Blog focused on the Android OS experience from the perspective of a neophyte. The author will review apps, comment on the Nexus 4 experience, and provide additional tips related to Android OS powered devices.
I recently downloaded the Pocket App for Android OS on my Nexus 4 phone. Pocket is an app that allows you to save articles, videos, and other web content for later on your Android Phone and other devices. The app integrates well with the Chrome browser and allows user to save content for later in a few easy clicks.
Just navigate to the website or article you want:
Click on the ellipsis in the left corner and choose “Share...”
Select “Add to Pocket” from the menu that pops up
Pocket will automatically take the article and format it for viewing without the ads and other surrounding data on the webpage. Within a few seconds, the article automatically added to your list of articles in the Pocket App.
From there, you can read and tag the content as well as seamlessly share it to social media and other applications on your device.
Once you get into Pocket, you just need to click on the link to the article and read. When you’ve finished reading it, just click on the checkmark in the upper left hand corner to archive the article for later or click the share link to share via social media or other apps installed on your device.
Pocket also lets you add websites and articles by emailing the link to your pocket-specific email address that is provided when you sign up for the service.
Beneficial Features: Offline viewing of articles, quick add with emailed links, excellent integration with other phone apps, clean interface, extension for Chrome browser on PC, swipe and scroll navigation options in app.
Drawbacks: Some web pages are not optimally formatted for viewing when downloaded to Pocket
Bugs: None Observed (will update if any are observed)
Changing phone numbers is a difficult thing on everyone. When I switched from AT&T to Verizon a few years ago, I ported my number from one phone to another. Now I’m switching services again - this time from Verizon to T-Mobile so that I can use my new Nexus 4 device. Well, I could have ported my number to my new carrier but decided that I wanted to port the number to Google Voice instead so that I don’t have to worry about porting the number to another carrier again. I also want to use Google Voice because it gives me one central number,allows personalized messages, and has voice mail transcription.
One Number
Google Voice holds the one phone number I want to give out and then can route it to multiple phones based on my preferences. For instance, when I am at home, I can set Google Voice to ring to my land line (yes, I still have a land line) and my mobile phone. This allows me to keep my mobile minute usage down and have a plan that severely limits my phone use. I also know I can give out just one number to allow anyone to reach me.
Personalized Greetings
I love the idea of a phone that can have more than one greeting based on the contact who is calling me. Since I work in a professional setting away from the keyboard, I need to have a voicemail message on my phone that is professional and friendly to the average caller. However, I also love the idea of being personal with friends and family and, maybe even, a little more casual with the same. This is where personalized greetings come into play. You can record a specific and different greeting for each and every contact if you’d like to do so. This discreet voicemail option is really handy when I’m going to be on vacation too. I can let my work contacts know I’m out of the office but can be a lot more specific with friends and family. It’s a great feature for me to have in a phone service.
Voicemail Transcription
When I can’t answer the phone because I’m in a meeting or don’t have my phone with me, the voice mail transcription is a very helpful feature in Google Voice. The recorded message is almost immediately transcribed and emailed to me at my gmail account and sent via text message to my phone. This allows me to review the written transcript of the voice mail immediately after the caller leaves the message. Also Google Voice lets me listen to the audio version of the message. This is especially helpful if the transcription isn't perfect or if I want to hear inflection in the speaker’s voice. Either way, I have both a quick written and audio message waiting for me in my email.
The message and transcript can also be accessed via my web-based access to Google Voice thus providing another way to review the message without having to use cell phone minutes checking voicemails. Whether I decide to use my phone or computer to access the transcript, voicemail transcription is a helpful tool I use a lot as part of my Google Voice account.
There are a few other great features like call blocking, call screening, and conference calling that make Google Voice an excellent choice for my main contact number. So, I think that the $20 price tag to port over my existing phone number to Google Voice will be well worth it. Do you have any other things that you like about Google Voice? Let me know in the comments below.
Selecting a phone these days is an exhausting proposition. Consumers need to select an operating system, phone platform, and carrier that all meet their needs. Knowing that I wanted to move from iOS to Android made this a little easier but I still spent a lot of time trying to find the right phone that would meet my needs.
I made a decision to go with the Nexus 4 from Google with T-Mobile service. This decision didn’t come lightly as I currently reside on the Verizon network which has excellent voice coverage in my area and works well for me at home and at the office. I selected the Nexus 4 primarily because of the Android operating system, strong mobile data on the HSPA+, and because the phone comes unlocked.
Android Operating System
As an iOS user, I felt somewhat...locked down. The iPhone certainly does a lot of things very well but I felt as though I wanted to have apps work together and integrate better that is currently possible in iOS phones. My opinion is that Android promises to be a better platform for me to customize my phone. Plus, Android is open source and thus more open to developers which allows them to view the source code and customize their software to better integrate with Android. I’ve heard the promises and hope that this is the case with the software I download to my new phone.
I’m also excited about the Nexus because it will update immediately as Android updates are available from Google. To iOS owners this may not seem like a lot but it is a big deal for non-iPhones to get updated on a timely basis. A chart provided by Google shows that several users are not on the most up to date Android OS. This means I won’t have to wait for my mobile carrier to update the phone software and I will get the latest and greatest experience from an updated Android OS release (currently 4.2 Jelly Bean). With the rumors of Android version 5.0 coming out soon, I know this phone will stay on the cutting edge.
Mobile Data Communication Over HSPA+
While HSPA+ is theoretically not as fast as 4G LTE, it is still a strong and fast standard that is the “4G” standard used by AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile. An article in Android Authority underscores the fact that HSPA+ on T-Mobile is nearly as fast as, and sometimes faster than, the other major US mobile carriers. Speeds of 5 mbps up and 2.1 mbps down is perfect for my use. Especially since I will be downloading apps and content over my wifi network at home whenever possible.
Unlocked Phone
The other major reason I selected the Nexus 4 is that the phone can be purchased unlocked for a very reasonable price (starting at $299). Since T-Mobile offers an affordable month-to-month plan, I may not need to switch carriers but if I do, I know I can do to AT&T Wireless without having to purchase a new device. This is one large benefit of having an unlocked phone. In fact, there are several carriers that will contract with you to carry service on an unlocked phone.
Another benefit is that the phone will not come with the bloatwear that is common with many branded phone purchases. I have heard several complaints, for example, about the lack of drive space on the new Samsung Galaxy S4 with all of the extra software that Samsung and the carriers install on the phone. I feel that if I want to have a feature, I should be able to look for an app that does that and then download that app from the Google Play store. In all, an unlocked phone will provide me with more storage space and less bloatwear.
The Nexus 4 seems like my best pick for my next new phone. The Android OS, good data speeds, and an unlocked phone all make this look like a good deal for consumers. Let me know your thoughts by commenting below.
As a new Nexus 4 convert from an iPhone, I wanted to share my experiences with other users and help them avoid concern and confusion when using their new Android powered devices. Specifically I want to help other neophytes discover the value of an Android powered phone and all of the fun and interesting things someone can do with an Android phone.
This site will provide reviews for popular applications and additional information about how to use the Android operating system from a neophyte’s perspective. I also hope to put in tips and tricks to help users get the best out of their smartphones and accelerate their knowledge from neophyte to knowledgeable. I look forward to sharing these experiences and answering questions along the way.
