New Optimus V User (Blackberry Before), Loving It So Far

[larrytxeast]

I have an LG Optimus V phone which I purchased Friday. At first I was highly disappointed, because (a) no Internet service at all and (b) the virtual keyboard was just horrible. A longtime Blackberry user, and a "power messenger" somewhat (I can easily type forum posts this long using a Blackberry), I figured no way-no how. I'm more of a "PDA" user than a "multimedia consumer" as it were, but there were no decent sliders I've found so far (I heard awful things about the Samsung Intercept on Virgin Mobile).

A couple of days later, and I'm liking it.

The Internet service was, of course, suffering an outage due to upgrades to the system. Today it came on, and I must say--so long as outages like this aren't regular, and it was only for the purpose of upgrading the system--mission accomplished. The service was easily as good, if not better, versus the AT&T service on my Blackberry. I got 3G where my AT&T doesn't get it, and the non-3G service in the rural areas was passable, about the same as my AT&T.

I downloaded a keyboard called "iPhone Keyboard Emulator," the free version, and it is MUCH better than the "stock." I still can't get down quite like I can with my Blackberry, but it was FAR better than the stock, which was so horrible I darn near broke the phone.

I downloaded Opera Mini 5.1 (which I've used on every smartphone I've owned) and it worked well, including the super-fast back-navigation since it caches pages. I actually like the single-tap to zoom-in (vs pinch-to-zoom) and it renders pages very well actually.

I downloaded a program (can't recall its name) which kills open applications, so I can keep everything running smooth. I use copy & paste a lot on my Blackberry, and while it does do better on the Blackberry so far vs this, I've managed to get it going workably well.

I use memos a lot, I haven't found a suitable memo program yet (honestly my Blackberry's is far better than what I've seen so far with any of these). I saw a prior post where someone recommended "jotter," another recommended "AK Notepad." I need to try to find a good one since I use memos a lot & like it to be as "text-based" as possible in everyway, and I want them to be stored on the phone NOT in the "cloud." (I use memos to access things like my towing membership information, bank's ATM card numbers, my child's social security numbers, and I need such information accessible no matter whether or not the device is connected online.)

In closing: I am not sure how this will work out, I use a smartphone much more for "PDA" functions than "multimedia," and I still have my Blackberry Bold 9000 & I am really used to physical keyboard usage, especially using shortcuts. Pressing Q from the home-screen to send a new text message, pressing C for compose or R for reply in my GMail, the dead-on copy & paste text selection. It's especially easier to use the Blackberry if you're on the move while using it, or using it one-handed.

But so far, I still am liking the LG Optimus V a lot. It's nice. It just may work for me.

LRH

 

[ashton4life]

Glad to hear you like it. I like it too. I love the ability to customize to screens and launchers and install new ROMS. I like the geeky stuff! Plus I can do what I did with my BB too. There are Microsoft office apps and adobe reader. Check out the app market! As long as Virgin mobile can keep there service straight I may just keep mine. I've had it for 1 week now and love it.

 

[Eollie]

Welcome to the crack addiction.

As many people here have passed this info, I shall too.
Get rid of the task killer! Android has one built in no need for another process running.

Goto settings and applications manage applications and viola you can kill the apps from there.
Android also will learn apps you use the most and not so much and kill them off if not used for a certain amount of time. Give teh phone a week or so without using a task killer. You will notice more battery life and it frees up memory. Also remember to always back out of a program not just hit home to exit. If you back out 99% of the time it will kill the app.

Seeing as how you used a blackberry, its hard to get use to the non physical keyboard. I came to android from a storm and for the first week I kept pushing the screen harder expecting a click from the screen haha. After two weeks I was a pro with the virtual keyboard. I find it easier to use then a physical one. But each person is different.

One more thing, remember you can setup shortcuts via the home screens to do exactly what you were with the BB. Long press the screen and select custom shortcut. Then select the app or function and bam your setup.

 

[larrytxeast]

Loving Optimus V, What I've Downloaded So Far, Other Questions

Yes, I am liking it so far, even though I am really used to my physical keyboard on my Blackberry (in fact I'm still using it on AT&T and will do so for awhile to make sure that Virgin Mobile's service measures up longterm). If a follow-up to the Samsung Intercept arrives & it doesn't have the lag and other quirks, I may switch to do at that time.

What I have done so far (mostly what I've downloaded)

* Downloaded:

~AK Notepad (catch.com) for memos/notes (which I use a LOT)
~Facebook App
~Opera Mini 5.1
~iPhone Keyboard Emulator (Sixgreen Labs)
~Advanced Task Killer (Rechild)
~Meebo IM (free version, you can Facebook chat by using the Jabber protocol on it, something I learned via Beejive on BB)

The iPhone Keyboard Emulator made it MUCH easier to do virtual keyboard typing, it's far superior to the "stock" one for me. The Meebo IM was my replacement for Beejive Chat on my Blackberry--it does "unified" chatting of all my different accounts in one (Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk, Facebook via Jabber). The free version doesn't do Facebook chat (presumably what the 99c version offers) but you can still Facebook chat through Jabber by logging in with your Facebook USERNAME (not the same as your email login) and the same password.

*What I still need help on

(yes, I know about the "General Help" link here & have read some of that to learn some things)

~Sound Profiles (eg, my Blackberry does "Normal" or "Loud" or "Office" or "Vibrate" etc)
~Why should I not use the task killer if it's easier that way? (I know not to kill "crucial" applications)
~How Do I customize my home screen besides long-tapping to make an icon go to homescreen? Mainly I want to get rid of the "advisor" giving me all those tips, too much screen real estate. I'm not into doing the "geeky hardcore" customizations so much, I'm fine with it as it is otherwise, just mainly want to get 7 or so of my most used apps to the "initial" (vs "full") homescreen
~Is there a way to backup the phone to a computer much like I used to do with Blackberry's Desktop Manager
~If I move apps to the SD card but then have to "wipe" the phone for some reason, how do I re-install the apps from the SD card?

 

[Takenover83]

Do not get the Intercept..... It has no GPU (most games will be a slideshow), and even though it's CPU is clocked higher, it runs considerably slower. Also it's on Android 2.1. There are 2.2 roms for it, but it breaks MMS.

 

[Eollie]

A memo app, not sure. Im using out of milk for simple things. There are tons of them tho. Ive been told appbrain has a better search function then the official market.

Sound profiles Ive never found I do miss that from my blackberry. I just use the widget to switch between vibrate and sound. If I think its going to be too loud I just turn it down. IIRC tho I remember seeing something a while back for the droid x and it was a existing app so I would think its possible to do.

Task killers arent necessary because there is one built in to the OS already. Select settings then applications then manage applications. You can see running, downloaded, and all. Another reason is android will learn your apps, if you only use it once a day after a while it will kill it after a certain amount of time if not used.

To remove icons from the home screens you just long press until they are able to be moved freely and drop them on the trash can. To add a icon you can long press it in the menu screen and it will let you drop it on the home screen. Pretty much long pressing apps will let you move them around. If you drag out the wrong one dont worry about accidentally uninstalling it by dropping it in the trash can. You will get a confirmation message before you uninstall a app.

As for backing it up like BB does, thats kinda tricky. I dont know of a way unless your rooted. Then you would just make a nanadroid back up. However there are apps that will back up phone numbers pictures and such and if you wipe once you reinstall them it will allow you to restore. Also there is a app called Titanium backup that requires root access that can back up apps few other things. Its pretty awesome.


If you move apps to the sd card and wipe yes you would reinstall them. Putting them on the sd card just relocates them. Plus a wipe will wipe data from the phone meaning saved data on the phone is cleared. So the settings and apps will not show up. Again rooting the phone and using titanium backup and a nanadroid backup would be the safest way to go.

Links to the apps i mentioned above.

out of milk

Titanium Backup

Lookout Security I use lookout mainly for the backup and ability to find the phone. The av part is still kinda in development, as is for any adroid av, but its nice to know something is there to scan for known exploits.

I recently "lost" my phone, tried calling it and the ringer had been turned off. Finally got tired of looking for it and hit the siren button on lookout. My nephew who is six, had my phone in his pocket. I think the loud siren scared him half to death.

 

[larrytxeast]

I am packing up the phone to return it today. I like it actually, but as you know Virgin Mobile hasn't been doing a particularly good job with their data service. I've only had service on Sunday, otherwise--for the past 7 days, I haven't had it at all.

I didn't buy this to be a Wi-Fi machine exclusively.

I guess I will get something like the HTC Aria (found one updated to 2.2 Fryo) and go that route.

Too bad.

LRH