Android Virus Threat

Just a heads up, they have a report of a virus hitting Android users.

The chance of infection is minimal but wanted to give you the heads up.

Android Centeral link for more information

Launcher Pro

The review for today is LauncherPro, a home screen/launcher replacement app. One of the only areas of Android that I found seriously lacking from the start was the home screen. If you run a lot of the larger widgets like I run; Adgenda widget, Facebook, Twitter, and some of the music player widgets are a few examples of the large widgets I'm talking about, you run out of space fast with the stock Android Launcher. I've tried several home screen replacement apps, and still do from time to time, but I always seem to come back to LauncherPro.

You can set it for anywhere from 1 to 7 home screens, giving you lots of room for whatever widgets you may want to run.

If you look at the screen caps you'll also notice there is a 5th row of icons across the very bottom of the screen. This bar is also scrollable independently of the home screens, notice how the icons are different in the second screen cap, it's a total of 15 icons (3 rows of 5). Both the bar, and now the home screens in the latest update, can be programed to scroll in an endless loop so if you reach the left edge of your home screens and try to scroll left it'll jump you to the right end of the screens.

It also offers the chance for you to apply custom icons to your shortcuts, giving you the opportunity to give your phone a more personalized look. There is also the opportunity to expand the grid on your home screens from the stock 4x4 to anything from a 1x1 grid up to a 10x10 grid and anything in between.

There is both a free and a paid version of the app, the paid version unlocks some additional widgets as well as the ability to re-size your widgets. The paid version goes for $2.99. The developer isn't in the us so the paid version isn't available from the market. There is a link inside the app that takes you to a page to purchase and unlock key for it through Paypal.

Sorry so quiet

Sorry I've been so quiet lately, between blowing up my phone and having to use rsdlite and a spf file to get it working properly again and then the Thanksgiving holiday I haven't had time for the blog.

I'm back and will be posting at least one new app review today.

Protector

Like to show off your Android phone to friends but worry about them reading emails they shouldn't or installing apps on you, then Protector is what you're looking for.

There is a free version and a paid version for $0.99. From what I've seen the only difference is the free version is limited to protecting only 10 apps.

The app is still in a beta stage but it's working pretty smoothly for me so far, I've only found one bug in it but otherwise I've been pretty impressed.

The free version is supposed to allow 10 apps to be protected, but for some reason my phone only lets me pick 7, I emailed the developer about it but haven't heard back yet. In messing around with the settings I found a simple work around for now. If you go to the settings screen (1st screen cap) and turn off the protect system apps setting, then go back to the apps screen and pick the apps you want, then turn back on the protect system apps it will let you pick more then the 7.

Right now it's a single pin code to unlock all the protected apps, the developer plans to add individual pins for each app in a future release.

Lookout Securtity Update

The latest update to this app seems to have a problem in it, not sure what's going on but my battery life has gone downhill since the latest update. I'll keep an eye on it and post a follow up.

Not Call Log 2 - free (NO ADS)

This is another simple app that's extremely useful. When I first got my phone I got so tired of always going back to the call log after a call. It was so easy to accidentally dial someone a second time.

You can set it to either return to the dialer after a call, or return to your home screen or the option to go back to a specific program. There is a delay slider so you can see the call log before it goes to the home screen so you do have the chance to call somebody else before you go to the home screen.

It has saved me a lot of accidental calls.

Bump

Looking for an easy way to transfer contacts between phones, or maybe an app suggestion or a photo? This app is the answer to what you're looking for.

The app is compatible with the companion app on iPhone as well. Its relatively simple to use as well. You launch the app on both phones, pick the information you want to send, then just 'bump' your hands together while holding both phones. The app can tell when the phones are tapped at the same time and transfers the information over your data connection. You're given a dialog box that asks you to confirm the information you want to receive and you're done.

It's a lot simpler then having to text or email the information between the phones.

A helpful tip for Android newbies

This isn't an app review, its just a helpful tip for new users about a hard to find setting.

For those of you wanting to set a specific ringtone for specific contacts and can't find the setting, here's what you do.

Go to the contact you want to set a ringtone for, press your menu button and pick options. You'll get a screen that'll let you set a specific ringtone for that contact. You'll also find an option for having specific contacts always forwarded to voicemail.

Lookout Mobile Security

With the high costs of today's smartphones as well as the sensitivity of the information on them, protecting them has become a high concern for users. Lookout Mobile Security is an app designed to serve that very purpose.

They have both a free and a premium version, the premium version goes for $2.99 a month or $30 a year.

Here's a chart that compares the features between the two versions:

Feature Chart

The app runs seamlessly in the background, haven't had any problems with it. This is one of two security apps I run on my phone, I'll review the other one at a later date because its in a closed beta test right now and they're not taking new users. Both apps have features to them that I like, neither app is perfect. The one thing about Lookout I don't like is the app shows up in your app drawer, so its easy to tell its there if somebody gets your hands on your phone and they can uninstall it, the other app hides itself once it's setup so people are less likely to know its there and remove it. One of the features I like about Lookout over the other app is the 'find my device' feature works silently in Lookout, the other app text messages your phone which gives thieves a tip off that you're tracking the phone which isn't necessarily a good thing.

As you see on the feature chart, the premium version even gives you the option to remotely lock your phone and wipe the data.

A security app like this is really a must have app for smartphone users today.


EDIT:

Need to clarify my review of this app. The latest update has a problem in it, not sure what's going on but my battery life has gone downhill since the latest update. I'll keep an eye on it and post a follow up.

Rotary Dialer

This app is for those who need a good laugh from people from time to time.

It's great for showing to people that keep saying "I don't need all these fancy gadgets, I just want a simple phone to make calls." Well pop up this app and hand them your phone, it's bound to get a good laugh out of them. Its fully functional, one person I showed it to wouldn't believe me and actually called themselves to prove it worked.

Okay, I'll get back to reviewing serious apps now.

Ringdroid

While Android is nice in that you can use any song you have loaded on your phone as a ringtone, it's the full song which isn't what you want at times. Sometimes you can find what you want from the different ringtone sites, but not always.

Ringdroid can fill in that gap. You have the ability to take any song you have loaded on your phone and using the sliders, you can pick out exactly what portion of the song you want as a ringtone then save it. You can make the ringer as short or as long as you'd like. I've used it to make several for my phone and haven't had any issues. If you're into personalizing your phone, this app will take you a long way. The app lets you save your clip as: music, alarm tone, notification tone, or ringtone.

Settings Profiles

This app adds a functionality to your Android phone that should be standard on all cell phones with the advent of the gps technology they have in them the last few years.

Have you ever forgotten to turn off your cell phone ringer in a place like church where it's considered rude or annoying to have them go off like church or a movie theater? Wish your phone would just know and do it for you, the app Settings Profiles does exactly that. The app comes in two versions, Lite and Full $3.99. From what I've read they are exactly the same app with the Lite (Free) version simply limited to one active rule.

You start by setting up profiles for the phone settings.The profiles can be configured for every setting on your phone; from turning on: wifi, Bluetooth or airplane mode to changing: in call volume, ringer and media volume, alarm volume, system volume, change the default ringtone setting. You can even set it to change your wall paper depending on where you are.

It includes a home screen widget (pictured in the second screen cap) that lets you quickly toggle back and forth between profiles when you go somewhere you need a specific profile but don't have a rule configured for it.

From there you go and set the locations you're concerned with, then set up rules to activate certain profiles depending on which location you go to. The rules can be configured to work only on specific days, and even to specific times of the day.

I've been running the free version most of 2010 and love it. Only reason I haven't bought the paid version is right now I only need one automatic rule, I will be purchasing it as soon as the need arises for more then one automatic rule.

Daily Bible Verse Widget

This is a homescreen widget that I've been very happy with. Unlike a lot of other widgets I've used there isn't a lot of flexibility to them, this one has a variety of choices to fit your situations. As you'll see from the screen caps, it has 3 different sizes: 2x2, 3x2 and 4x1 which has 3 different color choices.

It has 30+ language and translation combinations, English is limited to the NIV and the King Games. It would be nice to see more translations added in the future, will keep posted.

Dialer One

The stock dialer / contact manager app on Android is severely lacking on most phones.

DialerOne is what the stock dialer should be.

As you type in numbers it searches your contacts, the search can be programmed for alphabetical or numerical or both. Then gives you can click on the dial button next to the contact or click on the name to edit the contact. It can be configured in a light theme, dark theme or you can set it to show your home screen wall paper behind the buttons.

I can only speak comparing the dialer to the stock android dialer on my Motorola Droid and the dialer on my wife's LG Ally and Dialer one blows both of those away. We both use Dialer One and love it.