Garmin 610

A few months ago, I mentioned I was tempted by the Garmin 610 GPS watch for capturing my run data. I broke down and got one off eBay. One big reason is my Android phone is having lots of problems and I did not think I could count on it to work for 4+ hours while I run the marathon next week. I like the watch so far, but I normally wear my watches with the face on the inside of my wrist. The watch is so bulky I really cannot do that with this one.

MEGA-Watch

What do you call a watch that combines my smartphone, my GPS run tracker, and a Surefire flashlight?

MEGA-Watch!!!

Okay, it doesn't really exist, but just looking at the size of the Surefire alone suggests it would be a large clock, err lantern, err watch. Convergence has its limits today.

Surefire Watch via Says Uncle

Improve Your Android GPS Performance

I've not had any real problems with using RunKeeper on my Android phone, but it usually exaggerates the distance somewhat as it depends on the phone's GPS. For people that are having a lot of problems, Lifehacker has some suggestions to improve the GPS performance.

Majel

My wife just got an iPhone and we love playing with the Siri app. It has been surprisingly good at voice recognition and the results have been both fun and useful. (Although Siri did have a fit when were asking "what color is Paddington Bear's hat?")

I can only image that competition will make the tools even more useful in the near future. Bonus points to Google for using Majel as the name for their app. It has immediate geek cred and works on several levels.

The History of Android Phones

They've come a long way, baby, in three years.

Tempted - Garmin Forerunner 610

So I've been running a bit - even completing a half-marathon recently. As with any hobby, you have to get the toys. I'm so tempted by the Garmin Forerunner 610. I've been using RunKeeper on my Android phone. I really like RunKeeper, but the phone isn't the best solution. However, the Android/RunKeeper solution is free. The watch is $350.

The Virtual Racer feature would be a good training tool.

Free Books

I really like the form factor of my Android Nook. I've been enjoying it even more recently for using Google Reader, Kindle/Nook/Aldiko/Google Books apps, and the YouVersion Bible. If surfing/the browser was better, it would get the full Brick Seal of Approval.

My buddy at work brought in his brand new Kindle Fire. I think I would like it, too.

I have been reading enough on the Android Nook that I think I might want a true e-ink reader like the Kindle Touch. A recent evening spent at the local ER (good times!) made me realize the value of a device that works for weeks on a single charge.

Which all brings me to this link to free books from Baen for your tablet or e-reader of choice. Here is their philosophy for offering free books.

Cheap Tablet

It amazes me that you can get a tablet for $70. The Velocity Micro Cruz 7" Tablet (Android) may not be a great one, but $70.

A $250-$300 'iPad Mini'?

Apple Is Reportedly Working On A $250-$300 'iPad Mini':

"Apple is developing a low-cost iPad, which could appear in early 2012, says Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White.

White calls it an "iPad mini," because he thinks it will be priced in the "mid-to-high $200 range." The size of the iPad mini could be exactly the same, White doesn't necessarily think it's smaller"

True or not, it is a smart rumor to leak as it might dampen sales for Kindles, Nooks, and other lower cost tablets. My whole argument that these things aren't competitors goes out the window once they are all priced the same.

Need a Tablet? Buy a washer!

Just buy a Samsung Washer and Dryer pair at Lowe's to get a free 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab using this rebate.

Speaking of Tablets

Woot's Daily Deal:

Motorola XOOM 10.1” 32GB Android Tablet with Wi-Fi

$349.99

• + $5 shipping

CONDITION:

Refurbished

PRODUCT:

1 Motorola XOOM 10.1” 32GB, Wi-Fi, Android 3.1, NVIDIA Dual-Core, Flash, microSD, 5MP; 2MP Cameras

Amazon Kindle Fire

parislemon On Wednesday, Amazon Will Unveil The “Kindle Fire” http://t.co/OOvg4KJdMon, Sep 26 16:31:04 from Tweet Button retweeted by arrington

From the article:

Another thing I wasn’t sure about was the chip inside of the device. I’ve now learned it’s a TI dual-core OMAP chip. This is the same chip used inside many newer Android devices. The PlayBook also uses it. I’m not sure what the clock-speed of the CPU will be, but I’d guess 1.2 GHz. This will make it significantly faster than the rival Nook Color, which uses a single core 800 MHz OMAP.

And...

The Nook Color 2 will also be built on top of Gingerbread, Android 2.3, we hear. That would put it ahead of the Kindle Fire, which is believed to be based on Android 2.1. Again, neither of them look anything like Android, but the APIs available are key when it comes to the Android version. 

Nook Color Android

So I've been playing with my Nook Color Android tablet. My reference points are an iPad2 (the gold standard for tablets) and my Droid Pro phone (running Android). My first impressions were favorable and that has not changed.

I like the 7" form factor. It is very usable and takes up less space in my bag than does the iPad.

The battery life doesn't seem to be as good as the iPad. I've not done any specific testing, but my gut says I'm charging it more often with roughly equivalent usage. I don't think this is a Nook issue - more of an Android problem. My Droid Pro has mysterious battery sucking apps running that fix themselves.

Unlike the Droid Pro, some applications (Google Reader for one) occasionally blow up and have to be restarted on the Nook Color Android. This doesn't happen very frequently, but I've almost never seen it on the Droid Pro.

Overall, a few hiccups but a great value at half the price of an iPad.

Tablet Links

What a tangled web we weave...

Color Kindle? Running Android?

Eric Schmidt: The Next Big Android Launch is Coming in Oct or Nov

Sony Tablet Wonder if they will make some slick device and then wreck it by making it proprietary.

Amazon’s Future Is So Much Bigger Than a Tablet - I like the line saying that the Kindle isn't a book - it is a bookstore.

Amazon.com begins rolling out new homepage design - so it is easier for tablet users?

Amazon Book Service Rent books on demand?

Low Expectations for the Amazon Tablet?

Droid Hams

So I tried to join the Droid Hams Yahoo Group, but I missed the fine print (see below) and was denied.

Description
Droid users that are licensed hams
If you want to join present your call sign otherwise you will be denied

Since I tried to sign up using my Brick account and without mentioning my call, my request was denied. I don't dispute the group owner's right to restrict access, but I think the more open groups have a better chance of success. My supporting data... this group had one message in August and one message so far in September. Not too active.

Android Nook

Less than 24 hours with it, but I like it.

HP Touchpad & Nook Color Update

Too bad I couldn't find a $99 HP Touchpad, since the Android port is coming. Obviously, that would have been cheaper than my Nook Color Android.

Paul points out that the Nook Color can be had from the BN ebay store (Item: 120758870326) for $180 with free shipping. Also, he links to the XDA forum for hacking the Nook Color.

Nook Color & Nook 2 Android

I really like our iPad. The three of us seem to share it pretty well, but I was already thinking we could really be a two or three tablet family. My uncle is trying out a Nook Color, the Barnes & Noble ebook reader along with a little hack to run the Android OS via a bootable microSD card from Nook 2 Android.

You can pick up a new Nook Color for $250. I got a refurb on Buy.com for $180. You can then order the a Nook 2 Android 8 GB card for $35. So on the cheap side, you can get an Android tablet for $215 plus shipping.

I'm excited about this as I really wanted a tablet and I think this will be a great device. I want it to be my portable documentation repository and library. Dropbox plus some PDFs. YouVersion for multiple versions of the Bible. Add Google Reader for my RSS feeds and I am all set!

Google Android Ham Radio: The Golf Oscar Oscar Golf One Echo

A fun exercise... what if Google made a ham radio? It is like when I dream about winning the lottery. The G00G1E? I'm sure it would be better than the dual-band P-A-968 Cell Phone. In the Baofeng UV-3R, we've seen that basically a decent SDR can be crammed into a small package. Apple is probably the best at developing the slickest form factor. (Heck, they are even suggesting that we should cut our plugs in half to help slim down our devices. Maybe that would save room for a better antenna.) But, if anyone could pull something wild like this off, it would be Google. All it takes is a couple of Googlers that are hams to take a crazy notion and who knows what could happen. They are all millionaires and could spend a few bucks on a pet project. ;)

I like Rich's suggestions for several features: DSP filtering, CTCSS, APRS, Echolink, and a D-Star alternative codec.

I say bring on PSK31 and a waterfall!



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Android Users are Data Hogs

It isn't just me according to this Business Insider chart. Also, I am above average!