Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!!, review | Tags: 903+, backbeat, bluetooth, clipper, earphone, jabra, plantronic, review
So, I own 2 pairs of stereo bluetooth headsets. The first one is a Plantronic Backbeat 903+, and the second one is a Jabra Clipper. This post summarise my experiences with the two of them.
Jabra Clipper
Plantronic BackBeat 903+
Features
Both offer multi-pairing (one phone, one media player) and rugged exterior. Both support A2DP and AVRCP, so you can play, pause, and skip tracks. Both has virtually no moving parts, so there will be no broken clips, switches or anything like that. The Jabra Clipper’s ear pieces are removable, and can be replaced with any stereo earpieces with 3.5mm jack.
Sound Quality
The 903+ and the Clipper are modest music earphones. Not the best, but definitely acceptable for my daily bus ride. You can “upgrade” the clipper sound quality by replacing the standard earbuds with a better one, but you will eventually be limited by the stereo bluetooth protocol sub-par data rate.
As for call quality, the Clipper beats 903+ squarely, as the 903+ is practically useless for making calls. The 903+’s supposedly sophisticated microphone, which is located at the left ear-piece, completely failed at capturing my voice. The Clipper on the other hand, works flawlessly when clipped on the left collar of my shirt.
Battery life
A single charge will last about eight to nine hours on the 903+, a solid one to two hours longer that the Clipper’s passable six hours battery life
Price
In Jakarta, the 903+ will cost you about Rp 900K (approximately USD100), and for the same amount of money, you can get 2 set of Jabra Clippers
Conclusion
If you need a decent bluetooth headset that is also capable of delivering acceptable sound quality when paired to a PMP, the Jabra Clipper is your best bet. Decent sound, great build quality, and virtually no moving parts aside from the control buttons.
My old beat up Clipper
If the 903+ form factor appeals you, my suggestion is to get the 903 if you can find one. It’s very similar to the “+” version, and you can actually use it for making calls.
Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!!, time out | Tags: android, apk, digital magazines, galaxy, gnex, google, market, nexus, play, tf101, transformer
So, I’ve been using android since what.. 2009? I even own the very first android handset, the T-Mobile G1. Well, 4 handsets and 2 tablets later, here I am, with the very zippy Galaxy Nexus, sporting the 4.02 version of Android, the Ice Cream Sandwich.
Back in 2011, I made a post about 10 android apps that I enjoy very much, so today I’m gonna expand the list with another 10 must-have android apps:
- Google Currents
Magazines for your tablet. At first, it was touted as “FlipBoard” for Android. Me? I used it as news reader for various digital magazines around the web. I get GigaOM, 500px, The Guardian, and many more. And since it uses your google account, news channels are synced between devices. So if I add a new subscription to my Currents on my GNex, it will automatically available on my TF101. And best thing of all, if you are like me, living in Jakarta where 3G coverage is spotty at best, you can do a full sync for your Currents at home in the morning over wi-fi, and read it later, while you’re away from your network’s coverage.
Google Currents on Asus Transformer TF101
...and on the GNex
- AirDroid
If you frequently move files to and from your android phones and tablets, AirDroid is your friend. You can also use it to read and write SMS messages, manage contacts and image gallery, and many more . Just fire up AirDroid, and point your favorite desktop browser to your phone url. Since it uses http protocol, there’s no need to install any kind of software or driver to your PC. perfect for Linux users like me
AirDroid can use your home wi-fi connection, or if there’s no wi-fi connection to be found, use the android built in tethering (wi-fi or usb) app.
AirDroid on GNex
...and how it looks on the browser
- Flip4Silence
I used to own a HTC Desire Z, and the Sense ROM baked into it has an option where you can “silence” your phone when it rang, by flipping it to its back. My Nokia E52 has this too. The Galaxy Nexus does not, what a shame. But you can add that function by using Flip4Silence. It has an additional function, where it can enable or disable vibration by detecting whether your phone is lying on a flat surface or not (such as being stored in your pocket). - SwiftKey X
SwiftKey X is in my opinion, the best keyboard replacement app on android. It’s a paid app, and trust me, it’s worth the price. You can get onefor your tablet too
Swiftkey X on GNex
- Dropbox
With the release of Google Drive, why would I need DropBox? Simple, Linux/Nautilus native client - EverNote
The best note taking app I’m currently syncing notes between my windows office PC, my Ubuntu notebook, tablet, and phone. - WhatsApp
I believe that WhatsApp needs no introduction Now, if only they provide web interface for their service 
- Any.Do
Any.Do is a very pretty interface for google task. You can jot down your task, set a reminder, and have Any.Do shows it on your home screen via its 4×4 widget (smaller sizes are also available). It also detects any missed call, and give you the option to set a task to make a call to the missed call… umm caller. - Remote for VLC
Well, it’s a remote for VLC installed on your PC. Just enable the VLC http interface, have your phone connect to the url via wi-fi network. One thing to remember is that you need to start VLC from the pc first, then connect the phone. Or you can always start the VLC http interface as background service every time you boot your PC. - Android browser for ICS
Simply put, the best iteration of android stock browser to date. The addition of quick control inherited from Honeycomb browser enables the browser interface to completely disappear when you don’t need it. It’s fast too, and has flash (well at least until adobe stops the support)
Android Stock Browser for ICS
I also recommend Juice Defender, Chrome for Android beta, and the ES File Explorer. And guys, please remember to always read the review section of the app page on Google Play, to get more information regarding the apps that sometime deliberately not disclosed by the developers
Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!!, Ubuntu | Tags: android, bluetooh, es file explorer, Ubuntu
As you may have realized, your android device will block certain file to be transfered via bluetooth, namely the apk files. You can send them via usb storage file transfer, via wifi with airdroid or Samsung’s Kies, but nope, no bluetooth.
But what if bluetooth is the only thing that available to you? Well, there are several ways to do that:
Bluetooth File Transfer
You can get this app on the market. It’s free and ad supported, works very well with all of my android devices except the Galaxy Nexus. It uses the OBEX FTP profile and enable you to send and receive any files with your phone. It will also let you browse, explore, transfer and manage files of any paired bluetooth devices.
Zip it
Simply store the apks on a zip file. On a ubuntu box, simply select “send packed in” on the transfer dialog window, and select “.zip” as the format, and send it
"it was send packed.."
If you’re sending the file from another android device, you can use apps like ES File Explorer to store the apks in zip format, and send them via bluetooth like any other file. Just long press on the apk file, and select compress from the pop-up menu, then long press on the resulting zip file, select share, choose bluetooth as the method, and off you go
compress and send
Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!!, IRL | Tags: 2.2, android, desire, desire z, froyo, hot-spot, HTC, keyboard, smartphone
I’ve been waiting for HTC, Motorola, Samsung, or any android phone makers to come out with a worthy replacement for my HTC Dream. The dream was one heck of a phone. It was very hackable, and I’ve been running dozens of custom ROM on it. Also, one notable trait of the Dream that I like, is that the phone is equipped with a complete set input devices, from touch screen and G sensor, to physical keyboard and trackball.
HTC Desire Z
Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!! | Tags: android, browser, desire z, firefox, HTC, mobile, proxy, setting, smartphone
There are two things that I dislike the most regarding the android platform. The first one is no support on Cisco IPSec VPN. The second one is the lack of support (or lack of user configurable setting) for http proxy on the standard webkit browser.
I can live with the exclusion of IPSec, as general users rarely require IPSec VPN and you can subtitute it with certificate based authentication. But with WiFi becoming ubiquitous on mobile phones, it baffles me that such simple function as proxy is omitted from the android browser. Yes, you can root your phone and push the proxy setting to the browser via adb, and no, even for me it’s not acceptable.
But fear not! The last batch of 3rd party browsers such as firefox 4 mobile and opera mobile comes with support for http proxy, and they are pretty easy to setup. For example, here is what you need to do set the proxy on Firefox:
Filed under: android, Go Go Gadget..Stuff!! | Tags: android, apk, apps, buzzbox, calwidget, connectbot, desire, desire z, favorite, HTC, smartphone, soundhound, widgetsoid
Here are some of the android apps that I use extensively:
- ConnectBot
A robust SSH client that I use to connect to my servers. ConnectBot Support persistent connection, so you won’t get disconnected when idling or running it in the background. Work best with phones equipped with physical keyboard such as the Dream and Desire Z
ConnectBot
- Soundhound
Hum that tune that has been bugging you for days to your phone, and SoundHound will find the title and the singer of that song. It will even direct you to a youtube video of that particular song if one is available.
Just hum the tune
...and voila
..list of youtube videos from the search
