I frequently see posts where people are asking for the benefits of rooting an Android phone or tablet. So, instead of rethinking and rewriting the list every time, I’m just going to link them to this pre-existing list.

The List

Get rid of bloatware.
Increase security & privacy.
Integrate Google Voice into the OS (depends on which firmware “ROM” you get).
XPosed with tons of modules for enhanced capabilities.
FolderMount to move ANY app to SD (better than app2SD)… ALWAYS works!
Become a wifi hotspot without paying your carrier DOUBLE for the same internet.
Share internet via cable without paying your carrier DOUBLE for the same internet.
Granular (per permission, per app) security for all apps.
Increased storage space due to removed bloatware.
Backing up all apps.
Keeping multiple versions of backed up apps (Titanium Backup) so you can roll back to an older version when an update totally hoses needed functionality or adds in app advertisements.
Block phone calls and texts from specific numbers (at the OS level).
NANDROID backups (entire, bit-for-bit copy of your entire setup).

All the items above, explained

Get rid of bloatware.
1. Bloatware is software pre-installed by the manufacturer and carrier that you are not allowed to uninstall. It’s usually crap that you’ll never use and uses up your valuable storage space that you could be using for your own stuff.
Increase security & privacy.
1. Contrary to popular opinion, rooting your phone does not automatically reduce your security. In fact, you can add powerful security control that you will never have with an unrooted deviced.
Integrate Google Voice into the OS (depends on which firmware “ROM” you get).
1. I don’t keep up with every feature of every alternative firmware (also, mistakenly called “ROMs”), but I do know that Cyanogenmod has Google Voice support integrated into the OS (they call it “Voice+”). If you have an expensive texting plan, you can cancel it and use your free Google Voice # for texting. The unrooted downside is you can only use Google Hangouts or the old Google Voice app to send or receive texts. If you want to use another texting app, like Chomp, Textra, or any of the others, you’re S.O.L. But with Cyanogenmod, you can connect Voice+ (a feature in the OS settings) to your Google Voice account and suddenly all texting apps can send and receive texts with Google Voice.
XPosed with tons of modules for enhanced capabilities.
1. XPosed is an app for rooted Android devices and it has many “modules” that you can download for great features like giving you the ability to disable any permission you want from any app. So if a game wants your contacts, you can block it. That’s just one of hundreds of things you can do with XPosed.
FolderMount to move ANY app to SD (better than app2SD)… ALWAYS works!
1. FolderMount is not a feature, a concept, or an OS Setting. It’s simply an app available in the PlayStore that let’s you move an apps program folder and/or data folder to your larger SD storage (internal or external) and it tricks the app into thinking it’s still in the original location, so the app continues to work. All other apps that move apps to SD cards fail with some apps because they don’t trick the apps into thinking they’re still in their original location.
2. Moving your apps to SD frees up your internal storage for more apps so you don’t have to pick and choose which apps to uninstall when you want to install a new one because you’re just out of space.
Become a wifi hotspot without paying your carrier DOUBLE for the same internet.
1. Many phones have this feature disabled by the carriers because they don’t want you having this ability. Other carriers provide their own version of this on your phone, but when you use it, it notifies the carrier that you’re doing it and the carrier charges you extra money. It’s really none of their damned business. You’re already paying for the internet access and the bandwidth. With a rooted phone, you can turn your phone into a wifi hotspot and it won’t freaking send a pointless message back to the carrier to say, HEY! This user is using what he’s already paid for! Let’s double-charge him!
Share internet via cable without paying your carrier DOUBLE for the same internet.
1. Similar to making your phone a wifi hotspot, you can plug a cable between your phone and a laptop or PC and let it connect to the internet through your phone.
Granular (per permission, per app) security for all apps.
1. Every app you install has a FIXED set of permissions. When you install the app, you’re presented with the list. You can either accept ALL those permission or NONE of them (by not installing the app). With a rooted phone, you can install an app, then go and turn OFF individual permissions you don’t want the app to have. (This increases your security and privacy by light years!)
Increased storage space due to removed bloatware.
1. This one is self-explanatory.
Backing up all apps.
1. You can back up your installed apps and their data, then restore them later. This is ridiculously useful.
Keeping multiple versions of backed up apps.
1. (Titanium Backup) so you can roll back to an older version when an update totally hoses needed functionality or adds in app advertisements. So, so, so, sooooooooo useful!
Block phone calls and texts from specific numbers (at the OS level).
1. Got one too many calls from “Rachel, from ‘Card Services’?” Add the incoming phone number to your block list. This is NOT an app. It’s a feature of the OS (depending on whether you install a firmware that has it). The phone never rings or wakes up… it’s just totally blocked and ignored.
NANDROID backups (entire, bit-for-bit copy of your entire setup).
1. You can make an exact copy of your phone, as-is. Then restore it later, EXACTLY is it is at the moment you make your backup. This is good for many things, including making a backup before you start experimenting with changes. Screw it up? Just restore from your backup.

Can you think of any other benefits of rooting your Android device? Share them with us in the comments below.

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2015-07-11

Extending Xamarin Forms

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This is Keith’s second part to his earlier session on Introduction to XAML Forms.

Below are my in-session notes:

JetBrains dotPeek is a Windows app to help with XAML. Extremely valuable according to Keith.
Demo was in Xamarin Studio (on Mac). A little more stable than Visual Studio 2015 right now.
When starting new project, you have check boxes for target platforms (iOS & Android).
UITests projected created for you, by default.
Be sure to get latest packages because they’re updated frequently.
Creating a new XAML form creates a XAML file and a C# code behind file.
Inside XAML <ContentPage>, type in your new controls.
He created an Audio Recorder class to record some audio.
He’ll be targeting iPhone for this demo.
Data binding with BindableProperty type:
- public static BindableProperty fileNMeProperty = BindableProperty.Create(“FileName”, typeof(string));
- public string FileName{ get{ return (string)this.GetValue(FileNameProperty);} set{this.SetValue(FileNameProperty, value);}
MessagingCenter class lets you communicate between the layers (I presume he means between the code behind layer and the XAML layer).
C# code that’s native to the target platform is auto-generated (I think).
He built and deployed his demo to his iPhone and recorded his voice. We didn’t hear the playback, but he swears it played back. Don’t worry, we trust you Keith. 🙂
He created a “renderer” for a platform specific feature (>> on list items on iOS). It will not fail on other platforms, it just won’t show it.

2015-07-11

Introduction to Xamarin

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CodeStock 2015 is the biggest CodeStock, by almost double this years hosted at the Knoxville World’s Fair park Convention Center. It’s our first year having it at this convention center. Below are my notes on the intro to Xamarin Forms session.

Xamarin is a cross platform development tool to let you write mobile apps once and deploy to Android, iOS, or Windows Phone. It’s not from Microsoft, but it’s a .Net platform that allows you to write your code in C# (and now supports F#). Below are my in-session notes.

Xamarin FORMS adds shared UI Code (this is new) – No more platform specific.
Xamerin has been around since 2000, so not a new or fly by night company.
They negotiate on pricing.
You have to pay TWICE if you want BOTH iOS And Android. UGH!
Xamerin forms is only for Enterprise. DOUBLE UGH!
Mac is required for iOS. TRIPPLE UGH!
Cloud testing available
- Automatically test your app on hundreds of mobile devices. Select what to test on. They have a room in Europ filled with hundreds of phones and tablets.
- Captures screen shots, etc…
Xamarin University – $1,995 per developer – Instructor live training. Free for a month right now – but there’s a catch. Only 2 of the courses are available
- intro – what we’re about
- and very first one (how to use it)
Paid gives you 3 months access to business tier – because you need it to go through the training.
Not only can you use C#, but you can also use F#.
You HAVE to know the specifics of each platform (iOS & Android)
Tools
- Xamarin Studio (PC or Mac)
- Visual Studio plugin for VS 2010 and higher (requires biz or enterprise or starter, just not indie)
If you want to build for Windows Phone, you have to have Visual Studio.
Xamarin Studio doesn’t support iOS
VS supports both iOS and Android
Xamarin Android Player (emulator) faster than Google’s. Runs on Windows & OSX
They have a few images (Lollipop image is available)
Doesn’t work well with Windows Phone emulator.
Xamarin supports Android Wear, Apple Watch, & Microsoft Band
about 90% of code can be shared across platforms
PCL = Portable Class Libraries used for the “core” code in multi-platform applications.
About 80% of a Xamarin Forms app will be located here.
Rosylin compiler already supported in Xamarin.
Xamarin Forms
- Xamarin UI controls are an abstraction above each platform’s native controls, but compile down to platform specific controls. Provides a native experience on each platform.
- Layouts are common screen layouts that you can choose from.
- Yes, you can nest layouts in them.
- Forms made with XAML. — MVVM as a result.
- Can also do it with code.
- Extensibility
  - Can embed custom views anywhere.
  - Call platform APIs via shared services.
  - You can go full native API if you want (kind of defeats the purpose of using Xamarin though)
Custom Renderers
- You can override a renderer for a specific platform.
Xamarin Forms
- Reflection will be a problem on iOS because there’s no runtime on iOS.
- App Quality control
- Xamarin Insights
  - Real time monitoring, track crashes, know of user problems before they report, get user’s e-mail address, etc…

2015-01-10

Cyanogenmod 12 Lollipop initial review

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I just installed CM12 last night on my T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4. Here are my thoughts and experiences so far. Keep in mind, this is only after a few hours of use. Also, I’m commenting on both Cyanogenmod 12 and Lollipop.

[GARD]

The Good

Battery performance seems to be better. The jury is still out, but so far, it seems like it’s taking longer for it to drain.
New stuff… Just… It’s new, and that gets my jollies.
Multiple users – You can now have multiple user accounts, just like on Windows.
Super SU is no longer needed. That functionality is now built in (Settings/Developer Options/Root Access
More settings options
Uses the more efficient and faster DART instead of the old DALVIK.
Lock screen can be set to randomly change where the numbers are on the number pad when you enter your PIN. This prevents people from determining what your PIN is by looking at smudges on your screen (this is a REALISTIC hacking method that actually works… well, it DID until now).
Battery screen shows how much estimated time you have remaining and when charging, tells you estimated time to a full charge.

The Bad

Gallery app is gone
XPosed framework doesn’t work (that’s not CM’s fault… but still, it’s worth noting because that is so very important to many of us).
FolderMount doesn’t work. Again, not CM’s fault, but holy cow! A power user can’t really use a 16GB phone without it + an external SD card.
Bright backgrounds everywhere cause unnecessary drain on the battery on screen types that are more efficient with fewer white pixels.
Bright backgrounds hurt my eyes when I wake up and use my phone or have been in a dark room for a while, like watching TV at night.
Lots of things still don’t work on Lollipop that did on Kit-Kat. Again, not the fault of CM… just an issue you have to consider before upgrading.
On the battery screen, the most used item is “Miscellaneous”, which doesn’t help me diagnose what’s using the most battery.
Lots of apps crashing… many are Google apps. And yes! I did, in fact, flash the latest GAPPS for Lollipop!

The Ugly

This is all opinion, of course, so like or dislike whatever you like or dislike. Don’t get mad… Seriously! Don’t get mad! Here are the things I dislike, visually.

Flat… flatness EVERYWHERE! I know! The people that LIKE it are VERY VERY VERY vocal about it, so much so that people that do NOT like it feel intimidated to mention that they don’t care for the latest craze in flatness that’s not really new anymore.
More white backgrounds… Looking more and more like that other phone platform. I personally prefer dark backgrounds on most things on my phone for aesthetics, less strain on my eyes, and improved battery performance.
When I tap a link to bring up a web page, it prompts me for which browser I want to use, which is fine, but that prompt MUST be broken, because it just looks so wrong. It’s not a card, like most things on Lollipop. It’s not a popup window. It’s a half-window that appears to have failed to scroll up all the way. The 3rd option in the list is only halfway drawn and is cut off at the bottom of the screen. This is one of the ugliest UI design element I’ve ever seen. I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt and call this a bug. [Update: A reader pointed out that this must be a bug since this doesn’t happen on their CM12 install on their phone]

[GARD]

My overall impression?

While there are many improvements, the things lacking and the crashing, I’ve already decided I need to go back to CM11 KitKat until Xposed framework and FolderMount are working again and fewer things are crashing.

CM12 is still in nightly builds and has not yet released a stable build, so some bugs and missing features are to be expected and CM12 was only made available for my particular phone in the last few days, so it’s still hot off the alpha press, so to speak.

I shouldn’t have to say this, because it’s so abundantly, blatantly obvious, but…

Your mileage may vary depending on how you use your device and which device you have. Not everyone uses their phone the same way and not everyone has the SAME phone and not everyone uses the SAME APPS. So, if it works for you, and my overall impression gets you mad… CHILL! It’s just an OS, dude!

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2014-08-30

Is Samsung really cloning all the Google Apps?

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Last year, there was an image floating around the net, supposedly showing all the cloned apps that Samsung has made of the Google apps. Today, there’s an updated one for 2014 with even MORE apps in it. The claim is that Samsung is cloning existing Google apps and making their own. Then the people passing this around are espousing some kind of evil intent on the part of Samsung.

[GARD]

Let’s examine each one. First, here’s a listing of all the apps in the popular meme going around:

Now, on each line, let’s highlight which app came out first in green… the Samsung app or the Google app:

As you can see, the vast majority of these apps came from Samsung first, NOT Google! So, now that you know that, you can help the proliferation of the actual truth by:

Not spreading the false information.
Correcting people when THEY spread the false information.

Additionally, not all of these apps are direct comparisons and in many of them, the Samsung version has minor or major advantages.

Some apps that need special mention…

[GARD]

Camera vs. Camera

The Samsung camera app was not only out YEARS before the Google camera was released to the play store for all phones, but the Samsung camera is actually quite good. In fact, it’s superior to the Google camera app in functionality. It was won much praise. Now, it’s not better on ALL accounts, but it WAS first. The Google camera has the much coveted PhotoSphere feature though.

Chrome vs. “Internet”

Chrome was only recently released. Before that, Samsung HAD to provide a browser and they could NOT provide Chrome… because it didn’t exist! Also, Samsung’s browser has a few features that Chrome doesn’t like the ability to scroll pages by simply nodding your head without touching the screen.

Chromecast vs. Samsung Link

Again, Samsung Link was out YEARS before Chromecast. Additionally, the two are not directly comparable. Chromecast is intended for use with additional hardware. Samsung Link was designed to communicate with multiple devices.

Google “Device Policy” vs. Samsung “Knox”

Aside from being first (not a clone), Samsung Knox and Google “Device Policy” are not exactly the same thing, though there IS some overlap. Samsung Knox has two primary features:

Divide the user’s phone into two, untouching environments (work vs. personal) so apps and settings in one don’t affect the other.
Provide very strong security to give Samsung devices the OK from corporate I.T. departments, giving them the ability to control the “work” side of the user’s phone without interfering with the user’s personal side.

Google’s “Google Apps Device Policy” is intended for admins and users of Google Apps. It does not divide a phone into a work area and a personal area AND it arrived AFTER Samsung Knox.

NOTE: Android L will be incorporating Samsung’s Knox security. Not only did Samsung NOT copy Google, not only was Samsung FIRST, but Google is now taking actual parts of Samsung Knox and embedding it into the base Android OS.

GMail vs. Samsung “EMail”

Yet again, Samsung was first with their EMail client (as was every other Android device maker). GMail is a relatively newcomer to the Android E-Mail client scene.

Also, the GMail app works ONLY with GMail. It does NOT work with any other E-Mail service. Samsung’s E-Mail app is a general purpose E-Mail client app. it works with ALL POP3 and IMAP email (including GMail). It also works with Microsoft Exchange. In addition to that, it also enforces Exchange’s security policies.

These apps are only barely comparable, but, as stated above, Samsung’s E-Mail client was out YEARS before GMail.

Google vs. S-Voice

[GARD]

Do I need to say this? OK, I’ll do it just to be complete: S-Voice was out long before Google’s app. S-Voice was available as far back as AT LEAST the Galaxy S2 (as of this writing, the S5 is the current Galaxy phone). That’s several years ago. “Google Now” came out YEARS later.

Additionally, S-Voice has more local features than Google’s app does for integrating with the phone. “Google Now” is slowly catching up though on the local features, but is still not there yet. They overlap in many areas and each has features the other doesn’t. S-Voice is also FASTER than “Google Now” in search test results.

Hangouts vs. Chat-On

Google Hangouts is another relatively NEW comer to the game. Chat-On has been around longer AND it integrates with more chat services. Hangouts uses ONLY Google chat services.

Keep Vs. S-Note

Not only has S-Note been out since AT LEAST the Galaxy S2 and Google Keep only recently came out, but S-Note’s functionality is vastly superior to Google Keep. S-Note is a highly functional and very mature note taking app. Google Keep is like notepad in comparison.

Google Photos vs. Samsung Gallery

Google Photos only came out in very recent history. Samsung Gallery has been out almost since the beginning of Android time.

Google Play Games vs. Samsung S-Console

Once again, Samsung’s was out first. It may be confusing to some people because S-Console went by another name in prior version.

Google “Play Movies & TV” vs. Samsung “Watch On”

[GARD]

As with everything else, Samsung was first. BUT, these two apps shouldn’t really be compared. Samsung’s “Watch On” is an app that turns a Samsung Galaxy S4 or S5 (and I think some of the Samsung Note models) into a universal remote control for your TVs, DVD players, and other set top devices using the IR blaster built into certain Android devices. Google “Play Movies & TV” is essentially digital media online store.

Google “Remote Control” vs. Samsung “Smart remote”

Yet again, Samsung was first, but again, these two apps shouldn’t be compared. The Google app is really called, “Remote Control for Google TV”. It’s an app that lets you control your Google TV device (which is so new, it’s umbilical cord hasn’t even been cut yet. Samsung Smart Remote is essentially a scaled down version of “Watch On”.

There’s a growing, vocal community of people that really really hate Samsung. Some of it is justified and some of it is not. One of the memes that just won’t stop is that Samsung is going in a direction away from Google. That may or may not be true, but the evidence provided to support that claim is the false list above.

In fact, almost all Android phone makers provide many NON Google versions of these apps, especially a browser and e-mail client, because until recently, Google provided no browser and they STILL don’t provide a general use e-mail client. Other apps that ARE overlaps of Google apps are so, with both Samsung and others, because there WERE NO Google equivalents when those apps were made.

Editorial

All of the above was just historical facts. The following is a bit of opinion…

Even if Samsung were or is intentionally making an ecosystem that doesn’t rely on Google, can you blame them? Well, sure, you CAN. But SHOULD you? Does it make sense for ANY company to have so much of their business rely upon another company that’s not under their control? of course not. Every company wants to be in control of their own destiny. So, I personally do not blame Samsung IF that is what they’re doing.

Now, what about the CUSTOMERS? What’s best for THEM? Is it a GOOD or a BAD thing for customers IF Samsung is actually INTENTIONALLY positioning themselves to survive WITHOUT relying on Google?

Of course. Why? Because if you’ve read this far, you are clearly an Android supporter and if you support Android, you almost certainly support it for many reasons, one of the big ones being that Android provides CHOICE. Not just choice for something other than Apple, but choice WITHIN the Android platform. If Google Maps is the ONLY mapping program out there, then you have no choice but to use it. BUT, if there is competition, even IF you choose to continue to use ONLY the Google version, the mere existence of the competition will keep Google on their toes and incorporate features sooner than they would have had the competition not done it AND will cause Google to add features they may not have thought of to start with.

[GARD]

Competition and choice are GOOD things and THAT’S why you love Android. NO ONE IS FORCING YOU USE THE SAMSUNG APPS NOR EVEN TO BUY A SAMSUNG PHONE! Even if you want the Samsung hardware, but not the apps, YOU CAN DO THAT! (if you root it, of course).

2014-08-07

Dragon Touch Tablet–High End Hardware–Low End Price

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This is going to be a quick and short review. The Dragon Touch 9.7” Android tablet by TabletExpress (as U.S. company) has fairly high hardware specs considering its low price of $179.99. Most tablets that size are much more expensive. But, it’s not just a 9.7” screen tablet, it also has a ridiculously high resolution of 2048×1536 (again, hi res for that price). It also sports a Rockchips RK3188 Quad Core Cortex A9 CPU at 1.8Ghz per core.

[GARD]

Here are the specs:

9.7” screen
2,048×1,536 pixels “Retina” display
Rockchips RK3188 Quad Core Cortex A9 CPU at 1.8Ghz per core
Front and rear cameras
Bluetooth 4.0
MicroUSB port (data only, not for charging)
HDMI port
Headphone jack
SD card slot, up to 64GB
12v DC proprietary adapter
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
16GB internal storage
2GB RAM
Wifi

Here’s an unboxing of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xZP8B3V46k

The Good:

9.7” screen
2,048×1,536 pixels “Retina” display
Rockchips RK3188 Quad Core Cortex A9 CPU at 1.8Ghz per core
MicroUSB port (data only, not for charging)
HDMI port
SD card slot, up to 64GB
Screen Protector

Remember, this “goodness” is all based on getting this for $179.99.

You almost never see a screen larger than 7 inches for this price. Remember, the Nexus 7 is only 7 inches, only has a resolution of 1920×1200, same amount of RAM and internal storage, and is only 1.5Ghz and NO SD card slot for expandability and IT costs $229. Hardware wise, this thing kicks butt, especially for the price.

That screen resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 is insanely high for such a cheap tablet. Even many more expensive tablets don’t even have that resolution.

The processor is a fairly fast Quad Core with a higher clock speed than what you get with the much more expensive (and small) Nexus 7.

It has an HDMI port so you can view it directly on your computer monitor or HDTV. That can turn it into a game console or a cheap way to show the family photos and videos while on the go or to give presentations.

The Micro USB port is both a pro and a con. Since we’re in the “Good” section, let’s focus on the good. This is pretty standard on Android devices and any device without a MicroUSB port would be a joke.

It comes with 2GB of RAM and 8, 16, or 32GB of storage. I’m reviewing the 16GB version here. It also has a Micro SD card slot so you can add up to 64GB of more storage. “Officially” it supports up to 32GB, but reviews on Amazon.com say that 64GB cards do indeed work.

The build quality is pretty robust too. It doesn’t feel like a light piece of plastic. This thing is solid.

It also comes with a screen protector already installed for you!

Google Play:

Yes! This tablet has all the Google Goodness, including the Google Play store. I do have to mention this because many tablets in this price range do NOT have any of the Google software and lack the Google Play store.

The Bad:

Front and rear cameras
MicroUSB port (data only, not for charging)
12v DC proprietary adapter
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Let me first say that the good outweighs the bad. I highly recommend this tablet.

BUT! It’s not perfect. For example, the front and rear cameras are both only 2 megapixels and the quality is not that great. So, you’re not going to use this for keepsake photos and videos, but it’s good enough for scanning barcodes and doing video chats.

The MicroUSB port does NOT charge the device! This is a pretty important thing to note because to charge it, you have to use their supplied, proprietary charger with a very short 2 foot cord.

Also, the OS is not the latest. It comes preinstalled with Android 4.2 Jellybean. Today’s version of Android is 4.4.4 Kit Kat and the next major release, code named “Android L” is just around the corner. I can’t confirm this, but rumors are that there will be no updates for this. BUT, Jelly Bean 4.2 is a robust and powerful version of Android and as long as you update Google Play Services from the Google Play store, you’re going to get most of the important updates from Google.

In spite of the powerful hardware, it’s quite laggy and choppy. My wife hasn’t complained, but my son noticed and I noticed and the reviewers on Amazon noticed. Read below on “Make it better” for a fix.

The Box Contents:

There’s absolutely no paperwork or manuals in the box. You get the tablet, the charger, a Micro USB to standard USB (PC to tablet) cable, and a USB PC female adapter cable. I mean, one end plugs into the MicroUSB data port on your tablet and the other end is an open USB female port so you can plug in things like PC mice, keyboards, and external hard drives.

Make it Better:

For the technically capable… You can root this tablet with TPSparkyRoot. Once rooted, you can then flash an alternative firmware (more commonly mislabeled as a “ROM”) and reports are that it makes this thing liquid smooth, like butter.

Conclusion:

For the money, you’ll have a really hard time finding this much bang for the buck. With the screen resolution so high, and a decent enough size screen, you can even remote control your high-end desktop PCs with it. –>Get it here<–

2014-01-19

BEST ANDROID APPS TO START OFF 2014 (PHONE/COMMUNICATION APPS)

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This article is one of a series of articles about the best Android apps available as of the beginning of 2014. Click here for the main article that includes links to this article and links to all the other categories of “The Best Of” apps for beginning 2014. Let’s get started with the Phone/Communication category, which lists the best phone and communication apps available at the beginning of 2014. For last year’s list, click here:

Groove IP and Talk-A-Tone (Free VOIP)

If you have a Google Voice Account (and if you don’t… WHY NOT???), you can install Groove IP (free version or paid version $4.99) or Talk-A-Tone to make and receive calls over your data plan with your Google voice number. As far as your mobile carrier is concerned, no call took place, so NO MINUTES ARE USED!

Groove IP is one of the few apps I’ve actually purchased.

I don’t know how many times I’ve explained this to people… they just DO NOT get it, so hopefully you WILL (pay attention!): The official Google Voice app DOES NOT MAKE VOIP CALLS!!!! The official Google Voice app does everything EXCEPT make VOIP calls. Yes, you CAN change your GV settings to forward calls placed to your GV# to your real cell phone number, but when you answer, you’re USING MINUTES because you’re actually using your mobile carrier’s phone connection. But if you use Groove IP or Talk-A-Tone, you can send and receive calls ON DATA ONLY. As far as your mobile carrier is concerned, nothing is happening except “stuff on the internet”. I’m hoping you can see the difference. Making “real” phone calls with your carrier USES YOUR MINUTES. Using Groove IP or Talk-A-Tone, you have UNLIMITED minutes. (note: it DOES use your data, so if you have a data cap, be mindful of that).

[GARD]

So, eat my shorts Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and everyone else!

Sadly, Google is turning off 3rd party APIs for VOIP in May, so these apps will ONLY work until then. Then it’s lights out. Sad smile ALL 3rd party VOIP apps that use Google Voice will cease to function. This is a huge downer for me as my home phone is actually a 100% free Google Voice phone.

Both Groove IP and Talk-A-Tone have both free and paid versions. The free versions work only on your Wi-Fi connection. The paid versions will use your mobile data connection too. But, if you do pay for them, remember, they stop working in May 2014.

Red Phone (Encrypted Phone Calls)

New in my list this year: With Red Phone installed, your cell number is registered with them. Then, when anyone else with Red Phone calls you, Red Phone notifies them that you have it to and they can place a secure call with you. This bypasses making a real phone call and instead makes a VOIP call and it’s encrypted. This not only encrypts your call, but it does NOT use minutes from your cell phone provider because you’re not really making a “real” phone call. As far as your carrier is concerned, it’s just “stuff on the internet”.

Eat my shorts, NSA!

TextSecure (Encrypted Text SMS)

New in my list this year: Make by the same people that gave us Red Phone, is TextSecure. this is a texting app, but with a special feature: Anyone you text that’s also using it will receive your text messages securely. Both of your messages are encrypted locally, before sent out. Just like RedPhone, when you install TextSecure, it registers your phone number with their servers so that your contacts who also use it will automatically detect that you have it and will encrypt your text messages. You can use this app as your standard SMS app too. If you text someone that does NOT have TextSecure, it just sends the text messages in the normal way any other SMS app does. If your text messages ARE encrypted, it’ll show a lock icon by them so you always know whether you have a secure or unsecure connection.

Eat my shorts, again, NSA!

Chomp (SMS)

New in my list this year: Chomp SMS is my favorite SMS app (aside from the encryption provided by TextSecure. You have a LOT of customizations of the look and feel of your text messages.

Of course, if you want encrypted messaging, this is not the app for you. But if you want a great looking messaging app, this is one of the best. You can even make it look like the bubbly iOS texting app, if you like.

One thing to note about encrypted messages: If you are running CyanogenMod 11 (if you’re not sure, then you most certainly are NOT), it has TextSecure’s encrypted technology built directly INTO the Operating System so ALL your SMS apps can send and receive encrypted messages! So, since I am running CM11, I continue to use Chomp SMS and I also get the benefit of encrypted messages without the need of the stand-alone TextSecure app. Yes, I have the best of both worlds!

Yes, it’s supports EMOJI and themes as well.

Thanks CyanogenMod!

Google Hangouts

New in my list this year: Google Hangouts is Google’s latest offering for messaging. They are integrating all of their various messaging apps into one. This app does SMS, Google Chat, some of Google Voice, and Video and Audio chatting all in ONE app. If you like the Google card like interfaces (I personally do NOT for this type of app), then you’ll love this. It can even be your default SMS app. This is almost an all-in-one messaging app.

Google Voice

Staying on the list this year: Not to be confused with the Google Voice SERVICE, this is the Google Voice Android App. Yes, it sounds like I’m splitting hairs, but the Google Voice SERVICE is much bigger than this lonely, single, Android App. Of course, this app gives you a user interface into the Google Voice service. This app does SMS (only via your Google Voice #, not your real cell #) and provides you a great UI for your Google Voice voice messages. BTW, you can make Google Voice your REAL voice-mail provider for your REAL cell phone number, instead of your cell phone providers very limited voicemail service. If you use GV as your standard VM provider, then you get everything you had before PLUS you can get your v-mail sent to you in e-mail. You get automatic voice to text transcriptions (which are searchable!), can access your v-mail from any web browser, from the GV app, from your e-mail. You can play them on your phone or in a web browser. You can SEE them as if they’re e-mail with a GMail like UI. Once you try it, I promise you, you’ll NEVER go back to that crappy old v-mail service your cell provider has for you, wasting all that time listening to messages with just your audio and phone pad interface.

[GARD]

Note that if you have CyanogenMod 11 or higher (again, if you’re not sure, then you definitely do NOT), then you have Google Voice support DIRECTLY in your phone’s operating system. You PHONE can use the free, unlimited texting service from your Google Voice number. ANY SMS app on your CM11 phone can use your Google Voice # for sending and receiving SMS messages. If you do NOT have CM11 (or Sprint), then Google’s free SMS via your Google Voice number has utility ONLY in the Google Voice app.

But, with your Google Voice service and this app (or any SMS app on a Sprint phone or a CM11 phone), you can cancel your expensive texting plan and use ONLY your Google Voice service. It’s free and it’s unlimited.

Oh! And calls to your GV# can be filtered for telemarketing spam. So can SMS messages. It’s an optional (and free) feature. Of course, you want this feature turned on!

See my 2013 “Best Android Apps to Start off 2013 (Phone/Communication Apps)” for a more, in-depth description of this service.

Eat my shorts, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Virgin, etc…

Mr. Number (Spam Blocking)

Still on my list this year: This is an oldie, but a goodie. Install Mr. Number and it will instantly lookup any incoming call and compare the caller ID information to a known list of telemarketers. It will actually WARN you with a popup notification that the caller is a suspected spammer. At which point you can choose to answer, hang-up, or block it. If you block it, it gets added to your block list and you’ll never receive a call from them again. If you get a call from a telemarketer that Mr. Number didn’t recognize, you can then tell Mr. Number that this number is a telemarketer and block it. The great thing about that is it registers that number with the Mr. Number servers as a spammer so OTHER users get notified too.

This service is a crowd sourced service. All of you are helping each other out. You can even leave a description of the telemarketing call. Even iOS users have a version of this app, so they too are contributing to the crowd sourced information.

Eat my shorts, telemarketers!

YP Mobile

Same as last year: YP Mobile (available here in the Google Play store) provides your basic yellow pages phone book, plus the familiar stuff you find in other “local services” apps for finding restaurants, gas prices, etc… Not much more to say about it. This app is no more or less special than others of its type, but I’m including it as one in that type of category. Others are Yahoo!, Yelp, and Where.

[GARD]

Personally, I find Google Maps a superior tool for finding local businesses and their phone numbers as it shows a map of your results, so you can see, visually, immediately, what’s close by, then just tap whichever one you want on the map to get the details and phone numbers.

Google Maps

New on my list this year: Why Google Maps in a list of PHONE apps? Because, I’ve found this is the most convenient way to find local numbers by business name OR by category (such as “Pizza”). The search results are pins on a map, showing me WHERE these places are, which is almost always important to me for local places. Touching a pin shows you that company’s contact information, INCLUDING their phone number, which you can tap and call immediately. It is UBER useful! I actually use Google Maps more than anything else for finding phone numbers. To be honest, I don’t even have YP Mobile installed anymore. I do want to leave it on my list, because it is useful and I just can’t bring myself to not recommending it, even though I honestly do NOT use it myself, anymore. Google Maps is just awesome for finding local (and even non-local) businesses.

Dropped from this year’s list

Not all apps from last year made this year’s list. Among them is Call Master. Now, this is actually a GREAT app and works even better than Mr. Number, but it has one terminal flaw: It sometimes pops up a nag screen in front of an incoming call, making it impossible to answer the phone. I’ve missed a couple of very important phone calls. For that reason, I’ve removed it from this year’s list. BUT, if you’re wanting to pay for the full version, I’m sure this nag screen problem would go away.

What was better about it than Mr. Number was that it embeds itself DEEP into the OS so it would actually PREVENT the telemarketing call from making its way into the phone’s notification system. The phone won’t ring. You’ll have no call log. Not even Mr. Number will be aware of it. With Mr. Number, when a blocked caller calls, you hear a short ring before Mr. Number shuts them down.

You Chime In

What are some of YOUR favorite apps in this category? Let us know in the comments below.

Conclusion

This completes my list of “Best” phone-specific apps available to start off 2014. There are, of course, other communication types of apps and this is, by no means, a comprehensive list. These are the apps in this category that I use on a daily basis and install on a new phone or tablet as soon as I get it.

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2014-01-19

Best Android Apps to start Off 2014

Check out Android Spaces

Here are my “Best of” Android apps to start off with in 2014.

I’ll list them by category and explain the purpose of each one and why I’m choosing it. Each category will be a separate post because, as you can see of the length of the list, it would be quite long if it were all in one post. Each bulleted category below is a LINK to the article about the apps in that category. The list of categories below will only have hotlinks to articles for which I’ve completed. Note that when I did this for 2013, I did NOT get a chance to make articles for all of these. I will attempt it again this year.

Keep checking back as I post more articles… one for each category below

•    Phone/Communication Apps
•    Finance
•    Shopping (Everything here is FREE)
•    Imaging
•    Utilities
•    Audio
•    Games
•    Calculators
•    File Management
•    Security
•    Geo Location
•    Launchers
•    Productivity
•    Social
•    News & Reference
•    Time (Clocks/Alarms/Calendars, etc…)
•    Networking
•    Weather

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2012-12-26

Best Android Apps to start off 2013

Check out Android Spaces

Here are my “Best of” Android apps to start off with in 2013.

I’ll list them by category and explain the purpose of each one and why I’m choosing it. Each category will be a separate post because, as you can see of the length of the list, it would be quite long if it were all in one post. Each bulleted category below is a LINK to the article about the apps in that category. The list of categories below will only have hotlinks to articles for which I’ve completed. Keep checking back as I post more articles… one for each category below.

•	Phone/Communication Apps
•	Finance
•	Shopping (Everything here is FREE)
•	Imaging
•	Utilities
•	Audio
•	Games
•	Calculators
•	File Management
•	Security
•	Geo Location
•	Launchers
•	Productivity
•	Social
•	News & Reference
•	Time (Clocks/Alarms/Calendars, etc…)
•	Networking
•	Weather

Phone/Communication Apps

These apps have to do with phone calling features or communicating with IM or Texting or live video communication.

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2012-12-26

Best Android Apps to start off 2013 (Phone/Communication Apps)

Check out Android Spaces

This article is one of a series of articles about the best Android apps available as of the beginning of 2013. Click here for the main article that includes links to this article and links to all the other categories of “The Best Of” apps for beginning 2013. Let’s get started with the Phone/Communication category, which lists the best phone and communication apps available at the ending of 2012 and beginning of 2013.

Google Voice

Google Voice is, by far, one of the most valuable FREE Android apps available. [GARD] There’s a LOT of confusion and misinformation about what this app is. So, let me first explain what it is NOT!

Google voice:

IS NOT a replacement for your phone’s dialer.
IS NOT a VOIP app (It doesn’t let you make calls over the internet, bypassing your carrier’s minutes).
IS NOT JUST an app. It’s also a service available from many devices and software.

So, if it’s not the above, then WHAT is it?

It’s two parts, so let’s list them, then explain them:

It’s a SERVICE provided by Google (not an app).
There’s also an Android app, using the same name, that provides a UI to the Google Voice services.

Note that you MUST first create a Google Voice account. If you already have a GMail account or any other Google account like a Google+ account, just log in to it, then go to http://voice.google.com and activate your voice service, get a new phone# (it’ll walk you through it) and then make at least one phone call from GMAIL via your web browser (that’ll activate the voice chat features you’ll need for greater features I describe further down in this article).

The SERVICE:

Google Voice as a service is a service in the same sense that Google Search is a service or that Google Maps is a service. The mapping technology actually lives on the Google servers, distributed across the planet. They provide multiple UIs to access the mapping service, like the web UI at http://maps.google.com and the iOS Google Maps app and the Android Google Maps app, and Google Earth for Windows (and many other platforms). Google Voice is also a service that’s hosted on Google’s server farms and there are many UIs available for Google Voice too, including the web interface at http://voice.google.com and the Android App available in the Google Play store here.

The Google Voice service provides the following features:

A free phone number from any area code in the United States (and many other countries).
- Note that a “phone number” is not a “phone line”. It’s JUST a number!
Free voice mail.
- V-Mail available from a web UI.
- V-Mail forwarded to your e-mail.
- Access via a web browser.
- Access via any real phone.
- Access via the Google Voice app on Android.
SMS Texting (via any of the available UIs (web browser, Android App, iOS app, certain hardware, and many 3rd party apps)).
Telemarketer blocking.
Individual number blocking.
Caller ID.
Make/Receive phone calls via your PC’s browser (in G-Mail).
Conference calling.
3 way calling.
Call hold.
Call forwarding.
Forward incoming calls to any real phone (like your cell, your work phone, your home phone, etc…)
Plus many other features.

The Android App:

The Google Voice Android app is just one of many front ends to the Google Voice Service. The Android app is available here in the Google Play store. Note that the Google Voice service is supported by MORE than just the Google Voice app available from Google. There are many other apps that add significant value to the Google Voice service, two of which I’ll include in this article. Installing the Google Voice app on your Android Device (which does NOT have to be a Phone!!!) will give you the following features: [GARD]

Free, unlimited SMS texting (just like your expensive texting plan, but free).
Google Chat, including video chat.
Make calls from your Android device through your GV number (don’t confuse this with VOIP. This feature will NOT make a call over your internet connection. It just uses your regular cell phone minutes, but it’ll dial your GV # first, then from there, make an outgoing call from your GV# so that the party you’re calling will see your GV# on their caller ID and not your cell phone number (this feature is only available on phones, BTW, not tablets or other Android devices).

The free texting service is reason alone to install this app. Click the link in the prior sentence to read all about it, with full instructions on how to do it. Do that, then cancel your expensive texting plan and have your cell provider BLOCK texting from your phone so you don’t accidentally send text messages using your carrier’s expensive plan.

Groove IP:

Groove IP is an app in the Google Play store. There are 2 versions, the lite, free version available here, and the full featured, paid version available here.

This app is a 3rd party app that uses the Google Voice service (so, you need a free Google Voice account), but provides something fundamentally important on your Android device that the Google Voice app does NOT! [GARD] It let’s you make and receive phone calls directly to and from your Google Voice number over the internet. This is a very very important distinction that so many people have a difficult time understanding. Remember, the Google Voice app does NOT exist to let you make phone calls over the internet, bypassing your phone carrier’s expensive minutes plan. Groove IP DOES!!! Groove IP turns your phone or tablet (any Android device with a speaker, microphone, and internet connection) into a phone that uses ONLY your Google Voice account. If you make or receive a call to or from your Google Voice # with this app, YOUR CELL PHONE PROVIDER IS UNAWARE OF THE CALL AND SEES IT ONLY AS INTERNET USAGE!!!! Why do I keep underlining, bolding, and italicizing these things? Because I have to explain this to people about a dozen times before it sinks in. I don’t know why, because it seems pretty simple, but I think people have a preconceived idea of what the Google Voice app does and just can’t move past that. This app WILL let you make and receive phone calls using ONLY your data connection. It will NOT be recorded as a phone call made with your cell phone provider. It will NOT use up minutes on your minutes plan, as the image above claims.

You start the app, log in with your Google account, and this app gives you its own phone dialer. From here, you can make a call, as long as you have a decent internet connection. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wifi connection or via the cell towers… just as long as it’s an internet connection.

As long as this app is on and logged in (and there’s a setting to make it do that when the phone powers on), if someone calls your Google Voice number, you can answer it with this app and carry on a normal “phone” conversation… and it’s all FREE (meaning it won’t use your plan’s minutes). Of course, if you have a limited data plan, you’ll need to monitor usage, but it’s pretty small in usage. (Sprint and T-Mobile customers still have unlimited data plans available).

Yes, you can STILL use your regular dialer and still make and receive calls using your regular cell phone number.

If you install this on a tablet, your tablet becomes a phone! YES, REALLY!

The difference between the paid version and the free version is the free version limits your use to JUST your wifi connection. So, if you have a tablet that doesn’t have cellular data capabilities, there’s no advantage to buying the paid version. Just install the free version. If you have a tablet with cellular data capabilities, the paid version lets you continue to use your tablet as a phone any where you have coverage. Ditto for your phone. Of course, there are no minutes used when talking on a call made or received with this app.

Talkatone

Talkatone is almost identical to Groove IP, so rather than repeating everything I’ve already said, read the Groove IP review above, then continue here for the few differences.

OK, now that you’ve read the Groove IP section above, let’s continue…

In addition to all the features listed above for Groove IP, this all also provides texting over your Google Voice account and lets you send pictures to other Google chat users. So, this app overlaps in features with the Google Voice app (texting).

[GARD]

This app is also available on iOS.

Mr. Number

Mr. Number (available here in the Google Play store) is invaluable in that it shows you who’s calling, even if they’re caller ID information is blocked. It’s especially useful for avoiding telemarketers (or bill collectors). It gathers information from other Mr. Number users who mark their incoming calls as spam or not, which is sent back up to the Mr. Number servers and if they ever call you, then Mr. Number steps in immediately, before you answer, to tell you. Then, you can just ignore the call, force it to hang up on them, or block them. You’ll never receive a call from them again.

Absolutely Invaluable!

Mr. Number is NOT the only app/service that provides this capability, but it’s one of the most popular. Popularity is important with this kind of app because its database of spammers is crowd sourced. The bigger the crowd, the more extensive their database of spammers, bill collectors, and survey takers.

This app is also available on iOS. That’s important because it increases the pool of people contributing to the data.

Call Master

Call Master (available here in the Google Play store) is similar to Mr. Number, but much more powerful. It requires a rooted phone. It can dig in underneath your native phone and do some extra powerful stuff that a regular app just can’t do without root access. This is definitely an app for power users, but it is very very powerful.

From its description in the Google Play store:

Advantages:

★ Your phone never rings
★ Your screen never turns on
★ Private call and SMS inbox with log sweeper
★ Reject unknown, withheld and private numbers
★ Password protection
★ Route message content to other numbers
★ Clear frequent call lists

Features:

★ Block MMS before download
★ Filter SMS by content
★ Text variable creation, routing and replies
★ Global regex and wildcard filters
★ Custom notification icons
★ Vibration and LED feedback
★ Backup encryption and password protection
★ Powerful logging and sorting system
★ Number testing
★ Independent contact library for total privacy
★ Profile scheduling
★ Light and dark themes

YP Mobile

YP Mobile (available here in the Google Play store) provides your basic yellow pages phone book, plus the familiar stuff you find in other “local services” apps for finding restaurants, gas prices, etc…

[GARD]

Not much more to say about it. This app is no more or less special than others of its type, but I’m including it as one in that type of category. Others are Yahoo!, Yelp, and Where. Personally, I find Google Maps a superior tool for finding local businesses and their phone numbers as it shows a map of your results, so you can see, visually, immediately, what’s close by, then just tap whichever one you want on the map to get the details and phone numbers.

You Chime In

What are some of YOUR favorite apps in this category? Let us know in the comments below.

Conclusion

This completes my list of “Best” phone-specific apps available to start off 2013. There are, of course, other communication types of apps and this is, by no means, a comprehensive list. These are the apps in this category that I use on a daily basis and install on a new phone or tablet as soon as I get it.

Click here to follow me on Google+.

Follow me on Twitter @CSharpner.

See these images?

You’ll find an actual working versions of them at the top and bottom of this article. Please click the appropriate buttons in it to let your friends know about this article.

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