Newbie Questions - Please help!

[tennislvr8]

Hey all, I just traded my BB Bold 9650 for a Droid 2. I see there is a HUGE learning curve and I have lots of questions, hopefully someone can help me.

1. I have two gmail accounts set up, the emails do not come in automatically I have to refresh to see any new emails. Is this normal, if not how can I have it set up automatically?

2. I want to be able to lock my phone with the click of a button. I have a password set up but it does not lock, can this be done. For those familiar with BBs, I had a convience key set up to lock phone. I have already butt called someone.

3. I am slightly confused with native apps versus apps in the marketplace - i.e. facebook and yahoo messenger. I have downloaded both of those, can I get rid of native apps or atleast hide them? If not, how can I make sure with one from the marketplace is being used.

4. I downloaded Facebook, I want to set it up that status updates versus newsfeeds are automatically shown, is that possible, if so how?

5. I downloaded, some text messaging app, handler or something like that? I want to use that versus the native SMS app, how can I do that?

6. Finally, for now, I had BeBuzz on my Bold - it is a colored light notification for incoming messages. Right now, there is no LED indication. Can I get one with colors and/or how can I turn on LED notifications?

Thanks, I am sure I will have more questions and any answers/help are greatly appreciated!

 

[ahC_hED]

6. Lightflow is a great app for that.

Sorry for only picking 1 question, I'm at work :/

Sent from my DROID2 using DroidForums

 

[silverfang77]

Go into the settings for each Gmail account and make sure it's set to synch. For Facebook, either the official app or Friendcaster lets you have push notifications or just look at the newsfeed. Handcent SMS let's you have different colored LEDs and tones for texts from different people.

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[Barchetta]

I'm answering to the messaging app question, hopefully the one you downloaded is handcent, you can set it a default by going to one of your contacts, touch the message icon and it will ask which app you want to use, make sure to check the box to always use this app and select handcent. Now, for the led light, in handcent, under settings, you can set the led to flash to any color you want. Hope this helps, I love handcent!

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[kenglishj]

6. Finally, for now, I had BeBuzz on my Bold - it is a colored light notification for incoming messages. Right now, there is no LED indication. Can I get one with colors and/or how can I turn on LED notifications?

For all those viewing this thread still (as it is on the first page of a Google search), go to the bellshare company website, they have an area where you can vote on sugestions on improving their products, one of those is BeBuzz for android. Here is the link:


BeBuzz for Android


Best part is, no login or registration required, and hopefully with enough votes, they might make a port for it

 

[MissionImprobable]

MIUI Galnet allows you choose whatever color l.e.d. you like for notifications and will repeat them up to five times, if you're interested in flashing a custom ROM anyway.

 

[ambrown]

Wow, you do have a lot if questions. Well I can't answer all but I can help you with a few.

As far as using downloaded apps vs. Native apps here's what you'll want to do:

First, get to know your settings menu since it'll be your best friend to do a lot of stuff. Heck, I'm still learning new goodies tucked in there.

Starting there you go to settings> applications>manage applications> all applications(tabbed at top), then select the native app you want to replace and choose the "clear defaults" button. This clears the system so the next time you choose something general (such as launching your web browser) it'll give you the option if what app you want to use to complete the action and you can check the box on that window to "always use" the app of choice. Then if you ever want to change back just clear the defaults again on your new default app. This works for everything including messaging apps.

Also, customizing your homescreen and folders with your custom apps icons makes launching your most used apps quick.

And try different things. A lot of times just playing with the settings or trial and error will get you what you want. Yeah there is a learning curve with android, especially when you're used to something else, but if you take the time you'll find it very rewarding. I mean it's taken me trying several different apps, and deleting some, and testing different developer's offerings of similar apps to find the one that fits my style. I like that I get that option though.

As to the locking "with one button" the best place to go is, again, in settings. Go to settings>security, and then from there you can choose to use a pin or a pattern lock to secure your phone. And you can even choose the timer for how long it takes till it requires you to enter your pattern or pin to access the phone. Of course, the droid 2 is a little different from my phone so there might be some variation but paying with the settings should yield the desired result.

Unfortunately, I don't know any way to make the facebook app work like that. That's more facebook's fault for that than your phone though. Honestly, I think the facebook app for android is crap, and I prefer to use my mobile browser to get on instead. Yeah it's a pain to do it that way, but I prefer functionality over a pretty picture that does nothing but read and post to facebook.

To fix the LED notifications go to settings>display>LED notifications and you can choose which things trigger the LED notification. Again, my phone is different from yours so there may be slight variation in the settings but it should get you set up.

Update: modified for spelling errors, clarifying, and adding answers to the questions.

Sent from my Droid Incredible on 2.3.4 using the DroidForums app

 

[youwonder]

So, I really hate to hijack this thread but my question does seem to fall under the catagory of the OP topic (newbie questions)...

I've been looking on google and can't find anything: is the Droid 2 bootloader unlocked? I'm getting a friends older D2 when he upgrades to a 4s later this week(I have a D1 and a D3, and want to complete the set, so to speak) and I want to flash some custom ROMs on it, and being able to flash custom kernels would be really, really nice.

Edit: aaaand found it, it's locked. Is there any way of unlocking it, or is this my droid 3 all over again?

 

[MissionImprobable]

Same as D3, Root to install Roms.

 

[youwonder]

Looks like that's going to be my only option. Shame, having the ability to run a custom kernel would probably help getting ICS on it a million times quicker.

God dammit verizon.