Lock screen = rad.

What a waste of space.

http://nathanosullivan.com/android-lockscreen.png

nathan, did you root your device to get that or is that android 1.6 or?

326 PPI is awesome.

looks really nice tbh. but ur missin out on widgets!

last edited by iTOM at 08:27:14 31/Jul/10

nathan, did you root your device to get that or is that android 1.6 or?

Its called "WidgetLocker" on the marketplace, costs $1.99 and doesn't require root. I'm running 2.2, but it works on 2.1 as well. As you might guess from the name, its a replacement lockscreen that lets you stick any of your installed widgets on the lockscreen.

The messages widget is from the "Handcent SMS" application - the up/down arrow actually work right on the lockscreen which is great, can quickly flick through messages. The time+date widget and weather widget are from the stock install. The fish in the background are from the animated "Aquarium Live Wallpaper" application.

looks really nice tbh

Yeh definitely, LG did a great job on the iPhone screen. From what I've read the Android 2.x series simply doesn't support higher than 800x480 which is why we haven't seen any movement in resolution on Android phones. Android 3.0 is expected to address this in October with support for 1280x720 displays. I suppose we'll start seeing actual hardware ship early next year.

Thanks Nathan, I'll check it out. Handcent is great - there's nothing better than the 'quick reply' ability (for others, it pops up the sms to reply while your phone is locked).

Edit: Along with other functionality too.

So I've received two calls on my 4g (it's been off for 24 hours while the bodyguardz dries) and the first call dropped out after barely two minutes. I looked at my hand and I was holding it with my right hand fingers gripping across the left gap.

Nathan, are you aware of an app that replaces the Android 2.1 'slide down' unlock function (apart from Lock 2.0)? It's quite frustrating that it can unlock itself.

edit: I guess there is no point to a thin phone when you need a bumper :<

edit2: Don't worry - Widgetlocker does what I need :)

last edited by iTOM at 08:50:19 31/Jul/10

Nathan, are you aware of an app that replaces the Android 2.1 'slide down' unlock function (apart from Lock 2.0)?

I think perhaps you're referring to some part of HTC's Sense UI? I dont have a Desire. As far as I can tell, I do not see any way with WidgetLocker to slide down to unlock.

Sorry - I got confused. I hate the slide down ><

So I've received two calls on my 4g (it's been off for 24 hours while the bodyguardz dries) and the first call dropped out after barely two minutes. I looked at my hand and I was holding it with my right hand fingers gripping across the left gap.

Ah oh that't not good :/ This is what I was worrying about the new iPhone...... Is it a consistent thing? Or maybe you're in a bad reception area?. Cause I'm need to decide what I need to get for my mum soon...

I've never had problems sitting at my PC and talking on my phone (3g) before, which is where it happened.

When looking at it now (sitting at my desk where I got the dropped call) it has 3 bars when held up or on my desk and and 2 bars when on my desk near my speakers (out of 5). I'm pretty sure the 3G reported full bars in here always - no way to check now my old sim doesn't work.

I think perhaps you're referring to some part of HTC's Sense UI? I dont have a Desire. As far as I can tell, I do not see any way with WidgetLocker to slide down to unlock.

hmm, i found an option under look & feel > slider

How did you remove camera & the blank item opposite it from your lock screen?

Telstra messed up my data pack. They gave me the original 500MB pack instead of the 50% discounted 1GB. Heads be rollin'!

Lets get a few things straight the iPhone 4 is not leading the market in phone OS development the first version of android came out with folders and its taken iphone this long just to get that functionality in ios4. iPhone 4 still doesn't have widgets thats easily my favorite feature in my phone.

The only think Apple has going for it is its warranty imho. My HTC has been in the shop for over 1 1/2 months so i doubt ill be getting another one. Optus advised me they are going to credit me back the money i pay for each month the phone is getting repaired.

I was thinkin bout getting Apple iphone 4 but after seeing the antenna issues on youtube i aint going to now. Its important to consider when your buying a phone its not just about the OS but the manufacturer as well, i wont get another HTC but ill will probably get a Motorola as my old Razr has been a absolute life saver in the past 5 years when other newer phones are failing.

My HTC first had no bluetooth out of the box, took it back same day and got a replacement, within 6 months speaker had died, now its 12 months as wireless is dead. I'm lucky i got an extended warranty make sure you do the same if your getting HTC.

WOrked it out - change the slider layout. I've actually disabled the slider and now with 'easy wake' I press teh optical button twice and it unlocks my phone :D

Lets get a few things straight the iPhone 4 is not leading the market in phone OS development the first version of android came out with folders and its taken iphone this long just to get that functionality in ios4. iPhone 4 still doesn't have widgets thats easily my favorite feature in my phone.

I had folders on my 3g running pre 3.0 with an app (non store app don't give me the "but you had to jailbrakeeeeeeeeeee shouldn't neeed to" crap, I need to root my Android to have it do things I want also).

RE the HTC warranty, the new ones come with 24 months I believe. I'm not really happy with HTC either, if I get another android I'll be looking elsewhere.

I phoned Optus and they've stopped being dicks with their new plans and won't charge to tether.

Reasons I did not get a desire after trying it for 3 weeks

* From what I have read it is the only platform that does not require approval or testing to be published to the market place, leading to the crappy ad filled apps I saw

* Speakers were very tinny and rather staticy at large volumes

* Very difficult to read in daylight, which was really frustrating.

* Battery life was average, I did expect more

* My experiance setting up exchange was quite painful but eventually got there but had outgoing issues for a while that no one could solve.

* It was almost....TOO customizable, for me personally I couldnt give a s*** about half the customizations.

Just saying, while the iPhone 4 is not perfect, neither is the desire and Android

Apple doesn't let through information stealing "photo" apps to millions of users.

From what I have read it is the only platform that does not require approval or testing to be published to the market place, leading to the crappy ad filled apps I saw

this may be the case, but all the apps ive installed are recommended by forum users/websites, i don't just casually download random apps from the market place (as you probably don't download random exe files from the internet ;) )

Yes, but your PC has AV and firewall to warn you when any app starts doing stuff it shouldn't. A phone with untested apps is going to need the same as well. Damn, I may have just solved my own personal iPhone or HTC Desire dilemma.

Tried the death grip last night on the iPhone 4 and on Telstra you can see it happen in front of you so it's not all bs, whether ot not you get dropped calls is another thing. In two minds now.

How are you holding it ? As I said I only dropped 1 bar so I would like to try and replicate it

Apple doesn't let through information stealing "photo" apps to millions of users.

Was that sarcasm or are you forgetting that app that uploaded peoples photos to the interwebs for online storage and then proceeded to have a total lack of security so anyone could view your personal pics.

But yeah it's hard to really separate Android from HTC at the moment which is a shame since HTC is the worst phone manufacturer on the market. The Android platform on Motorolla and Sony phones doesn't get as much press because they aren't releasing a new version every 5 minutes which is probably what helps to contribute to them making quality devices. Before HTC started shipping with Android no one in their right mind would touch them.

Actually when you think about it Android fits well with HTC since a HTC phone has a life expectancy of about 6 months it coincides nicely with Android OS updates.

since HTC is the worst phone manufacturer on the market.

you don't know a lot about the HTC history.

remember O2? imate? other smart phones like that? that was all HTC

I still have a few old HTC phones here still going strong, there is nothing wrong with them at all.

last edited by Eds at 10:34:54 01/Aug/10

Apple doesn't let through information stealing "photo" apps to millions of users.

Apple reviewers are not magic, nor do they have any specific policy guarding your privacy? I'm not sure why you quoted "photo"; you are referring to one of many real applications that have hidden behaviour that can upload your information - ie, spyware. Often this is done under the guise of targetted advertising.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100728/ap_on_re_us/us_tec_techbit_apps_privacy

"Lookout found that nearly a quarter of the iPhone apps and almost half the Android apps contained software code that contained those capabilities."

A phone with untested apps is going to need the same as well.

Android is actually far better than your PC's anti-virus software and Apple's model, because during install it will tell you exactly what capabilities the software has. Does your wallpaper application want permission to read your SMS? Then dont install it.

Neither Apple nor Google have strict rules about what information applications can read from your phone that I know of, but at least on Android you are told exactly what each application has permission to do on your phone.

Tried the death grip last night on the iPhone 4 and on Telstra you can see it happen in front of you so it's not all bs, whether ot not you get dropped calls is another thing. In two minds now.

From what I've read its been well established overseas that the iphone4 "death grip" will reduce signal strength by 20dB; whether that actually causes problems depends on the signal strength in your location. If you have less than 4 bars, it will probably drop the call.

If you have less than 4 bars, it will probably drop the call.

Found this site quite interesting: http://www.metalev.org/2010/07/android-vs-iphone-4-signal-strength.html

Not sure how it works though... cause I often when I talk on my phone there are only one or two bars.

I downsized 1080p Star Trek to 960x400 (1:1 resolution) and the picture is pixel perfect and crystal clear. I can barely make out the details.

Will this antenna issue be fixed in the near future or are apple planning on selling these things as they are till iphone "5"???

since HTC is the worst phone manufacturer on the market.

I'd second this, atleast for the Desire. I'm loving the OS and whatnot but the phone is starting to give me the s***s. Crashes, takes ages to pickup wifi and 3G, headphone out is s***, loudspeaker is worse then my programmable casio calculator in school 15 years ago, can't view the screen outdoors etc etc.

How are you holding it ? As I said I only dropped 1 bar so I would like to try and replicate it

I was holding it with all 5 fingers just spread evenly around the phone and abit in my palm, hard to explain, how you normally would hold the phone :) I cupped it and even held it tight near the split area on the left hand side and I was watching the signal bars drop. You let it go and it starts to come back.

Thought I'd give a heads-up to those considering switching or re-contracting with Telstra.

IPHONE 4: Telstra bumping plans to 6GB

So basically you can swap out the data on the plan for a browsing pack of your choice and pay only 50% - great for those wanting to go on a lower priced cap, but get a much higher data cap for not much more.

I'm tempted myself, but I think I'll go for the $49 Business Cap Plan which has $400 worth of calls and text plus 200MB of data (extra 1Gb data free every month for length of contract if you sign up before August 31st!!!). The handset is $149 upfront for the 16GB iPhone 4 or $299 for the 32GB.

Charlie - that's pretty odd, I haven't had any of those problems with my desire? Hasn't crashed once, wifi turns on when I walk in the door at home, 3G turns on as soon as i touch the widget (maybe a half second delay), headphones have worked perfectly, loudspeaker works (it isn't great, but who the hell uses loudspeaker anyway) and my screen is viewable outdoors on max brightness, sure it's a bit reflective but if you can't view the screen outside at all you are doing it wrong.

anyway, the iPhone 4 sure is sexy, and I was looking at it too, but decided to try the android thing this time around!

Pretty sweet deal on data Mr.Bumpy, anyone know if the 50% off data is restricted to iPhones ?

Hrmm
I'm looking at getting a new phone, currently on a blackberry storm (work phone :E) but I'll be getting a new one soon! I get to pick whatever phone I want including the iphone 4.

So many good new phones now :O

How the hell could you juice 6gig in a month on an iPhone??

How the hell could you juice 6gig in a month on an iPhone??

People who tether...

Or you could just stream a lot of music / video

stupid question, but can't you buy the iphone 4 online with Telstra? I went to the site and couldn't see it, but I probably missed it.

No you can't, store only at the moment

How the hell could you juice 6gig in a month on an iPhone??

People who tether...

Given the speeds, I would have thought using 6gig is even a stretch when tethering regularly???

Or you could just stream a lot of music / video

That's a LOT of streaming, especially considering some sites like YouTube don't count... If streaming audio at 128kbps, my calculations (which could be wrong) work out that you need to stream almost 4 hours of audio per day seven days a week to hit 6gig... which seems strange, considering you'd be using an mp3 player to do it.

stupid question, but can't you buy the iphone 4 online with Telstra? I went to the site and couldn't see it, but I probably missed it.

Apparently if you buy online with Optus you get the first two months of the plan for free.

Yeah, and a crap network to boot

Given the speeds, I would have thought using 6gig is even a stretch when tethering regularly???

I was downloading tethered at around 280kb/s today ,easy to chew threw it :)

6GB on a laptop ain't hard.

I've seen 500KB/sec Tethered

You can chew THROUGH it

I was smashing over 5mbps on the train on my iPhone the other day on the SpeedTest app.

So yeah 3 hours Billy :)

s*** I just hit 2mbit up !

s*** I just hit 2mbit up !

Whoah, that's faster than my iPrimus Kahuna Plus ADSL2 connection, which maxes out at 512k upload.

I've seen 500KB/sec Tethered

I had my android wifi hotspot on and my mate used his iphone and speedtested at 1200kb/s, optus network!