Essential PH-1

[ShawnC13]

More to follow!!!  It just arrived and doing some updates.  So excited first Android phone so will be asking for tips and tricks from the Android users

[srlawren]

@ShawnC13 I know you're new to Android, and MS is a familiar face.  But, there's a reason you're going to find Nova on literally every list of best Android launchers (really--google it!).  Probably the two most popular 3rd party launchers (for people that don't just stick to what came preloaded) are Nova and Action Launcher.  Both are really feature-packed.

For me, things that set Nova apart include:

1) Ability to export all my settings to my Google Drive, and then import them into my new phone.  I've now done this twice, first from my original Android device (1st gen Moto X) to my OP3 last summer, and a week ago from my OP3 to OP5.  Let me tell you, it saves a TON of time setting up your home screens, folders, layouts, wallpaper, etc.  It just all comes as-is.  You can also back up and restore on the same device if you want to try things out and decide to rollback your changes for more familiar territory.

2) Ability to place items in "sub-grid" layout, so basicall you can place things in between two rows and/or two columns.  Gives more flexibility.  Example from my current OP5 home screen page 1:

 

The two veritcal columns are actually a half column over from where the could be on any other launcher (that I'm aware of).  You may or may not like this, but flexibility is nice 🙂

3) Customization.  There is almost a daunting number of things you can customize to make it your own.  Some things you can customize:

- how your folder covers appear--mine are circles as you can see with the first 4 apps shown, but you can have them fan out, stack on top of one another, and other choices

- how many rows and columns to display

- to have a dock at the bottom or not, and if you want muliple dock pages

- dedicated app drawer button (more classic Android style) or swipe up app drawer (more modern style)

- pixel-launcher style Google search bar with various dispaly options (light/dark background, just a bubble like mine is or a full bar, etc etc)

- dark or light theme in your app drawer, folder backgrouns, etc.

- ability to open first app in a folder just by swiping up on the folder.  This I use A LOT.  Once you get used to it, it's a real time saver.  So if I swipe up on my email apps folder it brings up Gmail; if I swipe up on my personal IM apps folder (in the dock) it brings up BBM.

There's just too many things to list.  Like I said it's a bit overwhelming at first but once you start to nail down a style that works for you, it's amazing.

https://www.androidcentral.com/nova-launcher-review

https://www.androidcentral.com/nova-settings-guide

https://www.androidcentral.com/first-five-settings-know-when-switching-nova-launcher

https://www.androidauthority.com/become-nova-launcher-power-user-729290/

https://www.androidpit.com/nova-launcher-tips-and-tricks

[ShawnC13]

Wow so much stuff lol  I have a lot of those loaded already.  Nova Launcher hmmm I went with the Microsoft Launcher because microsoft is what I know and saw it there

[srlawren]

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@kav2001c wrote:

Yeah, I gotta call this out 

Snapchat useful?

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@kav2001c touche, and good call!  That one is not as essential as the others.

[kav2001c]

Yeah, I gotta call this out 

Snapchat useful?

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@srlawren wrote:

For apps, it all depends what you're looking for.  For me, here's my regular stuff:

- Snapchat

Let me know if you wnat any details on any of these, how I use them, or why I think they're useful.  🙂

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[NDesai]

@ShawnC13 @will13am For the camera fix, have a look here: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/koodo-essential-phone-0-tab-medium-360-2146352/77/#p28545449

[srlawren]

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@NDesai wrote:

@srlawren Great list of apps, but i cannot believe Nova Launcher is not in your list. It's a must have. 

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@NDesai OMG how did I forget Nova Launcher (prime)?!?!!  I guess I don't think of it as an app, but as I have literally interacted with it hundreds of times a day every day for about the past 2 years, I guess I should have, eh!?!?  Okay, going into my list.  I'll edit.  🙂  Oh, I forgot Hermit too.  I'll add it as well, since it's handy for the community and self-serve sites (among others).

[NDesai]

@srlawren Great list of apps, but i cannot believe Nova Launcher is not in your list. It's a must have. 

[srlawren]

@ShawnC13 @will13am be sure to get the latest update, too:

https://twitter.com/essential/status/936071457540472832  "We're excited to roll out a new camera update that includes portrait mode, reduced compression to improve image quality, and more."

[srlawren]

Congrats @ShawnC13!  Hopefully @will13am's arrives soon, too!  🙂

For apps, it all depends what you're looking for.  For me, here's my regular stuff:

EDIT: OMG I forgot probably my two most indispensible apps!!!!!

Security:

- LastPass my favourite password manager

- Authy (Google Authenticator but better because can use on mutliple devices, and back up your tokens to the cloud etc)

IM:

- Textra SMS for texting 

- Skype (I like the new Lite verison)

- Skype for Business

- Slack

- BBM (you probabely don't need it)

- WhatsApp

- Facebook Messenger (again, get the Lite veersion)

Social:
- Fenix 2 for twitter (paid app though, but it's awesome)

- Instagram

- Facebook

- Snapchat

- Bitmoji

- LinkedIn

Email:

- Gmail (already installed I'm sure) for my Gmail account

- Nine Mail for my work Exchange (office 365) account

- Outlook for my other accounts (one outlook.com, one hotmail.com, one yahoo.ca, one shaw.ca)

Other:

- Nova Launcher (preferably the Prime version) for all your launcher needs

- I used to use TeslaUnread with Nova, but lately have been using Nova's built in Dynamic Badges instead; your mileage may vary.

- FeedMe (my favourite RSS/Feedly client by far)

- Google Photos (may already be preinstalled)

Food & drink:

- Starbucks 🙂

- OpenTable

Entertainment:

- YouTube (preinstalled of course)

- Netflix

- Crave TV

- Amazon Prime video

- IMDB

Productivity:

- Todoist

- Asana

- Google Keep (probably preinstalled)

- All the Office apps (Word, Excel, etc)

- Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive

Utilities:

- Solid Explorer (file epxlorer)

- Pushbullet

- WiFi Analyzer

- Ookla Speed Test

- LTE Discovery

Public Mobile:

- @IWIK's Data Witness PM (as already disucssed of course)

- Hermit (as I discussed here, for wrapping self-serve and the community into apps)

There's others but these are a good starting point.  Let me know if you wnat any details on any of these, how I use them, or why I think they're useful.  🙂

[ShawnC13]

Was just coming on here to ask what the data tracker app was that people are recommending

[stonechucker]

I like Textra as my SMS app.  The stock programs rarely give me the ability to change colours, size, or even the typeface of fonts to make it more readable for me.  Textra does this in spades!

@IWIK’s Data Witness.  A must have for quickly looking at your usage on a 30 or 90 day plan, AND totally free!  Two different widgets you can put on one of your home screens.

I use LastPass.com as my password manager, and I installed that app also.

[NDesai]

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@ShawnC13 wrote:

What are the apps I need to have like I said brand new to Android.  I see people mention texting apps is there not one standard on the phone?

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Google Messages is the default texting app on this phone. It works great as it's simple to use. Other apps based on your needs like NovaLauncher, Outlook, other browsers, etc. 

[ShawnC13]

What are the apps I need to have like I said brand new to Android.  I see people mention texting apps is there not one standard on the phone?

[NDesai · Accepted solution]

I got this phone just a week ago. Those updates took pretty long as there are about 3 updates you will have to do. So far, it feels too big and heavy for me as i had small screen Nexus 5. I am not sure if i will get used to it or not so i might end up selling it and look for another phone. 

But overall, it's a great phone with awesome display and high specs for the price we paid 🙂