The Evolution of Technology

Posts Tagged ‘keep’

How many times have you gone to adjust the media volume on your Android, only to accidentally adjust the ringer volume instead? This has happened to me hundreds of times, so I’m sure it’s far from an isolated problem. The issue is that when you open up a media app, such as Pandora, you have to wait until the app is fully loaded before you can adjust the media volume. Adjust it a little too soon and you’ll end up adjusting the ringer volume, which can cause you problems later. I’ve also had problems on the lock screen, where I accidentally mute the ringer. This can lead to unnecessarily missed calls. Thankfully, there is an app that can help you keep that under control.

There aren’t many instances where I really have to change my ringer volume. It typically goes from ring to vibrate to silent, with no real volume increments. Yet because the volume rocker changes the ringer volume on any non-media screen, and because there’s a mute slider on the lock screen, sometimes I inadvertently switch something that I’d rather not. That might be turning the ringer all the way down to silent, or it might be flipping the handset over to silent mode. Worse, I sometimes accidentally switch my phone out of silent mode, which can create all sorts of problems.

This is not a picture of my desktop, but mine down does contain this nifty circle you see in the bottom left corner. What is it, you might be wondering? It’s a simple widget that keeps accurate tabs on your battery life. See, the battery gauge in the notification bar is nice and all, but it’s not terribly accurate. It changes colors at certain intervals, but by the time you reach the 30 percent mark, it might be too late. This widget gives you the percentage of your battery remaining, so there is no mistake. Now that I’ve installed it, I know exactly when I need to charge my phone.

While the widget is as simple as it gets, there are some customization points. Specifically, this means the size of the widget. You can go 1×1, which probably works best for most smartphone users. But, depending on your screen setup you can also go 2×1, 1×2, 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4. I’m not quite sure why you’d need 4×4, but hey, some people need the reminder front and center. The app is, of course, free, and you can get Circle Battery Widget at the Market.

When you need to remember something, how do you remind yourself? I used to put a note next to the coffee maker or the computer — something that I would see for sure every morning. Of course, seeing the reminder didn’t guarantee anything, since I can just as easily forget after seeing it. Smartphones have changed that, though. There are sticky note applications that keep your important reminders front and center every time you unlock your Android device. Most of these act as widgets, though, which take up room on your home screen. That’s usually worth the trade-off, but it can be done more efficiently. Today we’re looking at one such solution.

Via the xda blog we learn of an app called Sticky Notes Live Wallpaper. It immediately enters my good graces by doing exactly what the name implies. It’s a sticky note, but instead of taking space on your home screen as a widget, it becomes part of your live wallpaper. There are only two animated themes to choose from, unfortunately: the Android robot skating, and a luau girl in front of what appears to be a tropical beach. But with each of the wallpapers comes the ability to stick a series of notes on your home screen. You can put up to five notes there, though they’re all in one box (on separate lines). You might still prefer widgets — and if you do, ColorNote Notepad Notes is a well-regarded app — but if you’d rather stick the notes in your wallpaper, this app gives you an alternative. You can get Sticky Notes Live Wallpaper for free in the Market.

When you install a new app from the Market, one part of the process is granting it permission to access certain portions of your device. While apps from trustworthy developers will rarely cause you problem, there are more than a few shady apps in the Market. Give an app permission to access sensitive aspects of your device, and you could put your personal information at risk. That’s why it’s always recommended that you check the permissions you grant every app that you download. But hey, we’re all human, and when we see an app we want it now. I’d be telling a terrible lie if I said that I haven’t downloaded apps without checking the permissions. That’s why I’ve gone and downloaded PermissionDog — and checked the permissions I granted it.

The app basically works in two manners. First, it pops up any time you launch an app and lets you know what permissions you’re granting it. Of course, that can get incredibly annoying after a while, so you do have the option to turn it off for certain apps. You can also turn it off altogether, which is the method I prefer. Instead, I recommend just launching the app. It will bring up a list of your apps and let you know the danger level of the permissions you are granting your app portfolio.

Few Android apps jump out at me immediately and scream “must have!” Usually it’ll be an interesting or useful app that will appeal to a certain portion of the Android user base. But when I saw the post about Go2Note on xda, it struck me as something that everyone could use. It’s a note-taking app, but with the added benefit of adding a location tag. That is, when you see something, you can write a note and then tag your current location. That serves a number of useful functions, and will certainly make you less forgetful.

A number of these apps are available for BlackBerry, and I know that some are available for Android, too. But, when it comes with an xda recommendation I always take notice. The main benefit of the app is that it reminds you not only of what you need to do or remember, but tells you where. It also has location-based alerts, so when you get near one of your tagged items, you’ll know. That’s great for the super-forgetful. Passing the grocery store? Oh yeah! Eggs! Passing the dry cleaner? Better double back to the apartment and drop the stuff off.

There was something of an outcry when Google reduced the refund window on Market purchases to 15 minutes. That doesn’t give users much time to sample the application, and it forces them to do so right away. I thought it might lead to a greater preponderance of free trial versions, since there is less of an opportunity to try and then return the app. I haven’t seen much of that yet, so for now the 15-minute window is mainly an annoyance. There’s a new app, though, that can help you manage your refund windows.

Refund Timer is one of those wonderful apps that does exactly what the name suggests. When you download an application the 15-minute timer starts. The application and remaining time get laid over your screen, so you will see the full 15-minute countdown.

There are drawbacks, not least of which is that you have to eventually pay for the app. You can try it free for 72 hours, but after that you have to buy a license from within the app. I’d love to tell you how much it costs, but the app keeps crashing at that point on my device. Oops.

What’s the best way to ensure that you stick with something you start? To track every aspect of it. There’s something cathartic about recording and analyzing data when it pertains to you and something you’re trying to achieve. This is where I believe most diets go wrong. There’s really no focus, so it’s easy to slip. Even when people try to write down everything they eat, they often fail when that pad and paper isn’t in front of them. But your smartphone is with you at all times. That makes the new CalorieCount.com Android app a perfect diet and exercise accompaniment. Since you always have your phone with you, you have no excuse to not record the data.

When you download the app you’ll be prompted to either log into your CalorieCount.com account, or to create a new one. Thankfully, the creation screen is simple and straight forward; it should take you about two minutes, tops, to create an account (and if you type fast it’s even quicker). From there you’ll go to the main screen, which is a visually-pleasing, graphical screen that gives you some easy information about your intake and output. It also breaks down your nutrition intake (fat, carbs, protein) so you can see if you have an optimal distribution.