Mereja

Author: Guest Blogger

  • Weather & Toggle Widget: Easily personalize your weather settings

    “Is my hair going to be frizzy today?” “How many sets of long johns should I wear?” Both are common questions asked daily. Most people rely on the weather man; some rely on their godly ability to forecast the weather themselves, but with the Weather & Toggle Widget you’ll never have to guess again.

    The Weather & Toggle Widget, developed by Android Apps, is extremely detailed and a fully functional app for the most finicky of weather watchers. It is beautifully designed and highly customizable – allowing users to have a system that reflects their personality as well as weather and toggle switches right on their desktop!

    The weather widget itself is comprised of a flip clock as the prominent feature and the weather embedded into the same widget, so you not only get the weather, you also get a very nice clock that is easy to read. The weather widget has many settings to further customize the widget, such as Fahrenheit and Celsius settings, and an option to choose another program when you click on the weather part of the widget, (which also brings up a separate dialog to forecast the rest of the week). The weather dialog portion also has an add-on found in the Market that gives extra capabilities to the widget, such as animated clouds and other related images. Also, one very cool feature is the screen shots option to show images of your area and the surrounding areas, which gives a user a visual heads up to what they could encounter on their way to wherever it is they’re heading.

    In addition, the Weather & Toggle Widget includes a set of toggle switches that allow the user a quick and easy way to change particular settings on their phone with a simple click of the widget – including brightness level, GPS, WIFI and more.

    To top it all off, Android Apps provides a method to “theme” the widget along with the toggle switches, which completes the customization we all enjoy. The themes add a skin to the widget, as well as images associated with the widget. The theme also skins the toggle switches to provide a complete custom look.

    The Weather & Toggle Widget is a paid or “donate” version which costs $1.99. There is a free version which does not come with all of the features of the Weather & Toggle Widget; it does, however, still allow themes and other customizations. Android Apps also developed add-on packs for the free version to include some of the paid features to the non-paid widget.

    The Goods:

    • The ability to completely theme the entire widget and accompanying widgets.
    • The ability to choose a separate program to open, which allows for quicker use of resources.
    • Accurate weather
    • Animated forecasts
    • Screen shots from surrounding areas
    • Large, skinable, flip clock
    • Toggle widgets that can also be skinned or “themed”
    • A free and donate version to allow one to “try before you buy”
    • Excellent support, if anything happens to fail.

    The Bad:

    • Would like to see more themes
    • Sometimes can be buggy, but not often enough to destroy its performance.
    • The widget must be excluded from any task killer list (not really a bad thing, but a requirement)

    Final Verdict:

    The Weather & Toggle Widget by Android Apps is a fully featured and highly customizable widget that boasts sleekness and efficiency that a smart phone user has come to expect. If you need a nice flip clock, weather forecast and toggle switches for ease of use, then this is for you. With the Weather & Toggle Widget, you will never have to squint to see the time, worry if your hair will look like a 70’s rock band mid-day or harness your godly forecasting abilities – you can save your powers for something a bit more useful!















    Note: This review was submitted by Phillip Toohill as part of our app review contest.

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  • Gmote: Turn your phone into a remote for your computer.

    Alright, I’m going to be honest with you, I love this app. Gmote is what makes my phone more than just a phone; it’s what makes me happy that one night I spent all my money on a shiny HTC Magic.

    First, a quick summary. Gmote is an app that allows you to turn your phone into a remote for your computer. It uses Wi-Fi to connect the two devices, and as such, a small program needs to be installed to your PC or Mac. Once this is done, no more setup is necessary. As long as you’re connected to the same network as your computer, you can browse your files and start or stop media playing. If you’re as single-mindedly devoted to efficiency (read lazy) as me, then this has hopefully caught your interest.

    The added ability to control your computer’s keyboard and mouse from the comfort of your blankets is what really sold this app to me. Your touch screen can instantly be transformed into a trackpad, like that found on a laptop, with no discernible delay between your touch and the movement of your cursor onscreen. I’m just a simple computer user (it took me an age to setup FTP on my phone), and perhaps that explains some of my enthusiasm, but to be able to do such a thing after 2 minutes of setup makes this a top app in my opinion.

    After months of use I have do a few pet peeves. First, is that if you start something playing on your computer, you can’t then pause or skip scenes using your phone, at least not without using the mouse tool. Secondly, it comes bundled with its own version of VLC media player, used as default. It can be changed, but it’s not the simplest process and the app doesn’t work as well with other programs.

    Pros:

    • No complicated setup
    • Simple and easy to use
    • Allows you to stay warm and cozy in bed

    Areas for improvement:

    • More support for alternative media players
    • Add support for controlling media initiated on the computer

    Final verdict:
    This app isn’t perfect, but the problems are small sacrifices and overall this app is more than worth your time.

    Special note: All versions of Android supported.

    Note: This review was submitted by Sam Bentley as part of our app review contest.




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  • eBuddy 1.7.0 – A Powerful Pocket Instant Messaging Suite

    For those who are looking for a great Instant Messaging app – no need to look further. eBuddy is your personal communication companion that helps link all of your Instant Messaging handles into one convenient app, with added support for popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace that feature their own chat portal.

    Anyone who has used a desktop program such as Trillian will feel right at home with eBuddy. Users create a single screen name unique to the eBuddy app, which in turn houses all of your other accounts so users need only to sign on once and remember just one username and password. The UI has also been refined for larger WVGA screens (with support still for HVGA) and features 3 tabs for your contact list, current open chat logs and a collection of currently added IM accounts. The simplicity and elegance of the interface make for a fluid experience that really makes the app a joy to use.

    eBuddy can run in the background and alert users of new incoming IMs with a notification similar to text messages, and the notification bar icon will change to indicate an alert as well. This is especially useful for when the phone is either on silent or being used in another app. Switching back to eBuddy is seamless.

    Pros:

    • Multiple supported accounts
    • Social media sites Facebook and MySpace support
    • Battery saver option updates IMs in the background and updates every 15 minutes
    • Integrates contact pictures with screen names
    • Swipe to move between chat windows

    Needs Improvement:

    • Blocking and deleting contacts does not save changes to server every time
    • Users can’t change their contact picture when using eBuddy (uses eBuddy logo instead)
    • Doesn’t pull Facebook/MySpace status updates into respective contacts

    Final Verdict: This is probably one of the easiest and best looking Instant Messaging apps on the Android Market, and best of all it’s free. For someone who has a lot of different screen names across different services, bringing them all together under one experience is very convenient.




    Note: This review was submitted by Eric Johnson as part of our app review contest.

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  • FolderOrganizer: Spring cleaning for that cluttered home screen

    FolderOrganizer (formerly abcOrganizer) is a nice simple tool that allows you to you group apps, bookmarks and contacts together in folders, offering quick access to them from a home screen shortcut. This is handy for grouping by task, e.g. a single place for work related apps, contacts and bookmarks.

    The interface is simple enough to understand, but a little bit of exploring turns up some nice features. At launch, FolderOrganizer pulls in your installed apps, bookmarks and contacts. There’s a default set of labels or add can your own. Long pressing on a label lets you batch add items or go to one of the other tabs and assign labels to items individually.

    Once you have labeled some items you can add a label shortcut on your home screen. This shortcut will bring up a folder containing all the items grouped under that label. How the folders display is also quite flexible as you can change the layouts, the sort order, or filter by items that you have starred.

    Last month the ability to label items to appear in the notifications bar was added and in my opinion doubled the value of the app. Twitter, Buzz, Email, etc., all by pulling down the notification bar, without even needing to return to the home screen.

    FolderOrganizer Lite is available free with a small, unintrusive request to purchase the full version. The full version will set you back €0.99 (US$1.35) and offers some enhancements such as stacking folders within folders to create a hierarchical menu structure (not something I use yet) and the ability to organize from the shortcut folder (surprisingly handy for small tweaks).

    PROs

    • Quick launch of apps which you can freely organize.
    • Mixing apps, contacts and bookmark shortcuts together.
    • Customize label or item name.
    • Customize label or item icons with stock icons or icon packs from the Market.
    • Starring of favorite apps/bookmarks/contacts.
    • Add apps, bookmarks and contacts to the notification bar.
    • Uninstall or launch apps from within FolderOrganizer.
    • Export and Import your settings (useful for all you ROM junkies).

    Ideas for Improvements

    • Linking to more shortcuts such as settings, navigation destination, etc (anything that you can shortcut to from the home screen) would extend the possibilities.
      Note: The developer, Fabio Collini, let me know that he has just started work on this
    • As with any organizing project, getting started is a bit of a chore (you should see my shed). The ability to pull the categories from the Market might be handy starting point.
    • It’s simple but has great depth. I can’t shake the feeling that there are uses that I haven’t thought of yet. An online community forum to share hints and tips would be a bonus. Until then feel free to add comments here to share ideas.

    Verdict
    I found this app great for clearing up my home screen. While the apps I use regularly still need space on the central home screen, it’s the apps that would normally be 3 home screens over or buried in the app drawer that really benefit from the speed and flexibility of FolderOrganizer. If you’re limited to 3 home screens I would consider this application a must.

    Version Tested: FolderOrganizer Full and Lite (version 1.6.5) reviewed on a HTC Magic running a Hero 2.1 ROM, but should work on all versions.

    Note: This review was submitted by Tristan Rogers as part of our app review contest.





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  • ASTRO File Manager: More than just file browsing

    Android doesn’t come with a file manager, however several apps are competing to fill the void. The most feature-rich, ASTRO File Manager, goes surprisingly beyond just browsing files on your mobile phone.

    To start, ASTRO offers both the Android standard “list view” and a more desktop-like “icon view” that some desktop PC users may find more comfortable to work with. It also includes other advanced features usually only found on desktop computers, such as image thumbnails as icons, a special built-in image browser, ZIP archive creation and extraction, FTP browsing, directory bookmarks, and a highly customizable file search function. It also offers home shortcuts to any directory.

    ASTRO does not stop there. It also backs up free apps, manages running processes, edits music playlists, and examines the SD card to easily display what directories and files are taking up space. But perhaps the most powerful feature is a setting that enables Android’s Internet browser to download any file type. By default, only files with extensions that are recognized and claimed by installed apps can be downloaded. This is a very frustrating limitation of Android, and is a perfect example of how Android’s openness encourages competition to augment and improve the basic functions of the platform.

    Good:

    • Move/Copy multiple files at once
    • Excellent “.zip” archive support
    • File Search
    • Enable Browser to download any file type

    Needs:

    • Home shortcut to kill all processes

    Final Verdict:

    While there may be other more simple or intuitive file managers available depending on taste, ASTRO File Manager’s feature set and extra tools set it apart from the competition. It’s worth downloading if for no other reason than to enable Android’s included Internet browser to download any file regardless of extension.





    Note: This review was submitted by Lane Montgomery as part of our app review contest.

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  • runstar FREE: The Simple Runner’s Companion

    Ever gone out for an afternoon jog and wondered “Exactly how far was that?”. Have you been running in the park while your friend is on the couch eating chips and just wanted to brag how far you ran? Developers Color Monkey and Whiletrue have created the free application runstar FREE to satisfy all your running needs.

    runstar contains a very simple interface, just select “free run” and you’re off. runstar will track your time and distance, with a choice of either miles or kilometers. Included in the app are music controls with options including the choice of playing a playlist or shuffle all music, as well as the inclusion of a “power up” song which can be triggered to provide a little extra motivation.

    Once the run is completed, a summary displays all kinds of information that runstar tracked. There are charts showing the time of the run, the distance, the pace and even a chart showing the changes in speed compared to the changes in elevation. runstar allows this data to be easily shared with friends by any social network feature you have installed on your phone, including SMS, Twitter and Facebook. The route taken is also plotted using Google Maps, with flags positioned at each mile displaying the time to that mile marker. Finally there is a section when you can create a monthly goal and track how close you are to accomplishing that goal. The developers say they are working on the ability to have the results uploaded to an online account and access them from a computer, which is good because that is the only drawback I had regarding this app.

    Pros:

    • Clean, easy to use interface.
    • Built in music controls.
    • Tracks run time and distance and plots route in Google Maps.
    • Run data can be shared immediately via a number of social networks.

    Needs Improvement:

    • You can only access data from the phone, right now there is no option to upload results to a website.
    • No weight loss information tracking like calories burned or heart rate.
    • There is no ability to add a run after the fact if no GPS signal is found.

    Final Verdict:

    runstar FREE is a free app that will do almost everything an avid runner wants. It tracks the time you ran as well as how far you went and in the end that is all some people will need. I enjoyed my time with runstar and will certainly continue to use it to track all my runs.





    What is next?: The version of runstar currently in the Android Market is only the small free version. Updates to this version will include support for both QVGA and WVGA screen support, updated graphics and the ability to upload workouts to the web. Color Monkey and Whiletrue are also working on an enhanced version of runstar with more run options and results options.

    Note: This review was submitted by Pat Dameron as part of our app review contest.

    Version tested: 0.8.0
    Reviewed on: HTC Droid ERIS running 2.1

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  • ThickButtons: An alternative keyboard with predictive key sizing

    ThickButtons Keyboard is designed to make it easier to type on a touchscreen by dynamically changing the size of keys based on what key you are likely to press next. Keys that the software thinks you are going to press next become larger, while unlikely keys are shrunk to a smaller size that depends on how many keys in the same row are expanded. The concept is great, but in reality this keyboard can make typing more difficult.

    Typing on this keyboard will take a degree of getting used to as is the case with every keyboard. There are three enlargement options for the keys that the software thinks you will press next. When using the smallest size the keys stay closest to their original places. When using the medium or large setting, the keys move around a lot. This can be a problem when typing if the keyboard lags significantly. You may see a key, and start to move your finger over to it just as your other finger finishes pressing another key. Once your finger gets to the new key the software has made its prediction and changed the key sizes. The increase in key sizes causes some keys to get pushed left or right. After this happens your finger may hit the wrong key, because the key has moved completely to a new position.

    ThickButtons requires access to your SMS, MMS, contact data, and user defined dictionary. The keyboard looks at this information in order to make more accurate guesses at what words you are probably going to type. Contacts and SMS dictionaries can be turned off in the settings menu. The keyboard settings also offer the standard options of vibrate on key press, sound on key press, auto-capitalization, quick fixes, word suggestions, and auto-complete.

    Pros:

    • Reducing the size of unlikely keys reduces user error as long as the user is good at using the ThickButtons keyboard.
    • Developers are very responsive to community feedback.
    • Dedicated user community at http://community.thickbuttons.com/

    Cons:

    • Large changes in key size cause keys to move around too much.
    • New keyboards take some getting used to.

    What’s next:
    Since release the developers have received a variety of feedback that has inspired them to develop a feature that will allow fast Android typists to easily type on ThickButtons.

    Final verdict:
    The typing on this keyboard is responsive. This keyboard will take some getting used to, but it is definitely worth checking out. If you can get used to it then you may drastically reduce your errors when typing.

    Developer: BrightSide Software
    Version: 0.6.3
    Reviewed on: Motorola Droid v2.0.1 and 2.1-update1



    Note: This review was submitted by Kevin Shreffler as part of our app review contest.

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  • Shazam: The must-have music identification app for Android

    Ever have that moment where you are driving along and a song comes on that you really like but can’t figure out who the artist is, or what the title of the song is for that matter? Shazam has your back.

    Shazam offers Android users the opportunity to tag music, which listens to a 10 second snippet of the song, and does the searching for you. Within about 30 seconds, the song with all the information you need is tagged and stored in the application so you can go back at your convenience and download the song. Shazam also gives you the option to search the Amazon MP3 store, do a search on YouTube to view the music video directly from the app, or visit the artist’s MySpace page.

    This app has really been a lifesaver for me, a guy who tends to be pretty forgetful. I can’t tell you how many times I have been in the situation where I’ve heard a great song on the radio and couldn’t remember what the heck I was listening to even as little as 10 minutes later. Shazam has really been a blessing in that respect for me, and has been a great way to expand my music library.

    Final Verdict: This app is a must have for any music-lover. I have found it to be one of the most useful apps Android offers, and really think you will also. Hey, it’s free; what do you have to lose?

    Pros:

    • Tagging is pretty damn accurate. I have been using Shazam for a while, and it has found my songs with 100% accuracy
    • Not over cluttered with features, has just what you need and nothing more!
    • Integration with Youtube, Amazon MP3, and Myspace

    Cons:

    • The one feature that would make this app perfect is the ability to sync your tags online somehow. Maybe a shazam account where you can log into your computer and go through your tags rather than having to do it from your phone.

    Shazam is currently in version 1.3, and can be downloaded for the low-low price of free on the Android Market.





    Note: This review was submitted by Anthony Domanico as part of our app review contest.

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  • Keeper: A free personal assistant to help you remember your passwords

    In this world of technology, everyone has so many passwords to remember that it’s hard to keep them all straight. Keeper is a password and data manager that allows you to securely and easily store passwords so you can remember at which site your password is “ABC123” and where it’s “Password”. You are able to store any kind of personal information you need to – from passwords to notes to web site logins.

    Keeper uses military-grade encryption to ensure that your information is safe. The app is compatible with most major mobile operating systems for cross-platform use, and can be used on multiple phones simultaneously. It’s easy to port your information from one phone to another using the included backup/restore feature that securely stores your information on the developer’s servers to download to multiple devices. Additionally, for $29.95 you can purchase a desktop version of the app for use on PCs or Macs that allows you to sync your data between your phone(s) and computer.

    Keeper is a rarity in the Android Market, a free app that is also ad-free that helps to attain Keeper’s uncluttered appearance. The app’s basic interface makes it easy to use. But if you do need assistance, there is a help section that includes a FAQ. There are various ways to store your data. You can list the different sites in a list format, or you can organize them in folders to make it easier to find information for a particular site.

    Keeper is password-protected and takes a page out of the “Mission: Impossible” playbook with an optional self-destruct feature. If enabled, the app will erase all of your personal data you have entered (just in the app, not everything on the phone) after five unsuccessful login attempts to keep someone else from seeing your information if the phone is lost or stolen.

    Final verdict:  While you won’t need Keeper for passwords you use daily (i.e. e-mail and work passwords), it is an essential app for seldom-used passwords. For free, you can’t beat Keeper to manage your passwords.

    Pros:

    • A rare free app that is also ad-free
    • Basic, easy-to-use interface
    • Ability to store your data on multiple phones
    • Optional self-destruct mode

    Would be nice:

    • A widget for quicker access to passwords





    Note: This review was submitted by Scott Jenkins as part of our app review contest.

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  • gStrings: A must have app for any musician

    Maybe you’re an experienced musician who knows the importance of a perfectly pitched instrument. Or, maybe for old time’s sake, you want to revive that awfully out of tune guitar that’s been rotting away in your attic since who knows when. Either way, an ugly plastic tuner will cost you a good $15 at your local music shop. Save yourself a little time and money and download gStrings, a handy little chromatic tuner (with a suggestive title) that should never leave a musician’s side. The cost? Free ninety-free.

    In spite of my skepticism of a cell phones capability to measure an instrument’s pitch, this tuner is exceptionally accurate. I’ve used it to tune everything from an acoustic guitar to timpani drums, and it never fails to impress me. The interface is stylish and simple. At the top, you can select any note to tune to, including sharps and flats. If you don’t know the note, you can select the “tune auto” button at the bottom right and the app will automatically tune to the closest note. There’s also a button to sound the note, so you can have a reference pitch for what you should be tuning to.

    In case you get tired of the color scheme, the app comes with a total of 7 skins. In the settings menu you can set the microphone sensitivity, or choose the optimal frequency range based on your instrument. For the skilled musician, there are several advanced settings you can tweak to your liking.

    Although gStrings is a free application, there is a donate version available in the market for about $4, with double the processing power. It is well worth the money in my opinion, considering it’s easily as precise as any store bought tuner. gStrings runs on Android 1.5+.

    Final Verdict: If you’re a musician of any sort, this is simply a must have.

    Pros:

    • Extremely precise
    • Simple interface and easy to use
    • Very stable, absolutely no force closes
    • FREE!


    Suggestions    :

    • Add a metronome for an all-in-one musician’s tool
    • Add a tuning widget




    Note: This review was submitted by Andrew Hewitt as part of our app review contest.

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  • Where: The definitive all-in-one travel guide app for Android

    Though I travel fairly infrequently, when I do manage to get out of Minnesota I often find that I have a hard time figuring out what I want to do. The wife and I usually go driving around the new place we’re exploring and stop whenever we see something that strikes an interest in both of us. If only we had more information on local venues and events, we would better be able to plan our vacation and do things we both found enjoyable.

    Where, an application developed by the appropriately named Where, Inc. hopes to be the one-stop shop on all things local. Where really has it all, from local weather and news, to restaurant reviews, event calendars, local traffic, local Starbucks, and even gas prices. All delivered in a sleek looking package. On top of all that, where.com has a check-in service so you can share your location and information about that location with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.

    Being from progressive Minnesota, one of the coolest features Where offers is integration with by-the-hour car rental service Zipcar. The service lets you pay a monthly fee to have access to one of several cars located at hubs around the city. You can reserve the car to only use when you need it. Where gives you the ability to reserve a ZipCar directly from the application.

    Another cool feature is that Where uses your location to find coupons to several stores around you. Within 15 miles of where I am now, I can get a free guitar tune up, 25% off all mongoose bikes, and $25 off tax preparation. All coupons “print” directly to your phone and can be saved or scanned directly from your phone at the store! Pretty cool stuff.

    Final Verdict:  You need to download this app. Though it has some minor drawbacks, it takes much of the information you would want to know about the city you’re exploring and packages it all in one convenient location. Also, having coupons at your fingertips to local locations is an awesome feature.

    Pros:

    • One-stop travel shop
    • Event calendar helps you find what’s happening in your city
    • Wide range of features
    • Easy access to coupons from local vendors

    Cons:

    • Though the main app itself has a very nice feel to it, some of the sub-menus are downright ugly
    • Seems to only recommend the major chain stores. I do enjoy finding the mom-and-pop shops, as they tend to have cooler (and weirder things).

    Where is currently in version 1.9.1, and can be downloaded for free on the Android Market.




    Note: This review was submitted by Anthony Domanico as part of our app review contest.

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  • StudyDroid flashcards: Absolutely perfect for the student on the go

    As a student, I often find myself in areas that are rather unconventional to study in. You have your big Medical, Math, or Science Books and it just does not seem to work out. It is also possible that you may have flashcards, but why carry around extra stuff?

    As an Android lover, I have found the perfect solution to my predicament. It’s an application called StudyDroid. With this app I am able to bring the one thing I really need, my phone, and be able to study when I have a few minutes of free time. StudyDroid works by allowing you to create flashcards either within the app itself or on http://www.studydroid.com and syncing them onto your device.

    One of StudyDroid’s biggest features is that it has it’s own online community. Users are able to share their packs publicly. Don’t worry though, if this is not your thing you can set your packs to private. You can also mark cards as “Known” as you study. This feature puts all of your known cards to the end of your pack, allowing you to focus on cards that you don’t remember as well.

    Pros

    • Free
    • Able to create a pack of flashcards on your computer
    • Have images on cards
    • Can mark certain flashcards as “Known”
    • Lists all of the cards in a pack
    • Online community to share flashcards
    • Digital, so you’re not limited on how much you can put on a card

    Cons

    • The website can get a little buggy when creating a pack every now and then
    • The user interface could be a little bit better
    • The app only downloads your cards from the web, it doesn’t upload them

    Final Verdict
    StudyDroid flashcards is a must have app for any student, whether you have a lot of content to study or just a little. This a very nice application that any student should have on their phone.

    So what about you? Do you have knowledge of an app that is a must have for students? Post in the comments below and let me know.

    Note: This review was submitted by Guy Tiano as part of our app review contest.





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  • PicSay Pro: Everything looks better with googly eyes

    PicSay was one of the first apps that I downloaded after getting my G1. I’d heard that it was fun and easy to use, so I wanted to give it a try for myself. After downloading and trying the free version for maybe an hour, PicSay Pro became the first paid app that I bought.

    The operation of PicSay Pro couldn’t be easier. You open the app, click the “Get a picture” button, and choose a picture from your gallery. It offers to resize larger pictures for you if necessary, and then drops you into the app itself. On the G1, pressing the Menu button brings up all of your options: Word Balloon, Title, Stickers, Effects, Export, etc. Word Balloon and Title are fairly self explanatory, but the real meat of the app is in Stickers and Effects.

    The first picture I made using PicSay was imported from an MMS my brother-in-law sent me. He found some candy cigarettes, and sent me a picture pretending to be all tough. Naturally, I added googly eyes and a word balloon saying something silly. I opened the menu, choose Stickers, and a wide variety of categories appeared. I chose Eyes and then picked an appropriate set from the choices. PicSay then drops the sticker onto your picture, where you can move it by tapping and dragging your finger, and tilt/resize the picture using an icon on the corner of each sticker. The tilt/resize can take a bit of practice to get right, especially when you have big fingers like I do. Even with a bit of a learning curve, it’s still very easy to add a wide variety of stickers to your pictures.

    I can’t possibly review PicSay Pro without at least mentioning the photo effects. I was floored by the sheer number of effects that are included in this app! There are far too many to discuss them all here, but suffice to say that most anything you’d need is in this app, and you will definitely get your money’s worth.

    After you’ve made any changes you want to make, don’t forget to click Export and save your photo to your SD card. PicSay will keep the last picture you edited active until you open a new one, but if you don’t export the picture, it will be gone.

    The Good:

    • It’s basically Photoshop on your phone
    • It’s very easy to add stickers and effects to your pictures, and stickers are easy to move and manipulate
    • TONS of stickers and effects, with more added through app updates
    • Multi-touch is available on 2.x devices
    • This app is just plain fun!

    The Bad:

    • Slight learning curve for tilting/resizing

    Final Verdict:
    PicSay Pro is a superb app, and I recommend it very highly. It can be used simply for fun, to show off, or for legitimate photo editing. I was actually able to throw together an edited photo for an event at work in a matter of minutes using PicSay Pro. PicSay Pro is available in the Android Market for €1.99 (Roughly $2.96), and it’s worth every penny! A free version is also available.

    Note: This review was submitted by Justin Jelinek as part of our app review contest.





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  • Android Handbook: Android knowledge in your pocket.

    Have you ever been approached while using your Android phone or asked in the middle of a conversation; what are the specs of that phone? Most cases you can answer with the basics like screen size and resolution. What if the concerned person would like to know more or maybe like to compare Android phones? Now instead of browsing the web or guessing, there is an app that does all the work for you. Introducing Android Handbook!

    Not one of the most useful apps around, but if there are specifics you need to know about any Android phone released or soon to be released it has what you need. You can search by manufacturer to narrow down your choices which is nice. It displays the device by the manufacturer, name of the device, version, and the release date. As far as I can see, the info is pretty accurate. There is a nice little note at the bottom of the screen: “We will keep database up to date!”

    Pros:

    • Information is accurate and up to date
    • Easily accessible and information is compiled in one place for convenience
    • Gallery feature to view a screenshot of the device you’ve selected

    Cons:

    • UI could use some polishing
    • More screenshots of the selected device
    • Font could be a little bit bigger

    In Closing:
    Android Handbook can be a useful tool for determining a future phone purchase or maybe just to compare your phone against a new release. Not an app for everyone but it is available on the Market at your disposal.

    Note: This review was submitted by Terrell Zeigler as part of our app review contest.



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  • SugarSync: This magic briefcase won’t let you down.

    Have you ever been in a spot where you really need a file that just happens to be on your home computer or is on a USB stick somewhere under the seat of your car? SugarSync is an app that lets you access the files that you choose to sync between your computers and their servers from the palm of your hand.

    The app has a slick, polished interface that is easy to use and set up. SugarSync isn’t groundbreaking in their way of bringing “cloud” file management and file storage/syncing to you, but their way of bringing your most important files to your Android phone is remarkable.

    Rundown:

    • SugarSync account needed. You may choose from Free with 2 GB of storage up to large amounts of data backup at monthly/yearly rates.
    • Full desktop client available for file management on your PC or Mac.
    • “Magic Briefcase” folder that automatically syncs between all computers and phones that you have on the account.
    • Integrated file explorer and photo gallery.

    Pros:

    • Automatically syncs your mobile photos (if you choose to).
    • Access your files from any computer in the world with internet access.
    • Easy way to collaborate and share folders to anyone. You can email links for secure access. This is good if the file you are sharing is too large to email.
    • Works great for when you are browsing wallpapers and such on your PC, you can save files to your synced folder and they automatically end up on your phone. No need to mount your USB cord!

    Cons:

    • Large files can be sluggish to load over 3G. Not a fault of the app though.
    • Removes excuses for losing schoolwork.

    Wrap Up:
    SugarSync is a slick little app and once you get used to using it on your phone and beyond, you realize how many headaches it really saves you.

    Note: This review was submitted by Micah Vainikka as part of our app review contest.





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  • Monetization in the Android App Marketplace

    Everywhere we look, there are reports touting the soon-to-be dominance (or at least, spectacular growth) of the Android App market. The latest, from mobile ad network-turned metrics guru, AdMob, boasts that Android’s share of the app market has grown 12 fold in the last year, from 2% in February of 2009 to 24% in February 2010, mainly at the expense of Symbian.

    These are tremendous statistics, and sure to give every Android app developer the warm and fuzzies, but there is a stark reality to this growth, as well as the statistic from Mobile Entertainment’s Guide to Android that there are 2-3X as many free Android apps as there are iPhone apps, which are now or eventually will be ad-supported. As any freshmen Economics student will tell you, that kind of dramatic increase in supply, without a similar increase in demand, results in significant downward pressure on price.

    That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are three major developments in the mobile advertising market that will help to secure the future of ad-supported Android apps well into the future.

    The first is that, according to Nexage Metrics, application inventory is selling at a substantial premium to mobile web inventory. In the month of January 2010, application inventory, on average, sold for 50-75% more than mobile web inventory. It’s an engaging environment for the user, and offers a great branding and direct response atmosphere for the advertiser… a winning combination that’s translating into more ad dollars.

    The second is that the nature of mobile advertising selling and buying is shifting in favor of the publisher and app developer. Ad mediation and optimization services are creating both scalable and effective solutions for app developers to monetize their content without diverting resources and focus from their core competency – developing great apps.

    The ad network business model didn’t fit the size or scalability of most app developers who were forced to choose between low fill rates, albeit with little resource investment, or decent fill rates earned at the expense of a dedicated team member’s time and attention.

    Ad mediation companies have taken the best parts of the ad networks – huge amounts of targeted, global inventory – but made them scalable by offering a single point of integration and reporting.

    Further, the optimization layer goes one step further than traditional ad exchanges to enhance the yield of app inventory. Rather than finding a price match for the inventory, an optimization platform will select for the highest yielding ad network to fill the inventory, exacting upward price pressure and staving off eCPM erosion… all without diverting resources from actual app development.

    The third development is yet to be realized, but with the rate of change in the industry, it will likely be the standard by the time you’re reading this article. When utilized appropriately, data enhancement overlaid on a mobile ad impression will take targeted advertising to a new level, creating as yet untapped value for all participants in the value chain – from the consumer who will receive relevant offers and be more apt to respond to the publisher, advertiser, and ad networks, who will see increased returns on their investments. To date, online behavioral and re-targeting strategies have largely been successful in a handful of verticals, such as automotive, telecom, retail, and travel. Mobile has the unique advantage and capacity to tie elements such as location, time, and past interests/purchases together which are game changing ingredients for both consumers and advertisers.

    There’s no question that the continued growth of the Android app market is going to have an enormous impact on mobile advertising – bringing huge quantities of targeted, global inventory into a burgeoning marketplace. However, in order to make it a truly vibrant and sustainable marketplace, it’s requisite that the sellers of that inventory have the tools and the knowledge to capitalize on their asset and investment, generating capital to fuel the next generation of great Android apps.

    This article was submitted by Nexage CEO, Dev Gandhi.

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  • VOICES: With so much potential for energy efficiency, why is the South so inefficient?

    south_metro_carbon_footprints.jpgBy David Roberts, Grist

    When it comes to energy reform, the American South has often been a
    deadweight, anchoring the country to the status quo. There are any
    number reasons why: It’s oil, coal, and nuke country. It’s heavily
    Republican. Many of the affluent white men who dominate its politics
    view energy as part of the culture war, another attack by hippies on the
    American way of life. Plus they like trucks.

    But one phenomenon more than any other shapes the South’s attitude
    toward energy policy. It lies beneath all the others, yet it’s the least
    well-understood and the most rarely discussed. What is it?

    Instead of ruining the surprise, let’s take a quick detour that will
    help make the point.

    Energy efficiency in the South

    According to a report released this morning, for every dollar the
    South invests in energy efficiency, it will receive an average of $2.25
    in benefits over the next 20 years in jobs, economic growth, and lower
    bills.

    “Energy
    Efficiency in the South    ” is a detailed new study from researchers
    at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University’s Nicholas
    Institute; it uses models based on U.S. Energy Information
    Administration forecasts to estimate the benefits of various energy
    efficiency policies across three sectors: residential, commercial, and
    industrial. The conclusions, while in keeping with past research on the
    subject, are nonetheless pretty jaw-dropping.

    According to the study, an aggressive set of energy efficiency
    policies in the region could:

    1. Prevent energy consumption from growing over the next 20
    years.     In the absence of such initiatives, energy consumption
    in these three sectors is forecast to grow by approximately 13 percent
    between 2010 and 2030.

    2. Generate new jobs, cut utility bills and sustain economic
    growth.      Overall utility bills would be reduced by $41
    billion each year in 2020 and $71 billion in 2030    ; the average
    residential electricity bills would decline by $26 per month in 2020 and
    $50 per month in 2030; electricity rate increases would be moderated;
    and 380,000 new jobs would be created by 2020 (annual job growth
    increases to 520,000 new jobs in 2030).     The region’s economy
    is anticipated to grow by $1.23 billion in 2020 and $2.12 billion in
    2030.

    3. Reduce the need for new power plants.  Almost 25
    gigawatts of older power plants would be retired and
    the construction of up to 50 gigawatts of new plants (equal to the
    amount of electricity produced by 100 power plants) would be avoided.

    4. Result in substantial water conservation. The
    reduction in power plant capacity would save southern NERC regions 8.6
    billion gallons of freshwater in 2020 and 20.1 billion gallons in 2030.

    (Left off this list are the incredible health benefits of reducing
    fossil fuel use.)

    The reason efficiency has such potential in the South is that it’s
    the least efficient region of the country and the most fossil-fuel
    dependent. Low-hanging fruit abound. And it’s not just that the region
    as a whole would benefit, it’s that the benefits are incredibly
    egalitarian. Virtually everyone in the region would see their fortunes
    improved.

    So, let’s see: Create jobs, save ratepayers money, save businesses
    money, save state governments money, save lives, spur economic growth
    … seems like a no-brainer! A case study for forward-looking public
    policy. And yet, despite their obvious benefits, such policies are not
    forthcoming in the South, and they’re unlikely to appear any time soon.
    Why is that?

    Southern means Southern Company

    Here we return to the single biggest factor in the South’s energy
    intransigence: the energy companies that dominate it are not
    participants in a competitive market. Most of the region’s utilities are
    regulated monopolies, which means their customers and their profits are
    guaranteed by law. They don’t compete; they manage state regulators,
    which is a whole different kind of skill. They are involved in cozy,
    good ol’ boy relationships with those regulators that in some cases
    stretch back generations. They have their way of doing things and it
    works for them. Why would they want change?

    In particular, regulated monopoly utilities have one way to make more
    money: build more power plants and sell more power. They convince
    regulators to offer a set return on capital, and then they deploy the
    capital to get the return. So all that decreased consumption? All those
    savings on power bills? All those avoided power plants? That’s all bad
    news     for southern utilities. It translates directly into lost
    revenue for them.

    That’s why Southern Company, the region’s largest utility, has
    more lobbyists in D.C. than any other energy company    , almost double
    the runner up. Its position has always been secured through influence
    over politicians. It’s got a bunch of dirty old power plants
    grandfathered under the Clean Air Act. It’s got guaranteed access to a
    growing rate base. It’s trying its damnedest to keep any hint of market
    competition or other radical changes as far away as possible. And the
    last thing it wants is for its customers to start using less of its
    product.

    It’s a damn shame. If we treated efficiency as an energy source, we
    would see that the South has access to an enormous reserve of it. It’s
    an abundant supply, and it’s cheap — cheaper than coal,
    cheaper than nukes, cheaper than natural gas. The South is a veritable
    … dare I say it? … no, I shouldn’t … but I must … Saudi
    Arabia of energy efficiency    .

    But the presence of huge demand and cheap supply means nothing unless
    there is a market set up to bring the one to the other. And there’s no
    market in the South. Energy incumbents control policy in the region, and
    they’ve been publicizing costs and privatizing profits for decades.
    They don’t want a new competitor. It’s that simple.

    (Map from Southeast Efficiency Study.)

  • Slacker Radio: Streaming Music to your Android Powered Device

    Online music streaming has quickly become a staple in many people’s online experience. It is certainly a regular occurrence for my co-workers to walk past my office and find me with headphones plugged into the computer rocking out to my new favorite online music service, Slacker Radio. Slacker Radio has the same premise (and some very similar functionality) as the popular Pandora service, but offers a much cleaner user interface and, in my opinion, a much better Android experience.

    I am a stickler for a pleasing user interface. In this area, Slacker definitely does not disappoint. For example, each station you play features album artwork for the current song, the next song in the queue, and minimalist buttons at the bottom of the screen. Slacker looks like it was built for the mobile platform, and it delivers. Most people prefer function over looks in a music player, and Slacker does well here also. The application allows you to choose from one of 100 preset stations or to create a station of your own by typing in a favorite artist. Slacker will then create a station of similar-sounding musicians to enjoy. Additionally, a useful widget gives easy access to basic necessities such as play/pause, skipping songs, and blocking songs.

    Similar to most online streaming music sites, Slacker comes in two main flavors: a free version which is ad-supported and allows you to skip a limited number of songs per hour, and a premium version which offers no ads, unlimited song skipping, and station caching. The slacker application (currently in version 2.0.65) itself is free, and can be downloaded from the Android Market.
    Subscription pricing and more information on Slacker Radio can be found at www.slacker.com.

    The Good

    • Overall a very nice user interface
    • Ability to create stations based on your music taste
    • Widget with all the basic functions
    • In my opinion, it provides a better user experience on the Android platform.
    • Over 100 preset stations for those indecisive days
    • The developers at Slacker are constantly updating the app.

    The Bad

    • Because Slacker is newer than Pandora, they have a smaller song base to draw from. As the application gets more popular, it should rival Pandora in this regard.
    • Free version is ad-supported, and only allows 6 song skips per hour per station.

    Final Verdict:
    As someone who has been unimpressed with the direction Pandora is going, Slacker Radio has offered a refreshing new way to experience online music. I strongly encourage anyone who listens to streaming music to try out Slacker for a few days/weeks, and decide for yourself whether Slacker or Pandora is better for you. Me? I spent a good deal of time with both Slacker and Pandora, and I am now a happy Slacker Radio Plus subscriber.

    Note: This review was submitted by Anthony Domanico as part of our app review contest.





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  • Rhapsody: Add 9 Million Tracks to Your Android

    Rhapsody, the streaming music service previously accessible only by computer or iPhone/iPod Touch, recently released their beta app to the Android market. Rhapsody is a subscription-based service which provides on-demand access to its catalog of over 9 million songs, giving users complete control over what he or she wants to listen to. Although Rhapsody isn’t the first on-demand music service to hit Android, it is the first to combine on-demand access with streaming radio stations, a powerful combo which may distinguish Rhapsody from the oncoming wave of similar services to come.

    Upon launching the Rhapsody app for the very first time, you will be asked to log in if you are an existing Rhapsody user, or to register a new account for a free 14-day trial. Registration is quick, and does not ask for credit card information in order begin the trial period. Afterwards, you are greeted with the home page where you can, among other things, search for an artist, album, or song, view your playlists, view your library, and listen to Rhapsody Radio. In comparison to Pandora, Rhapsody Radio leaves something to be desired. Stations are somewhat limited, as users can only browse through Rhapsody’s pre-selected stations, which can be filtered by popularity, genre, or “key artists”. There is no social integration such as scrobbling or Facebook support, and there is no ability to tailor the station to your preferences via a like/dislike button. Like individual tracks and entire albums, stations can be added to your library for quick access.

    Begin playing a track and you will be taken to the “Now Playing” screen. At the top of the screen are playback controls, a Home button, and a clever button which drops the screen down to reveal the previous screen you were in behind it. At the bottom of the screen is a queue, where songs can be added and rearranged to any order of your liking. In the middle lies the album cover and artist/track title. Long press on this part of the screen and you will be able to purchase the track from Rhapsody, add it to your playlist or library, view more from the artist, or remove the song from your queue.

    What I liked:

    • Great selection – browsing through an artist’s discography even includes tracks on compilation albums.
    • Interface allows you to easily find more music from an artist or group you’re listening to.
    • Songs and entire albums can be added to your queue, playlist, or library. This is an essential feature for those looking to use their Android handset as their main media device.

    What needs improvement:

    • On the second day of my trial period, I began receiving a message reading “5 days left in trial” and suggesting I sign up for a subscription.
    • Offline playback has not yet been implemented. Eventually, users will be able to download tracks to their handset for when they have no signal.
    • Social integration and has become intertwined with the mobile music experience. I’d like to see such features included in future updates.
    • Navigation could be improved slightly, as some controls are long-press and some are click-through.

    Final Verdict:
    Audiophiles may be inclined to spend the $10 monthly subscription to have access to an entire library of music, but Rhapsody will face competition from less expensive apps. Users who only listen to music on the fly may prefer streaming their own collection via Orb or Gmail, or using free streaming radio services.

    Note: This review was submitted by Shane Manning as part of our app review contest.



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  • handyCalc: More calculator than you can handle

    There are a lot of calculator apps in the Android Marketplace and a lot of them are pretty good, but while most are specialized tip calculators, handyCalc comes to the table with pretty much everything under the sun.

    Right off the bat, handyCalc scores points for offering a tutorial when you first run the application. This demo walks you through some of the UI gestures, solving expressions and using trigonometric and other advanced functions. You find out that it can solve linear and non-linear equations, draw graphs of functions and even let you define your own functions to use in advanced calculations.

    As a bonus handyCalc also acts as an almost universal converter (currency, measurement units, etc). It can subtract dates to find the number of days between them and help with statistical calculation by automatically suggesting the average of a sum. It even allows saving your work to a file for later use.

    The good:

    • Very sleek user interface
    • Full featured scientific calculator
    • Can solve fractions as integer or decimal and trigonometric problems as degree or radian
    • Draws the graph of any function
    • Supports saving and loading files
    • Free in the Android Marketplace

    Improvements I would like to see:

    • There’s a glitch when writing extremely long fractions (they go off screen) that I hope that get’s fixed before my next math exam

    The bottom line:
    handyCalc is indeed very handy and I’d recommend it to anyone in need of a scientific calculator that does most of the job for you.

    Note: This review was submitted by Alexandru-Ioan Dobrinescu as part of our app review contest.





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