Road Trip

  Happy New Year to all of you! I hope you all have your new devices from US Cellular set up and running. If you need any help there are several groups who are more than happy to get you the help you need. Just leave a comment or message me through G+ and I will be more than happy to point you in the right direction if I don't know the answer.
  I recently took a road trip to Taos, NM and I really don't know how we did this before smartphones! No maps (we used navigator in Google Maps), no hard decisions of where to eat, (we used Local an app which is bundled with Google Maps), no problems with motels, (we used Google search and other hotel apps), and no problems finding places to shop with Google Offers!
  The only problem we had was a data issue while roaming, which was fixed by a simple reboot. The wife had a problem sending MMS (picture text messages), but a simple call to 611 (customer service) and it was taken care of in a matter of minutes. So in short I love traveling with my US Cellular smartphone!

  As always feel free to contact me if you have questions about switching to US Cellular or Android phones in general.

John USCC Customer Crew Member.

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My Carrier

Merry Christmas and happy new year! It has been almost a year since I started writing this blog and I am thankful for all of you for coming in to see my choice of carrier and apps!
  A week ago I was in Taos, NM and on the trip home my wife and I were experiencing problems sending picture messages so I called *611 and in just a few minutes the award winning customer service at US Cellular had us going again! Just another case of my mobile provider being the best!

  If you would like to switch to US Cellular message me and I will be happy to help you transition to the best wireless provider.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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NFC

Hello! Have you got a new smartphone from US Cellular, with NFC (Near Field Communication)? If so it is an amazing technology! Besides sharing photos, videos etc. you can download apps at the Play Store to make your phone do some amazing things!
  One is NFC Task Launcher, and here is a short list of things you can make your phone do.

  Automatically switch between car, home and office profiles using NFC.

Put an NFC tag in your car, home, office and bedroom and automatically change settings, and launch apps by touching a tag.

"I feel like I am living in the future" J Selix, Wall Street Journal

You can do cool things such as:
- Turn on Bluetooth, turn off Wifi and start your favorite music app when you place it in a dock or scan a tag in your car
- Set your ringer to vibrate, dim the display and set an alarm when you scan a tag on your night stand
- Start up Wifi and automatically connect to your home network when you come home (this also works great for guests so they never have to enter your wireless network info manually)

There is no service to sign up for and tags work on *any* device with the app installed. Everyone who scans the tag will have the same actions performed. The list of possible actions is shown below as well as any task you configure with Tasker. Actions can be performed in any order and in any combination. The only limit is what you can come up with!

Some demos can be viewed on the application website

You can create:
- Task Tags
- Switch Tasks - use 1 NFC tag to toggle between two Task tags

Task Tags currently support the configure or execute the following tasks
- Turn Wifi on or off
- Turn Bluetooth on or off
- Make Bluetooth Discoverable
- Turn Airplane mode on or off (root required in 4.2+)
- Launch any installed Application
- Configure a new Wifi connection and connect
- Configure and enable Portable Hotspot
- Turn Auto-sync on or off
- Turn Auto-rotation on or off
- Turn Notificaiton light on or off
- Set Display brightness and auto-brightness
- Launch any Tasker Task (for users of Tasker)
- Chang Ringtone
- Change Notification Tone
- Changing Ringer Mode (Normal/Silent/Vibrate)
- Changing Ringer Volume
- Changing Media Volume
- Changing Alarm Volume
- Changing Notification Volume
- Set vibration
- Set Alarm (both a fixed time and as a timer)
- Check in with Google Latitude, Foursquare, Facebook and Google Places
- Send a tweet on Twitter directly from the tag
- Start / Stop media playback
- Turn GPS on or off (root Required)
- Turn Mobile Data on or off (root required)
- Changing Display Timeout
- Changing Auto-Rotation
- Changing Notification Light

 And here is a short video:

So now that you know what is possible go get some tags and the app and automate your phone!

I also still have a few $50 coupon for switching to US Cellular, so message me if you are interested. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Christmas Blues

  Hi everyone! Hope you are all ready for Christmas! Do you know someone who has the Christmas blues? Send them to the nearest US Cellular store to look at the new Androids that are on sale! Don't have a store near you? Shop online and maybe find what you want at as a "web only" deal!
  Not a US Cellular customer? Message me and I will send you a coupon for $50 off when you sign up or switch!
  Ok I am off to US Cellular to pick up some accessories for stocking stuffers!


  If you have questions about US Cellular or Android in general feel free to message me and I will be happy to answer any question you may have.

  Merry Christmas!

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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CloudOn

Hi everyone! Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are history, so get ready for Christmas by going to your local US Cellular store and pick up a new wireless device or accessories for the techno nerd in your life! After they (or you) get your new Android powered device I suggest you go to the Google Play Store and check out this weeks hot new app (IMHO)!
  The app I am talking about is CloudOn. This amazing new app is currently for tablets only.
  This app will let you work in native Microsoft formats (Excel, Word, and Powerpoint) and then save on the Cloud using your existing Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box accounts. Pretty exciting app and I can hardly wait for the phone version!
  The CloudOn Workspace allows you to:
   Use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint on your tablet to create, review and edit documents.
  Rename, delete and manage documents with your Dropbox, Box or Google Drive accounts
  View virtually any type of file, including: PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
  Send files via email directly from the workspace
  Display, edit or create charts, change formatting, spell check, insert comments, etc into any Word, Excel or PowerPoint files
  Track changes while reviewing Word documents
  Use pivot tables and insert formulas in Excel workbooks
  Display and edit transitions in PowerPoint slides and present in full PowerPoint mode (not in PDF)
  Open files directly from your device email accounts as well as Dropbox, Box and Google Drive  Automatically save documents to avoid losing changes 

  If you are not already a US Cellular customer contact me and I will send you a coupon for $50.00 for switching and becoming one of the happiest customers in wireless!
  If you have questions or concerns about switching to US Cellular message me through Google+ or in the comments of this blog. General Android questions welcome also.

  Thanks for reading!
John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Ingress

Hello from Flyover country! Have any of you played the new augmented reality game "Ingress" from our friends at Google? Beware this is a VERY addictive game! I started playing this weekend and even in my small town (pop. about 1500) there are portals to capture!

This is a great interactive game which will get you up and exploring the world in your City! And although it is still in closed beta, download the app and request an invite!

*****Ingress is a closed-beta right now. Request an invite at http://www.ingress.com*****

Ingress transforms the real world into the landscape for a global game of mystery, intrigue, and competition.

Our future is at stake. And you must choose a side.

A mysterious energy has been unearthed by a team of scientists in Europe. The origin and purpose of this force is unknown, but some researchers believe it is influencing the way we think. We must control it or it will control us.

“The Enlightened” seek to embrace the power that this energy may bestow upon us.

“The Resistance” struggle to defend, and protect what’s left of our humanity.

Install Ingress and transform your world.

The World is the Game
Move through the real world using your Android device and the Ingress app to discover and tap sources of this mysterious energy. Acquire objects to aid in your quest, deploy tech to capture territory, and ally with other players to advance the cause of the Enlightened or the Resistance.

Strategy
The struggle is being played out globally. Track the progress of players around the world, plan your next steps, and communicate with others using an Intelligence map.

What is the Niantic Project?
Is this just a game? An Investigation Board (http://www.nianticproject.com) filled with cryptic clues and secret codes awaits. The story evolves everyday. Powerful secrets and game tech are there to be unlocked.

Form Alliances
The struggle to save the planet spans the entire world. Groups of people acting together can be more effective than individuals acting alone. Cooperation across neighborhoods, cities, and countries will be needed to achieve the ultimate victory.

You can find a review of the game here.

So go to your nearest US Cellular store, pick up your favorite Android phone, download Ingress, and start your Resistance!

Message me through Google+ or the comments section if you want to switch to US Cellular and I will send you a $50 discount! Also feel free to message me with any questions you may have about US Cellular or Android in general.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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More browsers

Hello again! Have you gotten a new Android powered smartphone from US Cellular? Do you have questions about your new phone or service from US Cellular? Come to the US Cellular Customer Crew for answers!
  On to this weeks topic, browsers for devices running Android 4.0 ICS or above.

  First let me mention a cool browser I found in the Google play store called The Floating Browser. It is a classic free floating web browser software, with the basic web features, the powerful floating feature that allows you to use window concept as the browser; you can zoom in and drag windows; at the same time, it will also monitor your clipboard for quick information search, and using a notification to call a floating browser to use at any time.

Features:
1. Wide range support of Android platform from Android 1.5 ~ Android 4.0.3, the screen will be supported from 240x320 to 1920x1080.
2. Floating window, allowing users to change the size and location; it can support up to two ~ ten independent windows at same.(Professional Edition)
3. Tab pages, Each window has its own tab group.
4. Integrated system bookmarks.
5. Independent history feature. (Professional Edition)
6. Web page screenshot. (Professional Edition)
7. Quick search, start with the clipboard monitoring function.
8. No Advertising

  I hope you enjoy this browser on your US Cellular Android device! 

  If you have questions about switching to US Cellular, or Android in general feel free to Circle me in Google+ and shoot me a message! 

                              John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Floating Notes

  Hello again everyone! Are you enjoying your Android smartphones from US Cellular? If not let me know if I can help with information or advice when you switch!
  I want to talk about a realitive new app called Floating notes. I am just going to give you a quick run down on the features of both the free version, and the paid version and you decide.
  In the free version you can expect to find the following features and if it is enough for you great!
  Make a note, no matter what app you have open. Floating Notes stays on top!

Floating Notes is a note application that allows you to view and edit notes in windows. Windows hover over any other application. This is true multi-tasking! Browse the web, watch a video ... while taking a note with Floating Notes FREE!

Features:
- Windowed. True multitasking!
- Take, save and open notes
- send / rename / delete notes
- Minimize / Maximize windows
- Resize windows

Now in the pro version you can expect to find even more features and functions

Features:
- Up to four windows open at once!
- widget to open a new note quickly!
- persistent notification to open a new note
- Take, save and open notes
- set the windows transparency
- rename / delete / combine notes
- Share notes to other apps! Floating Notes works with many apps you have installed (Dropbox, SMS, Mail...)
- set notes as new calendar entry
- Open each .txt file with Floating Notes (*)
- Minimize / Maximize windows
- Resize windows (supports "pinch to resize")

(*) You need a filemanager. Download one from Google Play. Look in the file manager for a file and open it with Floating Notes.!

Let me know what you think of this app and this blog in general in the comments section

If you need help in switching to US Cellular service, help with Android in general, or have an idea or suggestion for this blog feel free to comment or contact me through Google+. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Smartphones

  I have had a smartphone since the days of Windows Mobile 5, and honestly can't see my life without one! I would really like to get some folks to get a smartphone, like maybe my parents? Ha not likely! Maybe some of the friends from high school who are stuck with a dumb flip phone? Maybe some hope there. I went to a reunion this summer and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many of them using some sort of smartphone! One in particular is my best friend from high school. If I could get him to use a smartphone from US Cellular we could share photos, message each other and generally keep in touch better. I will keep working on him and I will get him converted!
  Any ideas to help me in converting him?

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Automate it

  Good Morning!! i hope folks are taking advantage of the reward points from the US Cellular Belief Plans to upgrade to the new and exciting Samsung Galaxy Note II!
  I want to tell you about a nice app I have been using for awhile now. It is called Automateit, I have the pro version if for no other reason, to support the Devs, and encourage them to keep making these great apps. But even if you get the free version you can make your US Cellular Android smartphone do some amazing things automatically!
  I personally have mine set to turn off mobile data and disable auto sync when the screen is off, and to turn on mobile data and sync when I turn on the screen to save on battery life. Also it automatically dials to update my PRL (Preferred Roaming List) every Monday and Wednesday morning on my drive to work! What can you make it do for you?
Here is just a short list; Automateit Currently supports the following triggers:

• Any SMS Trigger - Triggers on SMS received
• SMS With Text Trigger - Triggers on receipt of SMS Message with a specific text
• Battery Level Trigger - Triggers on a defined battery level
• Bluetooth State Enabled/Disabled
• Bluetooth Device Connected - Any device or specific device
• Incoming/Hang Call - Any call or from a specific contact
• Headset Plugged/Unplugged Trigger
• Location Trigger - Arriving/Exiting a defined region
• External Power Connected/Disconnected
• Screen On/Off
• Wi-Fi Enabled/Disabled
• Connected to Wi-Fi network - Any network or a specific network
• Time Trigger - recurring time events
• Background data settings changed - enabling or disabling the background data setting
• GPS Enabled Changed - GPS Activated/Deactivated and started/stopped looking for current location
• SMS from contact
• USB Connected/Disconnected Trigger
• Airplane Mode Activated/Deactivated
• Dock State Trigger - Docked to Car/Desk
• Application Status Trigger - Triggers when selected application activated or deactivated
• Outgoing call - all calls or calling specific contact
• Sound Mode Changed to Silent/Vibrate/Normal
• Boot Trigger - triggers on device startup (assuming service starts on boot)
• Manual Trigger - Requires user explicit execution of this trigger
• Cell ID Trigger - Trigger when connecting or disconnecting from defined cellular cells (Limited functionality - only allows saving a single set of cells as pre-defined location)
• NFC Trigger - use NFC tags to launch rules

Currently supports the following actions:
• Notification - Shows notification on notification bar
• Play Sound - Plays selected sound
• Set Bluetooth State - Enabled/Disabled
• Set Sound Mode - Silent / Vibrate / Normal(With/Without Vibrate)
• Set Speakerphone State - Turn on/off
• Set Volume - Sets volume of all streams or a specific stream
• Set Wi-Fi Adapter State - Enabled/Disabled
• Start Application
• Enable/Disable other rules
• Vibrate action
• Enable/Disable Data Connectivity action - [NOT supported on some devices - see why on developer website]
• Kill Application [Requires Root - see why on developer website]
• Launch Home Screen
• Activate/Deactivate Airplane mode
• Enable/Disable GPS [Supported for Android version prior to 2.3 and MOST rooted devices. Not supported for ICS]
• Enable/Disable Sync Data [Supported for Android version prior to 2.3 and MOST rooted devices. Not supported for ICS]
• Set Mobile Data - Enable/Disable Mobile Data
• Set Screen Brightness - Automatic or specific value
• Enable/Disable screen automatic rotation
• Dial Phone Number
• Send SMS to phone number
• Set screen timeout (Including "Never" turn off)
• Shutdown device [Requires Root]
• Text-to-Speech - Say defined text
• Reboot [Requires Root]

As always if you would like to switch to US Cellular and need help, contact me through Google+ or in the comments of this blog. Also if you have general Android questions or questions about specific apps, contact me and I will be glad to help. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Customer Service

  Hello, this week I would like to talk about my carrier, US Cellular, and their customer service. I have had the Samsung Galaxy S III since day one. I don't make a lot of calls, so it took me a several weeks to make the determination that I had received a defective device.

  Once I did discover this fact I simply called tech support to see what could be done. To make a long story short, I spoke to Harold who said this was a known issue, (which not only effected US Cellular but every other US based carrier), and Samsung was sending out replacement phones! 

  The only issue I had was I was leaving the country on business for 2 weeks the day before Samsung was to start shipping phones! Well Harold said "no problem, keep the ticket number and when you get home call and we will get a new phone overnighted to you." I returned home, called 611 with the ticket number on a Sunday, and the new phone was shipped on Monday! Just that simple; two phone calls and problem solved! Thanks US Cellular for taking care of my problem very quickly and painlessly!

  If you have any questions or need assistance switching to US Cellular feel free to message me through Google+ or just contact me through the comments section. You can also post your question here to get it answered by myself, or another US Cellular Customer Crew Member. Also feel free to contact me if you have general Android questions.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Google Play Store

Hola once again from Chihuahua, MX!
Go get your U S Cellular Android powered mobile device and get ready for the most exciting update to the Google Play Store (in my opinion)!
  Beginning this week when you download the latest Google Play Store app you can now delete the hundreds (for me at least) app that you have downloaded over the years and no longer use! Here are some of the details.

  It seems as though Google just pushed a new version of the Play Store, version 3.9.16, and it’s adding a great amount of new requested features. For those out there who haven’t received it yet, we have a download link at the end here for you guys.

Now let’s discuss some of those newly added features. First Google has added, in true Jellybean fashion, a new notification icon along with expandable notifications for those Play Store updates that pop up in your status bar. Another great new feature is the ability to remove apps from your All Apps list, atleast those that aren’t currently installed. You’ll be able to see that beside every app Google added how much the apps are, along with “installed” if they are currently on your device and a grey “stop” symbol for the ones that you can remove.

More features include that the Play Store now remember your location in list, so when you’re scrolling down  ”My Apps” or “All Apps” you can check an app without worrying that you be sent back to the top of the list.

  So go get the newest version of the Play Store and start getting rid of those old unused apps now!!!

As always if you need assistance switching to US Cellular, or have general Android questions feel free to contact me through Google+ or in the comments section of this blog.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Field Trip

  Hola, from Mexico! I am having a great time here and can't wait to get home and try out this new app on my US Cellular smartphone powered by Android!
   This is a new app that I believe will bring something for everyone, even in the area where you live.
  The app is called Field Trip, and is free in the market Google Play Store. Here are some features and highlights.

Field Trip is your guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you. Field Trip runs in the background on your phone. When you get close to something interesting, it pops up a card with details about the location. No click is required. If you have a headset or bluetooth connected, it can even read the info to you.
Field Trip can help you learn about everything from local history to the latest and best places to shop, eat, and have fun. You select the local feeds you like and the information pops up on your phone automatically, as you walk next to those places. The hyperlocal history experts of Arcadia will unveil local lore in places you never expected. Trend-setting publications like Thrillist, Food Network, Zagat, and Eater will point out the best places to eat and drink. Experts at Sunset, Cool Hunting, WeHeart, Inhabitat, and Remodelista will guide you to the latest unique stores and products. Atlas Obscura and Daily Secret help you uncover hidden gems no matter where you are. Songkick and Flavorpill guide you to local music. What did you discover today? Enrich yourself with a Field trip during your commute. Live like a local when you travel to new places. Eat and shop off the beaten path. Or simply discover the obscure history about your neighborhood during your next walk to the park.

  Discover thousands of interesting places/experiences that fall under the following categories: Architecture, Historic Places & Events, Lifestyle, Offers & Deals, Food Drinks & Fun, Movie Locations, Outdoor Art and Obscure Places of Interest around you.   Choose from three different modes to set frequency of Field Trip notifications. See “Field Trip” worthy places around you on a map, by tapping on cards in map view to pull up enthralling points of interest around you.       Go on a Field Trip while you drive. Field Trip can detect when you’re driving and automatically “talk” about interesting places and experience around you.   Capture the memory of a special place, by sharing a wondrous discovery through email and social networks such as Google+, Twitter and Facebook.   Wondering where the gem that you recently discovered is? Find your discovered field trip cards in the “recent’ section.    Field trip learns what you love. Thumbs up or down to tune the information discovery engine.

I will give you an update when I return from my trip.
As always if you have any questions about US Cellular or need help switching, have general Android questions feel free to message me through Google+ or in the comments of this blog. Thank you for reading.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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International Travel

Hello again. This week's post will be short, and not about an app! I know hard to believe isn't it?
  I am leaving for an international business trip and i am thankful for my Motorola Electrify, which is a world phone from US Cellular. What this means is I can take my smart phone with me and when I get to my destination I will purchase a sim card for a local carrier and it will be just like I had bought the phone there! Isn't that cool?
  So if you are planning a trip abroad or are a frequent international traveler, it would be a good idea for you to check out US Cellular's international phones.
  More to come when I return!

As always if you have questions about US Cellular, Android phones in general or if I can help you with an app feel free to message me through Google+ or in the comments.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Dragon Go

  Hello again. Have you gotten your Android powered phone from US Cellular yet?
If so this weeks post is a must read!
  This is a voice search engine powered by Nuance, the makers of Dragon Naturally Speaking for your computers.
  Dragon Go! Just Say it, Get it and Go! Say goodbye to endless blue search links!

Wouldn’t life be simpler if there were one app that you could simply tell it what you want – and it delivered it within seconds? Say ‘hello’ to Dragon Go!

With Dragon Go! you can do more in less time like book your next trip while riding the bus, buy movie tickets as you walk into the theater, go shopping at local boutiques while you wait for your nails to dry, settle a bet at the breakfast table on the square root of Pi, or plan and invite guests to that night’s happy hour – all with just one ask of Dragon Go!

Dragon Go! is finally the friend that truly ‘gets’ you – after all you know what you want, so why not spend more time enjoying the experience and less time searching for it? And only with Dragon Go! do you get direct access to 200+ of the most recognized destinations on the Mobile Web today spanning mobile entertainment and streaming media, social networking, shopping, and every other online content need imaginable simply by using your voice – such as Ask.com, YouTube, ESPN, LiveNation, OpenTable, Pandora ® internet radio and hundreds of others!

What’s more, Dragon Go’s dynamic Dragon CarouselTM not only delivers you to the best site featuring what you want, it also delivers complementary results that enable you to slide the carousel from side-to-side to compare information across the most relevant sites for your Dragon Go! ask.

Say, ‘What are the planes flying overhead?’ and get up-to-the-minute information from Wolfram|Alpha on all the flights currently crossing over your location.

You can also easily share your find with whoever you want via Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, and many more! And that’s not all! In a place where it’s not convenient to speak? You can also type your Dragon Go! request for the same fast, accurate results! 

If you would like to see a short video of Dragon go check here http://goo.gl/7nh6d.

As always if your have questions about switching to US Cellular, general Android questions, or questions about this app, feel free to message me through Google Plus or in the comments section of this blog. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Quora

  Good morning! It is time for another installment of "My Android life". This week I am going to write about a new app I found called Quora. I recently installed this so I haven't played with it much, but it seems to be an interesting little app.
  Quora connects you to everything you want to know about.

Quora for Android makes it easy to get the information you need, wherever you are. With your Quora account, you can ask and answer questions, connect with friends, and follow topics to get updates in your feed.

FEATURES:
• Find an answer right away with fast, voice-enabled search
• Add Quora to your phone search for integrated results
• Stay up-to-date with rich push notifications
• Install the widget to see a feed of the best answers on Quora right now
• Share interesting Quora content with friends on any social service you use

NOTES:
Quora is only for English-language content at this time. In order to promote transparency and authenticity, we require that everyone have a Quora account using their real, full name.

  Just ask a question and someone will hopefully answer it. Follow subjects, places or people and see the questions already asked or ask your own!

Watch this review below.

  To get started with this app, go to your nearest US Cellular Store, and pick out your favorite Android powered smartphone, then pick the Belief Plan that best suits your needs, then download the app and have fun!

  As always if you have questions about switching to US Cellular, Android in general or apps, feel free to contact me through Google Talk, Google+, or the comments of this blog post. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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My Wireless carrier

  Good morning! (At least it is here). I hope everyone had a great and safe Labor Day holiday. Most of you know that I normally write about Android powered phones or the latest "must have" app from the Google Play Store, but in this weeks blog I would just like to take a few minutes to tell you about my wireless provider, US Cellular.
  I have heard several people complaining about this phone or that service being down lately, but all carriers have their problems, but in my opinion US Cellular has no more than any other provider.
  With USCC you get free incoming voice calls, SMS (text messages), and MMS (Multi-media messages), from any carrier any time! You also get free nights and weekends starting at 7:00 PM (not 9:00 like the other providers). You get reward points just for paying your bill on time, who else does that? You can use these points to cover an overage of voice or data, early phone upgrades, and in certain cases for a free phone! They also offer up to 4  free  battery swaps per year, for the times you are out and your battery dies!
  One more neat thing I have found from US Cellular is the ability to send Text messages from your computer, which will appear to be from your wireless phone number.

  So in closing if you need a new wireless provider consider switching to US Cellular, and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me through the comments section or message me through Google+.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Phone Security

Hello! Another week has passed and as always there is a lot of Android news this week, but I am going to talk about something that hasn't been in the news lately, unless you are an Androidaholic!

  I am talking about mobile security for your Android powered US Cellular phone. Now there are differing schools of thought on this subject but I personally see no harm in having a security app on your mobile device just as you do on your home computer. 

  Here again there are several different types and levels of security, so I will list some from basic anti-virus to full blown security suites.

  First is AVG Mobilation, it is a fairly well rounded anti virus app for Android. 

 AVG Antivirus for Smartphones & Tablets detects harmful apps & text messages

AVG Mobilation™ AntiVirus Free for Android™ is a mobile security solution that helps protect your mobile device from viruses, malware, spyware & online exploitation in real-time.

Download AVG Mobilation™ today for free and:
√ Scan apps, settings, files, and media in real time
√ Find/locate your lost or stolen phone via Google Maps™
√ Lock and wipe your device to protect your privacy
√ Kill tasks that slow your mobile device
√ Browse the Web safely and securely
√ Monitor battery, storage and mobile data package usage on your device

AVG Mobilation Antivirus Free – mobile security software for Android. Keep your device safe with just one click!

With the AVG Mobilation security product for Android you’ll receive effective, easy-to-use virus and malware protection, as well as a real-time app scanner, phone locator, task killer, app locker, and local device wipe to help shield you from threats to your privacy and online identity.
Real-time security scanner protection keeps you protected no matter how or from where you download your apps or games.

Another is avast! Mobile Security, which is a little more of a full blown security app.

The MAIN FEATURES

• NEW Network Meter: Measures incoming/outgoing data transfers.

• NEW Widget: Let’s you control the app from your Android desktop.

• NEW Web Interface: Control remotely with anti-theft features (phone lock, GPS tracking, memory wipe, etc.).

• NEW SiteCorrect: Automatically fixes mistyped URLs.

• NEW Shield Control: Advanced settings of the app, web, and messages scanning.

• IMPROVED UI Design: Better readability on tablets.

• Antivirus: Scans installed apps and memory card content on-demand and each new app upon first use.

• Privacy Report: Scans and displays access rights and intents of installed apps.

• SMS/Call Filtering: Filters out particular contacts that you select.

• Anti-Theft: Hidden component that gives you remote control via SMS or Web (lock, locate, siren, memory wipe, etc.).

• App Manager: Lists apps and their sizes (MB), CPU load, memory used, etc.

• Web Shield: Scans each URL that loads and warns you if it’s malware-infected.

• Battery Save: Runs only when performing tasks.

• Firewall (works on rooted phones only): Serves as gatekeeper for network traffic.

And then there is the security app I use, Webroot, which in addition to protecting you smartphone, it also allows you to block phone numbers and text messages.

  Key Features & Benefits:

THE BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR ANDROID:
• Automatically scans your apps and files for viruses, spyware, Trojans
• Antivirus security shields block malware before it has a chance to install
• Alerts you when your device and settings are vulnerable to attack
SECURE WEB BROWSING:
• Automatically scans web links and URLs to block phishing and other harmful content
LOST DEVICE PROTECTION:
• Remote Access – Use your Mobile Security Website (https://mobile.webroot.com/auth/login) or another mobile device to remotely lock, wipe, or locate your device
• Device Lock – Remotely locks your device if it’s lost or stolen*
• Device Wipe – Remotely wipes your contacts, text messages, other personal information* (Premier Feature)
• Device Scream – Sounds an alert to help you locate your device nearby
• Device Locate – See your device’s location on a map*
• SIM Card Lock – Automatically locks device when your SIM card is removed* (Premier Feature)
CALL/SMS BLOCKING:
• Spam blocking – Blocks text spam and unwanted calls
• Virus blocking – Automatically blocks messages containing malicious URLs (Premier Feature)
APP INSPECTOR (Premier Feature):
• Scans all apps and identifies those that can:
o Access to your Email/SMS messages
o Cost you money
o Access sensitive information
o Track your location
o Drain your battery
• Battery Monitor provides battery status and power usage by apps (Premier Feature):
• Network Monitor provides details of apps that are accessing the network (Premier Feature):
SUPPORT:
• Please join us on the Webroot Mobile forum, submit any questions and product feedbackhttp://forums.webroot.com
FOOTPRINT:
• Runs quietly in the background
• Light on device memory and battery utilization
• Checks for security updates automatically to ensure latest antivirus and security protection

Best in Mobile Security, Android Security, app security

As always if you are interested in switching to US Cellular or have questions regarding Android or any of the apps mentioned in this blog, feel free to message me through Google+ or in the comments sections. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member 

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Caller ID

  Hello again. Are you looking for a new caller ID app for your US Cellular Android powered phone? Let me suggest "Current Caller ID". I just recently found this app so this will not be much of a review, but more of a overview of the app.
  ID unknown calls & texts, enhance Caller ID with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Get Call, Text and Social ID all in one app with Current Caller ID by WhitePages! 
  Over 300 million home, business and mobile phone numbers identified free, from the #1 and most trusted people directory.

Stay in the know with those you are closest to - Current Caller ID brings in the latest social updates from your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn friends. Don’t miss an update from your mom because that guy you went to high school with keeps posting about his breakfast on Facebook.

Being up to date makes conversations easier and more fun, so we’ve also included local news and weather for your top contacts, even if they’re not keen on the social networks.

Caller ID is no longer just about a name.

- Stay up-to-date effortlessly with social and local information for each caller and texter
- One app manages all your calls and texts and contacts with Frequent and Recent lists.
- ID incoming and outgoing numbers, including Businesses and Cell Phones*
- Fun infographics about your calling and texting habits with friends and family
- Frequent Caller Widget puts your favorite people a tap away

The neat thing about this app is that you not only get the caller, texter's ID, but you also get the contacts Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter status.

If you have any questions about Android or need help switching to US Cellular message me through Google+ or leave a comment below. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member.

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Twitter

  Well another week has passed, and the heatwave here in the Midwest seems to have broken!
  But back to the Androids!! First go to your local US Cellular store and pick up a new Android phone!
 This week I am going to spend just a little time on some of the top Twitter clients out there. For those of you who don't know what Twitter is it is a micro-blogging, social network client which limits your post to 140 characters or less.
  Now there are several Twitter apps for Android, so I am just going to speak to a few of my favorites and a couple you may not have heard of.
  The first one is a new app I just discovered called "Tweedle". Having just found this one I have just started using it but it seems to be very simple, clean and super easy to use. Great for beginners or those of us who don't like or need all of the gadgets and glitter of the super powerful twitter apps.
  Twitter client for Android. Free, ad-less, and simple.

  Tweedle was built out of the need for a better, cleaner, and faster Twitter client for Android. It allows the user to select whatever color scheme they can imagine, why should we be the ones to choose? Tweedle is young, it is still growing. Although we may not have all of the features the other clients have, we are doing our best to make that possible. We take all feature requests and feedback seriously and we strive to provide the best customer service possible.

Next is another fairly new app called "Boid for Twitter", this one has been my daily driver for Twitter for a couple of months. But it only works on Android 4.0 or higher. It is very light and customizable, and is easy to use.

Another new fairly new Twitter client is "Slices for Twitter". I have been using this app for the last couple of weeks. Slices is a gorgeous new Twitter app with a cutting-edge design, loads of features, and remarkable speed and responsiveness. But Slices is more than just a Twitter app.

Slices is the world’s first Twitter experience that lets you browse a Twitter directory by category, easily follow live events, slice your timeline into manageable streams, bookmark favorite accounts, and synchronize with a web experience.

In short, Slices is a completely new way to experience Twitter. It brings content discovery to the forefront and solves some of the biggest frustrations users have with the Twitter experience.

And there are still the standby and arguably more powerful  official Twitter client, Ubersocial for Twitter, TweetDeck, TweetCaster apps. So in short go find the twitter client you like and tweet away!!!

If you have any questions about switching to US Cellular, or Android in general feel free to message me through Google Plus or post a comment. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Olympics

  Hello friends! How are you enjoying the summer Olympics? This is just a quick post to give you another option to keeping up with the games.
  I have found an app from Samsung to run on my US Cellular Samsung Galaxy SIII Android powered phone. The app is called "London 2012 Results", will work on any Android phone running Android 2.2 or higher.
 

The Official London 2012 Results app provides all the latest news, schedules and results, allowing users to keep up-to-date with the latest action LIVE across all Olympic sports

Results: Covering all events for the 36 sports for the Olympics and 21 sports for the Paralympics.

Live Schedule: Follow the latest sporting Olympic events that are currently in progress. View results in real-time and share with your friends. View live updates: news, photos and social commentary from the Games.

Calendar Schedule: View day-by-day which sporting events are taking place in the Olympic schedule. Set favourites or reminders to create a personalised selection tailored for you.

Sports: View details of each of the sports; all the latest results, latest news, latest pictures and background information including football, swimming and track.

Medals: View the overall Olympic medal count as they are awarded throughout the Games - by country, by individual and by sport. Learn more about the medals.

Athletes: View all the participating athletes and review their details and current Olympic standings for London 2012. Use the sophisticated search tool to personalise your experience and follow the performance of your favourite athletes.

My Games: Follow any participating country and receive news and updates tailored to your needs. Manage your favourites, reminders and settings. Stay informed: set up notifications and alerts to keep you posted throughout the Games.

Hope you enjoy the app and the games! 

As always if you need any help switching to US Cellular message me through Google + or in the comments section. Also if I can be of any help with Android in general feel free to contact me in the same way. 

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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New phones

  Hello again! This week I am going to give you a quick overview of the latest devices from US Cellular. Once again US Cellular is offering some great new phones.

  First up is the Motorola Electrify II, this phone features a 1.2 GHz dual core processor,1GB of RAM. Out of the box it is loaded with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, a large 4.3 inch ColorBoost^TM qHD Touch Display, and 8GB of internal storage, and a micro SD slot which is compatible with up to 32 GB micro SD card.

  It has an 8 megapixel rear facing camera with 1080p video capabilities for great photos. The front facing camera is VGA.

  This phone is 3G - WIFI compatible and can be used while traveling out of the country with the purchase of a sim card card for service from international carrier.

  This power house phone is powered by a 1780 mAh  non-removable battery which provides up to 10.2 hours of talk time,and weighs only 4.41 oz.

  Next is the Motorola Defy XT.  This is more of an entry level phone in my opinion, but does have the feature of being water-resistant and dustproof (their claim, not mine). It comes with Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread OS installed.

  This device comes with 3.7" FWVGA 480X854 Resolution touchscreen display made from Gorilla Glass, a 1650mAh Lithium-ion battery, 5 megapixel camera, and a VGA front facing camera.

  It has WIFI - 3G connectivity to keep you in touch with your friends.

  This phone has 1GB of internal storage and can be expanded with the use of up to a 32 GB micro SD card and come with a 2 GB card installed. 

  So if you are a Motorola fan and need a new Android powered smartphone, or  just starting out with smart phones check out these two new entries from US Cellular.

  Or if you are wanting a high end smartphone the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S III are great world class devices.

  If you are not currently a US Cellular customer contact me and I will be happy to help you switch.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Samsung Galaxy SIII Review part 2

  I am back this week to tell you more of this great phone's features. Let's start with some of the internal hardware and specs. The U.S. version of this phone comes with 1.5 GHZ Snapdragon S4 dual core processor to support the LTE technology used by US Cellular  and 2GB of RAM which makes this phone's stock Touchwiz "Nature"  UI very smooth in screen transitions. For the gamers it comes with a Adreno 225 graphics processing unit. The phone comes with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage with a micro SD slot  for and additional 64GB removable storage, and comes with 50GB of "cloud" storage from Dropbox for 2 years.
  The camera is nothing short of amazing for a cellphone "point and shoot". It sports an 8 megapixal rear facing camera capable of shooting 1080p HD video. It comes with a "burst mode" which allows you to take several photos without releasing the shutter control.  It also is capable of shooting photos while taking video. The phone also has a 1.9 megapixal, 720p video front facing camera.
  This phone is powered by a 2100 mAh battery which has the afore mentioned NFC built into it.
  Now on to the more fun features!!
  We will start with a Samsung exclusive called "Smart Stay", this feature uses the phones front facing camera to track your eyes and power off the screen when the user is not looking at it. This allows you to use a lower screen timeout option thus saving battery life.
  Next up is the "Svoice" personal assistant which not only controls your apps, but will also add or remove appointments from your calendar, read your travel schedule to you, or check the weather for your next trip, among other actions.
  Another cool feature of this amazing device is the "smart call" feature. You are in a text conversation with someone and you suddenly decide you need to have a voice conversion with them, simply raise the phone to your ear and it will automatically dial the persons number stored in the contacts.
  "Socialtag" is a feature which will identify and tag people in photos, then share the photo with them. "Pop up play" which allows you to watch video in a separate window while using other features of the phone.
  Are you a small business owner? The Galaxy SIII come with some powerful enterprise solutions also. It has SAFE (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) which allows for 256 bit encryption, VPN, and Mobile Device Management. See your local US Cellular agent for more details on SAFE.
  These are just a few of the exciting features of the Samsung Galaxy SIII from US Cellular. Come try one and I am sure you will leave with this great phone! 


  If you have any questions about the Galaxy SIII or information on switching to US Cellular message me through Google + or in the comments of this blog.


John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Samsung Galaxy SIII Review part 1

  I recently got the Samsung’s newest flagship device, the Galaxy SIII. All I can say is this phone is amazing!!!! It has a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display, yet does not feel big in your hand. Also it sports a 2100 MhA battery which will run the average user 18-20 hours with just some minor tweaks. The Touchwiz Nature 5.0 UI is a welcome improvement over the older versions of the Samsung launcher skin. It is smooth with no noticeable lag.

Now onto the software goodies!!

  I am really enjoying the SVoice feature; it can do amazing things just by speaking to the phone. Does it compete with Apples Siri? I cannot personally answer that question, but from the reviews I have seen the experts agree that not only does it compete, it wins! 

  Another cool feature I have only begun exploring is the NFC technology. With the wafer thin Tectiles you can program your phone to do a multitude of functions just by touching the back of the phone to the tile. Each is programmable to control different things.  Below is  just one of many scenarios possible. 

• As you go to bed, you run your phone over the tectile which sets the alarm, turns off the ringer.
•  In the morning you get up to the preset alarm, as you sit drinking your morning coffee and eating breakfast you tap your phone to a second tectile and listen to the news headlines, weather forecast and even the traffic.
• As you walk out the door you tap another tectile, which turns off the WIFI connection on your Galaxy S III, and activates mobile data.
• You arrive at work tap a tectile and your favorite music app opens for your listening pleasure.
• On the way home you stop at the market for a few quick items, as you check out you tap the back of your NFC compatible phone to the card reader and you have just paid with Google Wallet! No digging in your purse or pocket for cash or check card!
• After a hard day at work you arrive home and tap yet another tectile which deactivates the mobile data, activates the WIFI connection, turns on the music player with your favorite soothing music, then reminds you to pick up the kids at soccer practice.

Think of the possibilities in your life!!!!!

Some other features of the NFC software is Allshare. With this you can share photos, and large files with other NFC and WIFI direct enabled devices by simply touching the back of the phones together!

Not NFC related but with Allplay you can share movies from your phone and your WIFI enabled HD tv. Cool stuff here.

You are in a meeting and the phone rings, to silence the phone you simply turn the phone over. Pick the phone up and it will vibrate to remind you that you have a missed call.

These are just a few of the features of this amazing phone!

Get yours from US Cellular and see how it can simplify your life.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Thank you

  Hello again! This week I am taking a break from app reviews, I want to talk instead about the great wireless provider I have. Now you may say "what difference can a wireless provider make"? Let me tell you!  US Cellular is my provider and I have always had great service with them. Not to mention award winning customer service!
  Recently they gave me an opportunity to join a select group of  US Cellular customers who share the news of US Cellular's great service and help other customers with problems (sometimes from other wireless providers!) So after being a part of this great group of folks for about 6 months, I got an email saying "Don't pre-order the hottest phone in the world (the Samsung Galaxy S III) because we want to give you one for being such a supporter of US Cellular". How great is that?!!!
  Now I am going to brag here, because no other carrier gives you great customer service, free mobile to mobile calling, free nights and weekends starting at 7 PM, free incoming calls and text from any carrier or land-line, all at a great price, but now they give me the hottest, 4G LTE phone in the world FREE!!! Just for helping others?
  Once again a huge thank you to the US Cellular social crew for allowing me to be a part of this great group of people.


  If you have any questions about switching to US Cellular message me through Google+ or comment here, I still have a limited number of $50 coupons good for switching to US Cellular but they expire July 31, so hurry!!!!!!



John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Controlling Data Usage

Good morning, or evening depending on when you read this post. I would like to start by saying I hope everyone in the U.S. had a great 4th of July!
  This week I want to talk about controlling your data usage on your US Cellular Android powered device.
  First let me recommend a very handy little app called Data Switch by TomatoX, put this app on your main home screen for easy access.

• set apps which update in the background to sync at longer interveals. (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, your weather app, etc.)
• Use WIFI when possible (most places have free WiFi now), to do this I suggest putting a widget on your main home screen. Go to menu>settings>wireless & networks>WiFi settings click on "notify me when an open network is available". 
• Send text and MMS messages instead of email when possible.
• Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, navigation apps like Google maps, online music service, etc) are huge data users, monitor your data usage when you stream over 3G/4G service
• Download and use mobile apps instead of your devices web browser, and turn off location data in the background if it is not needed.

  If you are a US Cellular customer use the data estimater to figure which data plan you need, and track your data usage at your "my account page.

  Now for those of you who are not US Cellular customers message me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you switch in any way I can.


John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Battery Life

  Hello! In the past I have posted about several applications, so now I am going to try to help you get more battery life from your US Cellular Android powered smartphone.
  My quest for better battery life started with my first Android phone, the HTC Desire. It was a great phone in it's day and I still have it for a backup phone if needed. HTC, Samsung, and other devices (except the Galaxy Nexus) come with a "skin" or overlay over the stock Android operating system ie HTC Sense, Samsung Touchwiz. This "skin" is a battery hog in my opinion, but other than buying a Galaxy Nexus we have no choice other than rooting. I don't recommend rooting your phone because you can BRICK  YOUR PHONE, and it WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!
  So with that said some of my friends and I started a quest to squeeze the most out of our batteries, and the steps below are the results of our research.

1. Do not use live wallpapers. The best wallpaper for battery life is a plain dark one. But the battery loss may be worth it to you to not have a boring phone!
2. If you are not using a navigation app turn off your GPS. The same goes for the Bluetooth, it does not take long to power it up if you need it.
3. If you must sync apps automatically, set them to sync every two hours or longer. Disable "push" notifications, they work in real time but eat your battery.
4. If you are at work, turn off your mobile data when not in use. I have found this to be the single biggest battery drain on my phones.
5. If you are not around a WIFI connection, turn off this option, the constant scanning for a signal will put a drain on your battery
6. Turn your screen brightness to the lowest possible setting that you can see.

  Every Android phone I have seen has a "power" widget. This handy widget will give you quick access to most of the settings listed above, for adjustment as needed.
  Also here is a link to the best mobile data switch I have found, it is simply called "DataSwitch" and it does just what it says.
  Another handy app some like is Display brightness, which like the name implies, lets you control the screen brightness from any screen you happen to be on.

 As always if you have any questions about anything in this blog, Android in general, or about switching to US Cellular, feel free to message me through Google Plus, or post a comment/

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it will help you extend the battery life of your wireless devices!

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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