Recently, Google has been rolling out many new features and expanding services to other platforms. I usually enjoy additional features and UI enhancements, these are included.

I am a huge fan of Google Voice. Shortly after setting up GVoice , it became my primary phone number. How could it not, with access to voice mail and text messages from anywhere, free transcriptions, call forwarding, custom greetings for contact groups, the list goes on…

After having Google Voice rejected from being an app for iPone, it was eventually allowed. I don’t have an iPhone, but am happy for those GVoice users that do. My excitement came from the latest news that iPads are now supported (oh, and iPod Touchs)! I had been using Google Voice on my iPad from the web interface, but this was not very finger-friendly and required a lot of zooming to hit the correct buttons and links.

Being a long-time Gmail user, I have seen many features come and go. Google recently introduced the Priority Inbox. Gmail will learn what types of email and/or senders are important to you and places these messages in a priority state. You can focus on these priority messages and then if you have some time, you can visit your normal Inbox full of the other b.s. that we all get on a daily basis. The Prioroty Inbox was a great addition, for desktop users, but left the mobiles in the past. Not anymore, now Gmail for Android supports the Priority Inbox feature, including the ability to mark messages and important or not. This feature was able to be added quickly since Google separated Gmail from the Android OS.

Other new additions include Google Latitude for iPhone, AdSense for Google Apps, the soon-to-be new Android Market, and you can now restore your contacts to a previous state (in case you accidentally deleted or incorrectly merged the wrong contacts).

Google announced the latest version of their Android OS, code-named Froyo, at the Google IO convention last week. Since the announcement, the internet has been buzzing with anticipation, speculation and rumors about when this latest-and-greatest will be available.

Then on Sunday, a tweet by TechCruncher @parislemon:

Google Confirms Froyo Launch: “The roll out to Nexus One devices has begun!” – http://tcrn.ch/9iZyHZ by @parislemon

The comments on the TechCrunch page eventually led to a link on Google’s server to download the update… I wasted no time!

For some time now, I have been running Cyanogen’s custom ROM for the Nexus One. Many of the features that enticed me to void the warranty of my Nexus are now available in the new 2.2 update (like WiFi tethering and installing Apps to the SD card). The new features are what caused me to head back to the official ROMs…

• Improved performance!!
• Automatic updating for Apps
• Flash 10.1 support
• Updated Market
• WiFi Hotspot
• Updated Camera (still and video)
• Updated Gallery
• Voice dialing for Bluetooth

So, I’ve upgraded to 2.2, but (due to traveling) have not been able to test all the new stuff. Right off, though, it’s FAST! Switching screens, opening apps, browsing the gallery, FAST! The new camera is much easier to navigate and change functions like flash, zoom, etc. It also looks better in landscape or portrait modes. The gallery now has a nice feature that allows you to get a sneak peek of picture stacks (handy when you’re looking for that one picture of your dog to show someone). I viewed a Flash site or two and it seems to work well. Most sites I visit are for news and really do not have much flash content. I look forward to testing out the WiFi hotspot and voice dialing for bluetooth. I’ll post anything of interest later; maybe some screenshots.

For those of you anxious to get the upgrade, here is a great link: http://www.androidguys.com/2010/05/22/manually-update-your-nexus-one-to-android-2-2-froyo/

If you are using a non-stock ROM, I would recommend checking out the XDA-Developers forums for links and How-Tos.

[UPDATE]

Ok, so it seems that I grabbed some sort of pre-release of Android 2.2; as reported by Androidheadline

.: FroYo Released too Early? http://bit.ly/bi9WCz

I did a full wipe (factory reset, whatever) of my Nexus One before upgrading to 2.2 (just had the urge to start fresh). As I was checking on my most used apps (including some apps I had paid for), I noticed some were missing… not even showing up in the Market! Also, I have yet to get bluetooth dialing to function. Other minor issues include random trackball color support/actually working. I hope these issues will be resolved in the final release!

I recently started working with the Android SDK and plan to start development on two projects.

The first is an advanced shopping list app. This is more for my wife than me. She has used/tested several of these apps that are curently available on the Android Market, but while they all offer necessary functions, they lack features that should be available in a quality app.

The second is an idea that I’ve been kicking around in my head for some time now. We have a home security system that is able to be controlled by a key fob. This is much better than having to race to the keypad to punch in the code to deactivate, but doesn’t offer any features beyond the range of the system. Using a mix of hardware and software, I’d like to have full control over the system from my phone.

I look forward to these projects and will post more details as I get things rolling.

Developer: Swype Inc.
Website: http://swype.com
Cost: Free (BETA)
Available Via: Developer Website
Moving from a small screen Windows Mobile (HTC Touch) device to the HTC Nexus One’s monster screen made a huge difference in the speed at which I was able to type text messages, emails, and web addresses. Swype has just made typing on any touch screen even faster! Gone are the days of single-character, touch-type. We are now able to compose messages or enter text of any  kind just by drawing a line over the characters on the keypad that make up the word (like the pic to the left, which will type the word quick).

Swype uses a patented intelligence technology that ‘knows’ what word you want to type by analyzing the path that you make over the keyboard. The results are amazing! Their website boasts that you can type swype in excess of 40 words per minute. While I never expect to achieve this, I am happy with anything over 10 words per minute! I no longer dread the task of replying to an email that requires more than a sentence or two.

There are cases where different word possibilities exist for a particular swype, but if this happens a menu is displayed so you can select the appropriate option. Overall, however, the program has been very accurate and rarely needs to give me options. It even got my last name (Dezember) correct on the first try (capital D and all).

See if swype is available for your device and sign up for the beta at http://swype.com

Pros:
Fast
Free
Available for multiple languages
Available for many devices
Support common editing actions (cut, copy, paste, etc.)
User editable dictionary
Works with passwords too

Cons:
Requires you to set up an account
Text entered is sent to a server
Limited functionality without data connection (still testing)

Here’s a video demo of Swype on an Android device:

Developer: The Sipdroid Open Source Project
Website: http://sipdroid.org
Cost: Free
Available Via: Android Market or developer’s website

Sipdroid adds native SIP/VoIP to your Android dialer and contact list. With sipdroid you can connect to your personal or office SIP/VoIP service and make calls over Wifi, 3G, and EDGE.

Sipdroid allows you to connect to most any SIP or VoIP provider. Our office uses a Talkswitch phone system and I have a SIP client on my desktop and laptop computers. This is normally all I need to stay connected with clients, except for when I’m traveling down the highway or rebooting or any number of other reason that I may not have the SIP client running. With sipdroid I was able to quickly get connected to the Talkswitch phone system and now, no matter where I am, customers can reach me and I can respond.

Pros:
Price! You really can’t beat free!
Supported SIP/VoIP providers.
Ease of installation/configuration.
Active Open-Source community.
Frequent updates.

Cons:
Bluetooth headsets are not currently supported.
Occasionally there seems to be a noticeable delay in communication.

Sipdroid is a relatively new app, so some features are still being added or updated, but it is still very usable. There have been several updates since I started using it; I’m happy to see that it is a supported app. Unless you are connected via Wifi, you are at the mercy of the cell network when it comes to call quality. If you are lucky to live or work in an excellent 3G signal area then you should have no issues. I happen to work in an area that causes my phone to fight between 3G and EDGE towers, so Wifi is my friend.

Developer: June Fabrices
Website: http://junefabrics.com
Cost: $23.95 – $34.00 (depending on your phone) or Free*
Available Via: Developer’s website and Android Market

PdaNet allows you to access the internet on your laptop by using your mobile phone as a modem. The software is available for Windows PCs or Apple Macs and works with most newer smartphone devices including  Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm Treo/Centro, and Windows Mobile.

I first started using PdaNet several years ago when I was a Sprint customer using a HTC PPC 6700. The 6700 initially supported being used as a modem, but an update from Sprint disabled this feature. A quick search turned me on to PdaNet by June Fabrics. With PdaNet you can connect your phone to your laptop or desktop (PC or Mac) via sync cable or wireless with bluetooth.

I recently became an Android user on the Nexus One with T-mobile. I contacted June Fabrics to inquire about a license transfer from Windows Mobile to Android (couldn’t hurt to as, right?). They don’t do transfers, but did let me have the upgrade pricing ($19.00). I had to uninstall the Windows Mobile version from my laptop before installing the new Android version. The setup was straight forward with fully explained instructions. I was online in less than 10 minutes (my laptop is old and slow, I think most people could have this done is less than five minutes).

Pros:
Quick, easy install.
Wireless connection via bluetooth
Available for many platforms
Able to use phone as a modem regardless of cell provider restrictions
Excellent support available from the developer’s website and via email

Cons:
If there has to be a con, it would be the price; not because it is a very expensive app (it’s not), but it is when comparing to other apps. If people are used to paying between $0.99 and $9.99 for an app, $23.99 to $34.00 seems a little steep.

Other thoughts:
For the ease-of-use, I am willing to pay the price (twice – my wife uses this app as well).

* PdaNet is offered for free from the Android Market. The free version is fully functional for a week. After a week, you can still use the app, but cannot access secure websites (https://) or connect to VPNs.

Many of you may already know about foursquare; for those that don’t, here’s a quick round up of a great social-networking-game.

So, you have a Facebook account and you have fun posting pictures and maybe playing games; you have a Twitter account to post blurbs about the things you are doing throughout the day (you might even have these accounts linked so when you post one one it shows up on the other). It’s great to be able to post so your friends and family know what’s up and you like to know what is happening with them also.

Let’s add another service to the list of social networks, not to just have one more thing to keep up with, but to have fun! Foursquare adds a fun twist to the social network scene. The idea is you “check-in” to the places (or venues) that you visit during the day or while going out for a night on the town. When you check-in you can add a quick message about what you’re doing. You can also add tips about that place so others know how great it is or things to check out when they visit.

Ok, now the fun part. As you visit more places you earn badges. These badges indicate things like the number of venues you’ve checked into, or that you must be a local since you checked-in to the same place many times that week. In addition to earning badges, if you have checked-in to a venue more than anyone else, you will be crowned the Mayor!

In an effort to not have to keep up with so many different services, foursquare can post your check-ins, badges you’ve earned, and your status as Mayor (or when you’ve been ousted) to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Foursquare is available for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone devices. Find out more about foursquare and create an account by visiting: http://foursquare.com

Android users can scan this code to find foursquare in the Android Market:

While I try to have most of the tools and resources I use regularly available in the cloud, there are some applications that I do not have control over and they must (sigh) reside only on my desktop. This only becomes an issue when I am not at the office or at home. There are so many different ways to connect to desktops remotely these days, but I prefer Windows RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Connecting to my desktop from my old Windows Mobile device was a breeze since a RDP client came with the OS. As a new Android user I did not want to give up this ease of access. A quick search of the Android Market yielded a single free RDP client, Remoid RDP. There are a few paid apps ranging from $7.98-$19.98US, but I’m always looking for a free lunch (or at least a snack).

Remoid RDP, is your basic RDP client. You enter an IP address (and Port if needed) to connect to your server/worstation along with your login information (domain\username if you are on a domain). The client does support sound, but I have not had the need to try this out. The theme of the remote computer is turned off to improve speed, but you can opt to keep the theme. Since your remote computer is displaying a larger resolution than your phone, you have to do a bit of scrolling (sliding your finger across the screen) in order to navigate. The mouse (movement and click) is controlled by the trackball.

Remoid RDP installed for free, but is somewhat limited. Remote sessions are limited to 10 minutes, you are not able to mount your SD card to the remote computer, and information/credentials for more than one sesssion are not saved. The limitations are removed upon registering on the developers website for $10.00US. This app does exactly what I need it to do, no frills. I only use it for quick sessions and am happy to live with the limitations, but may see the need to register in the future.

You can download Remoid RDP from the Android Market. More information can be found on the developer’s website: http://remoid.net

I love to know where my packages are, but hate having to go to each carriers website and type in the tracking number each time.

Mobile Package Tracker is the best app for tracking packages across all major carriers. This app comes in two flavors on the Android Market; Package Tracking Express (free 7 day trial) and Mobile Package Tracker ($0.99US). There are many apps that claim to be the best and may offer similar features, but none (I tried them all) offer the features, functionality and ease of use that Mobile Package Tracker does.

Not wanting to waste my hard-earned money, I opted to start with the trial version. The trail version is not feature-limited, but you will not be able to use it longer than seven days after installing. Features include tracking packages from FedEx, USPS, DHL, UPS, and TNT, barcode scanning for quick entry of tracking numbers, adding notes to your saved packages, and receiving notifications when the status of your packages changes.

When I first installed, I happened to have a few incoming packages and one to ship out. The interface is simple and easy to navigate. Entering tracking numbers manually is easy enough if you are expecting a delivery and you can customize the list of carriers to select from (I removed TNT). If you send packages and have the shipping label available, then you can just scan the barcode, select the carrier, and you’re set. The barcode scanner is great time saver.

Besides the barcode scanner, the notifications are the best feature about this app. While you can manually request updates, Mobile Package Tracker will check the status for you on a set schedule (from every 15 minutes to 24 hours) and you can select if you only want to know if it’s delivered (or exception) or all status changes. The type of notification is up to you; ringtone, email, vibrate, and/or LED blink and you can select multiple types.

After just a couple days, I knew that the Mobile Package Tracker was going to be well worth the $0.99!

Find out more from this website: http://24hourstracking.appspot.com
or scan the QR Code to access the Android Market:

Shortly after becoming an Android user, I began searching for an app to store and track data about my truck. I was mainly interested in tracking and receiving notifications about regular maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, fuel filter, etc.). After reviewing several apps, I uninstalled all but aCar by Armond Avanes.

I’ve been using the free version of aCar for about a month now an I am very impressed! The app has a very clean interface that is easy to read and navigate. Once installed, you only have to enter some basic information about your vehicle and then you’re ready to go. The default services and maintenance schedules should work for most people, but they are easy to modify. New service types can also be added. Entering data is very intuitive. There is a user manual available, but the program is so easy to use it is really not needed.

I have to say, the two features that really make this app stand out is the notifications of services and the graphical display of data.

Since I maintain my own vehicle, it’s up to me to put the sticker in the corner of my window… I usually make a mental note of the mileage and then promise myself to grab a sticker when I get back inside. I think I have actually put the sticker up twice. Needless to say, not having a visual reminder makes it easy to forget exactly when it’s time to change the oil again. aCar now saves the day! Not only does it remember and remind about oil changes, but also about checking the battery, fuel filter, antifreeze, belts, and more!

I’m a geek at heart, so I love to see the results of gathered data displayed for my viewing pleasure. This app definitely satisfies; displaying information regarding fuel efficiency, fuel and maintenance costs, and other related statistics.

aCar is available for free from the Android Market. The free version contains a small advertising bar at the bottom of each screen, but is otherwise fully functional. Donating to the project will allow you to remove this ad bar along with adding some nice features like manual or automatic backups and importing data from other sources. I plan on making a donation soon; not so much for the extra features, but because I think an app like this is worth every penny!

Here is a link to the developers web site for full details and download information:
http://zonewalker.com/acar