Repeater Finder - Android App

I saw this article about a Repeater Finder Android App and got pretty excited. This would be nice for my beach trip that is coming up. Then I saw it was $4.99. I'm a real cheap skate when it comes to software that I'm not sure I really need - even for such a small amount. I should just do my homework before I go and, if I decide I must have it, I can always buy/download it on the fly. It does look pretty slick.

Download RFinder - Worldwide Repeater Directory for Android.

Fruit Server

We use a lot of RIM's Blackberry devices at work. From an enterprise IT perspective, they are great. They are simple to use and simple to manage. They don't have a lot of extra features and only a limited number of apps, but I can rule them with an iron fist using the Blackberry Enterprise or Express servers.

We rolled out a hand full of Droid Pro devices to my team. They are neat toys, but I would not want to give them to our user base. We've had a lot of problems out of them, which, as IT folks, we've worked our way through.

We also offer some "best effort" support to iPhones.

RIM has announced that they are releasing a cross platform that will support Blackberry, Apple, and Android. For lack of a better name, I will call it the Fruit Enterprise Server. We live in exciting times. (Yes, I'm a geek.)

Via Business Insider

Native Google Docs for Android

I was excited to see that a native app for Google Docs was released for my Android phone. I use Google Docs for a few things and really like having access from any machine - I thought this would just add to the utility of the service. Unfortunately, it isn't as useful as I had hoped.

My anal retentive nature requires that I log every tank of gas that goes in my wife's car. I have a Google spreadsheet to track the fill-ups, mileage, MPG, etc. The app was a lot slower than I thought it would be. Also, it isn't very robust. I needed to add a row below my last entry, but above my formulas. The only option I saw was to add a row at the bottom.

I still have hope for it - assuming Google will develop it like they do Google Docs services.

Via Business Insider

Ken Jennings on Watson

Ken is smart and funny. Here is a link to his analysis of the man vs. machine cage match.

Some favorite bits:

"In the middle of the floor was a huge image of Watson's on-camera avatar, a glowing blue ball crisscrossed by "threads" of thought—42 threads, to be precise, an in-joke for Douglas Adams fans."

Ken obviously knows his pop culture as he used the Simpson's quote to welcome our new computer overlords in his Final Jeopardy answer.

"Watson has lots in common with a top-ranked human Jeopardy! player: It's very smart, very fast, speaks in an uneven monotone, and has never known the touch of a woman."

And he can play to the classic geek stereo-types.

"Just as factory jobs were eliminated in the 20th century by new assembly-line robots, Brad and I were the first knowledge-industry workers put out of work by the new generation of "thinking" machines."

Not a bad severance package - he gets $150,000 for coming in second.

And as a side note, good thing companies like 3LM are starting to implement Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics.

"The security company says 3LM stands for "three laws of mobility" that devices should follow: protect the user from malicious code or content, protect the device itself by securing data and communications, and obey the user unless this would cause a security problem."

Via Slashdot.org

Android Market

Google has announced the Android Market. This seems like a no-brainer to me. I'm not sure why you wouldn't have released this sooner - if not at the same time as the Market app on the phones.

Smart Phone

As you may have gathered from a recent post, I now have an Android phone - a Droid Pro using Verizon Wireless to be exact. After years on a Blackberry, I made the move... and two weeks later, they announce that the iPhone will be with Verizon. I'm happy with the Droid so far, so that doesn't really bother me.

But I do wish I could get a Magpul Executive Field Case for my Droid Pro. It is very high speed, low drag!

Android App: Ham Radio Study

I just found a neat app for Android phones for studying for your ham radio license. TNJeffofAllTrades - you should download it.

Looks like there are Morse Code trainers, scanner apps, and other goodies too.