Android Apps

Since I am extremely busy lately, I have decided to utilize my Android phone to help me keep updated on things that I am interested in.

US News Wars

The first app I wrote is a somewhat simple app that displays the latest headlines from various news sources around the Internet. While planning for the app, I focused on these things:

  • Needed to be fast... Extremely fast
  • Show various "points of view" covering the News. I hate propaganda, especially special interest controlling the news.
  • Provide an easy way to stay up on what is happening in the Government

US News Wars is what I came up with. First, it is extremely fast. I perform all the bandwidth extensive tasks on a server backend and just serve text to the phone.

It provides all sides of the news. I decided to include Liberal, Conservative, Alternative, Mainstream and Foreign views of what is happening in the U.S.

Finally, I provide links to what the House and Senate are scheduled to vote on, as well as what is on the President's desk to sign. This is kind of a pain to research on a phone, but it does help.

Hope you enjoy using it.

The Android OS

Yes, I finally got a "smart" phone, and of course being a GNU/Linux guy I grabbed an Android based phone - the LG Optimus V (Vigin Mobile). If you are looking for a smartphone and don't want to pay the outrageous prices from some carriers, I pay $25 month for unlimited data and 300 phone minutes (my wife pays $60 for unlimited everything).

The phone is awesome (and apparently popular) - unfortunately at this time, it is very hard to find and if you do find one it is usually more than the retail price (of $150). Good Luck if you are looking.

Now that I have an Android (v. 2.2.1) phone, I will start writing articles & How-tos related to android and put them here. This means of course that my phone will hopefully get the 2.3.3 update so I can easily take screenshots without rooting the device.