How do you use your Android as an eBook reader?

If you don't use your Android as an e-reader, then what do you do when you're in line, or in a waiting room, or early for an engagement? Texting, Facebook, emails... sure, but when they're all taken care of, leaving only yourself as companion for 10 minutes, read a chapter of your book (unless you're reading Tolstoy, of course, whose chapters are books, and whose books are series). I even like to download a copy of books sitting on my nightstand, so I can continue the book I'm already reading (if they're public domain, that is).

Amazon Kindle and Google Play Books are top options, but I like backups, so I also have Sony Reader. I had Nook, but never found a book there that I couldn't find in Kindle (attempt 1) or Google Books (attempt 2). It's a decent selection, but Nook never really came through for me, as other options have, so I deemed it clutter.

Kindle recently released one of those updates you actually notice. Scrolling through the on-device library is now "carousel," like iTunes' Cover Flow (which was stripped from version 11; no, I didn't use it, but still... it looked cool). Changes to the store appear to be primarily cosmetic, but definitely an improvement. Overall the app looks more like Amazon's own Kindle devices. But the best change I've noticed is that now books I have finished, instead of maddeningly insisting I've read only 99%, agree that 100% has been read. See screenshot: I have closure.

Sony Reader was just added to the Play Store last month, so I haven't used it much yet. The only information I have about the selection here is from someone I know who owns a Sony e-reader, and is very happy with it.

Aldiko is the self-proclaimed "leading eBook application for the Android platform." The number of downloads is on par with Kindle, but Aldiko's statement that the app comes "pre-installed in 20+ different Smartphones and Tablets" makes me think the majority of those might be from overseas, interestingly; I don't know of any phones here on which it's pre-installed.

Which app you like the best really comes down to personal preference, but whichever you choose to use primarily, I recommend downloading a couple other top choices, so when you can't find a book on one, you'll have others to try.
Click for more information and downloads:

Amazon Kindle (I'm happy to inform you that their link to download works.)
Google Play Books (This one is pre-installed on many Androids.)
Barnes & Noble Nook (Their link works too, but took several seconds to find, which is mediocre.)
Sony Reader (I mention links, because their link does not work. On top of the outdated reference to the Android Market instead of the Play Store. Here's a link directly to the download.)
Aldiko Book Reader (This one made the cut because it's stupendously rated... nothing to do with the venerable icon. But beware: there's a run-on sentence right on the Aldiko homepage.)

How Do You Know Android? (Interesting Smartphone User Trends)

Did you know there are more male Android users, but more female smartphone users? That means well over half of iPhone users are female, making this cartoon from C-Section Comics surprisingly accurate:

We all know the anonymity of commenting online tends to lower inhibitions, but the comments about this cartoon were good-humored; iPhone, Android, and Blackberry users, alike, acknowledged the accuracy. Impressive.

These demographics, which are rather more interesting than significant, are courtesy of Hunch.

Android users are 10% more likely to be male; iPhone users are 18% more likely to be female. 

Android users lean toward the 18-34 age range, and are 20% more likely to be politically conservative. 
iPhone users are 37% more likely to have a graduate degree and 17% more likely to be politically liberal.

Android users are 12% more likely to have pets, while iPhone users are 13% more likely to play a musical instrument. A person owning pets and playing a musical instrument would be an indication that you're dealing with an alien species.

Though even iPhone users typically agree that phones like the HTC One and the Nexus 4 have eliminated the need to choose, Android users are 57% more likely to prefer an ugly device that's full-featured; iPhone users are 122% more likely to prefer a sleek device that does just a few things.

Of course, Android users are over 100% more likely to be PC users and iPhone users are over 100% more likely to be Mac users.

I'm not sure what we can take away from this one, but interesting: iPhone users tend to hang up on telemarketers immediately, while Android users often listen briefly. Does that makes Android users polite or senseless?

Android users are 24% more likely to have a song for a ringtone, and iPhone users are 17% more likely to use pre-loaded digital tones or beeps... but of course; that's the point: Android is personalized.

And wrapping it up, with the least applicable demographic you'll hear all day, Android users are more likely to select Sirloin Steak, General Tso's Chicken, and Cheesesteak as an entree, while iPhone users choose Sushi, Pad Thai, and Tapas.

How do you feel about purple?

Does one color really deserve an entire article? Good grief, no. A company releasing a phone in yellow, for example... or red, even; that I would not write about. I don't even write about every new phone release (I am neglecting the HTC One because I don't like their decision to go shabby with the camera, and because it's too much HTC Sense, not enough Android.) Why, then, are you hearing from How Do You Android about this new option for Sprint's Samsung Galaxy S III? Because it's not a color -- it's an identity.

Yes, Sprint is offering the S3 in Amethyst Purple. I don't like contracts, and I'm not such a fan of the S3, but purple -- I advise you all to cancel your current phone plans (paying any fees this may incur), flush your phones, and skip (most likely floating a little, between skips) to your nearest Sprint store, as soon as you get off work today.

I've observed a funny thing about those who have an affinity for the color purple. Purple isn't their favorite color; they're purple-lovers. I haven't seen that with any other color. I know people who choose blue, when the choice comes along. I know people who definitely prefer green. Now, I understand that I tend toward strong opinions (as a 6-year-old told me today, "You love everything." This isn't true: I think tomatoes vile. She qualified her statement to everything I do like, I love. I may be guilty of that.). But I can think of four friends who are purple-lovers, and it's not just me. Purple-lover is a personality trait.  That, in addition to the transition of purple into a solidly gender-neutral color (not like some think guys can wear pink; rather, like red is acceptable for guys and girls), is why I like this decision Sprint has made to carry the S3 in purple.
Get the phone from Sprint, here.

In other news, this morning Dish made Sprint a merger offer of $25.5 billion. Since Softbank's $21.1 billion offer was previously proceeding nicely, a $4.4 billion wrench in the works was not anticipated. A plot twist.

In conclusion, happy Tax Day!

How do you use an Android to make sure you're shopping smart?

Last summer, I went to a neighborhood-wide yard sale event. When the owners are sitting in their lawn chairs in the garage doorway, and you're the only shopper perusing the tables on the driveway, subtlety is just not an option. A few times my actions escaped notice, but twice I was caught red-handed. Yes, I was investigating resale price. The owners of the remote-controlled monster truck said they'd heard of people researching prices on their phones, and they wanted to know what I found. (I found they were asking twice the truck's value.) The owners of the Lionel model train were pretty sure both the train and its box (which did not match) were valuable; I didn't disillusion them, but an observant onlooker might point out I didn't buy this valuable train. The exciting part of yard sale-ing is when you discover a functioning Samsung Alias for $5, which you sell for $40, and your buyer returns it because the battery won't charge, which wasn't true when you tested it, and now the Alias is sitting in a basket on your desk, forevermore. I'm sure you see, now, that if you're not tapping this bank, you're missing quite an opportunity. Or you could find poorly-listed electronics on eBay that sell for half their value, and make a 100% ROI when you flip them. But I still love yard sales. They're charming.

All that to say, you should always do a price check when you make a decent-sized purchase. It takes seconds, and can be a real money-saver. I don't expect you to research before purchasing a tube of Pringles, and I think you already know to check your options before you buy a camera (you'd better be buying a DSLR... your cell phone suffices for point-and-shoot). I'm talking about the in-between purchases... like a pair of shoes or a hardcover collection of Fitzgerald's works. Here's how the affair might proceed:

You wouldn't usually buy sandals like that, but there's something about them that's calling your name. (Pardon me, if this example is not appealing to every demographic in my target market.) The typical solution to these dilemmas is to try on the shoes and discover that you hate them. Unfortunately, the attempt has failed. They're fun and they're comfortable; now you're in a pickle. You try not to be an impulse buyer, so you ponder your closet. Is this purchase justifiable? You decide that these sandals will keep you comfortable throughout one highly-anticipated, highly-perambulatory event, coming up in mere months. Yes, they should be purchased. You do not, however, approve of such price tags. That means it's time for phase 2 of Operation Footwear.

After you've used SnipSnap to check for coupons to the store where you're shopping, open your Amazon Mobile app, and touch the barcode scanner. If the item is available for sale on Amazon, the price will be a good representation of about the best price you'll find from retailers. For most people this is sufficient research. If the price is the same or is close enough to the brick and mortar price that you're happy, go for it. However, I would continue with an eBay app investigation. Start with the barcode scanner, but you're not going to find every listing that way, because not every listing will include enough product details to show up in your barcode search. If you proceed to search by brand, style name, or other keywords, you can sleep well tonight, knowing your effort was thorough.

This method of checking that you're shopping smart is the best of both worlds: you don't have the risk of not being able to see the physical item, but you still get the best price possible. Just get into the habit of scanning the barcode through Amazon, and see whether you don't end up saving a few dollars... not a bad hourly wage, considering that the investigation should take about 15 seconds. Checking eBay, also, will probably save you more money, but it also takes a few more minutes, so you need to decide whether its worthwhile, probably depending on the size of the purchase.

How do you stay up to date on government issues, using your Android?

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

That's the conclusion of Abraham Lincoln's Gettsyburg Address. Did you read it? I tend to glance, rather than read, when the text is familiar. I read it today, though. Of the people, by the people, for the people... it rolls of the tongue nicely. But if the government will perish from the earth if we the people allow it, we the people better take our responsibility seriously. Voting left or right, once every four years, might not cut it.

If you are following issues as they transpire, you'll find yourself educated and engaged. Our country is great because we have the privilege of participating in the governing. Just making a small change can be a great way to increase your participation in this privilege. Did you know there's a White House app? It includes news, speeches, briefings, and photo and video archives. A very cool feature that was recently added is access to We the People petitions, so you can actually sign petitions, such as HSLDA's Romeike family petition, from your Android.

It's pretty neat to really have access to what's going on in the White House. This app allows you to see and learn about exactly what you'd like, meaning you choose the news you hear, instead of your newscaster of choice. Don't pursue the topics you're not concerned about...delve deeper and watch videos about the issues that affect you personally. Just start; download the app and browse around a little. If you check in once a day, while you're waiting in line for a few minutes, your current events knowledge will skyrocket.

Download the app from the Google Play Store here.

How do you get Facebook Home, for Android?

I've never been that excited about launchers, but there's a new one coming that's rather different. This one, you see, has a purpose. Facebook Home, which can be installed only on Android, is a film through which your phone is viewed. Facebook becomes central to your smartphone experience, starting with the homescreen and lockscreen, which are replaced with "Cover Feed"... streaming of posts and pictures, which you can actually like, comment on, etc, natively; no need to open the Facebook app. Chat Heads is the second big feature; this combines Facebook messages with texts, and allows multitasking so you can work in another app and then come back to the chat, without interruption. Lastly, Facebook Home includes an App Launcher. It... ehm... launches apps. I'm not so very excited about this particular aspect of Facebook Home.

In summary, Facebook Home makes Facebook more than just easily-accessible... rather, it's already active, no matter what else is open on your phone. View the official website, for more information. The first phone to include Facebook Home natively is the HTC First, already available for pre-order here. You don't have to buy the HTC First, though... the family of apps will be available for download from the Google Play Store on April 12. Currently, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the HTC One series are supported, but I'm confident Facebook Home will be available across-the-board, quickly. If you have an Android, that is. If you have an iPhone, well, to quote Doug Gross, CNN contributor, "Your wait might be quite a bit longer. Or, you know, forever." Can anyone tell me why that might be? It's because Android is an open source operating system, permitting such overhauls as Facebook Home. That is why we love it.

That's also why Android is winning the smartphone war. In the first quarter of 2013, Android accounted for 51.2 percent of smartphone sales, compared with Apple's 43.5 percent, according to The Economic Times. It is interesting to note that new smartphone subscribers in that same time period leaned drastically toward Apple, over Android. When you view that in light of the total picture, in which Android dominates, the conclusion is that the novice buys an iPhone... later realizing iPhone doesn't cut it and switching to Android, for the complete smartphone experience.

How do you play Pandora internet radio, on an Android?

I don't often listen to local radio; not because I don't enjoy it, but because those with whom I travel think it ludicrous to plow through a dozen songs I don't want to hear, then finally hear a song I love... and could have played in the first place. While this is a valid point, I have two objections: one, songs I own are more exciting when I hear them on the radio; and two, how will I discover my new favorite song if I never venture outside my library? I think we all know the solution: 

Such potential...

Pandora works by starting with a track or artist you select, and playing similar offerings. I once created a station around the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss album Raising Sand, and was horrified by the results; usually, though, I'm impressed with how smoothly diverse songs are correlated. The first song my Josh Garrels station played, for example, was The Train Song, by Feist + Ben Gibbard -- I would not have thought to associate those artists, but when Pandora introduced that song to me (several months before I'd heard Josh Garrels), I liked its sound so much I bought it. Well done, Pandora. Well done.

But Pandora has been an Android app since 2009; why bring it up now?  Well, because it's an integral part of how you Android, and because a charming excuse to talk about Pandora came along, in the form of a pretty significant update to the app. In the new version, the biggest change is lockscreen controls, for the newest versions of Android. Faster start-up and a song progress indicator wrap up the most noticeable changes.

Would you rather hear a commercial for hair conditioner (played several million decibels louder than your station), or a 30-second pause in you music? Install Pandora Ad Blocker from the Play Store, and follow the simple instructions to activate it, if you prefer the pause. And, of course, download or update Pandora Internet Radio from the Play Store.

I leave you with this thought: I have heard from some that multitasking while playing Pandora is either limited or unavailable, on an iPhone. Is it so or is it not -- I can't get a straight answer. I do know, though, that multitasking on an Android is so smooth that you forget it's happening.

How Do You Know Android? (Devices of Note)

Times they are a-changin': no longer is it enough for a handheld device to be phone, computer, wallet, camera, e-reader, mp3-player... no, the flaw is the "handheld" part. All these tools should be adhered to our faces, or, worst-case, strapped to our arms, eliminating strenuous gripping or lifting. Thankfully, Android's got us covered. Google Glass and Smartwatches are on their way.
(Important note: I originally entitled this article Devices to Watch... but that was a bit too punny, considering my topic. I then tried Devices to Keep an Eye On. Highly amused by my inadvertent puns, finally I was stumped and explored a new preposition.)

Official device

Unofficial Speculation

Running Android's operating system, Google Glass surfs the web, provides navigation, takes pictures, translates languages, and more. It's controlled via motion, voice, and eye movements. Beta users will be receiving their devices soon. Yes, it's for real... no foolin' (it's April 1st, I hope you remember). My favorite aspect of Google Glass is this very sleek website, where you can find more info.

Smartwatches, with no details or pictures released yet, are not as far along as Google Glass. Samsung has confirmed that a watch is coming, and Motorola has hinted the same, with some speculating that Motorola will be the one producing Google's particular interpretation. 

I expect the watch to come into widespread use, but I can't see the typical smartphone-user walking around with Google Glass. Smaller, smarter, and subtler is the name of the game, and Google Glass scores a zero in terms of subtlety. It is very smart, though, and as the device is tested and fine-tuned, I think the geek-factor will be curbed, and then the concept will become widespread. Not Google Glass, though... not this exact model, anyway. What do you think -- will you recoil with a shriek, the first time you encounter a Google Glass beta tester?