Swift key [App Review] July 14, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews, Technology , add a comment
Recently Swift Key for Android, a keyboard replacement, was added to the market with a beta tag. Unlike other replacement keyboards for android Swift Key does not try to change the way we use a touchscreen keyboard instead it changes how effective we are at using the keyboard.
Swift key uses very advanced predicted text mechanics that seems to read your mind telling you what you want to type before you even know.
If you have used other replacement keyboards you will notice some interesting things during setup. First you need to download the language packs you will need with a lot to choose. Second it asks to read text messages to learn how you type. Now this seems odd but it is vital. Let me explain I have two kids each with unusual names, each time I get new phone or download a new keyboard I have to take the time to program the names into the dictionary. This time however I didn’t need to in fact it knew how to spell their name as well as my ex-wifes unique spelled name as well as understanding the need to make sure they are all correctly capitalized. And it learned this from reading my text messages.
So how affective is Swift Key? I wrote this blog post with it in about 5 minutes on my phone. And based on what Swift is telling I am 21% more efficient using Swift Key and and was saved 374 keystrokes. Although I feel it is more because it corrected my fat thumbs also.
So grab the app while you can and when it is released out of beta pay for it, it will be worth it.
TiKL – Touch To Talk (PTT) [App Review] June 27, 2010
Posted by David in : App Reviews, Technology , add a comment
With so many ways to get in touch with your friend you may be asking yourself do I really need yet another way to communicate with my friends and family?
TiKL thinks so. As they put it:
TiKL creates new and innovative communication oriented products. TiKL’s mission is to redefine the way we communicate. Making it simple. Making it easy.
So how do they plan to do that? Simple with TiKL you are given the ability to use a Push to Talk like function on your phone. The service does this via a data connection so it uses no plan minutes. Of course with the data usage you had best be on an unlimited plan. Luckily TiKL does have an option to use it via WiFi only if you happen to be on that provider that does not offer unlimited.
Summary: TiKL provides you with a quick and easy way to talk to one or many people with just a click of a button and is a great app for someone with a lot of friends and family on Android devices.
Pros:
- Simple to use
- Free
- Does not use plan minutes.
Cons:
- Right now it is only on Android.
- Uses Data which could be an issue if you do not have unlimited
Final Verdict:
If you have an Android device get this app and get all your android friends to get this app you will be happy with the app and surprised by how often you find a use for the service.
Beautiful Live Wallpaper June 1, 2010
Posted by David in : App Reviews, Technology , add a commentCall me a weather junkie but at this time I have 5 different weather apps on my Nexus. Include two widgets, both of which can found on my main home screen.
However that is not enough since the day I got my phone I wanted my wallpaper to change based on the weather. And thanks to Levelup Studio I now have just that
Enter Beautiful Live Wallpaper. Now this is wallpaper is basically an extension of Beautiful Widgets. Although you can download the wallpaper on any device that supports live wallpapers if you do not have widgets installed all you will get is the sun travelling across your screen during the day and the moon at night. However if you have both as the weather changes so will your wallpaper.
Now not all is perfect the wallpaper in it’s default setting sucks battery like you would not believe, but lucky Levelup has address this issue with a few options. Lower the FPS turn off the grass and turn of CPU hog and it becomes more manageable. The great news is Levelup has released two updates since the wallpaper came out both address at stability and battery consumption.
The wallpaper is free, but in order to get full function you have to have purchased beautiful widgets. Which costs about $1.85. Both apps have links to the other inside the settings. You can download beautiful live wallpaper below.
Sushi – An Android app review May 3, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews , add a comment
Sushi from Amazing Droid says it is designed for sushi lovers and first timers alike. And frankly I have no reason to disagree. The has a simple designed meant to help the user learn more about what they are about to put in their mouth.
For the sushi lovers it gives you some background on the dishes that you may not have known and for first time it gives you an idea of what you can expect when tasting the item.
The app boosts a large number of the items having pictures to go along with the information. As well as the ability to search for certain rolls which is invaluable when you sushi partner is trying to get you to try something new. You can also add the rolls to your own favorites list so next time you goto your favorite sushi bar you can order exactly what you want.
Pro:
- Easy to read guide in the sushi list
- Includes pictures of most the items
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Doesn’t include some more popular rolls (AKA spider roll)
- Can be a bit wordy
Final verdict:
If you have been talked into eating sushi for the first time or if you are a hard core sushi fan this app is good, but if you are more of a casual sushi eater this app wont help you find something new and often times will leave with the feeling that you are missing something. For now I will uninstall.
Handcent: The replacement message app you have been looking for May 2, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews , 1 comment so farHandcent: The replacement message app you have been looking for.
Handcent is a powerful SMS and MMS app that replaces the lack luster stock messaging client. It offers an impressive array of customization options not found anywhere else. With feature ranging from the choice of over 20 notification icons and the option to set custom ringtones for each contact, to some of the best privacy options I have seen. You can also blacklist people so that any message they send you is not sent to notifications or even make it so it is not even seen in your message list.
By default Handcent comes with three font choices; Big, Normal (default) and small. However if you want more choice they do offer four addition font packages you can download for free in the market place, each adding a number of different font styles to choose from.
One feature that I found extremely useful was popup notification with quick reply. This feature makes it possible to read and reply to a text message you receive without opening up Handcent. As with the rest of the app this option is fully customizable and can be turn off completely if you want. Sadly you cannot turn this feature on or off based on each contact without turn notifications for that contact off all together.
Handcent is free but does have ads in the various setting menus.
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Widget to show message count included
- Free
Needs improvements
- Popup can be slow (although there is an option that can speed it up)
- I would like to see a paid version that removed the ads from the menus
- For all the customization it is missing a few like only having some contacts cause pop ups.
Final Verdict: Handcent is what the stock message app should have been, highly customizable and nice to look at. With the price point of free and small ads limited to only the menu, you owe it to yourself to give Handcent a try.
App review – PdaNet (android) March 21, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews, Technology , add a commentYour internet just went down, but you have to get online right now, what do you do?!?!
Well if you are carrying a Smart phone get PdaNet from June Fabrics Technology, they currently have a version for Android, Iphone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Palm OS plus a few others (sorry Pre and Pixi users no WebOS version right now).
PdaNet enables your phone to tether to your computer via the USB data port or even create a DUN over Bluetooth. I had been looking at tethering since I got my Nexus One and although I was able to find a lot of options only two did not require me to root my phone. PdaNet and Easy Tether. I went with PdaNet simply because I download it first it work and I saw no reason to try the other one. Basically what I am saying is Easy Tether may be as good as PdaNet, But I never saw a reason to try it out.
Back the review
Setup was easy I download the app from the market place and followed the instruction to get the software on my computer. What is great about PdaNet is they understand the chances are you are not going to download the app until you have a need to tether which means your computer does not have a network connection. They solve this issue by giving you the option to download the PC install file to you SD card and give you instruction on how to run it off the card to install it on your computer.
The instruction were easy and although I consider myself computer savvy I felt even a computer novice could set the app and software up taking up only 272KBs of space on the phone something that is important to a Android phone user.
PdaNet claims that they have perfected the process so much that when using the device for USB tether you do not have any lag from the software, my unscientific test seem to support this. I used Speedtest.net on the computer as well as the Speedtest.net Android App running a number of test back and forth between the two and found that the connected of course varied a little, but that the computer was not always slower then the phone. Again this does not prove PdaNet’s claim but it doesn’t hurt it either.
Now the speeds are only as good as your carrier’s coverage where I am located I am in T-Mobile’s 3g coverage and get ok speeds, they don’t blow me away by any stretch, and sometimes it outright drives me nuts. I would not use it if I had a choice, but since I just moved and my internet is not hooked up I do not have a choice, and I am happy I have PdaNet.
As a warning this uses your cell phone carriers data meaning if you do not have unlimited data I would not suggest using it. Since I started the tether session maybe 20 minutes ago I have sent 4.41MB and received 78.2MB and that is been mostly while writing this review. Also keep in mind just because your carrier calls it unlimited, doesn’t mean it is. Sprint Verizon and AT&T cap their “unlimited” data at 5GB which is hard to hit even for Iphone users. T-Mobile caps you at 10GB (which would be next to impossible for a smartphone user to hit) mind you the carriers do not charge you for going over, but they may throttle your speeds or they could even cancel your service. Again even heavy phone users would be hard to hit these caps, but when you start to tether you can easily over run these soft limits. I am also not saying your carrier will cut you off if you go over just that they can you agreed to it when you signed up for the service, just keep that in mind.
Finally I answer the question should you get the app, yes you should you never know when you may need it and it works. Don’t expect it to take out the need for another internet provider, but it is a great back up or a useful tool when you may find yourself in the need of internet without internet available.
Apps you need for your Android Device part 1 March 14, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews, Technology , add a commentWhen you get a next generation Smart Phone like the Nexus One you quickly start looking for Apps to make your phone that much better, here are some of the Android apps I feel are a must have.
Barcode Scanner – this simple little apps does exactly what it’s name implies it scans barcodes in the case of a product UPC it will attempt to search for the item online to help you make sure you have the best price, but other apps do that as well and in some cases better. Where it excels is in reading QR codes, which are the boxes you will see through out this post. Although other apps like Google Goggles does the same. Barcode Scanner does it faster and easier.
Download in Market
Advanced Task Killer – Although you can find a lot of app killers on the market place and all are good I went with ATK not because it was better but because it filled my need, in fact I have not even looked at any of the other options out there. I currently use the free one although I have been looking at upgrading for the auto killing feature. Before you start using your app killer I suggest you read Android Central’s article on how to properly use a task killer
Download in Market
Mobile Defense – Mobile defense is like Lojack for your phone. Once you install it you sign up for an account on their website (all free) and it is that simple. If you lose your phone you lock it remotely and using GPS see where you left it. Also the way it runs you can not remove the app without a code from the site. And if the phone was stolen once the phone is used again you get an email telling you the new number and other information about the device. Helping you recover your lost property.
Download in Market
Astro File Manager – Smart phones are like computers in our pockets and all computers have to save the data some where Astro helps you find that image you downloaded last week. Makes it real easy to manage the files on your device.
Download from the Market
That is the end of what I feel you have to have. The rest depend on how you use your phone.
Music:
Shazam – We have all been there you hear a song you like and have no idea who sings it or what it is called. But now you can simply whip out your phone and let Shazam tell you what it is called. After listening to the song for about 15 seconds Shazam will give you the name and the artist as well as a link to Amazon.com to buy the song. Mind you it will not be able to tell you the name of the song if you hum the song or try and sing it yourself. And it doesn’t do live recording most the time. Still a great app.
Download from the Market
I Music – But lets say you are a little short on cash but still want the song I Music to the rescue. I Music lets you search for a song and download it for free. let me say that downloading the song is most likely illegal 99% of the time, support the artist when you can. The free version, which I use, is ad support limits search results and only allows one song to download at a time. The paid version I Music Tao is ad free and supports 3 downloads at once as well as a few other things.
Download from the Market
Ringtones by Mabilo – But what if you don’t want the song, but rather the ring tone. Ringtones by Mabilo allows you to search 200,000+ ringtones for your device all for free. The app is ad supported and has more then just music you can get tv catch phrases and other such ringtones. Once you download it you can set it as a call ringtone or a notification sound
Download from the Market
RingDroid – RingTones by Mabilo is great but it doesn’t have everything. This is where RingDroid comes in. It can take any sound file on your device and make it a ring tone. Simple to use and with I Music you can easily find the song you want to make into a ring tone.
Download from the Market
Pandora Radio – Because sometimes you just want to listen to music, Pandora is your own free personal radio station to stream over your phone. You pick a song or artist it makes a radio station based on that choice. It does require a free Pandora account.
Download from the Market
That is it for now. Part two will cover social networking and images and videos.
App review – eBuddy January 24, 2010
Posted by David in : Android, App Reviews, Iphone , 2commentsToday we will be reviewing the iPhone/iPod touch app Ebuddy. This app promises to be an all in one IM client for you device. The app supports MSN, Yahoo, AIM, GTalk, Facebook chat, ICQ, and Myspace chat.
Over all the app is easy to ise on your first first login it will pronged you to create an eBuddy ID. This ID allows you to keep your setting saved across multiple platforms and devices. This basically makes it possible to site at your computer and signing to eBuddys website head off to work signing into eBuddy on your phone and then once your at work signing into your work computer. Contacts move over, no need to reset everything or enter a bunch of different passwords for each network you want to use.
The add supports both portrait and landscape keyboards. As well as sending picture emoteicons. Although it does support auto correction of text by default this feature is off. Not a big deal, but I think the default should be on. The chat itself is bubble style, not what I prefer, but usable. Text size seems to be about right for me. I do think some people may have issues with both of these, and there is no way to change it.
The basic app is free and ad supported. Although they do have a pro version that removes the ads and adds a few features such as sending pictures. The pro version is $4.99
Overall this app is a good one. It does what it says and does it rather well.
eBuddy Website
eBuddy Free in app store
eBuddy Pro in app store
eBuddy on Androlib
Scan barcode on Android device for direct link to Android Market Place
