Quick Guide: Got stuck on Android Market

Ever tried downloading an app but it always stays at downloading.....

Well here's a few tricks that is known to solve some issue.

1. DUH! Retry by canceling and re-download.

2. When you are stuck at the downloading phase, sometimes signing into Google Talk helps the process. It is known to help and it definitely works for me at times.

3. If nothing works, try going to your settings and find the option to manage your applications. Next, find Market and clear the cache or data (if you have to)

Let us know in the comments if you have found other ways that have helped you solve the downloading bug.

Why I can’t find that cool app in the market?

The android market is one messy place in terms of geographical differences as only recently they have implemented steps for developers to standardized the local currency and their own region pricing.

What does that tell us? It means that android market have different offerings depending on which country you’re in. So if a developer choose to market their apps to only UK or Spain, then Malaysians can’t see it on their market.

Unfortunately in Malaysia, paid apps only recently became available and so there are a lot of apps that tech blogs and websites say exist but we simply cannot find it on our devices.

For that there are a few solutions.

1. Market enabler (free on the Android Market)

This is a tool that allows your phone to mimic as if you are from another location by using root controls. So that means you have to root your phone which is another long story.

Once you select the list of carriers that are in the app. You are good to go. I use this method personally a lot to get to app updates for apps such as Gmail. I still can’t believe how GOOGLE NEXUS S is here and yet we are unable to update our Gmail and Google Maps app. Seriously, Google, I think you can do better.

2. Alternative markets

There are a few alternative markets out there that offers similar services as Android Market. Such as Amazon App Store and SlideMe. These two could have the apps you are looking for. Appbrain in Android Market used to have this thing callled fast web installer that allows you install apps directly from their website as well but users have reported problem with Android 2.3 and various devices.

3. The dark path

You can also download .apk files and sideload into your devices by enabling unknown sources settings on your phone. For that, search engines are your path to discovery. Be warned, as there is an uprising of malwares for Android out there so you have to be careful. While Google has been doing a goob job at controlling them, I suggest you don’t take unnecessary risk as our phones now contain sensitive information that you DO NOT want to be hacked.

Should you buy an Android tablet right now?

With the launch of iPad 2 and recently a highly profiled Android tablet Motorola Xoom. Should you would tend to ask should you buy an Android tablet?

If you ask me, I would answer what would you be using a tablet for?

iPad 2 with no doubt a worthy successor to the original iPad simply because it has a much faster processor and lighter. I really like those changes that Apple had made. Wait, what about cameras? Well.. to me the cameras aren't that important since everything is well sync wirelessly and I wouldn't want to raise a tablet to take photos.

So iPad or Xoom? While I personally do not own any of those devices, my opinion would be purely based on the overall ecosystem of both platforms and also from different usage point of view.

I will compare and contrast them from several functions and features of both devices.

Browsing

While both devices have a 10.1" display and it is reviewed that Xoom is only slighty better than the iPad in terms of resolution, I think the screen would ultimately make no difference. In terms of being able to hold up the tablet and make long hours browsing, iPad 2 would obviously be the choice since Xoom (725g) is significantly heavier than iPad 2 (613g).

Back then Apple boast a full desktop browsing experience but most people that had use iPhone of iPod would be able to tell you that it's not true with iOS as they currently do not support Flash content. Xoom on the other hand supports flash content and you are even able to play youtubevideos in the page itself without getting redirecting to the youtube app. With this, browsing using only the browser would give an edge to the Xoom.

Browser performance in terms of loading pages would give an edge to Xoom compared to iPad's safari. That being said, the iPad's zooming and pinch to zoom is definitely more fluid compared to the Xoom. While scrolling down quickly, Safari would show checkerboards while Xoom would not. In this case, I prefer no checkerboards.

App Selection

This a no brainer, since iPad has a diverse collection of fantastic apps that are both interactive and informative such as CNN and other newspaper apps as well as Flipboard that is able to pull your social media feeds in a form of magazine, truly an innovative app. Xoom on the other hand runs Android's latest Honeycomb and being the latest and first interface for tablet, not many apps are customized or developed for the tablet form factor. Native apps are there and are well customized for full functionality.

Flexibility

Personally, I only find a space for tablet to do light pc task that I would normally do on a daily basis so I prefer something that would really be able to probably stop from buying a tiny netbook.

Emailing would be fantastic on both devices as they provide two panels for you to mange your emails. Imagine your email right smack in front of you and you don't even need to scroll to read those dreaded long emails. I suppose it is preference but being a Gmail addict, Xoom would probably be a better choice for me.

Productivity, so far I don't see tablets to replace our laptops or netbook to produce documents but iPad is able to provide a full-fledge office suite that Honeycomb cannot provide. While you can use Gdocs, iPad's app is much more powerful currently. Not to mention iMovie app that is mindblowing.

File system and drag&drop would be the archiles heels for me with the iPad, like we all know we have to go through the guardian of the iPad media entrace, iTunes. I honestly hate this part. Why do I have to sync to put a picture into my iPad or a single song that I want. I want to be able to customize where I put my files and create folders on the go. For this aspect, Android always win and so Xoom takes this round.

Keyboards and customization

It's the same old story in terms on this aspect between iOS and Android devices. with iOS, there's less flexibility unless you jailbreak it but with Android, you are able to put more than just icons on the screen like an agenda widget, photo gallery and all that.

The keyboard performance on both would be on par but then again, Android gives you choice to install alternatives later on.

As a conclusion?

If you wanna do more than browsing with tons of amazing apps to choose from, emailing and don't mind loosing the flexibility? Choose the iPad.

If you like to have that flash capability, flexibility and probably won't use a lot of different apps from day to day? Choose the Xoom.

HTC Flyer: Bringing back the good old stylus in style

The new HTC tablet called the Flyer have recently launched in Malaysia. While the current market offering are all featuring a dual core processor, this thing is not any less appealing because of HTC's innovative user interface. What's best is that this is even not Honeycomb yet.

But wait, isn't that not good and all that since it's not the latest? Well, in my opinion because Honeycomb apps are still lacking in numbers in the Market. This tablet does not loose out on too much. You guys should take a look at how this table make use of the stylus.

The cool thing is that it is able to record how you drew a picture or playback your audio notes at the point you scribbled down some notes. That's mighty helpful since I always don't remember what I wrote when I am focused on the listening part. Pretty excited about how will HTC launch their next innovative features for tablets. Are you?

HTC Pyramid

This could easily the sexiest HTC device. Hope it comes to Malaysia real soon :)

Must Have Android Apps

Pulse

Do you have a lot of websites that you go to daily like news? blog sites or even forums? You can have a glance at all your new updates from those sites using Pulse. As you can see the interface is pretty and its free people!

AppBrain

This used to be more awesome since you can install apps directly from the website, the free ones of course but then the new version of market disabled the feature. But this is still a good way to discover new apps or what's hot?

Tweetcaster

There are tons of twitter applications out there but I like Tweetcaster. Simply because it's pleasant looking, easy to use and feature packed. Twitpic/twitphoto preview and all that good stuff that you need to tweet your life!

Chrome to phone

Ever had a webpage you were looking on your desktop or laptop but you need to move away. How you wish you can bring it along with your phone but it's so troublesome to type in the long URL right? Just use Chrome to phone and Google Chrome browser (with Chrome to phone extension). All you have to do is to sign in first with your Google account and click!

2 Player Reactor

Simple game to play with your friend to see who have faster response. It has multiple game modes which could be as simple as tap the screen as soon as the screen is white or as tough as math equations. Free!

MIUI ROM

So much have happened in the time that I left this place to gather dust. I am now the owner of a Google Nexus One phone.

Officially the first Google Branded phone built by HTC. Confusing? Simple, Google wants to have the control over the updates of the phone software but they don’t produce phone so hence HTC comes in. You can also check the new Google Nexus S by Samsung. Shall talk about it next time.

Today I would like to talk about a custom interface called the MIUI for several devices such as HTC Desire, Google Nexus One, HTC HD2 (yes it’s available for this Windows phone!) and so on.

First thing first

To obtain the custom interface, you first have to go through a process called rooting. Similar but unlike the iPhone, this process basically means you are hereby declaring you might void your warranty to gain more control over your phone. Difference is that Google did not outright say that this is WRONG but to say this is their right. HTC, Motorola, LG that make the phone would obviously say this would make your phone explode so they do not encourage it. Rooting requires some technical knowledge and some courage to do so please refer to your friendly neighborhood Android geek for all the details or visit XDA, the heaven of info on modifying your smartphones.

About MIUI

Here’s how it looks like, this is 3 of my home screens that I placed. As you can see there is no longer the app drawer like typical Android would have. Instead, they would all appear on the homescreen. iPhone users would be like hey that’s so familiar but for Android users it would be a pain to see all their apps on the screen. I would say this is a small price to pay since there are much more functionality in MIUI. As for the gazillions of icons? You can either use a home replacement like Launcher Pro or use a folder. Fear not, our Android folders is bottomless so to speak :P

When using MIUI you will realize several similarity between iOS and this Chinese-developed interface such as icons, menu style. As you can see from below, the interface is simple and clean like the iPhone and when you swipe a message to the right, the delete option would appear. This adds value to default sms app that Android has. Within the thread of messages, you are also able to swipe to delete. Not sure about the iPhone on this one. The most right screenshot is the menu of MIUI which resembles the iPhone itself. This actually complicate things as there are similar options that are repeated in the “common” tab and “personal” tab.

Here’s the lockscreen of MIUI. Notice the three symbols? MIUI enhances the functionality of the locksreen more than most of the software in the market. When you unlock the screen by dragging down the phone icon, you access to the phone dialer right away and similarly with the messaging icon. When you double tap the lock icon, you bring up the music player controls and play your favorite tunes right away.

MIUI as shown below has a very beautiful music player out of the box so you don’t have to look for alternatives.

Upholding the essence of Android being very customizable, have their very own theme manager and a wide range of themes to choose from. The ROM comes with a theme manager app and a theme downloader app. In the app, you are able to preview the theme before applying it. Applying a theme is as easy as install and rebooting your phone. If you look at the top left screenshot you will be able to see the main menu of the theme manager. You are able to even change the animation when your phone starts and what sound it makes when it starts. LOL. Before this, Android is also able to make this happen but it has to go through the scary recovery mode that new learners are afraid of to be applied. As for the theme downloader, it’s also as simple as select and download :)

What makes me choose MIUI?

So here’s the biggie(s) that attracted me to MIUI. First of all is the attractive and clean interface. No doubt that it pirates from Apple’s interface but I would this takes it to a whole new level. Here’s a few reason. I am a person who wants to get access to my system settings quickly and effectively. The first screenshot is the notification bar dragged down. They are not just 4 shortcuts but scrollable from left to right… as in a lot of shortcuts. Wait, it’s not just shortcuts, when you long press an icon for example the wifi icon, it jumps into it’s settings directly. When I go to an area that I never been to, I just turn my wifi down, long press the icon and check if there’s any free wifi straight away :P

Secondly, MIUI has many built in functions that Android users previously need to download an app to have. App manager is one of them. In MIUI, you simple hold the home button and you are able to kill the apps immediately. File manager is another one but hey they included a nice basic one as well. It indicates your file size usage at the bottom according to type.

So what say you? My girlfriend calls this iDroid. :)