Hijinks Inc.

Category: Android

  • Angry Birds for Android

    Check it out, Android users… Angry Birds is in Beta for Android and a lite version is available for free!  In the 5 or 6 levels I’ve had time to play so far, I’ve been thoroughly impressed.  Unlike Doodle Jump, which doesn’t play nearly as smoothly on the Droid as it does on the iPod, this game feels like it’s supposed to.  In fact, it’s one of the few games for Android I’ve found so far that really feels like a game should… appealing graphics, great performance, and fun!  It’s as if I were playing it on an iPhone… which is saying a lot, as in my opinion, Apple still has the corner on the market with games.  However, I believe that will gradually change, and games like Angry Birds is on the right track to doing just that.  It all really boils down to weather or not developers will feel it’s worth their time porting to Android, but as more Android devices saturate the market, the more that won’t be an issue.

    Grab a copy in the Market, and help the developers out by reporting any bugs you do find by using the ‘Bug’ button in the menu.

  • Root Your Android Device

    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.

    (more…)

  • 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.

  • 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! (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 ]