Smart phone resources

[burrocrat]

Thanks wwwtractor,Lookout security, basic version free, don't know how good it works, but it makes me feel a whole lot better.Upgraded to premium 14 day free trial to remote wipe previous smart phone mistake and not happy old phone's 'reset factory defaults' process.

[burrocrat]

What do you use for gps?Wanted: free, light duty everyday gps, to sub for dedicated unit on all but off grid excursions, controlable as in you can see it when you want to but doesn't follow you unless you tell it.

[burrocrat]

OK gadget junkies, where do I find a widget for screenshots for a Samsung Galaxy S and/or a photo editing app?

[KevinD]

My Samsung Captivate is a Galaxy S. Is that what you have?

http://www.samsungcaptivateforum.com/

[KevinD]

Check out XDA Developers forum.

http://forum.xda-developers.com

[burrocrat]

Yep, Samsung Captivate. I'll check out the links and see what I find later this weekend. Thanks.

[burrocrat]

So I found 'GPS Status and Toolbox' free app, suprisingly accurate vs. a commercial unit with antennae even in the afternoon satellite shadow around here. Now looking for a handheld GPS replacement app that allows waypoints and tracks.

I figured out to turn off and manage GPS at phone level so nobody can hog battery, but as soon as I enable it again all apps that use it seem to jump on board and update behind the scene to where I last was at when allowing it. It seems to really operate off of satellites not cell towers if that's any consolation, good to three decimal digit degrees, plenty for what I use it for, if you can't find your target within that range then you got bigger problems than your GPS unit.

So what is 'rooting' and why would I want to do it, don't want to ruin this nice phone/computer, except when it cheats at backgammon again, but that's a different story, maybe I should pickup the monthly insurance plan fee. Nobody rolls the dice that luckily in real life, I think the AI is just messing with me, it seems to enjoy discouraging that happy go lucky gamblers strategery.

Is there an app that will make it sound like HAL or maybe Heidi Fliess when it scolds me?

[KevinD]

Rooting gives you more control of things you're not supposed to have control of. Like installing a custom ROM (operating system). I'm currently using Cognition 4.3.1. I noticed that designgears has released newer versions of Cognition since I installed 4.3.1 but I haven't bothered to update yet. And besides...I just wanted to see if I could do it.

When you're in settings and you chose wireless and network do you have an option for mobile ap (access point)? My plan doesn't allow tethering/mobile hotspot but the Cognition ROM gets around that. I was in Sams the other day messing around with their iPad display and activated the mobile hotspot on my phone and got on the internet with their iPad. :D I've downloaded music to my iPod and gotten on the internet with my laptop when there wasn't a connection available.

Also a custom ROM got rid of all that AT&T bloatware that my phone had...

[burrocrat]

Yes, can wireless access internet via laptop through smart phone so long as 3G or another wireless router available in range, look ma no hands on ATT 4gig data plan.

If I 'root' can I only have apps I want and use installed vs. all the stock crap? Can I put it back if I don't like it?

It seems only way to take screen shots is to plug in via USB port, unless I root? Or else I'm just not looking hard enough?

I'm all about free internet access, power to the people, unless it's through my devices. Although neighboors could use a little WAP security tutorial, but I'm not about to do that, they seem pretty busy as it is already. Besides, I only use theirs for free porn, I don't think they would mind given their window shade strategery.

[burrocrat]

The next time you get a free port like that try clicking on one of those 'get a green card free' ads on their IP, then do a search for 'AZ immigration' followed by 'chili verde recipes' and count the days until they get raided.

These phones seem way too connected and smart if you ask me, you have to work to shut them down.

[KevinD]

You're way ahead of me. This should keep you busy for a while...

http://www.samsungcaptivateforum.com/samsung-captivate-rooting/(video)-samsung-captivate-video-how-to-thread/

[KevinD]

Maybe I wasn't clear. I was on the net with their iPad through the mobile ap on my phone. INS would have come looking for me...

[burrocrat]

Oh.

Uh, that's not good.

[nasa1974]

My wife has a Samsung Captivate Galaxy S. Not really happy with it. Eats up battery like crazy.

[wwwtractor]

Use the Task Manager to kill programs and turn off the GPS and WiFi when not using it.

[burrocrat]

OK, I found a gps solution:

GPS Essentials, free. It does everything you would expect with a simple interface and displays familiar to any regular gps user.

You can view maps, topo, sat imagery layered with your routes, multiple targets, waypoints. Takes tracks at specifiable intervals, photos with location embedded, imports route information from google maps if so desired to follow later.

The best part is the customizable widgets. You can choose and configure arrangement/display of any imaginable combination: location, speeds, distance to/from, even moon phases if you are into that sort of thing.

Tested to accuracy of 16' with poor constellation, it's not like you'll use it to call in a bunker buster, if you can't find your head from a hole in the ground at that scale then you got bigger problems than location.

Turns my phone/mobile computer into a $200 handheld unit, did I mention for free?

[burrocrat]

I'm going to keep talkiing about android apps that I think are cool here, Google Sky Maps:

This is a simple and free one again, that's the kind I dig, and if you're on android then google already owns you anyways, they can even back up all you stuff for free to your insurance paid replacement if you lose your phone or smash it with rock or something, overnight.

So if you open this app it is literally a window on the sky, it will find you, show you what the night sky looks like from where you are at, even gradiates light/dark from horizon to horizon, all you have to do is point it up. So much for my audobon field guide, practically useless now, still good information but I have to hunt for it and compare and think and the notes in the margins can be replicated through notepad or diary or any other of a jillion apps, I won't be carrying that anymore, it's like a museum piece in my library now.

It's like looking through a magnifying glass, everything you see on the phone is projected out into space, or maybe it's the other way around, still working on that, but if you have a smart phone you might want to get it and spend some quality time out in the open tonight, amazing. You can turn on/off layers, see the constellations drawn out, fuzzy band where the milky way is, even each planet, matter of fact I saw uranus last night.

Seriously though, it's cool.

[nasa1974]

Has anyone gotten the new iPhone 4S? I currently have the 3G and plan to get the 4S. Just looking for some input. Thanks.

[Afishegg]

matter of fact I saw uranus last night.

You did? I bet it was hard to see from way down here. But seriously now.......

[Warrenlm]

How about that corporate philosophy announced by Google's Eric Schmidt: "If you're doing something that you'd rather others didn't know you were doing, you shouldn't be doing it." So helpful.

[KevinD]

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Announced For AT&T's 4G LTE Network

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-att-4g-lte_n_1067496.html

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[Handballer]

I got one. Cost more than my 32" TV. I'm still learning to use the darn thing. I'm retired so I don't have that much spare time.


Has anyone gotten the new iPhone 4S? I currently have the 3G and plan to get the 4S. Just looking for some input. Thanks.

[nasa1974]

I got the iPhone 4S. I've had it about a week. Siri is pretty neat. Still learning how everything works.

[Viva_La_Migra]

I got the iPhone 4S. I've had it about a week. Siri is pretty neat. Still learning how everything works.Cool. I've ordered one for my wife for her birthday. I'll have to wait and save a bit before ordering mine.:embarrest:

[nasa1974]

I can't upgrade my wife until August next year so I gave her my 3G. Will deficiently get her the 4S or better next year. She had a Samsung Captivate and didn't like it. Made a big mistake with iTunes. Uploaded all my stuff to the 4S and then proceeded to erase all the numbers in my old phone that the wife wouldn't need or use. Work numbers, girl friends, etc. :D Any way I plugged the 3G into iTunes but forgot to change the settings. So the next time I plugged in my 4S it uploaded all the information from the 3G. It took me 2 days to re-enter all the lost information. :mad: Just an FYI for everyone. Viva La Migra I think you guys will really like the 4S. Good luck.

[burrocrat]

I can't upgrade my wife until August.

you've got to be kidding me, what kind of deal is that, did you have to sign a contract?

[nasa1974]

you've got to be kidding me, what kind of deal is that, did you have to sign a contract?

Yep! But the contracts are a year apart. I had my phone first and then added the wife and daughters a year later on the family plan. Since then the daughters have moved over to Verizon and gotten married. My darling wife and I have stayed with ATT but our upgrades are a year apart. So sometime around August I will upgrade my wifes phone. :cheesy: Simple! I think?

[KevinD]

She had a Samsung Captivate and didn't like it. Do you still have the Captivate? If so what do you want for it? Mine is having trouble with the USB port.

[nasa1974]

Do you still have the Captivate? If so what do you want for it? Mine is having trouble with the USB port.

KD, I will talk with my wife and let you know.

[Warrenlm]

Re battery life on the 4S. New owners noticing a problem?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2056992/iPhone-4S-battery-life-Apple-admits-problem-weeks-fix.html

[nasa1974]

Re battery life on the 4S. New owners noticing a problem?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2056992/iPhone-4S-battery-life-Apple-admits-problem-weeks-fix.html

YEP!! I am charging mine about every other day. I have read that Apple has a fix coming, but no date yet. I have read some web sites that tell how to improve battery life.

[nasa1974]

I just read the link. So the Australians have a fix coming but the Scottish have issues. Good luck with that.

[nasa1974]

Do you still have the Captivate? If so what do you want for it? Mine is having trouble with the USB port.

KD, I haven't forgotten abpout the phone. The wife just got back from Florida, I have been working a lot at Best Buy and I am trying to come up with a fair price. :) I will touch base after Thanksgiving.