Lifehacker recently asked its readers how they’ve fixed Android’s biggest annoyances. We’d like to go one step beyond that, and ask you how you’ve customized your Android device, to make it all your own. This could include custom launchers, screen organization, workflow, Tasker profiles, and the like.
Photo by Ancella Simoes.
For example, I recently started playing around with Tasker, and have my phone set up so that when I plug in a headset, a menu pops up asking me which of a few audio apps I want to use (Pandora, doubleTwist, Audible, or Doggcatcher). We’ll do an article on some cool Tasker profiles soon. I also now use the Zeam launcher, coupled with SwipePad, and I use the Swype keyboard. My home screen has icons for my most used apps, plus the Doggcather and Google Search widgets.
So, fire away – tell us all about your Android setup in the comments below. In a few days, we’ll be asking the same question for iOS devices, so all you iPhone and iPad users can get your thinking caps ready.
Bill Wood says:
The auto brightness feature irritated me on Android – often too bright in lower light situations where I often spent a lot of time with the battery-draining screen on while reading. I used Tasker to create a simple auto brightness feature of my own design, which minimizes disruption of changing brightnesses while ensuring the screen is just bright enough in all situations.
January 19, 2011 — 10:29 pm
Evan Kline says:
Now that is pretty slick. I’m just getting started in Tasker (I bought it several weeks ago, then ignored it until recently), and I’m just discovering its awesomeness.
January 20, 2011 — 9:36 am
Bill Wood says:
Happy to share with you if you’d like it for your Tasker article.
January 20, 2011 — 10:04 am
Evan Kline says:
That would be great, Bill. My email is evan [at] 40tech.com. Thanks!
January 20, 2011 — 10:08 am
Anthony Russo says:
I actually had a real problem with Gmail on my DroidX. It wouldn’t push the notifications to me and then when I would go through it on my Android, it wouldn’t affect when I got to my PC, and I would have to re-archive things again.
Now I am using K9-mail and it is phenomenal.
Anthony
January 20, 2011 — 9:43 pm
Bill Wood says:
That’s interesting, I’ve had no problems with the built-in Android gmail client, in fact its phenomenal now that the new version has the “priority inbox” feature.
One thing I figured out that isn’t generally known. Any app that is pre-loaded in ROM on your phone won’t update when the version in the market updates. You must load the market version to your phone by hand, then it will auto-update. This applies to apps like GMail, GMaps, etc.
January 21, 2011 — 1:46 pm
Holly says:
I’ve installed the MessageEase Keyboard. I have a low end Android phone (Motorola XT300 or “Spice”) with a hardware keyboard. I rarely use the keyboard now — makes me wish I’d forgone the keyboard and forked out the dough for a larger screen and faster processor.
January 23, 2011 — 4:03 pm
Evan Kline says:
I hadn’t heard of that one, Holly. Time for me to scurry off and check it out.
January 24, 2011 — 10:58 am