Hello. A newbie to Android

[darkhorse321]

Hello there!
I've been a newbie to the android system for almost 2 weeks now. I've sadly switched from my lovely Q10 blackberry to the Note 5. I am very happy with the switch--I loved my blackberry, but sadly, the phone was not staying with the times and it was a very researched decision to switch.

I'm a bit lost still with so much to learn with Android vs Blackberry.
I do have a few questions:
1.The stock app clock/weather widget--I can't seem to switch the time to not have a heavy shadow in the background---is this at all customizable? Is there a clock/weather widget that is better?
2. Did anyone try out the physical keyboard case? Did you like it for the note 5? I've been looking at them but can't justify the cost. I seem to be adjusting to the touch screen well with the note 5, but I do type much faster with a phyiscal keyboard (emails).
3. Are there any 'must haves' for this phone? I don't do much by way of games or music (ok, card games and my sad pathetic collection of 10 fav songs on my phone), more functional apps for clock/weather, and a good alarm that allows me to hit snooze more than 3 times
4. Do any of you have cases you can recommend? I have been looking at the flip cases and ordered a few cases off amazon and ebay. I"m a girl and like to accessorize my phone, so having multiple cases is my worst issue I do work outdoors/with horses and I've got an Incipio case and ordered a rugged armor from amazon---but I also like more...girlie cases (Katespadecoughcough)
5. Anything else I should know?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Rukbat]

1.The stock app clock/weather widget--I can't seem to switch the time to not have a heavy shadow in the background---is this at all customizable?

Yes, with any clock/weather widget.

Is there a clock/weather widget that is better?

"Better" is a value judgement - what you may love, I may hate. Just look around the play store and download a few free ones (one at a time) and keep the one you like best.

3. Are there any 'must haves' for this phone? I don't do much by way of games or music (ok, card games and my sad pathetic collection of 10 fav songs on my phone), more functional apps for clock/weather, and a good alarm that allows me to hit snooze more than 3 times

Have you really spent a full day or two looking in the play store? There are over 2 million apps in there.

4. Do any of you have cases you can recommend?

A case is supposed to protect a phone,so the Otterbox Defender.

5. Anything else I should know?

More than can be put into a few posts, but you'll learn. Important is cycle the battery through, from 100% to when the phone shuts off, 3 times. After that NEVER let it get below 40% before recharging it. (Unless you like paying for battery replacements.)

 

[darkhorse321]

For the stock app I cannot change the shadow in the background of the numbers. I have tried numerous apparently from the play store which is why I asked if anyone had one they preferred ☺

I have spent some time looking in the app store but with 2 million apps, I figured maybe some people here had ones they liked which could get me rolling.

I'm steering away from otterbox if I can on because this phone is huge and the otterbox is pretty bulky.

Thanks

 

[darkhorse321]

Ps. Thanks for the battery help. I let mine drain the first time to 10% and it gets to about 30-15% as that's where it is at the end of my day and so far I am very impressed by battery life.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Hello there!
I've been a newbie to the android system for almost 2 weeks now. I've sadly switched from my lovely Q10 blackberry to the Note 5. I am very happy with the switch--I loved my blackberry, but sadly, the phone was not staying with the times and it was a very researched decision to switch.

I'm a bit lost still with so much to learn with Android vs Blackberry.
I do have a few questions:
1.The stock app clock/weather widget--I can't seem to switch the time to not have a heavy shadow in the background---is this at all customizable? Is there a clock/weather widget that is better?
2. Did anyone try out the physical keyboard case? Did you like it for the note 5? I've been looking at them but can't justify the cost. I seem to be adjusting to the touch screen well with the note 5, but I do type much faster with a phyiscal keyboard (emails).
3. Are there any 'must haves' for this phone? I don't do much by way of games or music (ok, card games and my sad pathetic collection of 10 fav songs on my phone), more functional apps for clock/weather, and a good alarm that allows me to hit snooze more than 3 times
4. Do any of you have cases you can recommend? I have been looking at the flip cases and ordered a few cases off amazon and ebay. I"m a girl and like to accessorize my phone, so having multiple cases is my worst issue I do work outdoors/with horses and I've got an Incipio case and ordered a rugged armor from amazon---but I also like more...girlie cases (Katespadecoughcough)
5. Anything else I should know?

Thanks for your help!

Welcome to the forums.

1. I don't use the stock app that much. I like dashclock. It allows me to add what I want for shortcuts, as long as the apps I have are compatible.

2. Nope. Never interested me. Mainly because the physical keys were smaller than the onscreen keys.

3. Apps: I like Dashclock for a time widget. 1Weather cause it's awesome (their widgets aren't bad either), Google's clock has a snooze.

4. I found a couple Otterboxes: here, here, and here. Other wise, a plain case, some epoxy, and scrapbooking accents might be a better way to go. Get a rugged case that's inexpensive, and go all crafty with it. Great thing: No one can possibly have the same case as you. Same base, but not with all the add ons.

5. Try a different launcher, like Nova. It has a lot more options in terms of how the device acts and looks to the point where your phone will be a whole new breed of awesome by the time you are done.

 

[Javier P]

Welcome to the forums! Once you feel comfortable with Android you could try an app like Zooper to create your own widgets. Good fun.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...s/details?id=org.zooper.zwfree&token=ga7fi5Aw

And remember, feel free to ask anything you need.

 

[belodion]

Welcome aboard! ☺
Another app suggestion is Greenify. It's in the Play Store should you wish to investigate. Enjoy Android!

 

[STARGATE]

Hello and welcome to the forums at Android Central!

 

[darkhorse321]

Thanks so much!! Feels great to meet new people. And thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[sydneycooper1979]

Hello! Welcome to android central!

 

[the tall guy]

Welcome to AC

 

[AlphaTango414]

Welcome to Android Central Darkhorse!

 

[SpookDroid]

Hey there! It seems you've already gotten some feedback below. Welcome to the AC Forums! I too used to have a BlackBerry (ages ago, however hehe), and I still miss the great keyboard. Don't see that happening now with the screen sizes I've become accustomed to, though.

 

[darkhorse321]

Thanks everyone! I'm always curious to try things like the keyboard case for the note 5, but I'm not running out to buy it any time soon. I like the fun of the touchscreen, though I make way more typos. I'm sure I will get better.

Question: is there a place people buy and sell items for the note 5 here? I'm looking for cases obviously and would rather buy something someone can't use and such than buying from a store. I'm also looking for this mini micro SD adapter for the note 5. I saw it on YouTube and it's a great idea for saving things from your phone. Living in Canada, we don't always get the cool stuff to play with. Thanks again for the warm welcome

 

[Golfdriver97]

Thanks everyone! I'm always curious to try things like the keyboard case for the note 5, but I'm not running out to buy it any time soon. I like the fun of the touchscreen, though I make way more typos. I'm sure I will get better.

Question: is there a place people buy and sell items for the note 5 here? I'm looking for cases obviously and would rather buy something someone can't use and such than buying from a store. I'm also looking for this mini micro SD adapter for the note 5. I saw it on YouTube and it's a great idea for saving things from your phone. Living in Canada, we don't always get the cool stuff to play with. Thanks again for the warm welcome

We have a Marketplace in this site. It is under the Community header toward the beginning if you are looking on desktop. There are limitations to sell devices, i.e. you have to be a member for a set time with a minimum number of posts. But buying should have no restrictions.

 

[darkhorse321]

Thank you golfdriver97. I will take a look. Are there categories for each device or is it a place to sell all devices and accessories for all android phones?

 

[Golfdriver97]

Thank you golfdriver97. I will take a look. Are there categories for each device or is it a place to sell all devices and accessories for all android phones?

It's Android devices and most things related to Android. There are no categories, it's all lumped together.

 

[darkhorse321]

Thanks for the help ☺

 

[VW Maverick]

Welcome to the fourms.
Glad we were able to help.

Mav.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central!