Google Android fails (or not)

In the past months i’am using an Android smartphone and i’m trying to see the in and out of the software. For me is the best OS, that’s why i bought one instead of an iOS or Windows Phone smartphone but adding in the desire of Google to know everything about everybody lead to some great fails in my opinion. Some will consider fails, some can say it’s arm twisting, some will say it’s Google’s business model and strategy, or some may say it’s their freakin’ business and they do what they want with their OS and if you don’t like it get something else, all this i consider being fair points of view.

Like many others in the world, i got disappointed in Google because they want to know absolutely everything, period. And they very pushy about this, here is why:

1. As you search more and more on Google, you will get as time passes, the same results even if you’re searching for variations of a topic;
2. A friend told me he searched once for a washing machine or something, for his mother and for months, all the adds he saw were all with washing machines. Ok, i searched, maybe i bought it, i’m not searching anymore, screw the washing machine;
3. When you search for a driver, the first links are with websites that first request you to install some obscure driver scanner and through that you should install the driver you want. Wouldn’t be normal to get the official driver page as the first results?;
4. Android: In the Favourites, Most likely contacts there is ALWAYS the only contact i have on Google+ and i call him once in two weeks. In the Frequently contacted, he is ALWAYS in the first 5, although there are more then 5 contacts i call more frequently;
5. Android: You can’t add birthdays in the calendar but you can when you sync your contacts and calendar with Google;
6. Android: If you don’t use the stock browser and use let’s say Firefox, and don’t use the Google Search and you use DuckDuckGo, if you have turned on Google suggestions i think it’s like using the Google search. Even if you tap on other search engine link, typing in with that option on, it’s sending the request to Google and receiving the suggestion;
7. Putting on the best Google proof vest may protect you, but that doesn’t give you the certainty you’re invisible.

There are many flows and limitations in Android but i’m pointing out the most annoying for me.

Yes, i’m using an Android phone and yes, i’m doing what i can to avoid Google services but i don’t go extreme on that and i don’t suggest getting paranoid over that, if a service will really make my life easier, i will use it. If some people or organizations really want to know something about you, trust me, they will.

The majority of people with a normal life don’t bother putting their life online, they don’t do anything wrong, they don’t have anything to hide and hey, you’re more interesting online then in real life.

On the other hand, if you plan on bombing something, opening a Facebook page to post your progress for that, might not be such a good idea.

Happy Easter!

Hristos a inviat! When I try to write Hristos (Christ) using swipe, I get gheishas. Android fail. ^-^

How to bypass Motoblur on Motorola Defy Plus

motorola (Photo credit: Adam from another planet…)

I always wanted to do a review of a device and being a proud new owner of a Motorola Defy+, gods have smiled upon me.

But! … you have to wait for a while and here is why:

People have mixed feelings about Motoblur, a system designed to hold in that Motoblur account all the phone contacts, e-mail accounts, messages, streams from social networks etc., lots of people didn’t want to have all personal data in one place without the option to limit that “backup”. I am one of them.

When you first power up a Motorola device with Motoblur, you are asked to make a Motoblur account and the obvious question is “How to bypass Motoblur?”. You have tones of responses on the internet, many of them going way too far like rooting your phone, installing a custom ROM, gaining access to Pentagon after setting up 3 computers from NASA and NORAD as proxy servers.

Many of the answers online are for permanently disable/remove Motoblur because simply bypassing the creation of a Motoblur account will left some processes running in background.

My simple tutorial on simply bypassing the creation of a Motoblur account:

1. power up your phone;
2. if it asks you for SIM card activation/PIN code, insert it;
3. at the Motoblur account screen, press the Menu button (the first button from the left, that with the 4 boxes, 1 white and 3 black);
4. if you don’t see a Skip button, choose More and then press Skip;
5. you’re done!

What you will miss:

• All your contacts, e-mail accounts, social network streams, messages synced in one place. Some Motorola made widgets won’t have data to show on the screen.
• Operating system updates can’t be made without a Motoblur account. First, some say that if you’ll wait for Motorola to update the Android version, you’re life will pass by blazing fast. Second, you can always root your phone and install a custom ROM.

What you still can do:

• Manage your e-mail accounts;
• Use social network apps to stay in touch with your friends;
• Sync your data with any service you like;
• Enjoy a plain default Android experience.

Don’t get me wrong, lots of people love this all in one sync stuff and Motoblur is in fact the key selling point on a Motorola device so if it’s ok for you, you will have a full Motorola+Android experience.

I’m on Android

- Hello, i am Kaigara and i’m on Android.

- Hello Kaigara!

I’ve made the switch, i put to sleep my old and wonderful Nokia E51 and bought a Motorola Defy Plus. I know…i know.. he who is without sin, to throw the stone first.

After months of comparing, testing, reading blogs and websites, talking to people i finally decided to go with an Android smartphone over other smartphones like Symbian (yes, even if it’s dead), iOS, Windows Phone.

What were the key buying points:

• i am a linux user and i wanted a similar open environment (so iOS and WP are down);
• i wanted a rugged smartphone to take on cycling trips, with enough screen space but with good battery life (Motorola Defy Plus wins over Samsung Galaxy Xcover and Sony Ericsson Xperia Active);
• a good price/quality ratio (i think).

What i don’t like in Google’s services and products is that they gather every data from your device/service, this being a really big no no for me, but i think, hey, if someone, anyone will really want  to track me and know every step i make, they will know. Anyways, if you plan to bomb something, you don’t post your progress on Twitter or gather Likes on Facebook.

I really don’t care how many apps are on the Store, i’m not an avid user of social networks and i don’t care how much integrated are those services or any other services with the phone system.

There are many online debates, pros and cons, fights about how that OS is better then he others, how a smartphone maker have the best product, about the killer app, the iPhone killer which i really think it’s all rubbish (the majority of stuff on the internet is rubbish but that is another story).

To put it simple, a smartphone is good, is friendly and useful, just like a mini computer that can handle small and frequent tasks that otherwise requires a computer or laptop.

Best android offline navigation software

When it comes to mobile navigation on an android device, you basically have two options:

1. Use an online mapping and navigation software (like Google Maps) that requires an internet connection to load the maps and calculate navigation routes. The bad thing is that you must pay data traffic on your mobile and the worst thing is when you use those services abroad, on roaming costs and this can put you on the yellow path of going broke. The good thing is that you always have the latest version of the map.
2. Use an offline mapping and navigation software (like OsmAnd and many others) that can store the maps on the device and even operate the navigation offline. The bad thing (which is not such a bad thing) is that you must take care to update the maps at their latest version. The good thing is that you will not pay a dime to look at the maps or use the navigation features of the app.

The software i tested and use for offline navigation is OsmAnd that has three versions:

• OsmAndFree – can be downloaded from the Google Play that have some limitations, like the number of downloads you can make for maps, voice guidance etc.
• OsmAndPlus – paid version from Google Play with full features
• OsmAnd~ – i downloaded the app via F-droid app, a repository for FOSS (free and open source software) android apps. This is a free version with a donate link that have no limitations.

OsmAnd is using data from Openstreetmap (OSM), an open map system build buy the contributors and works great. I tested the navigation part in different parts around the city and i was pretty impressed.

As a contributor to OSM i can add Points Of Interest (POI) directly from OsmAnd and you can even track your route with the app and upload that in OSM.

The great thing about apps like OsmAnd is that you can load on the SD card of your device, the maps of the locations you will travel and use them with no data cost. Imagine the roaming cost for downloading map data abroad, with those money you can get a cab and go around the country and you will still have money left.

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 23,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 5 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Say Hello to My New Little Blog

Blue pill or the red pill (Photo credit: pinkangelbabe)

Go For the Red Pill is my new blog, a blog about change.

Please enjoy !