I can never seem to keep track of all the various rewards and membership cards required so I can get ten cents off frozen peas or 2-for-1 jars of peanut butter at whatever supermarket I happen to be in. But it just got a whole lot easier with the Key Ring Reward Cards app for Android.
Install the app and then scan the barcodes from all your different cards and store it in your phone. If you set up an account online, it’ll even back up your cards and barcodes. The cashier can then scan the barcode directly from your phone – and if there’s any problem scanning, the membership number is displayed in an easy-to-read size for quick manual entry. I find this is especially handy when traveling – last time I was in Southern California, I had to sign up for a rewards cards at a market I’m unlikely to visit more than once a year. I have no idea where the card is now, but it would’ve been really easy to store it in my phone instead.
An aside: if you’re concerned in general about retailers monitoring your buying habits, just use a fake name and address when you sign up for your rewards card. For example, my liquor store discount card thinks I’m Barney Gumble…
Eric | July 26th, 2010
Tags: Android, Key Ring Reward Cards
Category: Shopping | No Comments »
A handy app for those of you who shop on Amazon. It’s pretty straightforward, providing an experience similar to what you’re used to online, though with a substantially simplified interface designed for the smaller screen of your Android phone. The home page has a great big search box to find what you’re looking for; and once you’re signed in with your existing account, all your payment and delivery information is there per usual. Makes ordering a breeze.
A nifty addition: you can search for products using barcodes or photographs. The photograph function feels a tad gimmicky, though it does work. Take a photo of something using your phone and the image is submitted to Amazon; in a few minutes, you’ll get an email back with whatever match to the photo is found.
The barcode reader works like a charm – simply scan the barcode on a product and if Amazon sells it, it’ll pop-up nearly immediately, ready to be ordered. Happy shopping!
Eric | July 19th, 2010
Tags: Amazon, Android, apps
Category: Shopping | No Comments »
There are many things I love about Google. One of the biggest ones is their dedication to the Android Market. They’ve launched apps like Google Goggles, Maps with Navigation, Sky Map and now they’ve announced Open Spot.
Open Spot is a very clever idea that can help users find open street parking spots. Using your HTC Hero’s GPS capabilities, Open Spot is able to locate you and show available parking spots in your area. When looking at the map you will see 3 different pins representing available parking spots.
- Red pins are freshly-marked spots.
- Or ange pins are spots marked over 5 minutes ago.
- Yellow pin s are spots marked over 10 minutes ago.
You can help your fellow Android community by marking available parking spots when you make one available. Sharing is quick, easy and can earn you “karma points”.
I’m very excited about Open Spot especially since I’m in downtown San Francisco all the time. Parking can be a bit difficult to find – especially on the weekends. Instead of driving around the block many times , I can now tap into the Android community for help.
“Start helping others find parking, and together we’ll all save time, save gas, and reduce pollution.”
**To download Open Spot with your Credo Mobile HTC Hero, press the Home button -> press the Menu button -> Tap All programs -> Find and tap Market -> Search for Open Spot.
Henry | July 12th, 2010
Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
The smarter the phone, the shorter the battery life. It’s a sometimes frustrating axiom of modern technology – and it’s especially true for nerds power-users like me, who tend to push their gadgets to the limits.
But the HTC Hero has a some things going for it in this regard that may help. First of all, it charges via a mini USB cord, rather than a unique device-specific adapter. Charging can be done either through an electrical outlet with the adapter and cable that come with the phone – or by plugging the phone into a USB port on your computer. I just keep my phone plugged into my computer while I’m at the office. This is especially handy if I go out after work – my phone is fully charged and ready for action.
If you’re a gadget-head like I am, you’ve probably got some extra USB/mini-USB cables lying around. If not, you can pick one up for a couple of bucks at your local electronics shop or online.
Of course, the other way to manage battery life is to only turn on the services you need. If you’re not using Wifi, turn it off; if you only use Bluetooth in your car, turn it off when you get to work; turn off GPS when you’re not using maps. And this is all made very easy to do with the Android Power Control widget. Add the Power Control widget from the widget gallery (Press Home button -> Menu button -> Tap Add to Home -> Tap Widget) to one of your home screens and you’ll have quick access to control power functions that can suck up juice even when you’re not actively using them.
From left to right:
Wifi – Off/On
Bluetooth – Off/On
GPS – Off/On
Sync – Off/On
Screen Brightness – Cycles through Low, Medium and High with each tap. I have my screen set to Auto Brightness control, so I generally don’t make other changes. Keep in mind that using the Brightness control in the Power Control widget will deactivate Auto Brightness; to re-enable, you’ll need to go to Settings/Sound & Display/Brightness.
So, in spite of moderate-to-heavy use throughout the day and evening, these tips mean my Hero is always ready to go.
Eric | July 9th, 2010
Tags: Android, battery life, Power Control, widgets
Category: Productivity | No Comments »
With the summer season just rolling in, I figured I would download something fitting to my BlackBerry Tour and match the nice weather. Beat the heat with a cool breeze feel of the Azure Today theme available for free in the BlackBerry App World.
There over a thousand themes available in the BlackBerry App World, many of which are free. A theme will change the layout of the icons on your handset, and give your phone an entirely brand new feel. The themes range from Holiday themes, Sports themes, Movies & TV and more!
All you need to do is:
1. Install BlackBerry App World.
2. Enter the Categories section of BlackBerry App World.
3. Select Themes.
4. Browse the different sections and download a theme that peaks your interest.
5. After the download is complete, go to Options > Theme > and select your new theme.
Just be aware that sometimes your icons may move around depending on the theme, so you will need to get used to the new layout. You can also switch back to your default theme at any time as well.
Dave | June 28th, 2010
Tags: Blackberry, BlackBerry App World, theme, tour
Category: Customization, Fun and Games | No Comments »
The New York Times app for the Android phone is a great way to keep up on all the news that’s fit to print. The interface is straightforward. The app opens on the Latest News tab (or on the last article or section you’ve viewed), with other sections selectable by pulling down the menu “curtain” - including a Latest Video section that makes great use of the Hero’s media capability. And once you’re reading an article in a section, you can swipe left or right to move to the previous or next article in that section.
When you open a section, the app will update the latest articles and download them to your phone. This is a great feature, since it means I can read articles even when I don’t have a data connection (for example, if I’m on BART or the Muni Metro). One of my quibbles though is that there is no way to save an article to the phone for future reading – when articles are refreshed, you’ll lose any you haven’t read. A “save” feature would be really useful, especially for some of the Times’ longer articles.
One of the best features for me is that the font size of the articles is adjustable – meaning I can read the news while on a crowded bus without having to dig out my reading glasses. You can also share articles a bunch of different ways – via email or SMS, on Twitter or Facebook. All in all, a well-designed app that I use every day.
Eric | June 21st, 2010
Tags: Android, apps, New York times
Category: News | 2 Comments »
The World Cup is upon us and off to a rousing start with South Africa and Mexico playing to scintillating 1-1 tie in the opening game. One of the best parts of the World Cup is we all have our favorite teams. Maybe it is the USA or a team related to your heritage or just rooting for the underdog. It is truly the World’s game.
BlackBerry and Android both have great apps to help follow all of the games. Moreover, if you are anything like me, you will need an app to follow all the scores and news since the games are being played early or in the heart of the workday for most of us.
Search the BlackBerry App World for a good World Cup app or try this one: http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/10914
Or on an Android phone, search the Android Market for two of the best named “Goal.com Mobile” or “2010 World Cup.”
No smartphone? No problem.
Twitter has setup a special World Cup mini site that you can follow all of the action: http://twitter.com/worldcup/worldcup Find a couple of good tweeters to follow and have updates send straight to your phone via text messaging.
Enjoy the World Cup. For some of us it is a month of sporting bliss. And if someone randomly yells out “GOOOOAAAAALLLLL” while looking at their phone, you’ll know what is up.
Adam | June 15th, 2010
Tags: Android, apps, Blackberry, BlackBerry App World, sports, Twitter
Category: Entertainment, sports | No Comments »
Are you interested in using mobile technology to make the world a better place? If so, make sure to check out MobileActive.org. They’ve got a great blog and newsletter summarizing various mobile activism projects making a difference throughout the world.
Here is a quick summary of what they do:
“MobileActive.org connects people, organizations, and resources using mobile technology for social change.
We are committed to increasing the effectiveness of NGOs around the world who recognize that the 4.5 billion mobile phones provide unprecedented opportunities for organizing, communications, and service and information delivery.
We work together to create the resources NGOs need to effectively use mobile phones in their work: locally relevant content and services, support and learning opportunities, and networks that help MobileActives connect to each other. With these things on hand, tens of thousands of NGOs will be in a better position to enrich and serve their communities.
The MobileActive.org community includes grassroots activists, NGO staff, intermediary organizations, content and service providers, and organizations who fund mobile technology projects.
MobileActive is committed to expanding the knowledge and experiences about the use of mobile phones and to accelerating the use of effective strategies and tactics while reducing the learning costs for organizations.”
Mike Swire | June 7th, 2010
Tags: activism, mobileactive
Category: Political | 1 Comment »
You may have heard of it or maybe you’ve have heard of the idea. “Foursquare is a cross between a friend-finder, a social city-guide and a game that rewards you for doing interesting things”. At the moment it appears as if this could be the next big thing (in the social networking world that is).
Using it is simple, you check-in when ever you go to a business or event. Using you phone’s GPS, Fousquare will only show you businesses that are nearby to keep us all honest! You can add your Facebook and Twitter friends in on the fun, and whenever they check-in – you know.
So what’s in it for you?
First of all, badges. You earn badges by performing certain tasks.
Second, you earn points. Currently, Foursquare is experimenting with point redemption. Recently, Fousquare had a promotion where they actually donated money based on points earned to CampInteractive. (read more here http://mashable.com/2009/12/07/foursquare-charity-drive/)
Third (and my personal favorite), more and more businesses are using Fousquare to promote themselves. In example, last month I went to a restaurant in the Bay Area that offered a 10% discount to anyone who checks-in there during dinner hours.
Foursquare is fun and it seems like more and more of my friends are using it everyday. For those concerned with privacy I would recommend going to http://www.foursquare.com for details on how your location data is used.
Foursquare is available in the BlackBerry App World and also the Android Market.
Henry | May 31st, 2010
Tags: Android, App World, Blackberry, foursquare
Category: Entertainment, Fun and Games | No Comments »
Travel season is slowly creeping up. For those like me that are already looking to go home for the holidays, consider using Kayak. I’ve had great luck in finding low priced airfare right on my BlackBerry Curve 8530. The app is free and available in the BlackBerry App World.
I’ve actually spent some time comparing the prices that Kayak offered with their online competitors. I found that Kayak was very competitive, often cheaper but never more expensive. The app is well made, easy to use and has additional features such as a list of Airline companies and their fees. Beyond that, the Kayak app is also available for the HTC Hero 
I recommend Kayak for all the reasons I’ve listed – let me know what your Kayak experience is like.
Henry | May 23rd, 2010
Tags: app, BlackBerry Curve 8530, HTC Hero, Kayak, travel
Category: Productivity, Travel and Maps, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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