Eyes Never Closed » Gadgets http://www.eyesneverclosed.com an emblem of vigilance Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:33:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Android Tablets http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/07/30/android-tablets/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/07/30/android-tablets/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:36:50 +0000 JP http://desertdefender.com/?p=805 Time for a little more gadget geekery here on DesertDefender.com.

Looks like there are now a couple different android based tablets available for purchase in the US.

The first one was the Augen GenTouch which has a 7″ screen and is available at KMart for $150. In my opinion its no so impressive so I’m going to lend . . . → Read More: Android Tablets]]> Time for a little more gadget geekery here on DesertDefender.com.

Looks like there are now a couple different android based tablets available for purchase in the US.

The first one was the Augen GenTouch which has a 7″ screen and is available at KMart for $150. In my opinion its no so impressive so I’m going to lend most of this post to the FlatPad A10.

The Flatpad A10 is a tablet that looks like it may be able to take on the iPad pretty well. It has a bunch of features that the iPad does not and it only costs $285.

Here’s the feature list:

  • ARM Cortex-A8 Processor 1GHz+
  • 2GB Flash Memory
  • 256MB RAM
  • microSD memory card slot up to 32GB
  • 10.2” TFT ,1024×600 RESISTIVE Touchscreen Display
  • WiFi support
  • Accelerometer
  • WebCam
  • 1-USB 2.0 Host port and 1-USB 2.0 OTG port
  • 2400 mAh battery (5-7 hours battery life)
  • Built in stereo speakers 1Wx2
  • 1080p video playback support
  • Google Maps
  • and of course an Android 2.1 operating System

See this post on DroidForums.net for more information, pictures and videos. (This post is also where I ripped off the feature list from!)

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/07/30/android-tablets/feed/ 2 It Makes Me So Mad… http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/29/it-makes-me-so-mad/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/29/it-makes-me-so-mad/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:23:10 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=676 Jay G points us to an app available for Android and iDontmakecallswhenyoureholdingmephone that lets us keep tabs on our congress critters. He and his friend also point out that it’ll do a good job of making you angry. (Really, what in congress does not make you angry?)

Technically, it is a pretty slick app and looks like . . . → Read More: It Makes Me So Mad…]]> Jay G points us to an app available for Android and iDontmakecallswhenyoureholdingmephone that lets us keep tabs on our congress critters. He and his friend also point out that it’ll do a good job of making you angry. (Really, what in congress does not make you angry?)

Technically, it is a pretty slick app and looks like it’s a must have for political junkies. Check it out here.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/29/it-makes-me-so-mad/feed/ 0 A Little More Droid http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/a-little-more-droid/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/a-little-more-droid/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:52:31 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=666 Just a quick run down on what happened at today’s event:

Android 2.2 (Froyo) released to the Android Open Source Project. (This means source code is available to developers) All Verizon “Droid” devices will receive the 2.2 update Droid X/Droid 2 will launch with 2.1 and update when 2.2 goes live. (Knowing Verizon this will take months) All Verizon customers . . . → Read More: A Little More Droid]]> Just a quick run down on what happened at today’s event:

  • Android 2.2 (Froyo) released to the Android Open Source Project. (This means source code is available to developers)
  • All Verizon “Droid” devices will receive the 2.2 update
  • Droid X/Droid 2 will launch with 2.1 and update when 2.2 goes live. (Knowing Verizon this will take months)
  • All Verizon customers who are receiving an upgrade sometime in 2010 can get an early upgrade for the new Droids when they release
  • Contract renewal discount will put the new devices at $199 initially
  • Verizon offers $20/month add-on, on top of your normal data package, for 2GB of wireless tethering
  • Desktop syncing client in the works.
]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/a-little-more-droid/feed/ 0 These ARE the Droids You Are Looking For http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/these-are-the-droids-you-are-looking-for/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/these-are-the-droids-you-are-looking-for/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:27:17 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=655 I’ve had my Droid since February. It is not a phone. It is not a smart phone. Its a companion of sorts. “Lets ask Droid” has become a common phrase in my home – or when we are out and want to know something. I’m connected – to everything. Work and personal email accounts along with . . . → Read More: These ARE the Droids You Are Looking For]]> I’ve had my Droid since February. It is not a phone. It is not a smart phone. Its a companion of sorts. “Lets ask Droid” has become a common phrase in my home – or when we are out and want to know something. I’m connected – to everything. Work and personal email accounts along with contacts and calendars. Facebook. Twitter. All in the palm of my hand. Being the techno-geek I am, I love it.

Today, Verizon, along with Google and Adobe*; will be announcing the next generation of Droid phones. From what I can see on the geek-sites as well as the word on the street: this is getting a lot more buzz than the new iPhone that is supposed to launch tomorrow. I really think Google/Verizon is on to something – and Apple needs to step up their game if they are going to remain viable (it’ll never happen unless Jobs dies and the next in line comes up with the greatest “Apple Innovation” of all time: open source.)

I myself will be staying with the original Droid for now, for a few reasons:
1. I just got it. No upgrade discount available to me.
2. With my recent installation of a custom rom and kernal, my Droid is running at 1.1Ghz and has an awesome custom interface. The new Droid does not offer much more than what I’ve already got/gained by the recent tweaking.
3. By the time my upgrade does come around – there will be something even mightier (hints of a 2Ghz Droid!?)

Now, for more on the new Droids to be released:

Check out the CNN article about today’s festivities.
Engadget has some good stuff here, here and covers today’s event (1PM Eastern) here.

Also for more Droid goodness, some of the members over at droidforums.net turned this commercial into a custom boot-up animation:

Bootup:

*I am speculating that at today’s event we will find out exactly what is going to be going on with Flash support. I have been running flash on my Droid since I installed the custom rom which uses a leaked version of Android 2.2 (Froyo). I find it works really well.
]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/06/23/these-are-the-droids-you-are-looking-for/feed/ 0 Google I/O – Android – OTA Goodness http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/05/21/google-io-android-ota-goodness/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/05/21/google-io-android-ota-goodness/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 16:11:47 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=607 I’m going to stray away from the general theme I have on this site, and post about something else that interests me: Google products.

I really like most of the products that Google has released. I like how non-restrictive they are. I like how they are constantly sticking it to Apple.

Over at TechCrunch, you can find the . . . → Read More: Google I/O – Android – OTA Goodness]]> I’m going to stray away from the general theme I have on this site, and post about something else that interests me: Google products.

I really like most of the products that Google has released. I like how non-restrictive they are. I like how they are constantly sticking it to Apple.

Over at TechCrunch, you can find the following information:

Today at Google I/O, Vic Gundotra introduced Froyo, aka Android 2.2. But he also went a bit beyond Froyo. Coming soon, is a way to download an app through the Android Market over the web — and have it automatically download on your Android devices too. But that’s not all. Gundotra also showed off a new section of the Market — Music. Yes, an iTunes competitor on the web from Google.

Details are sparse at the moment, but here’s how this basically works. You go to the Market on the web, find a song you like, click the download button, and just like with apps, the song starts to download on your Android devices. So it’s iTunes, over the web, with auto-syncing. No word on who the partners are for this, what the prices will be, etc. Undoubtedly, we’ll hear more about that soon.

And that’s not all.

Gundotra also announced that Google recently made an aquisition: Simplify Media. Using this technology, Google will soon offer a desktop app that will give you access to all of your (DRM-free) media on your Android devices remotely.

Read the text above twice. Yep – you got that right – over the air access to media on your Android device, browse the market on your computer and have it download directly to your phone – and none of it is that scourge known as iTunes.

More on “Froyo”: Otherwise known as Android v2.2, Froyo is going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. It has a new compiler which reportedly brings a 2 to 5x speed increase to the OS, and it is also going to feature WiFi tethering. Thats right – your android phone could be your own mobile hotspot.  They are also changing up the browser to make it faster, and adding a Chrome plugin that allows you to send map information from your desktop to the phone. There will be added/upgraded Exchange functionality and more than likely we will be seeing Flash support with it when it rolls out.

I thought my Droid was kicking ass as it is: I can’t wait for the new version!

Update: Here is a list of the 10 “huge” upgrades 2.2 is getting.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/05/21/google-io-android-ota-goodness/feed/ 0 Apple Introduces the iPad Nano?? http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/04/03/apple-introduces-the-ipad-nano/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/04/03/apple-introduces-the-ipad-nano/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:25:32 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=427 As a bunch of koolaid drinkers line up to get the new Apple iPad today, I can’t help but sit back and laugh. I already have one. Its called the iPod Touch.

I’ve had my Touch since Christmas, and I can’t find a use for it. It plays music – so do my computers and my . . . → Read More: Apple Introduces the iPad Nano??]]> As a bunch of koolaid drinkers line up to get the new Apple iPad today, I can’t help but sit back and laugh. I already have one. Its called the iPod Touch.

I’ve had my Touch since Christmas, and I can’t find a use for it. It plays music – so do my computers and my Droid. It surfs the web – so do my computers and my Droid. It runs novelty applications – so do my computers and my Droid (which by the way can multitask, the Apple stuff doesn’t.)

There is not one single reason I can find to turn it on – and now we have this iPad. I’m not on the iRag so just another reason to not need it.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/04/03/apple-introduces-the-ipad-nano/feed/ 0 Android 2.1 http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/31/android-2-1/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/31/android-2-1/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:58:16 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/2010/03/android-2-1/ I have been running the 2.1 version of the OS for about 10 hours now. It is great. If any of you have a MotoDroid, run this with the Helix Launcher (version 1, don’t get v2) and you won’t regret it.

It features Live Wallpapers, a new gallery, multitouch and some other . . . → Read More: Android 2.1]]> I have been running the 2.1 version of the OS for about 10 hours now. It is great. If any of you have a MotoDroid, run this with the Helix Launcher (version 1, don’t get v2) and you won’t regret it.

It features Live Wallpapers, a new gallery, multitouch and some other minor updates.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/31/android-2-1/feed/ 0 JP v2.0 http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/01/jp-v2-0/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/01/jp-v2-0/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:34:46 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/2010/03/jp-v2-0/ Now Microsoft and Apple free. Well almost.

I am running Linux mint on both of my personal machines, though I keep the laptop in dual boot config with Windows for work reasons; but I will rarely need it.

I also now have all my music on my Droid and no longer need my commIpod touch.

Freedom . . . → Read More: JP v2.0]]> Now Microsoft and Apple free. Well almost.

I am running Linux mint on both of my personal machines, though I keep the laptop in dual boot config with Windows for work reasons; but I will rarely need it.

I also now have all my music on my Droid and no longer need my commIpod touch.

Freedom is good.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/03/01/jp-v2-0/feed/ 0 Apple maxIpad http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/01/27/apple-maxipad/ http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/01/27/apple-maxipad/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:38:00 +0000 JP http://www.desertdefender.com/?p=40 Time for me to jump on the bandwagon and get in the seemingly obligatory iPad post.

Because of the  ridiculous name in conjunction with its great list of missing features, I think this thing is going to be a real winner. [sarcasm off]

Apple, wtf are you thinking? No multitasking? No Flash support? No Camera?

Add in the cost . . . → Read More: Apple maxIpad]]> Time for me to jump on the bandwagon and get in the seemingly obligatory iPad post.

Because of the  ridiculous name in conjunction with its great list of missing features, I think this thing is going to be a real winner. [sarcasm off]

Apple, wtf are you thinking? No multitasking? No Flash support? No Camera?

Add in the cost of the new accessories (see Apple iPants Image at PCWorld.com) and you’ve got yourself a complete disaster. I can’t think of any reason to buy one. Not one single reason! What does it do that the iPhone/iPod Touch does not? The bigger screen his hardly worth it.

]]> http://www.eyesneverclosed.com/2010/01/27/apple-maxipad/feed/ 0