I just did the basic setup of my Nexus S (i0923 with SCLD). What should I say? It totally rocks. The pre-installed Android 2.3.3 is a pure revelation compared to the older versions running on my Motorola Milestone. All those small but annoying bugs seem to be gone. And most important: no more PITA regarding Android Updates.¹⁾ The phone comes with a micro-USB connector as my Milestone and most other new non-Apple phones do. Therefore there is no need to buy new USB-A→micro-USB-B cables.²⁾

BTW: You'll find some app hints for new Android users below… .³⁾

Must-have apps for common tasks and daily usage:

Read more…

I'm using a separate⁴⁾ email address for my Android 2.2 based mobile phone. This makes it possible for close friends and my family to write me when I'm on the road. For free and without the need for crappy SMS phone GUIs. Additionally, it is very handy to mail yourself a grocery list or a quick note before leaving the house. However: All unencrypted⁵⁾ mails for your phone are clear for the telco provider and others to see. But there are comfortable applications to change this.

Quick and superficial guide about the needed actions:

1. Install the needed applications on your phone (click on the app names for QR Codes containing an Android Market search query):
   • Android Privacy Guard (APG)
   • K-9 Mail
   • Astro File Manager (optional but recommended)
2. Generate a new key pair for your phone. IMHO, it is a bad idea to place your main private key on an unencrypted mobile device. The risk of theft/loosing it is too high. I created the new key pair on my PC (even it would be possible on Android) because I prefer some kind of key hierarchy and a keyboard makes the creation more comfortable. Additionally, it is not a bad idea to have a backup copy of the new key on your PC.
3. Export you new key pair into .asc files:

   gpg -ao ~/privkey.asc --export-secret-key KEY-ID
   gpg -ao ~/pubkey.asc --export KEY-ID

   If you don't like the terminal, use Enigmail or another GPG GUI for the export. It is also a good idea to export the public keys of the persons you want to write encrypted mails from your phone. Even APG provides the possibility to use keyservers, it makes no fun to search and import dozens of keys using that way.

4. Copy the .asc files on your phone (e.g. via USB), the location does not matter (you can delete these files after the import was done).
5. On your phone:
   1. Open APG→click Menu button→“Manage Public Keys”. The screen changes→click Menu button→“Import Key”. The program is asking where the .asc file containing your public key to import is located. Click on the file browser icon and run the action with “ASTRO”. Browse to the file and click on it. Check “Delete After Import” and click OK.
   2. Open APG→click Menu button→“Manage Private Keys”. The screen changes→click Menu button→“Import Key”. The program is asking where the .asc file to containing your private key to import is located. Click on the file browser icon and run the action with “ASTRO”. Browse to the file and click on it. Check “Delete After Import” and click OK.
   3. Open K-9-Mail→click Menu button→“More”→“Accounts”. The sceen changes→Click and hold on your account→“Advanced”→Cryptography→Select “APG” as the OpenPGP Provider. And check “Auto-sign” if it makes sense for you.

That's all. But you should know that K-9 Mail brings no support for PGP/MIME right now. This means you have to tell your friends to write Inline-PGP encoded mails, not PGP/MIME mails. But this should be default in most environments. If not: Enigmail provides a non-global select box for this setting at the “Per-Recipient Rules” menu.

Pingdroid is a free and simple Ping.fm Android client. Search for “Pingdroid” at the Market (or use the Pingdroid QR Code) to install it. The project's website provides some screenshots.

If you don't know Ping.fm, give it a try. It is a powerful service, allowing you to update your status on over 30 different social networks and services at once, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Indenti.ca and more.

The app names are linking QR Code images,⁶⁾ containing an Android Market search query. Simply scan the code⁷⁾ and visit the URL to install. You don't have to type in the stuff on your phone.

Must haves

• Barcode Scanner - Reads 1D and 2D Barcodes (like QR Code).
• BeamReader - IMHO the best PDF viewer (does not crash when opening very large PDF files like others).
• ASTRO File Manager - Basic file manager.
• ConnectBot - OpenSource SSH and Telnet client/terminal.
• Last.fm - what to say? Last.fm for your phone..
• K-9 Mail - OpenSource Email client, much better than the default one.⁸⁾ Supports e.g. signatures, better IMAP, attachment2SDCard and much more.
• NetCounter - Keeps track of your GSM/UMTS and WLAN traffic.
• Signals - Quick overview over important signal codes like ASCII, Morse Codes, US Police Codes and stuff.
• nswPlayer - Advanced Media Player (Video…).
• TaskPanel - I really don't know why Android does not have a build-in TaskManager like this one…⁹⁾
• Unit Converter - Convert different units into others (e.g miles2km etc.). Support for really many units.
• Wifi Analyzer - Helps you to find a less crowded channel for your wireless router.

Nice to have

• i-nigma - A QR Code scanner with a better pattern recognition as “Barcode Scanner” but less features and a crappy UI.
• aTrackDog - Keep track of app updates for all your installed stuff (IMHO more comfortable than opening “Market → Downloads”).
• FahrplanDE - timetable for Deutsche Bahn.
• Twitter - what to say? Twitter for your phone.
• Facebook - what to say? Facebook for your phone (I use it more often there than on my PC).
• FlashLight
• Leo - LEO dictionary for your phone.
• Layar - augmented reality browser.
• Bubble - simple spirit level for your phone (I know - there will be one day, I am happy to have this even I did not “really” used it until now)
• Shazam - Listens to music and shows you which track was played.
• Sniper shot! - Because the enemy sits next to you
• Speed Test - speedtest.net for your phone.
• Talk To Me - Translates spoken stuff - not perfect but good enough. Really impressive.