This post was inspired by the increasingly loud rolls of thunder outside my office window this afternoon. Lately our area just can't seem to catch a break!. Safety during inclement weather has been foremost on our minds. Smartphones and tablets have become an increasingly popular way to stay safe during storms. Fully charged devices can provide hours of updates, even when the power has gone out. Below we'll recommend a few apps that may come in handy.

The American  Red Cross Apps

The Weather Channel App

Local Area News Stations

Do you use your Smartphone to keep up with the weather? What's your favorite app? Tell us in the comments below!

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away and that means that everyone's mind has turned to one thing - food. And yes, thankfulness. But mostly food. Today we're going to discuss a few cooking related apps that could help your busy Thanksgiving go a little more smoothly.

Paprika 

            

BigOven - www.bigoven.com

Dinner Spinner from AllRecipes

AllRecipes.com is a very popular recipe website and now they have a mobile app available! This app allows users to search for specific recipes from thousands of recipes or use the fun "spin" option to get inspiration in the form of a random recipe. This app, unlike BigOven and Paprika does not allow for meal planning or creating grocery lists. 
Available on: Apple  Windows Phone and Android - including Kindle.

Thanks to the Labor Day holiday our schedule is a little off, so this month's New Tech Tuesday is actually being posted on a Wednesday. We hope you'll still enjoy all the shiny new gadgets.

There are many exciting smartphone accessories available on the market today. For our New Tech Tuesday (one day late) this month, we'll be discussing a few accessories to make your smartphone even more versatile.

External Camera Lens 

The camera phone means that most of us have a camera at all times, ready to capture the perfect photo of the sunset, family and friends or just our evening meal. There are also lenses that allow your phone to take panaramic pictures, perfect for capturing landscapes or, in our case, the many books on our shelves!

The newest external lens in the news turns your smartphone into an almost professional level camera. The latest lens from Sony is bringing interchangeable lenses to your smartphone.
You can find more information on the new article from TechCruch.com.

Speakers

Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our everyday life; something most of us can't bear to leave the house without, like our keys or wallet. While any smartphone with internet access is useful, it's the apps on the phone that make it both indispensable and fun. Every so often, this blog will feature apps for people who love books, music, sports, art and more. We will also feature apps to help increase productivity and make your life a little easier.

This week we are going to showcase some apps designed for people who love books and reading. Most of these apps are available on several different devices, but a few aren't so we'll be sure to specify.

Overdrive Media Console

It's pretty much required that we start with Overdrive because we're a library, but honestly we'd put it at the top of the list anyway. Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks and listen to audio-books on your phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.
Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.
Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website.

Purchase eBooks

Kindle

The Kindle App allows you to download books from Amazon to your device. You don't have to be using a Kindle in order to use the Kindle App, but you do have to register on Amazon before you can purchase any books or audiobooks. 

The Kindle app is available on: iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone. You can also download it on your PC and other apps at www.amazon.com

Nook

The Nook app allows you download books from Barnes and Noble to your device. Like the Kindle App, it is not necessary to be on a Nook to use the Nook app, but you must register at BarnesandNoble.com in order to download books. 
The Nook app is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone

iBooks & Google Play Books

These apps comes installed on your device and allow you to purchase books from iTunes, or Google Play. . It is important to remember that any purchases you make in iBooks can only be read on an Apple product like an iPhone or iPad.  For example, if you buy books in Apple iBooks and then switch to a Samsung Galaxy, you will not be able to transfer those books to your new Samsung. Other apps like Kindle or Nook work on any device so your purchases can be transferred. 

Keep Track of the Books You Read

There are several apps that allow you to keep track of the books that you've read and get recommendations for books to read in the future. We're just going to cover two of these apps

GoodReads
GoodReads is a website and mobile app that allows you to list any books that you've read or want to read in the future. You can also rate the books and receive recommendations for books to read based on those ratings. There are discussion groups and online book clubs as well. Because authors have GoodReads pages as well, you can get updates on upcoming books and works. GoodReads is free but you will have to register with an email address.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


BookCrawler
BookCrawler is similar to GoodReads in that it allows you to keep track of books you've read. BookCrawler lets you scan the barcode of the book itself to add it to your list, letting you skip typing all the book titles manually if you'd like. Of course, you can still search for books by title or author as well. There is a free version that allows you to input up to 25 books, but for more than that you'll have to pay for the full version. Luckily for those who are serious about cataloging their personal library, the full version is usually around $2. Unfortunately BookCrawler is available only on iTunes. Hopefully an Android version will be released soon!

Reading Can Mean More Than Just Books

Reading means more than just eBooks or audiobooks.

Comixology
Comixology allows you to purchase and read comics on your phone or tablet. You can purchase the same day the comics are released in stores. You can find sales, discounts and even free comics! Comixology app is free, though you'll have to purchase the comics.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


Poetry from the Poetry Foundation
This app allows you to read a new poem daily or search for your favorite poets. Feeling romantic? Need something to cheer you up? There are collections based on every mood and occasion. You can even search by memorable lines! This app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play.





What are your favorite reading related apps? Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter. 

For the month of August, we'll be discussing free and paid software to help you save time and money.

MY STORY:

One would think that since I work in the field of technology, that I'd utilize software installed on my computer that would help me manage my time. Ha Ha - not so! At work, I have Microsoft Outlook, but that's about it.

On a personal note, I spent more time with my Android-based smartphone then anytime else. Therefore, when I needed a way to track my to-do items for work or play, I decided to visit the Google Marketplace - now known as the Google Play store - in search of an app.

For the past year or so, I've been using a free app called TaskOS (http://www.taskos.com).

Learn more at http://www.taskos.com/

ABOUT TaskOS:

TaskOS is a free to-do list, which allows its user you to:

• Create your own to-do list categories. My categories are Work, Home, and Business.
• Set color-coded, priorities list for each task - high (red), normal (yellow), or low (green).
• Set a deadline to indicate when this task needs to be completed.
• Share a to-do list item with one of your contacts, which helps in keeping you accountable for completing that task.
• Adds notes - type a note or use the speaker icon to record notes for a particular task.
• Set a alert. The alert settings are off, one-time, or recurring.

As you all know this month is Cell Phone month here on the Digital Lovers Blog. Earlier this week, Jaketha posted an article about the Evolution of Cell Phones. Today, I am going to compare smartphones vs. not-so-smart phones or feature phones. But before I begin, lets look at the definitions of each device.


Feature phone
PhoneScoop defines a feature phone as "Any mobile phone that is not a smartphone. Feature phones have proprietary operating system (OS) firmware." Proprietary operating systems mean that the OS is limited to that device/company only. Often times, feature phones cannot download or access third-party software; commonly called "apps." If so, then they in no way interact with the phone's OS. This means that the phone's hardware or software does not increase the performance of the app. Even thought feature phones have limited or no access to apps, they are still loaded with features. Most feature phones today are "socially" designed. That means that more feature phones are coming with enhanced texting/typing abilities, access to web based email (i.e. Yahoo, AOL, Gmail), updated web browsers, and access to Facebook and Twitter. Of course accessing any type of email or social media will cost. Because feature phones do not require any sort of 3G or 4G connection to work properly, Internet access is cheaper (anywhere from $5 to $15 monthly fee).


Smartphone
PhoneScoop defines a smartphone as "A category of mobile device that provides advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone. Smartphones run complete operating system software that provides a standardized interface and platform for application developers." Smartphone are geared toward the business person; having regular access to the Internet is a must as well as receiving cooperate email or storing multiple email accounts. Smartphone have the ability to download apps via the appropriate "app store" (i.e. Android Marketplace, Apple App Store). Smartphones give the user an enhanced experience surfing the Internet with the ability to view HTML5, Flash, and Java based sites (a.k.a. the fancy stuff). Because smartphones utilize your network's 3G or 4G connection, a GPS feature is always available, up-to-date news and weather can be accessed, and keeping your calendar up-to-date via it's syncronizing feature is available as well. Some smartphones have whats called a GPU or graphical processing unit. This enhances streaming media like YouTube, Netflix, and HDMI videos.

So which phone should you purchase?
My answer to that: Great question!?! :) Feature phones are great for those who don't like change. If all you do is make phone calls and text occasionally, then don't waist your money on a smartphone. If you can't get away from Facebook or Twitter, or you have a constant flow of email, then you probably need to look into a smartphone. I know earlier in the article I mentioned that feature phones are generally cheaper than smart phones, but this is not always the case. Carriers are always changing their plans and costs. You can get a low-end smartphone for FREE when you upgrade your contract or if you catch the right deal. But again, there are more costs associated with the smartphone (monthly data fee, phone insurance, basically anything that isn't considered standard). My wife and I made the switch to smartphones a few years ago and we love our phones. Now if only I can find a way to make the bill cheaper.....

Sources:
PhoneScoop - http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/
Cnet - http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-10461614-85.html

This week we will be talking about the Droid 2. This is Motorola’s newest Android phone. It is also one of the most powerful phones on the market. Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that offers the Droid 2. The Droid 2 is equipped with a 1GHz processor. This allows for fast internet surfing and video streaming. It also quicker response time when accessing apps. The Droid 2 supports up to a 32GB removable SD microSD card. This allows for tons of storage for music, pictures, videos, and apps. The Droid 2 is also a 3G mobile hotspot. This allows multiple devices to connect to the phone to gain 3G access to the internet. The greatest thing about the Droid 2 is that it runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box. The is Android’s newest and fastest operating system. It allows for faster “phone” speed and Flash 10.1. To simplify it, it utilizes the phones core components.Overall, the Droid 2 is a great phone. Until next time, happy teching!

Staying with our Android blogs, this week we are going to talk about the Motorola Droid X. The Droid X is the 2^nd “super phone” released by Motorola and one of the most powerful phones Verizon Wireless offers. Like the previous Android phones we have discussed, the Droid X is great. It comes loaded with tons of features and is one of the fastest phones on the market. The Droid X has a 1GHZ processor and can store up to 32GB of information. The Droid X also has a dedicated GPU. What does that mean? This phone has its own graphics card! This means the videos you watch, the games you play, and the pictures you take will be crisp and unmatched by other phones. The Droid X is also a 3G hotspot. You can connect up to 5 devices (laptops, phones, etc.) to the internet. Not to mention, the Droid X is also wifi capable.

Overall, this is a great phone. With the technology in the Droid X, not many phones can match it? Until next time, Happy Teching!

Staying with our Droid topic, this week we will be blogging about the HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Incredible was the second release of the Droid phones that Verizon carries. This phone was the first of its kind to have a 1 GHz processor and 512MB RAM (that’s fast). Your basic desktop computer has a 2 GHz processor. My first computer had a 1.3 GHz processor with 256MB RAM. Although the original Droid was dubbed the iPhone killer, the Incredible was the device that gave Apple’s product a run for its money. The HTC Incredible is 100% touch screen and comes with a ton of features; Bluetooth, 8MP camera, WiFi, and they even added a lot of cool features to their social networking apps. This device also come standard with Google Maps.

Over all, this is a great phone. Be sure to check back this week as we compare the Incredible to the Droid. Until next time, happy teching!

A few weeks ago, we did a blogging series on popular cell phones. There was one model of cell phones we did not cover. This week, we will start our series on Android phones.

Android got its big break in September 2005 when it was purchased by Google. Android was a startup company then, but already had a lot of money invested into it along with some big names to support it. In November 2007, the Open Handset Alliance, OHA, was formed. This increased the popularity of the Android operating system. Some of the members of the Alliance include Google, HTC, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm. In December 2008, the OHA added 14 members including Sony, Toshiba, and Asustek. I tell you all this so you can understand the interests in open source development for mobile devices. The first release of the os was in February 2009 with Android 1.1.

Android is a Linux based operating system. Linux is a free, open source OS. Because it is available to the public, programmers and software writers are developing new software daily to utilize the power of the Linux kernel. Android is a mobile based Linux OS that can be found a number of devices such as netbooks, tablets, and the purpose of this blog, mobile phones. This week we will be talking about the Motorola Droid which was released in November 2009. The name Droid is a trademark of Lucas Films. Verizon Wireless is the only carrier in the US that carries the Droid. The Droid is loaded with features. The Droid is a touch screen device with a QWERTY keyboard that slides out. The Droid also doubles as a turn-by-turn GPS, which comes standard and is free. Droid was released with Android 2.1, but an update for Android 2.2 was released in early August 2010 for this device. The update increases the phone speed and utilizes its core for better performance. Also, because of the update, the Motorola Droid is also one of the first phones to have Flash 10.1. This is a solid device with virtually limitless capabilities.
Be sure to stop by daily as we give you more info about the Motorola Droid. Until next time, happy teching!

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

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The iPhone is a very popular phone. But how does it compare to other top phones of today.

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The iPhone was released by Apple in 2007 and has quickly become the # 1 smart phone in the US. I believe some of the reasons for its success is because one, it’s made by Apple, and two, there are 185,000+ apps available for download. As of April 2010, the App Store has seen 4 billion total downloads. These apps range from showing you how to cook to maintaining your bank account. Another reason I think the iPhone is so popular is because of its hardware. The iPhone 3GS comes with a 600MHz processor with 256 MB RAM. This enables the iPhone to reach speeds not many cell phones can reach.

Take a look at how the BlackBerry Bold compares to other popular smart phones.

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A BlackBerry is a line of smart phones developed by Research in Motion, (RIM). There are currently 4 cell phone carriers in the US that provide BlackBerry services; AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. BlackBerrys are commonly used in the business world because of the many different communication services offered with the devices. The most popular service is email. All BlackBerry smart phones are able to send and receive emails. This allows constant communication between coworkers. Another popular communication app is the BlackBerry Messenger. This is an I.M. app that allows instant conversation with other BlackBerry users. Speaking of apps, BlackBerry has a lot of apps for download via the App World. Some of these apps include Facebook, Twitter and ESPN. Not all apps are free. BlackBerrys come pre-installed with a lot of helpful apps, such as a calendar, address book, email, web browser, and a calculator. Recently Skype and Bing have pushed out apps to BlackBerry users.