Bunch of questions

[littlebigman]

Hello

I'm sorry to ask all those questions in a single post, but I would otherwise have had to post in several forums. I'll be grateful if you can answer even some of those questions.

I'm very happy with my Samsung Google Nexus, but there are things I need:

1. Ad blocker: For web browsing, I generally use Dolphin, and use Chrome when I need to start an incognito tab. Are there ad blockers for those browsers to avoid those heavy web pages?

2. Since 3G uses more battery, is there a way to tell Android to switch back to 2G automatically after Xmn of no web browsing (2G seems good enough for the few times I use GPS)?

3. I'd like to have the following shortcuts on the screen:
- Switch to 3G or 2G
- Enable/disable Airplane mode
- Enable/disable wifi

I currently use the "2G-3G OnOff" application, but as the name implies, it only handles the first item.

4. Is it possible to change my MAC address as a work-around to those pesty public access points that limit users to 20mn? There are several utilies for Windows that do this, but is there one for Android?

5. Is there a way to tell Android to go through a proxy when browsing in 3G? The Proxy Settings application only works for wifi

6. Is there a way for the phone to vibrate when receiving text messages?

7. Can the ring volume rise or go down depending on the surrounding noise? When on the street, I often miss calls because I can't hear the phone even with its volume pumped up to the maximum... which I must remember to lower back to a reasonable level when going back inside.

8. When using my phone as a GPS receiver while biking around on week-ends, I'd like to switch off data mode to save battery: Does GPS require a data connection, or can it work offline?

9. I generally find Android's default calendar nice to use, but there are a couple of things that bother me:

- it can't be squeezed vertically, wasting a lot of screen real estate, and making it possible to see appointments below a certain hour: Is there a way to squeeze/inflate the calendar through multi-touching? Here's a screenshot.

- it always displays a "Attending?" question, even though I don't use a shared calendar (I do attend my own appointments): Can this section be removed? Here's a screenshot.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Paul627g]

Hello,

I can't answer all of your questions but I grabbed a few of them.

1. Ad blocker: For web browsing, I generally use Dolphin, and use Chrome when I need to start an incognito tab. Are there ad blockers for those browsers to avoid those heavy web pages?

Actually just recently Google decided to clamp down on the popular Ad blocker apps in the Play Store and I'm sure Amazon and other places have probably followed their lead. Here is a blog that our own AC team did about Google removing ad blockers.... Google removing ad-blocking apps from Google Play | Android Central

3. I'd like to have the following shortcuts on the screen:
- Switch to 3G or 2G
- Enable/disable Airplane mode
- Enable/disable wifi

These are normally shortcuts or " toggles " found on custom ROMs but.... If your using the Google Nexus and update to Android 4.2.x they have the Tiles under your notifications that give you many options. Otherwise there are apps located in the Play Store that can place a widget or other means doing some of those on your homescreen.

8. When using my phone as a GPS receiver while biking around on week-ends, I'd like to switch off data mode to save battery: Does GPS require a data connection, or can it work offline?

If you shut off data or put it in airplane mode I don't think GPS will properly function since its constantly updating to provide your exact location.

 

[B. Diddy]

To make the phone vibrate with incoming text messages, go to the Messaging app, hit the Menu button, then scroll down to something like "Notifcation Settings" (which is how it's labeled on my Razr Maxx. There should be a checkbox for Vibrate.

Although they don't have actual one-touch 2G-3G toggles, I highly recommend Power Toggles to add the other toggles you're asking about. Also consider AntTek Quick Settings if you want a Jellybean-like pulldown toggle menu.

 

[littlebigman]

Thanks for the help.

Firefox + AdBlock Plus got rid of the ads on the sites I check often.

I couldn't figure out how to use Widgetsoid, but Power Toggle does display a banner when I pull down the notifications screen, and I now have shortcuts to the common features I use (Airplane mode, GPS, 2G/3G toggle, etc.)