How do you use Google Helpouts?

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...And what does it have to do with Android? Well, Helpouts is radically cool, first of all. I'm excited about it; from both sides. It's Hangouts based, but the purpose is connecting someone who has a question with someone who has an answer.

The program, which is by Google, is both a website (helpouts.google.com) and an app (view in Google Play). The format is video chatting, so you need a webcam on your computer or a front-facing camera on your phone. I think it's pretty helpful (appropriate, no?) that it goes with you anywhere, on your Android.

The questioner searches on a question or keywords. A list of instructors will come up, with descriptions, ratings, and per hour and per minute rates. You schedule a time to talk with one, or you can get in a queue to talk with the instructor right away if he/she is available. Google offers a money back guarantee, in case you're dissatisfied with your session. I tried searching for musical questions and discovered a ton of options, from learn guitar classes to answers to music reading questions. I tried searching on some computer/tech-related questions and found many instructors in this area, on a variety of topics. I found, however, that searching for specific questions -- such as "How do you take a screenshot?" or "How do you send a text?" -- while it will pull up a list of instructors in the right category, doesn't find specific results. So likely you could find an approximately appropriate topic and inquire; however, it makes me think perhaps from the instructor side of things, offering straightforward answers to simple questions could be a good angle.

Google is saying this feature will grow fast and big, but is starting on the smaller side, with the categories Arts and Music, Computers and Electronics, Cooking, Education and Careers, Fashion and Beauty, Fitness and Nutrition, Health, and Home and Garden.

How do you stay healthy with Android's help?

Do you have people in your life who are so healthy they would likely break off the relationship if they were aware that you patronize Chick-Fil-A? Or perhaps you are that person, and will no longer read How Do You Android after this startling revelation. Before you go, do finish this article -- it's right up your alley.

Google recently began adding nutrition info to its search engine. Of course that info was already on the web and therefore already findable via Google, but now the information is native to Google, in the same way that currency and measurement conversions are native. That means you can search, for example, on, "How many calories are in a salad with chicken?" Google will display the answer, along with two drop down menus to change Type and Quantity, above the web search results. To the right, you'll see a picture of the item, as well as an About snippet and the Nutrition Facts. You may wonder why I've chosen a salad with chicken as my example meal, since that particular item has not yet made it into Google's database. The answer to that valid question is because a salad with chicken is the best meal under the sun. If you would like to test the feature, I highly recommend the query, "How many calories in a radish?" The particularly cool thing for Android users is that you can ask Google Now for this information.

But calorie-counting is not the only way your Android can keep you healthy. The first app you should check out is called My Tracks, and is Google-developed. It's very simple... like you guessed, it just records your paths -- location, speed, distance, elevation. You can set the app to announce your progress as you go, and you can also export the data to Drive and store the route in Maps, as well as share the information with Facebook or Google+ friends.

MyFitnessPal is the next app you might like to try out. Like the new Google information, it gives the calorie count for foods you search on. It goes beyond that, though, in saving the data so you can make sure you're staying within your goals.

Visit the Play Store's Health and Fitness section for just about any specific assistance you might want, but first we'll look at one more universal option. It's called Workout Trainer -- guess what it does. Step-by-step audio, photo, and video instructions guide you in specific workout routines that either have been specifically  chosen or else fall under the heading (improve running, lose weight, practice yoga, get a six-pack...) that you selected. Other features include a virtual fitness consultation wizard, option to play music from your phone while in the app, a widget with a new workout suggestion every day, and connection with other exercisers.

Ok, now you can leave in a huff, if you feel you ought.

Where, oh where has my little blog gone?

Was anyone else troubled by this song, as a four-year-old pianist who considered German Shepherds the only truly canine breed? German Shepherds do not have "tails so short" nor "ears so long" -- that song was puzzling. I understand now, though; one might draw parallels between perception of German Shepherds and perception of Androids.
How Do You Android is alive and well. We've encountered some setbacks, but nothing crippling. Androids are still marvelous and I still like to write, so don't stop believing (or carry on, my wayward son... but if you're in Kansas anyway, you might just as well go with my personal preference, dust in the wind).
New articles coming soon, lovely readers!

How Do You Know Android? (Google I/O 2013)

The reason I'm typing this article into Word rather than directly into my site is that the storm, which my Android has been loyally warning me about all day, is making the internet connection chancy. I tried to get a picture of lightning (one of my life goals; it's a lot harder than the sun rays life goal) before clouds closed in and blurred the bolts, but I was on the wrong side of the car.

But this magnificent thunderstorm is not what I wanted to talk about; Google I/O was last week. That’s Google’s annual “Don’t Forget We’re Awesome” conference. I can't seem to confirm this, but my information says I/O is not officially the abbreviation of anything. Google lets us guess whether they mean the technical Input/Output or the old school 1 = On and 0 = Off… I’ve also heard it’s the more imaginative Innovation in the Open. Whatever it might be, this year’s logo was pretty neat:

So what happened at I/O this year?

Google Glass was announced at last year’s I/O, so this was the first time attendees (many, apparently) had the actual device. However, just four little sessions (including one called “Voiding Your Warranty: Hacking Glass” – how can you not love Android?) were dedicated to Glass. But Glass was the undercurrent, whatever else was going on; it wasn’t the focus very often, but how does this fit with Glass? was the question of the hour. It looks like a big part of Google’s plan of attack, in this phase of Glass, is stepping back and letting developers play, learn, and create. Interesting. It means no one is really refuting the Glass is creepy accusations, but it also means developers are going crazy taking advantage of the potential that’s always there with a next big thing. I’m looking forward to following the evolution.

Developers (app designers) were the emphasis this year, but there were some fun new things for the average user… we’ll get to that. For developers, changes include APIs (Application Programming Interface) for creating location-specific apps, as well as new tools for sales and marketing in the Play Store. There was also a lot of discussion about geographically expanding Android’s influence. Big advances in location tracking – increasing precision and decreasing power drain – are another leg-up for developers. An overhaul of last year’s Google Play Developer Console brought a new interface and improved optimization tools, wrapping up the developer-specific highlights.

One topic of interest for users as well as for developers is the new Google Play Game Services. There's even a logo. A lot of changes came along with this release, not the least of which is cloud syncing of progress and rankings, across platforms and devices. Leaderboards now summarize achievements by user, so bragging is much easier. Developers got great new multiplayer interfaces. I’m not a gamer, but I’m still intrigued by the changes coming in the gaming world.  I think the face of gaming is transforming, becoming something similar to an alternate reality, like Google’s own Ingress. Something to watch.

Now on to fun stuff for the typical user. First, some big news that didn’t even hit the rumor mills before the conference: Google has teamed up with Samsung to bring a stripped-down, pure Android version of the Samsung Galaxy S IV to AT&T and T-Mobile on June 26, making the device Nexus-esque (that’s hard to say aloud – try).

Google Maps has been overhauled, and I am impressed (so impressed that I didn’t use the contraction I’m). Remember before the conference, when Google Maps was so much better than anything else out there? The gap has been widened. One of the biggest updates is 3D imagery, some of which is compilations of user-uploaded photos, giving you a quasi-tour of the inside of buildings. Google is encouraging users to upload photospheres, but regular photos are also incorporated into the collage, which is apparently not entirely user-generated. Also, on top of setting your home location on the map, you can set personal landmarks, giving better frames of reference when you’re floating around the map or getting directions. Next, Google’s recommendations are getting a lot more useful. I’ve heard this upgraded recommendation system compared with Pandora’s advanced system. In addition to giving you the travel time for your directions, Maps now suggests speedier public transit alternatives, as well as providing full public transit schedules. Filters allow you to view only businesses your Google+ friends patronize, and tapping a business on the map now results in a lot more information, such as Zagat reviews, related roads, and closest intersections. Uploading public photos for a location has also become a lot easier. A small, but much-needed change is the subtlety of those red pins; they no longer make it hard to tap on what you’re aiming for. Alerts warn of real-time traffic issues and suggest alternate routes, and lastly, real-time cloud movements are now visible. Pretty sweet. Some of these features are only found on the (currently invite-only) new desktop version, but I’ve played around with the app and found a lot of these changes there as well.

Hangouts is officially replacing Talk, with the Talk feature making up only a small piece of what the new app does. It’s a summary, unifying your communications between phone and computer. Chats, voice, or video calls (support for 10 friends), options for sending pictures, tons of emoji, notice of who’s seen your message as well as who’s typing, messaging support even for friends not currently on, video and call history, saved photos previously sent, snooze options, one notification across all devices, and a whole lot more make this a really interesting update.  And of course it’s a beautiful UI. SMS isn’t in this release, but the app’s permissions already include SMS and MMS reading and sending, so we can expect that update very soon. On a similar note, Google+ got a new columns look, with cards that flip, giving more information, when you mouseover. There’s also a new automatic photo optimizer, providing subtle edits to improve photos you upload, and allowing you to upload multiple pictures of the same thing, letting Google+ choose the best to display.

My last big news from I/O is …... *drum roll*……  Google Play Music’s very own music subscription service, much like Spotify. Play Music All Access includes Google’s entire library and options to save to your personal collection, for $9.99/month. Buy before June 30 to get a special $7.99/month price. Or just try the free 30-day trial and see if you find you can’t live without it.

If you’re interested in watching some of the I/O sessions for yourself, or just finding more information about them, visit the sessions schedule or even download the companion Android app from the Play Store.

If you had high hopes for an announcement that didn’t come to fruition, don’t be too distraught: Google releases and announces all throughout the year, not just at I/O – it’ll come.

How do you video chat on an Android?

If your phone has a front-facing camera, as most now do, you can use it to video chat. For those Androidians who are vain and would like to remain vain, though, I do not recommend video chat. None of us looks attractive on video chat. The problem started with webcams, but was amplified when mobile video chat came laughing. I say don't sweat it, though; your yikes... I look freaky is no doubt mirroring your friend's ruminations. You don't actually think the advertising screenshots are real, do you? How could they possibly be holding their phones to get that angle? And with that glowing recommendation, let's talk about how you, too, can be startled by your own face.

The easiest option is found in your Talk app, from Google. It's almost certainly already installed on your phone, so open it up and sign in using your Google account, if it's the first time you've used it. Now touch your name, at the top, to select whether you're available for text, voice, or video chat. In the list of friends, below your name, you'll see green, yellow, or red icons; a circle for text, a microphone for voice, and a camera for video. Like on your computer, green is available, yellow is away, and red is busy. Tap on a friend's name, and then touch the video icon on the right side, to invite the friend to video chat. Your friend will receive an invitation to accept or reject, and once you're connected you'll see your friend's face in the center of the screen, with a small box showing your face, in the bottom right. A few control options, like end chat, send text chat, and mute, are on the screen. If they disappear, just touch the screen to get them back.

Talk is definitely the one I recommend starting with, because it works well and it's already there, but if you need additional options, you can try Skype, Viber, or ooVoo. Skype and ooVoo allow integration with social media sites, so your friend doesn't necessarily have to have an account in the program, but Viber does require that the friend also have a Viber account. There are a lot more options for video chatting, so if there's any specific feature you're looking for, just take a look at some Google Play descriptions to find the right one for you.

And now the elephant in the room: Apple's FaceTime was marketed as the standard for mobile video chat, but did you know many iPhone users agree FaceTime isn't all it's chalked up to be? Until late last year, when iOS 6 was released, FaceTime only worked if the iPhone was connected to Wi-Fi (which frequently means you could be using a laptop, anyway), and now that 3G/4G is (sometimes) an option, most Apple forums are full of complaints about the failures and disconnects... as they were when Wi-Fi was required, as well, actually.

So here we have another way in which Android is the way to go. I like Android so much. Supporting the one that's better is a delightful place to be. It's like a trivial version of being a Christian. I know what's true, so when others try to change my mind, I can listen comfortably, with confidence that I have the answer. A pretty significant difference is found there, though. Could be that someday I'll discover something about iPhone that is superior to Android (though all clear, so far), because humans and human creations change; but other things never change: "... I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able guard until that day what has been entrusted to me." 2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV) Pardon my tangent tendencies, in this off-topic rabbit trail.

How do you get rid of pre-installed apps on an Android?

The first Android phone I owned was the white HTC Wildfire S. I loved it, and I've recommended it for people who want a small phone and don't require a lot of storage. Shortly after I bought it, I added a 16 GB memory card to supplement the 512 MB of internal storage, so that I could have a handful of albums on hand for emergencies  -- like that evening we hiked up to the campfire and then realized we needed music to complete the experience of Ranch Doritos and the hissing and snapping logs we were bopping around. Most apps I downloaded were small -- maybe 5 to 20 MB -- so why did I keep getting that message to open the storage wizard and make more room? It was because of the ridiculous number of pre-installed apps, aka bloatware.

Few phones these days have such a minimal amount of storage, so running out of room is not such a big problem; the reason bloatware is so inconvenient is that many of the apps run in the background, making your phone more likely to hesitate or even freeze, in addition to unnecessarily running down your battery.

The apps cannot be completely uninstalled unless you root your phone, which I don't like to do, but there is an alternative. All the updates to the app can be uninstalled, minimizing the storage space required, and then the app can be disabled, so that it can't run in the background and it doesn't appear in your apps list.

First, open Settings, then Apps or Manage Applications. Tap on the All heading, rather than Running or Downloaded. Tap on the first app you want to disable, like Twitter, for example. This is where you verify that the app is actually bloatware, and can't be uninstalled. You'll see two buttons: Force Stop on the left, and either Uninstall or Uninstall Updates, on the right. If it says Uninstall, then you're in luck: it's not bloatware -- uninstall it, and move on to the next. If the button says Uninstall Updates, then it is bloatware. Before you can disable it, you'll need to (and want to, anyway) touch that button to uninstall updates. After you've done that, the button changes from Uninstall Updates to Disable. Touch it again, now that it's Disable. Now the app will not run in the background, nor it will it appear in your app menus. Do the same with each app you'd like eliminated. A warning, though: don't disable any apps you don't recognize, because a lot of these are essential to phone operations; go disable-happy and you'll soon find you can't open your camera or place calls.

If at some point you'd like to re-enable a disabled app, navigate back to that All Apps menu, and scroll to the bottom to find the disabled apps. Touch the app to find the option to Enable.

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?

How do you take good pictures, on an Android?

My Android gallery is full of moments I'm so glad to have commemorated -- the only problem is that action shots blur, and pictures of landscapes properly display the sky or the mountains. Recently, however, I realized I was missing simple solutions.

Without HDR activated

With HDR activated

In any setting that includes both dark areas and light areas, the typical camera will focus on either the light or the dark, depending on where you point, how you hold, or where you manually set. The result is excellent colors in some areas, with indistinguishable dark areas (like the mountain underneath a sunset); or else darker areas illuminated, and a bright white spot in place of lighter areas (like a window out to a sunny day, from inside a room). HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range, is a camera mode that essentially eliminates this problem. Don't you love easy and effective solutions?


HDR works by taking multiple shots, with focus highlighting different lighting in your frame, and then automatically combining them into one optimal picture. Some Androids include this feature out of the box, but if yours doesn't, there are plenty of HDR camera apps in the Play Store. Some are fully-automated, so touching a button results in the picture. Others are more manual, if you'd like control over where the focus is set and how the pictures are combined.




In these beautiful snowy day pictures, the difference HDR mode makes is easy to spot on the furniture and railings (the wood color and the grain are distinguishable) and in the screened porch (the interior of the porch is visible). Additionally, the mountain, though hazy behind the falling snow, is far more visible with HDR.

Now we're getting clear shots in multi-lighting scenes; clear action shots are our next goal. Again, the solution is easy: an app. There are paid or free options, but I've found free sufficient. Apps like Burst Mode Camera take from 10 to 30 shots per second, compiling a collection of photos from which you can choose your favorites. Blur is significantly decreased, because there is limited movement during the actual shot, taken in a fraction of a second.

There you have it! Check your stock camera for HDR mode and burst mode, or select a few options from the Play Store to try, if these modes aren't native on your Android. You'll be much happier with the content of your gallery.

How do you get pictures to look right as wallpapers, on an Android?

There's something about spring, don't you think? Everyone has their particular perception of the season, but spring makes me think sun and bright, long skirts and daisies. Of course that means it's time to update my Android's wallpaper, from the Dr. Seuss quotes page (Dr. Seuss' birthday was March 2nd) to fresh and beautiful daisies.

A few Androids allow you to set your wallpaper as locked, so that the image is repeated as you swipe between your homescreens; but most spread the image across all the screens, so you see just a portion on each, as demonstrated by my lovely daisies (Is there a more cheerful flower? I think daises are widely undervalued.). That means that the size of the photo you set as your wallpaper is important. You don't have to be precise, but you'll want the shape of your picture to be approximately right, because when you set it as the wallpaper it has to fit a fixed shape. You can determine the correct resolution yourself, by taking the display size of your screen (which can be found in any specs list), and doubling the second number. For example, the Nexus 4 screen size is 768 x 1280, so the wallpaper size is 1536 x 1280; the Samsung Galaxy S III screen size is 720 x 1280, making the wallpaper size 1440 x 1280. Googling "Nexus 4 wallpaper size" is also a viable option. While optimal images will be exactly that size, the issue is really just shape, so keep the ratio approximately right and your images should fit nicely.

If you are setting a picture already on your phone as the wallpaper, crop it to the approximately-correct shape, then either touch and hold or hit menu to bring up the Set picture as option. Choose Wallpaper, and then adjust the crop to your preference. Depending on the phone, you will see options like setting the picture as your lockscreen also, and scrolling or keeping the picture static. Hit OK and enjoy.

If you need to first get the picture from your computer to your phone, start by plugging your phone into your computer via micro USB. In the AutoPlay that comes up on your computer, click "Open device to view files." Right-click the folder DCIM, and create a new folder called Wallpapers. Next, locate the picture in your computer's Pictures folder (if it's not there yet, well then you'd best put it there), and then drag and drop it from its original location to the Wallpapers folder on your phone. Now proceed to set the picture as your wallpaper, from your phone.

If you found a picture in your phone's browser, or if perhaps the picture was sent to you in an email that you are viewing on your phone, you need to save it to your phone first. This will be done by either touching and holding, then hitting Save or Download, or else by opening the menu and hitting Save attachments. Now the picture will be in a Downloads folder, in your gallery, from which you can again set it as your wallpaper.

How do you find and redeem coupons on an Android?

There is no shortage of coupon apps for Android, but the majority of them are rather simplistic; they list a selection of coupons and discounts, with links to open the details in your browser. What we really want is an app that displays coupons in the app itself, and allows users to search for coupons while they're out and about. Yesterday, (March 18, 2013), SnipSnap released its Android app, doing just that.

Pawing through purse or wallet, trying to find the slip of paper you definitely stuck in there on Monday, is becoming a thing of the past. Let's face it: your Android is within arm's reach the majority of the time -- that means it's easy to snap a picture of any coupon you come across, for SnipSnap to store. These pictures are scanned for text, imagery, and barcodes, which are optimized for mobile, and sorted by store (or your customized bundles). While most major retailers accept mobile coupons, SnipSnap is working on getting this majority even higher, particularly with supermarkets.  Notifications are a very cool feature in this app, which can remind you to use your coupon when you walk into a store for which you have coupons, and can also notify you when coupons are close to expiration.

In addition to organizing and storing physical coupons, SnipSnap has an extensive database of searchable coupons, so next time you buy hazelnut coffee creamer you can get $.75 off, even if you forgot to clip the coupon from the Sunday paper.

SnipSnap has won quite an impressive array of awards, including Startup Battlefield finalist, from Disrupt 2012; 2013 Readers' Choice Award finalist, from About.com; 1st place in Mobile Monday's demo event; 1st place in Switch 3; and Best Finance App, from Appy Awards 2013.

Get more information about SnipSnap from the official website, or check out SnipSnap from the Google Play Store.

How do you discover the world around you, using your Android?

According to the revised edition of Bethy Mac's Rules of the Universe, use of a smartphone while hiking is only permissible if 1) the user is looking up information which will then be read aloud to the group, or 2) the user is experiencing an emergency. With that in mind, it is interesting to note that cell phone service is available through a surprising amount of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Google Maps' Android app can display Wikipedia articles about points of interest in your locale. To activate this feature, open Google Maps, touch Menu > Layers, then check Wikipedia. W icons point to Wikipedia articles pertaining to points on the currently-displayed screen. Touching an icon displays the name of the article, linking to a short version of the article within the Google Maps app, with the option to open the full article in your browser.

To avoid confusion, we will review acceptable as well as unacceptable incorporation of Androids into group activities.

The Mount LeConte trailhead, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where seven inquisitive hikers are reading information signs and debating the pursuance of this trail. 
Acceptable
HIKER 1: Weren't they talking about this one at the visitors' center?
HIKER 2: Yeah, I heard it's popular. Must be pretty easy, if lots of people like this one.
HIKER 3: Let's check, just to be sure we know what we're getting ourselves into.
HIKER 2: I guess if you want to kill the mystery of it all.
HIKER 3: I do.
(HIKER 3 opens Google Maps, which shows their current location. The Wikipedia article "Mount Le Conte" is located immediately, and HIKER 3 begins to read.)
HIKER 3: "Third highest peak in the national park, behind Clingmans Dome and Mount Guyot... from its immediate base to its highest peak, Mount Le Conte is the tallest mount in Tennessee, rising 5,301 feet..." 
HIKER 4: Well, that sounds like an all-day hike, and I plan to be hungry within a few hours.
HIKER 1: Let's go to Clingmans Dome, where that thing is.
HIKERS 2-7: Sounds good!
Unacceptable
HIKER 1: Weren't they talking about this one at the visitors' center?
HIKER 2: Yeah, I heard it's popular. Must be pretty easy, if lots of people like this one.
HIKER 3: I'll look it up.
HIKER 2: I guess if you want to kill the mystery of it all.
(HIKER 3 is already in Phoneland, opening Google Maps, which shows their current location. The Wikipedia article "Mount Le Conte" is located immediately, and HIKER 3 stares at phone in silence.)
HIKER 3: Looks intense.
HIKER 4: Ok, let's save that for another day. What else should we try?
(HIKER 3, staring at phone, snorts.)
HIKER 5: Did you find something?
HIKER 3: (Sniggering) I just followed some links to other articles, and it turns out some people actually think pigs can fly!
(HIKERS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7 wish HIKER 3 would stay on-topic.)

Wrapping up our life-application session, keep in mind Google Maps' Wikipedia feature for use as you tour new areas. For example, if you were vacationing by bouncing around the Big Apple, you might pass the Radio City Music Hall, where the Samsung Galaxy S IV was unveiled last evening (as speculated, it is too similar to the Samsung Galaxy S III to be exciting). Perusal of the Google Maps' Wikipedia information reveals that Showplace of the Nation is this famous landmark's nickname. Obviously information like this will enhance the excitement of your vacation incalculably.

How do you control your Android just by looking at it?

Some new features for Androids are just cool and convenient; the major advances, that are an indication of where technology across the board is headed, are more rare. This software, showcased by The Eye Tribe at CES 2013, might just be the latter.

The software is a new way to control your smartphone, using your eyes instead of your fingers. Imagery provided by the phone's front-facing camera is analyzed using computer-vision algorithms, which identify where you are looking with enough accuracy to, for example, open the app you just looked at. The software is already sophisticated enough to activate the screen when you look at your phone, scroll websites based on how fast and how far down the page your eye has moved, control games, etc.

The Eye Tribe was founded by four PhD students from the IT University of Copenhagen, whose brilliant business plans and previous experience in eye tracking research and applications have kept this start-up funded and highly awarded. A particular strength of The Eye Tribe over similar developers in recent years is The Eye Tribe's focus on low cost and previously-integrated components to operate the software. This is contributing to the smooth organization of partnerships with mobile manufacturers and carriers that is currently taking place. Devices operating this software are expected to hit the market this year.

Learn more about The Eye Tribe's work from the official website, TheEyeTribe.com.

How do you remotely control battery-operated devices with an Android?

I found it: it's called a harvesting strategy. I had to look that up. Asking Google the name I'd forgotten for market penetration in the decline phase didn't turn out to be as simple as I'd hoped, but eventually Joe Schmo came through for me. The disposable battery industry seems to be riding out the waves of its maturity phase, and even entering the decline phase, meaning Tethercell, entering at this phase, is engaging in a harvesting strategy. Since this scenario sounds like an example in a college marketing textbook, I had to remember the name; and since I "remembered" the name, I decided to share it, despite only vague connections with Android.

The second of three CES products that we'll be discussing is called Tethercell; like Parrot's Flower Power, it simplifies life.

Tethercell includes an app as well as a physical device. The device is this super cool thingy of which I do not understand a circuit, but whose designers (Trey Madhyastha and Kellan O'Connor) I hold in high regard -- I mean, look at it. (Which reminds me: if you sell the motherboard and screen from your old laptop, you just might practically pay for the new.) To use Tethercell, replace one AA battery, from the device you'd like to monitor, with a Tethercell (which is powered by a AAA battery). Then the app end of the program can turn the device on and off remotely, alert you when the battery level is low, set schedules and timers to run the device, and even locate the device if it has proximity function.

TIME Magazine, cnet, The Verge, TechCrunch, Mashable, and others have given Tethercell the thumbs up. Looks like a nice little harvesting strategy, don't you think? You can pre-order Tethercell, with delivery scheduled for June, from indiegogo.