Must have G1 Android Apps
Posted by Timothy on Mar 16, 2009 in Android, Gadgets, Programs, Software
I’ve checked out most of the available Android Market– I go through it almost nightly to see what’s been added. The options are a bit limited, but here’s a good list of apps I’ve found very useful and hopefully you will too.
Power Manager
This application adds NEW power settings to the phone (e.g. how long the screen is on during a call, if device stays on while the keyboard is open, etc.) and allows you to quickly view and change other phone settings depending on different conditions (e.g. turn off the GPS when the battery level drops below 30%, lower the brightness of the screen when on battery power, change the screen timeout if on A/C power, etc.)
It comes with a set of predefined profiles and automatically starts working after installation.
Unless you want to change any of these definitions or use advanced features nothing else has to be done after the program is installed.
StarContact
StarContact allows you to search for contacts in so many different ways. It really should be built into Android. You’re given a few different search methods along with an on-screen t9 like keyboard which is easy to use without fat-fingering letters.
Useful Switchers
Useful Switchers is great for quickly turning on/off G3, Wifi, GPS, and all the other commonly toggled items on the G1. There’s a few extras included such as screen brightness and it’ll even give you a little display about your battery and memory usage.
Missed Call
Missed call allows you to actually use that tiny little RGB LED in the ear piece for different types of events. Such as a missed call, incoming SMS or Calendar event. It also allows you to configure custom ringtones for each event and even periodic reminders. Now you don’t have to pick up your phone to see if you have any pending events.
K-9 Mail
K-9 Mail is a fork of the original email client that ships with Android with a bunch of bug fixes and a number of extra features. The bug fixes along are reason enough to install this app.
ConnectBot
This one is for the techies! ConnectBot is a complete SSH Client for Android. ConnectBot allows you to SSH into a linux/solaris or (other unix flavor) machine and remotely control it, read email with mutt/pine/elm or even IRC or MOO.
T-Mobile Android G1 :: JFv1.41 RC33 Update
Posted by Timothy on Feb 6, 2009 in Gadgets
Not sure why I was nervous to install the new ‘slightly’ modified version of RC33, But all went well. If you haven’t found the links to installing the latest firmware for your Android G1 and wish to preserve ‘root’ access. You can find the information here. This update takes a little while to get installed after you reboot. So don’t panic if you’re stuck on the glowing Android screen for a few minutes.
This update contains the following
- Smoother, More Stable & Faster Response IN OS
- Apps restart automaticly after crashing
- The ability to skip signing-in to your google account
- An “Import Sim Contacts” option has been added to the contact menu.
- There is a “Local & Text” tab in “SETTINGS” now. It has only “English” but other langauges probably be added later.
- You now have an option to get the numeric dialpad with out having to slide up the tab when making a call.
- System Updater in “Settings”
- GMail app: Now you have the ability to just sync labeled mails newer than X days.
To avoid any confusion, this is NOT the ‘Cupcake’ release.
Oh, last but not least.. Thank you Jesus Freke, your work is greatly appreciated!
Android G1 Firmware Hacking
Posted by Timothy on Jan 3, 2009 in Android, Gadgets
Most if not all of my friends know that I can’t leave things alone. I rarely run software/hardware/gadgets in any sort of ‘default’ or ‘factory’ setting. I have to always dig in there and see how things tick and usually find others do the same. My iPod runs RockBox instead of the standard Apple Firmware to allow me to by-pass the usage of iTunes to get music on the device. So with that said– and you already know I’ve traded in the old Sidekick for a spiffy new Android G1 phone. It was time to hack the firmware on there as well. There’s been many articles posted about RC29′s ‘root’ exploit and RC30 fixing this hole. I haven’t really been interested in hacking my G1 up until now. I’ve been reading about other builds of the Android OS and getting a bit curious about trying a community built version of the firmware.
So tonight I took some time to do some research on reverting back to RC29 ( I let my phone upgrade to RC30 ) and then gaining root access and keeping it. Reverting back to RC29 was fairly simple. But upgrading back to RC30+Patches to keep root was a bit more difficult.
Loading RC30+Patches
Turns out if you follow the directions, all ends well with a newly installed RC30 that’ll allow you to keep your ‘root’ access. This allows for flashing new boot/startup screen images along with replacing the T-Mobile G1 splashscreen when you first power up the phone.
IZ IN YOUR ANDROID STEALING YOUR ROOTS
T-Mobile Android G1
Posted by Timothy on Oct 21, 2008 in Gadgets
It’s unfortunate, but I’ve decided to ditch the Sidekick line of phone. The Sidekick was a great product nerfed and squashed by T-Mobile making it popular for the 13yr old Paris Hilton’s out there. All apps and ringtones were on lock down. How disappointing. On the Dev Forum many asked why ringtones were locked down and had to be purchased. The devs claimed it was some sort of copyright protection, RIAA, yadda yadda. This held some merit until the SK3 came out with it’s own MP3 Media Player app. So what about ripping songs now? huh? But by now, I’m over it. I’ve hung on to the SK3 for as long as I could. I had my own dev-key so I could technically load anything I wanted on the device. I did write my own app to write out my entire contact list to the MiniSD since there’s absolutely no way to get your contacts out of the device. So anyhow.. On to bigger and better things.
The T-Mobile G1 powered by Google’s Android OS. I’ve read a lot of pre-release reviews and everyone was trying to compare the HTC produced device with the Apple iPhone. The phones aren’t even in the same class. The G1 is for nerds. The iPhone is for ‘Trendy’ people who want to be ‘different’. Ok ok ok, so maybe that’s not entirely true, but I’ve never been a fan of Apple and really didn’t care for the iPhone. I admit, I have an iPod Nano (Gen 1) and I really don’t even use it. So anyhow, back to the G1. I absolutely LOVE the REAL keyboard. Not some junky wanna-be keyboard like on Crackberries. How can anyone type on those things is beyond me. I have my doubts people are able to actually touch type at any notable rate on one of those things. Even the HTC based slider phones that run Windows Mobile. I could never type on the square layout of those keyboards either. Yuck!
This phone is pretty slick. The display is something to brag about. My eyes don’t quite understand what they’re looking at– it’s so clear! The phone is rather responsive unlike a lot of the YouTube videos you may have seen. It’s taking me a little to get used to the keyboard which doesn’t provide much feedback and the keys are velvet soft so it’s hard to tell just what’s going on when you’re mashing the keys. I’m used to having a few extra buttons for navigating the OS and inside the apps, so initially I’m sort of lost when trying to move around. The track-ball is great, with exception that it might be a little too sensitive, but I’m sure I’ll get used to that as well. The track-ball on my SK3 was going dead ( I think ) so it required a bit more movement to make it ‘go’.
I really don’t understand where the negative reviews are coming from. Maybe people have higher expectations than I do? I must admit (sadly) that I felt the G1 wouldn’t be any worse than my SK3. So far, I’ve been right. I’ve tinkered with just about every aspect of the phone but not with much detail. So maybe later this week I’ll discovery more things I like or dislike about it. Over all, I don’t feel like I’ve made a huge mistake in this purchase. I hope this feeling holds true down the road.
About Me
Software developer w/ interests in DJing, photography, MMA, Streaming Media, Android hacker and gadget geek!