Android Apps

My Sprint Evo 4G now has Froyo (Android 2.2). One if the big selling points of the upgrade was supposed to be the ability to move some apps to the SD card to free up some internal storage space. I still haven't figured that out, but I did discover a couple of gems.
I can now turn the screen to the left or right to get a wide-screen view. Being right-handed it only seemed natural to turn the screen to the right.
I also have seen two changes in the Andriod Market. They now have a tab for Sprint recommended apps in the right of the apps and games tabs. There is also an option to check on most apps already loaded, to allow them to auto-update. This is a big change and a relief for those of us confronted by 10-12 updates available every other day as we head off to work. Each manual update also seems to require 3-4 screen taps. One takes you into the market and then you tap on each app and then approve twice to update.
I might have designed it to bring up a list of available updates, with a checkbox next to each and thr ability to update all. I would have had the ability to click on each program and see only a list of changes and a back button. I would not have presented a full product description and list of what the app had access to, unless there was a change.
Lets just say I hope it is better now.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.3

I'm Havin' Trouble with the Lawn Mower

I had a mower my dad gave me after I moved into the new house. I made good use of it for two years. My guess is that when I hoaed off the mower one night that the metal got stressed. Next time I mowed, there was a funny noise for a minute before a loud ka-whump and then a lot of noise. A big 'ol chunk of metal bkew out the side of the mower. I think I saw the piston inside the mower!!

So, oil everywhere, engine toast. Mower is done for and lawn is high and half done. So, finally I broke down and got a new mower.

I know this is boring, but I want to test this new droid app. Blogger-droid seems OK. Maybe I'll post regular-ish.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.3.6

Testing mobile posts.

How to wade through it all

I have been in a media tar pit for the last year and a half or more. Right before that period, I was in a six month slow-down in the project work I was doing. I had plenty of time on my hands while waiting on new projects and direction. I became a Google News -aholic reading articles on all kids of news, both political and social. I was getting caught up on personal email. The endless supply of jokes and crap in Yahoo mail was getting sorted out and read and only the truly funny stuff was going on to my friends/family list. I was writing pretty regular and my typing was getting faster than ever. I had some streaming shows I could listen to daily and keep up with.

All of a sudden, bam, I'm told my only choice is to start working full time in the helpdesk. Doable as I've done that stuff before, but there is so much to do there on a constant basis that there is no time to do anything else hardly ever. I occasionally get a few tech articles read or half of some funny story and I can keep up on certain segments of my personal email. It is kind of a shock to the system when you can explore, absorb and comment most of the day long and experiment with new software and ideas and then all of a sudden you are running your ass off to keep up with phone calls and on-site break/fix. (How can a group of users break so much in a short time?)

So I was forced to start to prioritize the info I read and respond to while at work or after I get home. I can't stop the live human interaction with wife and kids, but sometimes I must read email while talking to them or while on phone at work. I glance instead of read carefully, I skim for important or key info, I truncate my responces to the absolute necessary characters to convey the thought.

Here I am in the middle of the night, wound up from the day still and mulling this all over in my mind and trying to find out where to squeeze the time to get the input my hungry mind wants and thrives on. If only the dream of Wifi everywhere ( the holy grail of geeks) would come to fruition. If, and that's a BIG IF, I could actually take my laptop everywhere and be connected while waiting places and eating out, then I might have a chance of seeing stuff that is cool, watching funny videos, listening to music, getting the 2700 unread Yahoo mails dealt with and the uncounted Gmail msgs filtered better and dealt with. Gmail helps with their unlimited filters and labels, but Yahoo limits me to 15. I've got other ideas that would help, but I keep getting pulled in many directions. My time is often not my own.

Right now I'm risking burning my leg by having this Core 2 Duo laptop actually in my lap.

Testing

Christmas booty

Well, the results are in. In the form of Christmas booty, I took in a iPod Nano 8GB, Logitech VX Nano wireless mouse, a custom made t-shirt reading "Ask Me Why My Pants Fit Better", a small aquarium, a quilted blanket, some Dilbert frameable Certificates, Office Space Survival Kit, LightWedge book light, whittling knife, greenish long sleeve shirt, some wild presents from the kids besides what they made, a Wally World gift card (good for iPod gear), and cash (always nice). The wife and I got as a joint present, a big crock pot.

The kid's presents to me are always entertaining. They draw pictures and make stuff at school and home. Zoe had her picture in a Christmas tree ornament. Sophie had her picture in a wreath made out of green cutouts the shape of her hand. Sophie also made a reindeer and a reindeer head. Zach made a snowman out of a white sock. We let him give that to his grandparents. The weird presents that the kids gave me, are not exactly weird, but odd. Darlene took them each shopping and gave them each a $10 limit and said they could buy me whatever they wanted. Seems mostly harmless on the surface, unless you think like a kid. Sophie bought me a potholder/towel set for the kitchen that had penguins on it. I do like penguins, but I don't have them all over the house, yet. Apparently she thinks I need them everywhere. The penguin is cute and my wife likes them, so they stay. Zoe got me two boxes of Russell Stover's candy since they were two for one. She said at the time of purchase that "with two boxes, dad can give some to us." Zach got me a T-handle screwdriver with bits and since he had money left over, he got me two Star Wars battle droids. He probably got the battle droids first.

So, that is the run-down and I've probably forgotten a few small items. My nephews seem to have enjoyed the new computer I got them, dad likes how fast his PC is since I installed more RAM for him (1 GB), mom liked her piano keyboard, the kids seemed to like all their stuff and Darlene liked all her stuff too. Pretty good all around. Merry Christmas to all.