Friday, October 28, 2011

Music Files


If you have an android phone you probably use it for music. And when it comes to digital music the process can be a little overwhelming. First is the question of how to get the music, either from CDs, or through a download service. Plus what format should you use? Do you need to convert your music or will it work in the current format.

Well let me start with the music format question. Android devices will play music in any of the following formats:



TypeFormat / CodecEncoderDecoderDetailsSupported File Type(s) / Container Formats
AudioAAC LC/LTPMono/Stereo content in any combination of standard bit rates up to 160 kbps and sampling rates from 8 to 48kHz• 3GPP (.3gp)
• MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4a)
• ADTS raw AAC (.aac, decode in Android 3.1+, encode in Android 4.0+, ADIF not supported)
• MPEG-TS (.ts, not seekable, Android 3.0+)
HE-AACv1 (AAC+)
HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+)
AMR-NB4.75 to 12.2 kbps sampled @ 8kHz3GPP (.3gp)
AMR-WB9 rates from 6.60 kbit/s to 23.85 kbit/s sampled @ 16kHz3GPP (.3gp)
FLAC
(Android 3.1+)
Mono/Stereo (no multichannel). Sample rates up to 48 kHz (but up to 44.1 kHz is recommended on devices with 44.1 kHz output, as the 48 to 44.1 kHz downsampler does not include a low-pass filter). 16-bit recommended; no dither applied for 24-bit.FLAC (.flac) only
MP3Mono/Stereo 8-320Kbps constant (CBR) or variable bit-rate (VBR)MP3 (.mp3)
MIDIMIDI Type 0 and 1. DLS Version 1 and 2. XMF and Mobile XMF. Support for ringtone formats RTTTL/RTX, OTA, and iMelody• Type 0 and 1 (.mid, .xmf, .mxmf)
• RTTTL/RTX (.rtttl, .rtx)
• OTA (.ota)
• iMelody (.imy)
Vorbis• Ogg (.ogg)
• Matroska (.mkv, Android 4.0+)
PCM/WAVE8- and 16-bit linear PCM (rates up to limit of hardware)WAVE (.wav)
Seems a bit confusing?  Well right off the bat:  Wave and MIDI are formats that you don't see too much anymore.  WAV is uncompressed so you end up with large file sizes and MIDI is a digital form of music that is transferred in digital form so it sounds more like an old school phone ringtone.  You won't run into either of these two much anymore...  Also AMR/3GP were designed for use on 2G/3G phones, also a format that you don't see too much.


What we have left in the list are MP3, which is the most common of formats, along with AAC, which wikipedia describes as: "Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format".  They also state that it has better sound quality at similar bitrates.  Basically saying that it sounds better at a similar (or smaller) file size.  So the main 2 that you are going to see are AAC and MP3.


The other 2 (OGG and FLAC) are open file formats.  FLAC is a lossless format, meaning that it plays the music back without any form or modification like the popular formats do.  OGG can be both a lossy and lossless, depending on the file itself.  Both of these 2 are a lot less popular, mainly because the file sizes can be much larger.  


My suggestion based on all this info would be to go with MP3 or AAC, just because of the availability. MP3s are really easy to make from CDs, simply download an app (or use Windows Media Player, iTunes, or AmaroK).


Downloading music is also very simple.  Music purchased through a few major services (iTunes in particular) will not let you transfer your music beyond it's devices and software.  A great alternative is the Amazon MP3 app (which is either preloaded on your phone, or is a free download on the Market) which sells it's music files in a nonprotected MP3 file, which can be transferred wherever you want.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Siri alternative for Android? Try Iris

A lot of people are talking about the Siri app for iPhone. If you haven't heard it is a native app for the iPhone 4s that allows you to ask it a question and it replies with an answer. You may be thinking that Android already does this, but what sets Siri apart is it's smart way of deciding where to get the answer from.

The (so far) solution for Android is a new app that is called Iris. Note that the name is Siri spelled backwards. Iris was developed and released in the 8 hours following the iPhone launch.  So far it is listed as an Alpha launch, so expect some bugs and have high hopes for a lot of great improvements.

This is a great way for the Open Source community to show that it can out do a company like Apple.

Check out "iris. (alpha)"


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Price Plan Comparison (Part 2 - Sprint)


(Continued from previous post)
As the economy seems to not get any better from week to week everyone is looking into ways to save money.  Wireless plans are a place that you might be able to cut some spending in your budget.

If you live in the US and are looking into getting an Android phone you are probably a little overwhelmed by the options available to smartphone customers. We have thrown together this little guide to what plans are available on what carriers.

We are going to do up a comparison of what the cheapest plans are on the big 3 US carriers, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon - for both a single line of service or for a family plan.  Part one will be AT&T, part 2 will be Sprint and part 3 will be Verizon (Done in alphabetical order to be fair).
Sprint has a much more simplified approach to the data plans.  They offer an unlimited data plan for their smartphones that gives you a truly unlimited amount of data.  Their individual plans are as follows:

Simply Everything (Unlimited Voice/Data) $99.99
Unlimited Data / 450 Minutes $69.99
Unlimited Data / 900 Minutes $89.99

So with an Android device you don't have to worry about going over on your data.  Also with Sprint using a CDMA network you have a ton of coverage because in the areas where there is no Sprint coverage it roams on other carriers towers (Verizon).  The main downside to the CDMA is the fact that you can't talk and surf the web at the same time, UNLESS you are connected to WIFI.

Pros: Cheapest price plan, Best Android selection, Only unlimited plan.

Cons: Can't talk and surf web unless on Wifi, Non-roam coverage

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A.I. Keyboard - Paid/Free App of the Week


Even if you have a phone with a physical keyboard, you probably use the touchscreen keyboard quite a bit too.  I mean who wants to slide open a keyboard if you are just sending a quick text message, or a quick Google search...  I have struggled with keyboards for a long time.  I am not a fan of the stock HTC keyboard, nor am I a fan of the Swype keyboard. I have tended to stick with the stock Gingerbread keyboard, up until I was emailed the A.I. Keyboard...

The A.I. keyboard is simply an on screen keyboard that tries to predict what you are going to say next.  And it works surprisingly well...  It learns from your typing too, so the more you use it the better it works.

If you want to try it out they also offer a free version...

Download it here, and upgrade to the paid version for more features...

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Price Plan Comparison (Part 1 - AT&T)

As the economy seems to not get any better from week to week everyone is looking into ways to save money.  Wireless plans are a place that you might be able to cut some spending in your budget.

If you live in the US and are looking into getting an Android phone you are probably a little overwhelmed by the options available to smartphone customers. We have thrown together this little guide to what plans are available on what carriers.

We are going to do up a comparison of what the cheapest plans are on the big 3 US carriers, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon - for both a single line of service or for a family plan.  Part one will be AT&T, part 2 will be Sprint and part 3 will be Verizon (Done in alphabetical order to be fair).
Starting with AT&T, the plans are listed with the data portion separately.  Then the data packages are broken down by how much data you think you are going to use.  The data add ons are as follows:
200MB - $15
2GB - $25
4GB - $45

These prices are on top of the normal plan price, therefore making the basic Android plan $55.99 for 200mb, 64.99 for 2GB, 85.99 for 4GB, along with 450 minutes.  The problem with this is that the 200MB plan is pretty much useless unless you are going to keep the phone off, or if you JUST use if for a phone and not even have an email setup on the phone.  Personally I use more than 200MB a day...

If you are looking for a completely unlimited plan, look elsewhere.  For unlimited talk time there is a $69 plan, which would be $114.99 with the maximum data plan of 4GB.  Remember that each GB after that will run you $10 for each additional GB, so use your data wisely...

Pros: Good overall coverage, lots of 4G(ish) coverage (see cons), Rollover.

Cons:  Expensive, 4G just hyped up 3G, No unlimited, Nights not til 9.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Facebook Alternative - Friendcaster

Do you like facebook, but not like the interface of the "new and improved" Facebook app? If that's the case and you long for the simplified interface than you should download the Friendcaster app.

Frindcaster (or Friendcaster lite) gives you a simplified interface, but is packed with all of the official features that you know and love. Plus it's alert system is far superior to the official app.  When a comment is made you actually get a popup alert.

The amount of settings are amazing too. You can adjust settings for all of the things that annoy you about facebook. Even the alerts for all those crazy facebook games can be disabled.

So download it now, either way: the lite verson or the paid version. The lite version is just as good, although it does have local ads at the bottom of your screen.


Cartoon Defense free today from Amazon

in the massive number of "defense" games out there for Android Cartoon Defense is up there near the top of the list. Gameplay is good and the artwork is amusing.  Worth a download at a dollar, and definitely worth a free download...

So download Cartoon Defense from the Amazon Appstore. Check it out at: http://amzn.to/kOTceQ


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Free C25K workout/music app from Amazon

Ever wanted a personal trainer with you (Nintendo Punch Out styled) to run with you and keep you going, all with a great soundtrack? Well that's what this app does.  It plays your music all while timing your workout and giving you personalized  information as you progress.

Free only today, and only at the Amazon App Store...

http://amzn.to/iXr997

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Free Movies and TV (Without a Subscription) via Crackle

If you have seen the Netflix app and been a bit jealous of it, but still couldn't bring yourself to pay the $8 a month for the service than Crackle is for you.

Crackle is an app that gives you access to a bunch of movies and TV shows right on your Android phone.  Movies like Pineapple Express, Big Daddy, So I Married an Axe Murder, and TV shows like Seinfeld, and Married With Children. 

All for free. A free app and a free service, so download it and enjoy!

Check out "Crackle - Movies & TV"


Monday, October 3, 2011

Paid app of the week - Groove IP (VOIP)

You may be frugal like me, or you may just consider yourself a cheapskate and not want to purchase any apps. Well if that's the way you are, than this paid app is for you.

"GrooVe IP" is an app that uses voice over IP (Voip) technology to link your Google voice number to the outside world. This simply means that with an active Google voice number you can make calls to phone numbers in the USA and Canada FOR FREE. You just install the app, tell it your Google voice information and place a call.

It works (personally tested) on a non active phone and a tablet.  So if you never pay for an app this app is for you. Save yourself a ton of money by making free calls over wifi, or 3g/4g, without using your phone plans minutes.