So?

I am now typing this using my Windows PC. Yes, I un-installed OSX and re-installed Windows. Well Windows XP, but it's okay. i'll stick with this flavor for now, as long as I can play my steam games :)

Droid Eris 2.1?

So, rumors have been going around, mainly around androidforums, where it originated, and now flooding xda-developers. Android 2.1 with udpated Sense UI is supposedly going to be released on the Droid Eris for Verizon, and SUPPOSEDLY someone has already recieved the update. Kinda. His phone just doesn't work. Meh -_-

I want Android 2.1 SO BAD! Like seriously, if I don't get google maps navigation, I will shoot someone -_-

ANDROID!!! I LOVE YOUUUUU (FANBOY)

Moved back

I'd just like to make a general announcement and say I made the move back to OSX. I have a 13 inch macbook pro as my personal computer, and when I got it I immediately loaded it with Windows XP. When windows 7 was releasing, I removed XP and installed Snow Leopard since I got a free upgrade. I liked it, but really wanted to try Windows 7. I had windows 7 for about 3 months, and now I've decided to delete the partition and make the computer a fully based OSX machine. Maybe i'll keep it this way, who knows.

What is Android? part one

The Android OS is an open source operating system created by Android inc, and later purchased by Google, for mobile phones. Android OS is different, in that it is completely Open Source and a variety of phones have the potential to run the system. It runs on a linux kernal, meaning anyone can take the android source code and make any type of modifications to it. This makes Android truly remarkable and unique in granting users the potential to take full control of their devices.

Android has recently taken a new tier in the SmartPhone race, sharing a rivalry with the top Smart Phone OS' of our time; Windows Mobile, and IPhone OS. While Windows Mobile is featured heavily on many business smart phones, IPhone OS is featured solely on the Apple Branded IPhone. While I may be getting off topic, it's interesting to note that although the IPhone OS runs only on one device, while Windows Mobile and Android runs on many other devices, it hasn't slowed or stopped IPhone smart phone dominance, which has been going on since its release in 2007.

Android periodically features system upgrades, taking similarity in the naming from its Linux ancestry, Google names each release of the system after a dessert. 1.5 being the oldest system run on any phones is codenamed Cupcake, with 1.6 called donut, and 2.0 called Eclair. With the release of the Nexus One a new Android OS, 2.1 was released and while sources call it Flan, it is still considered under the Eclair name for lack of significant change(I still call it Flan).

The latest release of Android, 2.1 featured only as of right now on the Nexus One is actually one of the best OS releases on any SmartPhone, minus of course the physical keyboard which still make the Droid a viable option against the Nexus One. 2.0 featured a complete revamp of the Android Operating system, showing a vast array of new features for the platform, such as better microsoft exchange support, a browser with html 5 support, compatibility with better hardware such as more ram and a faster cpu, and the introduction of free Google Maps turn by turn direction.

Being an operating system supported heavily by Google, and of course running almost all of Google java engine programs, this system uses, if not takes advantage of many google applications.

To Start off, you need a Google Account when you purchase your Android Phone, it will not activate unless you input your credentials for your Google Account. It automatically syncs your gmail and on the web browser any blogger/picasa/google-docs/ and calender automatically sync with your phone. Another interesting note is that it syncs your contacts list from your Google account to the phone as well. A service like this can only be seen on one other device, the Apple IPhone, in which if you have a mobile me account, everything from there including your calenders, mail, and contacts list automatically syncs with your phone and offers PUSH service. The difference between using Mobile Me for the IPhone and Google Apps for the Android is the cost. Google Apps is free, while Mobile Me costs $99.99.

I'll get more in detail about using Google Apps, as well as other applications and uses of the Android Device on the next part of "What is Android". Thanks for reading =]

HTC Droid Eris and Android in General

Okay so a few weeks ago, Mid December, I bought myself the HTC Droid Eris for Verizon Wireless as per my every two year upgrade. The HTC Droid Eris comes with Android 1.5 firmware, and comes packed with HTC's Sense UI skin built over the Android OS. And that right there, is the one reason why I disliked the Eris. Sense UI is cool because there are different widgets available and you can have up to 7 customizable home screens. That's cool, I agree, but the reason that I wanted an Android device was not for the skins and all the home screens that you can customize on the Eris, but I don't want that. I want the look and feel of the Android system. I prefer the menu layout on the Android OS rather than the way the Sense UI has it. It just feels right to me.

Another reason why I dislike having a skin over my OS, is that unless that skin has been updated to match the upgraded OS, there won't be a firmware upgrade to the phone. Right now the highest Android OS on the market is 2.1 with the Nexus One, and no one is saying that the Eris can handle the upgrade because I know there are certain hardware limitations, but I would like to have at least Android 2.0 like the Motorola Droid. The Droid has a much better and cleaner interface I must say. I was truly awestruck at the features the 2.0 firmware brought out, such as Google Maps turn by turn navigation. I also really liked the lock-screen interface on the Droid, allowing you to swipe left for silence mode and then swipe right for unlocking. I just like the 2.0 firmware as it brings out more of the phones potential.

Android marketplace is nothing like the Iphones appstore. There aren't nearly as many apps on the Android marketplace that are a must have like there is for the App Store on the Iphone. When I had an IPhone and an Ipod Touch, I found myself with 5-6 pages of apps downloaded from the App Store, which ranged from games to apps for productivity and social networking. More companies are making applications for the App Store, such as Aol, which made their own AIM app for the app store but have yet to make one for the Android platform, with user relying on 3rd part apps for access. That's one thing however, that the Android Marketplace has over the App Store. The supreme censorship that Apple maintains over the App Store, not allowing apps into the App Store for the most mundane of reasons, sometimes not even elaborating as to why they haven't allowed it access, coughcough google voice coughcough, is not on the Android marketplace. Pretty much any application that a user makes that can change anything on the phone with complete access to most functionality on the phone can be downloaded via the marketplace.

I have applications that allow me to change the functionality of my phone, like the homescreens, one app to control the ringers, one app to control the web browsing experience, another app to change phone calls. You can have applications that take place over the stock apps such as another application for sending sms and mms, another applications to browse the web, and another applications to place phone calls. Android is an open platform, not like the IPhone. I think this is why I love the Android OS more than the IPhone. Its more open source, and the possibilities of the applications are endless.