Download Dropbox! 01/07/2011
9 Comments A couple of months ago, I became sick of waiting for an official Google Voice application in the App Store. I was sick of not being able to really customize my phone. Yes, I'll admit it: I was bored with my iPhone. So about month ago I made a deal on Craigslist and received a brand new Vibrant, a member of the Galaxy S series of phones by Samsung. A couple of minutes later, I had unlocked the Vibrant to accept an AT&T SIM card, and I had myself a working phone. I've also used my iPhone 3GS as an iPod touch (and I had been using it for a year before switching to Android). Without further ado, here's why Android is better: 1) The notification bar: In iOS, when you receive a text message or any other alert, a popup appears, stopping anything you were doing prior to getting the notification. Dismiss it and it's gone forever and you might well forget about it. On Android, any notification appears in the notification bar that rests conveniently at the top of the screen. Receive a text message, and an icon appears in the bar. Much like the desktop notification system Growl, it lets you continue what you're doing unimpeded. And if you have more than one alert, the notification bar informs you of all of them. For instance, the notification bar on my Vibrant currently shows that I have an unread email, two text messages, and a Facebook message. This seemingly minor feature is HUGE when it comes to using the phone. 2) Widgets: iOS has apps, but not widgets. If you want to check the weather, you have to open a corresponding app. To update Twitter, make a phone call, check stocks, change phone settings, on and on, you have to open a full application, wait for it to load, do what you need, and then exit the app. Android allows you to have "widgets", customizable icons that reside on your home screen or lock screen. Thanks to Android and a program called Widget Locker, I can slide to unlock my phone (like the iPhone), or I can slide to open Google Voice, the Camera app, or the Phone application. And on the home screens of my phone, I have widgets such as the Power Tools widget that allows me to toggle numerous phone settings, a Twitter widget that lets me catch up on the latest trending topics at a glance, a Google Voice widget that lets me view my last text message conversation-- all from the home screen. 3) Swype: So Android doesn't have twenty thousand fart apps available for download on its Market. So Android is slightly slower than iOS, uses more battery, and doesn't have a shiny Apple logo anywhere on it. What Android does have, though, is Swype. (Swype came preinstalled on my Vibrant or can be purchased on the Market.) Swype completely redefines typing on a touchscreen device. Instead of actually typing, you "swype" your finger from letter to letter and it automatically predicts the word. For example, to type "wow", I would just place my finger on the "w," slide it to the "o", and then back to the "w". Mastering Swype took me a day at most, and now I can type incredibly quickly and precisely. I used to love typing on my iPhone; now I feel like I'm hunting and pecking like my grandmother on her fifteen year old laptop. Maybe Swype isn't for you. But the point is that if there's something you don't like about Android, there are ways to fix it. If you don't like Swype, there are numerous other typing methods available on the Android Market or they may already be preinstalled on your phone. Don't like the built-in media player? Replace it with one of many free options on the Market. In fact, if you don't like the UI, overhaul it completely with programs like the free LauncherPro. Heck, you can even get Angry Birds for free! The iPhone was groundbreaking, but Android is the future of smartphones. I encourage you to check it out if you haven't already. C'mon, man, do it for the Angry Birds. Google Voice on the iPhone? Why not? 09/03/2010
I am a big fan of Google voice: Free texting to any mobile phone in the country? Dirt cheap international calls? Well, Apple apparently finds something wrong with Google Voice, because at the time of this writing, they still haven't accepted a native Google Voice app into the App Store. However, users of Google Voice who own iDevices can still join in on the fun. Here's how: 1) Google's own website. Check it out for yourself! Go to google.com/voice on your iPhone or iPod touch. This is by far the best option to place phone calls using GV on your iPhone, and you can even send text message, listen to voicemails, and read voicemail transcripts as well. If you choose to receive email notifications for text messages and use an app like Boxcar for push notifications every time you get a new email, you'll get a notification moments after receiving a new text. But what if you're using AT&T's terribly slow EDGE network and don't want to take so much time loading the website just to reply to a text message? 2) Use Opera: Opera is an alternative browser to the bundled Safari browser on your iPhone. You can find it on the App Store (it's free). The difference between Opera and Safari is that Opera compresses web pages before loading them, resulting in much faster loading times over EDGE. Load google voice in Opera, and though it's a more stripped down version of the site, you'll be able to reply to text messages much faster than by using Safari. There's one final option that, though slightly more complicated, is worth the effort for people who use GV SMS often. 3) Integration with Textfree/Textnow: Though there's no official Google Voice app on the App Store, there are apps that'll integrate with GV. The one I personally use is Textnow. When you install Textnow, you get an email adress (i.e; example@textnow.me). Remember how you can forward text messages to an email address? Well, if you forward all text messages to your new textnow (or textfree) address, they'll arrive in the Textnow app, and you can reply to them from within the app. Sure, it takes a minute or two of setup, but the result is well worth it. Here are some links! :) Google Voice: www.google.com/voice Integrate Textnow with GV Guide: http://textnow.com/googlevoice.shtml Textnow (free) Textfree (free) Opera (free) Boxcar (free) Note: I am in no way affiliated with Google, Apple, or any of the applications listed in this post (or their developers). Back! 09/03/2010
I've been away for a few months but now I am back :) Hope you've all had a great summer! Just some quick topics of interest: 1) Apple released a revamped iPod lineup. The new iPod touch has the retina display, two cameras (including a front-facing camera for facetime), and the same processor used in the new iPhone 4. The iPod nano is now a small touchscreen. It is small enough that, like the iPod shuffle, it has a clip on the back. And, the iPod shuffle now has buttons! 2) Apple TV was updated. If anyone cares let me know. 3) iTunes 10 was released with Apple's social music network "Ping" and most importantly, a revamped logo. 4) It's college football season! Michigan vs UConn tomorrow and I'll be there. Update: Anyone who wants to watch the Wednesday's keynote which included Steve Jobs presenting the new iPods, Apple TV, and iTunes 10 can do so here Michigan vs Purdue 2009 11/07/2009
Got a Mac? You're in Luck! 11/06/2009
If you own a Mac and like great software, you've probably heard of MecHeist, which sells a bundle of shareware apps at a heavily discounted price. Their new bundle is even more discounted than normal: it's free. Yes, completely free. So head on over to macheist.com, submit your name and email address, and then download $154 worth of apps completely free. But hurry, because the giveaway ends in six days! Michigan football intro! 10/28/2009
Friday News 10/23/2009
It's Friday and there's some pretty good news. University of Michigan Clock has an update pending (1.1) that replaces Varsity with MFanfare, which is IMHO a better song. So keep your eyes peeled for the update, and if you want to check out the app for yourself, search for "wearmaize" in the AppStore. Lions Win! 09/27/2009
The Lions have won their first football game in a LONG time! Congratulations to the team, the fans, and anyone who pitied the Lions. December 23, 2007 was the last time the Lions had won. Michigan fan site 09/27/2009
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