Android: Tech Geek and More Preferred Apps List. (Updated 1/8/12)

I’ve been enjoying my Sprint EVO phone since it’s release. Coming from years of using Windows Mobile, learning Android has been “interesting” to say the least. Since I converted to droid, I have found some apps that were nothing more than garbage, while at the same time finding many others that I now find myself not being able to live without.

The Tech Geek and More Android Phone list has now been updated (1/8/12). You can visit the Preferred Apps page to see the complete list (LINK) http://www.techgeekandmore.com/android-tech-geek-and-more-preferred-apps-list-updated-1111/

The list are apps that are currently in my “Cant live without” category.

Android: Amazon App Store Free App–ATARI GREATEST HITS PRO

The Free App of the Day, Christmas Day offering from the Amazon App Store is ATARI Greatest Hits Pro.

The regularly free version of ATARI GREATEST HITS only comes with 1 game (Missile Command). The pro version of the app includes the following games

Missile Command
Missile Command 2600
Pong
Centipede
Centipede 2600
Millipede
Millipede 2600
Basic Math
Flag Capture

“You can also purchase additional Atari games quickly and easily from within this app. Choose from 25 separate packs, each of which contains three to four individual Atari games. (For example, the Adventure 4-pack contains the well-loved game Adventure, as well as Haunted House, Return to Haunted House, and Save Mary.) “

I loaded the app on my Acer Iconia Tab 500 (16gig), and it ran just fine. The Controls for each game are easy and responsive. The look for each game is that of the original Arcade version. If you are an ATARI fan this is a must have.

You will see on the Amazon page some negative comments about the app, from what I can make out, most of the negative comments are people who did not read the part that says it comes with only 9 games and you have to buy others. Even then, the remaining game packs for the app cost $0.99 each, for games like (Listed in their packs)

Major Havoc – Secret Quest – Sentinel – Yars’ Revenge
Lunar Lander – Codebreaker – Sky Diver – Video Pinball
Liberator – Human Cannonball – Star Raiders – Star Ship
Gravitar – Demons to Diamonds – Radar Lock
Crystal Castle – Maze Craze – Surround
Black Widow – Space Duel – Desert Falcon – Space War
Battlezone – Red Barron – Air Sea Battle – Submarine Commander
Asteroids – Asteroids Deluxe – Canyon Bomber
Combat – Combat Two – Warlords
Tempest – Outlaw – Atari Video Cube
Super Breakout – Breakout – Circus Atari – Off the wall

Android – How to keep phone from “sleeping” (timing out) when plugged in

All cell phones have a “timeout” feature that is in place mainly as a battery saving measure. After a specific amount of time, your phone just “goes to sleep”. When I’m using the battery I don’t mind this feature, but there are times when having the phone timeout is not what I want to happen.

Using the phone as a GPS in the car or Streaming Video while traveling (I take a lot of airplane flights) are just 2 of the many reasons when the timeout setting could become annoying. In both cases (among many others), I would have my phone plugged in via the car charger or airplane charger (having power at the airplane seat is the best invention EVER!).

The normal timeout setting (that everyone seems to know about) can be found in Android –> Under settings –> Display

On the display screen you will see –> Screen timeout. Usually this setting is set to between 1 and 5 minutes or off if you just don’t ever want to have your screen turn off.

So the question is “How can I keep my phone from timing out without having the change this setting over and over”?

The answer is actually simple, if you know where to look. (And here is the answer)

In Android –> Go to settings –> (Scroll down to) Applications > (Click on) development –> (And finally) check the box that says ‘stay awake’

Once you do that, this setting will override whatever is in the timeout setting, whenever your phone is plugged in.

Software: Android Users–Amazon Appstore Free App of the Day is Office Suite 5 Professional (10/26/11)

These days one of the most import things you will need is the ability to view and even edit documents sent to you in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format. I know when I got my HTC Evo, all that I got was a very limited program (DocToGo) that would allow me to view files, but not actually do any editing. If I wanted editing features, I would need to pay to buy the full version. For various reasons, up to now, I have only kept the limited viewer, never bothering to do the upgrade.

Things changed today, as I discovered that the Amazon Appstore Free App of the day is Office Suite 5 Professional. Here is information on the app, from the (LINK) Amazon (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/gp/product/B0051UP5NQ/180-5621455-7084817?ie=UTF8&ref=mas_faad) page

Product Description

Just in case you need to bring the office home with you, OfficeSuite Pro is a complete feature-rich mobile office. When you can’t get it done between nine to five, OfficeSuite Pro makes your job as efficient and painless as possible.

Full-Featured Office

This office productivity suite has everything you need from mobile office software. With OfficeSuite Pro, access tools for word processing, developing spreadsheets, delivering presentations, and browsing PowerPoint and PDF files. Create, view, and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files.

Google Docs Integration

The software features the most commonly used desktop document formats and includes a File Browse. The integration with Google Docs allows you to access your remotely stored documents.

Compatibility

The program supports Microsoft Office 97 to 2010 text documents – DOC and DOCX (open , edit, and save), Microsoft Office 97 to 2010 spreadsheets – XLS and XLSX (open , edit, and save), opening PPT, PPTX, PPS, and PPSX presentations, PDF files viewing, and integration with Google Docs

I have been using the app this morning (I know not a long test period), and found overall that it works well both viewing and editing Word and Excel, and also works well

viewing a PowerPoint presentation with the app. The only thing I have noticed at issue (and I see it listed by a few people in the comments area) is that in Excel when using formulas in a cell, that the cell didn’t always show properly.

The Office Suite 5 Professional app is normally valued at $14.99, can be downloaded for free directly from your phone if you have the Amazon App Store installed, or by visiting the (LINK) Amazon (http://www NULL.amazon NULL.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011) page**.

**Unfortunately the Amazon App Store is only available in the U.S.

Shopping: Amazon is having a Penny-Pincher Sale on Verizon Phones (DOESN’T Include iPhone)

Amazon is having a “Penny-Pincher” sale on a large number of Verizon Cell Phones. The list which includes both Android and Windows Phones has the phones on sale for .01 cent.

From the Amazon site –

“For a limited time only, all Verizon phones with a new line of service are on sale for a penny and include FREE Two-Day Shipping. Offer valid between 5.00 p.m. PDT on October 11,2001, through 11:59 p.m. PDT October 17, 2011, while supplies last.

The offer is for new lines of service, which can be a new phone plan (for those moving from another carrier) or adding a new phone line to an existing plan.

The phone page with details can be found at (LINK) Amazon (http://wireless NULL.amazon NULL.com/f/pennypincher/ref=amb_link_357764002_2?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_m=A1HBSU70BXNZUG&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=1VT7EJ569JYWQ9FAP62S&pf_rd_p=1323371082&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=G001&tag=phandroid-20)

Thanks to Android News (http://android NULL.techhours NULL.com/amazon%e2%80%99s-penny-pincher-sale-gets-you-any-verizon-phone-you-want-for-a-penny/?utm_source=tf&utm_medium=twitter) for the head up.

Cell Phone: Ringtones from NASA (Free)

As a geek, I find the following info REALLY SWEET! NASA has released free ringtones using some classic NASA sounds. Even Rachel Maddow (from MSNBC) did a story on the NASA ringtones for her show this past week. I would do a full write up for this post, but I think the video from the Rachel Maddow show does a GREAT job explaining it. (Video starts with 41 seconds where Ms. Maddow talks about a satellite that was crashing down to Earth before talking about the Ringtones)

Video from The Rachel Maddow show on msnbc

The NASA ringtones are broken into 4 categories

The NASA ringtone page (LINK) http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds/ (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/)

From the ringtone page NASA has the following recommendations

Ringtone Directions
Android (MP3 format) – We recommend downloading the most recent version of the NASA App for Android (https://market NULL.android NULL.com/details?id=gov NULL.nasa) for previewing and installing these ringtones. The ringtones option is found on the main screen of NASA App for Android by hitting the menu button on your phone.

iPhone (M4R format) – Please visit our iPhone directions for downloading and installing M4R ringtones page. (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/iphone_install_directions NULL.html)

Other (MP3 format) – Most smartphones can play MP3 files as ringtones. The process for downloading and installing ringtones to a smartphone may vary greatly based on phone, operating system, and service provider. Check your phone’s user manual or your provider’s website. Some providers may limit your access to ringtones not sold through their site. You can still enjoy the MP3 files on your computer.

Shopping: Deal on Extended Battery HTC EVO 4G and EVO 3D

One of the biggest complaints I regularly get asked about the HTC EVO phones (Original EVO 4G and EVO 3D) concerns battery life. Unfortunately, HTC decided to use the smaller 1500 mAh batteries as the default battery for the EVO and the (not much bigger) 1730 mAh battery for the EVO 3D. Because of this, the battery life on both phones is less than a day and for heavy power users can get as little as 3 to 4 hours of battery.

I have a simple and inexpensive solution, that will get the average user as much as 2 days and power users at least a full day (plus a little bit more) of battery life.

The suggestion is to get a replacement “extended” battery. The EVO 4G extended battery is a 3500 mAh battery. The cost including ground shipping (when you apply Coupon Code – htc20phones) is $12.79 for the EVO 4G.

The HTC EVO 4G extended battery can be found at HandHelditems (Link)http://www.handhelditems.com/premium-3500-extended-battery-door-p-159471.html (http://www NULL.handhelditems NULL.com/premium-3500-extended-battery-door-p-159471 NULL.html)

The extended battery for the EVO 3D is also a 3500 mAh battery. The EVO 3D battery will run you $15.19 (again, you need to apply coupon code – htc20phones to get the discount). It has the same shipping options as the EVO 4G.

The EVO 3D extended battery can be found at HandHelditems (LINK) http://www.handhelditems.com/premium-extended-battery-with-back-cover-3500-grade-cell-p-171410.html (http://www NULL.handhelditems NULL.com/premium-extended-battery-with-back-cover-3500-grade-cell-p-171410 NULL.html)

Both batteries include a replacement back cover for your phone. As these batteries as just a little bigger than the batteries that come with the phone, the original battery cover does not fit.

Lastly, Both batteries have a couple of shipping options. Ground shipping for FREE, Regular Express (3 to 5 days) and Priority Express ( 2 to 4 days) for an additional fee (which is based on your zip code), but I recommend staying with Ground Shipping. I received my battery via ground in 4 days.

Alert: New Android Malware Mimics Google+ (from Phandroid)

There is a New Android Malware that Mimics Google+ And Spies On Your Phone Calls. The Malware is called Google++. See the following information on the Malware (from phandroid) http://phandroid.com/?p=60957 (http://phandroid NULL.com/?p=60957)

Shopping – Costco has a great deal on the Acer Iconia Tab

I was walking thru Costco yesterday when I came across the following deal

- Acer Iconia 32 gig running Android
- Case for Iconia

For $429.99

As an Iconia user (16 gig version) for the past couple of weeks, this is a tablet I can recommend. On average the 16 gig version goes for about $400 ( you can find a little cheaper but you have to search).
To compare, at Amazon the 32 gig version of the Iconia is $449.99 (and it doesn’t include the case)

Software: Apps review for tablets (based on the Iconia Tab A500)–Pt. 1

Since the beginning of the Android tablets, the biggest complaint I’ve seen on reviews are things like “The lack of Tablet apps in Android” or “Not many apps that are optimized for tablets” or … well you get the idea. My biggest beef with all these reviews is that none of them seem to talk about what actually happens to apps that aren’t “optimized” when they get installed on a tablet, or list apps that don’t actually work on tablets, or even list a recommended apps list for tablets.

So my goal is not only to list a recommended apps list for tablets (based on what is installed on my Iconia Tablet) but also list apps that don’t work or have issues on tablets. This list I’m sure will be an ever changing list.

You will find the link on the Android Apps for Tablets page (LINK) http://www.techgeekandmore.com/software-apps-review-for-tablets-based-on-the-iconia-tab-a500pt-1/

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