Posts Tagged: ‘Android’

Motorola Moto G6 Play Review – Originally Published August 2018

August 18, 2018 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

A couple of months ago, I mentioned that I was looking for a new pocket computers, excuse me ‑ I meant to say phone.  You would think the darn things would last more than four years.  My old Moto X Pure was definitely on a downward spiral.  The battery charge didn’t last very long and the machine often got almost too hot to hold in my hand.  Finally, when I dropped it for about the hundredth time, the screen cracked and it wouldn’t reboot.

One of the big problems with buying an Android phone is getting monthly security updates.  It just doesn’t happen unless you spend eight hundred dollars (or more) on the phone.  In my case, that just isn’t going to happen.  I decided to do what I’ve done in the past ‑ buy a reasonably priced phone.  When it ceases to get updated, I’ll root it and install a different Operating System.  Usually, that also gives a boost to aging hardware.

I decided to purchase the Moto G6 Play.  There are three versions of the phone: the G6, G6 Plus and the G6 Play.  If you’re interested in the differences, do your own web search.  I pick the Play mainly for three reasons:
1. It was the lowest priced;
2. It had the largest battery; and
3. It was in stock at Best Buy.  I needed a new machine pretty badly.

For a cheaper phone, the G6 Play has some pretty impressive specifications:
• unlocked for all carriers
• Android Oreo (with a promise of update to Android P)
• 5.7 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 720 x 1440 pixel Corning Gorilla Glass multi‑touch screen
• Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU
• 32 GB internal storage, 3 GB RAM, microSD up to 256 GB
• 4000 mAh battery (fast charging)
• fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer, proximity sensor, etc.
• and much more.

This the first phone I’ve had with a fingerprint sensor.  I didn’t think it would be useful.  Over the years, I’ve had a lot of burns and cuts on my fingertips.  My fingerprints don’t easily scan.  I set it up on this phone and it has been flawless.  The only time I’ve had to put in my PIN code is when I reboot the OS.  I sure hope I don’t forget my number.

This phone is sleek and looks good.  The Bluetooth, headphone jack, vibration, flashlight, fast charging, etc. are all adequate.  The camera which I seldom use takes OK pictures.  Judging by the advertisements I receive, the GPS sensor is more than adequate.  The battery has lasted the entire day for me.  One of the best features is the lack of bloatware.  I don’t think I’ll have to unlock the boot loader and root this machine.

There are a few things I don’t like about the G6 Play.  The power button is in an inconvenient spot.  The volume switch is on the right side of the phone and the power button is directly below it.  I often accidentally hit it.  A couple of times, I didn’t notice and rebooted the OS.  Another minor quibble is that there is no NFC.  I think I might have misread the specifications before I purchased.  NFC is available only on the European edition of the phone.  Android Oreo is installed on the phone.  Motorola has promised an update to Android P.  I’m not going to hold my breath.  Since they were purchased by Lenovo, the updates haven’t been reliable.  All in all, I’m pleased with this phone and hope to get another four or five years use.

Thanks for reading.

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Android App Permissions – Originally Published June 2018

June 10, 2018 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

Would you mind if I came to your home and looked through your house to get some ideas for things to write about in this column?  If I find anything useful, I promise not to tell anyone where I got the information.  I promise that I will keep any details about your private life secret.  Of course, if I change my mind later, you won’t be able to do anything about it because you gave me permission.

If as I suspect you answered “no”, I hope you are as diligent with your Android phone.  When you install an application, do you give it permission to look through your data and use it for marketing or other purposes?  Over the years, there have been many Android programs that have wanted to do similar things on your phone.

Android forces apps to declare the permissions they require when they install them.  You can protect your privacy, security, and cell phone bill by paying attention to Android app permissions when installing those apps.  Prior to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) all applications declared their permissions before installing.  You could either accept and install, or decline and not install.  The problem with this system was that many users didn’t pay attention. An application for a game could potentially harvest all of a users contact data.

In newer versions of Android, apps have to individually request each permission. Keep in mind that if you deny a permission, the application might not work as designed.

It is easy to check the permissions of an Android application.  If you have already installed it on your device, go to Settings>Apps.  Scroll down to the app you want to examine and tap it.  Click the permissions field.  If it is an application you are thinking of installing, open the Google Play Store and go to the app.  Then click on the “Permission Details” tab.

Why is it important to check permissions?  Simply because our phones contain so much personal information.  They have our exact location, contact data, personal pictures and more.  They can record everything we say and do.  In short, access to your Android device is access to you.

An internet search will find millions of sites that tell you what each permission is.  Probably the best place to research permissions is Google Support.  There are two informative articles:
1. Review app permissions thru Android 5.9
2. Control your app permissions on Android 6.0 and up

Use common sense when you install apps. If a flashlight program asks to read contact information, it might not be the best one to install. Reputable app developers will tell you why their software needs each permission.

Thanks for reading.

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ITO Technologies Pedometer – Originally Published April 2018

April 2, 2018 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of step counting apps in the Google Play Store.  Over the years, I’ve tried twenty‑two of them.  My normal routine was to read glowing reviews on a new pedometer app, download and install it, go for a walk and count my steps.  After a day, I would uninstall and go back to the Omron pedometer clipped on my belt.

In January, when I was on a cruise ship, I was talking with another passenger when the subject of walking and pedometers was discussed.  I told him about the many apps I had tried and my disappointment in all of them.  He recommended that I try Pedometer by ITO Technologies.  I didn’t give it another thought.

About a week later, my four year old manual pedometer quit.  Being in the middle of the ocean, there wasn’t any place to buy a new one.  Amazon two day shipping just doesn’t work everywhere.  I downloaded and installed Pedometer for a temporary replacement.  It has worked so well that I haven’t purchased a new Omron.

The main reason I’ve kept using the app is that it is the most accurate of all the step counters I’ve tried.  With almost all of these programs, the devices motion sensor is used to record steps.  Many of them do not do a good job when the phone is in a purse, trouser pocket, or carried in the hand.  For me, Pedometer has worked equally well in all instances.

I think that every step counting app in the Play Store has the same kind of graphs for tracking how super your walking is.  Pedometer will show your statistics for hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.  I don’t believe this function is any better or worse than any of the other app choices.  For me, these do no make a lot of difference.  My main priority is step count accuracy which the program excels at.

                             

The program is advertising supported.  The ads are so unobtrusive that when I wrote this review, I had to double check where they were placed at the bottom of the screen.  I can honestly say that I have never noticed an ad until I went looking for one to review.  There isn’t an option to pay for ad free upgrade.  If there was, I would definitely buy this app.

One other thing that surprised me was the program name.  It is Pedometer without any adjectives.  Many of the other walking apps have descriptions like tracker, GPS counter, fitness walker, accu‑step, etc.  I assume that this program must have been one of the first in the app store.  The full name is plain old “Pedometer”.

If you are in need of a step counting app for your phone, I can recommend ITO Technologies Pedometer.  It is free in the Google Play Store.
Thanks for reading.

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A New Phone? – Originally Published February 2018

February 10, 2018 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

After almost two and a half years, it is time for me to start thinking about replacing my Moto X Pure smart phone.  I’ve finally broken the habit of saying “Pocket PC”.  I’m also thinking of breaking the habit of getting a high end phone this time.

I don’t use my phone the same way that I did five or six years ago.  You may remember that back in November 2013, I gave a presentation to the club on how to use your cell phone as a computer.  I attached a powered USB hub to my phone and installed a full sized keyboard, mouse, storage drive, etc.  I then demonstrated many common tasks like word and photo editing, web browsing, playing games and more.

In 2018, I use my phone much differently.  My number one use is listening to audio books and music.  This is followed closely by playing games.  I’m pretty picky about which games.  I usually only have about eight of them installed.  I also use my phone to read magazines (about 20 a month) that I’ve checked out from the library.  I don’t read too many books on my phone as I’ve found it easier to use my tablet for that task.  I don’t know why I’ve never purchased a dedicated e‑reader.

I’m in the advanced looking stage.  I really like my Motorola (Lenovo) phone, but they were usually pretty slow with their monthly security updates.  They were often two or three months behind.  My machine was recently updated to Nougat 7.0 with an Android security patch of October 1, 2017.  I don’t expect that I will receive any more “official” updates.

I would like to get the Google phone, but I can’t justify spending a thousand dollars or more.  The same goes for Apple products.  People that know me can tell you why Sony is off any list of products I am buying.  I used to buy Samsung phones.  They have always made good products with great specifications, but they got to the point where there was so much “junk” software installed that I had to spend hours rooting the phone and getting into a usable (for me) status.

I’ve looked at One Plus phones but they don’t work with all of the Sprint bands.  Even if it was a usable phone for me, I have pretty much concluded that they are neither a responsible or reliable company.  They have done a lot of dubious things since their first phone release.  Do you remember when they first started selling the phone?  It was by reservation only and if you were female and sent a picture, you went to the front of the line.  Then there was the take a video of smashing your old phone.  Most recently, they lost a lot of credit card numbers.

It is looking more and more like I’m going to try and get another year out of my Moto X Pure.  I have started to notice that the battery needs charging more often.  Of course, it is not easily replaceable.  Maybe by then manufacturers won’t be modifying the Android OS.  Isn’t technology fun?

Thanks for reading.

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Block! Hexa Puzzle – Originally Published December 2017

January 1, 2018 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

I was originally going to write an article on my research before buying a new phone.  Then I downloaded “Block!Hexa Puzzle” by BitMango and put a new phone in my drafts folder. I like games that make me think and sometimes give me ideas for Mindbender puzzles. Needless to say, I like “Block! Hexa Puzzle”.

This is one of those games that is simple to learn, but soon becomes challenging to play.  It definitely makes you use your brain.  The aim of the game is to fit small block pieces nicely into a given shape, which changes on every level.  There are fourteen modules consisting of 80 puzzles each.  As you advance, the puzzles get more difficult.  There are no time limits for finishing the puzzles.

                             

The game play is pretty simple to play. You drag the pieces into the frame and try to connect all of them to fit.  You cannot rotate the pieces, but you can take them out and switch them if you need to.  As you progress to higher levels there will be extra pieces.  This can get a little frustrating, but I like the fact that it makes you think harder.  Another thing I like about the play is that there is no time limit.  You don’t have to restart from the beginning.

If you really need help, you can always tap to receive hints.  The developers are pretty generous with them.  You get hints for many different accomplishments.  You can even watch an advertisement to get a hint.  After almost 100 games, I’ve earned 23 hints.  I haven’t had to use any of them yet, but I’ve been tempted.  This is mostly because after five or six tries, the hints button starts to wiggle.

Like many other “free” games “Block! Hexa Puzzle” is ad supported.  A video advertisement plays before the game starts.  There is a small ad at the bottom of each screen.  Every three games or so, there is another video ad.  All advertisements can be removed for an upgrade fee of $1.99, which I purchased after playing about twenty games.  I only do this for games I really like and plan to play often.

Another way to get hints is to solve the daily extra puzzle.  Of course, you have to watch an advertisement before playing.  There is also a multi‑player option which I haven’t tried.

This is the type of game that you can play when you have a few minutes to kill.  It is both easy to play and challenging at the same time.  Most importantly, the game is FUN to play.

You can download “Block! Hexa Puzzle” from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.  If you do a search instead of clicking the link, download the app created by BitMango.  There are a lot of similar games.  Note that my review is for Android but I’m pretty sure all the functions in iOS are the same.

Thanks for reading.

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Android App Memories – Originally Published August 2017

August 8, 2017 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

I recently read an article on Android Police – My Talking Tom squeaks and tickles its way to over 500 Million downloads on the Play Store.  The app My Talking Tom brought back some great memories.  It was one of the first apps I installed on my tablet many years ago.  I never played with the virtual pet, but I sure remember a much younger grandson manipulating it for hours on end.

That got me to thinking about other apps that I’ve installed over the years.  There are many like Nova Launcher that I’ve installed on every Android device I’ve ever had.  As I look through the list on my Play Store account, I see there are many others that I don’t use anymore.  Some of them evoke special memories just like that cat did.  Here are a few good (and some not so good) apps that I don’t use anymore.

The Dolphin Browser is a highly rated web browser that I used as default for many years.  I’ve not installed it in several years.

Clipper Plus is a clipboard manager for Android that automatically saves everything you copy.  It is another excellent program that I quit using.  I no longer do much writing on any of my mobile devices.  Type Machine is a similar app that I’ve outgrown.

When App Volume Control Pro was first released, I downloaded it almost immediately.  It supposedly changes the volume control on your Android device depending on what application is currently running.  I could never get it to work for me.

Pedometer is a highly rated step counting program.   I used it for about a week but found that it wasn’t very accurate.  I’ll keep wearing my OMRON pedometer on my belt.

SD Maid – System Cleaning Tool, Battery Widget, Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus, BatON and many other similar security apps no longer find their way to my mobile world.  I’ve found that the services they provide are usually not worth the resources that they use.

Sometimes a trip down memory lane can be a fun digression from the modern world.

Thanks for reading.

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MacroDroid – Originally Published June 2017

July 5, 2017 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

Down deep inside, I’m pretty lazy.  I think that is one of the reasons that I’ve become a technology geek.  After all, why should I get up from my easy chair to turn off the television when I can just push a button.  Of course, in this modern age, I’m not sure I could even find the on/off button.  When I’m in my vehicle, like many other people, I connect my phone via Bluetooth.  When I get out, I always take out my phone and stop my music player, turn on the Wi-Fi, turn off the Bluetooth and put the phone back in my pocket.

The truth is that is how I used to do it.  I don’t have to anymore because when I turn the engine off and open the card door, it all happens “automatically”.  This is done with an application that I’ve been using for the last month or so.

MacroDroid is a powerful task automation and configuration app that focuses heavily on usability with a simple UI and a logical step by step process.  I’ve tried many similar apps and even reviewed a few of them in past Newsletters.  MacroDroid is the easiest and most functional that I’ve ever used.

There are three steps to using MacroDroid:
1. Select Trigger – This is where you define an action that will start your macro.  In my example above, the trigger is Bluetooth disconnect from SYNC (my cars Bluetooth name).  At the time of this writing, there are more than 40 triggers.
2. Add Actions – This is what your device will do after the trigger occurs.  In my example the macro turns on the Wi-Fi, disables the Bluetooth, says the time and launches the home screen.  There are more than 70 actions you can use.
3. Add Constraints – This is where you can set options to limit when a Macro can activate.

There are many built in templates and user uploaded Macros.  All of them can be easily modified for each users needs.  I do have a small quibble with the templates.  For many actions, there are too many templates.  You can spend a lot of time finding the perfect one that works with your device.

     

 

The developer operates an active help forum where users can suggest features, share macros and get help with the application. There is also a settings helper application for devices that might have problems.  I haven’t had to use it.

 

You can download MacroDroid – Device Automation from the Google Play Store.  Android version 4.0.3 or higher is required.  The free version is limited to five macros and contains advertisements.  I can’t tell you whether the ads are obtrusive or not.  I purchased the pro version for $2.99 about fifteen minutes after I installed it.

Thanks for reading.

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Downgrading My Phone? – Originally Published June 2017

July 5, 2017 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

A couple of years ago, I gave a demonstration at both computer clubs on replacing your computer using your Android phone.  At the time, I was using a Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  I connected a powered USB hub and was able to run USB drives, flash drives, mouse, keyboard, etc.  Everything worked fine.  I opened and edited several word files, spreadsheets, images and others.  Two years later, there’s quite a few reasons I don’t do those things much anymore.

Samsung has just released the Galaxy S8 for around $800.  Of course that is the minimum price.  The price will be much higher with more memory and needed accessories.  Many reliable rumors indicate that later this year, Apple will release the iPhone 8 for $1000 or more.  It seems that every year, smart phone prices increase much more than specifications.

In another year or so, I’ll be looking for a replacement for my Moto X Pure.  I’ve been thinking that when the time comes, my next phone isn’t going to be as “smart”.  One of the reasons is security updates.  Although Motorola promised timely security updates, they haven’t been reliable.  As I write this, my last monthly security update was December, more than four months ago.  They promised an Operating System update to Nougat.  After almost nine months, there is still no affirmation when or if I’ll get it.  I believe that is unsatisfactory for a phone that is only about two years old.

This is not just a Motorola problem.  All of the Android manufacturers do the same.  For a year or so, updates are frequent when you buy an unlocked phone.  If you buy through a carrier, your chances for needed updates are even worse.

Another big problem with using your smart phone is the applications situation.  Although there are mobile applications that work well, they don’t seem to be updated with new and useful features.  Many of them tend to be stripped down versions of their PC counterparts.  With the ever increasing power of mobile processors and graphics cards, this is unsatisfactory.  Part of the problem may be due to the different mobile app pricing process.  If an app is priced more than two or three dollars, it is often perceived as unacceptable.  These lower prices are often offset by “data mining” our private information.  Although this also happens with PCs, it is definitely more ubiquitous on mobile devices.

In the past year, I’ve been using my phone less and less for real production work.  Although I can readily edit word documents, there are many things that I just can’t easily do.  An example is scanning and editing old club Newsletters.  There’s a good possibility that my next “smart” phone will be a little dumber than my Moto X.

Thanks for reading.

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Reviewing My Reviews – Originally Published April 2017

April 7, 2017 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

It’s hard for me to believe, but I’ve been writing these Android articles for more than four years now.  It all started when I got my first Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note II.  That was a good machine.  I used it a lot and never had one battery explode.  Since then I’ve written a lot of articles about using Android, hardware that I’ve owned and apps that I’ve used.  This month, I thought I’d take a look back and re-view some of the applications I’ve reviewed.

Voice Shortcuts Launcher was the first app I ever reviewed.  I liked it a lot but don’t use it anymore.  OK Google has improved so much that it is the only voice control I use.  Speaking of Google, the first app of theirs I reviewed was “Google Currents”, a newsreader that Google discontinued about six months later.  It sure is hard to believe that Google would discontinue something.

When I reviewed Cluefhttps://tinys-bs.com/wordpress/wp-admin/post-new.phpul Privacy Advisor by Bitdefender, I thought it was an interesting program that inspected your installed apps and gave privacy recommendations.  I didn’t use it for a very long time.  Kingsoft Office is a suite of apps that has been updated and renamed to WPS Office + PDF. At the time, it was the best word processing software available for Android.  Many tech sites still say that today.  I don’t do much word stuff on my smaller mobile devices any more and have not installed it lately.

When I reviewed the Amazon App Store, it wasn’t really a review but an article explaining why I removed it from all of my devices.  I got a little upset when Amazon required me to be logged in whenever I used one of the “free” programs they featured.  My machines seemed to run a lot faster without the program installed.

Wordiest is the first game I ever reviewed.  I still play the game almost every day.  Other games I’ve reviewed are Red Herring, Trainyard, Shikaku and Monkey Wrench.  Except for Red Herring, I still play them all fairly frequently.  I’ve reviewed the Fireproof Games Room Series more than once.  Even though they aren’t free, they remain my favorite Android games.

In October of last year, I reviewed Solid Explorer, an excellent two panel file explorer that keeps getting better all the time.  Simple Checkbook hasn’t been updated since November 4, 2014.  Every time I think about downloading something newer, I realize that the older model keeps my accounts perfectly.

I hope you enjoyed this short synopsis of some of my Android Reviews.  It has been four years since I left Windows Mobile and went to the Darkside.  Maybe it isn’t so dark after all.

Thanks for reading.

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RCA Voyager Review – Originally Published February 2017

February 5, 2017 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

I was finally forced to retire the first Android table that I ever purchased.  My Archos 70IT was a faithful machine that I used every day.  For the last year or so, I used it solely for downloading and viewing podcasts and videos.  Although I don’t remember what I paid for the machine, I know I’ve gotten my moneys worth over the years.

I’ve been on the lookout for a replacement, but in no hurry to buy.  My tablet needs are pretty simple.  I watch tech videos and read lots of books and magazines with several different apps.  I don’t play a lot of games, but it would definitely have to be able to play my all time favorite: The Room Series.  On a tablet, I don’t need to use many of the Google services, such as maps, calendar, etc.  One of my main requirements has always been a 7 to 8 inch size because it will easily fit in a cargo pocket.

When I found the RCA Voyager 7 inch tablet, RCT6873W42, I was skeptical of the $35 dollar price tag because of the following specifications:

  • Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Operating System
  • 1.2 GHz Intel SoFia Quad Core Chip
  • 1024×600 7.1 inch Multi-touch Screen
  • 16 GB DDR3 Ram
  • 1M pixel webcam
  • 1- DC In, 1-Headphone Jack, 1-Microphone Jack, 1-Micro USB 2.0
  • Micro SD/SDHC card slot up to 128GB
  • Bluetooth and WIFI

At the low price point, none of the specifications are top of the line, but they are not at the bottom either.  The tablet is Google Certified and comes with all the Google services and apps pre-installed.

All of the controls and jacks are on the right side of the machine.  The power button is about an inch from the top of the machine and I have sometimes fumbled trying to power the machine.  This is more of a minor aggravation than an inconvenience.  There is one speaker on the back.  The sound is not great, but it is adequate.  I haven’t used the web camera, but I’m sure it would not be very good.  Battery life has been adequate, usually lasting from 4-6 hours, depending on whether I’m watching videos or reading.

On the bottom of the tablet are connecting pins for use with the optional keyboard case.  The case is a very hard plastic with a keyboard built in.  The keyboard keys are very small and almost unusable if you are a touch typist.  When attached to the keyboard, you will only be able to easily use the tablet in landscape mode.  You can purchase the keyboard for around eight dollars, but it is not necessary for optimal use of the tablet.

Is the tablet worth the price?  For me, the answer is a resounding yes.  I’ll admit that when I first bought it, I thought I was wasting my money.  It has been a perfect fit for my admittedly limited tablet needs.

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