Tablets, again

[Greg]

Wifi Analyzer. You'll learn a lot. IMO a must have.

I use many of the Google apps frequently, everything from Maps to Calendar to Gmail to (now) QuickOffice. Though for browsing these days I use Opera, as Chrome is missing one critical feature I demand (there is no 'scroll to bottom' button or gesture).

The Amazon apps are also quite useful.

File managers, connectivity apps, compass and gps apps, e-readers, password vaults, note taking apps, cloud storage apps/accounts, social media apps, etc. You're going to want all of those, but personal taste is personal. Lots of websites devoted to just giving tips on '10 best Android apps for X' and quickie reviews of same. Enjoy it, explore a little.

[rightisright]

Wifi Analyzer. You'll learn a lot. IMO a must have.

I use many of the Google apps frequently, everything from Maps to Calendar to Gmail to (now) QuickOffice. Though for browsing these days I use Opera, as Chrome is missing one critical feature I demand (there is no 'scroll to bottom' button or gesture).

The Amazon apps are also quite useful.

File managers, connectivity apps, compass and gps apps, e-readers, password vaults, note taking apps, cloud storage apps/accounts, social media apps, etc. You're going to want all of those, but personal taste is personal. Lots of websites devoted to just giving tips on '10 best Android apps for X' and quickie reviews of same. Enjoy it, explore a little.

+1 to that. It's great being able to order from my Prime account right from job site on my phone (and now tablet).

[randy]

A large number of my apps are amateur radio related, will skip them. Same with US National Weather Service related weather forecast and reporting apps and US centric HAZMAT identification and response apps.

+1 on Wifi analyzer

Swiss Army Knife is a useful little free app. You won't use any of them often, but they can come in handy. And I know Denis approves of Swiss Army Knives!

Aldiko Book Reader was recommended to me here and I've liked it.

ConvertDroid is useful when you need to do a quick conversion

GPS Essentials uses your GPS to make your tablet a decent land nav tool.

I use GPS Test when I just want to verify my GPS has a good lock and what kind of a fix it has.

ES File Explorer provides more functionality than the built in file manager, specifically for me the ability to easily create shortcuts to specific files or folders on my "desktop".

I use DejaOffice, Graffiti and CompanionLink to turn my tablet into a large sized Palm, complete with hot synching with my Palm Desktop software and Palm Centro phone.

[Weetabix]

Great apps.

On the Wifi Analyzer - what do you do with that? It's interesting to see the names and strengths. Do you use it in a crowded, free wifi area to select the best network? What else?

[Greg]

Great apps.

On the Wifi Analyzer - what do you do with that? It's interesting to see the names and strengths. Do you use it in a crowded, free wifi area to select the best network? What else?

I use it to see what other networks are out there, how strong they are, what channel they're on, what security settings they have... and verify all of the same for *my* networks (see what I'm showing the world). Great for scouting the lay of the land, as it were.

This comes in especially handy when travelling, or when you're troubleshooting (say you're having a problem one day that you never had before). Vital if you have lots of nearby neighbors, not so much if you don't.

[randy]

+1 on what Greg said. I have used it to diagnose an issue with 2 neighboring routers being on the same channel and causing interference.

I also use it to check open wi-fi spots when in a hotel. I once found someone that was using the same name but was a LOT stronger in my room than the router location at the front desk. I notified the front desk and the second one disappeared shortly thereafter. I don't know it was someone trying to troll for data...

[Weetabix]

I also like RealCalc - it lets you use RPN.

[Weetabix]

Necro warning!

I saw this article on upgrading android versions on tablets or phones, and I'm hoping someone here (Greg?) will know all about this and be able to explain it to the slower witted among us.

Some questions occur to me:

1. Do you have to reinstall all your apps after you do this?
2. Do you have to reassociate accounts - email, and whatever?
3. Are any claimed improvements really worth the trouble, or is it a toy for the technically playful?
4. Can you set up multiple users on a tablet so your kids won't prank your email, for example?
5. Am I missing any big disadvantages to be aware of?

[Weetabix]

I bought that Nexus you linked from further up in the thread, so I'd be rooting and reflashing.

This sounds like an interesting diversion, but I'm wondering how wonderful it is so I can decide if I ignore other things I have to do and attempt this. I have to admit that this thing is a toy that sits around until someone picks it up to play games, check email, browse The Gun Counter, etc. It's not a necessary device by any stretch of the imagination. So any improvements would be "gee whiz" rather than necessary to productivity.

[Weetabix]

you wont see any real advantage over just rooting your nexus. Root your nexus and install everything you want from other roms etc...

I apparently don't know enough about this even to ask a coherent question. I thought rooting and installing another rom was what that article was about - different builds of android that offer different speeds or UI's or whatever.

When you "install everything you want from other roms" does that mean you're piecing code together or installing discrete subsets of programs that are less than a whole operating system or something else?

I think I need to go do some reading...