Archive for May, 2010


Android App Review: ASTRO File Manager

Filed Under: Android by lukenova — View Comments
May 24, 2010


ASTRO File Manager
Price: Free!
Developer: Metago
Official App Webpage: http://www.metago.net/astro/fm/index.php

ASTRO adds something that, in my opinion, should really be built in to the Android OS. That is, it adds the ability to do basic file management. The app gives you access to the complete linux file system of the phone. For a majority of users, the sdcard folder is the only folder that will be used. Folders can be created, renamed, and deleted. Files can be renamed, moved, copied, and deleted. As you can see in the picture, there are icons beside each file or folder. Image files automatically display a thumbnail of the image as their icon. Different file types such as PDF and DOC have a unique icon. Also it can open and extract files from .zip archives.

On the main menu of the app, there is an interesting Tools menu. Within the Tools, you will first find Application Manager/Backup. Within this tool, you can see all apps that are installed on your android device. You can then uninstall, launch, or backup the app to the SD card. You can also see a lot of details about the app that most users (including me) have no use for.

Then there is a SD Card Usage tool. This is a good way to find out what is taking up the most space on your SD card. I personally found a giant file I had remaining on my card that I no longer had a use for. It tells exactly how many files are in each folder and the total percentage of the card space that is used my files in that folder.

Finally, there is a process manager. It tells how much memory and CPU that each running process is using.

One feature of this program that some people might find useful is that there is a built in SFTP client within this app. I have no SFTP server to connect to, so I was unable to test this myself.

ASTRO stands for Android System for Tools, Reporting and Organization. The ASTRO file manager is a very handy app to have on any android device. Its not an app that I use every day, but it is one that I use any time when I need to open/copy/move/delete files. Its very handy to be able to do file management on the phone without having to connect the phone to a computer.

Discuss this in the comments below or on my forums.
See more screen shots at http://www.androidtapp.com/astro-file-manager/

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Things That Annoy Me #003: People who speak LOUDLY on phones in public

Filed Under: Things That Annoy Me by lukenova — View Comments
May 23, 2010

Cell phones are a great advancement in technology. They allow us to have our phones most anywhere and keep in touch with people wherever we are. However, some people take advantage of this luxury a little too much.
For example, I don’t need to know that your uncle is in the hospital or that your aunt just had a colonoscopy. And I for sure don’t want to know how many people your crazy brother-in-law has slept with…

This happens a lot, everywhere, I’m sure. But it happens specifically a lot to me in the break room at work. There are a few people who, I am convinced, think that they HAVE TO YELL in order for the person on the other end of the phone to hear them. When I am in the break room, I am in there to get a break or a meal in. I’m also in there to get away from the drama that the customers and other associates bring on the sales floor. I really don’t want to be drawn into someone else’s drama by having no choice but to overhear their conversation because they are basically broadcasting it to the entire store.

Basically, what I’m saying…..is that people need to use a little bit of their manners and their “inside voices” when speaking on the phone in public places.

I rarely talk on the phone. But when I do, I make sure to excuse myself if I’m in a crowd of people or if I’m in a place like the break room at work, I step out into the hall. I for sure don’t discuss my personal business out in the open where just anyone can hear. I wish more people would follow my example on this.

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Google Makes First Interactive Doodle – PacMan

Filed Under: News by lukenova — View Comments
May 21, 2010

On May 22, 1980, quite possibly the most successful game ever made was released in Japan. That’s right. Today is the 30th anniversary of PacMan. To celebrate, Google has made their first interactive doodle. (Google doodle: the different ways they display their logo on http://google.com) From 11am Eastern Time today, for the next 48 hours, PacMan can be played on Google’s homepage.

As you will notice, the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button has been replaced with an insert coin button. If you click that, the game will start. I also noticed a nice easter egg. If you click insert coin again, you can play in two player mode. PacMan will use the arrow keys and Mrs. PacMan will use the traditional MMORPG “WASD” keys for control.

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**UPDATE! They Fixed it!** DriveSafe.ly TOS FAIL!

Filed Under: Android, News by lukenova — View Comments
May 10, 2010

**Editor’s Note: Take a look at the bottom of this post to see how they fixed this.**

Take a look at the terms of service here. http://www.drivesafe.ly/tos/
**Note: This link now reflects the fixed terms of service. See below to see the part that was offensive before they fixed it.**

Specifically this part.

1e. DriveSafe.ly is a free application that can potentially saves lives, and the user (you) agrees to help promote our application in a positive manner by telling friends about our application.

Users (you) also agree to become a fan of DriveSafe.ly on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and post at least one comment on our fan page and/or tweet about us. Posts on our Facebook page, Tweets about us or blog posts that are lewd or libelous toward our company will be removed immediately, and iSpeech reserves the right to pursue monetary restitution and damages as a result of inflammatory comments.

If you do not agree to become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and/or spread the word about our application, please uncheck the box bellow that says “Facebook Fan DriveSafe.ly” and/or “Follow on Twitter” and kindly uninstall our application. If you accidentally fanned us on Facebook and/or followed us on Twitter and are not comfortable endorsing our app, remove yourself from our fan list and/or un-follow us on Twitter.

So by using this program, you agree to promote it in a positive manner? What? What if the program sucks? This is not something I could ever agree to. Also, you agree to be a fan on facebook and follow them on twitter. It would be alright if this was a suggestion. Or even if they gave an OPT IN option in the setup of the program. But from what I’ve heard, the program automatically follows itself on your twitter and automatically fans itself on your facebook. How does this happen? Well, when you’re logged in to facebook and twitter in your phone, there are hooks deep into the operating system and this program uses those hooks to do things without your knowledge. This, in my opinion, is completely deplorable. There is no reason that an app developer should ever make an app do this.

It also states that you must post as least one positive comment about the app. Well, that’s great. But I never installed the app. I never agreed to these terms of service and I hope this company goes completely downhill. They say “…blog posts that are lewd or libelous toward our company will be removed immediately, and iSpeech reserves the right to pursue monetary restitution and damages as a result of inflammatory comments.” Well, they can’t take this post off of my blog and I hope they send me a cease and desist letter because all I’m doing is calling out the stupidity of something in their own TOS published on their website. They have been publicly shamed on Buzz Out Loud and I hope many other tech journalists do the same. This company needs to be taken out of business unless they take this clause out of their TOS completely.

**UPDATE!**
As of about 4:30pm central time today, DriveSafe.ly has amended their terms of service to fix the offending clause. See below to see the amendment.

1e. DriveSafe.ly is a free application that can potentially saves lives, and the user (you) agrees to help promote our application in a positive manner by telling friends about our application.

We encourage Users (you) to become a fan of DriveSafe.ly on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and post comments on our fan page and/or tweet about the application and/or safe driving. Posts on our Facebook page, Tweets about us or blog posts that are advertisements, spam, include lewd content or are libelous toward our company will be removed immediately, and iSpeech reserves the right to pursue remedies and damages as a result of inflammatory comments.

If you do not agree to become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and/or spread the word about our application, please uncheck the box bellow that says “Facebook Fan DriveSafe.ly” and/or “Follow on Twitter”. If you accidentally fanned us on Facebook and/or followed us on Twitter and wish to remove yourself as a fan, you are free to remove yourself from our fan list and/or un-follow us on Twitter.

Whereas it used to say you agree to become a fan on facebook and follow us on twitter, now it says we encourage you. Before, it said that if you don’t agree to be a facebook fan or twitter follower, to please “kindly uninstall the app.” Now that part is gone completely. I have to say it was horrible of them to have that crap in their TOS to start with, but it is great to know that some companies actually listen to what people are saying about them on the internet!

Since this is acceptable now, here is a review for the android version: http://www.androidtapp.com/drivesafe-ly/
and for the blackberry version: http://crackberry.com/drivesafe-ly-reads-your-emails-and-sms-out-loud

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Forums?

Filed Under: Uncategorized by lukenova — View Comments
May 9, 2010

I went through my 1and1 hosting a little while back and cleared out all the databases except for a few that are running this site and maybe one other site in my hosting. I got rid of all the old forum databases. It was kinda bittersweet. Looking back on a lot of memories from a lot of years worth of posting and such. But they were all overrun by spam bots and everything else. Plus, nobody seemed to post on them much, plus I didn’t even go to them that much myself.

I’m writing this post because I’m wondering if anyone misses them. And also, i’m wondering if I started back a new set of forums, what should the URL be? If anyone can come up with an awesome URL I should buy to make a forum site on, I will purchase that URL and set up some new forums. Feel free to post on the comments to this post, send me a message on facebook, email me ( lukenova – at – gmail – dot – com), send me a text message (870 974 3949), or hit me up on twitter @lukenova with a message.

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Things That Annoy Me #002: Where CAN I get it?

Filed Under: Things That Annoy Me by lukenova — View Comments
May 7, 2010

As most of you reading this know, I work at Walmart. I am currently a sales associate in the electronics department. The number one question I’m asked is “Do you have *something*?”

If I say no, more often then not, the very next question is

Where can I get it?
Or
Do you know if *some other store name* would have it?

I work at walmart. I know about all the products we sell in electronics. I can tell you with about 99% accuracy whether or not we have a particular product at a particular time. However… I DO NOT work for Best Buy, Target, Radio Shack, Kmart, Office Max, or Office Depot. I have no idea what they carry. I have no idea if they have a particular product in stock or not. I have no way to look into their inventory systems. And no, I most definitely will NOT call them for you.

That is the response I would like to give when customers ask me if I know where they can find something that isn’t at walmart. And one of these days, when I’m good and ready to quit, I just might.

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Things That Annoy Me #001

Filed Under: Things That Annoy Me by lukenova — View Comments
May 6, 2010

Firstly, I have to give credit Kathryn for giving me the idea to do this. She was listing off things that annoy her a few days ago at work and I decided that I have those lists too and I could blog about it and perhaps by venting it here, I’d keep from venting it at people.

Now….what is this exactly? This is a series on my blog that I assume will be a semi-permanent addition. I’m not going to promise daily, but I do have the next few days already planned out.

And now, our feature presentation.

Things That Annoy Me #001: Vehicles wrapped completely in an advertisement

I understand signs on buildings. I get billboards. I can even understand semi truck trailors plastered with a company logo. But I just don’t see why anyone would feel the need to take a regular personal vehicle and have it completely covered with an advertisement for their business.

I see ads everywhere. But when I’m walking into work at walmart, I don’t need to be inundated with an ad for family denistry or told that all paws lead to some vet office. I don’t want to see these. Please, people, if you have your own business, DO NOT do this. Carry business cards. Wear shirts with your logo. Even get a bumpersticker. But you just like like a complete tool when you’re driving a vehicle completely covered in your business crap.

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Movie Review: Kick-Ass

Filed Under: Movie Reviews by lukenova — View Comments
May 4, 2010

Official Description from Yahoo! Movies:

Dave Lizewski, a comic-book fanboy, decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick-Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl and her father, Big Daddy.

I thought this movie was good, but a little bit strange. It starts out showing a guy in a suit falling off a building into a car. That’s no spoiler; it’s in one of the trailers. But then it goes on to focus on a teenager and his group of friends. They are the “outcasts” in school with no hope of getting girls or hanging out with the “cool” crowd. One of the places these kids tend to hang out is a comic book store. The main character decides that he can become a superhero himself.

We then see a rather hilarious few minutes where he orders his suit, goes out and tries to fight crime, and gets totally demolished. He talks the medics into trashing his suit so nobody knows about it. He then orders another suit and tries again.

One good point that was made about this time in the movie is that when people see something bad happening such as a robbery they just sit there and watch it and do nothing to try to help or stop it. For example, while Kick-Ass is fighting against three supposed bad guys, a kid walks by. Kick-Ass asks him to call 911 and instead he goes into a restaurant and tells everyone to come and check out what’s happening. Nobody ever calls 911. This is the only point in the movie where any good points are made.

The rest of the movie basically just goes into a lot of killing, mostly done by an 11 year old girl (Hit Girl). The idea of this is rather disturbing, but it was funny in the movie. There was a “Matrix-Lobby-Scene” type scenario towards the end that was pretty awesome and ended with a bazooka and gatling guns attached to a jet pack.

There is a lot of cursing done by kids in this movie, so if that offends you, I wouldn’t recommend seeing it. Oh, and also, McLovin is in it. (If you don’t know who that is, go watch Superbad. Now.)

Overall, I am going to give this movie a 4/5. I went in expecting it to be a funny movie with no real value other than pure entertainment and that’s what I got. I wasn’t expecting quite as much violence. It was funny, but there could have probably been less gore. It would have been rated R for language anyway. There wasn’t much reason for it to have as much violence as it did.

If you’re looking for a funny movie with a bit of violence and kids cussing, then this is the movie for you.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @lukenova for more insights into my daily life…

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