The K-12 Open Source Classroom

Bringing Open Source (Free and Free) into the Classroom

Posts Tagged evo

Google App Inventor

Sep 3

Posted by admin in OSS Applications, open source | No Comments

Google App Inventor

My Invite To Create Apps Came!

I recently received my invite to Google’s App Inventor.  Obviously, with all the new Google tools, this one is on a limited entry, so I was pretty surprised to see my invite in my inbox.  Why did I want it?  I want to create apps, of course.  I do not yet possess any great ideas, but I wanted to see the tool and hopefully that would get my creative juices flowing.  I really would like to find some creative uses for K-12.

Of course I also use this to highlight the differences between Apple and Google.  Google provides this free.  At least at first, and I think still, you need to pay $100 or more to Apple for the same privilege.  I can see that for a commercial developer, but what if we want students to create apps?  I can see eventually a course in high school, or even online, to show students how to create apps.  I doubt we will spend thousands of dollars on the Apple side, so it would be Android.  Why does Apple not see that?

Anyway, I will explore this over the next few weeks and report as necessary.  Apps away!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Looking for a Good Digital Assistant

Aug 21

Posted by admin in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Sandy

Sandy--On the Digital Unemployment Line...

I always possessed the need for a good app to organized my events, send me reminders, allow me to add reminders by email, etc.  I may have discussed Sandy awhile back.  I Want Sandy organized me very well.  It truly was like she read my mind.  I could go to the site and add reminders there, I could email them directly to her, I could cc her on emails, when I used Twitter, she was there.  Then about two years ago, she went away.  Ahh…the longing…

Since then, I bounced around a bit.  Ping Me kinda helped, but it also went away this year.  Reqall is my current option.  It works as well.  I can see all my reminders, I can complete reoccurring tasks, it even comes with a Blackberry and Android app…but it is not quite what I need.

Now I am giving Task.fm another look.  ’Outsource your memory’ is their tagline, and I definitely subscribe to that.  I will give it a whirl for a week or so to see, and then decide on abandoning reqall or not.  No Android app that I can see, so I would need to go through the browser.  Not impossible, but a little less than convenient.

I guess I bring this all up to highlight the importance of open source.  When a project releases its code, and if the bottom falls out of said company, the community can fork that project and keep it alive, if someone values it.  With proprietary software, that cannot happen by design.  So we become accustomed to I Want Sandy, Ping Me, and others, and when they close or fold, we are out of luck.  Another reason why we need open source more than ever.

Tags: , , ,

Must Have Android Apps

Aug 19

Posted by admin in OSS Applications, hardware, open source | No Comments

So, a week into my Evo.  I continue to be just as impressed as my first impression.  This phone, and Android in general, just so get my way of consumption.  The camera is amazing (8 mp)–I can actually just point, it zooms/focuses, and I take really decent pics.  The apps it comes with work, along with HTC’s Sense UI…some nice and easy add to widgets.

I have been downloading apps like mad.  Trying ones, deleting others, just trying to get a sense of what you can find out there.  Here are my favorites so far:

TasKiller–an OS that supports multiple apps running at the same time is a great idea.  However, if you never close ones, it can slow down your phone pretty quickly.  I went ahead and downloaded TasKiller for both phones.  It makes it easy to see what’s running in the background and quickly in one step kill the process.

Google Maps Navigation.  While in Beta, I think I like this better than Sprint’s Navigation.  It looks most like the traditional Garmin GPS interfaces, finds directions quicker, and has the backend of Google information to pull from when planning routes, looking for restaurants, etc.

and for a little fun…

Super K.O. Boxing

Old Skool Gamin' on the Evo

Super K.O. Boxing.  Remember Mike Tyson’s punch out?  While Super K.O. provides you with a similar game.  Lots of fun punching on folks…great work stress reliever…

Tags: , , ,

Early Thoughts on Evo…

Aug 10

Posted by admin in OSS Applications, hardware, open source | No Comments

Evo

EVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A few days into heavy usage, and I can still only say wow.  This phone exceeded my expectations.  I mentioned thinking this phone and Android would excite me, but the phone is beautiful and powerful and Android just works and offers so much functionality.  Now, I have not used an iPhone, but we do possess an iPod Touch, so I feel I can do a good job comparing the two OSs, and Android just seems leap years beyond where Apple resides with its OS.

So, some early things I am impressed with:

  • the vibrating of the home buttons–just feels right to have the vibration to let me know the button worked
  • when connecting to the computer, I love seeing my choices pop up, like ‘open as a hard drive, tether, etc.’
  • Android Market–lots of good stuff there
  • synchronizing of the Google Calendar–easy!  Both my wife and I share a calendar easily

More updates to come!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

It’s Official–I Will Get an EVO!

Jul 23

Posted by admin in OSS Applications, hardware, open source | No Comments

HTC's EVO

Yup, Mine is On the Way!

I finally made my choice.  I put in my order for an HTC Evo from Sprint.  I actually talked with one of our business reps and went with Sprint’s Everything Data plan.  That will give me and my wife unlimited texting, data, and 1500 minutes between us.  Definitely more than enough.  The exciting thing out of the deal will be she will have an Android phone as well–Samsung’s Intercept, in pink.

Look for some reviews coming soon!  I cannot wait to begin adding apps to both phones, as I already began looking through some websites rating Android Apps, like http://www.androidapps.com/.  In about a week, I will get my phone!!!

—

image used under Creative Commons license by flickr user louisvalant

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,