Droid: Road Warrior
If I go on a extended road trip, how to take everything with me, I need to be productive on the road without saying goodbye lunky laptop. During a month long trip recently, I decided to use a droid as my mobile office to me connected and productive. I found a great companion. It helped me process the data, publish, write, communicate via e-mail, SMS, MMS and Instant Messaging. It took me and gave me valuable information on how you made my trip morepleasant. I was also entertained with music, eBooks, audiobooks, movies and TV.
Organize
Even before packing for a trip, I think it's always a good idea to create some lists: things to do before leaving home to pack things, places to visit, and electronic devices are required, including applications. If you look at the Android store, there are many, many applications list. Some are better than others. My favorite has always been ListPro, but unfortunately not yet available. I hopesoon will be.
Among the many decisions I analyzed, I finally decided to apply Springpad, which is free. In my opinion is the best available, even with the paid applications for its robust functionality. It automatically creates a copy of all, task lists, notes and links on the site Springpadit.com which is always available to be stored anywhere from any computer or handheld. It allows you to take notes, and checklists in various categories like business, restaurant,Wine, products, books, movies, activities, music albums, purchasing, packaging and recipes.
You can also photographs, websites, e-mail or text excerpts with links, and then send e-mail or SMS. You can import media, by providing a photo, scan a product, add an existing image, or make an audio recording. This is a great feature, while on the road.
However, it has a critical drawback that will hopefully be resolved soon: it will allow you to sort items in a list,But strange as it lists of any kind. Go figure. Consequently, for large lists, we recommend another application, the items are sorted to find internally. Only for my shopping list, I selected a shopping list for this purpose. It does the job, but not allowed by the import / export or additions to vote.
Here's another good reason to have a packing list. When I was in Albuquerque, my car was broken and a few thousand dollars worth of items. While the shock of the moment, it washard to remember what's missing to the police. My list really helped. Albuquerque is a bad place ... stay away.
Another important element to bring a kind of secure electronic wallet. My favorite is eWallet for many years. Fortunately, it is now available for Android. It syncs with your desktop, so you have a backup. This program has saved my life more than once. When I gave my credit card, I managed to contact the company, break andagain in no time, thanks to eWallet. This is a free application that could save your bacon.
Until it comes to safety and lost items, I recommend installing a copy of Where's My Droid, if the device is lost or wrong. This application note is the device can send an SMS to send lost. You can bring the volume and the ring for a while or is alleged to back an SMS with the longitude and latitude (the GPS isetc.).
Navigation and orientation
In the first half of the path that I have my trusty GPS Mio dashmounted, but I was raised in Albuquerque. Droid X came to the rescue. I used the built in browser with Google Maps and appreciated the great 3D satellite images that show you actual photos of the landscape during the trip, including the construction. With this program, install a window, you have nothing else to take you on a journey.
Navigate and communicateHands free for a good idea, while on the road. For this reason, I have tried various applications to help me. I think my favorite was already on my Droid X. It 'installed at home car. Large buttons on the startup screen for the navigation, phone search, address search and maps. But you can install other applications of your choice. There is an additional screen with six large buttons on both sides of the screen, where you can put applications of your choice easily while driving.
Abovescreen in large red display are a tachometer, a digital compass and a weather report, which has never worked for me.
A similar application is available for dock space inside the store. The initial screen appears with six buttons for calling, My Location, Music, Add Access, voice search, and close.
After that I was raised by my window, mounted GPS robbery, I returned to my Droid X using the built-in GPS with Google. It works perfectly redirected quickly,gave voice guidance and 3D images of the background is amazing. As far as I know, no other application has this feature. Go Google.
I was pleased to learn that one of my favorites for a long time, CoPilot Live is now available for Android. I could not resist a copy. It 'a great addition to the trip with all the features you would expect. However, there is the sophisticated background satellite image from Google, and has a panel with information such as timeCheck travel distance, and so on. You can view this information, but it takes a certain type of access that is not too cold during the trip.
Travel information
In most places along the way, it was possible to connect the Web to find information about places, history, geology, restaurants, accommodations, and so on are looking for. A useful resource online, and tourist attractions Travel America, which are free and it's worth, that is.
If you like geocaching, as the journey, Irecommend a copy of C: GEO. Quickly view a list of caches in your area organized by distance. He has a map and a compass for orientation on the site. There are others in the App Store, but this is my favorite, and it's free.
Responsibility
If you track travel expenses, can be very cumbersome with income accumulated and hidden in the glove compartment, bags, suitcases, and so on. My Droid is really easy with a free application called Expensify.Expensify you can manually enter the expenses by category for reimbursement and tax manually. You can also scan the revenue quickly. All records are backed up online and can be exported. It 'a great application.
There are many other applications in this category that you want to explore some free, some not, but it seemed Expensify better serve my needs.
If you're tracking the performance of vehicle maintenance and mileage, there are applications for this. TryCars for $ 0.99.
Productivity
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it's always good to be able to travel easily without a bulky laptop still loading and productivity. Droid with my X, I could be as productive as I wanted, without missing a beat. The major constraints to productivity with a PDA is an effective means of entry. The integrated keyboard is simply not designed to promote the project. I'm happy that the relationshipDroid is possible for me, my freedom, full size, five lines, folding Bluetooth keyboard with the help of an app called KeyPro connected to operate. KeyPro is available on the market. You can download and try it for free on your device. Want, but if it works, is to buy the paid version at a price of $ 9.95, a very good investment in your mobile productivity.
I must admit I really struggled to get the keyboard to work. It 'was an ordeal for the patient andPerseverance, but once I introduced the keyboard to my Droid, was a perfect marriage. Once there, it's easy to connect. If I have time, I'm going to an article on the steps needed to write everything done quickly and easily.
Another disadvantage is that non-Windows devices are able to read Office documents. A partial solution is that products are stored online at Google Docs. However, the real key to mobile productivity, the ability not only toView, but to create and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF. What should I do?
Fortunately, there is a wonderful application called third DataViz Documents to Go The free version can only file view.doc and.xls. To view, edit and create.doc. Xls,. And.dof ppt files, are the paid version, which costs only need $ 14.99.
The new version 3.0 of the sport entirely new user interface with many improved features. You can now access all the Google Docs and edit. You can alsocreate new ones.
This is a must have application if you want to be a serious road warrior. Do not leave home without it.
There are times when you may be a matter of life or death if you take the data remotely from your home computer or office need. This happened to me more than once during my trip, and luckily there are applications for this. I can recommend someone who is very PhoneMyPC. Note, however, you must install on your PC before leaving home. You can not remote control. Sobuy before you fly. The cost is $ 9.95 and is another worthwhile investment in mobile independence.
With all the productivity tools above, you are ready to fight and meet every need while on the move and remain creatively prolific.
Fun
I will resist the temptation to talk about games, because there are simply too many and everyone has their own idea of suitable games. However, I decided that a completely free version full of birds Angrywas available when I was on the road. I tested it and found no brain, but addictive. This is a companion program called Angry Birds walkthrough that provides a solution for every level.
One of the frustrations I face while in the rooms and all the channels and times are different for my favorite programs. Although I was lucky enough to find one I like I am, I continue to suffer for commercials, which I hate.
My best solution is SlingPlayer, which areReport is available for Android. My Droid XI are now able to access and control my home TV in HD and watch live or recorded TV from anywhere in the world with a Wi-Fi. It takes the pain of the move after a long day. To use this wonderful source of entertainment, you must install a Slingbox on your home TV. For Slingmedia.com for more details.
If you are addicted to TV for viewing There are several free and paid applications that allow a restricted view isNumber of selections. TV.com is a good, free, but available with a full episode of something. Try out the new paid version of Hulu for $ 9.95 per month. You might want to check out SPB TV and Orb as well.
If you have already uploaded a package on your favorite music down, you're ready to listen to music while driving or relaxing walk with the player built. Or you can download new songs online. If you really want a joke song, you may want an additional micro SD card to take fullMusic.
Of course there are all kinds of music listening on the Internet by a series of online radio stations from around the world. You should never be at a loss for music during the trip.
Hands down, my favorite of all time Pandora app. This is a free download and allows you to give your favorite artists, albums or songs. Find similar music for your listening pleasure to play.
How is it dangerous to use Bluetooth headsets and headphones while driving, abest solution is an FM modulator nice to take you to Wal-Mart and elsewhere, for ten dollars. All you do is connect to your droid and set an empty FM radio frequency on your mobile phone to transmit audio through your car speaker system. This method works well for audio books.
Speaking of audio books, if you do not like high prices for the purchase of audio books that can be as high as $ 85 for full editions, try free audio books in the store Android. I spent many pleasantHours of cars sold to hear old classics. Audiobooks really spend your time fast and pleasant. Make sure your speakers or Bluetooth connection FM modulator though the use for safety.
If you prefer, you can relax with a good book every now and then, instead of just the tube, take a good ereader application from the store. In essence, you are ready to go, because a copy of the e-book reader Kindle Kindle Droid on X is installed, is semi-satisfying, but does not begin to compare with the players I'veknown in Windows Mobile. There are other players available on the market, and most free. You can pay at Amazon.com and download free ebooks. There are many other places in the network with e-books available. There are also some in the Android Market.
I do not know about your library, but my local library offers NetLibrary, WMA and MP3 files you can download eAudiobooks integral. Of course this can be anywhere, while you are on the road, and it's free. It worked flawlesslyMy Droid X. Take a look at your library.
About the only time I read that book, a tree would be if I were in prison. Thank God eBooks on the Droid. My mantra for years, "Ebooks rule; treebooks drool," and stick with it.
Completion
I found no problem traveling with my laptop instead of a Droid. I can not see all that type of entertainment production, thinking that was missing, and what my travel efficient and enjoyable. It 'like having aConcierge at stake pocket for your song. While I am all the applications that made my trip even more comfortable being said, there are probably many others that could contribute to travel-well-being. I welcome your comments if you have suggestions.
