Android Keyboard Review Updated, now 47 keyboards reviewed

Image via WikipediaThis time, reviews of Dasher, Chorded Keyboard, and G-Board have been added.

Dasher is one of those really weird yet innovative input methods that seem to be designed for people with limited mobility, such as Dr. Stephen Hawking. it's easier for you to see it than to describe it.

Chorded Keyboard use only 12 keys to input all 26 letters by using other keys as shift keys. It's interesting.

And G-board can be thought of as better Graffiti gesture input.

Read the updated review at

http://kschang.hubpages.com/hub/Android-Softkeyboard-Shootout-which-input-method-should-you-use

Android Keyboard Review Updated, now 44 keyboards reviewed

Image via CrunchBaseLatest to the review: MaxiKeys... a revolutionary new concept in onscreen keyboard... tilt scrolling!

Also, updated the links for Better Keyboard to Amazon, due to BetterAndroid's problem with Google.

You can find the updated review at

http://kschang.hubpages.com/hub/Android-Softkeyboard-Shootout-which-input-method-should-you-use

(ROOT) Winner00's CM7 ROM, modified

This is only of interest if you flash Mod ROMs (and have rooted your device).

I have an OG Droid, so I am interesting in learning how to improve it. So when someone claim they have tweaked CM7 for even better performance, I am intrigued. It's on ROM Manager's download list.

Downloaded it, flashed it. As it's a derivative of CM7, decided NOT to wipe data and such.

Booted right up, seem to have no problems... Then realized my Google account is gone. There is NO account under Settings / Accounts and Sync.

So I hit "Add Account".

8 seconds later, the system rebooted. WTF?!

So I try again.

SAME RESULT. When I add account, the system reboots.

Okay, this is ridiculous. Going back to plain CM7.1RC1.

Go into app drawer and start up ROM Manager.

It's NOT THERE! WTF?!

And since there is no Google account, I can't even go into Market and redownload ROM Manager!

Fortunately, there is Clockwork Recovery and Nandroid Backup. So I am now back in regular CM7.1RC1.

Not exactly a good experience setting up the stuff, eh?

Unplanned Outage (outrage?) of LWP round up, now 210 LWPs reviewed

After pruning and new updates, we're now back to 210 LWPs, and there are dozens more to be added!

There was an unplanned outage, because there was sort of a change on what links are allowed to one's own blog, even though the links are perfectly legitimate and on-topic. Oh well, thus are the rules.

EDIT: *cough* here's the link

http://hubpages.com/hub/Review-of-Free-Live-Wallpaper-for-Motorola-Droid

Any way, enjoy the improved roundup!

A Couple Hints on Game Dev Story

Game Dev Story (from Kairosoft) has a lot of little things you don't quite "get" at first, and only learn after repeating games.

all of the combinations that works are successful games in real-life.


Just think about it (following list borrowed from Phillipe Wampfler's blog)

RPG / Fantasy -- just about most RPGs!
Simulation/ Romance -- Japanese 'dating sims'
Simulation / Movies -- "The Movies"
Simulation / Game Co -- what you're playing!
Simulation / Architecture -- SimCity
Action/ Ninja -- Ninja Gaiden
Adventure / Mystery -- most "Murder Mystery" adventure games
Adventure / Cartoon -- Sam and Max, any one?
Shooter / Robot -- Mechwarrior
Shooter / War -- Call of Duty
Life / Animal -- Virtual Pet like Nintendogs
Puzzle / Reversi -- obvious
Audio Novel / Romance -- dating sim again?
Motion / Volleyball -- virtual Volleyball?
Table / Mahjong -- obvous





Workers do NOT want to work on a project three times in a row.

Only use each one twice, then go to someone else. The best pattern is probably two internal, then go to a contractor, and repeat. Else, you'll get low productivity, as the guy will burn out. Or alternate internal / external.


There are FOUR skills, but a lot more than 8 jobs. 

• Programming is for just about everything (keyboard icon)
• Storyline is done with creativity (gold ball icon)
• Graphics is done with graphics (paint easel icon)
• Sound is done with sound (trumpet icon) 

To do really big games, you need to expand to a bigger office and expand your staff. What you can do with only 4 people is limited.

Developement cycle matters

You want to time it so the game hits about Christmas. You will want to monitor how much development you can do until then. Usually, this means you start about late July / Early August, depending on how many bugs do you have crush. You may want consider using one of those "specials" to make things go faster / better. 

Use advertisement!

Advertising will get you more audience, which drives up sales. Different advertising methods have different costs and different effects. Some generate hype, some generate "popularity" for company, and some do both! 

Train those Employees, or fire them and hire new ones. 

Check for new candidates every 6-12 months. While it sure has sentimental value to grow a set of employees from scratch, it's not the most efficient. 

Stay tuned for more tips!

Related articles

• AAQR: Game Dev Story (free, $2.85) (androidappquickreview.blogspot.com)

4G Phone Guide: Sprint Edition Released

Image via CrunchBaseWith 5 phones, 2 tablets, a netbook, and a collection of 4G modems and mobile hotspots, Sprint has something for you if you want 4G speeds. Available in over 100 cities across the nation, Sprint's WiMAX 4G is one of the first 4G networks in the US and delivers consistent speeds.

So which of the 5 phones they have should you get? the EVO 3D is the king, but the 1 year old EVO 4G is still surprisingly viable second choice.

Read more about Sprint's 4G Phone Guide here:

4G Phone Guide: AT&T Edition released

Image via WikipediaGuide to AT&T's 4G Phone Offer is now available

The best phone available on AT&T for 4G is Motorola Atrix 4G, even without the fancy "laptop dock". On the other hand, AT&T's "4G" network has LOUSY coverage. So even with "4G phone", unless you're in a major metro area AND AT&T has HSPA+ coverage in the area, you won't get "4G speeds".

What do I do when I see ads in my Android Notifications Area?

Apparently there's a new ad server that is encouraging app developers to incorporate this nasty feature, dubbed "AirPush", into their apps. The apps are not labelled as to their source so you don't know which app it came from.

Fortunately, someone wrote a detector for apps like that. BOYCOTT NOW!

Download AirPush Detector
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.brosmike.airpushdetector

Lifehacker Picks NewsRob as best NewsReader for Android

Technically those are RSS Feed Readers, but who's nitpicking? :-D

http://lifehacker.com/5807863/the-best-news-reader-application-for-android

AAQR: Morphing Galaxy Free Trial (Live wallpaper)

Actually have nothing to do with galaxy at all. It's actually a bunch of dots marching in formation and form intriguing patterns. Looks rather interesting.

Rating: Try it

http://www.appbrain.com/app/morphing-galaxy-free-trial/morph.galaxytt

Live Wallpaper Roundup Has Been Updated again

Another 6 added, and there are a lot more entries here in this blog that have not been added to the main roundup yet.

The new LWPs are getting better, but there are plenty of lousy ones as well.

From now on Watchdog Task Manager will be used to "monitor" the LWP and see if it's hogging the CPU.

Video Loop Wallpapers will not be included from now on.

Ask AAQR: How do you tell if the app is hogging the CPU?

Someone asked how would I know if the app is hogging the CPU?

There are two ways:

1) Use SeePU, an app that displays a small bar graph showing how busy your CPU is (also your memory, but that's optional)

http://www.appbrain.com/app/seepu/com.latedroid.seepu

2) Use Watchdog Task Manager Lite, which watches your CPU and raises an alert if one app is hogging the CPU

http://www.appbrain.com/app/watchdog-task-manager-lite/com.zomut.watchdoglite

I use Watchdog right now. If an app repeated triggers the CPU alert (on default setting) I call it a CPU hog.

New Guide: How to add themes to your Android device

Here is a complete guide on how themes are added to your Android device

• Explains 4 types of Android themes
• Explains limits of each type
• Explains how each is applied

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-add-themes-to-your-Android-device-complete-guide

NOTE: LaunchPro Plus now has THEMES!

The themes are for the widgets only, and you will need the paid version (the free version have no widgets) to use this. Basically, install the themes, then EACH widget can have a separate theme. 

Most of the themes so far is way too transparent to make good reading of the contents. However, they at least mean the authors are trying a few things. Most of these themes are free, though a few are asking for $1.00 USD. 

I have tried several, and most are really basic. I'm waiting for a GOOD LCARS implementation. :D

No link, as there are a lot of these. 

New Roundup: Top Ten Live Wallpapers About Space on Android

A new roundup of Ten Best Live Wallpapers About Space is now live:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Best-Android-Live-Wallpapers-about-Space

Stuck in 1xRTT? Here may be a solution

For the past TWO MONTHS, I was stuck in 1xRTT because I went over the soft quota in January 2011. Instead of 5GB soft cap (it's technically unlimited) I went to 7.2 GB. Verizon promised that I'll be slow, and I get occasional 3G, but mostly I get stuck in 1xRTT.

So when April came along, I was hoping I'd be back to 3G, but no luck. I am STILL in 1xRTT, even though the new billing cycle started YESTERDAY.

I took the phone to Verizon store, and the first thing the guy said was "sorry, we don't touch rooted phones". So basically, he was no help at all.

Then I remembered there are technician codes one can try. So for fun, I tried the first code listed here:

http://www.askvg.com/google-android-hidden-secret-codes/

Then I changed the setting from CDMA only to CDMA (auto)

When I exited the menu, voila! 3G!  Rebooted, no more 3G. So I know it's not hardware issue.

I then dialed *228, then option 2, to update your phone's roaming PRL (don't worry, it won't hurt it).

Got 3G again now... I needed to wait about 15 minutes, but it works now.

Quick Duel: Google Listen vs. Stitcher Radio

Both Google Listen and Stitcher Radio are for listening to podcasts. However, that's the end of their similarities. Here's a quick impression of both, and I'll reveal what I use later.

Stitcher Radio

Stitcher Radio is an excellent podcast player... If you are on WiFi most of the time and have a phone with PLENTY of memory. The problem is, I have neither... I have the original Droid (with a meager 256MB) and previously I have to use only 3G as I don't have WiFi at home. Thus, my experiences have been getting worse and worse. The reason is half due to my phone: if a call comes in, Stitcher often go pushed out of memory, and thus when it resumes, all of the buffers are gone, and the app have to re-stream the content... over and over. Stitcher also have no "offline" mode where you can use SD card space to pre-load the podcats.

On the other hand, Stitcher lets you sort the providers and shows by topic, provider, search box, and so on. You can also thumbs up/down the podcast, subscribe to it, and so on.

Rating: Try it

http://www.appbrain.com/app/stitcher-news-radio/com.stitcher.app

Google Listen

Google Listen is an official app from Google Labs, and its "discovery/browse" interface is atrocious. You can't browse... Just search. is available, no topic browser at all. Eeek. However, Google Listen is one of the apps that saves your listen position, even if the app was pushed out of active memory then reloaded. It is VERY handy. There are a series of buttons in the player screen that lets you skip ahead and so on.

Furthermore, Google Listen has a few tricks, such as browse the "prior episodes" of any podcast, and you can choose to subscribe or not (i.e. check RSS feed), and or add those episodes to the playback queue.

But the best ability of Google Listen is its ability to download all the relevant information (you can even specify to pre-fetch only while on AC power, and/or only on WiFi). All the pre-fetch podcasts goes into the SD card, so playing them back needs NO bandwidth at all!

Rating: Get it                                                          

http://www.appbrain.com/app/listen/com.google.android.apps.listen

Current state of Verizon Android Upgrades

Image via Wikipedia

HTC Droid Incredible

Verizon currently is pulling a few tricks for customer retention, but I personally don't think they are doing enough.

I have the ORIGINAL Motorola Droid, which is getting a little long in the tooth. So, what's a geek to do? I walked into a Verizon store and inquire about my contract status.

My contract expires NEXT MARCH (2012). So I am eligible for "every 2" this coming NOVEMBER (2011), which is $50 off.

However, the Verizon rep said that I can pull an even EARLIER upgrade... if I am willing to pay a $20 "early upgrade fee".

Unfortunately, browsing through the store shows that even not so good phones are EXPENSIVE. HTC Droid Incredible (quite old, but still pretty fast) is like $200. Same with Motorola Droid 2 Global. The HTC Thunderbolt? $325 and up. And that's NOT counting that $20 fee, or whatever sales tax and such. I'll also need to get accessories. Eeek.

There's gotta be a sale soon. Maybe in June when iPhone "5" comes out...

Related articles

• HTC DROID Incredible May Be Getting Gingerbread (Android 2.3) In June (androidpolice.com)

NOTE: Zynga Games NOT compatible with AdFree

If you root your phone you can load "AdFree" which basically use built-in IPTable to filter all the ads.

Unfortunately, this seem to break most Zynga Android games, such as Words with Friends. You just can't connect.

If you have Zynga game for Android and it doesn't work, disable AdFree (i.e. "revert") and see if that helps.