Need better Exchange support for your Android phone? Most of us probably don't. Those who do, however, will find plenty to love in Nitrodesk's Exchange by TouchDown.
Android's integrated mail and calendar apps are already pretty nifty. Hardcore suits used to working on their Windows Mobile devices, though, will probably find them lacking in some ways. This app fills the gap, providing a fuller range of Exchange services for users that require it.
TouchDown capably plugs in some of the obvious vacancies left open by Android, such as task syncing and downloading of email attachments, among others. Installation is quick using the Wizard, provided you have access to your Exchange server (a lot of organizations I know still reserve access strictly to WinMo phones, so take note). Once done, it performs all the syncing for emails, calendars, contacts and tasks. You just sit back and relax.
It comes with a good range of support, allowing you to sync via Exchange 2003, Exchange 2007, ActiveSync and USB to Outlook. There are four widgets on board too, namely Universal, email, calendar and tasks. Would probably prefer a few more, especially since it's a paid app (that's not too cheap, I might add).
Like we said, Exchange By Touchdown will probably be overkill for most users. I'm willing to bet there's a good market for it, though, as the features it offers does make Android's Exchange support very well-rounded. You can try it free for five days, but you'll need to fork up $19.99 to unlock the full version.
[Official Site: Nitrodesk]
Exchange By TouchDown Completes Android's MS Exchange Supportunratednoel2010-01-24 11:41:13
Android Apps,App ReviewsExchange By TouchDown Completes Android's MS Exchange Support
If you're using an Android phone with nothing but a vanilla UI, you might want to take a look at Slidescreen, which endows your handset with a homescreen worth drooling for. Heck, it's a home screen that looks even better than what Motorola and HTC did with their Android devices, which should make it a great alternative for anyone using the open-source mobile OS.
Let's get it out of the way: there's nothing wrong with a grid of icons and widgets. In fact, there was a time when everyone loved that. Slidescreen's thoughtful design sure makes it looks way past its prime, though.
What the app does is integrate information from various sources right into the home screen, just like the Motoblur. Unlike the latter, though, it takes the garden salad of data to its logical extreme, allowing you to pull items from a plethora of sources, including emails, SMS, Google Reader, Twitter, calendar and stocks. Yep, a ton of useful information right on the front page.
Each information source is presented in color-coded rows that update in real time, allowing you to make it out at first glance. It also comes with a slider that shows device essentials - date, time, weather, battery, and signal strength. A menu button takes you to a list of apps, with slots for your favorites along the top of the grid.
Tapping on any row takes you to the app responsible for it. So if you tap on your email, it automatically launches your inbox. Same goes with the rest of the displayed information. As of now, though, the app suffers from lacking both customizations (you can't add new accounts, such as Facebook or Yahoo Messenger) and support for the roster of Google Apps. They do promise future updates addressing both, however.
If you think your Android home screen can be better, then you're right. And Slidescreen is just what the doctor ordered. You can get it free (ad-supported) from the Marketplace. A $7 pro version (with no ads) is also available.
[Official Site: Slidescreen]
Slidescreen Makes Your Android Home Screen Way, Way More Usefulunratednoel2010-01-21 12:40:05
Android Apps,App ReviewsSlidescreen Makes Your Android Home Screen Way, Way More Useful
If you haven't seen it yet, Google has an experimental application that extends search beyond texts. Instead of typing what you're looking for, the new Google Goggles let you find information using pictures.
Why would you want to search using images? Say, you're traveling and come across a statue with no idea of what it is. In usual search mode, you'll type up the best description you can come up with and hope you get a close match. With the new service, all you have to do is launch the app, snap a shot and let it come back with the results.
According to Google, Goggles is still in its infancy, so don't pin your hopes on it too much. Regardless, it can now turn up information on plenty of images, including those of books, art pieces, places, establishments, landmarks and logos.
Likely to give shopping comparison apps a run for their money, it can also scan barcodes and return results from Google's Product Search. Other features include scanning business cards (which returns details about both the person and the company they represent) and a Nearby Places mode (which adds an augmented reality display that gives information on businesses within the vicinity).
According to Google, the app works best when you take shots in landscape mode, zooming in at the subject as much as you possibly can. Returned results will include web pages, text matches, related images and search suggestions.
Google Goggles (gotta love the tongue-twister of a name) is strictly available for Android 1.6 and above (which means it sucks if you use a phone with HTC Sense - at least for the meantime).
[Google Goggles]
Google Goggles For Android Lets You Search Using Photosunratednoel2009-12-09 15:16:55
Android Apps,App ReviewsGoogle Goggles For Android Lets You Search Using Photos
During the recently-concluded Android Challenge, one title stood out from the gaming apps that competed for one of the top prizes. That game is called What The Doodle?!, a touchscreen drawing app based on the classic Pictionary.
Not only did it earn top prize in the competition's casual gaming category, it placed second in the overall contest. For good reason too, since the app offers plenty of fun and challenge, all while offering an engaging set of features.
As you may have guessed, you draw your fingers out with other users over the web, either in freestyle, team modes or "private rooms." You can type or use the integrated voice recognition to guess what's being drawn. More than a simple connected version of Pictionary, though, What The Doodle?! integrates social aspects that deepen the experience.
Like any good social network, each player gets to maintain a list of their friends, interact on chatrooms and check out other members' profiles. Being a multi-player game, though, you get additional features, such as ranking boards and connectivity stats. One fun addition is the integrated capability to accuse players of cheating and have them booted out of the game via a majority vote.
With Android not exactly attracting the gaming set, the number of users is a definite downside. As such, expect no more than a hundred (or two) users when you log in, maybe even less during off hours. It also currently keeps a seemingly-limited database of words, so it's not uncommon to see the same subject appearing more than once within the same game, which kind of sucks.
Regardless, What The Doodle?! stands as an interesting addition to the Android Market. Priced at $1.60, it's a fun game with a social aspect that can really get you hooked.
Photo Credit: Androlib
What The Doodle?! Brings Pictionary With A Social Angle To Android Casual Gamersunratednoel2009-12-02 11:51:24
Android Apps,App ReviewsWhat The Doodle?! Brings Pictionary With A Social Angle To Android Casual Gamers
Just like Yelp, Foursquare is a service that helps users find numerous venues (restaurants, bars, clubs) in any locale based on recommendations from fellow site members. Unlike your conventional location-based apps, though, they do it with a social aspect that turns the service into a game of sorts.
Now, they have a mobile app for Android users. And it's good.
Foursquare's interface is refreshingly simple and uncluttered, with majority of the options tucked away inside the Menu button. As such, there's little confusion about where you should be tapping. The tight integration with Android's default UI doesn't hurt either.
Find yourself at an unfamiliar part of the city and hankering for a good bowl of chili? Just launch the app and check out recommendations based on your GPS location. Clicking on a particular establishment brings up tips from fellow users, along with a list of Foursquare members who have been there recently. Want recommendations from people you trust? Navigate to your friends' section and see which nearby places they've been checking into recently.
If you're in a spot that you want to review, you can simply check-in with the app, then post tips and recommendations right from your phone. This also ties in with the "gaming" aspect of the service, allowing you to accumulate points each time you check-in at a particular establishment. The more points you pile up, the higher your rank for that venue becomes. When you've got the highest ranking, you're named as that establishment's "mayor." I know it's cheesy, but when you have a bunch of people online calling you "Mayor," it feels pretty good.
You can get the Foursquare app as a free download from the Android Market.
[Foursquare for Android]
Foursquare For Android Puts The City At Your Fingertips, Lets You Be "Mayor" For Your Favorite Venueunratednoel2009-11-22 10:33:33
Android Apps,App ReviewsFoursquare For Android Puts The City At Your Fingertips, Lets You Be "Mayor" For Your Favorite Venue
