Root Your Android Device
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and root your Android phone. Maybe one of these reasons pushed you over the edge. So how do you do it? Depending on your phone, there are different steps required. Some are very easy, while others require some tech knowledge and command-line code. This article will discuss the rooting methods for the more popular Android phones available right now.
Disclaimer: Rooting your device is risky. It may void the manufacturer’s warranty, and may ruin your device – even if done properly. Hijinks, Inc. and myself take no responsibility for any damages that may occur by doing so.
Google Calendar Sync: The poor man’s Exchange Server
They say that necessity is the mother of invention… and they’re right, but in my case, Google already invented it, and I’m just taking advantage of it… don’t judge me. I was recently setting up a Sprint i1 android phone for one of my co-workers, and besides being disappointed with the molested version of Android it was running, realized that they also don’t offer a desktop app to sync the Outlook calendar, of which said co-worker uses… a lot.
Enter Google Calendar Sync, and sweet little app that sits on your desktop and syncs your Outlook calendar to your Google Calendar. Since the only option the i1 had for Outlook sync was through an Exchange server, which many smaller businesses don’t have, we just setup a dedicated Google account to sit there and be our pseudo Exchange server, letting Google Calendar Sync push events back and forth between Outlook and Google Calendar, then ultimately to the phone.
No specific issues as of yet, as I just finished setting it up this afternoon, but in my initial tests, it seemed to work well. So if you’ve got an Android phone and use Outlook calendar, give Google Calendar Sync a try.
Answer Google Voice Calls in Gmail
So you’ve been having a grand old time making phone calls from Gmail, but maybe you’re like me and you’d like to actual answer incoming calls in Gmail. Good news, Google’s got you covered and it’s really simple to setup.
Here’s how to enable it:
Step 1: Login to your Google Voice account.
Step 2: Click Settings, and select Voice settings.
It should automatically load to your Phones tab, at the bottom of your “Forward to” list you should now have a Google Chat option, just check the box next to it and you’re good to go.
You’ll now get a Caller ID like popup when you have an incoming call, and of course you can also answer the call from within your browser now.
Tip: You can also transfer calls from your Gmail to your regular phone by pressing * while in a call. This works to transfer calls from your phone to Gmail as well.
Making a Phone Call in Gmail
The recently rumored voice calling option is already live on all of my Gmail accounts, not sure if everyone else is seeing it, or if users with existing Google Voice accounts got it added automatically. At any rate, voice calling works fairly well. Though in my tests people on the other end complained of frequent static even though I could hear them just fine.
All my out going calls showed up as coming from my Google Voice number, so I’m making the assumption that you’ll need to have a Google Voice account for this to work.
Google Adding VoIP to Gmail? [Updated]
After Google bought GrandCentral everyone expected them to release a desktop VoIP application, didn’t happen. Then Google bought Gizmo5, which was basically a VoIP desktop application, now everyone thinks it’s a sure fire thing. Again, nothing. And now there’s a rumor that Google is adding VoIP to Gmail. Please, oh, please be true.
Sure, you already have a Google Voice account and can just login to Google Voice to make a phone call or even install a browser plugin/extension to add the ability to turn any phone number into a callable hotlink. But think how convenient it would be to just login to Gmail every morning, like you already do, and see a popup with missed calls, voicemails, etc. and have the ability to return those calls from within that browser window and, best part, use your internet connection to make the call.
This would seem to be a no-brainer move for Google, but then again, I thought adding Gizmo5 functionality to their GoogleTalk client was a no-brainer move as well. The rumor claims that you’ll be able to call the US and Canada for free, with the option to purchase international call time for “insanely low rates”. Seems plausible.
Where’d this rumor start you ask? CNet’s Tom Krazit posted yesterday saying they received the tip along with a couple screenshots (see above). Google’s official comment on this rumor?
Google is always testing new features and products, but we have nothing specific to announce right now.
Thanks, that’s really helpful. Stay tuned for updates, hopefully we’ll see this confirmed in the coming weeks.
Note: For what it’s worth, the 415 area code is the San Franciso area, just down the street from Mountain View, CA and the Googleplex.
Update: That didn’t take long, Engadget says Google has made it official.
And it looks like it’s already available on my account.
Android App Review: SkyDroid – Golf GPS
Publisher: Paul Goldstein
Platform: Android (1.5 and above)
Cost: $1.99
[AppBrain Link][Official homepage]
Release Date: April 5, 2010 (v. 1.6)
Version Reviewed: 1.6
Apologies for missing my regular Tuesday time-slot. I was out all day yesterday putting this app to good use.
Are you a golfer with an Android phone? If so, SkyDroid is the app for you. SkyDroid is a golf GPS application that provides similar functionality to standalone golf GPS devices for a fraction of the cost. SkyDroid uses your phone’s GPS function to provide accurate distance to the green and other notable course items (bunkers, water hazards, etc.). As a golfer, the ability to know exactly how far from the green you are can be invaluable, especially if you find yourself off the main fairway. No more searching for sprinkler heads or yard markers – the data is right on your phone! Read More
Download Android 2.2 for your Droid X
Motorola has been sending takedown notices to numerous sites hosting the Froyo update for its Droid X handset, and that’s just sad. Especially when the folks at MyDroidWorld have put together a steller walkthrough on how to install Froyo on your Droid X, but their download links keep getting shut down.
We here at Hijinks figure we’re a small enough website that we’ll go largely unnoticed if say, a file name “update.zip” were to appear in the downloads directory on our site. So enjoy Droid X users!
[ Instructions for installing Froyo on your Droid X | Download Froyo for your Droid X ]
Tablets Are the New Netbook
Remember when the iPad was announced and people said “meh…”? And now, less than a year later, it’s a huge bread winner for Apple. Everyone else appears to be noticing as well, in the past few weeks more and more tablet rumors have popped up with the vast majority of big name players in the industry on board.
Don’t believe me? Let’s review…
- The long rumored Notion Ink Adam has pricing, and is expected to launch between November 2010 and January 2011.
- HP confirmed internally a webOS tablet, then confirmed publicly both a Windows and webOS based tablets for 2011.
- Bloomberg reported recently that RIM is working on a poorly named tablet, dubbed “BlackPad”, which is supposedly going to launch in November.
- ASUS was quick to announce the Eee Pad, but it likely won’t ship until March of 2011.
- LG has confirmed their own tablets are in the works, including a Windows 7 based model and Optimus, an Android tablet. Promised ship date is Q4 2010.
- Kmart is selling a cheapo Android tablet and even though it has terrible specs they seem to be selling like hotcakes, with Kmart barely able to keep them in stock.
- Acer teased an Android tablet back in May, but apparently put it on hold until it can ship with Android 3.0 Gingerbread.
- Toshiba just shipped, and promptly sold out of, a limited run of its dual-screen Libretto tablet.
- Also from Toshiba is a rumored Android tablet, hitting the streets in September or October.
- And of course Google and Verizon are supposedly prepping a Chrome OS tablet of their for launch next yet.
While I did go outside the scope of the past few weeks, you get the idea. I’m also probably leaving out a ton of other tablets, like the failed JooJoo tablet for example.
This whole jumping on the tablet bandwagon seems to me to closely resemble when ASUS first launched the Eee PC and the netbook revolution took off, people were a little skeptical at first and then realized it was a great idea. Now I’m not saying tablets will kill off netbooks, but they seem to be the flavor of the month for the foreseeable future. And reportedly the iPad by itself has caused a decline in netbook sales for ASUS.
Bottom line, I love the iPad, but I really am excited to see cheaper (and hopefully better) tablet solutions from companies besides Apple.
