Mobile Wiseguy
- I liked a @YouTube video Spirit Science 8 ~ Meditation
http://t.co/syltAyUU
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- Google Updates Chrome and Play Magazines May 22, 2013Google continues to make small improvements to its Chrome browser for the Android platform and today it was updated to version 27. The latest stable release changes the search omnibox to show the search terms rather than the search URL, and makes it easier to jump to other searches in the search history. The app now also allows for full-screen browsing. Last […]
- Microsoft Updates YouTube App to Appease Google May 22, 2013Microsoft said that it a new version of its Windows Phone YouTube application will be available later today. Microsoft updated the app after Google asked it to remove the app from the Windows Phone Store for violating Google's terms of use. "Microsoft updated the Windows Phone YouTube app to address the restricted video and offline video access con […]
- Twitter Debuts Two-Step Authentication May 22, 2013Twitter today increased the security it offers to users of its microblogging platform by adding two-step authentication to the sign-in process. The process requires that users add a mobile phone number to their account. With the two-step authentication enabled, Twitter will send an SMS to that number with a code that must be entered in addition to the userna […]
Posts Tagged ‘android’
Droid Razt HD
I have been using the Motorola Droid Razr HD for about a week now and I do like it a lot. The battery is great, I can stream audio or videos for hours each day and the battery lasts all day. Today I streamed 4+ hours of videos from YouTube and audio from Pandora and this battery will go till tonight when I go to bed and put the phone on the charge.
The phones processor works smoothly and quick. I like the Google now update which came with Jellybean it makes the voice recognition more accurate. The only complaint I have is the App Foxfi which makes my phone a WiFi hotspot does not work with Jellybean. It did have a number to call for customer service but it also said my carrier did not allow the free hotspots service. I have unlimited data and the hotspot is very valuable to me with that unlimited data. I did not have any problems with my previous Androids. I was using a Motorola Droid Razr and it worked perfectly with Foxfi but the battery life was terrible. I will see if I can have a workaround with the Foxfi but otherwise this is a great phone. I do recommended this phone for anyone who is a Motorola fan.
I would emphasize that this is not the Motorola Razr Max HD that phone would have extreme battery life.
Task Killers on Android is bad for you
The truth is, these task managers and Android work against each other. Task killers are redundant, unnecessary and typically cause more harm than good. Yes, this goes against all that you have been told as an Android user; they seem like they’re helping. This is called a placebo effect. So why are these app managers bad? How do they actually cause harm? Unlike a PC where you must manage memory yourself by closing programs, the Android OS (2.2 and above) is meant to manage memory and processes on its own. Let’s say the user launches an application. This app will then stay in memory until it absolutely needs to be closed. This is done to improve application launch time; the app will “run” in the background – leaving battery and performance essentially unaffected – ready to be launched again at any moment. If a previously launched application is kept in memory, launching it again at a later time will take much less time. Killing the app removes it from memory and will slow down the application launch next time you need it. Android will automatically begin closing applications as needed, starting with the ones that have been inactive for the longest. Now that we have that out of the way, you can kill the app using the “force stop” feature is built into Android itself, effectively making any third-party task managers pointless. This all means that the use of a task killer does, in fact, have a negative effect on your phone’s battery life. If you are constantly shutting down apps manually then the system is never merely putting apps to sleep, but it constantly shutting down and reopening apps. It also means that the system will never be able to properly learn your app usage habits and ultimately your battery life will suffer. If you are using a task killer app then I highly recommend you uninstall it immediately. Once you’ve done that then you will have to wait a few weeks before your phone has learned more about how you use your apps before you will see a noticeable difference in the length of time you can use your phone before needing to charge it. In the end, however, it is definitely worth it. Task killer apps and battery manager apps can also effect connectivity settings/permissions installed by your carrier specifications/software/firmware on the device and can be easily fixed by a master reset or restoring to factory settings. So that’s it – if you’re running Android 2.2 or above then do not use a task killer/battery manager and completing a master reset/factory restore if they were installed will resolve unseen issues . Great link for more info http://android-developers.blogspot.com/
Verizon to Allow Third-Party Tethering Apps on Android Phones
I have been using an application called Foxfi from the Google Play store for my hotspot. It is a free application and does not require any technical background to use. The app is very simple to use and works great. I also pay for the Verizon hotspots feature so I could test the performance of both and it seems I get better service from the free application Foxfi. Read the ruling by the FCC
Verizon Wireless response.” We still offer Mobile Broadband Connect, and the fee applies to customers using unlimited data plans. If a usage-based customer wants to subscribe, or continue to subscribe, to Mobile Broadband Connect, they can do so. They get both a high-quality robust tethering app and additional data allowances. On the other hand, a usage-based customer that wishes to tether other devices but does not wish to subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect can cancel the service, purchase or obtain a third-party tethering application, and simply pay for the additional data usage”.
Verizon Wireless new prepaid plans
Verizon Wireless today announced the availability of a new prepaid plan beginning May 1, offering unlimited talk and text messaging, as well as 1 GB of data for $80 per month. This monthly plan, available on the prepaid Samsung Illusion™, provides customers with an affordable, flexible option to take advantage of the nation’s largest, most reliable 3G network without the commitment of an annual contract. The Samsung Illusion prepaid package will also be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $169.99.
Additionally, starting May 1, customers can purchase a prepaid Verizon Jetpack™ 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi® 4510L and take advantage of new prepaid Mobile Broadband plans. With the prepaid Jetpack, customers can now create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously. Prepaid 4G LTE Mobile Broadband plans are as follows:
$15 for 250 MB of data weekly $60 for 3 GB of data monthly $90 for 10 GB of data monthly.
The Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4510L prepaid package will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $129.99.
From keeping in touch with friends to surfing the Web, Verizon Wireless gives customers the power and flexibility to stay connected, with no annual contract, to America’s largest and most reliable high-speed wireless network. For more information on prepaid plan offerings, visit www.verizonwireles.com
Blackberry updates coming this February
I just got an interesting call from Blackberry support they wanted to inform me of the new updates. I don’t use a Blackberry currently so I was a little confused why the called me and it was because I have written a few post about Blackberry in the past. I told the representative that I did buy a Blackberry Playbook recently and wanted to know about the update that is coming out and if it will bring the Android Market to the Playbook. I was told yes it will have the ability to use Android application but not all the applications at the beginning. Each application has to go through a approval with Blackberry before being allowed on the Blackberry Playbook. I ask about the camera on the Playbook because I was very upset to find out that the only video conference application was from Playbook to Playbook only. I was hoping Skype would work with the new update but it will not at the beginning until Microsoft which owns Skype and Blackberry work out the details. The Blackberry representative did tell me he uses Real Portal to Video chat with someone using a Apple iPad now.
The Blackberry Bold and the Torch will get an update that will allow Near Field Communications, Wifi calling and Mobile Hotspot capabilities. This update will first be available for Verizon Wireless and Sprint Blackberry devices.
how to use your smartphone as a wireless modem
The other day I needed another internet connection for my laptop so I downloaded an application called PDAnet on my laptop. PDAnet allows you to teather your PDA to your computer and use the PDA as a wireless modem. Now I can use my Motorola Backflip as a modem to access the internet on my laptop and desktop.
I have heard about this application before but I never took the time and looked into it. I have a Verizon Wireless data card that I use for my laptop and desktop computers. I have used the Verizon Wireless data card for all my internet needs for a few years now.
My girlfriend is always using my data card on the desktop so I tried out PDAnet and to my surprise it was as easy as 123.
I did a Google search for pdanet and the first website I saw on the search I clicked on it and download the software specific for Vista and Android. The installation process took less than 5 minutes to get it up an running. The internet speed is remarkably fast and it has not given me any issues as of yet, plus because I am using an at&t Android phone I still can talk on the phone while surfing the web from my laptop.
I do have a warning at&t has limits on your data now and you can easily go over using your phone as a modem. I have unlimited data with at&t that I am grandfather in on but I will still have to be cautious because at&t and the other wireless carriers do not want you to do this with your PDA phone without paying for the teathering feature. The teathering feature with most wireless providers range in price from $20 to $30 a month and the usage is limited to 2Gb to 5GB.
The PDAnet application that I downloaded is a great solution for anyone who needs to use a computer on the road. I now have another option to connect my computers to web.
The PDAnet allowed me to surf sites on any computer with my Backflip but it would not let me go to secure sites (https) unless I upgraded the PDAnet for a one time fee of $15.95. I paid the one time fee of $15.95 and now I am able to go to any site without any problems. This fee is transferable if you change Android phones and it can be used on any computer.
PDAnet works with most smartphones and operating systems (Blackberry, Apple OS, Android and Palm).
how to stop applications in your android phone to save battery life
My battery life on my Motorola Backflip was terrible. Applications were running
in the background and eating up battery life. I searched the device for a task
manager but could not find one. On my Blackberry Bold 9700 when I held down the
Blackberry button I can see what applications that are open select the running
app then close it. The Motorola Backflip does not have that option built in.
I found an application on the Android market place call advanced task killer
that let’s you shut down all your applications. It will give you a check list so
you have the option to leave some applications running. I recommend this app for
all Android users.
why the Motorola Backflip sales are low
Why the Motorola Backflip sales are low is because the device is a little complicated to understand. This is the first Android operating system device for AT&T and soon to come an HTC and Dell version. Android is Google’s operating system for mobile devices. The Backflip is Motorola Smartphone using Android.
First the Backflip screen is sometimes cluttered with applications and most users do not know how to clean it up to their liking. Second the form factor of having the keyboard on the outside when the device is closed confuses most people. They are not used to seeing the keyboard exposed when the device is closed. Third navigating through its menus is not the easiest, I was confused when trying to use the GPS. I would have thought the Google maps would be the default GPS but the first two GPS applications I saw was AT&T maps and the AT&T Telenav. I am not sure about the first but AT&T Telenav cost $10 a month. It gives you one month free to try it then you must cancel. A lot of customer get this service added by accident.
The keyboard is too flat, the letters should be raised a little. It is hard to do one handed texts or emails. The battery life is terrible, I can’t go a full day. I miss a lot of calls because of reception issues, when sitting next to the Backflip and call it from my Blackberry a lot of times it goes to voicemail.
I tried sending a ringtone by MMS and the Backflip can play the song but I can not save as a ringtone.
(I found a free ringtone application Secret Garden for Android)
My experience with this smartphone is both good and bad. Let me explain how I got a free Motorola Backflip for myself.
AT&T and Motorola had a sales contest for the first few weeks after the launch of the Motorola Backflip. AT&T had this contest in a few markets mine being South Florida. We had to complete two online trainings on the Backflip and submit our sales on a Challenge Rewards website. The contest would give the top sellers in that market a free Motorola Backflip for the most sales entered that week. It was a four week contest and every week you would enter your sales and about 4-5 Backflips were giving out per region. I won my Motorola Backflip in the second week of the contest. I ONLY SOLD ONE! That’s was pathetic for South Florida one of the largest markets for cell phones.
We are now selling a little more and I mean a little and a lot of them come back with the customer complaining that’s its too complicated. Luckily I have not had any returns from my customers yet since I was able to show them how to use the phone a little better.
I am still learning the Backflip but so far I realized the voice dialing sucks, the screen sometimes jumps into a menu by accident and Bluetooth pairing with my Blackberry stereo gateway is very difficult. It could be me but if its hard for me an experience cell phone user the average user would be frustrated.
this is a display we got from Motorola
WordPress on Android
This is a post using the word press application downloaded from the Android market place. The mobile device I am using to write this post is the Motorola Backflip.
The WordPress application has a few less features on it than the Blackberry version but it also has some different features like this linking ability [Free Motorola Backflip]
I can bold text italicized and
b quote (put things here)
.
Pictures can be added to the post as you can see with my self portrait. It does not have video uploading capabilities but the WordPress application on my Blackberry say it has video uploading feature that I have not gotten it to work yet.