Awesome App: “Awesome Drop”
Posted by sherri @ 6:41 pm in Android Apps Droid Incredible Motorola Droid Nexus One.
Could an application get much simpler? Doubtful. From Dashwire Labs, the app Awesome Drop is just that. Have music on a computer that you want on your phone? Don't have the cable or the SD Card adapter handy? At a friends house and want one of the songs from their computer to be put on you phone? No longer a problem!
Download the application Awesome Drop to your phone. It will tell you to open "Get your PIN at Dashwire Labs.
Go to the pc, open the site, and you will be given a PIN number. Type this into the phone. On the pc, you will see a "Drag Here" box. Find the file you want on the phone. I have used it to drag documents, photos and music to my phone. Drop the file in the box, and VOILA! It will start downloading onto the phone! The PIN number changes every time you start the application. There is no registration necessary.
Could it BE any easier? (And since this is ME talking, it must be easy!) Also, it is FREE!
This app can be downloaded directly from the market, Androlib, or AppBrain. Here is a video for you all:
http://labs.dashwire.com/drop
Press Release Motorola: #DroidX Announced #VZW #Android #Motorola
Posted by ParaCAD @ 12:59 pm in Android Motorola Droid News Verizon.
As I type this the VZW Event is under way. So much is being learned about this new Motorola Android device from Verizon Wireless.....
Below is a portion of the press release from the Motorola Media Center:
July 2010: DROID X By Motorola Lands On The Nation's Largest & Most Reliable 3G Network
DROID X Delivers More Browsing, More Connectivity, Personal HD Video and Enterprise Features – All on a 4.3” Widescreen
June 23, 2010
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID X by Motorola. DROID X does more with ultra high-speed Web browsing; a fast 1GHz processor; 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities; loads of memory; intuitive social messaging; Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 ready; and access to Android Market™, which has more than 65,000 applications, along with a host of unique Verizon Wireless applications such as NFL Mobile, Skype mobile™, V CAST Video, EA Need for Speed Shift™ and more.
“Nine months ago, we made a commitment to our customers to bring the openness of Android to the Verizon Wireless network,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “Since then, we have introduced the top-selling Android phone in the marketplace today – the DROID by Motorola. DROID X takes that commitment to another level with exclusive content, faster processing speeds, and, of course, the reliability of our network.”
Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home business added, “Motorola designed DROID X to push the extreme limits of Android innovation, and enable you to do even more with your mobile device. We are breaking down barriers so that you can experience the Web the way it was meant to be and create, share and view content like never before, either in your hand or in your home. Enterprise users will also find DROID X appealing with features including push e-mail and live widgets for e-mail and calendar updates.”
DROID X gives customers a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen for viewing the latest movies and video from BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® presented by V CAST Video, the newest addition to the Verizon Wireless V CAST application, which also includes access to favorite TV shows. The DROID X video capabilities let customers capture spontaneous fun, combining a dual-flash, 8-megapixel camera, HD camcorder, as well as DLNA and HDMI connectivity to download, stream and share personal HD content.
Read the rest of this press release over at the Motorola Media Center
More articles will follow from TSP.net, so stay tuned!
--@ParaCAD
Better Multi-Tasking w/ More Recent on Android #More_Recent #Multi_Tasking #Android
Posted by sherri @ 10:32 am in Android Motorola Droid.
Maybe it's because I am a mom of three... Maybe it's because I work (sort of) full time...Maybe it's because I have a house and a business to run...Maybe it's because I am always running somewhere...Whatever the reason is, in order to get everything I need to do "done", I am usually doing more than one thing at a time. From running on the treadmill while listening to music and reading "Tweets", to searching for answers, reading e-mails, sending texts, checking for recipes for dinner and getting driving directions, I am always "multi-tasking".
Since most of the activities listed involve my phone, it is a good thing it multi-tasks as well. Switching between applications and tasks on the Android is simple. A short tap on the "Home" key brings you "home", to your main screen, where you can open your app drawer and start another app. "Long pressing" on the "Home" key brings up a list of the most recently used apps or tasks. This is limited to six (6). If you are anything like me, I am doing/using more than that, or would like to see what was used earlier. (A glance at my computer screen shows me I have 7 windows open currently!)
The app "More Recent" for the Android will show you up to 15 of your most recently used apps. This is the maximum number that fits on the screen. This app will not replace the "long press" of the "Home" key, as it can not be "mapped" to that. However, once the app is installed, "long pressing" of the "Search" key will bring up a dialogue box with "Complete Action Using?".... I checked the "Use by default for this action", and now "long pressing" the "Search" key opens up "More Recent". Simple. Like me!
This is not available on the Android Market, but it is available free at the Google Project/Code site, and through XDA-Developers.
http://code.google.com/p/morerecent/
Let us know what you think!
Game Gripper Review! #Droid #GameGripper
Posted by Vazguard @ 6:39 pm in Accessories Motorola Droid.
As many Android users know, some of the highest-rated games in the Market are the “-oid” system emulators. These apps provide a wide range of console gaming, including NES, SNES, GB, and Sega systems. But until recently, Droid users were stuck mashing away using a keyboard not well suited for key mappings. With a vertically-stacked key layout, creating usable controls on the Droid is difficult at best. A new startup called Game Gripper, LLC. has recently released a product that addresses this issue. Aptly named the Game Gripper, the accessory allows Droid users to play emulators – and any game that allows key mapping – with a traditional and enjoyable control scheme.
Click through to read the full review!
Have it your way… #Panda #Panda2 #Helix #Home++ #Homescreens #Customize
Posted by sherri @ 6:54 am in Android Motorola Droid.One of the benefits to having a "Smartphone" is that it is like having a mini computer with you wherever you go. Just as many of us like to customize our computer screens to "look" a certain way, we like to be able to do the same to our phones. Before I used the Droid, I used a Motorola Q, running WM5. I never "hacked" the registry, but I did use custom homescreens thanks to friends who designed them, and purchased the needed applications in order to allow them to run. Since I will not "root" my Droid, I hoped to find something similar, in order to make the phone more "me".
Homescreen replacements seem to work. There are many out there, both "pay" versions, and "free" versions. I have tried almost all of the free versions on the market that are compatible with the current 2.1 OS on the Droid. My own personal favorite is Panda Home. It is not the most popular, and when I first downloaded it, the default screen is all "Aliens", as were the icons. However, by reverting back to a standard wallpaper, I was able to overcome my shock, and play with this app. Panda Home gives you up to 11 homescreens, and the ability to mix and match themes and icons. Although the "standard" themes that can be downloaded for Panda seem a bit "odd" to me, any theme that is compatible with Open Home and aHome (both "pay" apps) is compatible with Panda. In addition, if you find an icon pack that you like, Panda lets you use them as well. With Panda, any .png icon you download can be used as an icon. In the screenshots attached, labeled Panda Main and Panda App drawer, you can see the icons I am using. They are from a pack found on the market called "Glared Icons", and one called "Non-Glared Orb". For the "Market" icon, since I do not like the little "Droid" picture, I downloaded a picture on my phone of a Tiffany's gift box. From the Panda app, I was able to use this as an icon. Panda allows you to hide apps from the app drawer that you aren't using, and gives you two views of the app drawer: standard, or in a list. The "theme" I am using is called "System Gloss", which makes the drawer "sheer". (Screenshot of Panda Clear app drawer is attached.)I do not like the icons or wallpaper of this theme, so I have changed them both. Obviously, if I am using it, it is extremely "user friendly", for the less techy of us. Panda does not work with the Live Wallpapers, so I am using a standard wallpaper, but, again, that can be changed!
A beta version is out (also free) on the market for Panda2 Homescreen. This works very similarly to Panda, but does work with the Live Wallpapers. However, this one doesn't have the theme that I want, nor the ability to hide apps in the app drawer. It is in beta, and trying to change themes has caused a few FC's on my phone. If you just want the ability to add more screens, use Live Wallpapers and change icons, Panda 2 is a good choice. Attached, you can see the screenshots, labeled Panda2 Home and Panda2 app drawer. I tried to use all the same apps, so you can see the differences.
I have also tried a homescreen called 91iHome, from the same developer of Panda and Panda2. This uses a dockbar at the bottom of the screen, where you can place your 3 favorite apps. There are a total of 6 homescreens. The browser icon that this uses is the "E" that represents Internet Explorer on many of our pc's. However, tapping it brings up the phones native browser. The screens here come preloaded with all of your apps, so if you want to free up your screens and arrange apps the way you want, you have to first delete the apps from the screens. You can see from the screenshots, called Panda iHome Main. The developer of all three of these apps have made this extremely easy. By "long pressing" the app icon, a screen appears with the choices of renaming the app, removing the app from the screen, uninstalling the app, or searching for info on the app. Panda and Panda2 give you the additional option to change the icon.
The other free Home Replacement Apps I have used are both the HelixLauncher and HelixLauncher2. Both HelixLauncher and HelixLauncher2 give you up to 7 screens. By double tapping on the screen, it brings up a "card" like screen that gives you a preview of all your other screens. This is a nice feature if you do not want to scroll through all of your homescreens. HelixLauncher 2 adds the 3D app drawer, which is very nice eye-candy.
Home++ is another app that I have tried. One benefit of this one is that it allows you to take screenshots from the Droid (without rooting), but you can only take screenshots of homescreens! Many like the nice "flip clock" that come with this, and the power strip that is docked at the bottom of the screen (replacing the drawer handle), that contains shortcuts to the browser, contacts, bookmarks, and more. This one does not work with Live Wallpapers.
For simplicity, Launcher + just adds homescreens to the phone, with a "bar" at the bottom showing which screen you are currently in.
I know that there are many ways to personalize your phone. I know that you can purchase applications that will let you change your icons, themes, fonts, etc. I know that by "rooting" you phone, you can add custom ROM's, and have the phone look exactly as you want. I also know that rooting comes with risks, so I looked for the least expensive way to "have it my way"... What do you use to personalize your phone? Give us some screenshots in the forum!
Droid 2.1 Upgrade *Review* #Droid #Upgrade #2.1 #Review
Posted by sherri @ 8:53 pm in Android Motorola Droid Nexus One Reviews.
As most of you know, the OS on the Motorola Droid was "upgraded" OTA within the last 2 weeks from 2.01 to 2.1. By now, everyone should have been notified that the over the air update was available. My notice came a week ago. I have not (nor will I) "root" the phone, and I wasn't brave enough to attempt to do this manually, although it had been available a few days before I got the "official" notice. I did the OTA last Sunday morning, and have been running 2.1 since.
That out of the way, I would like to know WHY this is considered an upgrade. It was supposed to increase the screens from 3 to 5, like on the Nexus. It was supposed to have a 3D app drawer. It was supposed to be stable. It was supposed to increase battery life. It was supposed to have "Live Wallpapers", which according to the media, was made to sound like it was the best thing to happen to man since the invention of toilet paper.
Well, 1 for 5 isn't too bad....It does have Live Wallpapers! Ever hear the saying: "If you can't Bedazzle them them with brilliance, Baffle them with bullsh*t"??? Seriously, while the Live Wallpaper are a "nifty little feature", it is simply bells and whistles. Do not get me wrong. This "looks" great. The live wallpapers available on the market are free (most of them), but again, not really needed. If you have not "rooted" the phone, all apps are stored on the main memory, and the wallpapers take up space. The also drain the battery, so in effect, they defeat one of the reasons for the "upgrade" in the first place!
The phone still has only 3 homescreens. I use Panda2 Homescreen replacement, and have 11! I can also use any .png file as an icon, and there are many icon packs available. As for the 3D app drawer, it was available using a launcher application on 2.01. Worked quite well. 2.1 "upgrade" left out this eye candy, and causes an endless loop of FC if you try to use the previously installed launcher app. The good news (if you really want this app drawer) is that an application is already on the market for it. Bad news? It's going to cost you. As great an app as it is, and taking nothing from the developer, I don't find this "necessary", so I will be skipping it.
As for battery life, one of the "dumber" things I have seen is that prior to this "upgrade", you were able to receive flashing LED notifications, whether your screen was on or off. If I had the phone in the Multi-Media Dock, I could leave the screen on "dim" (to see the clock!), and if I received an e-mail/text/mms or phone call, the flashing light would let me know. This was especially convenient in the car dock, where the screen was on, but I had the radio playing and didn't "hear" notifications come in. The flashing light alerted me. Now, in a flash of "brilliance", this feature is gone. The only time the LED will flash is if your screen is OFF. Are we really saving that much battery life by disabling this feature? Really?
As for stability of the phone, I have seen it restart randomly twice. I wanted to make sure it was the "upgrade" and not any new application, so I uninstalled the Panda2 Homescreen replacement app. It was the only one that I had installed since the upgrade, since it is able to work with the Live Wallpapers, while Panda (the original) Homescreen replacement app does not. Phone did the reboot after the app was removed as well, so as far as I am concerned, it isn't exactly "stable"!
Am I the only one who feels that this phone (with all its bells and whistles) should at least do the basic functions that my daughter's LGEnV2 does? My Motorola Q (WinMo 5!) did? The Chocolate? Almost every other smart and "dumb" phone produced in the last 10 years??? How about BLUETOOTH INITIATED DIALING???
Come on, Android...if you want to bedazzle us, give us some brilliance, please. Keep the rest.
I would love to hear other people's opinions on this.
~sherri
twidroid – Update to Version 3.2.0 coming #Andriod #Twitter #twidroid
Posted by ParaCAD @ 1:02 pm in Android Apps Motorola Droid Twitter Updated.
Normall I'll keep my news and posts based around the iPhone. But since this is a Twitter App. And i'm regular on Twitter, plus I really like trying out the different iPhone Twitter applications out there, I'm assuming there a few Android device fans (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) who would love to be kept in the know.
So here is the latest bit of info from the change log:
(upcoming) / 3.2.0:
10-03-07 / 3.1.9:
timeline
10-03-06 / 3.1.8:
Motorola Droid 2.1 Update Delayed… #MotorolaDroid #2.1 #Update #Delay
Posted by sherri @ 3:50 pm in Android Misc. Motorola Droid.
Since many are waiting for this, (I wasn't holding my breath...), it has been announced that the software update for Verizon's Motorola Droid has been delayed. New "estimated time" is "To Be Determined"....The update will be from OS v 2.01 to v 2.1. Can anyone say they are truly surprised?
(source: http://www.engadget.com)
My College Life BETA for Android #MyCollegeLife #Beta #Android
Posted by sherri @ 12:24 pm in Android Apps Motorola Droid.Although FaceBook was originally set up as a way for college students to network, most of us know that it has become much more than that. It has expanded to include high schools, families, reunions, etc. Although you are supposed to be 13 to be allowed to have an account, many middle school students and younger are on there as well.
A new Android application, called "My College Life", is more geared up to actual college students, and prospective students of that school. The developers are looking to build a database from real college students, to help those searching for colleges make an informed decision. My guess is that if you are looking into a school where you can do weekend surfing and sunbathing, students from RPI will tell you their alma mater is not for you!
From the Developer:
"But we're not talking gpa's or honors programs here. College is about one thing, and that's The Experience. We want to know what your social life is like on campus. Where are the frats and do they look disgusting as others? How often do you get trashed? Have you setup a pong table in your room made out of closet doors? We have. This app is made my college students, for college students. Now start posting those stories or drink a 40, whatever."
The application is in Beta, but they are looking for feedback. The developers would like to make it available for other platforms, but for now, it is strictly available for Android. As my daughter is currently trying to choose which university she will attend next fall, this application can have some interesting insight for her, as well as for me!!
The link to the application is here: http://www.androlib.com
Information on the developer is here: http://www.mycollegelife.org
Anyone using this yet? Let us know!
Swype for Android now officially in beta #Swype #Android #Beta
Posted by rudeboy @ 4:43 pm in Android Motorola Droid Nexus One.
The Swype keyboard has been incredibly popular, despite not being openly (or legally, for that matter) available for download for Android. But Swype just opened up a beta program for our beloved platform. Here's what you need to know:
- Go here to register for the beta program.
- The beta test is open to a limited number of people. (So sign up now.)
- English and Spanish for now.
- This version is limited, compared to what you get when Swype is built in to a phone.
- HVGA and WGVA resolutions only.
- Support is done via forums.
- And if you already have Swype (like on a new T-Mobile Android Phone), don't download this one. It won't work.
There you go, folks. Give her a go. [Swype]
(via androidcentral.com)