It's always cool to see science fiction become reality. One of the latest tech gadgets to bring the ideas of writers like Bradbury and Asimov to life is Google Glass, Google's augmented reality mobile device. In late April, Google announced that the first version was being shipped to certain lucky users who had signed up for it, leaving the rest of us to wonder exactly how the device will work. Well, wonder no more.

Google recently posted a video on YouTube giving a quick run-through of how to use Glass. Before we go over how users will interact with this new tech, here's a brief overview of the project.

What is Glass? Project Glass was introduced by Google in early 2012, and is essentially a wearable computer (running a version of Android) you wear on your head like glasses. Indeed, the shape of the device at first glance resembles a pair of spectacles: there are the usual two arms along with nose grips. However, instead of glass, there is a mini screen or HUD (Head Up Display) that sits just above your right eye. The HUD displays information much like a smartphone screen, and you can interact with the computer and the Internet using voice commands.

Currently, wearer's with prescription glasses can't actually use the device, but Google has confirmed that the device, if you can call it that, will eventually have lenses much like a normal pair of glasses.

So, how does it work? The video (watch it here), uploaded by Google, sheds a little light on how a user will interact with this device. For example there is a touch-sensitive area on the arm of the device which extends from your temple to just above your right ear. Tapping this will wake it from sleep mode, and display a clock on the screen which sits just above your right eye.

The clock is your home screen, and looks similar to the clock on the lock screen of almost every Android device. You can scroll to the left (by touching the pad near your ear and moving it towards your ear. This will display upcoming information like the weather, flights, or events.

Touching the pad and swiping towards your eye will display information from previous uses like messages, pictures and videos. Tapping on the screen will activate that relevant information. For example, if you are looking at a brief overview of an event, you can tap the device to bring up more information.

One of Google's previous videos showed how you can also interact with Glass by using voice commands. Saying, "Ok glass, take a picture." Will take bring up the camera and take a picture of what you're looking at. You can also ask questions to have glass search Google Now by saying something like, "Ok Glass, What is the traffic like?" To bring up a Google Map with the latest traffic highlighted.

Will it be useful for business? While this is undoubtedly one of the coolest products of the past couple of years, the actual usefulness of the device for business remains to be seen. For now, this device will likely be the domain of app developers and extreme early adopters. But this device, like the smartphone, will likely be incredibly disruptive when it's launched for the masses.

What do you think of Google Glass? Would you buy one if you had the opportunity? Let us know.

When it comes to smartphones, there are a multitude of reasons as to why users choose them. One of the popular reasons is because of the apps which bring functionality to the phone and allow business users to increase their efficiency. For Android phone users, you have an app that can help provide you with some extra information during phone calls.

Call Notes is an app for Android that adds notes to the phone interface while you are making a call. When you receive a call the note, which you can attach to the caller's profile, is shown on the screen under their picture or the call icon. The note can be moved anywhere on the screen and edited during the call if you purchase the Pro version.

Why is this app useful? If you make business calls on your Android device and would like to have some information about the caller on hand, this app could be a good tool. The Pro version also allows users to add a company name and a title which can also help. Being able to create notes while in a call is also useful. For example If the caller says something, or you agree on something and you don't have any paper handy you can add a note.

How does it work? You can download either the free or Pro version from Google Play and install it on your phone. To add a note to a contact you:

1. Open the app and select Edit Note.
2. Scroll to the contact you would like to add a note to and tap on their name.
3. Tap on the empty black area and your keyboard should pop up. Enter the note and press Save.
4. The note should show up the next time you call/receive a call from that contact.

If you get the pro version, you can enable the editing of messages during a call by opening the app and selecting Settings followed by Buttons. Tap on Edit note button so that the box is ticked and you will be able to edit notes during the call.

Another interesting feature is you can add a button to the note that will enable you to easily access your phone's calendar during a call. This can be a great help, in that you can easily schedule a meeting while on the call. To add the calendar button to a call note: Open the app and press Settings. Tap on Buttons and select Calendar button from the menu that opens.

This is just one of the numerous functionality based apps that can be added to make your Android phone even more useful. What are your favorite business oriented apps? Let us know. And if you're looking for more information on how an Android device can be used to improve your job, contact us today.

Android users are most likely to be invested in the Google ecosystem, using a wide variety of Google apps. One of the more popular apps is Chrome, which is available for both Android and desktop. Being Google, these two versions can sync information between themselves, allowing for the same experience across devices. There has recently been an update to the Android version that introduces even more features still.

Here's a brief overview of the two new features added in the recent Chrome Beta for Android update. Take note that there are two versions of Chrome for Android - Stable and Beta. If you search for 'Chrome' in the Google Play store, you will find the stable version. The Beta can be found here (Google Play link).

This version contains features that Google would like users to test before eventually integrating them with the stable version of Chrome. To most users, there is no visual difference, however those with Beta installed will get access to new features before others.

Autofill and Password sync The update introduced one useful feature that business users need to be aware of. This centers around the idea that you have Chrome installed on your computer and have linked it to the Google account you use for your phone. You can 'Sign into Chrome' on your desktop by clicking on the three bars in the top right-hand corner and selecting Sign into Chrome and entering your account information.

This will sync Chrome with the version on your Android device, and also bring over all of the autofill information from the desktop version. If you've entered information on a form on your desktop, entering similar information on a form on your phone will trigger Chrome to automatically fill in that information.

A secondary feature is that if you have had Chrome remember your passwords, they will now be synced on your phone. While this is convenient, it isn't a good idea to have Chrome remember your passwords, as it just makes it easier for hackers to get hold of your information.

By default, these two options are turned on. You can, and should, turn this feature off by:

• Opening the browser on your phone.
• Pressing the three grey squares in the top right and selecting Settings
• Tapping on Save passwords and sliding the blue bar that says On to Off.

Data compression steps on the gas The second feature introduced in the new version of Chrome Beta is data compression. This is a neat little function that increases the speed with which browser data is transmitted from and to the browser on your phone. This is a big benefit to users who have a mobile data plan, as the amount of data used to load a website is decreased, and subsequently, your mobile bill.

By default, data compression isn't activated, but can be by:

1. Opening Chrome Beta on your phone
2. Entering chrome://flags and selecting Enable Data Compression Proxy
3. Relaunching the app.

Google has noted that the data used to load websites could be reduced by as much as 50%, which will result in either lower data bills or the ability to use more data. You can see how much data is being saved by entering chrome://net-internals and tapping Bandwidth. There should be a counter of how much data you have used and saved.

These two features are useful but it is advisable to be aware of the password saving option. If you would like to download this app, you can find it here. If you would like to learn more about Android in the office, give us a shout, we can help.

Of the two major mobile operating systems, Android is heralded as being more open, as you have access to the phone operating system code. Users are encouraged to tinker with their phones by installing apps that make their phone unique to them. While there are a number of ways to tailor the OS, users are fairly limited at managing phone calls and texts.

If you are looking for an app to better manage your calls and texts, check out Sanity.

Sanity has a number of excellent features Android users, and people who get a lot of calls, will find useful. Some of these include:

• Record a call - If you are constantly using your phone for business, or talking with clients and would like a way to remember what was said, this app allows you to record phone calls. They will be stored as a format that can be read by computers and phones alike. Of course, you will want to let the caller know that the conversation is being recorded.
• Caller or SMS announcement - Sometimes you are in a place where you can't look at your screen to see who is calling before answering. This app has a feature that will speak the name of the caller, so you know who it is on the other end. This feature also works for text messages, and will say the name of the text sender.
• The ability to block calls and SMS - If you keep getting telemarketers calling you, or spam texts, you can create a blocked call and SMS list which the app will not allow through.
• Urgent call list - There are likely one or two people that you always answer the phone for, and if your phone is on silent, you could miss their call. With Sanity you can create an urgent call list that will ignore current phone settings and allow the phone to ring (only for people on the urgent call list).
• Automatic answer and loudspeaker - If you are driving, on a train, or in a situation where you can't otherwise answer your phone, Sanity can be set up to automatically answer your calls. You can also configure it to turn on loudspeaker automatically as well.

The interesting thing about this app is that almost every feature has advanced options that allow you to really tailor your phone's calling and SMS features. There are a nearly endless amount of ways you can use the app, and employees or business owners who use Android devices will definitely benefit from it, if they want more control over their calls and texts.

The best thing is, the app is free, although if you like it, you can chose to donate to the developer. If you're interested in learning more about Sanity, you can download it from the Google Play store here, or you can get in touch with us. We would be happy to discuss how Android devices can make your day easier.

The calendar has rolled over and for many it's time to look forward. 2013 is a promising year for tech, especially in the mobile field. Towards the end of 2012, Google's mobile platform Android appeared to be growing and increasing in popularity. Many users who will be replacing older phones this coming year are curious as to how Android is actually doing, and an increasing number of them may well make the switch. So what state is Android in for the year ahead?

Here's a spotlight on Android at the beginning of 2013.

Distribution by the numbers Since 2009 there have been 11 different major versions of the OS released, with the current being 4.2 (Jelly Bean). As of January 3, 2013, the percentage of devices (according to Google) using the two versions of Jelly Bean is around 10.5%.

Looking at the numbers, 4.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich) has slightly over 29% of total users, while 2.3 (Gingerbread) has nearly 48% of users. In other words, nearly half of Android users still use an OS from 2010 - Gingerbread was released in 2010 with a major update in February 2011.

These numbers come from the Android developer's website, and offer an interesting snapshot into the more technical side of the OS. Overall, they show a fragmented market. Compare it to previous figures however, and you can see that the gap is slowly closing. It is highly unlikely though that Android will see Apple-like iOS version adoption rates anytime soon.

This fragmentation does hamstring users a bit, as many manufacturers are slow to release updates and some carriers block updates completely. On the upside, it forces developers to develop apps that are compatible with different OS versions to get the most users possible.

Apps, apps and more apps! Many users view Apple's App store as superior. While it's true that developers often release their apps for Apple users first, this is changing, with many developers now releasing apps simultaneously on both platforms.

In fact, back in October, Google Play (Android's app store) pulled even with Apple's App store - both stores have about the number of apps available, and according to The Sociable will have one million apps before Apple does.

A quick view of the Google Play store shows that many of the most popular iPhone apps are also available for Android, making the "Apple has better apps debate" less of a moot point.

What this means for the phone buyer in 2013 Android is currently in a bit of a conundrum: Developers are hesitant to invest in high-quality apps because of a lower usage rate compared with Apple, while users are hesitant to buy because of a perceived lack of high quality apps and lack of update support.

Google started to make steps in 2012 to turn this around. One of the major steps was the release of the Nexus tablet line. The Nexus 7, a 7 inch tablet, was released at more than USD$100 cheaper than the iPad and has seen fantastic sale rates. Similarly, Samsung released the S III which gives the iPhone a serious run for its money. Beyond that, features released in Jelly Bean make the OS more user friendly.

Combine this with the momentum of Google Play and the growing number of quality apps, and you already have a viable platform. If you are worried about the lack of updates you do have options. One of the more popular ones is to purchase a Google Nexus product. This is Google's 'Vanilla Android' and receives OS updates within a few days of their release, not to mention that the hardware is top of the line at release.

If you are in the market for a new phone this year, Android device is a great choice. To learn more about how you can integrate Android into your daily routine, please contact us.

In today's world, individualism is striven for and encouraged. If this is true then why do all of our mobile devices essentially look the same on the outside? From Apple to Samsung, they all look similar. This has led to users expressing themselves through their home screens and apps. Admittedly, this is a lot easier on an Android device, it just takes a bit of tinkering.

Here's how you can customize your home screen. Please be aware that this article is written for devices running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and later. Older versions are similar, and differences have been noted where needed.

Wallpaper it up Android offers three different ways to customize your wallpaper/background:

1. Gallery: This option allows you to pick a picture you have taken and apply it as your phone's wallpaper. The images can be stored on your phone's memory, cloud albums or Picasa/Google+ account.
2. Wallpaper: If you don't have any pictures in your Gallery, or prefer to use one provided by the manufacturer you can select this option. Note, the wallpapers available to you will be different depending on what company made the phone.
3. Live Wallpapers: Live Wallpapers are similar to Wallpapers - they are made by the phone's manufacturer - but these have been animated. For example, there's one that simulates water drops in a pond when you tap the screen.

Whatever you set as your background will be synced with your Google account, and should transfer to any other Android device you sign into using the same account. If you chose a device specific background, these won't transfer over. To set the background navigate to an empty home screen on your device and press and hold on the screen. You should be given the option to change the background which will be applied to all of your device's home screens. Note: This will vary depending on the manufacturer.

Folders: I choose you On most Android phones, the apps you download and install are accessed through the App Drawer. You can create shortcuts to these apps which can be placed on the home screens for quick access. This can be done by opening your App Drawer (usually a grey circle with six squares) finding the app you want, then pressing and holding it for a second or two. The App Drawer will close and you will be able to place the icon on the home screen.

You can move icons around on the home screen by pressing and holding them until the phone vibrates, then moving them where you want. Moving to either side of the screen will switch to the home screen to the left or right. You can also put similar app icons into folders by picking one and dragging it on top of the other. These apps will be placed into a folder, which can be renamed if you open the folder and press on the name.

Widgets and icons

A major part of the 'Android experience' is widgets. Widgets are essentially small apps that often show important information. For example, there's the Gmail widget that will show your new emails right on the home screen. There are a ton of widgets, and many apps have widgets as well.

To access widgets press the App Drawer icon and select Widgets from the top of the screen. Pick the widget you like, long-press on the icon and drag it to where you would like it to go on your home screen. On older versions of Android, you can press on a blank part of any home screen and a list should pop-up, allowing you to add widgets.

If you can't find a widget on your phone, a quick search of the Google Play store will return lots of widgets. After you download and install them, they should be in the Widgets section of the App Drawer. You just have to drag and drop them onto the home screen.

These are just three ways to customize your Android device's home screen, in fact, there are many more ways to customize your phone. One of the more popular ways is to install launchers. Launchers are programs that emulate another Android device's home screen. Say you have an HTC device, but don't like the look of the home screens, you can install a launcher to completely change it. One of the most popular launchers is Go Launcher which allows you to install themes, new layouts and even new buttons.

For some great examples of just how customizable Android's layout is, you should check out LifeHacker's Featured Home Screen page. What's your favorite layout? Let us know.

Benchmarks are an important part of any industry, they allow companies to have a base from which they can compare, or operate off of. When it comes to smartphones, there are a number of different benchmarks available. The main one for Android devices is Google's Nexus line - devices that Google thinks are the ultimate 'Android experience'.

This year, there are two new Nexus devices to tempt eager buyers. There's the Nexus 4, a 4.7 inch phone made by LG and the Nexus 10, a 10 inch tablet made by Samsung. Here's a brief overview of the two devices based on the five most important aspects most business users look at when looking for a new phone.

The display The display is one of the most important components of any mobile device, as it's what enables us to use it. As such, development companies are pushing the envelope in terms of resolution. The Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inch display with a 1280X768 (HD) screen. The display is on par with other devices currently available, and many reviews have noted that the display is the best they've seen in midday sun.

Samsung is well known for their displays, take a look at a ES900 TV next time you're in an electronics store and it's hard not to stare in amazement at the picture clarity, not to mention the thinness. This quality transfers over to the Nexus 10. The display is 10.1 inches, and has a resolution of 2560X1600 - the same resolution as the new 13 inch MacBook-pro Retina display.

Another noteworthy point related to the display of these devices is that they both use Corning's Gorilla Glass 2, which make them considerably more scratch resistant than older devices.

Battery life For business users, the amount of time they can use a mobile device before needing to charge it is crucial. The battery on the Nexus 4 should be powerful enough to get you through the day with moderate usage. Reviews are coming back that the device is actually fairly poor in terms of battery life. According to engadget, "our standard video rundown test, which consists of looping a movie at 50 percent brightness with WiFi on (but not connected) and normal pull notifications for email and social media, (the Nexus 4) lasted for five hours and 18 minutes before the battery died." Most business users will likely be charging this phone at the office.

The Nexus 10, when subjected to the same test by engadget writers, lasted almost seven and a half hours. This isn't bad, considering the display, but it isn't great either, almost every tablet of the same size lasted longer. The late 2012 iPad lasted for just over 11 hours for example.

Processing power The faster the processor, the better the apps will run. The Nexus 4 has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor which is comparable to other high-end devices currently available. This processor should be more than capable at handling all you can throw at it, and likely will for at least the next year or two.

The Nexus 10 has a slightly more powerful 1.7GHz quad-core processor, which is currently one of the fastest processors available for mobile devices. As with the Nexus 4, the tablet should be able to hold its own for at least the next few years.

The OS As is tradition, the release of new Nexus devices means a new version of Android. This year, Google has released 4.2, however, it's an incremental update rather than a completely new version of Android - 4.2 is still called Jelly Bean. The new update brings a number of features including a small update to the layout, a new camera app and a new keyboard where you can swipe your finger over the letters to spell words.

The biggest new feature in 4.2 is the ability to set multiple users. Each user gets their own private environment with different apps, settings and files. The downside to the multi-user environment is that it's only available for tablets at this time. It will likely be available for smartphones in a later update.

Price and availability When it comes to picking devices for use at the office, price will play a large part of which device business users select. While the Nexus 7 tablet, released earlier this was ridiculously cheap considering it's specs, both of these devices carry on this trend.

The Nexus 4 is available in a 8GB or 16GB versions for USD$299 and USD$349 respectively. Both versions come unlocked and can support nearly every network around the world. The only downside is, there's no LTE. So if you upgraded to a LTE plan in the past few months, you may want to give this one a pass. Does the price seem a bit high? The next cheapest device with similar specs is USD$450. Based on price alone, this phone is worth it, and if you live in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany or Spain, you can pick one up now. Other countries will likely have to wait a couple of months.

The Nexus 10 is available in either 16GB or 32GB for USD$399 or USD$499, respectively. While this is a fairly large chunk of change, the iPad starts at USD$100 more. Like the 4, the Nexus 10 is, comparatively, a good deal when looking at price alone.

All Nexus devices can be found on the Google Nexus Store.

Ultimately, are these devices worth it? If you're looking for a new Android device that isn't too costly and don't want to bother being locked into a contract where you can't replace your phone. these devices are a good to great choice. Wondering how they will work in your organization? Contact us, we may have a solution.

Technology has made our lives infinitely easier. We no longer have to rely on our memory to store important information such as phone numbers, just enter the digits onto your phone, hit save and it’s there at the press of a button. There are two downsides to this though as we have come to rely on the phone to store our numbers and when it dies, we stand the chance of losing all our contacts. However, if you have an Android device, this can be avoided.

Here are four things you can do to ensure your numbers aren’t lost when/if your Android device stops working, or you switch to a new device.

Sync with Google Contacts One way to backup your contacts is to sync them with your Google account. You can do this by accessing Settings on your phone and selecting/scrolling to Accounts and selecting Google. Press on the Google account you’d like to sync and ensure Contacts has a checkmark beside it. To force a sync, deselect it, then tap it again. When you add this account to any new Android, your contacts should automatically show up. You can also view and edit them here.

Export from phone to computer An alternative to syncing your contacts with Google is to export them in .vcf format. This is the contact format that’s the standard for electronic business cards. You can attach .vcf files to emails, add them to various contact books and they are recognized by nearly all mobile OSs.

To export them from your device, open the contacts app, (it’s normally in the bottom menu of your phone), press Settings (three vertical squares) and select Export to Storage. This will export your contacts to a file on your phone’s internal storage. After this, connect your phone to your computer using the USB cable and find the file labeled People, (you shouldn’t have to open any folders in your phone). Drag this file from the window onto your desktop or to the folder you’d like to store your contacts in. If you drag the People folder onto your phone, and press Import from Storage on the phone’s People app, it will import all your contacts.

Write them down It’s worked for almost 100 years, so why stop now? Some professionals don’t even bother to store phone numbers on their phone, preferring to carry a traditional contact book around with them instead, or certainly as well.

Remember them Growing up the vast majority of us had at least five numbers memorized: grandparents, pizza delivery, home, parent’s office and our best friends. Why not summon your inner child and remember your important numbers. This is a surefire way to never have any numbers stolen or lost.

Do you use these methods to back up your numbers? Do you use another method? If so, let us know. If you’d like to know more useful tips about the Android OS, please contact us.

The keyboard, an input device that nearly all generations in the workforce have experience using in some form or another, is an integral part of computers and smartphones. Until the introduction of the smartphone, the keyboard had largely remained unchanged. Smartphones have changed the way we type, and if you have an Android device you can use a number of different keyboards.

Here are four great keyboards that you can install on your Android device.

Swype Traditional mobile keyboards utilize the thumbs to tap the letters. With Swype, you do use your thumb, but instead of tapping you trace the word you want to spell on the keyboard. If you want to spell the word ‘Hello’, for example, you place your thumb on ‘H’ and trace it over to ‘E’ then ‘L’ then to ‘O’.

With practice, you can quickly type out full sentences with one finger, and this is as fast, or faster than typing on a normal keyboard. Swype is currently in Beta (pre-release testing) and is therefore free, however you will have to download it from the website as it’s not on Google Play. If you’re looking for a keyboard to use with one hand, Swype is the best choice.

SwiftKey SwiftKey is all about making predictions. It won’t tell you next week’s winning lottery numbers, but it will try to guess what you’re trying to say and either correct the word or provide the next word in the sentence. You can also sync the keyboard with Facebook, Twitter, SMS and Gmail where it will learn your typing style. With syncing on, it can be eerie at how accurate it is. Beyond that, it supports 42 languages, with up to three active at once. Just start typing and it will figure out what language you’re using.

SwiftKey is available on Google Play for around 3-4 USD and is a great keyboard for users who speak more than one language and/or want to have a predictive keyboard.

Android Stock Keyboard Each version of Android has its own stock keyboard (the keyboard that comes installed on the phone) and some manufacturers also offer their own keyboard. These keyboards are generally good, albeit a little plain. If all you're looking for is a keyboard to type messages and don’t need any extra features, these keyboards are perfectly adequate.

Hacker’s Keyboard On the other end of the spectrum is Hacker’s Keyboard, a full keyboard complete with keys other mobile keyboards are missing. If you use your device to remotely connect to the office, this is the keyboard for you, as you’ll be better able to navigate non mobile apps. This keyboard is open source, which means it’s free and has a high level of support.

These keyboards should have you typing anyway you want. To find the best for you, you might want to try all of them. What keyboard do you use on your Android device? Let us know.

A new version of an operating system for smartphones is always something users look forward too. In late June Google announced the next version of its popular Android operating system, codenamed Jelly Bean. The announcement brings more than just a new name, it will also bring a number of new features that will make Android an even better platform.

Here’s an overview of Jelly Bean’s new features.

1. Location based help. Google aims to make your phone smarter with this feature. Using location services like GPS, your phone will update you with relevant information. For example, you’re going to a meeting, using your phone’s GPS, your phone will keep you up-to-date with traffic reports and suggest quicker roots. This could be a useful service for users who have to travel a lot.
2. Faster interface. Dubbed Project Butter, Google touts an update to the user interface that makes it “smooth as butter.” Essentially using your phone will be a smoother and faster experience compared with older versions. They even noted that less battery power will be used due to a new feature that guesses where you’ll click next.
3. More intuitive home screen. The home screen - the place where all your icons are - has had a bit of an adjustment as well. Previously, you had to make space for new apps and widgets. With Jelly Bean you place one on your screen, and the others will be rearranged so it can fit. Beyond that, If you don’t want an app on your screen, simply flick it off.
4. Voice search engine. One of the most promising smartphone features of the past few years is using your voice to interact with your phone. Apple popularized the trend with Siri, now Google has introduced a similar service, and improved it. When you search for something, the result will be returned in a card, swiping to the right will show the full search result. Beyond that, you’ll also be able to use your voice for typing, even if you’re offline.
5. Better notifications. Notifications on the Android have been upgraded, with more information and live updates being introduced. Receive an email, pull down the notification page and be able to reply to it directly, no need to open the mail app. Another cool feature is with the calendar notification. If you’re running late, bring up the notification and email all attendees a canned response, all without opening calendar or email.

These are just a few of the new features that will be introduced with Jelly Bean. Businesses who use Android as their mobile OS will no doubt see some value in the upgrades. The most notable is a better user experience that could make employees happier with their devices and therefore, more productive.

Google noted it should be available by OTA (Over The Air) updates for Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Motorola Xoom sometime in the middle of July, and for other phones by the end of 2012. If you’d like to learn more about how an Android device will fit into your organization, please call us.

Update: As of July 10, 2012, Jelly Bean has entered Open Source, which means it’s finished and phone companies and developers can access it to begin to modify it to meet their needs.