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HTC Desire S Owner’s Guide – V1.02 | wnp_79
40. Added 26/5/11:
GpsFix
– The first time you try to use your GPS for navigation, it
can take quite a long time to get a lock. This is normal. If it is taking too long, run this
app. It (somehow) gives the phone the kick up the arse it needs by pointing out all
the satellites and storing them so the next time you use GPS, it locks on much faster.
Obviously use outdoors for best results! (Free)
41. Added 26/5/11:
Picasa Tool
– You can upload pictures to your Picasa account
directly from your phone, but looking at them afterwards and managing them via a
phone web browser is tricky. This app has just had a massive face-lift and is now a
vast improvement. (Free)
42. Added 26/5/11:
Snowstorm –
If you want a more accurate, customisable
weather widget, use this one. Seems to at least give an accurate forecast and has
many widget sizes, configurations and skins. (Free)
43. Added 26/5/11:
Blue Skies –
Not an app this one, but a Live Wallpaper (aka
LWP). Most LWP make the phone lag and chew through battery power for the sake
of aesthetics. This one is different. Looks fantastic, the phone stays smooth and lag-
free and even after 24 hours of operation won’t have even consumed 1% of battery
power. There is a free version with fixed settings, and a ‘Donate’ version costing
roughly 60p that allows you to change certain parameters. Search for the other LWP
by the developer “KittehFace Software” for his/her other equally impressive LWP
efforts. Oh and if you have been paying attention to the permissions prior to
installation you’ll notice this LWP requires access to your SMS. Why? Nothing dodgy
here. The LWP has the ability to behave differently if you have an unread SMS. (The
Blue Skies LWP sends a floating balloon up for each unread SMS if you want.)
Above all though, do not forget that if you think, “
Wouldn’t it be handy if my phone
could do this
” search the Android marketplace. Chances are that someone has had
exactly the same idea, and made an app to do just what you want. Read the
feedback from other people to see if the app is any good. If it has less than 4 stars
and 1000 downloads I’d avoid it. Failing that, open Google up and type, “HTC Desire
S Android XXXX”. The “XXXX” being what you are after. I doubt you’ll struggle to find
a solution. Somewhere there will be someone asking the question you have (usually
on XDA forums) and you’ll be able to benefit from the answer.
If you install an app and you are having trouble with it when everyone else seems to
love it, don’t immediately give it a poor rating and uninstall it. Instead e-mail the
developer for advice. You can do this from the relevant App’s page in the
Marketplace. It may be that there is a specific issue with your type of phone, or a
setting you are over-looking. It’s in the best interest of the Developers to respond to
questions, and they usually do so within 24 hours. Make sure to mention your device
and ROM version in your e-mail. They can then either advise you of the right
settings, or start work on a fix for your device. If you think they have missed
something that would make their App better, tell them! The open nature of the
Android marketplace is what makes it great. A good developer will appreciate
feedback and suggestions.
If none of that works, look me up on XDA in the Desire S forums and ask me. My
username is wnp_79.