Great Beginners Guide to Android, specifically the HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon

Source: Droid Life 

HTC Thunderbolt owners, Verizon has released a series of videos to help you better understand your new phone and make the transition to it much more enjoyable.  As the first 4G LTE phone, it is a device that has grabbed the attention of users from all sorts of mobile platforms which means there will be a learning curve while these new faces adjust to Android.  And what better way to conquer that, than through some quick video tutorials?

After the break, you’ll find tips for navigating around your phone, its social apps, creating contacts, and even utilizing Google Maps.  

Navigation tips:

Creating contacts:

Using Google Maps:

Browsing the web:

Sharing and editing photos:

Using social apps:

Using email and documents:

Using mobile hotspot:

Awesome App: DailyRoads Voyager

I like to record video if the road ahead of me while driving. This is to protect me in case of an accident or any incident. I used to put my phone into the dock and have Locale auto open the video camera. Then I'd have to manually press record, then manually stop recording. Then delete uneventful footage (almost every video).

Now comes DailyRoads.

This automates the entire process. Set Video and/or photo recording, set how long to record, let it record in the background, let it auto record as soon as you dock, shut off when you take off the dock. There are numerous settings. It will also overlay the speed from gps (which is not 100% accurate), the gps location, and the time.

Check it out: DailyRoads Voyager

My Thunderbolt Homescreens

Its kind of cluttered, but I like quick access to my most used items and to my calendar....

LauncherPro 0.8.3
Stock HTC Wallpaper, Power Control Plus Widget for powerbar, quick contacts, camera/video cam.
2nd screen: S2 Calendar Widget for month cal, CalWidget for agenda cal.
Stock unrooted.

Hackjob: Verizon HTC Thunderbolt Car Dock to Fit the Phone With Case On

All my friends know me for my hackjob installations or fixit jobs around the house. Classic case was mounting my mini TV and cable box to the treadmill (Duct Tape):

So I bought the Thunderbolt. Awesome phone. To protect my hefty investment, I purchased the Platinum series case:

I also bought the car dock that is custom made for the tbolt.

The problem is that when the tbolt is in the case, it does not fit into the dock. And I'm not gonna start taking out the case every time I get into my car...

And so the hackjob began...

BEFORE SHOTS: (taken from htcpedia.com)

Tools Used: Dremmel Tool

STEP 0: KNOW THAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE CRAP 

STEP 1: Unscrew backing. (4 screws) 

STEP 2: Remove plastic faceplate

STEP 3:Cut as shown below

STEP 4: Re-screw top portion as well as bottom portions where the screw holes are.

STEP 5: Make it look "pretty" with electrical tape.

STEP 6: Use Dremmel to make a groove in the tbolt case so that the clasp on top of the dock will hold the phone in place.

Here is my horrible, "how to" picture:

AFTER SHOTS: Its not pretty, at all. But it works and is secure...

Screenshots on Verizon's HTC Thunderbolt - What's so good about Android?

What's so good about Android?

My answer is embedded within these screenshots:

The home screens are customizable. You want an icon for a gmail label? You want am icon to open only if xyz person sends you an email? Create an icon/label for that...

Direct touch call/text an icon and you're done...

Icons to open a specific document, bookmark, picture... (below)

One of my favorite apps is Locale... auto set ringtone depending on time of day... At 700 when my kids are going to sleep, my ringtone automatically goes lower... Basically, at any given set of events, such as time, location, battery percentage, etc. another event will occur, such as any phone setting, and application to be opened, etc... (Another nice "situation" is that WiFi is set too "Off" unless I am near my home or work...

Power control plus... Put any application, setting, as shortcuts, customize the look of the shortcuts...

Replying to an email... Respond inline, so you can embed your reply within the original email text. (Q/A type emails)

Long press on an item and what do you do with it? Where do you want to go with it?

Email... 2 way sync, almost instantly syncs with your Gmail on any PC... Same goes with Contacts and Calendar

Voice to text is extremely accurate. ANY field where you can type - you can use voice instead. 

Speed Test Results for Thunderbolt Verizon 4G LTE

Test Date: Mar 17, 2011 11:36:39 am
Connection Type: Cell

Download: 18.70 Mbps
Upload: 17.23 Mbps
Ping: 65 ms

Archos 101 Unboxing!

My unit finally came in today and I am extremely pleased. I am not writing a review yet, just posting some unboxing pics.
Without looking under the hood, though, this puts the galaxy tab to shame. Its a beautiful looking device and 10 inches of goodness too!