Newbie Tips

[defenderbob]

Hey Cam - noob here too.

I put 2.2 on out of the box so I cannot comment on 2.1 vs 2.2. I did put on v5 of the Kenyu gappsinstaller. No complaints there - I did run the market place fix, though I still think there are apps missing (TF2 Heavy Soundboard for example - I can see it on App Brain, but not in the marketplace).

I tried several launchers and setups before deciding on one (once I did, I reinitialized teh device and set it up.)

I played with both Launcher Pro and ADW.Launcher and have settled on ADW.
Advanced Task Killer to free up memory
AppBrain to manage applications via PC (not needed)
Dolphin Browser (or another perhalps)
I'm liking Fancy Widget for clock / weather.
Hypnotoad - because everyone loves Hypnotoad
TuneIn Radio

probably more info that you were looking for. I was keeping all my APK and misc files directly on the SD card so when I would reinitialize, it would not be lost.

Be sure to set it to overdrive too - I am still getting 8 hours of use out of a charge in overdrive mode (just streaming radio all day)

Hope that helps.

[viking]

I did run the market place fix, though I still think there are apps missing

Several of us have found you have to apply the market fix at least twice to get it all (anybody 3 times?). But of course you never get it ALL... there are some exclusions, and most annoying to me some free apps turned into charge ones.

And several of us have found google voice search still causes mayhem with v5-final until uninstalled. Also various upgrades kill the copy of the user guide on your device, and you can retrieve it and anything else original from ftp://support.archos.com

[viking]

How do I uninstall Voice Search? I can't do it from settings or uninstall app.

Why not? It has worked for me twice once I got some semblence of control back.

[viking]

Any tips as to the best upgrades and or order of install for best experience out of the box.

ie) froyo 2.2, firware 2.0.71, pro-launcher, kenyu73 gAppsInstaller - version 4 or 5?

Neither gapps 4 or 5.0 or 5.1. The right one is "v5-final". Although I kind of regret just migrating there from v4 since I hate the human factors of the new google market and how they made some of my favorite free apps requiring payment.

Don't leap to conclusions and throw out the stock launcher. It may be sometimes slow (possibly helped in later firmware), but those others have problems with the soft buttons and some other restrictions. Folks who promote alternatives may not know what they are missing in the tailored stock app. (but how do you move a widget from one page to another on it - I don't think you can discard and recreate them?)

If you use the standard web browser, maybe go deep into it's options/settings whatever and turn off a bunch of junk for security, like saving passwords. Many of it's options have questional defaults. And review the settings in general for a lot of overrides you probably want to make. See what in particular is sucking power, like too bright screen.

That reminds me that you temporarily may want to download the droid FLASH hack that AllenPxxxx the moderator has posted a download site for. Then you can tell the browser to invoke plugins automatically.

[CutiePie70]

I have a new 70 that I got my 12 year old son for Xmas. He is Autistic and visually impaired but loves electronics, very smart but developmentally like a nine year old. I have browsed the site for a week and the lingo in here is very techy, even the newbie stuff. I need to know the basic stuff so that he can watch movies, play games, put his music and books on tape on, and get on internet. I need instructions in basic lingo, I have no techy experience except with Itunes. I'm on overload of info from this site. help!

[viking]

Can just copy and paste terms into the google box in your web browser. A lot of the tech talk here isn't for anything needed or sometimes even desirable to deal with - just tinkering around.

BTW in this crazy setup where newbie tips are put down into device specific forums, everyone should see the Dec 30 post in a101 forum, "newbie tips" thread by moderator Allen P. It isn't a101 specific. It is a little overkill, but shows a full blown customization with best known apps, etc

[AllenPapapetrou]

OVERKILL, viking?

Actually I wrote the post as a response to a PM from an A101 owner. Per your suggestion I created new sticky topic in the General Gen8 forum: Newbie Tips - Allen's Setup - A70 and A101.

I don't claim the Apps I use are the best or that I am any sort of Archos Android expert. I've just been with Archos Android from Oct 2009 with the 5IT, May 2009 with the 7HT (now given away) and Dec 2010 with the A70 and A101.

Allen

[AllenPapapetrou]

I have a new 70 that I got my 12 year old son for Xmas. He is Autistic and visually impaired but loves electronics, very smart but developmentally like a nine year old. I have browsed the site for a week and the lingo in here is very techy, even the newbie stuff. I need to know the basic stuff so that he can watch movies, play games, put his music and books on tape on, and get on internet. I need instructions in basic lingo, I have no techy experience except with Itunes. I'm on overload of info from this site. help!

We do have a Glossary of Terms and Phrases in our Wiki, click: Here. Since our Wiki is user supported the Glossary is only as complete and and clear as our members make it.

Allen

[viking]

OVERKILL, viking?

Actually I wrote the post as a response to a PM from an A101 owner. Per your suggestion I created new sticky topic in the General Gen8 forum:

Thank you. I meant for an intimidated newbie, your full approach oversolves the issue of just getting up and going. Newbies don't need to feel that all of that (esp latter parts) has to be mastered from the beginning, but it can be something to do in stages as you gain experience.

It's surprisingly hard to find out what an app's function is, given it's name. For example, I wonder how your task manager compares to an automatic memory manager like AAM (of the same name). It is getting good reviews and working mostly very well for me on it's "aggressive" setting (to continually throw suspected deadbeat apps out of memory).

[gte105u]

When you download JustPictures! go to Files/SD Card/Photos, and click your photo and pick JustPictures! as the default viewer. Way faster and better than Gallery. The .nomedia in the folders stops the Archos from deleting your media on the SD card.

I am assuming by this you mean using Notepad save a blank file with no file name and the extension ".nomedia". Is this correct, or am I missing something?

[viking]

In the event you can't create a noname file, just create one with any old name, either in place or transferred from your pc. Then with a long press on the file, the archos will allow you to rename it to .nomedia. BTW I found justpictures works fine off internal memory in case you aren't using a physical sdcard.

[QuestShield]

I just saved a text file as *.* and changed name to .nomedia.

[TjaXanK]

Hey Cam - noob here too.

I put 2.2 on out of the box so I cannot comment on 2.1 vs 2.2. I did put on v5 of the Kenyu gappsinstaller. No complaints there - I did run the market place fix, though I still think there are apps missing (TF2 Heavy Soundboard for example - I can see it on App Brain, but not in the marketplace).

I tried several launchers and setups before deciding on one (once I did, I reinitialized teh device and set it up.)

I played with both Launcher Pro and ADW.Launcher and have settled on ADW.
Advanced Task Killer to free up memory
AppBrain to manage applications via PC (not needed)
Dolphin Browser (or another perhalps)
I'm liking Fancy Widget for clock / weather.
Hypnotoad - because everyone loves Hypnotoad
TuneIn Radio

probably more info that you were looking for. I was keeping all my APK and misc files directly on the SD card so when I would reinitialize, it would not be lost.

Be sure to set it to overdrive too - I am still getting 8 hours of use out of a charge in overdrive mode (just streaming radio all day)

Hope that helps.

Have the same setup Runs great!

[spence2489]

Hey guys. Newbie here, i am looking for the gapps4archoss download that will work with my A70. I believe i am running 2.2

[AllenPapapetrou]

Hey guys. Newbie here, i am looking for the gapps4archoss download that will work with my A70. I believe i am running 2.2

Aloha Spence,

Welcome to our forum

Check out my topic Newbie Tips - Allen's Setup - A70 and A101.

Allen

[Pinkfloyd]

Hey Cam - noob here too.

I put 2.2 on out of the box so I cannot comment on 2.1 vs 2.2. I did put on v5 of the Kenyu gappsinstaller. No complaints there - I did run the market place fix, though I still think there are apps missing (TF2 Heavy Soundboard for example - I can see it on App Brain, but not in the marketplace).

I tried several launchers and setups before deciding on one (once I did, I reinitialized teh device and set it up.)

I played with both Launcher Pro and ADW.Launcher and have settled on ADW.
Advanced Task Killer to free up memory
AppBrain to manage applications via PC (not needed)
Dolphin Browser (or another perhalps)
I'm liking Fancy Widget for clock / weather.
Hypnotoad - because everyone loves Hypnotoad
TuneIn Radio

probably more info that you were looking for. I was keeping all my APK and misc files directly on the SD card so when I would reinitialize, it would not be lost.

Be sure to set it to overdrive too - I am still getting 8 hours of use out of a charge in overdrive mode (just streaming radio all day)

Hope that helps.

Sorry if ive missed this elsewhere but how do you set it to overdrive?

[AllenPapapetrou]

Sorry if ive missed this elsewhere but how do you set it to overdrive?

Yo Pinkfloyd,

Welcome to our forum

Luv yo musak dudes

Settings:About device>Power management>Power management mode>Overdrive option.

Allen

[Pinkfloyd]

Cheers Allen

Im new to Archos but loved messing about installing other ROMs rooting etc on my HTC Desire so im an Archos NOOB but not an Android NOOB thanks for the answer must say aswell that ive seen a massive difference in response since using ADW Launcher rather than the stock or the Launcher Pro (paid version)

[tmc]

Couple of things I've learned along the way.. if the Archos does NOT boot up.. try a SEVERAL long (30-60secondish) push-hold of the power button to force a reset/reboot (followed by 1-3 second push, release) before thinking your Archos is toast.. this happened to me first time yesterday. Next.. look & search the forum for issues with apps, firmware bugs, etc... I think I prematurely returned an hdmi adapter said to be working (at least on the archos 70s) for my Archos 43.. turns out Archos has bugs in the tv-out which require everything to be shut OFF/not running (including wifi?!) before hdmi will work...

Seriously... couldn't Archos get one of the simplest features to work without a hitch? No, but then it wouldn't be Archos, would it...?

Look on the forum for apps that don't work well with the Archos & save yourself headaches.. others mentioned the Voice recognition app, but there are several others. Lots of buggy apps having to do with GPS tethering come to mind.


You will most likely need more than ONE bar to connect to wifi singals. Also, some apps WON't let allow accelerometer to work with them -- cough, cough, Speedtest.net App (DAMN, I know...) and that's horrible because you might want to hold the Archos in a way that improves wifi signal strength.


When indoors, you don't need the brightest screen setting (widget).. also, when not near a power source, you might want to run on powersave mode (settings, about, power management)... these are obvious things.

[Pinmac1]

This site is a fantastic resource for a newbie. Allen I looked in About Device and couldn't find Power Management?