I've posted this on a bunch of other Android forums and thought it would be helpful to have it here too. I wanted to put it in the most viewed forum so everybody could see it. If you have any suggestions let me know.
- - - Physical - - -
Will the Droid fit into either dock with a protective case?
No, only the flat adhesive plastic-type protectors (InvisibleShield) are slim enough to allow the phone to fit.
How easy is it to scratch the Droid?
The glass on top of the screen is very durable and keys will have a very hard time scratching it (I've tried). There are a couple videos of people trying to scratch it as well and failing. The bits of shiny plastic on the back can get scratched, though. [video=youtube;eh2g7AIHdc8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh2g7AIHdc8&fmt=18"]YouTube[/video]
- - - Hardware features - - -
What's the resolution of the Droid?
854x480
What do the two dots/holes at the top of the Droid do?
The one on the left is an IR emitter and sensor to blank the phone during a call when it's against your face. The one on the right is a light sensor to activate automatic brightness.
Can I change the color of the notification LED?
Yes, but only with third party apps like Missed Call and SMS Popup.
How do I get into the two dock modes without the docks?
For multimedia mode, download an app called DockRunner. For car mode, Android actually includes an application called Car Home. You can also hack it by putting a linearly polarized magnet, like a small cube magnet, on the back near the camera.
Can I tether?
Yes. Set it up through Verizon or look here.
- - - Performance issues - - -
What's wrong with my camera?
There's a time-dependent bug that kills the autofocus every 24.5 days, then it recovers. It will supposedly be fixed forever in an update on December 11.
Also, setting the size to 2MP at any quality will save much faster than 5MP. You do lose detail but until the fix, it makes it much faster.
Why won't my home screen switch to landscape mode when rotated?
Most people who got the Droid when it was released were able to get it to rotate for a short while, then stopped. However, a Motorola representative has stated that this is how it's supposed to work.
Why does switching homescreens or opening trays lag?
Homescreen lag/jerk is present on all Droids at the moment, but I've found that the Locale service really drains your CPU and makes animations lag even more. Also try using a task manager to free up some memory.
- - - Android OS and apps - - -
Why won't my phone rotate?
Check to make sure you have automatic rotation enabled in the sound and display settings.
Why does my screen dim randomly?
It's the automatic brightness feature. Turn it off in the sound and display settings under brightness.
How do I turn automatic text formatting off?
Go to settings, language and keyboard, and in both Android and device keyboard menus, uncheck auto-capitalization, autocomplete, and if you want, quick fixes.
How do I turn keypad sounds and vibration off?
Go to settings, language and keyboard, and in the Android keyboard menu, uncheck vibrate and sound on keypress.
How can I see what's been using my battery?
Go to settings, about phone, then battery use.
How do I check for phone updates?
Go to settings, about phone, then system updates.
How do I reboot the Droid?
Hold the power button on top for a couple seconds, then select "power off".
Why won't my apps close completely/how do I kill programs?
Get a task manager from the app store such as TasKiller; the services manager in the Applications page in the settings isn't very useful.
How do I uninstall apps?
Press the menu button, go to settings, applications, manage applications, then select the program from the list and uninstall.
How do I check for updates for my apps?
Go to the Market, then press the menu button, then Downloads. If you have any programs that need updates they'll be at the top of the list.
How do I rename folders?
Click the folder to open it, then long press the gray bar at the top of it.
How do I open voice search?
Long press on the search button on the phone.
How do I remove widgets and icons?
Long press it, then move to the app tray button which will then have a trash can icon on it.
How do I save Maps destinations?
Long press the home screen and add a shortcut to Directions. Enter the address and name it. Then open it at any time to start navigation.
You can also access maps you've saved on My Maps on your computer from the Android application.
What size should my backgrounds be if I don't want to crop it on the phone?
960x854
Can I make my wallpaper crop square bigger?
Press on a corner of the crop box and then drag it to size.
What size should my contact photos be to prevent pixelation?
I'd say around 250x250 or higher.
How do I add a contact, direct dial, or direct message shortcut to the desktop for a non-Gmail contact?
Start typing using the physical keyboard. This triggers a search through all your contacts that have phone numbers.
How many apps can I download and store on the Droid?
As many as will fit in the onboard 256MB as of now, but you can put any other type of file on the SD card.
- - - Music and video - - -
Why is the Droid's video recording quality so bad?
Open the video camera application, open the menu, and set the video quality to high.
Why doesn't the Droid have a video player/play my video files?
The video player is in the gallery. You have to open the gallery and the folder with your video. Only videos encoded in MPEG-4/H.264 (.mp4) will play, and it shouldn't be larger than 854x480-ish or your phone might stutter or crash.
How can I re-encode video to play on the Droid?
Some people have had luck with a program called Handbrake, but I use SUPER even though it's a bit complicated to use. Make sure the height is set to 480 if the video is 16:9 or taller, and the width to 854 if the video is wider, so you don't "waste" extra resolution or stretch/compress the image. Keep the aspect ratio the same as the source. For high-quality videos, I use a bitrate of at least 3Mbps.
How do I get songs, video, etc. onto the Droid?
How do I get my computer to see the Droid's SD card?
Plug in the USB cable, then bring down the notification tray. Click on the one about USB, then click mount.
Why do Youtube videos look so bad?
When the video starts playing, click menu, more, and "watch in high quality".
- - - 3G and Wi-Fi - - -
How much does it cost for unlimited data?
For unlimited phone data, it's $30 a month on top of voice and other features.
How do I set up a VPN?
Go to settings, wireless and network, then VPN settings, then add a VPN. Choose which VPN type you want and enter your settings.
- - - Tips, tricks, and cool stuff - - -
Where can I get high-res backgrounds for the Droid?
Look here, at Android Forums, or at DPReview for some nice pictures. Just make sure they're close to 960x854 or bigger.
Link to gallery of pictures taken by the Droid
Make call quality better
Open up the dialpad, type ##PROGRAM and send. The code number is 000000. Once in the service menu, go to the Vocode option and select EVRC-B. Go back until you exit the menu and the phone will reboot.
Not sure if this actually improves call quality by much, since it probably depends on who you're talking to/what carrier they're on.
- - - Recommended apps - - -
Some of these might be pay-only, but most are free or have a trial version as well.
:reddroid: You can get a task manager app like TasKiller but it is not necessary unless you need to quickly force kill a process using too much RAM or CPU cycles. Android is built to pause all background applications so they don't slow the system down. It will automatically free RAM if there are too many programs running.
Communication
Google Voice - saves voicemail to your GMail account and transcribes them to text
Handcent - SMS replacement, adds features and notifications
Meebo IM- all-in-one IM suite
Missed Call - custom ring and vibrate settings as well as LED color and settings
PdaNet - enables tethering without a contract with Verizon
SMS Popup - replacement for Android SMS notifier (turn stock off to prevent doubles)
Save MMS - allows you to save MMS attachments
Twidroid - Twitter
WiFi Buddy - detailed WiFi information and settings
Music and sound
Album Art Grabber - gets missing album art for your music
Frequency-Generator - sine, square, saw, and triangle wave generator
gStrings - customizable instrument tuner; also works for voice and other sounds
Instant Lyrics - open while playing a song and will open its lyrics
Last.fm - online radio which lets you play your personal music library and integrates scrobbling into the Android music player
MixZing - music player with advanced category features and album art finder
Scrobble Droid - enables Last.fm scrobbling in the Android music player
Pandora - online radio
Shazam - analyzes a part of a song that's playing through speakers and tells you the name and artist
Slacker Radio - online radio with Twitter integration and song/artist details
Images and video
PaintNote - MS Paint-like app
Photoshop Mobile - basic editor and online album
PicSay - multitouch image viewer/editor
Qik - live streaming video to your Qik account page
Location
Car Finder - press once when you park and saves your location on its map, and will show your location as well so you can find your parking spot
Wheres My Droid - lets you turn up the volume and activate ring and GPS to locate your phone; uses an SMS code phrase
Google Places Directory - lists categories of places in your location; searchable
GPS Status - 360 degree compass, horizontal and vertical level, g-force sensor, magnetic field sensor, GPS location in long/lat, shows speed and elevation
Reference
aCar - stores your car information
Amazon.com - lets you scan a barcode and find a product instantly, or take a picture and and Amazon's processing algorithms and Mechanical Turk employees will find the product for you within a few minutes
Barcode Scanner - scans various types of bar codes and Google searches them
ColorNote - text, drawing, and voice note program
ColorDict - comprehensive dictionary with multiple add-ons available
PDFGView - PDF viewer
ShopSavvy - barcode scanner with built-in product lookup
Speed Test - Ookla's speedtest.net application
Unit Converter
Yellowbook - directory application with voice search
Money
Bank of America - online banking and account management
FX Currency - comprehensive currency converter
Google Finance - stocks
My Coupons - index of scannable coupons to use for food and other items
PayPal
Security and other
AndroZip - file manager and unzipper
DockRunner - enables multimedia dock mode without needing the dock
Wheres My Droid - see above
G-backup - backs up almost anything you want to Google's servers
MyIP - shows your phone's IP
Text-To-Speech Toy - converts input text to speech
Games
Hyperspace - sort of like Super Monkey Ball; tilt the Droid to navigate a ball around the level within the time limit
Labyrinth - tilt the Droid to roll the ball around holes and into the goal
Quake - full Quake game as far as I know, runs very well with full graphics
- - - Physical - - -
Will the Droid fit into either dock with a protective case?
No, only the flat adhesive plastic-type protectors (InvisibleShield) are slim enough to allow the phone to fit.
How easy is it to scratch the Droid?
The glass on top of the screen is very durable and keys will have a very hard time scratching it (I've tried). There are a couple videos of people trying to scratch it as well and failing. The bits of shiny plastic on the back can get scratched, though. [video=youtube;eh2g7AIHdc8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh2g7AIHdc8&fmt=18"]YouTube[/video]
- - - Hardware features - - -
What's the resolution of the Droid?
854x480
What do the two dots/holes at the top of the Droid do?
The one on the left is an IR emitter and sensor to blank the phone during a call when it's against your face. The one on the right is a light sensor to activate automatic brightness.
Can I change the color of the notification LED?
Yes, but only with third party apps like Missed Call and SMS Popup.
How do I get into the two dock modes without the docks?
For multimedia mode, download an app called DockRunner. For car mode, Android actually includes an application called Car Home. You can also hack it by putting a linearly polarized magnet, like a small cube magnet, on the back near the camera.
Can I tether?
Yes. Set it up through Verizon or look here.
- - - Performance issues - - -
What's wrong with my camera?
There's a time-dependent bug that kills the autofocus every 24.5 days, then it recovers. It will supposedly be fixed forever in an update on December 11.
Also, setting the size to 2MP at any quality will save much faster than 5MP. You do lose detail but until the fix, it makes it much faster.
Why won't my home screen switch to landscape mode when rotated?
Most people who got the Droid when it was released were able to get it to rotate for a short while, then stopped. However, a Motorola representative has stated that this is how it's supposed to work.
Why does switching homescreens or opening trays lag?
Homescreen lag/jerk is present on all Droids at the moment, but I've found that the Locale service really drains your CPU and makes animations lag even more. Also try using a task manager to free up some memory.
- - - Android OS and apps - - -
Why won't my phone rotate?
Check to make sure you have automatic rotation enabled in the sound and display settings.
Why does my screen dim randomly?
It's the automatic brightness feature. Turn it off in the sound and display settings under brightness.
How do I turn automatic text formatting off?
Go to settings, language and keyboard, and in both Android and device keyboard menus, uncheck auto-capitalization, autocomplete, and if you want, quick fixes.
How do I turn keypad sounds and vibration off?
Go to settings, language and keyboard, and in the Android keyboard menu, uncheck vibrate and sound on keypress.
How can I see what's been using my battery?
Go to settings, about phone, then battery use.
How do I check for phone updates?
Go to settings, about phone, then system updates.
How do I reboot the Droid?
Hold the power button on top for a couple seconds, then select "power off".
Why won't my apps close completely/how do I kill programs?
Get a task manager from the app store such as TasKiller; the services manager in the Applications page in the settings isn't very useful.
How do I uninstall apps?
Press the menu button, go to settings, applications, manage applications, then select the program from the list and uninstall.
How do I check for updates for my apps?
Go to the Market, then press the menu button, then Downloads. If you have any programs that need updates they'll be at the top of the list.
How do I rename folders?
Click the folder to open it, then long press the gray bar at the top of it.
How do I open voice search?
Long press on the search button on the phone.
How do I remove widgets and icons?
Long press it, then move to the app tray button which will then have a trash can icon on it.
How do I save Maps destinations?
Long press the home screen and add a shortcut to Directions. Enter the address and name it. Then open it at any time to start navigation.
You can also access maps you've saved on My Maps on your computer from the Android application.
What size should my backgrounds be if I don't want to crop it on the phone?
960x854
Can I make my wallpaper crop square bigger?
Press on a corner of the crop box and then drag it to size.
What size should my contact photos be to prevent pixelation?
I'd say around 250x250 or higher.
How do I add a contact, direct dial, or direct message shortcut to the desktop for a non-Gmail contact?
Start typing using the physical keyboard. This triggers a search through all your contacts that have phone numbers.
How many apps can I download and store on the Droid?
As many as will fit in the onboard 256MB as of now, but you can put any other type of file on the SD card.
- - - Music and video - - -
Why is the Droid's video recording quality so bad?
Open the video camera application, open the menu, and set the video quality to high.
Why doesn't the Droid have a video player/play my video files?
The video player is in the gallery. You have to open the gallery and the folder with your video. Only videos encoded in MPEG-4/H.264 (.mp4) will play, and it shouldn't be larger than 854x480-ish or your phone might stutter or crash.
How can I re-encode video to play on the Droid?
Some people have had luck with a program called Handbrake, but I use SUPER even though it's a bit complicated to use. Make sure the height is set to 480 if the video is 16:9 or taller, and the width to 854 if the video is wider, so you don't "waste" extra resolution or stretch/compress the image. Keep the aspect ratio the same as the source. For high-quality videos, I use a bitrate of at least 3Mbps.
How do I get songs, video, etc. onto the Droid?
How do I get my computer to see the Droid's SD card?
Plug in the USB cable, then bring down the notification tray. Click on the one about USB, then click mount.
Why do Youtube videos look so bad?
When the video starts playing, click menu, more, and "watch in high quality".
- - - 3G and Wi-Fi - - -
How much does it cost for unlimited data?
For unlimited phone data, it's $30 a month on top of voice and other features.
How do I set up a VPN?
Go to settings, wireless and network, then VPN settings, then add a VPN. Choose which VPN type you want and enter your settings.
- - - Tips, tricks, and cool stuff - - -
Where can I get high-res backgrounds for the Droid?
Look here, at Android Forums, or at DPReview for some nice pictures. Just make sure they're close to 960x854 or bigger.
Link to gallery of pictures taken by the Droid
Make call quality better
Open up the dialpad, type ##PROGRAM and send. The code number is 000000. Once in the service menu, go to the Vocode option and select EVRC-B. Go back until you exit the menu and the phone will reboot.
Not sure if this actually improves call quality by much, since it probably depends on who you're talking to/what carrier they're on.
- - - Recommended apps - - -
Some of these might be pay-only, but most are free or have a trial version as well.
:reddroid: You can get a task manager app like TasKiller but it is not necessary unless you need to quickly force kill a process using too much RAM or CPU cycles. Android is built to pause all background applications so they don't slow the system down. It will automatically free RAM if there are too many programs running.
Communication
Google Voice - saves voicemail to your GMail account and transcribes them to text
Handcent - SMS replacement, adds features and notifications
Meebo IM- all-in-one IM suite
Missed Call - custom ring and vibrate settings as well as LED color and settings
PdaNet - enables tethering without a contract with Verizon
SMS Popup - replacement for Android SMS notifier (turn stock off to prevent doubles)
Save MMS - allows you to save MMS attachments
Twidroid - Twitter
WiFi Buddy - detailed WiFi information and settings
Music and sound
Album Art Grabber - gets missing album art for your music
Frequency-Generator - sine, square, saw, and triangle wave generator
gStrings - customizable instrument tuner; also works for voice and other sounds
Instant Lyrics - open while playing a song and will open its lyrics
Last.fm - online radio which lets you play your personal music library and integrates scrobbling into the Android music player
MixZing - music player with advanced category features and album art finder
Scrobble Droid - enables Last.fm scrobbling in the Android music player
Pandora - online radio
Shazam - analyzes a part of a song that's playing through speakers and tells you the name and artist
Slacker Radio - online radio with Twitter integration and song/artist details
Images and video
PaintNote - MS Paint-like app
Photoshop Mobile - basic editor and online album
PicSay - multitouch image viewer/editor
Qik - live streaming video to your Qik account page
Location
Car Finder - press once when you park and saves your location on its map, and will show your location as well so you can find your parking spot
Wheres My Droid - lets you turn up the volume and activate ring and GPS to locate your phone; uses an SMS code phrase
Google Places Directory - lists categories of places in your location; searchable
GPS Status - 360 degree compass, horizontal and vertical level, g-force sensor, magnetic field sensor, GPS location in long/lat, shows speed and elevation
Reference
aCar - stores your car information
Amazon.com - lets you scan a barcode and find a product instantly, or take a picture and and Amazon's processing algorithms and Mechanical Turk employees will find the product for you within a few minutes
Barcode Scanner - scans various types of bar codes and Google searches them
ColorNote - text, drawing, and voice note program
ColorDict - comprehensive dictionary with multiple add-ons available
PDFGView - PDF viewer
ShopSavvy - barcode scanner with built-in product lookup
Speed Test - Ookla's speedtest.net application
Unit Converter
Yellowbook - directory application with voice search
Money
Bank of America - online banking and account management
FX Currency - comprehensive currency converter
Google Finance - stocks
My Coupons - index of scannable coupons to use for food and other items
PayPal
Security and other
AndroZip - file manager and unzipper
DockRunner - enables multimedia dock mode without needing the dock
Wheres My Droid - see above
G-backup - backs up almost anything you want to Google's servers
MyIP - shows your phone's IP
Text-To-Speech Toy - converts input text to speech
Games
Hyperspace - sort of like Super Monkey Ball; tilt the Droid to navigate a ball around the level within the time limit
Labyrinth - tilt the Droid to roll the ball around holes and into the goal
Quake - full Quake game as far as I know, runs very well with full graphics
