app picks for April 9, 2011

SQLite editor

If you're going to root and hack away at your phone, eventually you're going to need toedit some of the database files. While big, complicated edits are best done on the computer, tweaking and testing things like additions to the HTC Sense weather city list, or the telephony database to fix funky MMS issues is a lot more convenient to do on the fly. That's where SQLite editor comes in. You can view, open and edit the databases, both for third party apps and the included db files from your manufacturer -- right on your phone. It's easy to understand and use, and the explorer lists all your db files to save you from having to hunt them down. I find myself using it a lot more than I thought I would, and don't mind spending the £1.80 (about $2.94) at all. You can grab it from the Market. [Market Link]

Cachemate for root users

Admit it: Android at times has issues with cleaning up after itself. Be it leftover files or just file caches the system is not sure it should delete -- it often times will consume a good amount of space that could be better utilized. Luckily though, Cachemate for root users exists and you'll no longer need to wonder where your space is going.. just one click at the end if the day and you've cleaned up most of the unneeded files on your de device. With both a free and more advanced paid version available you have nothing to lose. Try it and see how much space you're wasting on junk files. [Market Link]


 SGS Tools

Since we’ve decided to do apps that only work on rooted devices, this week, my choice is SGS Tools. It’s an app that’s only designed for Samsung Galaxy S phones, and one section (ROM Tools), is specifically for the Captivate. With SGS Tools, users can access secret codes, apply various scripts, modify bootup/shutdown sounds, apply MarketFix, upgrade Stock Apps and much more. It’s a very good app for anybody with a rooted Samsung Galaxy S. The Captivate specific section, ROM Tools, allows you to access ROMS, Kernels and Modems for that device. [Market Link]

 Root Explorer

Ever load a ROM and it came with some things preloaded that you didn't want anymore, or simply just wanted to remove some bloat from your original OS? Navigating the files of your device, modifying, renaming, and even deleting is exceptional easy with Root Explorer. Sometimes applications won't update from the market, and the best way to get the update is to remove the original, but for some devices and applications you can't just simply remove them, such as Google Voice, but having Root Explorer you can go in and delete the apk. The application does carry a price tag of a little over $4, but if you are into moving and playing with the files of your device, this is a must have. [Market Link]

MyBackup Pro

There are a bunch of rooted backup apps available on the Market, but my weapon of choice is MyBackup Pro. It offers local and cloud-based backup functionality for everything from contacts to alarms to home screen icon arrangements and system settings. Rooted users also have the option of backing up app .apk files and associated data, which makes switching between ROMs even more painless. The paid version even includes 100MB of cloud-based backup storage, which is great if you're regularly switching between phones or ROMs. [Market Link]

Accessing Google Docs on Android

With an Android device you have a world of mobile computing options at your fingertips. Email, the web, telephone in most cases and the extensions offered by theapps in the market make android a very attractive option.

If you’re lucky the mobile network or carrier that you go with will even have provided office software on your mobile device or tablet so that you can maximise productivity while on the road or in the air.
However not all phones and tablets powered by android have this option. So what do you do if you want to create or edit a document on your Android?

The answer is simple – you use Google docs!

Accessing Google Docs with My Docs

You might think that integration with Google Docs is something that Android already features – but you would be wrong. Unlike Windows Phone 7 which has a version of Microsoft Office Mobile pre-installed, Android Phones don’t have any tools for accessing or editing Google Docs other than via the browser. While this might be a useful solution for tablets, it’s not great for phones.

To take better advantage of Google Docs on your Android phone or tablet you will need to install the free My Docs app from the Android Market. This app gives you full access to existing documents that you might have created previously as well as offering the functionality to create brand new documents on your Android device.

Using My Docs to Edit Google Docs

Once the app is installed you can launch My Docs from the Apps list, although you might prefer to create a widget on your Home screen for quickly accessing your GoogleDocs account.

Opening My Docs (either from the Apps list or by tapping the upper-left corner of the widget) will display the My Docs menu, where you can use the Search option to find documents you have already written with Google Docs. New Document and New Spreadsheet are self-explanatory, and give you the option to give the document a filename before taking you to the browser window where the document is ready to be edited, which can be performed by tapping Edit.

Also of use is the Upload button, which will let you browse your phone or tablet for any documents (typically those created in Microsoft Office) and upload them to Google Docs.

You will note that My Docs only offers synchronization with Google Document and Google Spreadsheet; support for the Presentation software is limited to viewing via the Search tool.

Starting New Google Docs with the My Docs Widget

If you opted to use the My Docs widget you can start a new document very quickly by tapping New > Document. Again this will take you to the New Document Title screen before loading the blank document up in a browser window.

You’ll be interested to know that this guide was written on Google Document using the My Docs app on an Android tablet, a pretty good demonstration of how easy it is to use and just how much more powerful a tablet becomes with integration to Google Docs!

LinkedIn launches Android app

LinkedIn this week removed the beta tags from its Android app and made it available in the Google Apps Marketplace and the LinkedIn Web site.

 

"LinkedIn for Android, is a continuation of our efforts to help you leverage the power of your professional network anywhere, anytime," LinkedIn's Chad Whitney wrote in a blog post. "Now, you can walk into any interview, any customer engagement or client meeting with the ability to look up the details on over 100 million professionals worldwide, in real-time."

 

The app brings the functionality of the LinkedIn Web site to the smartphone. A home screen provides links to six modules: Updates, Connections, Invitations, Search, Reconnect, and Messages. It looks much like the Facebook app, except that you're scrolling through professional contacts rather than random photos from high school friends.

 

LinkedIn launched the beta version of its Android app in December, which at the time just included links to Updates, Connections, Invitations, and Search.

 

"Since the launch of our Beta, the team and I have had the great pleasure of working with a passionate group of Beta testers," Whitney wrote this week. "Their feedback, bug reports, and involvement in the process were invaluable, and we want to express our sincere thanks for all of the contributions."

 

Whitney promised to update the existing app in the coming months with "features that have been heavily requested during the public beta."

 

The announcement comes the same week that LinkedIn took a shot at Facebook with a new platform that will let third-party Web sites add content from the professional social-networking site.

 

Last month, LinkedIn also launched a number of new products, including the LinkedIn Today news site, LinkedIn Skills, LinkedIn Maps, and updated its LinkedIn iOS app with the new news focus. The company also said that its LinkedIn Signal product would be opened up to all users.

Motorola Milestone XT800 price dropped to 23,990 Rs

The Price of the only CDMA- GSM Dual sim Motorola Milestone XT800 Android Phone has been dropped to 23,990 Rs. A whooping 8000 Rs. less than the original  31,999 Rs. The price cut was very evident since the device generated no excitement and many other phones with better specifications are available in the market.

The only benefit of the phone is that it is Dual Sim capable and comes with android.

Even, with the price reduced, we still think that only people who are desperately in the need of a Dual Sim phone which also offers Android, will consider buying it. The price still seems high and we at iGyaan feel a price range of 15k would suit the product a bit more. Since there are still feature rich phones available at way lower prices.