Android and Me » Bobby Pineapples

Fujitsu – The Possibilities Are Infinite With Android

Bobby Pineapples — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:13:16 +0000

Fujitsu might not be a well known brand name to American consumers, but their technology is behind many of the retail stores we shop every day. With the recent announcement of “Service Built For Android”, it appears they are placing their full support behind the Android platform. Fujitsu has also joined the Open Embedded Software Foundation which will bring Android to a host of new embedded devices.

Service Built For Android

Fujitsu will bring Android to many new devices.

The recent announcement by Fujitsu was brief but gave a good idea of what we can expect from Japan’s largest computer company. Not only will they be making devices, but they will also provide their full expertise to other companies interested in Android. These services include:

Consulting
Training
Enginerring
Embedded Middleware

We can expect to see Fujitsu use Android in numerous product lines including:

Set Top boxes
GPS Units
Kiosks
Self-Checkout
Phones
Personal Computers
Medical Equipment

Self Checkout

All ur cashiers r belong to Android.

One of the most recognizable Fujitsu products in North America would be the U-Scan self-checkout lanes found in many national grocers like Kroger. By moving to the Android open source platform, Fujitsu could offer a lower price point to retailers by removing the licensing cost of Windows. This would also open the door to new levels of interaction between a retailer and their customers. Micro payments could be transmitted between an Android based phone and the store’s point of sale equipment.

Mobile Marketing

Early this year, Fujitsu announced a partnership with InMotion Digital Media to bring new marketing prospects to retailers. Imagine the endless marketing campaigns that would be possible with Android. A retailer could send promotions and coupons to your phone when you enter the store. You could then use your phone to locate the products in the store using RFID. When it comes time to checkout, all your coupons and payments would be processed on your phone.

Fujitsu F-01A

NTT Docomo(why does Japan have such awesome phones?) recently released several Fujitsu phones that are waterproof. The phone can survive for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water. This is the first Fujitsu phone I have ever seen and it’s an interesting idea of what a future Android device might look like. The following video details the unique design of the F-01A handset.

Here is another interesting video I found advertising the new F-01A phone.

Conclusion

You might not be able to purchase any Fujitsu Android devices for some time, but expect them to start showing up behind retail store counters. Some of the largest American retailers rely on Fujitsu such as Staples, Chevron, Kroger, Payless, T.J. Maxx, and many more. Hopefully, an American MVNO will reach an agreement with Fujitsu to bring their phones to the states. A smaller carrier like Cricket could make a big splash by offering an Android phone before the big guns like AT&T and Verizon ever get with it.

Visit NTT Docomo's site for many other cool phones you can't buy in the US.

Dear Jared Fogle, Please Take My Android Money

Bobby Pineapples — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:44:48 +0000

Dear Jared,

I know you don’t run Subway, but you might as well. It was your inspiring weight loss of 245lbs that helped Subway become one of the fastest growing franchises in the world. Since Subway began advertising your story, their sales have more than doubled to 9 billion. You have done so much, but there is one more thing you can help me with. Please take my Android money.

Your ad campaign was laughed at by company executives, but a small group of regional stores still decided to run with it. Now I will share my ideas that might also make some giggle, but maybe they will inspire someone. With a continued focus on healthy living and innovation, Subway can once again double their sales. Utilizing new technology like the Google Android platform is key to engaging your current customers and attracting new ones at the same time. I see someone attempted a mobi site, but its pretty useless.

The first and most obvious idea involves online ordering from the mobile platform. You already support online orders in select stores, but you are missing a user friendly interface. With a phone like the T-Mobile G1, you could easily locate nearby stores, build your sandwich with the touch screen, send the payment online, and get driving directions to the store. If I could easily place my order and pay online, I would be more likely eat Subway.

Before the weight loss

Ordering food is just part of your new mobile strategy. I see Subway has a love of calories since you print them on every napkin. By tracking orders online, you can also track your calorie intake from Subway. But why stop there? Subway mobile could provide the calories information for all fast food places and other foods then allow you to keep a food journal. There are several applications like this in the Android Market, such as Calorie Counter. When users begin counting calories, they will further be encouraged to visit your restaurant vs the likes of McDonalds. Testing has also shown you can lose double the weight by keeping a food diary.

Now that users are ordering online and keeping food journals, the next logical step is to create your own social network. The site will be health and fitness related and allow Subway users to network with each other as they try to eat healthy and lose weight. Again, when people network like minded people they are more likely to reach their fitness goals with the increased support group.

Finally, once you gain control over your customers phones, Subway can send all their advertising campaigns directly to the customer. Your annual Scrabble game, would be a perfect fit for the mobile platform. Any other new promotion or coupon codes could be pushed out directly to our pockets. Allow us to opt in for location based specials that different franchises offer.

I could keep going, but I think you get my point. Subway is one of the largest franchises in the world, but there is still so much room for growth. The United States is one of the fattest nations in the world. My state Texas has 3 of the top 10 fattest cities. The majority need to lose weight and eating more Subway can only help. With your power and brand, things like a food diary and fitness community could change the lives of millions of Americans.

No fast service restaurant has delivered a compelling mobile experience. Will you be the one?

Cheers,
Bobby P.

["Please Take My Android Money" is a new weekly series focused on persuading select, big industry leaders to innovate in the mobile space and take advantage of the powerful Google Android platform.]

Dear Dana White, Please Take My Android Money

Bobby Pineapples — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:39:56 +0000

Dear Dana,

We met once and I know you are a man who likes to please his customers. I wish my Time Warner PPV was available in HD, but I realize even you can’t fix that problem. However, there is one thing you can do for me. Please take my Android money.

What the heck am I talking about? I’m one of your target customers, male 18-35. As you know, us kids love our YouTubes and mobile phones. I have watched several of your video blogs on my phone. As great as each episode is, I am not a satisfied UFC customer. I want more and I’m willing to pay for it.

I see you attempted a mobile website, but I must say it needs to be scrapped. Poor navigation provides a very unfriendly experience and you do not offer the content I want. Let me school you on a few things your premium mobile customers would take advantage of.

Please bring the full UFC Vault to the mobile platform. You already offer video on demand services. All you need is a user friendly interface and an improved payment method. I would easily be willing to spend .99 to stream a single fight to my phone. I like to watch old fights before I make my fantasy picks and I’m sure there are many others out there who like to recap old matches.

Speaking of fantasy sports, you could also release a mobile app that allows you to make your picks and view live results. Every now and then I forget to make my picks, but if I had an easy interface on my phone I would be more likely to play. My friends and I like to see how our points are adding up as we watch the fights live, but your server always lags out. Fans who watch UFC also want to play fantasy UFC, most of them just don’t know it yet. You need to make it more user friendly. Fantasy UFC only encourages our interest in the fights which increases PPV buys. It also encourages watching old UFC matchups which would increase your VOD buys.

The Android platform would also serve as a good way to sell merchandise during the events. As a fighter walks out to the cage, you could tap a button on your phone and buy his team’s shirt or hat. Tap another button and purchase the mp3 of his entrance music. Tap another button and preview his old fights. Tap another button and buy tickets for the next UFC event.

Another benefit of the mobile platform is using your Android device as a companion to watching the event. Easily pull up a fighters record and get detailed stats. See live punch stats after every round. Submit your own score card for each round. You already take txt votes for whos favored to win the main event. Why not poll us on every single round? Again, there are fantasy implications with this as well. You could also push out other updates during the fights including ads.

I could probably go on another 1000 words, but I think you get my point. The UFC is one of the premier international sports organizations out there. I think you already excel in so many ways and I want to see that trend continue. Take full advantage of the mobile platform and you will increase revenues, turn more viewers into fans, and continue to grow at a rapid pace.

No sports organization has delivered a compelling mobile experience. Will you be the one?

Cheers,
Bobby P.

["Please Take My Android Money" is a new weekly series focused on persuading select big industry leaders to innovate in the mobile space and take advantage of the powerful Android platform.]

Aevum Obscurum – 3 Reasons For Purchase

Bobby Pineapples — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:17:15 +0000

Since the Android Market launched paid apps this week, many users have had the chance to purchase and try out some new games. When the update finally hit my phone, my first purchase was Aevum Obscurum from Noble Master Games. I had enjoyed the demo for several hours when it came out and I was hungry for more.

Tutorial Mode

I’m not going to spend too much time breaking down the details of the game, because its the type you will either love or hate. It is a turn based strategy game of world domination. I played Risk as a child so I knew this game was going to be up my alley.

So far the full version has not dissappointed. The multiple scenarios and rule options allow greater difficulty than found on the demo. This game can easily eat up several hours of your day, but thankfully there is a save option. Allow me to highlight three reasons you should buy this game:

This is the best strategy game I have found on Android so far.
The developer Noble Master Games has a history of updating the PC/Mac version.
I want enough people to purchase this so we see multiplayer.

Me About to Die

In the Android Market, the game is off to a good start. It has been in the top spot and currently sits as the 2nd most purchased game. If you are a fan of strategy games, I suggest you try the demo then purchase the full game. We need to support the devs of the quality titles so they are encouraged to support their games and bring us new creations.

Torrents and Google Android

Bobby Pineapples — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:17:58 +0000

Torrents on a cell phone? Imagine the possibilities(both legal and illegal). You are standing in Best Buy browsing for a new DVD to purchase. What if instead of purchasing it, you could scan the UPC code and “rent it” for a lesser charge? By the time you made it home, the movie would be waiting for you on your PC, Xbox 360, PS3, iPhone, and more.

Everyone knows that if you give the customer more options for purchase, they are likely to convert and take advantage of it. This is exactly why we will see this feature coming soon to a phone near you. The technology already exists; we are just waiting for someone to type up the code and get legal to approve it. Allow me to demonstrate what is already available on the T-Mobile G1.

ShopSavvy is an application that allows you to scan any UPC and check online for better prices and local availability. In the latest version, you can even make the purchase right on your phone using Paypal. Amazon also allows 1-click purchases of physical goods and MP3s while browsing their site from a mobile device.

No Torrent clients have been developed for Android and I’m not really sure you would actually want that. If you were downloading torrent files directly to your phone this would use up a lot of CPU and battery power as well as eat a lot of bandwidth. The ideal solution would be to remotely control a torrent client from your mobile phone.

Downloading a torrent

To great joy I found remote control of torrents is currently possible on Google Android devices with the utorrent client available for PC and Mac. The default installation of uTorrent comes with a remote web user interface. All you need to do is turn on the WebUI feature, install the miniUI for mobile phones, forward the correct ports, and go to the login page your Android device.

Once you are logged in with the miniUI you have full control over your desktop client. You can browse all your torrent files, view active downloads, and add new torrents for download. Adding a torrent file is easily performed with Android’s built in copy and paste functions. You can also upload torrent files saved on your phone by using Opera mini.

The search options

So right now it is possible to:

Go to a retail store
Find a DVD you want to watch
Locate the torrent file
Start the download on your home PC

The only thing that is missing is the ease of use for the end user and the legal ability for purchase and download to other devices. The real question: who will put this feature in the customers hand first? Will it be a company like Big in Japan who develops Android software or will it be some hacker from The Pirate Bay?

Hands On With My Tracks for Google Android

Bobby Pineapples — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:50:39 +0000

When I first saw My Tracks in the Android Market, I quickly passed it over never thinking it was something I would find useful. Why do I need a program on my phone that records my GPS tracks? I already have a TomTom in my car. What is my phone going to offer me that I couldn’t already do? Who would want to look at my tracks if I recorded them?

Only two days have passed since I began using My Tracks and I found the answer to all my questions. My Tracks may appear simple at first, but the possibilities are endless when you discover the full potential waiting to be tapped. Read along as I detail the interface and share with you my experiences.

Default view with menu options

Walkthrough

When you first launch My Tracks, you will be greeted with a world map as your phone acquires a GPS fix. In my short time with the program, this normally takes 0-3 minutes. One press of the menu brings up the available options and with a tap of the thumb you can begin recording information. As you begin to move, an orange arrow will show your direction while a red tail shows the path. The display seems to keep the entire path visible on the screen while you are recording, but you have the option to move around the map by dragging it.

Tap on the screen and you are given two useful options. You can see detailed real time stats or view an elevation map. You can also toggle the satellite map to view geographical features which is valuable for outdoor activities. At any time during your recording you can insert waypoints or your current statistics. These are attached to your track and viewable by others after you have uploaded your map.

Real time stats

When you are finished with your trip, press stop recording to enter the track details. This is where you give your track a name and enter any additional comments. After saving the track, there are multiple options including send to a friend, upload to Google, or write to SD card. By uploading your track to Google you can also upload the statistics directly to Google Docs. This will generate a spreadsheet that you can continue to update over time. If you are recording any physical activity for training, you can analyze the results and make adjustments.

Another new feature launched with My Tracks is the ability to edit Google Docs directly from your Android device. Currently this only includes spreadsheets, but the other document forms are in development. From your phone, you can sort by row or column and edit each field. The interface is a bit limited for now, but expect expanded usability in the future.

Google Docs in Android

Possible Uses

Currently this application is marketed toward outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, or running but there is no limit to the ways this program will be utilized. It is great for outdoor activities because of the ability to record, share, and analyze right from the phone. No longer will you need to wait to get home, hook up a cable to your pc, or worry about installing software.

Send map to Google

I get excited when I start to explore the other potential uses for My Tracks. I live in a city where two major industries are tourism and outdoor sports. Corpus Christi has repeatedly been named “Birdiest City” in the nation and you could easily create a bird watching tour including waypoints of each location and details about the birds you could expect to find. Or imagine a course of the area beaches with a description of each one. A downtown hotel could create a map with directions to popular tourist destinations such as the USS Lexington or the Texas State Aquarium. Local businesses could create a map with all the popular seafood restaurants in the area.

Another way I used My Tracks was to record my driving routes for work. Google maps includes estimated drive times but they are often very conservative. By recording my own drive times and logging them, I am able to better determine my actual ETA when I travel out of town. I can also generate real time statistics of my driving without having to type in any information.

Real time elevation view

Conclusion

Google My Tracks is the easiest GPS tracking software I have ever used. The interface is easy to learn and you can begin using the program as soon as you install it. When you add the ability to share everything with friends or the web directly from your phone, I believe you have the best GPS tracking platform around. Best of all, the application is free and this is only the first release. Google has a history of updating their apps and adding new functionality. I look forward to an improved interface for Google Docs. I encourage you to download the app and give it a test drive.

I have included one of my test maps to demonstrate the waypoints and statistical information you can attach to any map.

View Larger Map

StumbleUpon Brings X-Rated Content to Android Market

Bobby Pineapples — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:22:55 +0000

Late last night I downloaded a new application in the Android Market from StumbleUpon. StumbleVideo allows you to “discover the best mobile video”. I had used the StumbleUpon toolbar so I was familiar with how their system works. Imagine my surprise when I was viewing soft core porn videos within minutes of opening the app.

One of the cleaner shots I captured...

I had read nudity on the Android Market was not allowed so I did a little research on their Developer Content Policy. The policy clearly states that no “pornography, obscenity, nudity or sexual activity” is allowed. It is noted that repeat offenders will have their account suspended.

Some of the content channels

Update: As of this morning it appears most of the offending content has been filtered. When you stumble for videos you will still get adult results, but the video will not actually play. There still appears to be quite a lot of adult content being linked from YouTube. I have seen no official statement from StumbleUpon yet about this incident, but if one is issued I will post it here. If you experienced any similar content please share your story with us.

Twitter Client Roundup for Android

Bobby Pineapples — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:37:22 +0000

Update: When I posted this review I was very new to Twitter. I plan on updating this story when the site launches and including more in depth information. In the mean time, you should be using Twidroid.

I have been a subscriber of many social sites over the years, but I had never tried Twitter until after I purchased my Android phone. I noticed very early on that the Android Market had several different applications for interacting with Twitter. Today I decided to download and test each one to see what appealed best for a new user.

The following are the 6 applications I was able to find in the market:

Twidroid

Twidroid
Downloads: 10,000-50,000 downloads
Version: 1.5.4
File size: 295KB
URL: http://twidroid.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/twidroid
nanotweeter

nanoTweeter
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
Version: 1.0.0
File size: 171KB
URL: http://nanoTweeter.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nanoTweeter
atweeter

aTweeter
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
Version: 1.6.0
File size: 96.92 KB
URL: http://code.google.com/p/atweeter/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/atweeter
twitli

Twitli
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
Version: 1.51
File size: 637KB
URL: http://twitli.com
Twitter: None
TwitterRide

TwitterRide
Downloads: 500-1,000
Version: 1.1.1
File size: 62.87KB
URL: http://twitterride.net
Twitter: None
twittoo

Twittoo
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
Version: 1.0.1.3
File size: 693KB
URL: None
Twitter: None

As you can see, only 3 of the applications actually have a Twitter feed for you to follow the development and new releases. It should come as no surprise to learn that these are the most frequently updated. Since I already spent all day messing with these apps, I’ll spare you all the criticism of the poor apps and force closes and get right to the point.

Twidroid is the best Android client for Twitter hands down. As a new Twitter user, I found the program easy to setup and the user interface is very clean. At the moment I am writing this, I have uninstalled all the clients except Twidroid which will remain my client of choice.

Here is a summary of the features for Twidroid:

Full-featured twitter client
GPS location support
Directly integrated photo-posting from cam or disk via phodroid.com
Directly integrated search through all public tweets
Background notifications for replies & direct messages
Auto layout for landscape and portrait mode
Custom alert ringtones
API to send tweets from your android application

You can find the latest release notes for Twidroid here.

The Seven Year Leap

Bobby Pineapples — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:01:21 +0000

My love affair with cell phones began 7 years ago at the age of 19. I purchased the Samsung SPH-N200 and signed up with Sprint. I had just moved into my first apartment and this was my main source of communication with the outside world. Little did I know how this technology would change the way I lived.

I was employed by CompUSA at the time so I was lucky enough to get one of those $15-unlimited-everything plans. My job also allowed me to “swap” my phone whenever a new model was released. The first upgrade came when “color screen” was the main selling point. Over the next 3 years I owned just about every model phone that Sprint released. The form factors shrunk and the screen resolution improved, but there were no killer-apps or features that come to mind.

My First Phone

Having owned 30+ phones I began to get disappointed with the lack of innovation. Each time I got a new phone I would have the tedious process of moving over my contacts along with learning the new interface. Then I would discover how some phones lacked the basic functionality of my older phones, made years ago, and this frustrated me more.

Being a child of the Internet, I did see the potential though. I remember my dad tethering his analog phone to his laptop and browsing the web. This was not the intended purpose of the phone, but it worked. Soon the carriers began locking down and blocked this functionality.

Little by little more web features began to come to the phones I was using. You could browse several WAP sites inside your carriers “walled garden” but the overall experience sucked. There was no freedom and that is what turned me off to the mobile web.

So I waited and I waited for some company to break the mold and give me the freedom I desired and change cell phones forever. That day came January 9, 2007, when Steve Jobs officially unveiled the iPhone. However, I ran into two problems:

I was not a customer of AT&T
I could not afford the phone

The iPhone would go on to win Time Magazine’s Invention of the Year. There were many critics of the iPhone (including myself) but you can not ignore how it turned the industry upside down. In late 2007, Google followed suit by establishing the Open Handset Alliance.

When I first read the Google news, I knew right then I would buying one of these phones. I had tossed around the idea of switching to AT&T, but I was not a Mac user and I had never owned an Apple product. On the other hand, I was signed up and using just about every Google service available. When the rumors started trickling out that T-Mobile would be the first provider, I was sold being that I was a current customer.

One year later, I pre-ordered the HTC G1 and was one of the first to get mine delivered. I am a huge nerd, but it was hard to hold back the excitement when I got my UPS tracking number. Several days later I would come home to the white envelope and open up the next chapter of my life.

Call me crazy for placing such significane on a single phone, but the Android platform represents a huge leap over anything before its time. It will change the way we organize and access all information. If we have come this far in seven years, I find it really hard to imagine what device will be in my pocket seven years from now.

If you would like to share a story about your path to Android, please contact us and we will consider it for posting.

Android and Me » Bobby Pineapples

Fujitsu – The Possibilities Are Infinite With Android

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