPROFILE%/desktop/android-sdk-windows/tools
adb push [ringtone] /system/media/audio/ringtones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's in a perfect world where it won't complain about permissions. if it does;
cd %USERPROFILE%/desktop/android-sdk-windows/tools
adb push [ringtone] /sdcard/
adb shell
su - at this point, accept superuser request on the phone; make sure the screen isn't locked when you hit enter, prompt should change from a $ to a #
mv /sdcard/[ringtone] /system/media/audio/ringtones/
exit
exit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if the Captivate can play .MIDI files for notification sounds. Only one way to find out though, right?
And i have no idea why your text tone is different when plugged into USB...mine sounds the same.
Late edit: forgot to answer one of em, you can edit .vcf files in MS Outlook!

# 9 - unfortunately our phone doesn't have FM radio. Another one to try is iheartradio. They have a number of radio stations. Although you're still using data unless you're using wifi like mentioned above.

Are there any better phonebook editors other than Outlook express?
I am looking for something so that I can have multiple phonebooks such as one with all my contacts I've ever had, and another for just the contacts I want on my phone

if you have a custom ringtone set for something and you have the phone plugged into usb, the phone can't access the the SD card where the custom tone is stored, thus you get that annoying (and loud) built in tone.

Re: myfiles: it does indeed let you install apps, but I'd recommend estrongs file explorer. It allows you to not only browse you're phone, but your pc files too (assuming it's on the same network, of course.) And let you open, copy and edit between the 2 devices.
Re: allshare: out of the box this great app let me browse and watch all of the video files off of my PC. I didn't have to configure anything special, except that my PC was already configured to share media with my xbox 360.
But I didn't do anything on my pc after buying the phone. Just connected to wifi and everything showed up. I haven't tried sharing the other way though (watching media from my phone on my PC)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I896 using XDA App

#12. I've used Wifi Android Manager Wifi, I think it backs up text messages. It seems to back up everything else, that's for sure.

Hey, I've been working on adding answers to the OP, it's going, but I'm not done
Anyways, UPDATE 1/17/11 - I've Added Questions 15-21, please try and answer these when you get the time.
Added Answers to questions: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9
Added Parts B and C to #6
Added Questions: 15,16,17,18,19,21

What do you want to see in Android 4.5/5.0?

I want to have a dialer where I can search for businesses directly through the dialer. So you know how in 4.4 I can type "John" and call the guy in my contact list name John, I want to be able to type "McDonalds" or "Best Buy" in that same search field, and based on my location it will pop up with "McDonalds, 123 Fake Street" along with a thumbnail picture of it(or its map location) and its hours for that particular day. And if I click on the thumbnail I can see more info, open its location in GMaps, etc

fredryk said:
I want to have a dialer where I can search for businesses directly through the dialer. So you know how in 4.4 I can type "John" and call the guy in my contact list name John, I want to be able to type "McDonalds" or "Best Buy" in that same search field, and based on my location it will pop up with "McDonalds, 123 Fake Street" along with a thumbnail picture of it(or its map location) and its hours for that particular day. And if I click on the thumbnail I can see more info, open its location in GMaps, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you just say "show me the nearest mcdonalds" in google now?
Works on my nexus 5 anyway to do the stuff you said.

Think your request is a bit too much for a display of that area. When searching for a number you generally just want the quick info, clicking on it to get more info is fine but all that wouldn't fit in a small space especially if you gotta scroll over 10x just to get 1 phone number.
The current stuff though does allow you to type McDonalds and have it pull in local info from the closest one. It will show street address/town as well but that's all.

Ok I want the following
Blocking Mode baked into the update just like the one on the Samsung Galaxy Line.
Slide to call or text just like on the Samsung Galaxy Line.
One Button touch to clear all active apps not having to swipe them away one at a time.

I want a polish and fully tested OS.

Always listening "OK Google," like the Moto X has. (Optional setting if necessary for those who don't want to take the battery hit.)
Face Detection setting that prevents going to standby when you're looking at the screen (like Samsung has, not motion-based like "Gravity Screen" app does, although that's better than nothing.)
Customizable Quick Panel.
Theme control (not everyone likes bright-as-hell white backgrounds on everything!)
Combined music/video player, more like iTunes.
Location-based screen locking. (Don't ask for PIN/Password if I'm at home or work, but otherwise do.)
Not necessarily in that order, and I'm sure I could think of others if I tried hard enough. Also, that one-touch "clear all" active apps suggestion is good.

Hmmmmm, having a slide to text option in the contacts would be nice but also more sharing features. I am a very social networked person and I love to share anything and everything having more sharing options is certainly a plus.

vseslija said:
One Button touch to clear all active apps not having to swipe them away one at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean in the notification bar, this is already a feature.

kgry said:
If you mean in the notification bar, this is already a feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, he means in the recent apps switcher.

Backup functions (obviously without root or custom recovery)

Finer control over killing and keeping apps in background.

Wake the screen when I get an SMS and and visual voice mail built in the phone app like on the iPhone.

Always listening, and Wi-Di native file transfer.

fredryk said:
I want to have a dialer where I can search for businesses directly through the dialer. So you know how in 4.4 I can type "John" and call the guy in my contact list name John, I want to be able to type "McDonalds" or "Best Buy" in that same search field, and based on my location it will pop up with "McDonalds, 123 Fake Street" along with a thumbnail picture of it(or its map location) and its hours for that particular day. And if I click on the thumbnail I can see more info, open its location in GMaps, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can already do most of that in the 4.4 dialer ... aside from linking with maps.

fredryk said:
I want to have a dialer where I can search for businesses directly through the dialer. So you know how in 4.4 I can type "John" and call the guy in my contact list name John, I want to be able to type "McDonalds" or "Best Buy" in that same search field, and based on my location it will pop up with "McDonalds, 123 Fake Street" along with a thumbnail picture of it(or its map location) and its hours for that particular day. And if I click on the thumbnail I can see more info, open its location in GMaps, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The dialer already does exactly that. I do it all the time and it works well.
I want them to get that fricken search bar off of the home page and to never ever again presume that it's ok to use up an entire row of every screen with the exact same widget. Whoever thought it up should be fired. Whoever approved it should be fired. Whoever attended a meeting where it was suggested as a possible feature that did not get up and *****slap the person who mentioned it should be fired.
The screen indicators should be clickable so as to allow you to one touch to any screen as seen on touchwiz.

I'm loving KitKat. I just want Hangouts to have expandable notifications and the option to reply through the notification itself, but this is a Hangouts request more than an android one.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 04:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 PM ----------
krabman said:
The dialer already does exactly that. I do it all the time and it works well.
I want them to get that fricken search bar off of the home page and to never ever again presume that it's ok to use up an entire row of every screen with the exact same widget. Whoever thought it up should be fired. Whoever approved it should be fired. Whoever attended a meeting where it was suggested as a possible feature that did not get up and *****slap the person who mentioned it should be fired.
The screen indicators should be clickable so as to allow you to one touch to any screen as seen on touchwiz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try out a custom launcher like Nova. To be honest I like the Search Widget at the top on all pages.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

bmg1001 said:
I'm loving KitKat. I just want Hangouts to have expandable notifications and the option to reply through the notification itself, but this is a Hangouts request more than an android one.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 04:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 PM ----------
Try out a custom launcher like Nova. To be honest I like the Search Widget at the top on all pages.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol I've been on android from day one, I had a launcher installed mucho quick. Doesn't change the fact that the stock launcher while having some promise is heavily flawed to no good end. I understand that some may like the search bar there. Some may like it on every page. Who knows, maybe someone wants to make 5 pages and fill them all with the same search bar. Great. More power to them. Let them create search bars till the cows come home. Some of us don't want a search bar there. All of us could be happy before which is the beauty of android. I could put my search bar where I want it, everyone else could put it where they want it. Now no one gets a choice, we have entered the era of the idroid. What did we gain by giving up choice? Nothing. Not one thing.
A bad precedent in my mind. Good thing I'm not running Google, heads would have rolled long before this ever saw the light of day.

googles needs to get it's **** together in regards to streamlining and unifying some of their services. while not really android specific, there are many related things that effect android users daily.
hangouts is supposed to be your unified messaging locale, however no google voice integration
google keep seems like a good product, however the apparent lack of integration with google now and android voice commands doesn't make much sense. if i say "okay google..." then set a reminder, why doesn't this show up in keep? if i set a reminder in keep, it should show up in google now and vice versa. i don't wanna hunt around all over the damn phone trying to figure out where all my assorted reminders are located.
there are two photo apps currently -- gallery and photos
i feel like android is really coming into it's own quite well as a mobile os, and it's very clean cut at this point. however google really needs to clean up their services because some things still feel half baked.

A flash light quick toggle
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

shotta35 said:
Think your request is a bit too much for a display of that area. When searching for a number you generally just want the quick info, clicking on it to get more info is fine but all that wouldn't fit in a small space especially if you gotta scroll over 10x just to get 1 phone number.
The current stuff though does allow you to type McDonalds and have it pull in local info from the closest one. It will show street address/town as well but that's all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I missed this at first myself. If you type in the previously mentioned McDonald's you will get a list of them showing their address so you can parse out the appropriate contact. If you then click on the contact at the left on the placeholder for the contact picture it will bring up the direct dial, maps shortcut, and website.

longer voice memo

is there a way to make the voice memos on the gear longer? i am already running on null-rom, but i don't know where to change it from 5 minutes to infinite... has someone found a way to change that?
cheers

xpickvogelx said:
is there a way to make the voice memos on the gear longer? i am already running on null-rom, but i don't know where to change it from 5 minutes to infinite... has someone found a way to change that?
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use a third party voice recorder, there are plenty of them in the store.

hurdlejade said:
use a third party voice recorder, there are plenty of them in the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks.
i am stupid

Yeah but the stock voice recording does things the others don't:
1 - speech to text which is processed on phone and sent back to the gear
2 - simple ui meant for gear. Some 3rd party recorders look good on phone but cramped on gear
3 - records on gear and uploads a copy to the phone
I'd prefer to keep the stock recorder as it works well. I just need longer than 5 minutes. I hope we don't have to reverse engineer the .apk and recompile it. Ugh!
I keep looking for one of those .xml files which may have the settings but can't find the right one. If it even exists.

what is the 1 point? speech to text? i do not have this on my gear.......... i can only record audio. not transfrom it into a text.
3rd point,i think u have to download manually files from gear to your pc. or alternatively use null rom and push all files audio you want VIA BLUETOOTH on your phone. but yes.........of course it is not "easy" like the autocommand of the integraer audiorecorder that automatically sends the record to your phone within SECONDS.

realista87 said:
what is the 1 point? speech to text? i do not have this on my gear.......... i can only record audio. not transfrom it into a text.
3rd point,i think u have to download manually files from gear to your pc. or alternatively use null rom and push all files audio you want VIA BLUETOOTH on your phone. but yes.........of course it is not "easy" like the autocommand of the integraer audiorecorder that automatically sends the record to your phone within SECONDS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure you can. Check gear manager -> My Apps -> click on the cog next to "voice memo". There's a whole section at the bottom that says: "Speech to text". You can select network type, mine is "WiFi only", and you select the language.
After your record your voice memo on the Gear it'll send the file to the phone which after a short while will be processed and the text will be sent back to the Gear. Now you can read your voice memos on the Gear, not just listen to them.
This is a stock feature. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
You don't have to send the voice files from the Gear to the phone to the PC. The stock voice memo app sends the audio files directly to the phone and you can set up Dropbox on the phone to send those files to your dropbox account directly. Which is what I do. My voice memos show up on my PC's dropbox folder in a matter of minutes. I don't have to do anything manually to make it happen.

hurdlejade said:
use a third party voice recorder, there are plenty of them in the store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you name a few cause i only see the standard one

Has someone fixed this issue - I also want to record longer than 5 min. /on Gear S3/ and stock recorder has not such option.
I've searched for another recorder in store and found nothing also
---------- Post added at 06:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------
Never mind
Found "Secret Recorder" - looks the same but has no time limitation

Zeuserx said:
Sure you can. Check gear manager -> My Apps -> click on the cog next to "voice memo". There's a whole section at the bottom that says: "Speech to text". You can select network type, mine is "WiFi only", and you select the language.
After your record your voice memo on the Gear it'll send the file to the phone which after a short while will be processed and the text will be sent back to the Gear. Now you can read your voice memos on the Gear, not just listen to them.
This is a stock feature. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE
You don't have to send the voice files from the Gear to the phone to the PC. The stock voice memo app sends the audio files directly to the phone and you can set up Dropbox on the phone to send those files to your dropbox account directly. Which is what I do. My voice memos show up on my PC's dropbox folder in a matter of minutes. I don't have to do anything manually to make it happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed and Verified funtionality. I've had the same exact question; is there a way to tweek the stock .APK so that we may set, and record, longer notes, longer lectures, longer convos, etc.?
I can try and look into this if I get some real time. Otherwise, for all you DEVS out there. If there is a simple int value change we can make, please let us know. Might be easier than expected (minus GUI).
I would love the ability to be able to record longer voice notes, directly from my Gear.
....the transcripts are a bonus, and a cool feature. Though they are often hit or miss depending on a number of variables. Still good effort, I'm sure they will get better. Maybe we should start a thread on Samsung's site, asking for all of this. Primarily, the ability to record as much as you can from the Gear S3!

You can go into voice recorder app on the gear or Galaxy Watches. Tap the 3 dot menu and turn off speech to text to allow longer recordings than 5 minutes.

seivad17 said:
You can go into voice recorder app on the gear or Galaxy Watches. Tap the 3 dot menu and turn off speech to text to allow longer recordings than 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! First place I've run across this helpful info.
Observations;
Looks like, according to my guestimation, the Samsung app will record for 3 hours? The test recording I made showed ~25% of the watch circle in blue for a 45 minute recording.
45 minute recording used 32mb of storage and used up 13% of my battery according to the Wearable app.

SWApp Link:: The Best Companion App for your Gear

Available on Google Play Store
It's an android app, will need Null Rom on the Gear
Available on Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.preiss.swapps.link
Beta version with more features:
https://plus.google.com/+CyrilPreiss0/posts/YrNDXdk2GLf
SWApp Link is intended for use with Smartwatches running Android OS.
Some compatible Smartwatches:
Samsung Gear 1 (with android ROM), Omate TS, AI Watch, Neptune Pine, Inwatch Z, AW-414, AW-420, Callisto 100.
Features:
Call Notifications:
 • Displays the caller’s photo.
 • Option to take the call, reject the call, or reply via SMS (composed on the watch and sent through the phone.)
 • During call: options to end the call, toggle mute, and toggle the loudspeaker.
SMS Notifications:
 • Displays the SMS text and contact photo.
 • Option to reply via SMS.
App Notifications:
 • Displays notifications, from the apps of your choice, on the watch.
 • Fully optimized notifications for specific apps (with more coming), including:
  • Email - Notifications now display the email’s content instead of just displaying “[number of] New Emails”.
  • Hangouts - Notifications now display the message content instead of just displaying “[number of] New Notification(s) from [name]”.
  • WhatsApp - Notifications now display the full message content, even within groups, including the message’s text and image.
 • Customizable notification layouts: choice of colors for the message text and the message background, option to automatically resize the message text based on its length, and more.
Full notification management:
 • Browse through all the previous notifications (SMS and app), with the option to display the most recent ones first or the oldest ones first, search through them by text, and more.
Powerful clock engine which can be set as the watch's lockscreen. Many exclusive features, including:
 • Both Analog and Digital watch faces.
 • Smooth seconds hand with dynamic shadow.
 • Unread notification indicator.
 • Battery, 3G, and Wi-Fi indicators for both the watch AND the phone (with options to display the indicators side by side, or toggle between them by tapping on them.)
 • On Screen Display (OSD) Modules including a stopwatch, timer, day timer, second time, date, next alarm info and more (the OSD is shown/hidden by tapping on the clock.)
 • Option to choose the Font Color with the color picker.
 • Choice of backgrounds.
 • Choice of date formats (Mon. 20 June / 20-06 / 06-20 ...).
 • Choice of hour formats (12H / 24H).
 • Complex animations.
Call Log Sync: Displays the phone’s call log with the option to place a call or send an SMS to anyone on it.
Remote Call: Remotely place a call to one of your contacts, favorites or recently used numbers, or dial a number to call remotely.
Remote SMS: Remotely send an SMS to one of your contacts, favorites or recently used numbers, or input a number to SMS remotely.
Remote App Launch: Remotely launch apps on the phone.
Remote Clipboard: Send content from the phone to the watch’s clipboard.
Remote Media Control: Remotely control the phone’s media player from the watch and see track info.
Find My Phone: Remotely set off the phone’s or watch’s ringer.
Remote Battery info: Displays the remote device’s battery level (with a low battery notification option.)
Remote Lock: Remotely lock the phone from the watch (in case of loss, for example.)
BT Virtual Leash: Automatically lock the phone and display a notification on the watch if the BT connection is lost.
Remote GPS Location: Display the phone’s GPS coordinates on the watch.
Megaphone: Establishes a phone call between both devices and puts the remote on speaker (establishes a communication with people near the remote device, sim watches only.)
Microphone: Establishes a phone call between both devices (enables you to hear what's happening around the remote device, sim watches only.)
Connection methods:
 Direct Bluetooth Connection
 Push Notification - Uses an Internet connection to communicate between the devices. (disabled)
 SMS - Sends and intercepts SMSs to communicate between the devices.
XDA:DevDB Information
SWApp Link Companion App, App for the Samsung Galaxy Gear
Contributors
cyrilp
Version Information
Status: Beta
Current Beta Version: 0.934
Beta Release Date: 2014-04-23
Created 2014-04-23
Last Updated 2016-01-14

Reserved 1

The gear with Null rom can do most those things anyway? Or am I missing something?
Sent from my SM-G900H using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

This could be useful for non-touchwiz phones, I suppose.
I may give it a go just to see what it can actually do.
--wait... "need internet connection on the watch" For serious?

A little confused myself. One part says Bluetooth supported and other part acts like both devices need Internet connection as in Gear tethered which drains much more battery on the gear.
I'm not interested in the actual "Notifications" as Gear Manager does this fine for me, otherwise, the other functions listed, GPS, battery status on other device, ect.. Yes, I would be interested but still confused as to my first comment/paragraph above as to how this works.

The internet connection "requirement" is for those smartwatches that do not have working BT, like every one of the Umeox x201 based smartwatches. The internet connection is also for doing things over long distances (think miles).
It does more than just notifications. I'm running Null and have been placing calls and sending texts using the Gear and leaving my Nexus One in my pocket, or the other room, the whole time.

Lokifish Marz said:
The internet connection "requirement" is for those smartwatches that do not have working BT, like every one of the Umeox x201 based smartwatches. The internet connection is also for doing things over long distances (think miles).
It does more than just notifications. I'm running Null and have been placing calls and sending texts using the Gear and leaving my Nexus One in my pocket, or the other room, the whole time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hrmmm, Interesting. I'll be having a look at this. Thanks!
---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------
Ok have it installed on my S4. Problem. Can't get it on the Gear. In the Play Store it says not compatible with (gear) device so I can't use chrome extensions downloader either for some reason. And I'm tethered to the gear to access internet thru playstore directly and it's not listing on the gear to download???
Disregard, I got it downloading now with Chrome extensions, will transfer to gear and give it a whirl shortly.
Ok, I set everything up. Selected BT for connection on phone side's app. There is so setting for this on Gear Side's app. Entered devices names, ect... all it does is sit on phone side saying "Connecting". None of the features are doing anything.

h00rj said:
This could be useful for non-touchwiz phones, I suppose.
I may give it a go just to see what it can actually do.
--wait... "need internet connection on the watch" For serious?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is for using without BT connection (for smartwatches that don't have bluetooth), it's not needed for direct bt connection.

Lokifish Marz said:
The internet connection "requirement" is for those smartwatches that do not have working BT, like every one of the Umeox x201 based smartwatches. The internet connection is also for doing things over long distances (think miles).
It does more than just notifications. I'm running Null and have been placing calls and sending texts using the Gear and leaving my Nexus One in my pocket, or the other room, the whole time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to select BT on both the watch and the phone, then it will connect

cyrilp said:
you need to select BT on both the watch and the phone, then it will connect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the Gear, the settings did not have a place to set a connection type unlike the phone's settings with the app. It started off with email. I even tried to scroll up and down and look all over for the settings for connection on the gear and it certainly wasn't there, at least for me.

i have uploaded the apk in download section as Gear might have difficulties getting it from playstore

Lokifish Marz said:
The internet connection "requirement" is for those smartwatches that do not have working BT, like every one of the Umeox x201 based smartwatches. The internet connection is also for doing things over long distances (think miles).
It does more than just notifications. I'm running Null and have been placing calls and sending texts using the Gear and leaving my Nexus One in my pocket, or the other room, the whole time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the conncetion choice in your settings on the watch ? it's strange lazer9 is saying it's not there ?

cyrilp said:
Do you have the conncetion choice in your settings on the watch ? it's strange lazer9 is saying it's not there ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hold the phone! Literally , lol. I just uninstalled from gear and re-installed from the one you posted here in downloads and now I have the connection settings on gear. Now to re-install on phone side and go from there. :victory:
Update: Blah, now when I either set bluetooth on Gear or Phone, I get a force close on each device.

lazer9 said:
Hold the phone! Literally , lol. I just uninstalled from gear and re-installed from the one you posted here in downloads and now I have the connection settings on gear. Now to re-install on phone side and go from there. :victory:
Update: Blah, now when I either set bluetooth on Gear or Phone, I get a force close on each device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have uploaded a new version, could you try it ?

cyrilp said:
i have uploaded a new version, could you try it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WORKS! Finally able to connect to gear & phone and did a test by pressing battery icon on gear and it showed my Phone's battery level!
Super! Now to figure out what all I can do with this nifty app :highfive:

lazer9 said:
WORKS! Finally able to connect to gear & phone and did a test by pressing battery icon on gear and it showed my Phone's battery level!
Super! Now to figure out what all I can do with this nifty app :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great !

Strange thing going on right now. On gear I pressed Battery Icon to get the info from phone and it says uptop that it's connected to my phone but nothing is happening after "message sent" dialogue. So I opened into the App on phone side and it's sitting up top saying "connecting...." forever.
Update: Went in on phone side and "Force Closed" the app in app settings. Reloaded it and it connected right up. Must be a quirk or something...

*SWApp Link dev update 0.934d*
*BT Virtual Leash*
You watch will help you not to loose or forget your phone !!
New feature will allow to get notified if the bluetooth link is broken.
User selected delay to trigger the alert.

Hi
This looks promising but i have a few issues and questions
First of all the App keeps Force closing on the watch (i'm running NUll_23)
but i have been able to connect it for a short while and can get SMS messages and the watch vibrates but the screen does not light up
What i wondered is that i want to replace the Samsung Notification system completely as i want to see more of the notification
on the screen than just a small excerpt, especially with Gmail and Email
do you think your app be able to do that down the line
thanks

*SWApp Link dev update 0.934e*
*Auto Lock*
In virtual leash feature, you can now enable "Auto Lock" feature which will set a password on your phone if the link is broken.
It's a low level action on the phone, so you'll be asked to enable Admin rights to the app.
You will be able to enable or not the broken virtual leash notification.

Secure Folder Notifications

Good day experts.
Question here, the answer i couldnt find on the internet .
Is there a way that the Secure Folder Notification only show when the folder is NOT hidden?
Or vice versa?
I.e. i receive notification only when the Secure Folder is visible and no Notification when its hidden.
Or if there can be a workaround with Schedules or Routines app?

danishalirana said:
Good day experts.
Question here, the answer i couldnt find on the internet .
Is there a way that the Secure Folder Notification only show when the folder is NOT hidden?
Or vice versa?
I.e. i receive notification only when the Secure Folder is visible and no Notification when its hidden.
Or if there can be a workaround with Schedules or Routines app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no way unfortunately. What I do is turn of the notifications in the actual app I'm hiding. Then have a separate fingerprint to open the secure folder from the lockscreen to check whatever when I want to.

ErebusRaze said:
There's no way unfortunately. What I do is turn of the notifications in the actual app I'm hiding. Then have a separate fingerprint to open the secure folder from the lockscreen to check whatever when I want to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Erebus. That is what i am doing at current.. i was wondering if there could be an automated way to do it.
May if we raise this with the Samsung..may they'll add this functionality.