I've been a bit scared of Google Voice. What exactly happens? Do missed calls get re-routed to the Google Voice server? Is there anything beyond that?

What I like is that I can set Google Voice to send me an email notice of any voice mail I receive. I work in a hospital, so it makes it much more convenient for me to be able to see my voice mails in a timely fashion via email, but I don't have to respond to them until it's a good time for me. Plus, Google transcribes the voice mail into a written script - it's usually a pretty crummy translation, but it's close enough that I can usually tell what was said.

Google voice is awesome

I have one number, that rings at the same time in my personal phone, my work phone, my house and if I have my gmail browser open, it also rings there.

Miss a call, I get an email and a text message with the transcript of the voice mail

I am trying to teach my daughter that phone number, that way she can always reach me.

One awesome product

I definitely get that, but I have one device for calls - my cell phone. All I want is to get VVM back. I've also heard it can be difficult to divorce your number from GV one you marry them.

I'm still not sure it's the right thing for me. Instead of an email, can I get VVM through the GV app?

of course you can, when you open the app, you will have each message with the transcript and a play button so you can hear the message.

it's not a transcript app, it does the transcript on top of what normal voicemail does

Played with it and got exactly what I wanted. GV Lite only forwards missed calls to GV voicemail. Perfect.

As you've figured out, you don't have to use GV for calls at all. I have never given out my GV number, and neve rused it to make a call. I just set GV as my voicemail on my phone, and my missed and rejected calls get forwarded there for voicemail.

I also set up GV on my Nexus 7 and I set it to email me when I get a voicemail (which also contains a transcript of the voicemail) so I know when I get a voicemail and can check it even if I'm not near my phone.

Concur (my travel app via amex though companies corporate travel...i can see all my travel arrangements, confirmation numbers in a flash..if i do a long press on the address of the hotel or aiprot it will open up google maps and im just one more button press from activing my nav to the correct address).

Cozi Calander (I add something to my android shopping list, it shows up on my wifes iphone....she adds something the the calander on her phone, it shows up on my calander also.......amazing way to sync calanders, shopping lists, and to do lists (even from Apple to Android it works).

MOG (love this, i can download unlimited songs on my phone, my wifes phone, and my sons phone for 9$s a month, way way better than 99 cents a song on itunes).

Netflix (hey if you are a paid member, might as well stream some fraiser reruns or watch an episode of Ancient Aliens while you are stuck in the airport).

Delta Air (nuff said)

American Airlnes app (nuff said)

Note book and to do lists (various apps, now using the stock HTC ones)..because hey, there is always something you need to remember.

Google earth - Some what useful for making sure that hotel you are booking isnt in the ghetto.

Flash light (nuff said)..i use it when exiting movie theaters all the time.

Adyclock (try it you ll lik eit).

Relax and sleep (anyone need white noise in their hotel to cover up abnoxious neighbors??).

Yellow pages - (nuff said).

Play moves & TV - usually a stock app but off line viewing that allows you to watch the latest movie rental in high def....from the plane...while your off line, on any of your devides (thats how i do it).

Waze - A community based GPS app that provides real time traffic information from other drivers.

MyPhoneExplorer - free app for syncing with Outlook. I use it to sync tasks and notes only, since Google Calendar Sync already syncs with Outlook calendar

Slingplayer, I never leave home without it on my Droid X and IPAD.

No Wallpaper

I personally find wallpaper distracting (on both phones and computers). I wish Android gave you the option not to have wallpaper. Until then, this is the best option out there.

Lol... you know you can just fake it with using "plane color" wallpaper ;)

As noted in the comments, those other solutions (including taking a picture with your finger over the camera) actually does not create a true black background, nor a background that requires the OS to load a picture.

The "pure" Google experience does allow no wallpaper. Try a Nexus device.