Custom Android User Interfaces are Not the Enemy

Posted on 22/05/2011 by nailerr

It is my opinion that custom Android user interfaces, provided by hardware manufacturers such as HTC, Motorola and Samsung are not always a bad thing. If you listen to some the popular tech podcasts such as ThisIsMyNext, Engadget or Tested you may have come to believe that such modifications are actually the worst sort of crime possible. It seems to me though that these typically on the ball journalists are continually missing the point on this one. Or perhaps simply fail to be clear?

For about two months I have tried to collect my thoughts on this, each time coming up with something too complex or unfocused. Completely by accident this week I recieved a succinct explanation for at least some of it from the developer of FoxyRing. While the topic was churning around in my mind I contacted LevelUp Studios suggesting that if it was possible for them to update FoxyRing to emulate some of the HTC Sense functions such as louder ring when in a pocket, or face down to activate silent / Speakperphone. The reply was the following: Continue reading →

Android Music Player 3.0.336, the look of 2.4?

Posted on 18/04/2011 by nailerr

Eyefi X2 can save photos directly to your Android or iOS device

Posted on 15/04/2011 by nailerr

Head on over to eye.fi for info. I would post the press release here except I am trying to use Opera instead of chrome (gotta try ‘em all!) and it is being far from co-operative.

Review: Tech | 21 Flip-case for Nexus S

Posted on 04/04/2011 by nailerr

There is a big market for mobile phone cases thanks to the high cost and low resilience of modern devices; that big glass face may as well have a target for a background image because it only needs one unlucky drop to see it do an impression of a crystalline spider web. Strange then that so few slip-on cases attempt to protect that most fragile part, the screen, and no scratch resistant film is going to shrug off a fall onto the concrete curb.

Perhaps then you have been wowed by videos of iPhones being hurled at walls with enough force to dent the plaster while protected by only a sliver of a material called d30? Yep, d30 is pretty impressive stuff so what better protection for your glossy new communicator than the Tech | 21 leather flip case for the Nexus S with d30 padding? Continue reading →

Google Mail Android client updates in Germany? Nope. (And a workaround)

Posted on 31/03/2011 by nailerr

I feel pretty special today because I asked the Google a question and the Google gave me an answer. If you have ever tried to get help with a Google product you will have some idea of how hard that can be and how special I must be to have gotten a reply from a human at Mountain View. Right? Continue reading →

A look at Opera Mobile 11 for Android

Posted on 25/03/2011 by nailerr

The first video for the site involved testing a new camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10) so it is not as direct as I would like, things will improve down the line.

Google Nexus S UK / EU Review and Galaxy S comparison

Posted on 10/01/2011 by nailerr

Preface

The following is aimed primarily at people who are already familiar with the Galaxy S and Nexus S and wish to know if the known problems of the first are corrected in the latter. Skipping over the obvious areas to spend more time on topics like GPS and call quality as there are plenty of opinion-pieces online dealing with the superficial elements such as the new colour scheme and so on. Are you are wondering if the potent Samsung hardware is better paired with software directly from the Google Android team or if the FCC reported hardware changes make a difference? Then read on! Continue reading →

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Category Archives: Android