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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