Evil Cell Phone Guy's Blog

Movies/Shows that don’t count against your data cap

evilcellphoneguy — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:49:01 +0000

If a company like Samsung, using their “media hub,” or Netflix, decided to negotiate an agreement with a cell carrier to make items downloaded from their sight, or simply streamed, data neutral, then we might see an explosion of data usage like the first surge in text messaging.
All it would take is two companies determined to try something different.
The wireless industry is filled with well-meaning people, but I sometimes think it has acquired the caution of the personal computer industry in the late nineties.

Android battery solutions?

evilcellphoneguy — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:59:33 +0000

An area for improvement with Android phones continues to be battery life. If you have a phone that requires charging more than once a day, it compromises your mobility. What’s the solution? Extra batteries, never a bad idea, require the phone to be rebooted, not always the best idea, as well as manipulation of the battery door that can result in wear and tear. I’m not always in a car or near an outlet, either.
In the halcyon days of Palm and their legendary Pilot, several cases floated around that were essentially sleeves providing support for a clip-on battery. It’s been done before and isn’t beyond the range of a competent engineer. I say we get those cases back, plug them in our charging ports, and get back to work.

Data Cap

evilcellphoneguy — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 05:16:58 +0000

Which came first, people’s average data usage, or data caps? Back in the day “WIDEN” was supposed to be a hot technology, you begged customers to add data features because in addition to being a money-maker, it increased satisfaction and retention. Now we limit, for the best of reasons, be it network capacity or faith no average customer will use that much data, the ability of people to use something that if promoted might cause greatly increased reliance on carrier services. As John Warner once said, “what does that mean, for US?” It means we need to devote every resource towards better, faster networks.

Windows Phone 7

evilcellphoneguy — Sun, 15 May 2011 05:32:52 +0000

I recently had a brief session with Windows Phone 7, and I was surprised how impressive the new OS really is, -simply well-designed. The software, among other things, takes advantage of the twenty-five gigabyte “skydrive.” That cloud based storage is one reason I believe the software will survive and thrive. The tiles are new, but useful, and apps like Netflix as well as Xbox Live will make you carefully examine your data plan.

Some thoughts on satellite phones.

evilcellphoneguy — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:30:12 +0000

There are still an astonishing number of areas without cell phone service. What matters most right now are areas between two towns that will not support a cell tower, be it for lack of commercial power, inhospitable terrain, and so on…. So, what do you do when you travel through those places and you need, at least, the capability to make an emergency phone call? Satellite? Not so fast. Let’s hope you’re not in Redwood National Forrest. Let’s also hope you are calling at the suggested time of day. What does that leave the casual traveler? More sophisticated satellite phones, really, professional grade stuff. Expensive. I’ll call you when I have a reasonable solution.

Android on PC?

evilcellphoneguy — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:58:31 +0000

“@TechCrunch: Want To Run Android Apps On Your Windows PC? You Can With BlueStacks. http://tcrn.ch/iaaqvj”

The next big thing…

evilcellphoneguy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:02:55 +0000

As we creep toward a viable 4G network blanketing the country, it looks like, once the capability to handle the data involved steps up, the next trend will be storing songs and movies in the cloud, not on the inevitably smaller than needed SD card. Yes, we will get past the sixteen or thirty-two gigabyte shortage limit and have basically unlimited capacity, but we need the network to handle it.

Make your own Android Apps

evilcellphoneguy — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:10:03 +0000

Google is getting ready to release “App Inventor,” an innovative piece of software that lets anyone build android apps, -no programming skills or developers required. There’s an email sign-up page, which will notify you and also asks for a bit of information. Here’s to what looks like a profound democratization of the app world.

Watch the Heat!

evilcellphoneguy — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:36:11 +0000

It’s time for another public service message. Please keep your cell phones out of direct sunlight at the pool, summer event, amusement park, etc. I just saw a Nexus One sitting on a black picnic table in ninety degree weather while the owner was swimming. -Hope he doesn’t need to use the expensive, special order only phone later that day…

Google Voice (reviewed) by Lifehacker

evilcellphoneguy — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:45:57 +0000

Lifehacker, that indispensable source of wisdom, has a great overview of one of my favorite pieces of software ever, Google Voice. The article is a useful overview of the service. If you don’t have it, and you should, it’s gone public and that means the user base will shoot up dramatically.

Like so much in life, the meaning is in the potential practical applications. After all, what can you DO with the software?

#1. General Call Management.

You can selectively block calls. Want your annoying brother to hear a “not in service” message? Very good. All your other calls will go through.

#2. Recording calls.

Discussing something very complicated with a colleague? Record it. Play it later and sort out the bloody details. (Note: local laws vary, so be sure to inform the other party you are making a record of the call.

#3. Free text messaging.

Imagine you have a cell phone with a data plan and a voice plan. If you can get email messages, which most people can get with a data plan, you can have text messages sent to your GV number directed to your email and you can respond to them as well. Presto, -free text messages.

#4. Free, Free, Free

As the legendary Joe Bob Briggs would say, “I’m surprised I have to explain this one.”

The article helps, and simply playing around with the service also shortens the learning curve.