Android

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Introduction

Here is some useful information related to Android OS.

See Android enthusiasts at stackexchange (link).

I'm currently interested on having Android working on HTC Touch Diamond 2 (Topaz).

To install some software, you will need su (root access) to the system. For Froyo (2.2) download here. Thread on XDA (link).

Check out CyanogenMod (link).

Tips

Battery tips (link)

Connecting to Ad-Hoc Network

To connect Android to an ad-hoc wireless network, there are several ways to do it. I find the least painful one is to modify a few configuration files (link). It will allow you to connect to one, specified, wireless network only but that's still better than nothing. :)

Custom ROMs

For Samsung Galaxy S users:

    • Instructions (link)
    • Kernel that supports CWM (link). This is CF-Root. Instructions on how to flash kernel are in the first post.
    • Flasher (link)
    • Firmware

Additional links:

    • ClockWork Mod Recovery - CWM (link)

Development

For development using HTML5, see this post.

For standard Android development see the Development page.

Proxy

Setting proxy server for Wi-Fi connection does not seem to work for all applications (2010-12-16). However, check this link.

Samsung Galaxy S

How to root Galaxy S (link). One-click root (link). Root 2.3.4 (link).

SDK

Here is a post that describes how to open AVD Manager (link).

The instructions on how to control the Emulator are here.

Offline Installation

To install Android SDK offline, download the following:

    • Eclipse
    • Android SDK Starter Package (download page)
    • Install Android ADT package for Eclipse
    • Android platform and other components

Android platform goes into "platforms\<platform name>" subdirectory of the SDK directory. USB driver goes into "usb_driver" subdirectory.

See more instructions here.

Synchronization

Here's a handy tip for having contacts' birthdays in your calendar. In Google Calendar go to Add -> Browse Interesting Calendars -> More -> Contacts' birthdays and events.

My current solution, that keeps my PC, phone, and online account synchronized is the following:

    • PC: Outlook and CompanionLink. This syncs to Google account (calendar & contacts). Also, Outlook has Google Calendar (as ics) linked as Internet Calendar.
    • I'm still missing a decent Tasks synchronization. There is Goats but that only uses USB connection and synchronizes only PC-phone.
    • Online: Google Calendar & Contacts, Producteev for Tasks. Producteev workspaces (task lists) are set to sync to Google Calendar.
    • Notes missing. Currently use text files for notes and sync via Dropbox.
    • Phone: For Tasks, use Astrid with synchronization to Producteev.
    • Business Calendar Beta for calendar. Pure Calendar widget to mesh tasks and calendar in one view.
    • Dropbox for file and notes synchronization.

See Android Software page for links to software.

There is a plugin for Total Commander that allows accessing the Android file system via USB connection. (thread)

USB Troubleshooting

Check these cool tips for switching USB mode:

1. Dial *#7284#. This should open app called PhoneUtil (there are other ways to get to it)

2. In USB section, swith it to Modem, then switch it back to PDA

3. Exit, and USB should work.