Hi Carl, On 3/08/2013 5:49 PM, Carl Turney wrote:
Just bought my first smartphone. It's a Samsung Galaxy Y Duos, with Android 2.3.6, a 32GB memcard, and WiFi as its only current connection to the net.
Why buy a phone with such an ancient version of Android? Most /current/ users have 4.1.2 -- this is so much better than Gingerbread (aka 2.3.x) You will likely find that the 2.3.x models also have a lack of RAM (aside from the flash memory inclusion), as well as a lack of CPU power ... YMMV. Some very good and well specified options exist with at least 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but I wouldn't go earlier than 4.1 these days. I'm actually looking at getting a Nexus 7 (2013) when it becomes available in AU, probably 32GB one .... comes with Android 4.3 -- okay, not a phone, but 4.3 and the FHD 7" display should be great. If you can, I would suggest resetting the new device back to factory defaults and returning the device as unsuitable.... not that your phone probably had much of a cost to it. Here is a link to a description of your phone: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_y_duos_s6102-4385.php
(1) Tried to get an app via Google Play / Android Market. But there's a damned "pop over" (?) window that says "Apps - My Apps - Shop - Games - Editors Choice". It covers the entire screen of my phone, and I can't continue with the underlying web page to purchase and install the app.
Google has just /screwed/ over the play store, I hate the new look myself and much preferred the former version.
So, I went to Amazon AppStore. Better. I was forced to install AmazonApps before getting any real apps, though.
But to install AmazonApps, I'm forced to let it: Have full internet access, read my sensitive log data, manage my account list, modify my SD card's contents, read my phone status, prevent my phone from sleeping, view my network state, and discover any of my known accounts!
What the!?!? That's absolutely =INCREDIBLE=. Just so I can buy and install an application from them?
People often use other third party app stores.... sometimes at risk of more vulnerabilities. I just stick with the Google Play store myself, in some circumstances I have downloaded apps outside and adjusted settings to install them .... Swype Beta was one of those, but I now use Google's own newer keyboard, which does swyping just fine and I do like to swype. http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-app-stores/ F-Droid is common amongst free and open source people ....
So I agreed to all these vulnerabilities, but ONLY because this phone is only a couple hours out of the box and doesn't have ANY information about me (that I know of).
This is a serious issue for me in the Android world too, hate the problems here -- some of which have been fixed previously using CM builds (CM is Cyanogen Mod). But 4.3 offers some extra features here to lock down permissions to more acceptable levels.
Question below.
(2) I've started a few programs (like the FM radio and Music) that don't have an X for shutting down. So, I just hit the Home button. I didn't see them linger on my "desktop", so just assumed they shut down.
But, when looking in Settings, Applications, Running Services, they're still running!
And there are many =other= running processes that maybe I should shut down, but I don't really know which ones... Software update (two entries, with different icons)? Bluetooth share? OPP ? SNS ? Time ? (Is this the system clock?) Google Services (I don't think I want Network Location and Messaging)? Syncmlds ? Swype ? (Can't shut down. But I don't ever want to swype-type.)
If you hold down the home button, you can see apps to swipe away... that doesn't necessarily stop them though. Often times an app will have an exit option in the menu, but otherwise a task killer can be used (built-in or as an extra app).
= = = = = My questions ...
(1) Can I uninstall AmazonApps, after I've installed the OsmAnd+ app, without causing problems for continuing to run Osmand+?
You can back up .apk files, do a factory reset and install what you need; I would think that should be no problem.
(2) Any good source of info on what can be shut down and what should not be shut down?
Perhaps do a search over at xda-developers, in the forums. https://www.xda-developers.com/ Cheers A.