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Samsung Captivate on AT&T for $.01

Greg — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:16:48 +0000

Thats right folks, you can get the new Samsung Captivate on the AT&T network for only $0.01 from Amazon. This is with a new 2 year contract. Existing AT&T customers can get the Captivate for $99 with a 2 year contract. For whatever reason if you have the family plan its up to $149. If you are on the fence about getting an Android phone or the dreaded iPhone, now is the time to make the right decision and grab the Samsung Captivate. -Greg

Grab your Samsung Captivate now on Amazon.

Micro USB to HDMI cable for the Galaxy S

Greg — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:23:26 +0000

So, my Samsung Captivate just keeps getting better. Samsung will soon be introducing a Micro USB to HDMI cable. Allowing the ability of connecting my Captivate directly to any HDMI TV (or any HDMI device), via its Micro USB port, and playback video, pictures, and sound. It’s the ability to continue to grow even after production of the Galaxy S line that really just keeps pushing them closer to complete iPhone annihilation. Ok, so maybe that is a little far out, but its sure sounds good. Let’s see, Galaxy S keeps adding new features and abilties after production and the iPhone 4 keeps showing new faults, issues, and defects since production. Seems like its a pretty easy choice between the 2, but thats just me. -Greg

Available soon from Samsung

Real life Samsung Captivate GPS Navigation.

Greg — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:10:33 +0000

Over this past weekend I was able to put Captivates GPS and Google Maps and Navigation to real world good use. I took a 2-3 hour trip one way and ran Google Navigation and GPS the entire time both ways. The Google navigation itself worked as we all know it does, great.

That being said I’ll move onto the GPS itself. I know I’ve read on a few sites here and there of some issues and fixes for the GPS on the Captivate. I want to note before I go on that I did not change anything with the default use of the GPS, nor applied any type of fix. The GPS seemed pretty accurate, there was 1 moment when it though I was on an outer road along the highway when I started the navigation up, however it quickly repositioned itself to the highway. There were a couple times through out my trip (there and back) that it had some issues locating satellites, but it seemed every time I noticed this it would find them again fairly quickly. I don’t actually have a car mount for my Captivate just yet, so I used my empty sun visor CD holder. I was able to hear when it gave me directions and could pull it down and take a visual look at what Google was telling me. The first time I pulled it down to do this is when I noticed the heat.

Apparently running the Navigation keeps the screen live therefore the Captivate was getting very hot. Assuming that sliding the phone into my CD holder was also helping to trap the heat it was actually hot enough to make me concerned it would cause some damage. I used the A/C to cool it off then I hit the power button to force the screen off. This seemed to do the trick of keeping it cooler, while the Navigation app ran in the background it would still notify me of turns or anything it needed. I want to also note that when it does give you a new direction and the screen comes on, you will have to hit the power button again to turn off the screen.

The battery life was unbelievable for this, as it barely seem to use anything; I don’t even have a car charger yet, so I never had it plugged in. The entire driving trip, each way, barely used a notch on the old battery meter. I did have the screen off as much as I could, but the GPS and the Navigation app itself was still running in the background. So, I would say an average of 2.5 hours barely touched the batteries juice. I did of course charge the phone completely once I reached my destination.

The view of the Captivates beautiful Super AMOLED screen in the day light was excellent. I had no problems seeing the screen in brightest of sun on my trip. Visibility of the screen didn’t matter if I had sunglasses on or not. This made it very easy to look at the upcoming turns and or highway changes without the need for turning or covering the screen from the sunlight. This was with the power saving and auto brightness adjusting enabled.

Overall I’d say the with the exception of the significant amount of heat the Captivate creates with the screen being on for any extend period of time, which can easily be resolved by forcing the screen off just by hitting the power button, the Captivate GPS and Google Navigation experience a big win. -Greg

**Update: GPS lock onto satellites is about 1 in 25 uses. I’m not sure how, but I really lucked out on my trip mentioned above. Hopefully Samsung will be pushing an update VERY SOON! I know they originally said Android 2.2 would be in August. I’m guessing they pushed it back to September so they could include the GPS fix. Well Samsung it’s the middle of September, where is the updates?

Sideload Android apps on AT&T Phones

Greg — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:46:07 +0000

Most are aware that if you buy 1 of the 3 current Android phones from AT&T, that you won’t be able to sideload apps. That is you won’t be able to install apps that come from sources other than the Android Market. I should say you can’t easily do it, as there are 2 options to do this. First, you can root your device, which you will have complete access to do as you please with your phone. The second is using the Android SDK and load your apps that way, like you are “testing” it on your phone. Now the AWESOME guys over at Android Central have created a third and surely the easiest way to sideload apps on AT&T Android phones. The “Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine” is a Windows app that allows you to install any .apk file (Android App) you want from any source directly to your phone. Link to the get your copy and a video below. Android Central, you’re the best! -Greg

Get it here –> ”Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine”

Samsung Captivate – Camera Features

Greg — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:23:06 +0000

Samsung’s Captivate has an enormous amount of hardware and software features. One of the things it does lack is a flash for its 5megapixel camera. I don’t really think a flash is big feature, as I’m not about to replace my real digital camera for my phones camera. When the camera in my phone begins near the 8+ megapixel mark then I would think a flash would become necessary. Short of the flash, the photo (5mp) and video (720hd) camera have quite a collection of features. The videos below quickly run through just about every feature and setting for both. I shot both of these videos using my fiancé’s HTC Aria and I have to say they turned out pretty well. I’d have to say the quality and tons of extra stuff for Captivate’s camera, make this first piece I reviewed a win for the Captivate. -Greg

Purchased my Samsung Captivate TODAY!

Greg — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:28:07 +0000

Thanks to my good pal, Liam, at the AT&T Store in South County (St.Louis, MO) I am now the proud owner of the Samsung Galaxy S, Captivate! I should point out the obvious, this is 2 days earlier than the release date! I’m not going to give my review just yet, cause I have to play with it first. I will say that Swype is AWESOME. Here are some pictures of my new baby, enjoy! -Greg

AT&T’s Samusung Captivate Preview

Greg — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:32:18 +0000

DirectTV launching a 3D Channel

Greg — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:29:39 +0000

So it looks like DirectTV launched a new satellite which will support the new 3D ability. The new HD channel along with a compatible HDTV will give consumers the same 3D you get from the theaters. I love the idea of having 3D movies in my home, however I’m still not excited about having to wear the glasses when I want to watch a movie in 3D. Maybe they could come up with some electronic visual implant that will turn on automatically during a 3D movie then back off when its over or during a bathroom break. -Greg

Read the full story from HDGURU.COM

Why Google's phone hasn't got me excited.

Greg — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:15:29 +0000

Google’s new phone “Nexus” hasn’t got me excited, I’ll let you in on why. If you been keeping tabs on my blog you’ve noticed that I have been following the Android mobile OS and the phones that are running it pretty well. You also may have noticed that I’ve slowed down a bit on posting every single phone as they pop into the spot light. Why, because not every phone is doing something different or stands apart from the previous. The perfect example of this is Google’s phone “Nexus”. Why is everyone flipping out over something that isn’t doing anything groundbreaking. The Nexus has slowly started to surface and from what I’ve read, you can quote me on this, WHOOPIDY-DOO! It’s just another HTC phone running Android. What you don’t believe me, read this article from GIZMODO, it helps you come back down to earth. So until the phone has officially released its specs and shows something magical, I will keep it in the closet with the last 10 Android phones that have surfaced I haven’t wrote about. Google, slap your new phone, Nexus, on AT&T’s network and then I’ll jump around singing I’m a little tea-pot. – Greg

Google Goggles has landed!

Greg — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:14:19 +0000

Google’s new visual search engine for Android phones hit the market over the weekend. I haven’t had a chance to play with it just yet, but watching the videos has me excited about the Android OS once again. Snap a picture of a book and find out the author, what its about, and where to grab it. How about just pointing your phone at a business (with Goggles running) and it will tell you the name, click the name and get all the info. They say in the future you’ll be able to get a suggested move in a chess game or be told the type of leaf you holding, crazy man. Grab you Android phone and hit up the Android Market for Google Goggles! Google you are amazing! -Greg