Babs does Apps

Added by on May 24, 2011
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Finally I join the Android revolution! Not quite as far as going iPhone, iPad or Blackberry – goodness that would be a step too far. But when my mobile contract came up for renewal I did wonder if perhaps I should explore the idea of using my mobile phone for more than waking me up of a morning and the occasional text message.

Why? Well I’m supposed to be a geek of sorts, but have yet to fully join this new wave of always being available and sending text messages with a few deft thumb twitches, and having long lost a number of Bluetooth earpieces that would enable me to answer the phone while driving (I soon realised that this is one multi-task that I just cannot do safely).

But the time had come.

And I am smitten! I’ve not spent anything, simply changed my puny £20 per month contract to include unlimited Internet access and been given a shiny HTC Wildire. Now I have to remember to charge the dear thing daily instead of fortnightly, to switch off wi-fi when not at home, and can look on Google to find the telephone number for my local Indian in order to bring one home after school disco chauffeur duty (I live a wild life!).

I have already installed some free Apps and there would seem to be an awful lot more available to me – more than my little heart might desire! It’s very exciting. At last I can see what Angry Birds is about, have Skype peep at me whenever someone sends me a message through that, read Kindle books wherever I am, and have added Evernote and Dropbox for when I work out what to do with those!

Mobile TV – not played with that yet – might my “unlimited” Internet find a limit? But then this is a woman who won’t watch shows online for fear of using up her quota of bandwidth (I know – ridiculous I’m sure, but we did not even have computers when I was at school!).

I can Tweep and Facebook and know what the weather is doing without looking out of the window (cute, but really?).

And I can post to my blogs – what bliss! Surprisingly the keyboard is very good at knowing which characters my chubby fingertips intend to tap – I am impressed with that and had visions of needing to buy a wee keyboard for out and about use.

My next trick is to trust that any photo I take is not going to end up being so big that it won’t go anywhere, but one step at a time, though perhaps I should take one right now of this screen and bite the bullet!). And perhaps to make use of the satnav app – now that might be a novelty, not getting lost when driving to new places!

So – this woman has taken another step into this world of being always available – not that I am – that’s just silly… ;-)

Babs

About Babs
Babs runs The Blogmistress to help people use WordPress for their websites and/or blogs. Here on Birds however she lets loose on just about any subject other than WordPress! Follow her on twitter
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9 Responses to Babs does Apps

  1. Hi Babs

    Lovely story :-) welcome to the new mobile revolution, these devices are changing how we communicate and are allowing us to interact on the run as if we weren’t already busy enough (personally I don’t run but that’s another story!)

    Love to see a follow up post in a few weeks on how you are getting on with your new device.

    Vida Moda May 24, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    • Hi Vida, and thanks.

      And will find how I can add something to this dear little thing that can remind me to write the follow up. Now if I can just find the “make coffee” app, I’ll be happy ;-)
      Babs Saul I lovingly typed…10 WordPress Facts You Need to KnowMy Profile
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      Babs Saul May 25, 2011 at 8:59 am

  2. And Angry Birds? Have you discovered Angry Birds?
    Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…Clampdown on driving idiotsMy Profile

    Sarah Arrow May 25, 2011 at 8:43 am

  3. Babs,

    As an Android early(-ish) adopter who’s seen out my first 18-month contract and is now on my second phone, I have to say I love it. It may not have quite the same slick-ness of an iPhone, but it’s cheaper, there is a choice of handsets and, I believe, there are a lot more free apps in the marketplace.

    But rather than turn this into an apple v google comment, I’d like to suggest a couple more apps for your consideration.

    Firstly, from a work perspective you *must* install WordPress and Google Analytics. I’d hate to write a whole blog using the WP app, but for tweaks, updates and comment moderations it does the job nicely. Similarly, having Google Analytics information to hand wherever and whenever is very useful too.

    If RSS is your thing, then Google Reader is one of many RSS apps out there. Perfect for catching up on your reading if you have a quiet moment (yeah, right ;)

    Shopsavvy is a good tool should you want to compare prices when you are actually standing in front of an item wondering if you should buy it. In particular I love the barcode scanner, just because it’s soooo cool :)

    If you like playing around with pictures, then Retro Camera is one of many that allow you to be extra creative.

    I could go on. There are so many apps that you could spend all day looking at new ones. I’d suggest that as an opportunity for a new site, but there are a few out there already doing just that – http://www.lifeofandroid.com is particularly slick.

    It’s a brave new (mobile) world, Babs….have fun!
    Colman Carpenter I lovingly typed…From domain names to web hosting – how websites workMy Profile

    Colman Carpenter May 25, 2011 at 9:21 am

    • Thanks Colman
      WordPress was one of the first installed and I do wonder about getting some kind of mobile keyboard for when the muse takes me when out and about.
      Google Reader may be useful, indeed.
      I’d love you to write a blog post on this for Blokes on the Blog… Will be in touch…
      Babs Saul I lovingly typed…What you need to know before the next WordPress updateMy Profile
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      Babs Saul May 25, 2011 at 10:40 am

  4. Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth. I, too, have changed my – even punier – £15 contract to include internet. My phone is also an HTC Wildfire, and according to my partner, I have now finally turned into one of those really sad people (but then, what does he know, eh ;-) )
    I absolutely love it for the same reason you said, so won’t repeat them here.
    I am very impressed with the quality of photos and I have tried out the satnav on journeys I know, just to get used to it.

    I was wondering whether to take my laptop on holidays but now I only need my little HTC to take pictures, tweet, check emails and facebook, etc….. oh, and to make phonecalls ;-)
    Angelika Davey I lovingly typed…Twinning weekend in DevizesMy Profile
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    Angelika Davey May 29, 2011 at 11:45 am
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In her shoes is a series  of anonymous posts from women in business, sharing their experience. In your comments you are asked to answer the question – What would you do in her shoes? My story began 9 months ago; it is a story of self-realisation, friendship, love and betrayal. After 11 years at home [...]

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