Ask NerdGirl: A little late in the day…Preloaded Apps, Quick Sync, iTag Video? Cliq to 2.1, and No Exchange Search??

by n3rdg1rl Jun 19, 2010 2:38 PM – Leave your thoughts

Change is in the wind, for the better! That’s all I’m going to say! As for my 4:00 PM EST post time, better late then never!

Nerdgirl,

First off, thanks for your column — you are the best Android resource on the Web. A huge problem I have is the amount of battery charge drained by apps with a life of their own. I use ATK, but I’m constantly on there wiping out apps that turn themselves on at inopportune times — this is at its worst when I power off the phone. Is there a way to keep all apps from turning themselves on unless I give them the OK (Amazon music downloads, I’m pointing the finger directly at you!)?

Thanks and have a great day,

D

Unfortunately, Amazon MP3 Store is a preloaded app, which means that you have very little control over it. If it’s set to run, it’s going to run no matter how many times you kill it. Most of the apps that you’re seeing are probably those apps. Now the good this about all of this is the fact that Android is very good at handling your system memory. It’s one of it’s favorite things to do!

What Android does is it will keep certain things at least partially running so when you go back to them it looks like they never closed. Other apps it keeps open until more memory is needed for something else and then it will close the unused apps. The key thing to remember is to always hit your back button to get out of an app if you want to close it. If you want it to remain running, just hit home.

Hi there,

I sync my Google Calendar with my Xperia X10 by keeping auto-synchronization running in the background. However, I find that this only seems to actually synchronize quite sporadically, so often I find myself syncing manually as well just to ensure that everything is completely up-to-date. The problem is that it takes a number of steps/processes in order to initiate a manual sync. Is there any kind of button/widget which can do this from the homepage with just one touch?

I just walked through it again, and it’s actually 7 steps/presses from homepage and back again. (Which may make me seem kinda lazy, but still!)

It would also be nice if there was something which allowed you to schedule data sync updates.

Many thanks,

Chris.

You apparently aren’t the only person that was having this issue. There is a nice little free app called Quick Sync Settings that allows you to place a shortcut on your home screen directly to your sync settings!

As far as scheduling syncs, the closest answer I found is Locale Sync Plug-In. This will set certain parameters to change your sync settings. You might want to give this a try to see if it will help you with your syncing issues.

Hello

I have a Samsung Moment. Can I install the video version of iTag?

Pam

I’m sorry, Pam. The only two references to iTag that I find are a piece of software that tracks your phone via GPS if it is lost and another that helps you tag your music.

If anyone is aware of this piece of software, please post a comment or send me a message.

Hi there,

Thanks for your column. The T Mobile Motorola Cliq was/is supposed to be upgraded to 2.1 in Q2 of this year, the last month of Q2 is now. Have you heard anything about this upgrade for my phone?

Thanks for your time,

Taylor

There is a rooted version of 2.1 that will run on the Cliq, but does not have Motoblur. I have found recent news that you may be getting the update early next month. I can say that it will definitely be getting it. Unfortunately, no specific date has been announced yet.

Is it just me, or is it really not possible to search the messages in the ‘corporate’ mail client? If so, are we sure Google is really involved in this whole Android thing?

For a mobile operating system to claim that it is corporate friendly that is distributed by the largest search company on the planet not to have search enabled for non-Gmail accounts is really an incredible oversight on their part. I was hoping this would be fixed in 2.2 (Froyo). Alas, it is still an issue. Google not only dropped the ball, but dropped it, kicked it into the road, and then let it get run over. Shame, Google!

Until Google decides to make a search for Exchange accounts, you can try PowerSearch. This will search your corporate calendar and your email, but only the subject and sender for the emails, not the body itself. Unfortunately, right now, this is the best solution.

Regular posting time for tomorrow! Keep sending those questions to nerdgirl@androidtapp.com!

~n3rdg1rl