So if you read the previous post I wrote on Android, you'll know that I managed to get hold of a Nexus One, which is unfortunately not available except through Vodafone. The device came with Android 2.1, which I was pleasantly able to upgrade to 2.2 with an OTA upgrade by doing a "Check for Updates". Android 2.2 is blazingly fast, introduces some new features and is generally pretty stable and robust.
But, I was bored with it - it felt like there was much more tweaking that was possible, and I wasn't seeing it. My device was rooted, by following this post. That was required primarily to buy paid apps from the market (in retrospect, if that was the only reason, I should have used appbrain.com, which allows you to buy apps). I had heard about Cyanogenmod before, but frankly didn't have the cajones to try it.
Well, I've tried it, and it is the best OS to mate to amazing hardware. It is supremely flexible, and allows me to customise almost every aspect of the device. I'd highly, highly recommend it! Note to HTC users, there is a lot of goodness in the Sense UI which is now available on almost all their devices. Be warned, naked Android is not as pretty as what you have. Check the Cyanogenmod Wiki for a how-to relevant to your device.
If you own a HTC Desire (which frankly I would leave with Sense, and just root), you're in trouble if you updated to 2.2; you won't be able to root, and hence, no custom recovery and therefore no new mod. Downgrade to 2.1 and use the unrevoked method.
PS. If you're new to Android and don't like the battery life you're getting, download Screebl Lite (and then reduce your screen timeout to the lowest you can) and JuiceDefender from the Market. They'll do wonders. When you root your device, get SetCPU and change the CPU clock speed to underclock when the screen is off, and overclock when on. Works great!
PPS. I'm not going to paste links to apps, they change too often.
PPPS. The full list of apps that I have on my device as "must have's" are;
- 1Password - popular Mac password manager port for Android
- 3G Watchdog - check your data usage and whinge when you hit particular limits
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1 - self explanatory
- Adobe Reader - self explantory
- AK Notepad - to take notes :-)
- AndFTP - ftp client
- Antennas - check to see how rubbish the mobile networks are
- Apps Organiser - best way to organise apps, I would die without this; organise and then create category shortcuts on your home screen(s)
- Astro File Manager - self explanatory
- Autostarts - tells you what apps are being called on which system event hooks
- Battery Left widget - nicest looking battery life estimator I could find
- Beautiful Widgets - nice looking clock and weather widgets
- Better Keyboard - stock Android keyboard is rubbish
- Bluetooth File Transfer - should be in the base OS, but isn't - go figure
- ConnectBot - ssh client
- Documents to Go - view Microsoft docs on your mobile
- DroidStats - analyse your SMS and calls
- Earth - self explanatory
- Factbook - CIA-backed DB on various cities and countries
- Feedr - RSS reader
- FeedSquares - another RSS reader (but pretty)
- Fring - used to be useful, now only as a sip client
- Goggles - Google's LBS demo app
- Google Sky Map - pretty nifty, lets you know what's up!
- Google Translate - self explanatory
- Handcent SMS - much better than the stock messaging / SMS app
- Here I Am 2 - tells your mates your exact GPS co-ordinates
- IM+ - multi-IM server client
- IMDB - because looking up movie information is important on a Friday/Saturday night
- InstaFetch - Instapaper client
- JED - I have new shareholders :-)
- JuiceDefender - monitors and optimises battery by cutting features (e.g. 3g radio)
- LauncherPro - MUCH better than the stock launcher, very customisable and fast
- Linkpack for Android - to compare sizes
- Brut Navigation (Maps and Navigation) - enable Navigation outside the US and UK - get from here
- MarketEnabler - allow you to buy apps from anywhere
- MyBackup Pro - self explanatory
- NubDial - T9-style predictive dialler
- ONN - for kicks, fun client
- Paypal - nothing really useful
- Phonalyzer - similar to DroidStats, but with graphs
- Places Directory - tell you where to go close by
- Pure Calendar widget - allows you to see your calendar in a variety of forms
- Quadrant Standard - to compare sizes
- RealCalc - for when the stock calculator doesn't hack it
- ROM Manager Premium - because you never know when you want to try another ROM ;-)
- Root Explorer - similar to Astro, nothing that I need more, not sure why I bought it
- Route Recorder Free - tells you where you've been (Zen!)
- Screebl Pro - Pro version of the screen saving tool mentioned earlier
- SDMove - move apps to the SD card
- SendContact - send business cards to people
- Shazam - tells you what music is playing
- Ookla Speed Test - to compare sizes
- SystemPanel Lite - quick system-wide info tool
- TaskManager - tells you what is running
- Titanium Backup - best backup tool ever
- Trackball Alert Pro - flash different colours LED / trackball on particular system events
- Vibrate During Meetings - self explanatory
- Visual Task Switcher - pretty, not essential or important
- WaveSecure - great tool, gives you the ability to remote wipe and manage your device
- Wifi Analyzer - lets you feel like you have a very expensive spectrum analyser (when you don't)
- XE Currency - again, I have shares in foreign currency :-)
