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/

How To: Acer Iconia 500 (with Gingerbread) Root

I just became the owner of an Acer Iconia 500.

Specs:

1GHz Tegra
1GB RAM
16GB storage (upgradeable to 32GB)
1280×800 LCD screen
2MP and 5MP front and rear-facing cameras (respectively)
built-in HDMI port
Six-Axis motion sensing gyro meter
Android Version 3.1
Kernel Version 2.6.36.3

As an Android user (HTC EVO 4G) one of the 1st things I’m used to is rooting my Android devices. There are many reasons to root, and for me the biggest reason to want to root my new toy involves being able to install Titanium Backup Root (http://www NULL.appbrain NULL.com/app/titanium-backup-%E2%98%85-root/com NULL.keramidas NULL.TitaniumBackup), which (in my opinion) is the best backup software you can use on any Android hardware.

So I started searching for information online from anyone who had steps for the Iconia root. There were many posts, but all of them has steps for the Iconia with Android 3.0, and they didn’t work with 3.1. Finally I came across a post from sc2k (http://forum NULL.xda-developers NULL.com/member NULL.php?u=3377374)on the XDA forum with the simplest steps I’ve ever seen to root any device.

I need to add the following disclaimer. Rooting (Jailbreaking) has its risks. While rooting is easy to accomplish on the Iconia Tablet, it is worth noting that you could potentially break your device and/or void your warranty. Please make sure you read and follow these directions carefully. You root at your own risk.

The complete XDA Developers post and root download tool can be found at (LINK) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138228 (http://forum NULL.xda-developers NULL.com/showthread NULL.php?t=1138228)

You will find a couple of versions of the tool, I used iconiaroot 1.3.apk (which as of 7/28/11 is the latest version).

How to root
1. Goto Settings->Applications and enable "Unknown sources"
2. Download the attached APK file
3. Copy the file to your Iconia
4. Install the APK & start the tool
5. Click "root"
6. Enjoy

How to unroot
1. Start the tool & click "unroot"

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