Widgetsoid

This is probably the best application I have.

It was one of the first I downloaded on my first Android and has followed me ever since.

To turn off the data usage on the phone usually takes five clicks. To find the available memory or temperature of the battery or skip to the next song or find a bookmark or turn on the flashlight can all take a while too.

But if I'm doing one of these actions every day - I want to be able to do it from my desktop.

A widget sits on your desktop and is similar to a shortcut, but the difference is that a widget can execute an action in one touch

This application lets you customise widgets to do almost anything. You can have control over your data connection, Wi-Fi, music, portable hot-spot, screen-off timer or nearly anything else you can imagine.

(The widgets on this screen shot are the black and white ones at the bottom. You can customise colours and appearance.)

Root Uninstaller

Limited space on your phone? Never use the apps that came pre-loaded?

Want to get rid of them but can't?

This app can remove any application that is installed on your phone with no exception.

This should be used with extreme caution. You can quite easily destroy your phone using this application.

In fact, this application is the reason why rooting voids your warranty and no one (especially me) would ever recommend rooting your device.

Slightly safer is the 'Freeze' option. You can hide the application and block all of its processes. This won't free up any room, but if you change your mind you can always reverse the freeze. (Unless you've already destroyed the phone).

My Backup Pro

This application requires you to have root access, and costs a few dollars.

But it is definitely worth the hassle.

Every Sunday night, my phone silently backs up everything onto the My Backup Pro servers.

If I lose my phone or it is stolen (again) all I have to do is log into my new phone, get root access, and download My Backup Pro. From there I can install everything that was on my phone.

The exception is system applications like the note taking applications that most phones have. But I would never recommend using those stock apps anyway for that reason.

I recently installed a different operating system on my Desire HD (actually Jonno did it because I'm too stupid) and when I downloaded my old info it had every single application with the application data still intact. I hadn't lost any messages, any HeyTell or PingChat messages - and I was still even logged into Facebook, eBay and all the other web applications.

This is far more than you can achieve with the native backups offered by HTC, Samsung, Sony etc.

SMS Scheduler

This application is really handy - especially for GTD followers - you can write a text now, and schedule it to be sent minutes, weeks, months or years later.

You could use it for birthdays, anniversaries, reminders etc.

But the real innovative use for this is for scheduled updates.

On Vodafone there is a number you can send a free text to and you will receive a reply SMS with your remaining call credit, data and any bills payable.

Simply schedule a blank SMS to be sent to this number every day near the end of your billing cycle so that you don't go over your cap.

Ping Chat / HeyTell

These are both instant messaging programs that are available on both iPhone and Android platforms.

PingChat is not the best one, I'm sure. It's a bit annoying that everyone you chat with is represented in the same colour, but it's still decent and free.

HeyTell is like a simpler voice message service. You just hold down the big orange button while you're speaking and release when you're finished. Your HeyTell friend will get a notification and hear you voice message in high quality.

If you add one to your iPhone or Android, add me.

SwiftKey X Keyboard Free

This keyboard is pretty amazing. It looks at your sms, your facebook messages and your emails and uses that to guess what word you are most likely to write next. It updates as you type each letter.

So you never actually have to finish what you're typing, just select the predicted word by hitting the spacebar.

It also generates statistics of how many keystrokes it saves you.

Mine is telling me that it has saved me 34% of my keystrokes.

It has a very long trial period, and you can decide if it is worth paying $4 for.

Where's My Droid

This has two uses.

One is to find your phone when it is lost or stolen.

The other is to make someone else's phone turn itself up to maximum volume and then start going mental when they are in a meeting or at the library.

Where's my Droid has helped me find my phone so many times. You choose a trigger phrase, e.g. "Where's my droid?" and send it to your phone via sms.

Your Android will, depending on your settings, turn itself up to maximum volume and play an alarm signal, return sms with gps co-ordinates and start vibrating.

If you can't find it then, it is truly lost.

The second use I alluded to is to convince your friend to install this and then ask them for the trigger word...

If someone asks you for your trigger word - you have been warned.

Why is my Android not blowing my mind?

Android running slowly?

Lag time?

Glitches?

Force closes?

Slow?

The first thing to do is to do a simple Google search on the problem.

I promise you: you are not the first person to encounter this problem.

Actually, the first thing to do is turn it off and then on again.

Then try taking the battery out and putting it back in.

Then try reformatting the memory. (i.e. restore factory settings, this will delete all your personal information)

Here are some common complaints and how to fix them:

Glitches/slow:

Task Killers are great tools, but overused. A Task Killer can sit on your phone and slap down anything that tries to run in the background. Unfortunately, a lot of applications need to run in the background, in order to do the cool things you downloaded them for.

Even worse, every time you kill a system process, it needs to be rerun, which consume precious battery and speed.

A task killer should never be set to auto-kill but can be useful to close down manually any processes that start freaking out.

Battery Performance:

A handset with Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi and screen on will run itself down in a few hours.

The worst of these, by an huge margin, is the screen.

You can get applications like Toggle Settings Lite that will turn down any of these features based on particular system states (e.g. turn Wi-Fi back on when you arrive home or turn screen to 'dim' after 8pm) but the screen use will still kill your battery in a very short time.

The simplest solution is to carry a data/recharge cable with you ($1 ebay) but you can also find many battery utilities on the web that will help you.

Some handsets, like the HTC Desire HD, have poorly calibrated batteries, and there are official fixes for this. Check out the manufacturer's website.

Lag:

To get more out of my Samsung Galaxy I gained root access (WARNING: WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND POSSIBLY BREAK YOUR PHONE) and installed a new 'Rom' or 'Mod' on it. This just means instead of running the operating system that Samsung installed on it at the factory, I found a modified one on the web that I liked and installed that.

These are usually based on the manufacturer's designs, but are tweaked to remove branding, to increase streamlining, and to run faster.

Sounds hard, but if your handset is laggy it is worth considering.

If the mod you install is still glitchy - no problem: Just install another.

You can use RomManager to easily install and backup different mods.

AVG Anti Virus

You need this application so that your phone doesn't get sick:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10928070

AVG is free and has full features. Just leave it going in the background and hopefully you'll never hear from it again.

Google Plus

This has heaps of features, but there is only one that I use. Every photo that I take is immediately uploaded to a private album on my Google Plus account via my data connection. You can program it to only upload over Wi-Fi, or as soon as the photo is taken.

Ever lost or broken a phone and lost some important photos?

Our Groceries

Do you shop?

Does your partner shop?

Do you both use Android or iPhone or Symbian?

The simplest ideas are the best.

This is a very simple idea. It's just a shopping list on your handset, but any changes you make are also reflected on the list on your partner's handset in real time.

Brilliant.

App Brain and App Brain Fast Web Install

This is a pretty basic application, but it makes sense to load this one first because it will make finding and loading other apps easier.

It’s basically a better version of the Android market. The ratings are more informative, and you can better manage and locate apps.

One of the best features is you can share application lists and reviews.

So please, follow this link and have a look at the applications I recommend.

wilbur.longbottom's Android apps on AppBrain

Some of these I will write about, but it’s better if you just have a look through and get the ones that seem best to you.

Once you’ve installed AppBrain and Fast Web Install you can browse applications on the web and push them wirelessly to your handset.

You can also maintain a timeline of applications, so if you want to remember that application that you really used to love and regret uninstalling you can find it on the AppBrain store. And if you ever have a problem with your handset – just log into AppBrain using your Google account and you will find your list of applications again. (However you have lost all your application data; stay tuned for a root access application review that will help guard against this)

Pay Apps - iSyncr Wi-Fi

Greengrocer: Hello, how can I help you?

You: I would like an apple please.

Greengrocer: Certainly, these apples here are on special, they will give you a dizzying high and they are only $3.99 a kilo.

You: Thanks, but I don’t really want to pay for them.

Greengrocer: Come again?

You: I don’t think I should have to pay.

Greengrocer: Why not?

You: Because there are heaps of apple trees where I can get apples for free. So can I have one of yours for free please?

Greengrocer: Get out of my shop.

You: Ok.

It’s true, there are heaps of free applications on the market, (and often they are better than the pay ones) but if your only objection is, “I don’t want to pay for it”, then think of the analogy above.

The best spent money in the Application Market is on iSyncr and iSyncr Wifi add on.

For about $5 total you get a tidy and simple program that talks to your computer via your wifi connection and can synchronise your iTunes playlists onto your device.

That's right.

You don't have to connect your handset to your computer ever again.

It takes ages, but the sheer convenience of being able to simply open the program, and then in three clicks your music begins transferring to your handset.

How many times have I heard, "But I use iTunes! I need an iPhone"?

I use iTunes too. That's why I need Android - so I don't have to use wires to synchronise.

An iPhone costs about $800. All up, for your Android you will probably pay between $200 and $900. So don't be tight - $5 is worth it.

Mighty Text - Android Application

Do you use Android?

Do you use Chrome?

Do you send text messages?

If so, read on.

You can download Mighty Text for free from the Application Store. Once installed on your handset you go to Mighty Text on the Chrome Store:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dkfhfaphfkopdgpbfkebjfcblcafcmpi?hc=search&hcp=main

...and install it on your copy of Chrome.

You can now send text messages from Chrome.

Messages will be sent from your phone and your usual number. All this does is use your data connection to tell your phone what you are trying to do.

So you still have to pay for the text!

I don't know about you, but I type about 20 times faster on a keyboard compared to a handset. Add the time it takes to get it out of your pocket, unlock it and open the SMS... this is going to be faster (and cooler).

Some of your handset manufacturers may already provide this functionality, but the advantage to Mighty Text is that you can access it through Chrome instead of having to go to the Motorolla or HTC website.

Android Beginner

This week a few people have asked me about Android and how to find the best apps.

I’ve decided to mini-blog some random bits and pieces that will be helpful if you are using Android for the first time. (If you are a super-user please don’t read any further – this is not for you)

If you have just bought an Android phone and have a sneaking suspicion that Android may be awesome: Read on.

The Beginning: To Root?

The very basics we don’t need to cover here. (turn it on and register Google etc.) But the first real decision you need to make is, “Do I root it?”

“Rooting” your phone is simply breaking down the security that keeps some features of the phone from your control. The makers of your handset don’t want you to mess with things that could hurt your phone (e.g. processer speed, which if overclocked [sped up] can end up cooking your handset).

But if you are reasonably confident, you should root your phone because there are heaps of fun and helpful things that I will be writing about that you can do only on a rooted handset. (Sneaky sample: complete backup of your phone, unrestricted customisation, remove annoying and pointless vendor applications)

This makes you slightly more susceptible to threats to your privacy, but only if you are silly and don't put any anti-virus on it.

The first rule is: Always check the rating and comments of any software you download before you install it. This is just common sense.

The reason I suggest doing this step first is that rooting may require you to wipe all data on your handset – this makes more sense if there is no data on the handset yet.

************DISCLAIMER************

This will void your warranty.

Neither I nor my employer nor anyone I know or know of would recommend doing this.

You can blow up your phone.

************END DISCLAIMER************

So here is my guide to rooting ANY phone:

1) Think long and hard about whether this is the right thing for you. (Give me a call even)

2) Type “Root [My handset type]” in Google.

3) Hit enter.

4) Follow instructions you find.

5) If instructions don’t work, ask a nerd for help.

Good luck.