Tag Archives: Android

Samsung Galaxy S II

Posted by Steven Swafford on October 18, 2011

The Galaxy S II is a phone that any Android fan would love to own.Features include an 8-megapixel camera with Full HD 1080p video capture, 16 GB internal memory, microSD memory expansion to 32 GB, Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, DLNA wireless streaming capabilities, GPS for navigation and location-based services, access to over 200,000 apps in the Android Market, and up to 3 hours of talk time (see full specifications below).

The Brightest, Most Colorful Screen

With an incredibly colorful 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the Galaxy S II delivers 50 percent more sub-pixels than the previous generation display for better contrast. The display also offers unmatched outdoor viewing quality, even in the brightest sunlight.

Super Sharp Photos and Videos Plus Video Chat

Amazon ImageThis Galaxy S II also captures sharp photos with its 8-megapixel camera with flash, and it records videos in stunning Full HD 1080p resolution. An additional 2-megapixel front-facing camera gives you the power to connect with your friends and family face-to-face via video chat with preloaded Qik Lite over Wi-Fi. And with Google Talk, you can video chat with all of your Google Talk contacts, whether they are on a mobile phone or a computer.

Mobile Entertainment

Samsung’s Media Hub enables you to rent or purchase movies and TV shows within seconds watch from the convenience of anywhere. With Media Hub’s progressive downloading feature, you can start watching your content almost immediately as the rest of the file downloads to the Galaxy S II. Plus, all Media Hub content can be shared among five Media Hub-enabled devices on the same account.

Intuitive TouchWiz Interface

The Galaxy S II features Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, providing superior multi-tasking and customization for an enhanced visual and intuitive smartphone experience. Live Panel features provide immediate access to weather, social updates, e-mail, news and photos, which can all be customized on any one of the seven home screens.

All of the widgets can be positioned and re-sized to create unique home screens and one-touch access to the services and apps you use the most. The Notifications Panel allows one touch access to a separate menu for managing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and Flight Mode settings.

Vital Statistics

Amazon ImageThe Samsung Galaxy S II 4G weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.96 x 2.6 x 0.35 inches. Its 1650 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 8 hours of talk time, and up to 400 hours (16.6 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T’s dual-band 4G network (850/1900 MHz; HSPA+/HSDPA/UMTS) plus international 2100 MHz 3G networks.

Review

I have been waiting for this phone for some time now and once it hit T-Mobile I immediately picked up one. I must say that the first week of using this phone it is everything that I anticipated and then some.

The battery life has been amazing thus far but I must say that I am not the type of person who loads up my screens with widgets, I personally tend to keep my screens organized and clutter free.

It is a large phone and I was also extremely surprised just how lite the it is. I suppose the only complaint I have, which even goes back to the MyTouch 4G is the bloat-ware. I’m fine with providers providing applications out of the box but is it to much to ask for when it comes to allowing the consumer to uninstall apps they do not use?

I think not! It is also important to note that while Android voice commands is core to the operating system, Samsung’s voice is also very slick, check out this video:

Product Review: AndroXplorer

Posted by Steven Swafford on March 18, 2011

AndroXplorer is an essential application for everyone who owns an Android device. Its natural process is the way for Android users to explore folders and files proficiently. While there are numerous file explorers on the market today each falls short in its own way when it comes to measuring up to AndroXplorer.

The fine folks at the AndroXplorer has graciously provided five FREE licenses of AndroXplorer v3, just continue reading for details on how to win.

Editions

There are two versions available and depending upon your needs they provide two very different feature sets.

Version 2 is the free light version which does not support data encryption or compression and compared to version 3. That being said if you have no need for these then you would be just fine running version 2. However, it is well worth stating the obvious and as mobile devices are becoming more and more part of our daily lives the ability to encrypt your data becomes much more important.

Features

  1. Protect your sensitive data on Android phone by activating the app. with “state-of-the-art” technology of encryption.
  2. To manage your installed applications, AndroXplorer provides My Programs. This feature aggregates all installed applications within a single folder. Tap on an application within the folder to activate, to see the properties or to get more information from the market. Options also available to uninstall and performing backup where it is applicable.
  3. Another key feature of AndroXplorer is the sliding drawers for file sorting, navigation and toolbar. File sorting has never been easier with this approach. Pull down the pertinent drawer for sorting, tap on the sort type to sort, tap again for ascending or descending sorting. These uniquely designed sliding drawers also provide fast navigation within a view, making it a very smooth flow of operation from folder to folder and subsequently performing file operations easily within the destination folder.
  4. Shortcuts feature in AndroXplorer is very convenient to use, it enables you to create shortcuts to files and folders from any folder within a view. The shortcuts are then saved in a folder for future references.
  5. Selectable color theme.
  6. AndroXplorer supports advanced multiple-views file browsing. View-to-view navigation is as easy as swiping left or right. Each view has a self-contained folder with full file manager functions.

Review

I must admit that I was surprised just how easy it was to use this application once I took the time to configure it to my needs. I’m probably the worst person when it comes to reading instructions and upon stumbling my way around I turned to the instruction material on the AndroXplorer web site and it no time I was creating my key files.

The interface is very intuitive and with the slide features makes accessing features a snap.

Ask yourself the following question. How often do you search for a file whether it is a PDF document, image, or even your favorite music track? The search feature within AndroXplorer is second to none and with the addition of regular expressions your search will never be the same again. In fact you will very quickly find that you have located what you’re looking for.

The most notable feature in my opinion is around security.

I enjoy that I am able to create a key file that I can securely house my user names and passwords to web sites that I may need to access while I am away from my primary computer.

AndroXplorer

Many of us use or mobile devices for so many reasons which may include work and personal reasons. Have you ever stopped for a moment to consider that the document your about to attach to an email really could pose a number of problems should it fall into the wrong hands?

You can quickly and easily encrypt and password protect files and then confidentially fire up your email and send it off. Should it then fall into the wrong hands then you have nothing to fear.

Summary

While there are other good file explorers out there none can close to matching the robust features and the sense of security that AndroXplorer brings to the table. While this application is a much more expensive than every other application I have ever purchased as an Android device owner it is well worth the cost for the peace of mind.

Bottom line is try out version 2 for yourself in order to experience the interface for yourself and should you also wish to address the security vulnerability that is starring you in the face then by all means purchase version 3 today!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Name: AndroXplorer

MSRP: $15.00 for v3 and Free for v2

Contest Rules

Entering the contest is simple. All that is required is to follow @raddevelopment and leave a comment on blog post titled Product Review: AndroXplorer as to why your deserving of the free copy. Do you have a horror story surrounding security on your Android device? If so, share with others. Don’t have a story? Well that is okay also, just leave a comment in your own words why you want AndroXplorer and be creative. A short sentence just will not cut it.

At the time of the drawing, April 1, 2011, Radical Development will select five random winners so be sure to follow the rules to win!

Summary of Rules and Regulations

To enter to win a AndroXplorer v3, $15.00 retail value of prize, no purchase is necessary. Contest closes at midnight of March 31, 2011. If you’re selected as a winner, you must have a valid email address in order to claim the prize.

Complete Rules and Regulations

  1. This contest is open to residents of the United States of America, except employees of Radical Development who is sponsoring the Promotion and their affiliates.
  2. The chance of being selected will depend on the total number of eligible entries received. If the selected entrant cannot be contacted by the email address provided in the comment within 10 days of being selected, he/she will not be eligible to win the prize and an alternate entrant will be randomly selected.
  3. The prize is not transferable or convertible into cash or otherwise and must be accepted as awarded.
  4. The right is reserved to terminate or withdraw this contest at any time without prior notice.
  5. This contest is subject to all and Federal, State and Municipal laws and regulations. Void where prohibited.
  6. Radical Development and its affiliates accept no liability or responsibility in connection with injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising out of this contest or prize. Entries not meeting the guidelines or irregular in any way will be considered void.
  7. Good luck.

T-Mobile And AT&T 4G War Is Never Dull

Posted by Steven Swafford on November 30, 2010

3d character eating popcornSit back, grab the popcorn and prepare to be entertained. I am a T-Mobile customer and I waited to hear from others before upgrading to the MyTouch 4G in the event this new phone was not as good as the marketing made it out to be.

I must say that so far this phone has exceeded my expectations and the only negative thing that I have to say is about the preinstalled software it comes with, I personally do not like my electronics jammed packed with applications that I do not like. Now there may be a way to uninstall this software and I just have not found the answer. If you know how to uninstall some or all of this software please leave a comment detailing the steps. I know T-Mobile is working to expand their 4G coverage and unfortunately it is not in the area where I reside, however the lack of 4G in my local area is not enough to taint my opinion of this phone. It is fast and feels extremely comfortable in my hand. Just take a look at what others have said:

It is the top android phone now and it is the fastest processor wise, and has hspa + high speed internet at NO EXTRA CHARGE….yes it blows my iPhone 4 away…..

I just got 5+ mbps on speedtest over my phone, and I’m on hsdpa, not hspa+….

I love how my phone has no lag whatsoever. Just pure speed here….

It seems that T-Mobile and AT&T are having some friendly back and forth words over on their Facebook pages that you may want to check out. In fact T-Mobile has a a page entirely dedicated to fans showing off the 4G speeds out in the real world. Now I must say that I love the fact that T-Mobile has taken a play from the Mac vs PC marketing and I find it amusing that the iPhone is the bread and butter of AT&T wireless and Android has become a strong competitor.

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G “No Shirt”

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G “Piggyback”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RN0tP7GLfk

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G “Digging”

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G “New Ride”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKG4B7wFJUo

T-Mobile myTouch 4G “Glitchy” BOGO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EdUKSwQcsg

So what do you think, is AT&T beginning to show fear in the face of the MyTouch 4G device? My last question is to those of you that are die hard iPhone fans. Have you looked at MyTouch 4G firsthand? Would you consider the switch and if so why?

Must Have Political And News Android Applications

Posted by Steven Swafford on July 21, 2010

If you’re looking for that app that keeps you connected to the daily news and events that occur in real time then the following applications you may find very beneficial. This is a list of apps that I personally use on a daily basis however, there are one or two that I uninstalled for reasons that I will not go into at this time. The Android phones, which are growing in market share and supported apps, can be host to several politically-driven mobile apps which can help you stay on top of the news and know exactly what is happening around you at all times. If you missed my previous post titled Ten Must Have Android Applications be sure to visit it for other applications that you may find useful.

Congress

Congress is an open-source community of developers and designers aimed at opening up government to make it more transparent, which is aimed at getting Android users more involved in government. This app empowers you in a way that you feel like you are connected to your local congresswomen and congressmen by finding out where they are and also being able to contact them.  You can also see what they are tweeting. Great way to keep tabs on the elected officials.

Visible Vote

Your Vote Now Counts Past Election Day! Visible Vote is a free application created to empower Facebook, iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android and Windows users to advise congress on how to vote on the major upcoming legislation, follow current events, understand their legislators voting records, and compare the records with their own personal belief systems. After you advise congress on how to vote on your behalf the application will cross compare your vote to your representative after they vote and provide you feedback on their performance. Every week the application compiles the users voting record and sends this information to the appropriate legislator clearly indicating whether or not their constituents support or oppose their views on particular issues.

Fox News

Fox News already available on most mobile phones — launched its Android application Wednesday allowing smart phone owners to access the latest headlines with the touch of a button. And it’s completely free. The app features Fox News alerts with breaking developments on the day’s most important stories, news from the U.S. and around the world, Fox News talk radio, photos and video. A shows section features highlights from Fox programs.

New York Times

The New York Times is one of the world’s largest and most recognizable brands in news. The application has a simple interface that’s clean, well organized and simple to use. It has a gray, black, and white color scheme to deliver news from the Times which also includes photos, video, sharing tools, font size adjustment, and the ability to cache articles for offline reading.  If The Times is one of the news sources you read then you will not want to miss this app.

Huffington Post

Take the Huffington Post with you via your Android Phone, and get the latest news and opinion wherever you are. The Huffington Post Android app is absolutely free and it can be downloaded from the Android Market and installed on your Android device. The Huffington Post App syncs via WiFi or cellular network and downloads the latest news and blog posts directly to your mobile device. It is well designed to take advantage of the advanced capabilities and rich user interface of the Android.  The app allows yo the ability to read any of the content that you would be able to find on the actual Huffington Post website all from you device.

CNN

CNN Mobile has  major categories to include Headlines, My CNN, Video, and iReport, with headlines being the default. Under the headline section there are number of sub sections, Top Stories, World, U.S. Politics, Justice, Entertainment, Health, Tech, Travel, and Living. Top Stories is the default for headlines, of course. It is organized by a featured story which shows a larger picture. Once you choose a story you see the full image and a few main talking points concerning the news article. If you’re an die hard CNN reader then this app is for you.

Ten Must Have Android Applications

Posted by Steven Swafford on June 5, 2010

If you’re anything at all like me, you have come to love and depend upon your Android devices, which of course leads to the wealth of applications on the Android Market. I often hear from the iPhone users that unlike the iPhone App store, not every Android app is a worth downloading. Due to this reason you may have found yourself installing and quickly removing a number of apps from your phone, hoping to find those apps that are truly useful.

Like the iPhone and Blackberry smartphones, users of Google Android phones are able to access a marketplace to download applications, or “apps,” to increase the functionally of the smartphone. However, with the growing number of  both free and paid, and multiple apps for similar purposes, it is hard to determine which ones are truly useful. This is a list of apps that I personally use on a daily basis.

Seesmic

Seesmic now offers the Twitter client you’ve been waiting for! A powerful feature-rich application that’s simple and easy to use. Share photos on Twitter, post videos to YouTube, Search on Twitter and get notifications for new messages! With Seesmic, you can save important messages and updates by storing them to Evernote. You can share updates by email and upload photos to the most popular photo upload service of your choice. You can also add your location to your updates, and see them on a map.

FourSquare

Foursquare helps you find new ways to explore your city. See where your friends are, learn about the places they frequent and unlock rewards as you travel. Foursquare is primarily for letting your friends know where you are and figuring out where they are. Secondarily, it’s for collecting points, prize “badges,” and eventually, coupons, for going about your everyday business. Not bad at all.

TV.com

TV.com brings personal TV to your phone on WiFi and cellular networks. Access the videos you want anywhere you go including full episodes…and it’s free! Get video from CBS, The CW, CNET, ET, Showtime, CBS News, CBS Sports and much more! Watch your favorite shows anywhere, anytime on TV.com. TV.com is an Android app that brings personal TV to your Android phone.  Now you can access videos from the shows you care about on the go!  There are no subscription fees and everything this app offers is free. This app is great when you find yourself waiting to kill time.

Documents To Go

Documents to Go really makes accessing your documents super easy. Once you open up the application, you’re presented with 4 simple icons: Word To Go, for your word processing needs, Sheet to Go, which handles spreadsheets, Slideshow to go, for presentations, and PDF to go, which as the name says, accesses PDFs.

The bad news is that this type of app typically means work. Face it, if your going to be loading up productivity apps then in most cases this means so type of work.

Evernote

Evernote turns your Android phone into an extension of your brain.
This award-winning app lets you remember and recall anything that happens in your life. From notes to ideas to snapshots to recordings, put everything into Evernote and watch as it all instantly synchronizes from your phone to the Web to your PC. Evernote for Android comes equipped with native note browsing, which means that you can easily browse and search through all of your notes. Thanks to Evernote’s synchronization features, all the notes you make in the desktop or web versions of Evernote are instantly accessible from your Android phone—and vice versa.

WeatherBug

WeatherBug is a free, ad-supported weather app providing users access to the largest network of professional weather stations. Get current conditions, forecasts, maps, severe weather alerts and much more! Well what is there to say here. We all need to know what the weather forecast is. what makes this weather application unique is that it will integrate itself with Google Maps so that users can chose to see temperatures and radar, through the use of multiple layers. This integration with Google Maps, which has street level accurate maps, will allow users to pinpoint the exact location of weather patterns. In the event of severe weather patterns, the application will send an automatic warning to the user. The app will also allow users to view local forecasts, and forecasts for areas that the user can determine on a customizable home screen.

TripIt

TripIt Travel Organizer puts all your travel plans right on your Android no matter where your travel was booked! TripIt for Android is a free travel app that keeps your TripIt itineraries at the ready. Get instant access to all the trip planning information you might need while you’re traveling, even when you can’t connect to the Internet.

  • Forward travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com to build a trip itinerary
  • Access all of your travel info from your Android any time with our free app

Congress

Congress is an open-source community of developers and designers aimed at opening up government to make it more transparent, which is aimed at getting Android users more involved in government. This app empowers you in a way that you feel like you are connected to your local congresswomen and congressmen by finding out where they are and also being able to contact them.  You can also see what they are tweeting. Great way to keep tabs on the elected officials.

DoggCatcher

Doggcatcher manages your podcasts and RSS/news feeds with the most highly rated Podcatcher in the Market. One of the nicer features of DoggCatcher is its usage of notifications. It will alert you to new podcasts downloaded, errors in downloads, etc…so you can do other things while you’re downloading your podcast. I love the fact that I can configure the setting to only performed downloads only when connected via WiFi and while charging. This is a great app and while it is not free it is worth the cost.

EStrongs File Explorer

EStrongs File Explorer is a local & network file manager. It provides a file explorer for both local phone and one’s remote computer. The user can view the files in his/her phone and in the computer’s shared folder. Transfer and operate files (multi-select, copy, cut, paste, delete, rename, view property) freely between them (one can add all his/her computers on the network into the list, so that they could be managed by the phone easily). The user can play audio and video use inside or chosen player, browse the images, view text, and search files, even can play remote stream media.

There you have it. While I have a number of other applications installed on my device these are my top ten choices. What apps do you use?

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