Wake Up Call: Alarm Clock App For the Android!

To paraphrase Aretha: I have never loved a phone the way I, I love my Android. I like having an alarm better than setting up an appointment ("wake up") on my calendar.  More reassuring.  Can't trust the hotel wake up call 100%, am I right?  In the Android Market, I like twofree alarm apps.  I'll tell you which one I like best:

Alarm Clock Xtreme!  Because all alarm clocks should be extreme, right?  Anyway, the reason I like it is because I can choose songs from my playlists on my phone to wake me up.  OR, I could (and I tested this), record my voice saying "Wake up Elizabeth!"  Not that I want to wake up that way, but knowing I could wake up to just about anything makes me feel very powerful.

I also like AlarmDroid, which has some snazzy features whereby you shake the phone to go to snooze.  It has a power nap mode so that you can set the alarm to go off in 1 hour and 12 minutes and 5 seconds -- if you can't deal with figuring out the time, I guess.  It also let's you record your voice and stuff like that.  Why is this one number 2 in my book?  Honestly, who can remember?  As I write and play with this version, I'm liking it more than Xtreme.

It's FREE!  Get both.

There are paid versions of these apps as well, but you really have to geek out to care.  I just want it to work.  And they do.

iTunes on the Android

I was having issues playing my music on my Android phone.  On my PC, my music lives in iTunes.  I like iTunes because it allows me to make playlists so I can listen to exactly what I want.  But to get the music to my droid, I was using an app called DoubleTwist that gave me only grief.  Hard to set up, hard to sync.  Made me listen to pandora instead, which I like, but sometimes you just want to listen to your own playlist.  Am I right?

My most recent discovery is iSyncr -- it allows me to play my iTunes playlists directly on my Android phone.  I am not someone who buys a lot of apps.  More often than not, I go for the free apps (and still, I ignore those).  iSyncr is worth the $2.99 I paid.  No more sync issues.  Easy, fluid app.  And if I wanted to pay an extra 99 cents, I could do it wirelessly.  But I say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  I can deal with the wire.

There you have it: iTunes playlists on your Android Phone.  Easy Peasy.

Translation Software for the Android

Ever been traveling in a foreign country and meet someone who seems really cool, but you can't communicate because you don't speak each others' languages? That barrier is dissolving. And the future solutions will only become more elegant. I've spoken of my love for my Android phone, but now I feel like Natalie Portman: I'm indescribably happy. Well, actually, I can describe it.

I've found translation software. Software that allows you to talk into your phone, push two buttons and have it spit out the translated sentence into decent sounding French. And Spanish. And Vietnamese -- although I don't know how decent sounding the Vietnamese is because I don't speak it. But based on the other two, I would be hopeful. I think I need to go back to Vietnam to make sure.

This app developer has the same app in Italian, Hindi, Indonesian and many more. User reviews are all around 4 stars and some even higher. For some reason, they are not available on the iPhone, although there are plenty ofiPhone translation apps, naturally.

No longer will you have to resort to smiles and hand gestures to communicate. Now, you can phone it in and be there, all at the same time.

Get ready to make new friends on your next trip!

iTunes on the Android

I was having issues playing my music on my Android phone.  On my PC, my music lives in iTunes.  I like iTunes because it allows me to make playlists so I can listen to exactly what I want.  But to get the music to my droid, I was using an app called DoubleTwist that gave me only grief.  Hard to set up, hard to sync.  Made me listen to pandora instead, which I like, but sometimes you just want to listen to your own playlist.  Am I right?

My most recent discovery is iSyncr -- it allows me to play my iTunes playlists directly on my Android phone.  I am not someone who buys a lot of apps.  More often than not, I go for the free ones (and still, I ignore those).  iSyncr is worth the $2.99 I paid.  No more sync issues.  Easy, fluid app.  And if I wanted to pay an extra 99 cents, I could do it wirelessly.  But I say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  I can deal with the wire.

There you have it: iTunes playlists on your Android Phone.  Easy Peasy.

Tell Your Telecom Company You Want a Better Deal

Do you know how much you are paying for your Internet/Telephone/Television?  Do you know if you're getting the top-of-the-line features?  When was the last time you checked?  I've got news for you: you are probably paying more than you need to.

If I were you, I would:

1. Find out what the best deal is for new customers for your carrier.
2. Find out what the best deal is for new customers for an alternative carrier that you would be happy switching to, if push came to shove.
3. Call your carrier and let them know that you would like to review your account and pay less (or get more features).

I know that sounds ridiculously facile -- but it works.  If you have had your contract for over one year, the telecom companies would really like to stay in business with you and will be willing to negotiate.

You should also know that if you haven't updated your DSL account in a while, you are probably paying way too much for slower broadband.  DSL companies will almost never suggest that you upgrade because that will mean a better deal for you -- and with a faster connection. 

Sure, this takes some of your time.  But you could save hundreds of dollars in 2010.  Getting good value and finding money is always a good thing.

Social Media As a Tool To Raise Money

Many of us think of Facebook and Twitter as a "productivity killer."  But the fundraising for relief in Haiti opened our eyes to the misperception.  Social media sites have been a boon to fundraising: whether for venture capital or for charitable causes or even art projects. 

Companies can now raise venture capital ONLINE in mere days (OK, really buttoned-up companies, but still!); Artists can raise seed money in 30 days for their next project and charities can promote special fundraising events or ongoing capital campaigns through social networks.  It's not as easy as slapping up a link and hoping for the best: you still need a plan and content to back it up, but there are so many more avenues once your project is online.

This is just the beginning: there are so many ways that social media will reveal itself in the years to come.  Keep your mind open...

Desktop Vs. Laptop: Which to Buy?

Most people don't need notebooks.  You think you want the mobility, but then the laptop sits on your desk ninety percent of the time.  Laptops cost more money than desktops, so you're not getting as good a machine as your budget allows.  You also have to work off a small screen a tiny keyboard.  Let me offer a solution:

Buy a desktop or all-in-one (iMac or PC equivalent) and then purchase a netbook for travel and light mobility.  This way, you spend the same amount of money but get the best of both worlds.

There are two key factors.  First, getting a desktop that is clean and efficient. Dell, Apple, HP, Asus and all the major manufacturers offer all in ones or small form factor machines.

Next, you match them with a wireless keyboard and mouse and you have a clean computing environment.

It's that simple. 

Skype while traveling abroad!

Want a great way to stay in touch while traveling abroad without worry over international rates or roaming charges?

Take the easy way out and download Skype to your iPhone:  for a very low rate, call back home to the US from wherever you are as long as you can connect to a wifi network.

• If you don't already have a Skype account, go online and sign up.
• Depending on how many calls you plan to make while abroad, buy either a pay as you go plan OR a subscription model 
• Go to the iTunes store and download the FREE app onto your iPhone
• Sign into Skype on your iPhone
• You're ready to go!

Before you leave on your trip, I would suggest creating or importing the phone numbers that you plan to use while abroad so that you don't have to fiddle with that.

You will also be able to receive calls on your Skype iPhone app, so your friends don't need to endure long distance expenses either.  And remember that you need to connect to a Wifi network.  Soon, the Skype app will be accessible on the 3G network, but not yet.

You're welcome!