Today Screen (like WM 6.1) for Android?

[timswim78]

So, I am thinking about ordering a phone with Android 2.2.

One thing that I really like about my Windows Mobile 6.1 device is the Today Screen. In particular, I like that whenever I pick up my phone, I see my upcoming appointments and how many unread text messages and emails I have. My calendar and email sync with an Exchange server, as do my contacts.

Can something like this be setup with Android? The phone that I am looking at is the Samsung Replenish.

 

[gsaldivar]

Android takes this a step further by giving you all the elements of the "Today" screen and letting you customize them however you please. Each email account can be a single icon with a number on it, which indicates unread messages. There are countless widgets that allow you to display a summary of upcoming appointments, unread emails etc. You just have to play with it for a bit to get it looking exactly the way you want.

The advantage to this approach, is you can omit any info you don't need. For example, maybe you don't participate on any of the "social networking" websites, so you don't need Twitter or Facebook widgets on your screen. Maybe you use email and calendar extensively, but don't use text messages - again it's easy to leave that part out.

Also, you can set up different screens or themes that display information from your different accounts if needed. All your work-related Exchange emails and appointments can flow to one screen, while all of your personal emails and calendar can reside on a separate screen.

The possibilities are literally endless... that being said, I would avoid Samsung phones like the plague.

 

[A5]

For what you need, that phone should be fine - and it can easily do everything you asked about.

That said, unless you absolutely can't spare the extra $100 I would get the Epic or Evo Shift if you want Sprint+Android+Keyboard due to the fact that they have much higher resolution screens. I went from a QVGA WinMo device to the Evo, and the extra screen space is really nice.

 

[timswim78]

Thanks for the input guys. I like the idea of having a screen for work stuff and a screen for personal stuff.

The reason that I went with the Replenish is that it is the only way that I could get an Android phone and keep my $30/month SERO plan at Sprint. http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1090337/

 

[gsaldivar]

Unfortunately, the reason why carriers inflate their monthly wireless charges is because they offer top-of-the-line phones ($600+) for a fraction of their actual price ($0-200). Wireless carriers therefore overprice the service and lock-in users for 2 years to make up those losses and earn back enough profit to make it worth their while.

If you must keep the monthly price down, I would dump the SERO account and go with something like the LG Optimus on Virgin Mobile. You will get the same Sprint network (but no carrier roaming) and unlimited data/web + unlimited messaging starting at $25/month ($60/month for unlimited everything) with NO contract...

The Optimus V has a much better screen, a faster data modem (EVDO Rev. A instead of the slow Rev. 0 on the Replenish), and a better camera than the Samsung Replenish. You would also avoid many of the GPS horror stories that people have had with Samsung phones...

 

[ghost recon88]

Thanks for the input guys. I like the idea of having a screen for work stuff and a screen for personal stuff.

The reason that I went with the Replenish is that it is the only way that I could get an Android phone and keep my $30/month SERO plan at Sprint. http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1090337/

I had the $30 SERO plan, then they made me upgrade to the $40 Premium plan just to be able to buy a good Android phone, then they're gonna add another $10 on per month for 4G (I know what people are gonna say, "it's not a 4G charge", but really it is). Still $50 a month is a bit cheaper than what Verizon would charge for the same package.

 

[timswim78]

Unfortunately, the reason why carriers inflate their monthly wireless charges is because they offer top-of-the-line phones ($600+) for a fraction of their actual price ($0-200). Wireless carriers therefore overprice the service and lock-in users for 2 years to make up those losses and earn back enough profit to make it worth their while.

If you must keep the monthly price down, I would dump the SERO account and go with something like the LG Optimus on Virgin Mobile. You will get the same Sprint network (but no carrier roaming) and unlimited data/web + unlimited messaging starting at $25/month ($60/month for unlimited everything) with NO contract...

The Optimus V has a much better screen, a faster data modem (EVDO Rev. A instead of the slow Rev. 0 on the Replenish), and a better camera than the Samsung Replenish. You would also avoid many of the GPS horror stories that people have had with Samsung phones...

I had been thinking about going with the VM / Optimus plan, but the SERO roaming is an important feature to me.

 

[Jinny]

My screen is kinda like that, is this what you are looking for?
i have calls, sms, agenda, email all on 1 screen