Zero android experience please help!!!

[Urbancowboy69]

As the title says I have zero android experience. I have always had iphones since the introduction of them. However, I was constantly jailbreaking for features and the size of them sucks. Soooo...I started researching and found myself in love with Samsung phones. I was going to get the Samsung Galaxy S2 but heard the S3 was coming out. I waited...and waited..and waited...I needed a new phone, so I went to AT&T and fell in love with the Note. I love the phone. The size doesn't even bother me anymore. I've had it for a few days now but there are a few things I am not sure I can deal with. Please help!!!

1) Coming from an iphone I had the option to customize what apps showed up or did not show up on the status bar at the top of the phone and also on the lock screen. I am an extremely private person and I hate that on my phone my yahoo messenger conversations pop up on lock screen and text messages. I don't really care about my phone calls popping up but this is not something I feel very secure about. I shouldn't have to sacrifice my privacy for any phone.

2) I set up a password and pin code. However, even with this set up the phone doesn't fully lock my phone for a good few mins. I have no idea why. An iphone instantly locks your phone. This phone doesn't lock it for a substantial amount of time. This again is another security feature I don't feel I should have to compromise on.

3) The camera in low light setting just plain sucks. I haven't fully put the camera through the paces but all the reviews I read seemed to make it sound amazing and I'm just not seeing it. It's so dark in most cases. Is there some tweaks I can do here?

I love the phone other than these features. I have a lot of nosey family members. I'm not hiding anything. I don't have anything to hide. But I would prefer to not have my 65 year old aunt want to see my new phone and read a text message via yahoo messenger from my girlfriend, which she would if it popped up. And it's a total pain in the ass to have to constantly sign in and out so someone can see my phone.

Overall I def. feel like the android experience thus far is better but the security features are seriously lacking. I would like to be able to control which apps scroll at the top of the phone while the phone is on and in use and which apps can show up on the lock screen. Is this possible? Maybe through an app? Please treat me kindly I am completely new.

 

[Shadowtc]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on you first android.
Do you mean the notification show up on the status bar?.....for the lock try taking it off lock it and go back and put it back on.......for the camera im not sure if it has a flash but you can turn up brightness and move settings for better pictures.....and what do you mean by apparently that scroll ?

Sent from ATRIX 4g rooted,unlocked and OC to 1.45 with nottachtrix rom using tapatalk 2

 

[DAS]

@Urbancowboy69: I will take a stab at helping you with the first issue.

I don't use a password or pin to lock my device. So I can't assist with the second issue. In fact, I do not use a lock screen at all. When I push the power button I am immediately taken to the home screen. I don't like all that extra swiping in order to get to my home screen.

Regarding the camera issue. I will play around with the device a little bit more and see if I can duplicate your experience. If I come up with something I will post another reply.


1. The actual text message being displayed in the status bar:

By selecting the messaging app and then selecting settings, you can turn off the notification to display the actual message in the status bar. What this means is that if someone is using your phone, they will NOT see the actual text message your girlfriend or others have sent you. Once you pick up your phone again you will be able to view the message by selecting the messaging app. You will have a number in the top left hand corner of the messaging app alerting you of the number of unread messages. But the good thing is that no one holding your phone wll be shocked or embarrassed by a text messag coming in that they are forced to read.

 

[chubb]

For the security lock. Look where you set your pin or pattern. I believe its in location and security. It should say "Timeout". Tap it and you should be able to choose immediately up to 30 min. Most are default to 30s. to a minute.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[wesstech]

If you want to active your password lock. Than you have remove the screen lock.
They cant both work together

Sent from my SGH-I717R using Android Central Forums

 

[akdj]

I'm not a long time 'Note' owner/user. I bought it (and my wife one) in February. We own a business and provide a dozen iPhones to our employees...and my wife and I have owned the iPhones of each generation. I currently own the iPhone 4s and the Galaxy Note--my wife the original iPhone 4 and the G Note as well. This is my first foray in to Android, with the exception of the Motorola Xoom--and that wasn't a good one (I've also owned each iteration of the iPad, and I'm now nervous of investing in the tablet form of Android). I ended up passing the Xoom off to an employee as he's very Android savvy...and excited to play with it. I will say this about the Xoom though---comparatively it DID get the updates quickly for each OS update (Including ICS). Sorry---didn't mean to go on and on and on about that...but a little background so you know who'd giving you so called 'advice' over the 'net

"1) Coming from an iphone I had the option to customize what apps showed up or did not show up on the status bar at the top of the phone and also on the lock screen. I am an extremely private person and I hate that on my phone my yahoo messenger conversations pop up on lock screen and text messages. I don't really care about my phone calls popping up but this is not something I feel very secure about. I shouldn't have to sacrifice my privacy for any phone."

Have you experimented with any of the 3rd party "Launchers" yet? I use one I believe called Launcher EX---it's excellent. Came via recommendation here. It gives excellent manipulation to the way you want your notifications set up...as well as almost everything else! Hard to explain, but again...coming from iOS, it's an incredibly efficient way to 'Set Up' the screens (home and lock) the way you want...notifications, animations, et al. If you do NOT want to use a different launcher...click settings (in the standard AT&T messaging app) and go all the way down to the bottom-you'll see the option to completely turn OFF Notifications in the 'Status Bar'. This way, you'll have access just by 'Pulling down' from the top...as the usual way to access your Notification center.

"2) I set up a password and pin code. However, even with this set up the phone doesn't fully lock my phone for a good few mins. I have no idea why. An iphone instantly locks your phone. This phone doesn't lock it for a substantial amount of time. This again is another security feature I don't feel I should have to compromise on. "

It's been mentioned earlier. Again...if using a different launcher, you can look in to settings--overall settings as well (for the phone) will give you different time lengths for locking' down your rig

"3) The camera in low light setting just plain sucks. I haven't fully put the camera through the paces but all the reviews I read seemed to make it sound amazing and I'm just not seeing it. It's so dark in most cases. Is there some tweaks I can do here?"

I'm not so sure you're not using a bunk phone. Again...as an owner of a 4s, I'm familiar with the camera (VERY familiar, I use it OFTEN!!!)--I'm also, by trade, a photographer. I'm very impressed with the GNote camera. Not so much with the AMOLED screen for photos...but after transferring to computer and comparing them---the 4s is a schoche (sp???) better, but the GNote is NO slouch. It's an excellent camera for a cell cam---even compared to some of these point n shoots on the market...it's pretty damn good. Again though, on the AMOLED screen (which I absolutely LOVE for everything else), it's a tough comparison when looking at the processed photos. The blacks can be crushed---but it's not necessarily the actual photo file. Send it to your computer to see how it actually looks. The phone screen doesn't do the pic justice....while it's an excellent screen for many other functions...just not photo critique. YmmV

"I love the phone other than these features. I have a lot of nosey family members. I'm not hiding anything. I don't have anything to hide. But I would prefer to not have my 65 year old aunt want to see my new phone and read a text message via yahoo messenger from my girlfriend, which she would if it popped up. And it's a total pain in the ass to have to constantly sign in and out so someone can see my phone.

Overall I def. feel like the android experience thus far is better but the security features are seriously lacking. I would like to be able to control which apps scroll at the top of the phone while the phone is on and in use and which apps can show up on the lock screen. Is this possible? Maybe through an app? Please treat me kindly I am completely new."

I can't help you with specific apps that will help with security, however...as a married man, I've nothing to hide I've never even used a lock code on the 5 iPhones I've owned...I prefer the faster access when I want to use the phone. I know---stupid. I should use it. Knock on wood, but I've not had a phone or iPad stolen...and I've nothing goofy on the phone that would give up missile launch codes or company secrets Not even a weird browsing history---just a bunch o' geek sites

There is BOUND to be some apps that will help ya---that's cool thing I'm really diggin' about Android this time around---the interaction between apps and the ability to save files, open them and share amongst other apps. It's very very cool! I was never in to 'Jail Breaking' my iOS devices...you may be, and may have had a better experience...but for me, that's a big bonus!

We do love our GNotes!!! Both my wife AND I---they are excellent 'In Betweeners' when it comes to the iPhones and iPads. It's weird---rather, I'M weird though---I constantly carry both iPhone 4s and GNote (The Note again is mainly my business phone and I've signed numerous photography contracts just on the "Wow" factor of showing portfolios on my Note)...and it makes me laugh seeing the comments of 'How you supposed to fit that thing in your pocket!'
--not only do I carry both phones, but my iPad is also with me pretty much 24/7!

Enjoy it...fart around with it> Don't be nervous...they're pretty tough to brick these days. Lots more info over at the XDA forums as well if you've not yet checked out their site.

Good Luck
J