Where I’ve Been…

I’ve gotten some messages about where I’ve been because my postings have become much less frequent since the beginning of the year…so I just wanted to let you guys know what’s going on.  Since I started using google+, I’ve just found it to be such a convenient method for sharing information.  Subsequently, for all the small things that I thought were interesting that I used to post about on the blog, I now just post on my google+.  So if you’d like to see those things, just add me to one of your circles on google+.  You can find me under “yukisays”.  To be honest, with the advent of google+ and other social networking sites, I’ve been wondering what the impact will be on personal blogs.  For me, the effect has been that I now only feel like using a blog to write posts that are lengthy or of more significance.  Everything else just goes on google+.

HTC Rezound: Ice Cream Sandwich Update (my favorite things so far)

By this time, most HTC Rezound owners in the U.S. should have received their OTA (over the air) Ice Cream Sandwich update (aka. Android 4.0).  Congratulations to us all, it is a very welcome update even if many people are upset that it was released months later than promised.  To be honest though, I didn’t really have any complaints with the last OS version (Android 2.3 Gingerbread).  It was actually very usable and stable , and I don’t think there was anything I felt significantly deprived of.  Having said that, and after using Ice Cream Sandwich for a week now, I couldn’t be happier to have the update.  There is a lot to love about the new OS, and a couple gripes worth mentioning.  Here are some of my first impressions and things I think are worth checking out.

Using a Verizon HTC Rezound Internationally In Taiwan

Yes – you can use a Verizon HTC Rezound globally on GSM networks, even though it is only advertised as a CDMA phone.  Here are the exact steps I took when taking my HTC Rezound abroad to Taiwan.

1.  call Verizon and suspend your account without billing  (you can do this for 6 months during a 1 year period)
2.  go to Taiwan
3.  buy SIM card from Taiwan Mobile
-SIM Card will cost ~300 NT (~$10 U.S.) – you get to use this 300 NT as credit for making calls/texts
-adding a voice + unlimited data plan costs ~1500 NT (~$50 U.S.)
4.  remove SIM card from HTC Rezound
5.  insert Taiwan Mobile SIM card
6.  turn on phone
*note:  you will see that the phone has no signal (voice or data)
7.  open the phone dialer and enter “*#*#4636#*#*”

8.  this will open a screen titled “Phone Info”…scroll down until you see “Set preferred network type:”.  Tap on the drop down box and select “WCDMA preferred”

*note:  you will see that the phone will get voice signal immediately and you can place and receive calls, and you can receive texts, but you don’t have data capabilities, and you can’t send texts

9.   to get data, follow these steps –> from the home screen:  menu button > settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > Access Point Names > menu button > + New APN > enter the following info in this “Edit access point” screen

9a.  Name
-type in “TW – Taiwan Mobile Web”
9b.  APN
-type in “Internet”
9c.  Authentication type
-select “PAP”
9d.  APN type
-type in “default,mms”

*you now will have data capabilities (there is no 4G LTE in Taiwan yet, so it’s just a 3G connection, but hey don’t be picky!)  I can receive SMS texts, but can’t send texts.  But you have to pay per text message you send, so I would just use a messaging app that works over the unlimited data plan (ex.  whatsapp, wechat, etc) instead of actual SMS texting

##
*special thanks to XDA developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1421341)
*special thanks to i rule123
*special thanks to kirasama1014
-I could not have been able to get this working without their help.  the android dev community is so awesome!!!

DropBox New Automatic Photo/Video Uploading Feature Is Awesome (new/old users can get up to 4.5GB extra free space for trying)

I signed up for DropBox a while back, but never found a reason to use it on a regular basis.  That all changed recently when DropBox released an update to their Android app with the beta feature of automatic photo/video uploading.

Once you download it from the Android Market, it’s just a couple clicks to get started and your phone is set to automatically upload photos/videos to your DropBox account which can also sync with your computer if you choose.

The best part is that for a limited time, DropBox is offering up to 4.5GB of extra free space just for testing out this new feature.

?:  you might be asking, what about the automatic uploading of photos to google+/picasa?  Great question.  I still have my phone set to automatically upload photos/videos to google+/picasa, but remember that the resolution of those pics is capped at 2048×1536.  This was fine for my last phone because it was only 5 megapixels so the resolution didn’t exceed that limit.  However, my current phone is 8 megapixels and the max resolution is 3264×1840, so the automatically uploaded photos wouldn’t be in full resolution.  If google decides to allow higher res photos for automatic uploading, then I probably won’t need another service.  But for now, I’ll be using DropBox to make sure all my photos are backed up in full res.

?:  why not just use DropBox and forget google+ entirely?  Another good question.  I still like to have photos automatically upload to google+ because it makes sharing photos so easy.  I’m just using DropBox as a photo backup utility and not as a sharing tool.

*here’s some more info on how to get the 4.5gb of free storage

SoundHound = a better Shazam that’s worth the switch

One problem I have with apps is that I get lazy and stuck in my ways.  Once I find an app to do a job, I usually stick with it, even if a newer, better app comes along that I should be using.  Such is the case with Shazam and SoundHound.  Shazam was the first big name in music identification apps, and that’s what I’ve been using this whole time.  I had heard good things about SoundHound months ago, but never gave it a try due to my aforementioned laziness.  However, last week when trying to Shazam a song, it ended up taking forever and didn’t ever come up with a result.  So I decided to give SoundHound a shot and I’m so glad I did.  Why would I switch from Shazam?

2 main reasons…
1.  it’s much faster  (sometimes it recognizes the song in just a few seconds!…vs. Shazam which usually takes at least 30)
2.  recognizes foreign music better (this may or may not be true, but has been my experience for the past week)

Your mileage may vary, but I’m glad I made the switch!  Oh one other thing, it also lets you automatically post your music matches to your Facebook or Twitter accounts.  I created a Twitter account so I’d have a way to keep track of mine.  You can find my recent music tags on twitter @yukstersays  (@yukisays was taken already…sadface)

Android Market
iTunes

How To Fix The HTC Rezound Infinite Boot Loop

Ok so there’s an issue that some HTC Rezound owners are experiencing that involves the phone getting stuck in an infinite boot loop and I wanted to share my solution.

Here’s the issue:  once you turn off the phone…when you turn it back on, the phone will turn on, look like it’s going to boot up, but once it gets to the homescreen it will turn off by itself and turn on again…and then repeat…this is the infinite boot loop.

I experienced this for the first time today, and did a little research on how to get out of it…

Here’s what worked for me…

1.  take off the back cover
2.  take out the battery
3.  remove the 4G SIM card  (and leave it out)
4.  put the battery back in
5.  turn on the phone (it should boot fine, with the exception of it saying there is no SIM card inserted…this is fine, just ignore this for now)
6.  from the homescreen…hit menu > settings > wireless and networks > mobile networks > network mode > select LTE/CDMA
7.  turn off the phone
8.  take off the back cover
9.  take out the battery
10.  re-insert the 4G SIM card
11.  put the battery back in
12.  turn on the phone

So what’s causing this and how to prevent it?

Well for me, this problem was associated with me switching on/off the 4G LTE (I do this to save battery…I only turn 4G on when doing data heavy tasks).  There seems to be a problem when you turn off 4G LTE, which puts you in “CDMA only” mode, and then you turn off the phone…because when you turn the phone back on, the 4G SIM card needs to have the 4G LTE enabled, otherwise you get stuck in a boot loop for some reason.

*From my research it seems like HTC and Verizon are both aware of the problem and there is a software upgrade scheduled to be released soon to remedy the issue…until then, make sure 4G is enabled before you power down.

HTZ Rezound: Quick List of Pros & Cons

Just spent my 2nd day with the Rezound and wanted to share a brief list of pros and cons with you guys…I love it so far, despite some minor annoyances

PROS
-very impressive screen
–camera takes great pictures (focuses quickly and even good in lower light situations with flash)
–removable battery
–removable micro SD card
-very responsive
-very comfortable to hold  (it’s actually much slimmer feeling and looking than I remember…also love the textured surface on the back of the phone)
-3g seems plenty fast for normal things, but 4g LTE is unbelievably fast for tethering, uploading a bunch of pics, streaming netflix (plus using voice and data at the same time has proven useful many times already)
–Beats Audio sound profile  (gives your music a much deeper, “bass-ier” sound.  I’m not sure, but I think the Beats Audio profile only applies to when you are using the stock music player app, and it doesn’t apply to the actual cell phone speaker, just the audio out jack.
–flashing indicator light on the front to inform you of incoming messages, emails, missed calls, etc

CONS
HTC user interface
-not a fan of HTC Sense user interface (but just download an alternate launcher like Go Launcher or Espier Launcher, and that problem goes away)

Hardware
-the power button is hard to press for 2 reasons (1.  the button is flush with the top of the phone making it hard to press, 2. it’s on the top right of the phone which is a good position for left handers, but difficult for right handers)
-the volume keys also don’t give a satisfying click because they are too flush with the case (so it’s hard to know if you’re pressing them)
-the charging connector is on the left side of the phone towards the bottom…it’s just an awkward place to put it.  it makes it so that you can’t hold the phone properly to text message while charging the phone…also, if you have headphones plugged in while charging, you have 2 cables sticking out of the phone in different directions.
-the “home” button is on the far left in this order (  HOME  |  MENU  |  BACK  |  SEARCH )…it doesn’t make any sense to put the most frequently used button the farthest away.  it should be placed 2nd from the left.  (there might be a way to remap these, but most ppl won’t go through that trouble)
–micro sd card slot is underneath the battery (so you need to take the battery out if you want to access the micro sd)
–no dedicated camera shutter button (although I don’t know of any high end phone that has one these days unfortunately)
-screen is not made out of gorilla glass (I was hoping my next phone would have gorilla glass so I wouldn’t need a screen protector)

Use Wifi File Explorer To Transfer Files Wirelessly Between Android Devices and Computer

This is by far the easiest method I’ve used to transfer files between Android devices and a computer on the same WiFi network.

1.  Download the WiFi File Explorer App to your Android device
2.  Open the app on your Android device
3.  The app will display a web url address  (ex.  http://192.168.1.114.6000)
4.   Now type in that web url address on your computer in your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc)
5.  It will now display all the files on your Android device (you can either download files to your computer, or upload files to the Android device)
6.  Transfer away!

*note:  for large files, you’ll probably still want to use a usb cable for faster transfers instead of this wireless method.

Buying A Cellphone From Craigslist?

I just purchased my first cell phone from a random person on craigslist and thought I’d share my thoughts…(it was a great experience.  i saved a bunch of money and got to meet someone I never would have)

1.  Why buy a cellphone off craigslist?
a.  you want a new phone, but you’re not eligible for an upgrade yet
b.  you lost your cell phone, and don’t have insurance to help replace it

2.  How much should you expect to pay for a phone off Craigslist?
-for a “Never Used, Brand New In Box (NIB)” phone, you should expect to pay somewhere between 40-60% off the full retail price of the phone

-let’s take for example, the different prices you’d pay for a recently released phone:  HTC Rezound
(prices based off amazon.com)
a.  no contract, full retail price = $739
b.  2 year contract renewal discounted price = $249
c.  craigslist price = ~$350-400

3.  What should you look for in the cell phone ad?
-first, it should go without saying that there are a lot of sketchy people on craigslist, so you need to filter out legitimate ads from shady ones…

-here is an example of a legit sounding ad that I would have no problem buying

HTC Rezound – BRAND NEW SEALED IN BOX – VERIZON – clean ESN – $350 (cerritos, ca) 

I am selling a brand new HTC Rezound (Verizon network)
-it has never been opened or used
-it is still sealed in its original packaging
-the phone has a clean ESN (never been activated, no previous owner)
-the phone was purchased 2 weeks ago and includes the original manufacturer 1 year warranty (I have the receipt if you want a copy).
-local pickup only.

-I have bolded the 2 most important details above to look for in any ad…
a.  you want to buy a brand new phone that hasn’t been used, preferably still in its original packaging (if they don’t have the original packaging, most the time it’s because it’s a lost or stolen phone…which leads to the next point)
b.  you want to ensure the phone has a “clean ESN”  (ESN stands for electronic serial number…a “clean ESN” means a phone that has a clean record on the carrier’s network.  If a phone has been stolen and reported to the carrier, or if the phone has an existing balance with the carrier, the phone is considered not to have a “clean ESN” and cannot be activated, which means you just bought a phone that can’t be used.  So, when you contact the seller, always ask them to provide you with the ESN number (or IMEI number).  The ESN number can almost always be found by removing the battery and looking underneath at a sticker on the phone.  Once you get this number from the seller, just call the carrier and they will verify that it is a “clean ESN” right over the phone.  I usually hate calling the carrier, but this is actually a very fast process, and definitely necessary to make sure you will be able to use the phone.

4.  Where to meet the person?
-meet in a public place like a Starbucks, grocery store, etc.

Verizon Double Data Deal Extended to January 15, 2012 & Where To Buy

If you’re looking to sign up with Verizon because of the Double Data deal, you have until January 15, 2012 to take advantage of it.  In stores they will try to be vague about it and say that they don’t know when it’s ending and that it’s most likely ending by December 31.  This is just a tactic to get you to sign up now.  It was officially extended by Verizon until January 15.

Verizon phones I’d consider if you’re signing up soon:  Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound…or if you can hold out a bit longer and want a 4g qwerty keyboard phone, the Droid 4 should be released in early 2012.   

Places to buy:
–Best Buy:  buy here if you aren’t sure which phone you want and think you might want to exchange.  you’ll pay full retail, but the benefit is a 30 day exchange policy if you want to switch to a different phone (no restocking fee)

–Amazon:  buy here if you know exactly which phone you want.  you’ll pay significantly reduced prices and get the phone tax free, but you can’t return/exchange it

–Costco:  this is a good place to check because sometimes they have exclusive instant rebate discounts in addition to useful bundles.  All of their phones come with a free case, screen protector and car charger, but they also have limited time promotions that give you cool accessories like docks, extra batteries, extra chargers, hdmi cables, etc.   

–Verizon store:  the worst place to buy the phone.  you’ll pay full retail, and will have to pay a restocking fee if you want to exchange it for a different phone

Get 10 Premium Android Apps for 10¢ for 10 days! ( = 100 apps total )

The Android Market is celebrating hitting the 10 billion app download by running an awesome promotion.

Everyday, they are offering 10 different apps at the bargain price of 10¢ per app.  This will go on for 10 days, giving you the chance to get a total of 100 premium apps for only $10!

*note:  it looks like Amazon cut the prices on its Android apps to match this offer, so that’s another option if you prefer.

Don’t like the look of the new Gmail? Use the “Compact” setting!

The look of the new Gmail hasn’t been well received by many.  If you want to use the new Gmail, but have the look of the old Gmail, here’s what to do….

1.  click on the “gear” icon (not the tiny one in the very upper right…there’s a larger one below that)
2.  click on “compact”

*it’s not exactly the same as before, but close enough…and actually, the new look is growing on me…feels cleaner.
*note:  for now, you also have the option of clicking on “revert to the old look temporarily”, but as this indicates, it’s just temporary.  you’re going to get shifted over to the new gmail at some point whether you like it or not.

iPhone tip: Use the volume+ button on your earphone headset to take a picture

You probably already know that if your iPhone is running iOS 5, you can finally use the volume+ button to take a picture while in the camera app.

However, Lifehacker shares an awesome extension to this function…

You can use your “Apple Remote Earphones” (that came with your iPhone) which also have a volume+ button to take a picture from further away!  Awesome for when you need to take a picture from further than arm’s length away!  They also mention that you may be able to use this trick with bluetooth headsets as well, depending on your device.

Asus Transformer Prime Available For Pre-order NOW!!!

The Asus Transformer Prime just became available for pre-order today on Amazon.  Based on how popular the original Asus Transformer tablet was, I can imagine this being a difficult item to find, especially around the holidays.  Hopefully Asus makes enough of these to keep up with the demand!  Either way, I’d pre-order now if you’re interested.  I think the only hard decision to make is which color to choose from:  Amethyst Grey or Champagne!!!

32 GB = $492.90
64 GB = $584.22

(I got the 32 GB one in Amethyst Grey.  You can always expand more with micro SD cards)

(oh and remember, the optional keyboard dock comes separately, and is listed as $149 retail)

Today Only: Get Documents To Go FOR FREE! (Normally $14.99)

Documents To Go for Android is FREE today only on the Amazon App Store.

Use it to view and edit Word Documents, Excel Sheets, Powerpoints, and more!

Get it before it’s too late!!!

Click here

Press the “Space Bar” to scroll down a web page

Here’s an oldie but a goodie…

When web browsing, my favorite way to scroll down a page is by pressing the “Space Bar“.  If you want to scroll up, press “Shift + Space Bar“.

*note:  this is the equivalent to hitting either the “page up” or “page down” keys, but i’m rarely on a full sized keyboard that has those as separate keys, and even if there are those keys, it’s more comfortable to just hit the space bar than moving your hand all the way to the right to hit page up or page down…but don’t take my word for it.  give it a try and see which method works better for you!

*2nd note:  if you’re using Chrome or Safari, this should provide you with nice smooth scrolling up/down.  In Firefox, it’s more of a jumping motion.  Try it and you’ll see what I mean.

Watch Harvard Extension Videos For Free Online!

Ever have dreams of attending Harvard University?  Now you can!  For Free!!!

Harvard University Extension School is offering some of  its online courses for FREE to the public (non-credit of course).

Here’s a list of some of the courses…There’s something for everybody!

1.  The Heroic & the Anti-Heroic in Classical Greek Civilization
2.  Intensive Introduction to COmputer Science
3.  Shakespeare After All:  The Later Plays
4.  China Traditions & Transformation
5.  World War & Society in the 20th Century:  World War II
6.  Abstract Algebra

Use goo.gl as a URL shortener

What the heck is a URL shortener?

Some websites you go to can have an extremely long website address (aka “URL”) and you need to shorten them.  It’s not usually the home page of the website that has a long URL, but once you start using the site, that’s when you run into trouble.

Example:
-the URL for google maps is:  
http://maps.google.com    (that’s short enough already)

-but once you start looking up directions, the URL will change to something long and ugly like this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=ucla&daddr=Los+Angeles,+California+(University+of+Southern+California+-+Park+Campus)&hl=en&sll=34.052659,-118.243103&sspn=1.397204,3.556824&geocode=FQ7qBwId3bXw-CE3SBNcWJOpJQ%3BFYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=m&z=12     (*note:  the shortened version of this would be http://goo.gl/pQbl5 – see below)

what a mess!  it’s ugly to look at, and how could you send something like that to someone in a chat or post it on your wall.  it’s just offensive!  but more importantly, when you’re dealing with situations where you can only use a limited # of characters per message (ex.  twitter, facebook posts, etc), then you need to shorten the URL so that it will fit.

That’s where url shortening comes in.  Here’s how to do it…

1.  Go to goo.gl
2.  put the long and ugly URL into where it says “Paste your long URL here”
3.  click the “shorten” button
4.  then just copy and paste that shortened URL wherever you want!

*note:  another great use of URL shorteners is to hide the true website.  once you shorten the URL, the person clicking on it can’t tell what the website is until they open it.  great for keeping websites a secret or playing pranks on friends by making them open up NSFW websites unsuspectingly!  just kidding, dont do that!

Rooting Vs. Jailbreaking

I was reading an article on Gizmodo about whether you should root a Kindle Fire, and one of the user comments was interesting to me.

The terms “rooting” and “jailbreaking” are often used interchangeably when talking about hacking an Android or Apple device to unlock additional features.  However, you usually hear “rooting” associated with Android devices and “jailbreaking” associated with Apple devices.  But why?  Is there a difference?

User monkeybusiness had this to say…

“Jailbreaking is a process used on iOS devices wherein a security exploit is used to modify system files to allow unsigned code to run on the iOS device.

Rooting is a process used on Android devices where a security exploit is used to enable certain applications with “superuser”, or root, levels of access.

Essentially, Jailbreaking is smashing through Apple’s security to let you do what you want. Rooting is just enabling something that’s already in the OS, but disabled by default.”

*note:  if my sister read this, she would immediately respond with “THAT MEANS NOTHING TO ME,” which wouldn’t be an uncommon response to something like this.  but i just thought the subtle difference was interesting and we can understand how to use each term appropriately.

*funny story about my sister:  back in the early 2000s, I went shopping with my sister to buy her a new computer.  When asking her which computer she wanted, she pointed to this lower end computer that I would never have recommended to her.  I asked her why she liked that one so much, and her reply was:  “I really like the pretty background on the screen.”  (this was that one wallpaper on windows xp of the fall season colors)  I love my sister.  =)

Motorola Droid RAZR on sale for $111 for one day only on 11/11/11 !!!

Retail price = $300
Amazon price = $111.11 no tax

If you’re planning on getting this phone, I’d plan on pulling the trigger before this deal runs out!

The New Asus Transformer Prime Tablet Specs Are Out…I Just Drooled On My Keyboard

In this so called post-PC era, we have been taught to recognize that specs aren’t everything…but in this case I can’t contain my excitement.

There are several quality tablets out there, but NONE have impressed me quite like the Asus Transformer…and now it’s 2nd coming is here with the Asus Transformer Prime.  Here’s the specs…

-8.3mm thin  (that’s skinnier than the iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1)
-1.29 lbs.
-screen:  10.1″ 1280×800 Super IPS+ Gorilla Glass Display w/ a 178 degree viewing angle
-processor:  quad-core Tegra 3
-battery life:  12 hours (or 18 hours when connected to the dock)
-1GB of RAM
-32GB storage
-GPS
-gyroscope
-cameras:  1.2MP front, 8MP back
-the optional (but essential in my opinion) dock:  multi-touch trackpad, full sized USB port and SD card slot
-operating system:  ships with Android 3.2, but will be updated to Android 4.0 imminently
-available in 2 colors:  amethyst grey or champagne gold

Need a Wireless Laser Printer? I just got this one.

Staples has the HP Laserjet 1102 Wireless Laser Printer on sale for $74.99.  I just picked one up and hooked it up to my wireless network.

The documentation that came with it wasn’t so great, so here’s some tips on how to set it up for Mac…

-plug in the power cable and turn on the printer
-plug in the USB cable from the printer to your Mac
-insert the installation CD and follow the instructions
-at this point you can use the printer just fine with USB…
-however, if you want to use it wirelessly, then this video on youtube is ridiculously simple to follow and you should be all set.  =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c972ybZvZzo

Great deal on Woot: Microsoft Bluetrack Mice for $5

It’s been a while, but Woot finally’s got a killer deal again.  Here’s the details…

Microsoft Mobile Mouse 4000  ($5 each + $5 shipping)

• BlueTrack Technology – Works on virtually any surface including granite countertops, carpets, and wood tables
• Nano Transceiver – Leave plugged in when you?re on the go, or stow in mouse
• 4-way scrolling and 4 customizable buttons – Additional advanced features with included software
• Amazon price = $16

I just picked up 3 for $15 + $5 shipping = $20 total.  Get ’em while you can!

www.woot.com

PSA: The iPhone 4S…IS NOT A 4G phone!!!

Public Service Announcement:

The iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S   ARE NOT   4G phones.    (please don’t be tricked!!!)

I’ve just heard from 2 of my friends now who were tricked by this confusing (and probably intentional) naming.  They thought they were buying a 4G phone, only to find out it’s just a 3G phone.  Slower data speeds is one thing, but in my opinion the most important thing to realize is that people on Verizon and Sprint CANNOT USE VOICE AND DATA at the same time.  Only 4G phones on Verizon and Sprint can do this.  (*note:  AT&T 3G or 4G phones can use voice and data at the same time).

This may seem like a trivial issue, especially for people who don’t talk on their phones much (like me), but it can be really annoying when you do need voice/data at the same time.

Here’s a few personal examples where having voice and data at the same time has been super useful for me…

example #1:  giving someone directions while on the phone with them.
example #2:  reference an email for order information while on the phone with customer service.
example #3:  getting information from a google chat to give to someone on the phone  (i needed to get an address that was in my gchat to give to someone on the phone)

More Free Blockbuster Kiosk Rentals (Expires 11/7/2011)

-free 1 night rental
-doesn’t include Blu-ray or new releases
-use one of the following coupons (can only use 1 coupon per order, but you can just make multiple orders if you want to pick up more than one free rental at a time)
*rent online and pick up at any kiosk (and return to any kiosk)

codes:  37JRTW8, 89BPSP8, 33SGLM6, 62CDJS7, 67KWMR5, 64DABC4, 36CEHW7, 6AEVX4, KYKB53, R27X47, Y5WJ4B, 3RFCD6

www.blockbusterexpress.com

Get The Look of the iPhone Interface On Your Android Phone

On an Android phone, you can customize the way your homescreen looks and operates by downloading apps called “Launchers.”

The Espier Launcher allows you to replicate the iPhone user experience on your Android phone.  Same iPhone icons, same drag apps on top of each other to make folders, same dock at the bottom, etc.  You can even swipe left to do a “Spotlight Search”.

Many people would ask, if you want the look of iOS, why not just buy an iPhone?  Why would you buy an Android phone and make it act like an iPhone?  The answer is simple.  You still get all the great flexibility and customization options that come with Android, you get to choose from hundreds of different devices, you don’t have to deal with iTunes, the list goes on…The point is, you can still have all the awesome things that come with Android, but you can have the look and feel of an iPhone homescreen if you prefer that interface.

Best of all, it’s free!  Go ahead and give it a try.  Don’t worry about making irreversible changes to your phone.  You can always go back to your original homescreen by just un-installing the app.

How To Get Photos Off An iPhone Without iTunes

If you hate how the only way to get your photos off your iPhone is by syncing it with iTunes, here’s an alternative for you…

1.  open the Preview application on your Mac
2.  click File > Import from iPhone
3.  it will bring up a list of all the photos on your iPhone
4a.  if you are running Snow Leopard or Lion, you can drag and drop into any folder on your computer
4b.  if you are running Leopard, you’ll have to select the photos you want and then click the “import” button and designate what folder you want it to go into.

*unfortunately you can’t transfer photos ON to your iphone this way

Android Free App Of The Day: OfficeSuite Pro (normally $15!)

View and Edit Microsoft Office Documents on you Android phone!  Normally $15!  Free for today!  Go get it!!!

Click here

Create A “Sticky Note” Instantly By Pressing apple + shift + y

This tip comes courtesy of Lifehacker, and I think it’s a pretty useful one if you use “Stickies” on a Mac.  Just select whatever text you want, and then press “apple/cmd” + shift + y –> instant sticky!

Free Blockbuster Kiosk Rentals (Expires 10/28)

-free 1 night rental
-doesn’t include Blu-ray or new releases
-use one of the following coupons
*rent online and pick up at any kiosk (and return to any kiosk)

codes:  64KJRD4, 33JBHG4, 73SGLM3, 37CDJS2, 73KWMR8, 22MAYB2, 52ABDP8, 47KJRD8, 22KRFT9, 33WHZS5, 63JRTW5

www.blockbusterexpress.com