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Tech Geek and More

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(Via Phandroid) BB Playbook users can expect the OS 2.0 update shortly

I know there are a few Blackberry Playbook tablet users out there. According to Phandroid BB Playbook users can expect the OS 2.0 update that will give you among other features
- native email client
- the ability to play Android apps….

The phandroid story can be found on their site (link) BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 Update Coming Next Month – Runtime For Android Lets Users Run Android Apps and Games http://phandroid.com/?p=81937 (http://phandroid NULL.com/?p=81937)

Changes coming to Sprint billing that may allow you out of your plan without paying the ETF/Early Termination Fee (via Phandroid article)

I have had many people asking me how they can leave sprint early without getting hit with the ETF fee. Phandroid just posted information that may help those on a family plan get out of their plans.

“Have a Sprint Family Plan With a Discount Applied? Get Out of Your Contract ETF Free http://phandroid.com/?p=81094 (http://phandroid NULL.com/?p=81094)

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

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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

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

  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

Phone: HTC Event for those in the So California area on Wed. 12/14

htc-logo  Just came across this one today. For any HTC cell phone fans in the So. California area, HTC USA is holding an event at the Lexington Social House in Hollywood tomorrow night 12/14/11 from 7p to 11p (Pacific Time).

Information about the event, and where to RSVP if you want to attend can be found on the HTC (LINK) Facebook page (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/153841771383150/)

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The event, which is 18 and up, will have “bites and cocktails for all”, plus “there will be the latest HTC phones on display for those of you with dreams of megapixels dancing in your heads”. The event is “Dress to Impress” (Based on comments on the Facebook page).

(*Note – Tech Geek and More has no involvement with this event, just sharing the information)

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

android  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

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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.

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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’

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

Facebook: Posts from 3rd party apps not appearing on your page? Here is one possible reason why.

facebook   Like everyone else, I have a “connected” life. One of the most common things I do on a daily basis is post from my phone apps to Facebook.  What I have noticed in the past couple of days is that anything I would post from 3rd party apps (Like Foursquare, Wordbooker, Cardio Trainer, etc.) stopped appearing on my News Feed page in Facebook. If I checked my profile I would see the posts, but they would be listed as “Only Me” in the post setting.

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I was baffled at 1st, as I know I hadn’t made any changes to my settings, and none of the 3rd party apps on my phone had recently been updated.  So I started poking around and found the answer.  It seems Facebook made a change in Account Settings –> Apps , that at least I (and a few others who have also asked about this issue) didn’t know.  Surprise Facebook made changes to account settings (They wouldn’t never do that, I say with sarcasm). 

To fix the setting to allow your 3rd party apps to show again in your News Feed, check / adjust the following setting

1) From the top right of Facebook select “down” arrow –> followed by Account Settings

 

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2) Once you reach Account Settings –> select Apps (on left) –> then select edit on the app you want to fix (on right)

 

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3) Once you get to the App Settings area –> scroll to the very bottom of the page (this is why you could miss it, as on some apps there is a lot of scrolling). At the bottom you will see a section called “App activity privacy” (On left). The change you will need is on the right –> this is where you can select who will get to see your post from that 3rd party app.

 

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In my case the setting for all my apps was set to Custom –> Only me.  Unfortunately this setting is per 3rd party app, so you will have to go through them 1 by 1.  This however solves the mystery of the 3rd party apps not showing.

**Note (Reminder) – These are security settings, if you are looking at them, this would also be a good time to delete apps that shouldn’t be on your profile (either because you don’t use them anymore or don’t know what they are). In addition, you may not want all 3rd party apps to post to Facebook.  Review each app carefully before changing its setting to make sure what it does.

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

android   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

 

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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.

Alert: Verizon Wireless has made changes to its Privacy Policy. Allows Verizon to monitor/share your mobile web habits (From Computerworld)

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Verizon is making a significant change to its privacy policy for mobile users this week. By default, the company will now use a bunch of your info for “certain business and marketing reports” and for “making mobile ads you see more relevant.”

 

This info includes the URLs of websites you visit over Verizon’s network and also your device’s location data. Some of those details may be shared with outside companies as well. Verizon says none of it will personally identify you

 

If you don’t want Verizon to use your data in this way, you need to go to verizonwireless.com/myprivacy (http://www NULL.verizonwireless NULL.com/myprivacy) and opt out. The page has two different places where you can check “Don’t use my information” for any or all of your Verizon cell numbers.

By default, you will be opted in to this new program — so if that isn’t what you want, take a minute now and change those settings

 

  • **(Tech Geek and More Note) One of the comments on the original Computerworld post says “There’s also a 3rd area on that myprivacy page that’s hidden under the “Customer Proprietary Network Information Settings” section”. You should check and see if you have this setting as well.

Post Originally by JR Raphael at (LINK) Computerworld (http://blogs NULL.computerworld NULL.com/19089/verizon_mobile_web_privacy)

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

Amazon  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) 

 

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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.

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