I'm hoping to take the plunge and buy an HTC Desire when they are available. To date I have used both WinMob and iPhone extensively.
One area of concern to me is the quality of the 3rd party apps available from the Android Market Place. I've searched at length for them and always come up short. Being used to the iPhone App Store, I am worried that the Android apps are not up to the same standard.
Can anyone point me to a resource which I can browse/search for Android apps, without first needing to own an actual phone in order to see??
As an example, the HTC Desire has an electronic compass built in. Now, with the iPhone, you get a built-in beautiful compass app with which to use the sensor. From what I can see, an app is not included with the Android phones, and my searches to date for an Android compass app have only come up with some frankly appalling ugly basic compass apps, and one which looks roughly photographic, but doesnt show any flair.
So, where is the good stuff, and can I browse it from my PC? I keep hearing of 20,000 apps, but my searches turn up lists of perhaps 10 (mostly poor) apps.
not sure if you could view all apps without actually having an android phone, but here is a very useful website about Android Market
http://androidfeeder.com/
Update: using this site you can search Android Apps/Games http://www.androlib.com/, this one too http://www.cyrket.com/m/android/
Update: and here is a list of ultimate free apps for android http://techpp.com/2009/11/10/ultimate-list-of-free-android-apps-part-1/
http://www.cyrket.com/search?q=compass&market=android
Compass Pro (Free) looks a lot like the iPhone version.
When you got the desire, you can try every app for 24hours and if you dont like the app, get your money back!
Thanks for all the suggestions. But I must say that the suggested sites are the ones I had already found, and to be frank, they are a cacophony of disjointed information, poor screen shots, and distraction.
I'm sure there are some software gems in there, but the sites seem to be determined to hide them.
The ultimate free apps pointer is the best list I have seen so far. Many of the sites dont even seem to bother offering a decent screen shot, if any at all.
The-Nazgul said:
When you got the desire, you can try every app for 24hours and if you dont like the app, get your money back!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, I didn't know this! That's very handy
I was worried that I'd purchase an app to find it doesn't work or isn't what was expected.
Also, try this site:
www.appbrain.com
Just be aware that most of these sites just reflect the information from the Android Market (accessed by your phone) onto a web page. This is not new or different information than what you would see in the market from your device - just copied in a slightly different package on the web.
Once difference with App Brain is you can choose not to see some of the spam apps. Also, with App Brain you can select apps from the website that you want to install - then, later open the App Brain app on your device and sync the apps - which will install the apps you selected on the web to your device using the Android Market interface. Works pretty well.
Neat. I will check that out.
TVM
XDAgeek said:
I'm hoping to take the plunge and buy an HTC Desire when they are available. To date I have used both WinMob and iPhone extensively.
One area of concern to me is the quality of the 3rd party apps available from the Android Market Place. I've searched at length for them and always come up short. Being used to the iPhone App Store, I am worried that the Android apps are not up to the same standard.
Can anyone point me to a resource which I can browse/search for Android apps, without first needing to own an actual phone in order to see??
As an example, the HTC Desire has an electronic compass built in. Now, with the iPhone, you get a built-in beautiful compass app with which to use the sensor. From what I can see, an app is not included with the Android phones, and my searches to date for an Android compass app have only come up with some frankly appalling ugly basic compass apps, and one which looks roughly photographic, but doesnt show any flair.
So, where is the good stuff, and can I browse it from my PC? I keep hearing of 20,000 apps, but my searches turn up lists of perhaps 10 (mostly poor) apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being absolutely honest - the standard of some identical apps is MUCH higher on the iPhone. I was checking out a friend's iPhone last night, and the RAC Traffic app is so much nicer. A little (fruit-machine type) roller to select the geographic area you want, as opposed to a crappy flat pop-up Android menu, and when you toggle between the map view/traffic update view, the iPhone version has an animation like you're folding back a page, whereas Android's is just a standard instant screen change. Oh, and the Android one doesn't always work properly. It is obvious that a lot more effort went into the iPhone version... I am getting serious envy over that...
There are also apps from big players who just don't even bother with Android versions. I know we keep saying "That will change as Android gains market-share", but how long is it going to take? I don't want those apps in 2yrs time, I want them NOW!
Having said that, the iPhone is locked down, you can barely customise it, and you have to put up with Apple's sh**. Still. I wish I could have iPhone apps on Android, that would be the best of both worlds.
I myself have owned Iphone 3gs, Hd2 and Hero and now waiting for delivery of Desire. To be honest For apps there is no comparison between Iphone and Andriod apps, iphone wins every time.
If apps are the major issue for you then don't buy desire, as you will be slightly dissappointed in lack of quality apps in comparison to the Iphone. But what it lacks in apps it certainly makes up in every other way.
The interface is better, it offers more seamless integration of your contacts from all of your various lists and address books - be they Skype, Twitter, your phone book, Facebook - and knits them together for a more intelligent experience. Multi tasking, optical pad, internet browsing better experience etc the list goes on and on.
That is why I choose to go with Desire and got rid of my Iphone 3GS, let's hope I'm not dissappointed.
riz157 said:
I myself have owned Iphone 3gs, Hd2 and Hero and now waiting for delivery of Desire. To be honest For apps there is no comparison between Iphone and Andriod apps, iphone wins every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now.. Recent research has shown that more than 50% of the iphone developers is planning to develop for android too, so with a bit of luck and some patience, the level of quality will be improving.
In short:
- It looks amazing on the wrist and it's worth the price and desire only for this "feature" (I have the silver version).
- It's so confortable you forget you wear it.
- As of now you can't do any useful things with it. The heart rate monitor barely works when you stand still, let alone when you move. It's just for fun and conversation. My LG G2 notification LED is so powerful that it can communicate more things than the watch can.
- It's just a lame remote for the phone right now.
What is needed (mostly from Androir Wear):
- Canned responses, easily accessible and sortable.
- Different vibration patterns depending on notification type (API ?)
- Standalone Wi-Fi functioning (as I understand, the Moto 360 has the Wi-Fi hardware)
- More open API to enable more powerful applications
- I think it's possible to type on the watch, but Google just needs to let developers try it in an official way
Hopefully the Apple Watch approach with powerful applications residing on the watch will "inspire" the Android Wear team to enable more stand-alone functionality.
That's about it. I like the hardware a lot, but the software is in its infancy. I think Samsung's Tizen approach is appropriate at this time, given how limited the Android Wear is.
kevinlevrone said:
In short:
- It looks amazing on the wrist and it's worth the price and desire only for this "feature" (I have the silver version).
- It's so confortable you forget you wear it.
- As of now you can't do any useful things with it. It's just for fun and conversation. My LG G2 notification LED is so powerful that it can communicate more things that the watch can.
- It's just a lame remote for the phone right now.
What is needed (mostly from Androir Wear):
- Canned responses, easily accessible and sortable.
- Different vibration patterns depending on notification type (API ?)
- Standalone Wi-Fi functioning (as I understand, the Moto 360 has the Wi-Fi hardware)
- More open API to enable more powerful applications
- I think it's possible to type on the watch, but Google just needs to let developers try it in an official way
Hopefully the Apple Watch approach with powerful applications residing on the watch will "inspire" the Android Wear team to enable more stand-alone functionality.
That's about it. I like the hardware a lot, but the software is in its infancy. I think Samsung's Tizen approach is appropriate at this time, given how limited the Android Wear is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
disagree with the "can't do anything useful" comment...
use autovoice, tasker and google search api and the possibilities are limited to what tasker can do (almost limitless). requires root and a little work, but i now have my watch running tasker tasks including controlling my home automation system... i feel like james bond. "ok, google. flush toilet!"
can't wait for android L
Nub question. What's API ?
Will we see upgrades with Wear 2.0/ Android L?
I'm expecting my watch by the 15th...the wait is killing me.
gerg004 said:
Nub question. What's API ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=API
Wiley_11 said:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=API
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, sir.
I mean, Troll*.
kevinlevrone said:
In short:
- Canned responses, easily accessible and sortable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that they should be sortable, but it has canned responses.
Tap reply to a text or email, instead of speaking, swipe up.
Yes
No
OK
Hehe
Thanks
I Agree
Nice
On my Way
OK, Let me get back to you later
vansmack said:
Tap reply to a text or email, instead of speaking, swipe up.
Yes
No
OK
Hehe
Thanks
I Agree
Nice
On my Way
OK, Let me get back to you later
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks ! I just didn't realize that this feature was already available. I withdraw 50% of the criticisms Now I just need to find a way to add my own responses (edit: I think I just read that this feature will be available in the upcoming Android L).
Hi all,
I just bought my Huawei Watch and noticed it's quite limited when paired with an iPhone - most notably when it comes to apps (presumably due to Apple's policies). The internet seems quite scarce when it comes to development resources related to iPhone + Android Wear so I was wondering if someone can point me in the right direction. Most notably, I'd like to know:
Would it be possible to create an iOS app and an Android Wear app (installed manually via adb) and have them communicate with each other in some way?
Assuming the previous is possible, what are the limits of this approach, i.e. is there anything that wouldn't be possible in this kind of Android Wear app that's possible when paired with Android?
How difficult would it be to produce an Android Wear app that would "trick" the iPhone into thinking it's an Apple Watch, in a way which would make existing Apple Watch apps work with it?
Note: I'm fully aware that these things, even if possible, wouldn't be able to reach the Apple app store - I'm OK with that, I'd only be doing this for personal use.
Any help / links pointing in the right direction regarding the specifics of Android Wear <-> iPhone apps are more than welcome.
If it were that easy it would have been done already. Just get an Android phone or get an iWatch.
If your jailbroke, I think there are some apps like that that give you additional functionality.
fstanis said:
Hi all,
I just bought my Huawei Watch and noticed it's quite limited when paired with an iPhone - most notably when it comes to apps (presumably due to Apple's policies). The internet seems quite scarce when it comes to development resources related to iPhone + Android Wear so I was wondering if someone can point me in the right direction. Most notably, I'd like to know:
Would it be possible to create an iOS app and an Android Wear app (installed manually via adb) and have them communicate with each other in some way?
Assuming the previous is possible, what are the limits of this approach, i.e. is there anything that wouldn't be possible in this kind of Android Wear app that's possible when paired with Android?
How difficult would it be to produce an Android Wear app that would "trick" the iPhone into thinking it's an Apple Watch, in a way which would make existing Apple Watch apps work with it?
Note: I'm fully aware that these things, even if possible, wouldn't be able to reach the Apple app store - I'm OK with that, I'd only be doing this for personal use.
Any help / links pointing in the right direction regarding the specifics of Android Wear <-> iPhone apps are more than welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Possible but no one would take that on. This is generally a non-iPhone forum.
2. See #1
3. Nearly impossible. You would need an emulator on the watch to make the watch think it's an Apple Watch so it would run the Apple Apps. And if someone did do this it would be so god awfully slow it wouldn't be worth it.
I hate to say it but... Get an Android phone or an Apple watch for maximum usability.
I myself am an Android fan Get your self a Nexus 6P or the Nexus 5X.
Just to clarify - I'm not looking for an existing solution (though I'd be fine with it if one exists), but I'm looking to work on one myself in my spare time and am looking for some resources to get started.
I'm aware this forum is mostly Android-related, but there are definitely iOS-related topics as well (in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have posted in this forum - I expected the question might have some hwatch-specific to it - so maybe it should be moved to Android Wear Software and Hacking General?)
Ahhh... I see ok. I get you!
I dont know of any resources that would be of any benefit to you.
Sorry but good luck as well!
Hey all. I've used XDA for years and I love the community here. This is my first time posting as I'm in truly virgin territory with my 1st gen Moto360.
I really just want it for the most basic tasks so I dont have to take out my phone, e.g.:
- quick checking/dismissing gmail/mysms texts
- checking a missed call
- quick reply to mysms texts
- calling a Lyft when I get tipsy
- quick weather forecasts
- setting my Nest thermostat
- longest battery life possible while retaining above features
can you guys recommend what i should/shouldn't enable? i've noticed android wear installs certain apps to my watch. Should I uninstall/disable them?
Thanks very much to anyone who takes the time to help me with this.
Hi Guy's/Girls,
I have a question about apps on the active 2. I got this watch, as a present, about six months ago. I'm very happy with it and therefore hope you can help me.
Is there a way to use WEAR OS apps on Thizen OS? A work around or something? I need to get in shape and have a Jefit subscription, but their app only supports Wear OS.
I was looking on this forum and others, but most posts date back to 2017/2018. So either it is impossible and people have given up, or I'm missing something obvious....
Looking forward to reply's.
Have a nice day!
Mx7733