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Filed under: Cellphones

How would you change the T-Mobile G1? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you have an Android phone and want quick and easy access to Noah's weekly podcasts, DoggCatcher is the app for you. Go to the Market, search for Dogg, and install it.

Hit Menu, Add Podcast, and select Enter Podcast RSS URL. Use the following address:

A month ago, I wrote a post in the forums where I summarized my daily G1 routine, pointing out the apps I found most useful. Since then, programs have been updated and new ones have been released. So, I've changed apps for some functions, and added several more.

My favorite personal task manager, Remember the Milk, now has a dedicated Android viewer. As the name suggests, RTM Viewer for Android is currently limited to read-only access. And it also downloads completed items. But it's nimble and handy, and keeps me hooked up with my task list at home. I'm running an early version, and figure quick improvements are likely. TooDo, which included RTM functionality in its robust repertoire, has been uninstalled from my phone. TooDo is a great app, but terribly bloated. I didn't use any of the Toodledo-related stuff, so the thing was a waste of my resources. It's now missing from the Market.

Milksync is available for RTM pro users ($25 a year), and runs on Winmo, iPhone, iPod touch and BlackBerry devices. The RTM website offers iCal and Atom feed features. Check it out. For the Linux users in the house, Avant Window Navigator has a killer RTM applet. I can't say enough good things about Remember the Milk. It's light, it's easy, and it's quick. It is the perfect to do list.

PhonePlus Callback runs in the background and gives you new options for dealing with an incoming call. It provides one-press action. Callback will send a customized message to the caller letting them know that you're busy and will get back to them. It uses email if you have the person's address on file, and SMS for cell numbers in your contacts. Then, after a time period that you've designated in your settings, the app reminds you to call the person back.

After enabling more advanced functions, a call will trigger several options and you can decide, on the fly, how to handle each one individually; to respond via email or SMS, etc.. In manual mode, the Callback button turns green for a mobile number in your phonebook, red for a contact's landline, and yellow for unknown numbers. It gets confused if I answer a call by hitting the button on my bluetooth device, and it is a bit buggy at times. But overall, I'm liking it. It has potential.

Calling Card rocks. This one sees that I'm dialing an international number and diverts my call to my calling card. It remembers my PIN and knows how long to pause. It won't work with cards that have prompts beyond PIN and phone number though. One of my cards requires me to select English at the first prompt, so I can't use the program with that card. But I can use it with others, and it is a relief.

SnapPhoto uses the G1's accelerometer to recognize that brief moment without movement when the shutter should be open. Just tap SnapPhoto instead of your camera icon when you want to take a shot. This one is indispensable. It resolves a good chunk of my G1 camera complaints. Now watch this smooth transition...

Picasa Uploader is an official Google app that does one simple and useful thing; it adds a Picasa entry to the share menu of your photo viewer. Tapping it sends your photos to your public or private album. I expect this one to be included in the next major Android update. (Along with stereo bluetooth!)

Astro, formerly Bender, is a file and application manager. It features copy/paste functionality, and is nice for installing non-Market apps and deleting old media. Here's the twist; two taps after entering the Application Manager, every single program I've installed on my phone is backed up to my SD card. Pair that with one called MyBackup, and you've got a pretty solid safety net. I don't think all of the GMail and other Google/G1 settings can be easily backed up at this point, so that's on my wish list. A complete restore image would be ideal.

aTrackDog brings the simple updating of most desktop Linux distributions to Android by checking for application updates and making upgrades simpler; regardless of whether you're using a market app or something more obscure. The program checks a central database for the latest available releases, tells you which version you have, which version is a available, and gives you the option to update. There's no 'one-touch to update all' option like I have in Ubuntu, but it's progress.

SpoofApp allows you to call someone and front any number you choose in their caller ID. Not only that, but it masks your voice. It gets better; the app records your calls to the SpoofCard server, and the sound files are playable from within this well-organized software. You get five free minutes for downloading the program, and can purchase minute bundles starting at $10 for an hour. They accept Paypal. Look out, Jerky Boys.

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll have more to say later. I haven't checked out a new game in about six weeks, and there are tons of them. Take care.

Filed under: Handsets, Software, HTC, T-Mobile, Android

Continue reading Cupcake's on-screen keyboard shown on T-Mobile G1

Cupcake's on-screen keyboard shown on T-Mobile G1 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Android

The T-Mobile G1, how would you tweak it? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

T-Mobile G1

T-Mobile G1