Category Archives: Android

MobileViews Podcast 139: 7th year podcast anniversary. Android discussion w/Frank McPherson

Jon Westfall and I (Todd Ogasawara) welcome back special guest Frank McPherson for the MobileViews Podcast 7th anniversary. We discuss Android from its launch in September 2008, podcast #2 w/Frank on Nov. 28, 2008, where its been, and where it might go in the future.

The topic 7 years ago was the then new T-Mobile G1 – the first Android phone available in the U.S. It was released in September 2008. I had returned mine before the podcast because of its awful short battery life.

All three of us have used various Android phones in the past 7 years. We discuss our experiences with them and speculate where it might go in the future.

MobileViews Podcast 132: New Google products discussion w/Frank McPherson

Jon Westfall was on “special assignment” (the football game he was at ran late). So, I’m (Todd Ogasawara) joined by my old friend Frank McPherson on this podcast. He wrote a blog entry about the Sept. 29 Google new product announcements on his blog if you want are interested in his personal take on all of this.

September 29 Google announcements

– Nexus 6P
– Nexus 5X
– Pixel C Android tablet with optional Bluetooth keyboard.
– New Chromecast
– Chromecast Audio
– Google Play Music – Family Plan
– Google Photos gets private labels & Chromecast support

Sidenote: Todd’s Google Fi Welcome Kit arrived

We also discuss reports of Evernote’s decline Ref: Business Insider. Evernote is a favorite service/product for both Frank and me.

MobileViews Podcast 122

Jon Westfall and I (Todd Ogasawara) take a look back on Microsoft’s ultra-mobile strategy since 1996 in light of its recent announcement that it will write down $7.6 billion in assets related to its purchase of Nokia’s smartphone business and lay off an additional 7,800 employees (most of whom came to Microsoft from Nokia). Ref: Microsoft

You can find more details and my recollections of Microsoft’s mobile strategy since 1996 in this article I wrote for Extreme Tech: Microsoft Windows Phone: A 20-year retrospective of a meandering mobile strategy

We also briefly discuss Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10166 released on June 9 and my initial impressions of joining the smartwatch club by buying a Moto 360.

Mobileviews Podcast 102: Microsoft Office for iPad & iPhone

News

  1. Microsoft Office for iOS free. No need for Office 365 subscription.
  2. Microsoft Office Sway? Ref: Microsoft Office Blog announcement.
  3. “Materials” Android apps appearing: Google Play, Gmail, Camera
  4. Swype for iOS free app of the week

MobileViews Mailbag

  1. Todd: Google Inbox as an Android battery killer
  2. Jon: Get true push Gmail on an iPhone

Google Inbox app excels as Android device battery killer

googleinbox_batterydrain_20141029I’m still trying to use Google Inbox as my main interface to Gmail. However, I had to remove the Android app because it killed my Nexus 4’s battery by late afternoon. According to the Android battery usage utility, the Google Inbox for Android app accounted for 34% of all battery use today.

Interestingly, the Google Inbox for iOS app does not appear to be creating any extra battery drain on my iPhone 6 Plus. So, I’ll continue to try it there. But, it was jettisoned from my Nexus 4 as soon as the phone had enough of a charge to boot back up.

MobileViews Podcast 92: Google Docs/Slides/Photosphere Camera, iPhone 5 battery recall, iWatch

This podcast was recorded on Aug. 23, 2014. Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall discuss:

Google Docs/Sheets/Slides offline

Google Slides for Android
(Google Play Store link)

Google Photo Sphere Camera for iOS

Limited Battery Recall for iPhone 5 (Can check serial number for eligibility)

iWatch may be pushed to 2015 on supply chain rumors

– Fun look back: Gizmodo iPhone mockups prior to 2007 launch

HP iPAQ h6315 (old Windows Phone phone)