atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Mobile Phones & Devices Recommended Phone Tools

Just wanted to post a few of my essential phone apps that I use every day.

1. Dropbox. Absolutely essential. I can sync files in the background in between all my desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. Its free and you get 2 gigs of storage. You also can use the web interface to access your files. FREE

Ive recently started using Sugarsync and it gives you 5 gigs of storage for free and is very similar to Dropbox. FREE

2. Taskos. Is a very simple to use task manager for Android that syncs with Google task. It supports voice and text input and its also very simple to use and the interface is very clean. It also has a widget available.

3. Evernote. Another free program designed to sync notes across all your devices. Very flexible and powerful. I use it a lot for important websites. I can put the note on my desktop interface and it gets synced to my phone automatically. It also has a web interface available. FREE

4. Wyse Pocketcloud. A remote access program that allows me to use RDP and VNC from my spartphone.

5. Google Secrets. A simple password management program that allows yo to store passwords. I love this program because its simple and backed by Google. FREE

Those are the 5 major ones and I also make extensive use of Google Voice and Apps.

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTI1NTkwNzgwOQ?src=global9

https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=6gianvndwtzr

https://www.evernote.com/

https://taskos.com/

https://www.wyse.com/products/software/pocketcloud/index.asp

https://code.google.com/p/secrets-for-android/

Id like to see what you guys use on your Android or Iphone device on a daily basis.

1. Evernote rocks. 'Nuff said.

2. I love K-9 Email; you will too if you use IMAP, high security settings or weird port numbers.

3. QR Droid or other barcode scanner comes in handy...especially if you have Google shopper attached (scan an item at the grocery store, for example, and see other prices in your area based on GPS data).

4. Pandora. No brainer.

5. ASTRO File Manager--a free file system explorer that also gives control over permissions that certain phone companies don't want you to have.

6. PDANet--a free "tethering" app. Free version doesn't allow you to browse secure [https] web sites, but there's a workaround. Click "Register PdaNet" and pretend you're going to buy a copy via credit card...it will open up the ports (443, 8080, etc). Hah!

7. Google Sky Map. "So is that Jupiter or Venus?" Hold your phone toward the bright light and let the GPS, compass and accelerometer work it's magic to give you a live view of the sky with labels. So cool.

8. Compass. My favorite version of this app is Compass v2.1 by Catch, Inc. I use it when I haul my telescope out or when I need a quick view of the address I'm parked in front of.

9. Flashlight (or in my case, BACKFLIP Light). This app turns on the ultra-bright LED normally used as a photo flash and keeps it on until you say so. It's smaller and brighter than a typical handheld flashlight, plus I always seem to have my phone with me, but not necessarily by big cop flashlight.

10. Navigation by Google. Be sure to load the voice stuff so that your FREE navigator (with current traffic info) can speak the directions to you. You may type or--more importantly--speak your destination. I try to be as hands-free as possible.


Now the fun/geeky stuff. Click on the photos for a closer look at the app as presented on my Motorola Backflip:

1. Jedi Light Saber--has several Star Wars music choices and uses the Android's accelerometer to make the appropriate light saber sounds:


2. Star Trek communicator-uses the Android's accelerometer so that you may "flip open" the communicator as Captain Kirk would. It has all the cool sounds that you'd expect and some typical samples ("Kirk to Enterprise. Kirk to Enterprise. Enterprise, come in". Touch the moire pattern then close the communicator; shortly after you will hear the "hailing" tone from the Enterprise. Open your communicator and proceed to make a geek of yourself.


3. Scanner Radio--So you're a meth dealer trying to outrun The Fuzz or you just think it's cool to hear about a dead body floating down the Chicago River (as I did a couple of weeks ago). Can you imagine? A bunch of geeks like us took the trouble to set up Internet feeds of 50+ police scanners in popular locations. From LAPD softies and the hard-boiled down in New York's Battery district to the "G'Day" Australian boys in blue, you can tune in to just about any venue.


4. Bump. If you and another both have the "Bump" app, simply start it and choose what information you wish to share. Once done, do a fist bump with phone in hand. Between GPS co-locations and the physical movement detected by the accelerometers, information is wirelessly exchanged between the two phones via a manly gesture. Arrrh arrh arh!


5. Geico BroStache. So I saw this crazy Geico commercial where the guys in the office were singing while holding their phones up to their mouths. Meanwhile, an animated and mustachioed mouth seemed to follow along. This free app sends you over the edge of Geekdom by using your voice (microphone is live) to make the coordinated and appropriate mouth movements. It's so stupid that it's cool...and free.

So THAT'S what happened to all the out of work IT guys!

Yes Evernote is an amazing app. I look for apps that will sync between all of my devices as opposed to something that will be on my phone only. That way if theres some issue all of my data is still in the "cloud" and available.

I haven't used K-9 but I might give it a shot. I use the standard mail client for my exchange and the Gmail client.

Barcode scanners are awesome! I use Red Laser and Google Shopper. I like being able to scan a product and compare the pricing to whats available at the store.

Pandora is ok but for music I use Subsonic. It turns your pc into its own server and creates your own "cloud" to stream music from. It has a web interface and apps for Android and IOS. This works out great for me because I have a large music library and I can have it with me at all time.

Astro is a must have.

I use Barnacle for my wifi hotspot.

Sky map is one of those apps that I had to drag the wife out late at night to show it off.

Thank you for the tip on Subsonic. I really, really like Pandora, but the idea of hosting my own show...especially since my taste in music is so eclectic.

Re K-9: All the features you'd expect plus anything you would want to control (subscribed folders, typeface, polling frequency) can be controlled...AND THEN SOME. Makes Outlook laughable.

Yes and you can also give out usernames and passwords to the server so if you have someone who'd like to check out your collection you can assign them rights and they can stream as well. Its in my opinion the best of its kind and it gives you one more opportunity to use the word "cloud" in everyday conversation. :banana: "

Two great uses for the barcode scanners:

1. When out shopping with the missus, start scanning everything she puts in the cart and declare "Thats X dollars cheaper at store X". She will never want to take you shopping ever again, stay at home, drink more beer!

2. Serial Storage. When I get new equipment in and I need to record the serial numbers for warranty purposes, I scan them into my phone and either export or email them out.

Or she might start using her own scanner to find things she "must have" since their cheaper at Amazon.

OMG! Just downloaded the Brostache app, hilarious. Cant wait to ask the ol lady if she wants a mustache ride.

You are out of your mind, Travis. Thank God. Personally, I find that the audio input is waaaaay too sensitive. So I start the app as usual, touch the screen (which brings up a three option menu) and chose "Adjust". From there I run the slider all the way down so that spurious noise doesn't make me "say" things that I didn't say.

My nine year old daughter can't decide if this app or the Star Wars light saber is her favorite. In either case, both keep her busy at restaurants during the wait period!