New to Epic, basic questions

[dallasazcat#AC]

I'm sorry for being the newbie and asking such basic questions, but not only am I new to the Epic, I am new to Android as well. I am hoping someone with the patience of a saint will take a couple of minutes to explain a couple things to me and perhaps offer advice.

So what exactly is the difference between a widget, application and skin? What I am trying to do is create a nice looking home page for my phone and I don't like the Epic's because it's simply a launch for applications. I would like to get someone more similar to what I've seen screenshots of you guys, which is a nice digital clock with GPS weather. I spent a lot of time looking for some last night, but I had no clue how I would make those become my home screen once I downloaded the program. If it's a "widget" does it just automatically know to be the home screen? Also, is there someone a melding of two different widgets to become the home screen, how do you make that happen and how can you organize them?

I posted a couple of days about about liking the HTC Sense home screen and my post was immediately moved to the ROM/Hacking section. There was some good advice about programs like Beautiful Widgets, which I went to download and it said I could not use my credit card despite entering it 4 different times!?!? Oh well, now I'm on to find something, anything else.

Sorry for the basic questions, but first trying to understand the difference between a widget and an app, then trying to understand how to make that my home screen, and lastly any advice on a nice application with time/weather. Thanks guys.

 

[DroidXcon]

Ok a widget is like an icon that sites on your home screen but has a function, where an icon would launch an app, a widget will turn somthing on or off , or give you the info directly from itself like a news feed....i like to say its like a window of an app.....

when you download a widget no it will not just show up , if you go to the home screen and just press down in an open area you will get options, one or two will be widgets or samsung widgets etc. this will lead you into another popup with all your widget options

if you want a free clock and weather widget try
Fancy Widget - Android app on AppBrain

Skins are what the verizion or sprint or samsung , motorola put ontop of the original Android operating system. so forinstance the dock and the application drawer on samsung phones are specific to their brand. that is their skin.

If you want to use a credit card to purchase apps, i would suggest going to google.com then in the top right it says settings. go to account settings, and look for Checkout, there you can set up your google account to make the purchase from the market

 

[coolqf]

Press down on the widget screen where there are no icons present for about 2-3 seconds. You will then get an option to load "widgets" onto your home screens.

I'm sure others will chime in on how/where to get cool widgets; I'm leaving it to the pros. If no one responds, expect a response from me!

 

[Donmeister85]

I can vouch for Fancy Widgets. I use the free version on my phone and I love it. The paid verson is two bucks and has a whole lot more skins to choose from.

Beautiful widgets is another nice widget app that's got some style to it. I've never used it personally but a lot of people recommend it. I've seen it in screenshots too. Looks pretty nice. Check it out!

Sent from my Epic 4G