Tablet and ext. HD advice

[wurlycorner]

It's no simpler than iOS. I use Android and there and plenty of things I do/don't like about it. I still think iOS is a nicer OS overall. Main reason why I don't have an iPhone is actually the screen size...

[indigolemon]

Anything worth doing that I should know about?

2 things not to do:

1 - Install a task killer
Since Android 4.0 (ICS) the garbage collection has been very very very good. Your device will reclaim resources/memory as it needs to. Having a lot of memory used is not a problem. All a task killer does is steal battery life and close apps you may find you'd like to use.

2 - Install a virus checker
If you're installing apps exclusively from the Play Store then this is a very very redundant bit of software. If you intend to install hooky software, then yes - go find one.

[bennyboy]

It's no simpler than iOS. I use Android and there and plenty of things I do/don't like about it. I still think iOS is a nicer OS overall. Main reason why I don't have an iPhone is actually the screen size...

Did you read what I typed?
I said AIRDROID, as in: http://airdroid.com/
It's an app recommendation for Donald!!

[Donald]

Cheers

No wires

[wurlycorner]

Did you read what I typed?
I said AIRDROID, as in: http://airdroid.com/
It's an app recommendation for Donald!!

Doh! Yep I read what you typed but eyes and brain obviously didn't translate correctly!

[wurlycorner]

2 - Install a virus checker
If you're installing apps exclusively from the Play Store then this is a very very redundant bit of software. If you intend to install hooky software, then yes - go find one.

Now this is an interesting one...
I thought one of the key differences between stuff from googles play store and itunes was that google didn't thoroughly check each app, hence the reason why Android phones are far more infiltrated by malware, than iphones?

My htc came with lookout pre-installed and tbh I'm quite happy with it being there. Completely non-intrusive, plus it has the handy 'find my phone' feature in case it gets nicked (all free).
It did find some malware in an update to an app that I had got through the play store, too...

[indigolemon]

Now this is an interesting one...
I thought one of the key differences between stuff from googles play store and itunes was that google didn't thoroughly check each app, hence the reason why Android phones are far more infiltrated by malware, than iphones?

My htc came with lookout pre-installed and tbh I'm quite happy with it being there. Completely non-intrusive, plus it has the handy 'find my phone' feature in case it gets nicked (all free).
It did find some malware in an update to an app that I had got through the play store, too...

Allow me to justify my statement

1st Point
Google have bots (droids?) which trawl the play store looking for malicious apps. They're also tightening all of the app requirements down at present. http://www.gearfuse.com/android-app-rul ... ed-google/

2nd Point
Every app you install will have a list of 'requirements' and this is presented to you before you install. Assuming you're checking these (and you should be) you can avoid a lot of nasty advert ridden apps. Remember, nothing is free, so free apps mean adverts.

3rd point
Push notifications are not malware, they are merely annoying. However, most virus checkers list them as malware. Should you receive an annoying push notification, drop the notification bar and long press on the advert. Android will tell you which App is causing it, and you can remove it from your phone.

4th and final point
Viruses - not really a massive android problem if you use legitimate software sources. You're actually using your phones resources, battery power and memory to scan things for Windows viruses so you don't pass them on to your friends. Screw that, as they say. I've never ran a virus checker on my android handsets, and have never had a problem.

Also, as an aside, wiping your phone remotely etc is provided by Google as part of android itself.

https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

Enable it by going to 'settings' -> 'security' -> 'device administrators' and then checking the box next to 'Android Device Manager'.

[bb1boy]

...Also, as an aside, wiping your phone remotely etc is provided by Google as part of android itself.

https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

Enable it by going to 'settings' -> 'security' -> 'device administrators' and then checking the box next to 'Android Device Manager'.

...every day's a school day! Cheers for that Indy!

[wurlycorner]

Interesting info.
Yep I do check the permissions before any install/update. My observation from that is that most apps from most suppliers (e.g. including google!) seem to request a massive list of unecessary permissions (e.g. when compared with bbc apps which manage to run with only 2-3!) but what can you do? No choice if you want the app. TBH, that is why I haven't installed/run some of (e.g. googles) apps, but I do want/need their maps one
Agreed push notifications aren't malware (they can actually be MORE annoying cue the latest versions of words with friends ). Lookout doesn't flag that up a malware, it's only flagged up one malware problem once, in hundreds of updates so I'm comfortable it was genuine.
Wiping your phone is one thing, being able to find it again (what I was saying that lookout provides) is another - and damn handy, 'cause the Police bloody won't otherwise!

[indigolemon]

Wiping your phone is one thing, being able to find it again (what I was saying that lookout provides) is another - and damn handy, 'cause the Police bloody won't otherwise!

Oh it does that too! Pinpoints it on a map, and you can ring it as well. Knowing the wife's google login makes this a good toy