Make your Android smarter with these Apps

[zerogear]

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/01/11/make-your-android-device-smarter-with-these-handy-apps/#!r3qtW

• Gravity Screen - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plexnor.gravityscreenofffree
• SpeakerPhone Ex - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidm8.speakerphoneex&hl=en
• Nights Keeper - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nightskeeper&hl=en
• Shush! - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.publicobject.shush&hl=en
• Unlock with WiFi - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.benhirashima.unlockwithwifitrial

Personally, I'm only using Shush!, since for most of those apps, you can do the same thing with Tasker, though for people who don't want to learn Tasker, they're pretty useful.

These are the little things that make me prefer Android over iOS

 

[bearxor]

The only useful apps I see for a iOS user are Gravity Screen and SpeakerphoneEX. Night Keeper and Shush! can essentially be handled with built in functionality of the hardware silence switch and the Do Not Disturb mode in iOS.

Turning off the password on WiFi is nifty but impractical for most users. Looked in to it when I was using Android and the issue is that if you disable the PIN code, you also disable any ActiveSync connections that require the PIN code to be on. So something like that was out for me.

 

[tsupersonic]

I guess I could see how these apps would be valuable. I personally don't care for Nights Keeper or Shush. Are people that lazy to push the volume up/down buttons to control the ringer? Unlock with WiFi is the only app on that list that's interesting for me.

But, yeah, you're right - it's apps like these that showcase what Android is capable of. It's nice to have that fine control.

Edit: Lockwatch Anti-Theft is a nifty app. I know it's not on that list, but it warns you when someone tries to unlock your phone and gets the passcode wrong. You can obviously customize it to your likes.

 

[tsupersonic]

The only useful apps I see for a iOS user are Gravity Screen and SpeakerphoneEX. Night Keeper and Shush! can essentially be handled with built in functionality of the hardware silence switch and the Do Not Disturb mode in iOS.

Turning off the password on WiFi is nifty but impractical for most users. Looked in to it when I was using Android and the issue is that if you disable the PIN code, you also disable any ActiveSync connections that require the PIN code to be on. So something like that was out for me.

Or you could install the Xposed framework and download a module that bypasses PIN enforcements. I personally see no reason to have a PIN on top of the pass code I enter to unlock the phone.

 

[zerogear]

I guess I could see how these apps would be valuable. I personally don't care for Nights Keeper or Shush. Are people that lazy to push the volume up/down buttons to control the ringer? Unlock with WiFi is the only app on that list that's interesting for me.

The thing with Shush is that the timer pops up after you set it as silent/vibrate for those unscheduled events -- movies, dinners, etc -- that you need to turn off your ringer. After the timer is done, it automatically turns back on (since I forget about turning Ringer back on pretty often)

Otherwise I have Tasker setting my phone into Vibrate mode whenever my Calendar shows "Busy" event.

 

[tsupersonic]

The thing with Shush is that the timer pops up after you set it as silent/vibrate for those unscheduled events -- movies, dinners, etc -- that you need to turn off your ringer. After the timer is done, it automatically turns back on (since I forget about turning Ringer back on pretty often)

Otherwise I have Tasker setting my phone into Vibrate mode whenever my Calendar shows "Busy" event.

eh, I guess? I personally keep my phone to ring all day (except at work). To me, it's one of those apps that's trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. But, if it's useful to other people, that's awesome that it's available

Also, that's a cool idea for Tasker. :biggrin:

 

[bearxor]

Or you could install the Xposed framework and download a module that bypasses PIN enforcements. I personally see no reason to have a PIN on top of the pass code I enter to unlock the phone.

I don't know what you're talking about wrt to a pin on top of your pass code. The two would be the same thing.

And if a company is even halfway serious about mobile security, then Xposed wouldn't work. A rooted device (or jailbroken) would be instantly detected by MDM software and denied access to the Exchange server. If your company isn't doing that, then they just don't care or the IT staff simply doesn't know better.

The thing with Shush is that the timer pops up after you set it as silent/vibrate for those unscheduled events -- movies, dinners, etc -- that you need to turn off your ringer. After the timer is done, it automatically turns back on (since I forget about turning Ringer back on pretty often)

Otherwise I have Tasker setting my phone into Vibrate mode whenever my Calendar shows "Busy" event.

I guess the feeling I have is that the first thing I'd do after walking out of a movie or a dinner or whatever is check my phone for messages or emails.at that point it's very easy to flip the switch on an iPhone.

But it wouldn't really apply to me since I have my phone on vibrate 100% of the time. People who leave their ringers on annoy the piss out of me.