Well now some spammer has decided to use my email address as the return address for their spam. If I ever find out who the SOB is, I file charges against them if possible and see if I can get them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I posted over the weekend about the new tablet I got, I am impressed with the battery life. It probably has a longer on since it not connected to the cell system, and that when it “sleeps” it turns of the wifi, so it better with the battery then my cell phone. Today I unplugged it at 7am and here it is 11pm and it still has 46% of the battery left, not bad. Sure I was not using it as much as I would have liked, only maybe 5 minutes every hour during the work day (average, lunch had a lot more, the other 8 hours had less), then then after work at home 30 minutes every how but still, nice battery life on it so far.
I got a new Tablet today, a Toshiba Thrive. It is a nice system it has a 10.1″ screen on it, I also got a bluetooth keyboard to go with it. I have a case that can convert it to a stand up, making typeing stuff on it nice, without having to have a fool laptop for the typing. I am going to give my old tablet to my mother.
The Issues Etc App for Android is now on the Android Market please see the link below.
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.issuesetc.android#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwib3JnLmlzc3Vlc2V0Yy5hbmRyb2lkIl0.
I have noted I have not needed to moderate as spam any comments, as Akismet is working so well, I am going to test for a bit, turning off all moderation needed for all comments, and let Akismet deal with the spam, if it continues as well as it seems to have been going then I will leave it this way, lets see how well it works
For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta 3 version of the Issues Etc App for Android out.
UPDATE: Christmas Day 2011 midnight, there is an update that I encourage you do download it as there is a bug fix
If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to android@lutheranpublicradio.org
Updates for this beta:
Support for Lutheran Public Radio (Sacred Music for the Christmas Season), Update to the UI updating when buffering on the playing so that it updates so that the user knows that it is not frozen but doing some work. A check box will show up when Issues Etc is on the air to let you select if you wish to listen to Issues Etc of Lutheran Public Radio, at all other times only the play button will be displayed and will only play Lutheran Public Radio. The visit web site button will take you to the Lutheran Public Radio web site unless you are listening to Issues Etc, then it will take you to Issues Etc’s Web site. If the audio is buffering on first play and the buffering is being shown the back button will now cancel the play request.
To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a bar code scanner on this bar code (to get a bar code scanner search the Android Market for “Google Goggles” or generic “Bar Code Scanner”)
Permissions asked for by this app:
READ_PHONE_STATE:
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.
CALL_PHONE:
Why: So that when you want to call the show and you press the dial button in the app, it can dial the phone for you instead of making it a 2 button process where you tell it to call, then you have to hit dial in your dial app, it will just dial the phone for you.
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED:
Why: so the app know when the phone starts up and can set up the notification for when the show is on.
INTERNET:
Why: so I can access the audio data from the internet and bring it down to play the Issues Etc show when it is on.
Again if you have any bug reports, suggestions, please let me know.
If you are an Issues, Etc fan that is using the Issues, Etc App for Android watch this blog tomorrow (Christmas Eve)
For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta 2 version of the Issues Etc Android App out.
If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to mpop@mikeoconnor.net and in the subject line please precede it with “Issues Etc App:”.
To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a bar code scanner on this bar code (to get a bar code scanner search the Android Market for “Google Goggles” or generic “Bar Code Scanner”)
Finally note the play button in the app will not show up unless Issues Etc is on the air.
Permissions asked for by this app:
READ_PHONE_STATE:
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.
CALL_PHONE:
Why: So that when you want to call the show and you press the dial button in the app, it can dial the phone for you instead of making it a 2 button process where you tell it to call, then you have to hit dial in your dial app, it will just dial the phone for you.
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED:
Why: so the app know when the phone starts up and can set up the notification for when the show is on.
INTERNET:
Why: so I can access the audio data from the internet and bring it down to play the Issues Etc show when it is on.
UPdates for this beta:
Notification of when the show is on the air
Moved the audio out of the main program into a system service so that it will not be shut off by the OS when the user is not actively using the program.
A few bug fixes, and code clean up.
Again if you have any bug reports, suggestions, please let me know.
Got a 32Gb mSD card for my android phone today, and using a program called iSyncr to copy a good chunk of my music collection to my my Android, now when I leave in the morning for work I have one less device to grab, now that my Android Cell phone has replaced my iPod.
First it replaced my GPS, now it has replaced my iPod. These Android phones is there nothing they can not do.
I for one think the days of TV are numbered, why? well let me tell you about tonight. I for once had a chance to site back and relax. I pull out my tablet computer (And android device, but for the sake of this story it could have been any of them Android, Black Bary Play book, iPad, WebOS) from there I had my choice of a game (if I had any on my tablet) surf the web while laying on my couch, post to my blog (which I did) mess around on facebook, or read a book (using the kindle app) Not once did I think about TV. I currently have satellite TV and the contract is up in April, and I am seriously considering just killing the subscription to it when the contract is up, I don’t watch much (max 2 hours a week).
So I ask why have TV if it not being watch, many people are turning to the internet for their news and entertainment. With the news you get it faster and more up to date then having to want till the news comes on, for entertainment it more fun to have interactive stuff going on (for me this would be a computer game) or just mess around with different things, surf the web. And for the more “lazy” stuff, you can always get a book to read. I am beginning to wonder about the value of TV in today world, you have this big box that you have to go to for entertainment, while the internet now travels with you on a smartphone or tablet computer, and is more stimulating then TV.
Maybe my thoughts are colored by the fact that growing up for 5 years my mother decided she did not want to have TV in the house so growing up there was no TV for me, so TV does not have the hypnotic lock on me that it might have for others. Can any one think of a good reason to have a TV.
For those that are looking for the “background noise” as some call it, there are great podcast and internet broadcasts that go out that can supply that, and when you are at home just have the smart phone/tablet connect to your home WiFi (so you don’t use up the data on your data plan) and have the smartphone pump the “noise” out for you. Uses a lot less electricity then a TV. Plus the smartphone/tablet makes your entertainment more portable, and on demand.
Sorry TV your days are numbered.
I found today a way to breath some new life into an “older” andoid phone. I have recently had some slow downs on my phone and it having some trouble getting a GPS signal. Today I cleared the dalvik-cache and I have noticed a slightly faster system and less GPS trouble. I am sure there are other ways, but a start is a start, this is the first cell phone that I have gotten that I have not felt the need to upgrade it 6 months after I got it, I can see myself using it for another year or 2 easily.
Posted via my andoid phone
For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta version of the Issues Etc Android App out.
If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to mpop@mikeoconnor.net and in the subject line please precede it with “Issues Etc App:”.
To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a barcode scanner on this barcode
Finally note the play button in the app will not show up unless Issues Etc is on the air.
Permissions asked for by this app: Read phone state.
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.
Today I got 3 text messages from a scam called “smart iq” I never replied to it, but it texted me 2 times saying do this to subscribe, I did not respond I ignored it. It then texted me a 3rd time telling me it subscribed me at a cost of $9.99 a month, if you get a texted from “smart iq” call your carrier right away it is a scam. I called T-Mobile, let them know, the operator said that they were going to reverse the charge and and said they will black list them for me, then they will be escalating it higher up to possible do a service wide black list of them. But if you get a text from a “service” named “smart iq” report it to your service provider right away.
The kicker is I thought I had the line that the text message came in on blocked on all text messages but some how it still got though.
Edit: I just called T-Mobile again, to see if I could block ALL premium SMS “services” I will never be using them, and since that scam one came in today I feel it is safer for me to block them all. To those that would ask well could you not refrain from using them, well yes I do and I will never willing use one, but it the same one that happens today that I did not ask for that just signed me up with out asking that makes me want to block all premium SMS “services”. And T-Mobile did let me do a blind blocking of all Premium SMSs with out affecting my other SMSs to family and friends.
With the rumors going around that Apple might one day discontinue the “iPod classic” and the fact that as a single use device its price is rising compared to multi-use devices, and finally the fact that I still have the same iPod that I got in 2003 (and we all know hardware does not last for ever). I have thought about what I might need to look at for the future.
I have become much in love with my Android phone (one of the many reasons I got it at the start was that I could program on it, already know java, and did not have to make a investment in a new computer since I did not have a mac) I have been working on my first Android Program. It is coming along nicely.
Combine the top two paragraphs with the fact that my Android device has already replaced my GPS device in my car, I thought I would look around at what could be done for Music and below is what I found:
Amazon’s Cloud drive: nice idea, but I have been less then happy with the Android App it just does not feel responcive, yes I know it is working over the internet, but when I can download a 5 minute YouTube video over Edge faster then I can start playing a 3 minute mp3 over 3g there is something wrong there. Also with that, it does not accept into the music part of the drive any podcast mp3s (and that what I mainly listen to) nor does it seem to dynamically update my play lists, this last one is a major issue for me, as I have 1 play list that I change almost daily, it is called “To Listen Too” and it contains a list (in order) of the podcasts I wish to listen to, and as I listen to my podcasts eposodes I remove them from the head of the list and as new ones come in I put them at the tail of the list, so having it able to update the list as I update the list is important.
Google Music (Beta): well Nice idea like the Amazon Cloud drive, but well they don’t support my version of the OS on my phone (2.1) and I am not going drop money into a new phone when my Cliq is doing great for everything else. Also I have not finished uploading all my music to it, so still not sure how it works, but the fact that it does not have a version of the software that runs on my cliq it seems this can not be the answer.
iSyncer: This is not a cloud system, this might take a bit more of a $$ investment but so far this has proven to be the best so far, what it does is it puts a EXE on the mSD card of the phone, when you mount the sMD card (via the phone) on your computer and run the EXE it will read your iTunes music library and let you copy the play lists you wish to your mSD card. It also creates the play lists for the built in Android Music player. I have tested this so far on my phone (only a 2Gbyte mSD card) and it has worked very well, only have done 2 days of testing but it is promising. I will probably over this week leave my iPod at home during my commute to work and see how it works as my mp3 player in my car while driving. I have moved a few play lists over (amounting to 1.5 Gbytes of music). If this proves to be my anser I will probably invest in a 32 Gbyte mSD card and just replace the iPod now instead of holding till the day the iPod dies, I really like how the “Connected Player” (Motorola’s implementation on a music player on the phone) is working.
SMECO has got to be the worst electric company there is. Heck I have come to believe my cell phone is more reliable then my electricity. Durning this summer I have been getting up to 5 power failures a week, annoying when I get home and find I have to restart my computer, and reset the microwave clock every day. Today I had 2 outages (no wind no rain during the last one) I wonder if there is a place for MD where i can file a complaint about the crummy “service”
So far this year we have gotten some great JRPGs Persona 3 ReloadedShin Megami Tensei V: VengeanceLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth And there are still more coming, coming on the 5th of July the one I am most hyped for The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak and latter this year we are getting Metaphor:[…]
Today I weighed myself and came in at 130 pounds. When I started I set a goal of 125 pounds. So only 5 more pounds to go. I am a long way from where I started, I started at 300 pounds on March 31, 2022, it been about 15 months since I started this diet.[…]
With summer coming buy, and me still on my diet, I came up with a snack, I have always enjoyed popsicals, so what I am doing now, is I am taking those water enhancers that say they have 0 calories and use that as the flavor for my popsicals, and I have some popsical makers.[…]
For my friends I did a video to show my friends how I have my apartment setup, because I did some changes to the living room and the bedroom. Here is the video
Posting a new updated before and after picture. First one was taken in 2021, the second picture Just this last weekend.
March 31, 2022 was the day I hit 300 pounds and decided to loss weight, today I weigh in at 135 pounds. To date I have lost 165 pounds. My goal still remains 125 pounds, so I only have 10 more pounds to go. I feel so much better, later on I will post a[…]
Today I did some meal preping for this week. Cooking both in slow cookers. First dish, is a ham and veggie soup contianing Ham Potatos Celery Spinish Carrots Onions Veggie Stock With the amount of stuff and what I put in it, the whole slow cooker has about 1200 cals in it, this should make[…]
Today I did my daily steping on the scale this morning, it read 140 now. So since I started my diet last March, I have lost a total of 160 pounds, and only 15 more pounds to go, till I can start working on keeping the weight off. But I been feeling a lot better[…]
Today, when I did my morning weight in my scale read 143 pounds, so to date I have lost 157 pounds. And now I have only 18 more pounds to go.
In the past I have used a 4G T-Mobile hotspot, that was costing me about 50 a month for 10GB of data. But for that same 50 I could get T-Mobiles home internet. So I cancled the hotspot line and added the Home Internet for my backup internet. First they say there is no data[…]
