On a side note, before I get started, I just updated my friend, Alan’s, Samsung Moment to 2.1 using the instructions I found on Sprints website (we have a guide to update Samsung Moment too). It’s nice enough, but I still love my Eris.

Given the fact that my Droid does not have anything really approaching true hands free capability, I was ready to return it. Just too dangerous and against the law. But the more I used my Droid, the more I loved it. Still, what’s the word on hands free? Can we expect to get that any time soon?

I really wish that Android 2.2 (Froyo) would just release already, Larry. I would love to find out if the lack of Bluetooth connectivity will be solved in this upcoming update before I completely go off the handle. I have answered this question in several of my posts already, but I’m hoping that the more people write about it, the more developers will take notice.

Update: Android 2.2 (Froyo) does have Bluetooth Voice Dialing!

I would like to have a louder message tone to wake me up as I depend on text message alerts for work and if it after midnight the preinstalled tones aren’t loud enough. I am told that this can’t be changed. I do like the desire but if it can’t give this option it’s going back to the bin. Please help.

I am not a morning person at all, Dave, so I feel your pain! There are two routes you can take with this.

Option 1: You can change the program you use for your ringtones.

I love Rings Extended. Once you install it, when you go into your alarm and click on Alarm Sound, it will give you the option of using the regular ringtone picker or Rings Extended. If you click Rings Extended you have the option of either using the built in sounds or music that you have on your SD card. As usual, it lets you listen to the tone so you can decide if the song will be loud enough for you.

Option 2: You can change the program you use for your alarm.

If you go into the Market, you’ll find somewhere around 1,154 alarm programs. I personally haven’t reviewed any since I have Rings Extended and I wake up fine with some System of a Down or Mindless Self Indulgence. AndroidTapp, however, has only one free alarm clock rated at 5 stars. WakeUp! Alarm Clock might be one to try.

Nerd girl,

So I have recently rooted my Droid Eris because I got tired of waiting for the 2.1 update… anyway I gave that phone to my sister and now she’s scared that the update that is supposed to roll out tomorrow is going to ruin her phone. Do I need to back step to 1.5 or should it be fine?

In the case of pretty much every rooted phone, you cut yourself off from over the air (OTA) updates. This is a built in feature makes sure that you won’t get any future updates that will block from being able to root the phone at all. There are steps to go back to the official firmware if you want to go that route now that it’s out.

I, personally, decided to go the leaked update route. In theory, I should be getting the official OTA update in the very, very near future as it was a quasi-official update I installed.

~n3rdg1rl

This content was originally posted at AndroidTapp.com

I was looking at my post from yesterday, and I learned something; I shouldn’t write my blog when I’m really tired. I can’t spell and I didn’t put an intro! Won’t happen again!!

Any really cool apps that you recommend?  There are a ton of apps to go through but most are soundboards and such that don’t do much.

There are a TON of apps out there. I know just what you mean! I’ve tried A LOT of them and there is a lot of trash. There are a lot of great ones and I do have some favorites.

As a nerd, I love astronomy. Google Sky Map lets you see what’s in the sky around you using the GPS in your phone with augmented reality. I love the fact that it has night mode so you don’t lose your night vision as you look at your phone then back at the sky.

Gmote is great for controlling your computer remotely. You can browse media files on your computer (as long as you’re on the same wireless network) and play them on your phone or your computer. I can also use it to control the cursor on your computer so you don’t even need to be near it to control it.

Google Goggles has a lot of potential. It can recognize logos and some objects and bring back information about them. It also uses the camera to create a virtual layer telling you about your surroundings. They’ve even added language translation too; so scan text and get the translation back. I can see them doing a lot more with this in the future.

Replica Island is a fun, free platformer. I don’t normally play games on my phone, but this one is fun. It uses the tilt, trackball, and touch screen to make it pretty interactive. It is a little glitchy, but it’s fun enough that I can look past it.

WaveSecure Mobile Security is a must have, I think, for all Android users. It’s a security program and a backup in one. Yes, it costs $19.90 a year, but the security it provides is completely worth it!

iheartradio is a radio streaming program from Clear Channel. Here in Cleveland, there are a few Clear Channel stations I listen to when I’m in the car, and now I can listen to them while I’m sitting at Starbucks writing my reviews and answering your questions.

EasyTether allows your non-rooted phone to act as a modem for your computer. Not everywhere I go has wireless, which I totally don’t approve of, but now it does. EasyTether Lite is free, and works very well, unless you want to get on secure websites. Then there’s a one-time charge of $9.95 to upgrade to the full version. I would suggest paying the $9.95 as you can tether your phone to connect to any website.

AppManager allows you to keep track of and manage all of the apps you have on your phone. I find it much more user friendly than the built in program for this. It allows you to batch uninstall and backup all of your apps to SD card.

Advanced Task Killer has saved my battery almost every day. I am bound to open an app and forget it’s running. Then a few hours later wonder why my GPS has been on the whole time. I run Advanced Task Killer and I get more speed back and I don’t kill my battery nearly as fast.

I just did a review on AppBrain Market Sync and it’s one of my new favorites. I can easily find new apps I want to grab and research them all from my computer. Then, when I have some time, I can just make a couple taps and download all of the apps I looked at and liked before.

Hey, it looks like NerdGirl just made a Top 10 Awesome Apps list!

How do I get SMS tones for HTC Desire?

I’m assuming you’re looking for a way to set things like MP3s as tones. I use a program called Rings Extended. Not only can I use MP3s for my tones, but also for my ringtones. I have a horrible 90’s pop music theme right now. Loving it!

Once you’ve installed Rings Extended, when you go into something to change the sound you’ll see the option to use that program instead of the built in one. There you can change your tones to any MP3 on your SD card and personalize away!

I just read your response to Shon about backing up his phone data prior to the 2.1 update for the Hero. I’m in the same boat and also a new android convert. My problem is that my contacts aren’t synching even though I have all the settings as you describe. When I originally put my contacts in, I put them in as “phone” contacts rather than Google contacts. If I enter new people as Google contacts then they sync no prob. Is there a way to get all my other contacts to sync without having to redo them all? When I try to edit the contact, the type (Google or phone) isn’t an option any more. Thanks for your help!
David

There is an easy way to solve this issue, David. Open Contacts » press Menu button » Import/Export » my assumption is that the contacts are on your SIM card so choose “Import from SIM card”. (For phones below Android 2.0 there won’t be the extra option to choose from multiple Google accounts you would like to import the contacts to).

~n3rdg1rl

This content was originally posted at AndroidTapp.com

Choose from 15,000 ringtones and notification sounds for free with Mabilo Ringtones.

Price: Free

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

• Free Ringtones, no gimmicks
• Easy download, can set default ringtone or to specific contact(s) User uploaded tones

Cons

• Some may complain their fav ringtone is not in the database

Features:

Mabilo Ringtones Android App offers Free ringtones for mobile phones. Easily download ringtones, you can set as your default ringtone or set to specific contact(s). If you signup at their website http://www.mabilo.com you can upload and share your own tunes. (Create them right on your Android phone with Ringdroid)

Usefulness:

Most people love to customize their phone with ringtones, very useful.

Ease of Use:

Mabilo Ringtones Android App is very straight-forward the easy to use, browse the Featured, preset categories or search for ringtones.

Frequently Used:

Depends on if Mabilo carries your desired tones.

Interface:

The user interface is basic, could use some spice but gets the job done!

This content was originally posted at AndroidTapp.com

Replaces the standard ringtone picker with a new one that makes it easy to select from installed music tracks & other sounds. Just go to Settings or an application’s settings for a ringtone & you will be prompted to use Rings Extended.

AndroidTapp.com Review:

Rings Extended is a superior replacement to the default Ringtone selection system. Rings Extended can be launched from any Android App where you can add/change a sound or ringtone. By default, when you install it, the Android OS will prompt you which sound selection app to use, since Rings Extended allows you to pick system sounds, ringtones and more, it’s OK to set this app as the default (so you wont be asked again).

Rings Extended is very useful and its greatest benefit allows you to select MP3 ringtones (even those created in RingDroid).

Gripe Alert: An app like this should have been standard in the Android operating system and not an additional app… But that’s the beauty of Open Source Development!

This content was originally posted at AndroidTapp.com

Use RingDroid to edit MP3, WAV, and AMR audio files and create ringtones, alarms, and notifications from them. Create your own ringtone by editing music tracks in your library, or record a new one directly from the phone. By the Ringdroid Team

AndroidTapp.com Review:

RingDroid’s main feature is to allow you to create custom ringtones directly from your T-Mobile G1 or Android Powered (save your 99 cents per track)! When the app is launched, you are presented with all the MP3s on your phone. You can Search by sliding your G1 in landscape exposing the keyboard, as you type it filters. You can also Record a New ringtone via the built-in Sound Recorder app.

Once you’ve found your song, the RingDroid song editing interface open. It’s fairly easy to create your RingDroid ringtone snippet… if not, we’ve listed how below.

How to Use RingDroid:

1. Open RingDroid and select your MP3
2. You will see 2 sliders representing the start and stop point of the MP3
3. Slide the start and stop points to your hearts desire (there are plenty of tools to help you get the right spot. You can Rewind, Play/Pause and Fast-Forward, Zoom In and Out, and even use the G1’s trackball for more precision, lastly type in the time-code.)
4. Once you’re done, tapp the Save button (you have the option to save as: Music, Alarm, Notification or Ringtone)
   (Here’s a video of it demonstrated at CNET)

We’ve also listed some RingDroid tips:

• Copy audio files to your SD card using a USB cable, or buy MP3s using the Amazon MP3 store application.
• Tapp anywhere on the waveform to start playing at that position.
• While playing, tapp the word Start or End to quickly set the start and end markers to the current playback time.
• Use the trackball wheel for more precise adjustments.

This content was originally posted at AndroidTapp.com