WebOS to HTC Sense UI

[Complex Pants]

Hi all, with the announcement of the HTC EVO, I am considering a switch to android from my Sprint Pre.

As I am obsessive and tend to research things excessively before I do anything, I have some questions about the functioning of Android 2.1 and Sense UI. Hopefully you can answer my questions.

Multitaskting
I know Android can do it, but how is this functionally done? I have read that you hold down the "home" button and you will be prompted to select one of your last 6 apps. But if you have more than 6 open, how do you switch? Also, WebOS made it very easy to close apps, how is this done in Android? Last question, WebOS has the infamous "too many cards" error when the memory becomes full. Does this happen in android, and if it does how do you correct the error?

Contacts
Synergy on WebOS (merging all your contact info from many sources into one screen) is one of my favorite features. Does Android/Sense have anything comparable? I mostly use google contacts but I do use linked in and facebook. If I do sync up facebook, can I select who migrates into my contact book? I have a lot of bogus "friends" in facebook.

Email
Are there any limitations on email I should know about? I will be syncing an IMAP, Gmail and an exchange account.

Tasks
I use Tasks a lot in WebOS. The reason why it works for me in WebOS is the task icon that appears in the notification bar always reminds me I have something to do. How do tasks/to-do things show up in Android? Do you have a icon or something that shows up, hopefully unobtrusively, to remind you of what to do?

Random App Wants
I take a lot of naps as a student. One app that is on WebOS that I absolutely love is PowerNap. It basically is an app that creates a quick count down timer that sets off an alarm clock alarm when time is up. I assume android has something similar, but I am just looking for a name.

Thanks!

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Multitasking:
There is no "Too Many Cards" or the like in Android (i love that ) The OS closes apps as it deems necessary and moves apps to foreground, background and whatever. Most apps don't close unless they have that option in a menu. This isn't going to be an issue on a nice speedy android device like the Evo, but previously, before rooting and installing a custom rom on my hero with a custom kernal with memory settings other than those of HTC, my keyboard would lag. The Evo has much much more ROM/RAM that this won't be an issue, you can throw whatever you want on it. The home button is more for quick switching. Lets say i wanted to load a webpage, but while it was loading, open up peep and check twitter, hit home, then twitter, then hold down menu and go back to browser and the page should load. This is different in WebOS in that the page is loading in the background and doesn't have to refresh like it does on the pre/pixi. Hope this is a good explanation, if you need more, there are great articles on here on android memory management.

Contacts
When you setup your device, it asks for facebook, twitter and fliker (sorry no linked in right now). It doesn't load all the BS friends unless you actually download the horrible facebook app. In the app people, I can check on my contacts who are linked to my facebook account (not the other way around of just throwing 300 random people in your contacts) and you can check on updates, and it loads their facebook picture, like webOS. 2.1 has a friendstream widget, but i haven't used it so I cannot comment. People does allow me to make groups.

E-Mail
Exchange is supported, but you may have issues depending on permissions at your place of work. I don't have an exchange account, so someone would probably be better at chiming in about that than me, otherwise your IMAP, GMAIL, POP3 all work (except yahoo unless you pay them extra... but you could have it forwarded to a gmail account and bypass that fee).

Tasks
There is a notifications area like webOS and its on the top panel. Just drag it down and it lists everything, voicemail, updates in the market (on 2.1, not 1.5), app notifications, events with alarms, texts, basically anything you tell it to tell you. Each setting is built into the app if it supports it. For example, i got a notification that a package arrived for me today with the mobile package tracker app. Its much like WebOS, but you cant toss them one by one, but you can clear all if you'd like.
There are also wonderful apps like Pure Calendar thats a widget which links with tasks built into gtasks, or Astrid (another app), your gmail calendar. Its great, for a nominal fee, its definately my favorite widget and its customizable.

Random App Want
Yes there is, there was one featured on here not too long ago i believe. There is an app called power nap that is free and a pro version for $1.99. The free version has good reviews. There is also an app called iNap, but the reviews aren't as good. There are no pics of the power nap app in the market, so I can't tell you how the UI is on it. It has a vibrate for 25 seconds, then an audible alarm, so you can nap in public without disturbing others.

 

[Complex Pants]

Thanks for the info! If you could point me in the direction of some of those memory articles, that would be great too!

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Good reads:
http://www.androidcentral.com/how-properly-set-and-use-task-killer-oh-yes-i-went-there
Task managers probably won't be necessary with the EVO (they tend to mess up a lot of things due to improper use, like alarm clocks). However, it includes a very brief overview of memory management in Android, which is different from WebOS. There is still the opportunity for a memory leak (the too many cards phenomena in webos with just 1 card open) but the problem can be solved but "killing" the apps processes taking up the resources. In my experience so far, even with a phone with a memory leak built in since it runs 1.5 on CDMA which isn't technically supported for 1.5 (the Hero), its less of a problem than Sprint WebOS phones. I still have had the pre longer, but i'm soon coming to equal time of ownership of both devices.
On rooted phones, you can change the limits built in to kill processes automatically (last section). No one will tell when root is available for this phone, typically not long, but CDMA phones HAVE caused problems in the past. The Eris just obtained root, and its been out for a while.
Since the specks on this phone are so good, I don't forsee any of this becoming a problem. On a mid-low end device, its essential. What I have on my phone is a custom kernel built by gbhil (I hope he gets one of these, he's a great asset) and it keeps the Hero very snappy with transitions and keyboard typing at the expense of keeping more apps in the foreground. I don't mind as I don't multitask all the time, but its still possible when I need it, so I'm happy.

Here's another
http://androidforums.com/sprint-htc-hero/26997-task-managers-your-hero.html
That is more specific to the Hero which is a mid-level device.

 

[Complex Pants]

thanks again!

 

[JohnnyKat]

Thanks for this info!! I too will be looking at the EVO to replace my Sprint Pre.

 

[ttkk1]

Thanks for this info!! I too will be looking at the EVO to replace my Sprint Pre.

+1
I am currently doing the same research. Very Helpful. thanks

 

[gabbott]

Another pre user considering the move to the EVO when it comes out.

I currently don't use my google voice number but curious how well the integration is in Android as I may consider starting to use it more.

 

[darreno1]

I love my Droid and I do enjoy Verizon's service but I must admit, I drooled over the EVO and I'm no HTC fan. I'm sure you all will be very pleased with it.

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Another pre user considering the move to the EVO when it comes out.

I currently don't use my google voice number but curious how well the integration is in Android as I may consider starting to use it more.

It works well, but I got rid of it when I got my Hero. I used it on the Pre so I would have visual voicemail, but The Hero and Evo both have visual voicemail included.

 

[mcmarrocco]

Switchover=Much Success

I was able to get my hands on an EVO in the past few days, due to being a semi-finalist in a Sprint Contest. I can tell you that after using the EVO for the better part of 1 day, I quietly packed my Pre away to be sold on Ebay. This should come as no surprise to anyone, as the Pre is SERIOUSLY dated hardware, even considering the homebrew overclocking app. The EVO 4G blew my pre out of the water, and although WebOS is a beautiful, useful and intuitive interface, the HTC Sense UI is a pure joy. I haven't gone crazy multi-tasking yet, but it's capabilities are out of control, and having access to the Android app market is almost overwhelming-in a good way.

Go for it, you will not regret.

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

Congrats on being a semi-finalist!
I forgot to submit mine. I was working on it, and a lot of it was witty, but I ran out of steam and didn't feel right submitting it.
Anyways. Glad you like the phone. I'm contemplating the switch. I OC'd my Hero to hold me over for now.