Related
I'm a WP7 user, who also owns an iPod touch. Overall I like the WP7 experience, except for the app list - in my opinion it's killing the system.
On my Ipod I have probably around 200 apps. They are organised by page - so I have a page for games, a page for music apps, a page for productivity apps etc. With the newer version of iOS I've also made sub-folders on each page, but the point is; when I need X app I just swipe to the relevant page, then look for its icon.
This also has a nice side effect; when i'm bored, it's easy just to flick through the screens and find an app I want to play with.
On WP7 there is no quick way to find an app without knowing its name. For example, I installed a currency converter but to run I have to browse through a list of around 40 apps, looking for it. I don't remember what its icon looks like or its name as I use it infrequently - this process takes ages, and defies the point of having a smart phone, which you can quickly take out your pocket and look up something.
There is no real way you can memorise the names of 100+ apps, so the only choice is scrolling. However, having one long list is broken from a usability point of view, as every time you install a new app everything below in the list it gets pushed down a little bit. Therefore if you do learn how far down to scroll to find a specific app, it will eventually move and you won't find it again.
Finally, already there are tons of apps on my phone that I have forgotten I have installed. The list is not easy to flick through when bored, so infrequently used apps get neglected. Bare in mind I only have around 30 apps installed, and already I'm confused / lost..
All this could be solved so easily by adding groups, like the people hub has in Mango. Imagine being able to add groups at the top of the list like "Games", "Productivity", "Sound" etc, and a killer feature would be that you can add each app to multiple groups. Newly installed apps could even go in a default group called "Programs", bit like Windows.
This simple change would make the phone about 1000x more productive than now - thoughts?
Whatever do you need two hundred applications for???
I have around 50 apps installed on my WP7, and everything I need it for is covered. It is significantly easier to remember the names of 50 apps than 200, especially considering most apps on WP7 have reasonable names "London Travel", "Groceries", etc...
With the jump list feature in mango, it will become easier to page through a long list of apps as the app list will replicate the naviation of the people list, where you can click on any letter, then the letter you want, and jump straight to where you need to be.
I personally like the simplicity of the tiles and apps. I agree that another page on the left, where you could select a bunch of "frequently used, but not so frequently that I want them as live tiles" apps, would be a definite improvement though.
Aphasaic2002 said:
I'm a WP7 user, who also owns an iPod touch. Overall I like the WP7 experience, except for the app list - in my opinion it's killing the system.
On my Ipod I have probably around 200 apps. They are organised by page - so I have a page for games, a page for music apps, a page for productivity apps etc. With the newer version of iOS I've also made sub-folders on each page, but the point is; when I need X app I just swipe to the relevant page, then look for its icon.
This also has a nice side effect; when i'm bored, it's easy just to flick through the screens and find an app I want to play with.
On WP7 there is no quick way to find an app without knowing its name. For example, I installed a currency converter but to run I have to browse through a list of around 40 apps, looking for it. I don't remember what its icon looks like or its name as I use it infrequently - this process takes ages, and defies the point of having a smart phone, which you can quickly take out your pocket and look up something.
There is no real way you can memorise the names of 100+ apps, so the only choice is scrolling. However, having one long list is broken from a usability point of view, as every time you install a new app everything below in the list it gets pushed down a little bit. Therefore if you do learn how far down to scroll to find a specific app, it will eventually move and you won't find it again.
Finally, already there are tons of apps on my phone that I have forgotten I have installed. The list is not easy to flick through when bored, so infrequently used apps get neglected. Bare in mind I only have around 30 apps installed, and already I'm confused / lost..
All this could be solved so easily by adding groups, like the people hub has in Mango. Imagine being able to add groups at the top of the list like "Games", "Productivity", "Sound" etc, and a killer feature would be that you can add each app to multiple groups. Newly installed apps could even go in a default group called "Programs", bit like Windows.
This simple change would make the phone about 1000x more productive than now - thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's what grouping the app list looks like -
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
you can artificially group them on your start screen by doing something like this:
http://www.wpcentral.com/organise-your-start-screen-live-tiles
personally, the ability to add something to a hub, or to just have the option for folders would be helpful for people who want more control over the organization of apps, but i have maybe 50 apps installed and rarely do i find i'm missing an app for something.
andrewkeith5 said:
Whatever do you need two hundred applications for???
I have around 50 apps installed on my WP7, and everything I need it for is covered. It is significantly easier to remember the names of 50 apps than 200, especially considering most apps on WP7 have reasonable names "London Travel", "Groceries", etc...
With the jump list feature in mango, it will become easier to page through a long list of apps as the app list will replicate the naviation of the people list, where you can click on any letter, then the letter you want, and jump straight to where you need to be.
I personally like the simplicity of the tiles and apps. I agree that another page on the left, where you could select a bunch of "frequently used, but not so frequently that I want them as live tiles" apps, would be a definite improvement though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So now we are being judged for having too many apps? What business is it of yours (or anyone's) how many apps someone else has on their phone?
For people who have more use for their phone than 50 apps can satisfy, the current system, even with the jump list, is woefully inadequate. Too many app developers think they can be "clever" by giving their app a name that really has little bearing on its use. When you get too many of these on your phone, it becomes annoyingly difficult to remember the obscure names of all of these apps, so even the jump list and search features don't really help much.
Adding the option to pin apps to the top of the list (and then be able to drag them into a preferred order, similar to the way live tiles can be dragged around) would be a huge benefit to many of us. Even a "most recently used" list or the ability to group by marketplace category would help.
Aphasaic2002 said:
I'm a WP7 user, who also owns an iPod touch. Overall I like the WP7 experience, except for the app list - in my opinion it's killing the system.
On my Ipod I have probably around 200 apps. They are organised by page - so I have a page for games, a page for music apps, a page for productivity apps etc. With the newer version of iOS I've also made sub-folders on each page, but the point is; when I need X app I just swipe to the relevant page, then look for its icon.
This also has a nice side effect; when i'm bored, it's easy just to flick through the screens and find an app I want to play with.
On WP7 there is no quick way to find an app without knowing its name. For example, I installed a currency converter but to run I have to browse through a list of around 40 apps, looking for it. I don't remember what its icon looks like or its name as I use it infrequently - this process takes ages, and defies the point of having a smart phone, which you can quickly take out your pocket and look up something.
There is no real way you can memorise the names of 100+ apps, so the only choice is scrolling. However, having one long list is broken from a usability point of view, as every time you install a new app everything below in the list it gets pushed down a little bit. Therefore if you do learn how far down to scroll to find a specific app, it will eventually move and you won't find it again.
Finally, already there are tons of apps on my phone that I have forgotten I have installed. The list is not easy to flick through when bored, so infrequently used apps get neglected. Bare in mind I only have around 30 apps installed, and already I'm confused / lost..
All this could be solved so easily by adding groups, like the people hub has in Mango. Imagine being able to add groups at the top of the list like "Games", "Productivity", "Sound" etc, and a killer feature would be that you can add each app to multiple groups. Newly installed apps could even go in a default group called "Programs", bit like Windows.
This simple change would make the phone about 1000x more productive than now - thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah man, it's just because you're so used to working with the 4x4 grid. Your brain is gonna pick up working with WP7 and you'll start remembering the names of apps, at least ones that you use frequently.
Worst case my friend, use the voice option to open the name of the app
OR
Hit the Magnifying glass and do a search of the functionality that you're looking for. Mango has it where it'll suggest apps for the tasks that you want to do.
As a tangent, I can't even imagine drilling down through so many levels of folders to find what I'm looking for, at least on a phone, that just sounds nuts to me.
ScottSUmmers said:
Hit the Magnifying glass and do a search of the functionality that you're looking for. Mango has it where it'll suggest apps for the tasks that you want to do.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i didn't know mango had that as a feature, neat!
tired of these threads with these lousy childish complaints. use the jumplist, search feature or pin your most used apps to the start screen!!!! and be done with it, that's what it's there for!
Ok, so everyone always says "use the jump list" or "use the search function...
There is no jumplist. I have 86 apps in my applist and there's no jumplist.
There is no search. When I press the search button, I get the bing search. If I enter the name of any of my apps, all it gives me is bing search results. "Web" and "News". There's no option to search/find apps.
So please either stop telling use to use these non-existing features or tell us how to enable them. Until then: I want groups as well!
Not to pile on, but if you can't find a currency converter app on your phone that you installed in a list of 40 apps, maybe the phone isn't the problem. Additionally, if you believe finding an app within multiple pages with multiple sub genres is less confusing, I just don't know what to say.
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
It's not too bad of a suggestiong, not sure why some are taking it so personally. Right now it's not a big deal but later on when you have a lot of apps, then it may be nice to have grouping. It will also probably look better visually, then just a plain list.
On the other hand, as others have already mentioned there are ways to get around it now, use the voice command.. it's works great. Or use the search grid. Or pin if you have too.
N0MN0M said:
use the voice command.. it's works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
while voice launching works surprisingly well, I'd just feel stupid in public (city, train) to yell "start nyan!"...
Localhorst86 said:
while voice launching works surprisingly well, I'd just feel stupid in public (city, train) to yell "start nyan!"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then PIN THE APP!!!!!
eric12341 said:
then PIN THE APP!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And needlessly clutter the start screen. Brilliant idea, that one.
Localhorst86 said:
Ok, so everyone always says "use the jump list" or "use the search function...
There is no jumplist. I have 86 apps in my applist and there's no jumplist.
There is no search. When I press the search button, I get the bing search. If I enter the name of any of my apps, all it gives me is bing search results. "Web" and "News". There's no option to search/find apps.
So please either stop telling use to use these non-existing features or tell us how to enable them. Until then: I want groups as well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming you don't have Mango. In Mango, you have the following
1. Jump list is activated when you have greater than 4X (I forget the exact number) apps
2. I just did a search for "restaurant reviews" and the first result is the Yelp icon with the ability to launch the app. It is under the web tab. In addition, there is a search button in the app list (under the arrow)
munkeyphyst said:
Not to pile on, but if you can't find a currency converter app on your phone that you installed in a list of 40 apps, maybe the phone isn't the problem. Additionally, if you believe finding an app within multiple pages with multiple sub genres is less confusing, I just don't know what to say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are piling on, and you know it .
But let's take your specific example. I have the XE currency converter app on my phone. The problem is, in an effort to be clever, they put the "XE" in the icon, and called the app "Currency". So, looking at it in the list you still see "XE Currency".
If I used it every day, I'd get used to that. But I don't use it every day (and therefore DON'T, I repeat DON'T want to pin it to the start screen). And, the few times I have used it, my mind has focused on the fact that it is XE (since that has always been its name on the web site I've used for the past ten years, i.e. xe.com). Unfortunately, you won't find it under X in the list, but under C. And in a list of 150+ apps, it tends to get lost fairly quickly.
Seriously people, stop bashing others for not wanting to just settle for something less or not be like everyone else. Having groups/folders/etc. is a good suggestion. Also, a lot of your suggestions are for Mango, which many of us don't want to run yet as you loose a lot of homebrew on it nevermind it's Beta. So, in the end, stop crying because someone has a complaint or is giving constructive criticism. While you may like it exactly as is, not everyone does & having choices is better.
PG2G said:
2. I just did a search for "restaurant reviews" and the first result is the Yelp icon with the ability to launch the app. It is under the web tab. In addition, there is a search button in the app list (under the arrow)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And you really don't see how monumentally inefficient it is to have to open bing and type in "restaurant reviews" and wait for the search results, just to launch an app that is already installed? I think that new feature of bing is more intended to help people recognize that an app they already have offers a feature they didn't know about or to allow them to install the app if they don't already have it, not to provide an efficient means to launch an app that you are already familiar with.
RoboDad said:
And needlessly clutter the start screen. Brilliant idea, that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apps u most commonly use on a daily basis aren't " needless clutter" and its not MS' problem that u don't want to actually use the start screen.
eric12341 said:
apps u most commonly use on a daily basis aren't " needless clutter" and its not MS' problem that u don't want to actually use the start screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You really need to pay more attention to what is written in the thread before responding. Read this again:
RoboDad said:
If I used it every day, I'd get used to that. But I don't use it every day (and therefore DON'T, I repeat DON'T want to pin it to the start screen).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello,
have since today my SmartWatch 3 and just can not get the Sony Lifelog app to work!
Actually, I should be able to see things from lifelog directly on the Smartwatch, right?
In the Android app I Wear unfortunately not select which app to display with the steps. Here I have only "fit" to choose from.
But other apps make also problems ... So I'm Endomondo Pro user and can not use functions on the SmartWatch, although Endomondo Android Wear supported ... With the free version it's funny enough. I also tried to uninstall and then reinstall ...
Am I doing something wrong? Otherwise, the Smartwatch- so Whatsapp messages etc. will work properly.
Thanks for your help
deifel said:
hello,
have since today my SmartWatch 3 and just can not get the Sony Lifelog app to work!
Actually, I should be able to see things from lifelog directly on the Smartwatch, right?
In the Android app I Wear unfortunately not select which app to display with the steps. Here I have only "fit" to choose from.
But other apps make also problems ... So I'm Endomondo Pro user and can not use functions on the SmartWatch, although Endomondo Android Wear supported ... With the free version it's funny enough. I also tried to uninstall and then reinstall ...
Am I doing something wrong? Otherwise, the Smartwatch- so Whatsapp messages etc. will work properly.
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no support yet for sw3 from lifelog. We are waiting for an update...
What the f, sony support tells me "not a known issue" go try a other watch at the shop..
. Useless pricks
Good to know im not the only one struggling (hate being loner )
Apb said:
What the f, sony support tells me "not a known issue" go try a other watch at the shop..
. Useless pricks
Good to know im not the only one struggling (hate being loner )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last update offers support for SWR30 smartband (10 days ago). So i guess the next one will be for SWR50...
Well, that's fail on their end, one thing lifelog is not ready to be used with swr50, but they even have following sentence in description:
Description
To best enjoy SmartWear Experience, Sony asks that your device is running Android 4.4; KitKat, has support for Bluetooth®4.0 Low Energy and that you are using Sony SmartWear apparel - SmartBand, SmartBand Talk or SmartWatch 3
Exactly my thoughts, quite a big fail. Also product description on the sonymobile states about synchronise with lifelog after workout. One of the main reasons to replacevthe swr10/sw1 combination with swr50 for me
Just checked lifelog apk and there is no android wear micro app in it, so no doubts we cannot find it on the watch.
I bet band talk was easier as it runs their own software and with sw 3 they will have to re-implement it from scratch (e.g. I hope they will use Google Fit api)
Thats the answer from "Sony Mobile Communications" on my comment in PlayStore about LifeLog support for SWR50:
"Hi Bill. We would advise checking for any new updates available for the application via the Play Store to ensure you have the newest version of the application which is able to be downloaded to your device."
Just ...LOL!
I was amazed when I got my watch loaded up Android Wear and didn't see Lifelog as an option under any of the commands. The app itself makes no mention of it, nor does any instruction manual (not that the watch really had one).
It is crazy though that the advertising on the website, the sticker on the watch itself and the box all mention Lifelog, yet it does not actually work (yet).
I have been pestering @sonyuK on Twitter who told me to ask @SonyXperiagb.
I asked....
why does the Smartwatch 3 not support the Lifelog app as advertised? It's a great watch but this seems like a major oversight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They responded...
what exactly happens when trying to use the application with the Smartwatch 3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They clearly have no idea about the products they are marketing.
In 3 days it's the official smartwatch3 launch from sony. So let's cross our fingers and pray...
Its there!!! Spotted in play store
Support for smartwatch 3 is mentioned as new feature...
---------- Post added at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:34 PM ----------
30 minutes later, still dont see any recorded step appearing in lifelog..
Dont get it...seen some crashes on the watch for Fit process....
Might consider full reset of watch atm
Apb said:
Its there!!! Spotted in play store
Support for smartwatch 3 is mentioned as new feature...
---------- Post added at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:34 PM ----------
30 minutes later, still dont see any recorded step appearing in lifelog..
Dont get it...seen some crashes on the watch for Fit process....
Might consider full reset of watch atm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have updated and it is not detected in Android Wear App as an option for any command, nor is there any option in LifeLog to connect the phone. This is bollocks.
Bojanglez said:
Yeah I have updated and it is not detected in Android Wear App as an option for any command, nor is there any option in LifeLog to connect the phone. This is bollocks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to be honest, i suspect it has to show up on Fit, settings, connected apps or something. However it is empty. When selecting 'all apps' overthere, lifelog does show with some permissions. Just somehow it is not enough to get Fit data into Lifelog....
anyone any ideas?
Yeah, its not syncing for me either. Did anyone have any luck with a reset by any chance?
Apb said:
to be honest, i suspect it has to show up on Fit, settings, connected apps or something. However it is empty. When selecting 'all apps' overthere, lifelog does show with some permissions. Just somehow it is not enough to get Fit data into Lifelog....
anyone any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have to reconsider my statement. After installing runkeerper, it partly confirms my thoughts. It does require to link the apps , but runkeeper shows up as app to start and use on the watch. So with that , the lifelog is not complete as it is now. (did not do a reset yet, thats my next step now )
Today saw an update in play store that says it supports the SSW3... But I don't see it in my sw ?
update today but any app is present on the smartwatch 3
Same here, they should get their act together, this is false advertisement !
task named "lifelog"
On my smartwatch 3 I have "Advanced Wear Task Killer". There is a task named lifelog.
So I think the update changed something but I also dont see any function.
Confirmed that one. But indeed the process doesnt seem to be doing anything
Also changing any setting in lifelog app (seems to new setting btw) changes nothing...
Hi folks,
I've got a Fire Phone, with default Fire OS 4.6.1
I am not quite ready to get into rooting it and adding a new OS, as I don't have the time.
So in the interim I have the Google Play Store installed, along with a launcher that's more to my liking.
I have the issue that when I click on links in apps which, I assume, are intended to launch the Google Play Store, I get a message from Fire OS saying,
Continue to Amazon Appstore?
This app is trying to open a link with an external market that is not available on your device. Would you like to open this link with the Amazon Appstore instead?
[CANCEL] [CONTINUE]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I click cancel, then the link does not open. If I click continue it goes to the Amazon Appstore and can't find what the link relates to (obviously).
I saw someone else posting something about this, and they were advised to edit some settings in the Manage Applications settings, and also External Market settings. Since updating to 4.6.1 I don't seem to be able to find any Manage Applications settings, no External Market settings (not even sure if those existed on the pre-4.6.1 OS that was on here when I received it).
Is there a way to set this thing to allow Google Play to launch when Play links are clicked?
Cheers,
J
On an unrooted device:
- Go to "settings" and look for "manage applications", select "all", to see every app installed...
- Disable the "Appstore"
As long as the Amazon appstore is disabled, Play Store will intercept the links.
It's not very comfortable, I know. On a rooted device, I used a shortcut to dis-/enable the Amazon Appstore to get the job done faster.
As of now, there is no official way to set the "Play Store" as your default store (of course not, why would Amazon be interested in that option ^^).
Bingo Bronson said:
On an unrooted device:
- Go to "settings" and look for "manage applications", select "all", to see every app installed...
- Disable the "Appstore"
As long as the Amazon appstore is disabled, Play Store will intercept the links.
It's not very comfortable, I know. On a rooted device, I used a shortcut to dis-/enable the Amazon Appstore to get the job done faster.
As of now, there is no official way to set the "Play Store" as your default store (of course not, why would Amazon be interested in that option ^^).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Bingo,
Thanks for the help.
The thing is, since it updated to 4.6.1 (and I see that last night it updated itself to 4.6.3 on its own accord) the "Manage Applications" option that was there previously has gone. There is now just an "Applications" option. And that
Okay... at last I've figured out where "Manage Applications" went since 4.6.1 update. There is now just an "Applications" menu. Touching that expands it to show various options. One of those options is "Force quite or clear data for applications". This is now the way to access the "Manage Applications" screen. The first option on that expanded "Applications" menu is "Manage the settings for individual Amazon applications on your phone". The wording of this had me thinking that this had somehow replaced the Manage Applications option.
Cool. I've now disabled Amazon AppStore.
Thanks.
This Fixed My Issue
I fixed my issue by going to the Applications menu under Settings (little gear in dropdown menu) then going to Manage Applications, then selecting All Applications from the dropdown there. I found the Appstore, clicked on it, selected Force Stop and Clear Cache. That seemed to do the trick. I also have Allow 3rd Party Apps selected, which can also be found under Applications in settings.
I've been searching everywhere for this solution. Youtube and google, and yes finally someone who just needed google play apps to not be redirected to kindle appstore. It worked by disabling the appstore. <3 The ES File Explorer helped me to uninstall the updated version and now apps can be directed to google play. Thanks for saving me from having to root. I like the launcher option from google play. Don't have enough patience to root and then it possibly doesn't work. TOT! Ty for solution!
My 4.6.3 new phone seems to work well in this regard without any setting being made. Just disabled Amazon store auto update. At first I had that redirect to Amazon problem, but then some other Google store link just redirected to Google play app.
For me, clicking on Disable App Store doesn't seem to be doing anything. Unable to disable and blocking of external market link continues
Can someone please help, nothing in here worked.
I tried going to settings -> apps and games -> manage all applications -> All -> Appstore and pressed "clear cache", "clear data", and "force stop", and it didn't help.
I also tried going to settings -> Apps and Games -> Amazon Application Settings -> Appstore -> External Market Links -> Don't Open and now it says "External Market Links Disabled You can choose to open external market links with the bracketbracketAppstore_long_namebracketbracket. Update this option in the External Market Links section of the Appstore settings." (I had to type bracket instead of using [ because it said I was using BBcode and couldn't post)
I'm using a 5th generation fire running Fire OS 5.3.6.4
Fixed it
I just figured it out.
Settings, Applications & Parental Controls, Configure Amazon application settings, Appstore, External Market Links, Don’t Open
This will prevent the Appstore from trying to open links for external app markets. It doesn’t prevent the links from opening with the correct market, just makes that message stop popping up and click-jacking you into oblivion. So now when you click on a link, a little box will open with apps to choose from to open the link, like your browser or Google Play Store, for example.
I want to keep using this phone, because it’s potentially a good privacy phone, without all the tracking stuff installed. Sorry, that would mean no Google Apps...but I use some apps that apparently won’t get notifications unless GAPPS are installed. I heard MicroG can fix that but it doesn’t seem to work. Anyway if I could fix that and maybe upgrade the camera module to a better quality camera, it would be a better phone...almost perfect actually.
thanks for your helpful post
Ninja000 said:
I just figured it out.
......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for posting today!! So happy to see people still using this nice phone. I too want a simple "relatively" private phone, plus I actually preferred the Fire OS UI (which is much better version of Fire OS than we have on Fire tablets).
But I came here because I was fearful that Amazon has bricked my device. It suddenly became "de-registered" and the menus for registering to my Amazon account do not work -- I'm not able to register. And I'm not able to use ANY app that I got from the Amazon app store, and I lost ALL of my nice customizations (organizing my apps into folders, etc -- a huge amount of work because I have a ton of apps).
Probably I should start a new thread on this issue but I wanted to post here in gratitude that people still discuss this phone, plus it is an app store (and bigger...) issue, so it is not entirely unrelated. I will try some of the above advice because perhaps it allow me to launch apps without the Amazon App Store demanding log in.
dini77 said:
Thanks so much for posting today!! So happy to see people still using this nice phone. I too want a simple "relatively" private phone, plus I actually preferred the Fire OS UI (which is much better version of Fire OS than we have on Fire tablets).
But I came here because I was fearful that Amazon has bricked my device. It suddenly became "de-registered" and the menus for registering to my Amazon account do not work -- I'm not able to register. And I'm not able to use ANY app that I got from the Amazon app store, and I lost ALL of my nice customizations (organizing my apps into folders, etc -- a huge amount of work because I have a ton of apps).
Probably I should start a new thread on this issue but I wanted to post here in gratitude that people still discuss this phone, plus it is an app store (and bigger...) issue, so it is not entirely unrelated. I will try some of the above advice because perhaps it allow me to launch apps without the Amazon App Store demanding log in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem! "Sharing is caring" :laugh:
Yeah I like it too! I wish it was still supported by Amazon, but the bad press killed it.
As for not being able to use your account...you might try a factory reset, BUT...
FIRST: backup your APKs and saved files via USB to PC (can use file browser in Windows)
or MAC (will need this --->android.com/filetransfer/<---), and make sure under Battery and Storage, USB Connection Type is listed as File Transfer.
This is important because once you regeister, it might restore your last cloud backup, which I assume is probably pretty old after reading your reply.
Next:
Perform the Factory Reset OR...
To reregister your phone go to Settings, My Accounts, either "Register your phone" if that is an option (mine says "Deregister"), or maybe Manage your Amazon account.
The later will probably redirect you to the Amazon website, because the Amazon Shopping App is no longer supported on this older OS.
*I haven't found a newer version of the Amazon Shopping App that works on the Android 4.4 based Fire OS 4.6.6.1.
The other thing is you might be able to do it via the Amazon website, you probably have it listed under your account still, just need to find it.
I'd contact Amazon help to learn about how to do it that way. They might not know off hand, since the phone is no longer technically supported,
but they will definitely still try to help you.
I would really love it if someone on this forum could pull the launcher and everything from this version of Fire OS to work on the newer Android Roms like Cyanogen Mod,
because then we could just replace the old unsupported apps with the new versions. That would be awesome! I realize 2gb Ram would be a little low for the latest Android,
but just having a little newer OS version that is still supported by Amazon would be great. I really enjoy the Kindle App on this, because it has text to speech and
that is really convenient.
BTW, do you have the Google APPS installed on yours? I have them installed on mine, and it drains the batter like crazy,
granted, it's the original battery from 2014, but still.
Side note: If anyone has an extra screw(s) for the bottom they're willing to part with, I'd be willing to buy one (or a handful).
Lost one in the carpet (I know *rolls eyes) when I had to replace the camera module due to some (I guess) scratches or something actually on the sensor itself.
Thanks for all of your advice!! Very much appreciated. I tried one of them right away, which is to check My Devices on the Amazon site, but the phone is no longer listed (it used to be). So that only lists registered devices. Once it is de-registered, it is not considered to be my device. But, you are correct that Amazon customer service may possibly help, because if you buy a device from Amazon, it usually automatically gets registered to you (unless you say it is a gift), and that automatic registration is probably done via some code on the device box probably its serial # (that is, they don't register it by messing with the actual device, I'm guessing). But to be honest I'm not too hopeful about this. But something to try.
Before you replied, I started a new thread on this, mostly to warn people not to de-register their devices, because I think it may not be possible to register again. And this could be a very recent development. Amazon usually sends an email warning when an older device will no longer work, but maybe this was not intentional. I never realized that so much of the function depended on the registration, as if it were an Echo device!
I do have a collection of APKs saved so at least I won't need to re-download, but because I have so many apps, it would still be a lot of work to set things up from scratch, especially since I don't think it will work. I don't think my system is corrupted. Just de-registered. A soft reset (long-press of power button) did not help. Again this just happened by itself -- I had not added anything new or did any updates. So it is not likely that my install got messed up.
I'm always confused when people mention "Google Apps" -- if that means the Play Store and its dependencies, then yes, I have that. But I did not install GMail or Docs or Drive, etc. I minimize using Google things on this phone.
About the screws, eBay may have them. eBay has almost everything.
Ninja000 said:
No problem! "Sharing is caring" :laugh:
Yeah I like it too! I wish it was still supported by Amazon, but the bad press killed it.
.
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Click to collapse
I think it is just extremely difficult for "alternative" phone systems to survive, which is soooo sad, because I like interesting variety. I also love Meego, and Windows 10 Mobile. Meego had just one model (it was from Nokia, not released in the U.S.; it was planned to be the Nokia successor for their older Symbian OS). Well, maybe FireOS is not truly "variety" because it is after all essentially Android, but much less messy or annoying, in my opinion. I really like how the Settings are organized. And I like the Carousel, especialy how nicely it works with the built-in apps like weather and email. Being basically Android, it actually had the best chance of survival out of the "Alternatives." It could use most of the same apps as a "real" Android.
The reason for quick death are probably multi-faceted but my guess is the problems with the earliest version of the OS were the most serious thing. And that led to the bad press, so you are correct, that is what did it. I got mine after the "fire sale" and by then the system was much nicer, with the most annoying or serious issues all fixed, so I only read about the early issues. I feel terrible for the (former) Amazon employees who put a huge amount of effort into this thing. (Like Meego, too!) And the hardware is still very nice, better than my Fire Tablet that is much newer. I really thought it would last me for years, for the sorts of things I used it for. (Another thing I liked to do is control my Squeezbox music streaming devices. And listen to podcasts. Things like that.) There are so many uses for an older device. And I enjoyed this one.
Since at the very minimum this device is a Kindle book reader and Amazon music player, Amazon loses by not providing some bare-minimum support for it. My first Kindle e-Reader from 2011 still works great. But my guess is, the number of people still using this phone is super low. Which is why I was happy to see your post!
dini77 said:
Thanks for all of your advice!! Very much appreciated. I tried one of them right away, which is to check My Devices on the Amazon site, but the phone is no longer listed (it used to be). So that only lists registered devices. Once it is de-registered, it is not considered to be my device. But, you are correct that Amazon customer service may possibly help, because if you buy a device from Amazon, it usually automatically gets registered to you (unless you say it is a gift), and that automatic registration is probably done via some code on the device box probably its serial # (that is, they don't register it by messing with the actual device, I'm guessing). But to be honest I'm not too hopeful about this. But something to try.
Before you replied, I started a new thread on this, mostly to warn people not to de-register their devices, because I think it may not be possible to register again. And this could be a very recent development. Amazon usually sends an email warning when an older device will no longer work, but maybe this was not intentional. I never realized that so much of the function depended on the registration, as if it were an Echo device!
I do have a collection of APKs saved so at least I won't need to re-download, but because I have so many apps, it would still be a lot of work to set things up from scratch, especially since I don't think it will work. I don't think my system is corrupted. Just de-registered. A soft reset (long-press of power button) did not help. Again this just happened by itself -- I had not added anything new or did any updates. So it is not likely that my install got messed up.
I'm always confused when people mention "Google Apps" -- if that means the Play Store and its dependencies, then yes, I have that. But I did not install GMail or Docs or Drive, etc. I minimize using Google things on this phone.
About the screws, eBay may have them. eBay has almost everything.
I think it is just extremely difficult for "alternative" phone systems to survive, which is soooo sad, because I like interesting variety. I also love Meego, and Windows 10 Mobile. Meego had just one model (it was from Nokia, not released in the U.S.; it was planned to be the Nokia successor for their older Symbian OS). Well, maybe FireOS is not truly "variety" because it is after all essentially Android, but much less messy or annoying, in my opinion. I really like how the Settings are organized. And I like the Carousel, especialy how nicely it works with the built-in apps like weather and email. Being basically Android, it actually had the best chance of survival out of the "Alternatives." It could use most of the same apps as a "real" Android.
The reason for quick death are probably multi-faceted but my guess is the problems with the earliest version of the OS were the most serious thing. And that led to the bad press, so you are correct, that is what did it. I got mine after the "fire sale" and by then the system was much nicer, with the most annoying or serious issues all fixed, so I only read about the early issues. I feel terrible for the (former) Amazon employees who put a huge amount of effort into this thing. (Like Meego, too!) And the hardware is still very nice, better than my Fire Tablet that is much newer. I really thought it would last me for years, for the sorts of things I used it for. (Another thing I liked to do is control my Squeezbox music streaming devices. And listen to podcasts. Things like that.) There are so many uses for an older device. And I enjoyed this one.
Since at the very minimum this device is a Kindle book reader and Amazon music player, Amazon loses by not providing some bare-minimum support for it. My first Kindle e-Reader from 2011 still works great. But my guess is, the number of people still using this phone is super low. Which is why I was happy to see your post!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I completely agree. I got mine for $199 and a year of Amazon Prime included made the phone basically $99. ? I happened to think of one more possibility. Maybe there is an Amazon Fire ?services app (like Google services) or account manager app that got automatically updated by your Google Play store, or even replaced by a version off the Play store that led to this issue, because like I mentioned mine is actually still working aside from the Amazon Shopping app, and some apps that require a newer google services to get notifications.
I actually had flashed several different Roms on this phone and yeah the stock (but updated) Fire OS 4.6.6.1 is definitely the best. --Amazon account registration is part of the initial setup BTW, so factory reset might work.
I made the jump over to iOS after experiencing the Android 7&8 difficulties on a few other devices and battery gate with Samsung phones. Now I am experiencing a crapy battery life issue with my iPhones. My Fire Phone is from 2014, original battery and still has better battery life than even my iPhone XS Max. Wow ? So yeah, there is something to Fire OS being so light that makes it probably just about the best OS for a phone. The last time I flashed back to stock I used a ROM from this website, but I don’t remember what thread that’s on. I think it’s in the Cyanogen 11 Rom thread for this device. Maybe try flashing that. And you could actually (if you don’t mind losing the storage space) create a backup Rom from your current one, then make a new slot in twrp or whatever it’s called and have the other Rom installed on there. Then check to see if it’s possible to register on that version. If it doesn’t work, no big deal you will still have your backup rom with all your data. If it does work, then you could transfer your stuff over via usb. That would save you quite a bit of time incase it decides not to work. You can do a root and install the other rom right from your fire phone these days. That’s a bonus.
What happens when you open Amazon Instant Video? Does it ask you for a loggin? That would be awesome. BTW My Kindle Fire HX 7 is still working great too, just starting to slow down a bit. I also have a 6" Fire HD. I really agree Fire OS is super clean and alot of modern OS's are not that great and way too heavy for what most people need, especially on mobile devices.
Thanks again for your advice, especially since I will almost certainly end up flashing this thing. I have done a lot of "phone hacking" in the past -- even back in flip phone days -- but it is very time consuming and I'm super busy now. But it is kind of fun. So, maybe later.
I did not have Google Play (or any app store, on any of my devices) to be set to automatically update apps. Tho I think the store itself and its dependencies may still update, even if my apps don't, and I can't control that. And sometimes my setting to not automatically update is "reset" when a google component is updated. So it is conceivable that something got automatically updated and that caused my issue. I did have to reset the "do not update" setting.
I'm curious to see if anyone else has this issue, because if no, then you are right, I should just re-flash. I downloaded the latest Fire OS a while ago -- I collect stuff like that because you never know when it will be no longer readily available. So the phone is definitely not dead -- and it is nice that I have options for how to set it up. I'm glad to have the community contributions for that -- I did read thru those hacking posts.
I bought a spare battery a little while ago because I was worried they would be hard to get once I need one. But my currently installed battery, the original, is very satisfactory. So definitely I'll keep using this nice phone for a while.
dini77 said:
Thanks again for your advice, especially since I will almost certainly end up flashing this thing. I have done a lot of "phone hacking" in the past -- even back in flip phone days -- but it is very time consuming and I'm super busy now. But it is kind of fun. So, maybe later.
I did not have Google Play (or any app store, on any of my devices) to be set to automatically update apps. Tho I think the store itself and its dependencies may still update, even if my apps don't, and I can't control that. And sometimes my setting to not automatically update is "reset" when a google component is updated. So it is conceivable that something got automatically updated and that caused my issue. I did have to reset the "do not update" setting.
I'm curious to see if anyone else has this issue, because if no, then you are right, I should just re-flash. I downloaded the latest Fire OS a while ago -- I collect stuff like that because you never know when it will be no longer readily available. So the phone is definitely not dead -- and it is nice that I have options for how to set it up. I'm glad to have the community contributions for that -- I did read thru those hacking posts.
I bought a spare battery a little while ago because I was worried they would be hard to get once I need one. But my currently installed battery, the original, is very satisfactory. So definitely I'll keep using this nice phone for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was just thinking of going back to this phone as my primary phone. My problem is trying to get Micro G or something to work, for spoofing google services, because I want to use some apps that require google services, else they won't receive notifications. I also found on app I use, it's Korean, Kakaotalk is not receiving notifications when closed anymore. I haven't figured out why yet. Saw another thread about notifications on 3rd party apps not working, but didn't see a solution. I would also like to see a camera upgrade (4k video) and maybe a speaker upgrade and storage would be nice, but obviously that would require some soldering that I'm not willing to do, but maybe if I had a few doner phones would try it.:laugh: happy thanksgiving by the way!
I just went back to a Nokia N9 as my primary, at least for voice and weather and such basics (MeeGo OS, and battery lasts for days, good quality voice, nice small size, does not crash, etc). But I have my iPad and iPhone SE (the older model) always turned on so that covers all my needs. So, it is perfectly fine to use an old phone as primary so long as you have another device to supplement what the primary lacks. The Fire Phone would also make a primary. Tho in my experience it is not as stable. The "mishap" in this thread was not my first serious hiccup. See also the thread on all apps crashing if they require the address book (including the phone). That one is serious and reoccurs. (I think it is caused by having a very large number of apps on the phone. Usually fixed when I delete one of the larger apps.) So in other words at least with the original OS, stability is an issue. Maybe the custom firmware on this board is more stable.
Have a great thanksgiving!
Hello, I am using my M8s like 6 months and there are other folders and they are increasing .I don't know what are these folders and where they are. I can't install anything Is there a way to delete them or Just wait marshmallow update to move app data to SD Card.
Try the app "Disk Usage", its a great one that graphically and intuitively will show you what files are taking up the most space. If you don't know what they are, come back here and ask before deleting them.
Is the phone modified (root, custom recovery, etc.)? If so, sometimes folks leave their TWRP backups on the phone, which take up a huge amount of space (possibly 4GB or more for each backup) which can easily account for big storage usage in the "Other" category.
Other than that, what is taking up all the space depends a lot on how you use your phone.
redpoint73 said:
Try the app "Disk Usage", its a great one that graphically and intuitively will show you what files are taking up the most space. If you don't know what they are, come back here and ask before deleting them.
Is the phone modified (root, custom recovery, etc.)? If so, sometimes folks leave their TWRP backups on the phone, which take up a huge amount of space (possibly 4GB or more for each backup) which can easily account for big storage usage in the "Other" category.
Other than that, what is taking up all the space depends a lot on how you use your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that app but still can't find the files
No, It's not rooted
gsozcan97 said:
I tried that app but still can't find the files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't tell me much, that enables me to help you.
With the app, you can see what files are taking up the most space, are there large files or folders that don't look familiar to you? Maybe post a screenshot of the Disk Usage app. Although we might have to drill down to other folders to see their contents, so 1 screenshot alone might not be enough.
I can't just give you a blanket answer of how to clear up storage space, since it completely depends on how you use your phone. It can be videos or photos you took, stuff you downloaded, content for games (which take up lots of storage), OTA update files, or any number of other things.
I own a galaxy watch 46 mm (not the active or the active 2) and since a couple of weeks I get an annoying message on the screen.
Every once in a while it shows 'Double tap to explore', underneath the text there is a hand with an upward pointing outstretched finger.
I have to push the home and the back buttons a few times before the actual homescreen is shown.
Up to now I haven't found how to disable this.
Some days ago I upgraded to the latest DSL1 version of the firmware but the behaviour remains the same.
I went into settings and disabled as many notifications as I could but I haven't seen something about this message.
Does anybody know what this is and how to disable it?
If you reset your watch and are about to re-link it to your phone, you can enter a menu in which you can activate the double tap. I've activated it once to see what it does. It got deactivated after a hatd reset, so that's what I would suggest.
How to hard reset your watch is shown e.g. here: https://youtu.be/-_v4t5OK2ZY
congusto said:
If you reset your watch and are about to re-link it to your phone, you can enter a menu in which you can activate the double tap. I've activated it once to see what it does. It got deactivated after a hatd reset, so that's what I would suggest.
How to hard reset your watch is shown e.g. here: https://youtu.be/-_v4t5OK2ZY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A hard reset is of course an option, the double-tap to explore must be a feature that was introduced after I bought the watch.
Can this option be found somewhere in the settings?
If possible I like to disable it without resetting, I don't like reinstalling, it is not as bad as it can be with Windows but it still is a reinstallation.
deboopi2 said:
A hard reset is of course an option, the double-tap to explore must be a feature that was introduced after I bought the watch.
Can this option be found somewhere in the settings?
If possible I like to disable it without resetting, I don't like reinstalling, it is not as bad as it can be with Windows but it still is a reinstallation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did some digging, go to Settings, Accessibility*, Advanced Settings, Tap 3 times with two fingers*
* translated from Dutch . The Accessivility option is below the Account option.
congusto said:
Did some digging, go to Settings, Accessibility*, Advanced Settings, Tap 3 times with two fingers*
* translated from Dutch . The Accessivility option is below the Account option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I could not wait and did a hard reset.
When starting I did not see the menu you are talking about.
I had a look at the setting you pointed at, it was already off but I still get the double tap notification
Did another hard reset.
At boot time you can go to an accessibility menu, over thee you can find Advanced settings and then the two finger triple tap.
This is something you can find later on in the settings too but it does not enable or disable the 'double tap to explore' notification.
It should be something else,
congusto said:
Did some digging, go to Settings, Accessibility*, Advanced Settings, Tap 3 times with two fingers*
* translated from Dutch . The Accessivility option is below the Account option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
deboopi2 said:
I own a galaxy watch 46 mm (not the active or the active 2) and since a couple of weeks I get an annoying message on the screen.
Every once in a while it shows 'Double tap to explore', underneath the text there is a hand with an upward pointing outstretched finger.
I have to push the home and the back buttons a few times before the actual homescreen is shown.
Up to now I haven't found how to disable this.
Some days ago I upgraded to the latest DSL1 version of the firmware but the behaviour remains the same.
I went into settings and disabled as many notifications as I could but I haven't seen something about this message.
Does anybody know what this is and how to disable it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you use watchfacemaker?
I think the notification is one of the many bugs from the watchface manager (great features but it is buggy as hell)
Try to use any of the new watchfaces added by the team exclusively for galaxy users leave them for some seconds and then try to change them again to your desired face.
I saw they announced the gift faces in the notes of the last version. Perhaps they added this promotional intrusion.
For me, it seemed to work.
Good luck!
XavierNovella said:
Do you use watchfacemaker?
I think the notification is one of the many bugs from the watchface manager (great features but it is buggy as hell)
Try to use any of the new watchfaces added by the team exclusively for galaxy users leave them for some seconds and then try to change them again to your desired face.
I saw they announced the gift faces in the notes of the last version. Perhaps they added this promotional intrusion.
For me, it seemed to work.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I use watchmaker (package name = slide.WatchFrenzy).
On play I can find WatchMaker Watch Faces and Watch Face -WatchMaker Premium for Android Wear OS.
I think you are talking about the second one, I have the first one.
Anyway I'll try another one of the Samsung watchfaces and see if the problem disappears, I will ask the creator of the app if this message comes from his app,
I include a printscreen from the app I'm using,
deboopi2 said:
Well I use watchmaker (package name = slide.WatchFrenzy).
On play I can find WatchMaker Watch Faces and Watch Face -WatchMaker Premium for Android Wear OS.
I think you are talking about the second one, I have the first one.
Anyway I'll try another one of the Samsung watchfaces and see if the problem disappears, I will ask the creator of the app if this message comes from his app,
I include a printscreen from the app I'm using,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please note that there is Android app and Watch app. I think the error is being caused by the watch app and has got nothing to do with the Android app.
Android app has not updated for a while (so no issues in play store), but Watch app received update a few days ago 5.7.8 (so you have to check Galaxy Store, watch section).
(regarding watch app - be sure you are using new version (https://galaxystore.samsung.com/det...session_id=W_66c489edab40112abcb925da3c25c1ae) not legacy (https://galaxystore.samsung.com/geardetail/slide.watchFrenzy).
Good luck!
XavierNovella said:
Please note that there is Android app and Watch app. I think the error is being caused by the watch app and has got nothing to do with the Android app.
Android app has not updated for a while (so no issues in play store), but Watch app received update a few days ago 5.7.8 (so you have to check Galaxy Store, watch section).
(regarding watch app - be sure you are using new version (https://galaxystore.samsung.com/det...session_id=W_66c489edab40112abcb925da3c25c1ae) not legacy (https://galaxystore.samsung.com/geardetail/slide.watchFrenzy).
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far I did not change watchface or contact the developer.
But I installed the latest version of Galaxy Wear 5.7.9 and the last few days I do not get that reminder anymore.
Wait and see if I have to take action.