Android Update

What does it mean to Flash or Root the Android

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:20:55 +0000

For those of us who are no longer teenagers and are not as tech savvy as we were back in 1998 when Windows 98 came out. Here is a quick explaination of the meaning of ROOT, FLASH, ROM for android.

In order to upgrade or change the software on my android phone I first need to “ROOT” the phone.

ROOTing the phone is similar to cracking a phone. It is way of getting “superuser” access. For example if you bought a locked phone, you can not use it with another carrier unless you crack it. Once you have access as a super user, you can Flash the phone.

FLASH – Flashing a phone is like changing from Windows Vista to Windows 7

ROM – The software your phone is now using. CyanogenMod for example makes software for different phones. The ROM that is currently on your phone is usually the one that the phone manufacture installed when they made the phone.

Hope this makes things as clear as mud

Compare Iphone and Samsung Galaxy

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:19:30 +0000

Here is a full spec comparison of the Iphone 4 and the Samsung Galaxy

	I Phone 4		Samsung Galaxy
General	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
		4G Network	LTE 700 (region specific)
	2010, June	Announced	2011, October
Size	Available. Released 2010, June	Status	Available. Released 2011, November
	115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm	Dimensions	135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm
Display	137 g	Weight	135 g
	LED-backlit IPS TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors	Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	640 x 960 pixels, 3.5 inches (~330 ppi pixel density)	Size	720 x 1280 pixels, 4.65 inches (~316 ppi pixel density)
	Yes	Multitouch	Yes
Sound	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating	Protection	Oleophobic coating – Touch-sensitive controls
	Vibration, MP3 ringtones	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Yes	Loudspeaker	Yes
Memory	Yes, check quality	3.5mm jack	Yes
	No	Card slot	No
Data	8/16/32 GB storage, 512 MB RAM	Internal	16/32GB storage, 1 GB RAM
	Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps	GPRS	Yes
	Class 10, 236.8 kbps	EDGE	Yes
	HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps	Speed	HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE
	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP	Bluetooth	Yes, v3.0 with A2DP
		NFC	Yes
	Yes, v2.0	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Camera
	5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality	Primary	5 MP, 2592×1936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Touch focus, geo-tagging, HDR	Features	Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection
Features	Yes, 720p@30fps, LED video light, geo-tagging, check quality	Video	Yes, 1080p@30fps
	Yes, videocalling over Wi-Fi only	Secondary	Yes, 1.3 MP
	iOS 4, upgradable to iOS 5	OS	Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
	Apple A4	Chipset	TI OMAP 4460
	1 GHz Cortex-A8	CPU	Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9
	PowerVR SGX535	GPU	PowerVR SGX540
	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	iMessage, SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS
	HTML (Safari)	Browser	HTML, Adobe Flash
	No	Radio	No
	Yes, with A-GPS support	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	No	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Black, White	Colors	Black
	MicroSIM card support only		Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
	Scratchresistant glass back panel		MP4/H.264/H.263 player
	Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic		MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3 player
	iCloud cloud service		Organizer
	Twitter integration		Image/video editor
	Google Maps		Document viewer
	Audio/video player and editor		Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
	Image editor		YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration
	Voice command/dial		Voice memo/dial/commands
	TVout		Predictive text input
Battery

	Standard battery, Li-Po 1420mAh		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1750 mAh
	Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 300 h (3G)	Stand-by	Up to 290 h (2G) / Up to 270 h (3G)
	Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)	Talk time	Up to 17 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 20 min (3G)

Android ICS Tip & Tricks

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:15:56 +0000

A few bits and pieces of interesting commentary and reviews of the new Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich

Should you get the new Android or stay with your current version 2.1? We like to say, go for it, the future is coming, embrace the change, change is for the better!

The intro video from Android Developers

Nice video with Tips on using your new Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0 Ice cream sandwich

PC Magazines review of the Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0.

Cnet reviews the Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Tim Stevens of Engadget reviews the Galaxy Nexus

Galaxy Nexus review from Marketing Land

The Telegraph (a paper in England) reviews the Galaxy Nexus

So are we going to review the Nexus for you? You have got to be kidding. Every Joe and their uncle have reviewed the new Galaxy and why should we not listen to them. It is not like you are going to buy an Iphone instead because of the reviews, or are you?

How To Use Android Internationally (Europe & Asia)

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:12:08 +0000

It happens all the time. You take the Android phone overseas, get a new sim card from the local carrier and the internet does not work.

After putting in your new SIM card you need to change the network settings on your android phone.

Although the phone detects the network in order to get internet you need to enter the local carriers APN information.

Follow these steps to get internet working in a foreign country.

- Press Main

- Select Settings

- Select Wireless and Networks

- Select Mobile Networks

- Select Access point Names

- Press Menu

- Press New APN

- Enter the settings for your Carrier and Country.

For example if you are in Israel using Orange Israel these are the settings.

Name: IL – Orange

Web APN: internet

Proxy:

Port:

Username:

Password:

Server:

MMSC:

MMS Proxy:

MMS Port:

MMS Protocol:WAP 2.0

MCC:

MNC:

Authentication Type: PAP A

PN Type: default, supl

There is a great list here, with all countries and carriers.

Android Phone for Ladies – Xperia Mini Pro

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:07:26 +0000

I went shopping for a new phone for my Mom. She needed something that had a keyboard because how can you type on a screen?

After much searching and comparing the various android options out there, I was recommended by a friend to check out Ericsson. I have not owned an Ericsson phone in close to 14 years. Not that I am married to Samsung, ZTE, Motorola, Blackberry or Nokia, I just thought that they were bankrupt!

The phone is small, much smaller than the large Samsung being sold nowadays. The camera has some really neat features like smile detection.

Here is the phone I bought. $270 on Amazon. Today it is probably cheaper (I hate when the price comes down the day after I buy it). I bought the unlocked version for use overseas and it immediately started working with the overseas carrier.

And there you have it. The perfect combination keyboard, touch screen, not too big, not to small, lady like but not girly, powerful but not a tablet.

Now I need a nap.

To update the Xperia, go here and download the PC companion for your computer or you can find the support page for the Xperia Mini Pro here: http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/support/phones/xperia-mini-pro/