Technology
General technology-related stories
What the Heck is a Droid Phone?
Nov 18th
Maybe you are shopping for an Android Phone or maybe you want a Droid phone. Maybe you wonder…
What the heck is a droid phone?
What the heck is an android phone?
Aren’t they the same thing – droid, android?
Those are good questions, and if you asked me I would have said I wasn’t sure. Then I ran into www.DroidDoes.com and my impression was that Verizon had made a phone with a purposely close name to Android in order to capitalize on the wildly popular Android phones, but that couldn’t be farther from the case.
WHAT IS A DROID PHONE?
I found the answer through Google on the Wikipedia website, and evidently the Droid is a renamed Motorola Milestone and the name Droid is licensed to Verizon from Lucasfilm (can you say Star Wars?). So, Droid is AN Android phone made by Motorola and exclusively using Verizon Wireless as the provider – especially since Verizon Wireless is the one licensed to use the very cool name DROID.
VERIZON DROID DEMO (11/2009)
MORE
www.DroidDoes.com
What is an Android Phone?
Google Docs On the Go
Personalized Recommendations in Google Maps
Android on Google Mobile Blog
Google Apps for Android
What the Heck is an Android Phone?
Nov 16th
Unlike Blackberry, or iPhone or similar smarthphones, an Android phone is not a piece of hardware, not an actual phone called Android, or a Google phone, but rather a smart phone using the Google Android operating system. But let’s see some hardware, actual phones running Google’s Android – here are the Best Android phones as rated by DigitalTrends.com, nice!
With the HTC EVO 4G plastered all over the TV in commercials I’ve been seeing, Android might be seeing a big boost in holiday sales this year. Will they beat the iPhone, Blackberry and other smart phones? Probably if the current trend continues!
GREAT YOUTUBE ON ANDROID PHONE
MORE
Google Maps on Android (Just Got Better)
Android on Google Mobile Blog
Google Projects for Android
Google Apps for Android
Google Gets Twitter-gestions
Oct 27th
If you have suggestions about Gmail in Mobile Safari Google Mobile invites you to, among other feedback channels, to tweet using #gmailmobile and they’ll take a look at your “Twitter-gestions” (Twitter Suggestions). Google is leveraging Twitter as a channel for suggestions & feedback for Gmail Mobile, I’m sure that’s no surprise to some.
If you use Gmail in your mobile browser a lot, you may have noticed that we recently tried several different variations of these buttons. We‘ve iterated on the design and made improvements based on your feedback. If you have more suggestions, please post them in our forum, or if you use Twitter, mention #gmailmobile and we’ll take a look. If you’re a developer and are interested in learning about the Javascript and HTML techniques we used to do this, we’ll post an article to code.google.com/mobile in the coming weeks.
On your iPhone Gmail in your mobile browser you will see 2 changes Google has made, snappier scrolling and fixed toolbars that stay on the screen during scrolling instead of floating/moving. The Google Mobile post also notes … “You can see these improvements by visiting gmail.com from the browser of iPhone and iPod touch devices running iOS4 (English-only for now).”
Windows Software: Defrag
Oct 26th
I used to think that the Windows Defrag program was all that I needed. Then I started reading about defragging programs (freeware, shareware and paid) and talking to people in the know. There are a couple of good ones I use that do a better job than Windows Defrag, and tonight I’m writing about two of my favorite Windows Utilities, MyDefrag and Defraggler.
UPDATE: The recommendations for MyFrag and CCleaner came from a good friend who is an IT Pro who performs PC maintenance and repair. Since the recommendation for CCleaner is not a direct recommendation for Defraggler, I read Gizmo’s “Best Free Disk De0Fragmenter” page.
Defraggler, which I would have never used without a recommendation because of its name, is written by Piriform, the same people that write CCleaner, another essential Windows Utility. Defraggler can be downloaded from the Piriform Defraggler download page and you will also find more info about the program using the links on the right hand site of the site.
Another great, free Windows defrag program is MyDefrag. Their website is so generic-looking, that again, without a recommendation I would have never used this product. Visit the MyDefrag site and download the latest version, and you can also read about the product. Its got a very interesting screensaver option that can run when your screensaver starts… but read up on it before using it.
Quick Boost for Windows Vista – Disable Transparency
Oct 19th
Microsoft Windows Vista is still around (I’m using a Vista laptop tonight) and so looking around for ways to speed my system - disable Vista transparency. I’ve added RAM to computers before, but this tip is free, and doesn’t have any negative effecton the Operating System (in my opinion). I found this little gem on TechRepublic.com originally posted back in 2008, but its still as useful as ever.
For instructions and screenshots click the link above, or do this:
Right-click an empty spot on the desktop > click Personalize > click Window Color and Appearance. When the Window Color and Appearance window opens uncheck the Enable transparency checkbox, then click OK.
You’ll notice you can’t see through as when transparency was on, but the window edge background now gives the appearance of transparency since the “background pattern” doesn’t move when the window does.
HP Computers Compaq p6230y Uninstalling HP Software
Oct 15th
I’ve got an HP Compaq p6230y I’ve had for a while now and talking to an IT buddy of mine decided it would be a good idea to remove 
the HP software. I was reminded that I’d done this before (for different reasons, or one program at a time) when I got to HP Games and I had to go through put a check mark next to each and every WildTangent game that I wanted to uninstall. A well-written uninstall program would have an option for “Remove All Games” that would do that for me.
Now I’ve got all of this other HP software to go through, and because some is a waste of space, and others might be useful (like HP Mediasmart sounds like it might be worth keeping) I need to really consider what I’m uninstalling, and make sure I’m not getting rid of software that I really want.
StumbleUpon Announces iPhone and Android Apps
Sep 30th
StumbleUpon Apps for...
StumbleUpon has announced apps for Android and the iPhone and here are some details.These apps are optimized especially for your mobile device and is a quick download. For more details continue reading or visit http://www.stumbleupon.com/mobile/
You can also visit the link to read about the StumbleUpon app for you iPad, then download it free.
EXPLORE
You can explore pages in your favorite topics and on top sites like YouTube, Flickr, Photos, and News.
SYNC
Pages you bookmark from your phone are automatically synced with your online StumbleUpon account
on the web. Access your favorites wherever you are.
SHARE
Its easy to share with using Facebook, Twitter or Email.
FOR THE IPHONE
Download from the Apple Store
Or, on your phone’s browser, visit www.stumbleupon.com
FOR YOUR ANDROID
Point your Android phone to this QR Code.
Your barcode reader should be able to read
it and launch the Market. (no code?)
Or, on your phone’s browser, visit
www.stumbleupon.com mobile
The Technology of Recyclability – “Green” Chips Bag
Sep 4th
I’ve got a new bag of (super tasty) original flavor Frito Lay SunChips that was sold in a 100% compostable bag that breaks down in a compost bin or pile in about 14 weeks…
We dream of a world with less waste. That’s way we’re using fully compostable packaging on specially-marked bags of Original flavor SunChips® snacks. Every specially-marked bag of SunChips® Original flavor snacks is designed to break down in about 14 weeks when placed in a hot, active compost bin or pile. If it takes a little longer, don’t worry about it; Mother Nature will get to it soon enough.
– From Frito Lay’s www.SunChips.com Website
The bag is markedly louder, but who cares as compared to the benefits of a compostable chip bag? And wouldn’t you know it, they are also using solar power. for more info visit www.SunChips.com online!
