Big Dialer

Overview

Application: BigDialer
Version reviewed: 1.5
Device tested on: Motorola Backflip
Androlib Page
Developer’s Page
Market Page
Price: about $2.25 (1.49 euros)

BigDialer is a replacement dialer. It is designed to be easy to use and easy to see and targeted for those with big fingers or poor eyesight.

Using BigDialer

After installing BigDialer you need to create a shortcut for it where you can easily access it. When run this is the default screen:

The layout is very simple and easy to read and uses all of the screen real estate for a dial pad. Using the dialer is the same as using almost any cell phone dial pad. Tap the numbers and hit the green phone icon and you dial a number.

Features

BigDialer looks simple but it has many useful features built in.

Speed Dial

You know how your dumb cell phone had speed dial built in so that all you had to do was assign a number to a contact and then long press that number to dial your contact? BigDialer has the ability to store up to 99 speed dial entries.

For two digit speed dialing you enter the first digit and then long press the second digit.

To set a speed dial entry:

• Tap the menu key with BigDialer open
• Tap Set Speed Dial
• Select the number you want from the list that is displayed
• The speed dial list opens
• Tap the number where you want the contact assigned

If a contact has multiple phone numbers they will be shown in the list once for each number so that you can select the number you want for the speed dial entry.

The first entry (1) is assigned to voice mail, just like on the default dialer.

To clear an entry select Clear Speed Dial from the menu and a list of your speed dial entries is displayed. Tap one to clear it.

If you want to view you speed dial list you can hit Clear Speed Dial and scroll through the list. A view only mode would be nice to prevent accidental deletion.

Last Number Redial

If you long press in the area where the numbers are displayed that area will be filled in with the last number you called. Then tap the phone icon to dial.

Silence Ringer

Long pressing the pound (#) will put your phone in silent mode. To turn the ringer back on long press it again.

Access Recent Call Log and Default Dialer

To go directly to your recent call list long press the contact icon (bottom left).

A tap of this icon opens the default dialer. This provides access to any features you may want to use there.

Display

The appearance of BigDialer can be customized with built-in themes and custom settings. See the screen shots section for samples.

Large Screen Phone

I am now using a Dell Streak with a 5 inch screen as my everyday phone. Big Dialer is just too big on this screen. Now that phones with larger screens are becoming more popular being able to change the size of the dialing grid would be useful.

Summary

BigDialer sets out to be easy to use, easy to see, and uncomplicated. It accomplishes this while maintaining many features you want in a dialer. If you are old fashioned and just want to dial your phone this dialer will work great for you.

BigDialer is a great dialer to use if you are using a home replacement on your Backflip.

If you are accustomed to long pressing on the dial pad for speed dial and miss that feature on the Backflip BigDialer’s speed dial works great and gives you plenty of room to store numbers. The only thing it lacks is the ability to add a number manually if you want a speed dial for a number not in your contacts.

This is an excellent application that works as described.

Screenshots

Release Notes

Themes

Default theme

High Contrast Theme

Yellow Orange Theme

Blue Yellow Theme

My Custom Theme

Changing Theme Settings

Menu for changing themes

Change text size

Setting a custom color. This works the same for all of the color settings. Once yu have all of the settings the way you want tap Menu, then save as custom.

You can recall your settings (custom) or pick a pre-defined theme.