NFC VS. Tasker

  Hello in Android land! I hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend and using your US Cellular phone for lots of different things! If you have a fairly new smartphone you have the new capability called "NFC" or Near Field Communication. This technology allows you to "write" NFC tags to make your phone perform different functions that you set. I have one on my bed table which turns off WIFI, mobile data, volume to silent, and sets my alarm the next morning, all by passing my phone over a wafer thin tag!
  This is a short video highlighting the newest update to NFC Task Launcher, the best NFC writing app (IMHO) give it a watch.

  Now if NFC is not for you there is an alternative to NFC called Tasker. This is an app which will control your phone using different "triggers". I have one set to turn on WIFI, and turn off mobile data, when I get close to my home cell tower. Here is the first part of a three video guide on this great app. 

  Now you decide which of these great apps is your favorite. Let us know in the comments.

  As always feel free to contact me if you have questions about switching to US Cellular, these apps, or about Android in general! 

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John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Google I/O 13

  Hi folks, this week we are going to write a summary of the biggest Google event of the year, Google I/O 13! What did you think about the Google event? To me one of the biggest things announce at Google I/O was the creation of "Hangouts" which will combine Google Talk, Google+ messenger, and the Google+ Hangout apps into one app. Also very exciting to me is the announcement of the Google experience Galaxy S4 from Samsung. Will US Cellular carry this device? Check here often to find out!
  Here is a short video from Marques Brownlee stating the top 10 announcements from the conference.

Now if you need more information here is a video of the entire keynote address.

  As always if you have questions about switching to US Cellular, an app, or Android in general hit me up in the comments or on G+.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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Further thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S4

  Hello again. Have you gotten your Samsung Galaxy S4 from US Cellular yet? If you keep up with my blog you know I have had mine about 2 weeks now and here are some further thoughts on this device.
  I am a big fan of NFC, and on this device Samsung has opted to incorporate some new technology which is not compatible with my current NFC tags, so if you too are a fan of NFC keep this in mind.
  Now on to the "value added" software from Samsung. Most if not all of the new Samsung software is just gimmicks and not useful in everyday life, IMHO. While I do use the air gestures and air previews, the whole smartstay options in my opinion are worthless and I have disabled them. I do not care if a video pauses when I look away, or if the page scrolls with my eye movement, but that is just me.
  There is a new addition which I do like and will definitely take advantage of, the infrared sensor which allows me to use my GS4 as a remote control for my TV and satellite receiver.

  Also the lockscreen on Touchwiz is not to my liking. The shortcuts do not interest me, but it does have the ability to add widgets much like stock AOSP 4.2 Jellybean.
  The camera seems to be excellent with 13 megapixel, several photo editing options, dual camera option and more. I have had a little time to play with this camera and it does take very nice pictures. And one of the cool and useful options is the ability to use the front and rear facing camera at the same time, so you can take a photo and be in it also!
  Another useful feature is the Shealth app., this has options from tracking calorie intake, calorie burn, walking steps taken, exercise tracker, and it works with some add on equipment (I have seen scales and a couple of other things that will communicate with this feature).
  A few other neat things loaded on this device is STravel which suggest different travel destinations, SVoice which has been surpassed by many third party apps and Google Now, STranslator which is nothing more than Google Translate with a new UI and renamed.
  Now I have found ways around most of the things I don't like about this device by installing custom launchers, and lockscreens so there are workarounds.
  More to come on this device later!

  If you have any questions about the  Samsung Galaxy S4, Android in general, or need help in switching to US Cellular hit me up on G+ or ask in the comments.

John USCC Customer Crew Member

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This is the Droid you are looking for!

Here we go! I am going to do a short review of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 from US Cellular. I am upgrading from the Samsung Galaxy SIII using my reward points. Did you know US Cellular is the only wireless company to offer rewards just for being a customer and paying your bill on time?
  I am going to start with some specs on this monster. It has a 5" Super Amoled screen, not  too big, not too small in my opinion, a quad core 1.9 GHz. Snapdragon processor, 2600 MAh battery to power all of the features.
  One of the things I like best is the air gesture control, without even touching the screen I can scroll web pages etc. Also I can hover over a photo in my gallery with my finger and get a preview. Of course the normal features are still here, Smart Stay, Smart Rotation, etc.
  One thing I do not like about this device is the "bloatware" from Samsung. I do not care for the Samsung Hub, Samsung Music, Samsung books, Samsung app store, Samsung Games, Chaton, you get the picture. This seems to take away from some of the Android experience of being able to customize your phone to your liking. Luckily these (and some others) can be disabled. The one good thing I have found in the bloat is Samsung Watchon, this will turn your device into a remote for your tv and receiver box. Also with the 16 GB version you only get about 8 GB free space before adding anything at all! I personally like the more pure Android experience, in other words give me the phone with the basic apps and OS I will put what I want on it. Even with the added bloat, the phone has very little to no lag.
  The camera is a monster 13 megapixel with full 1080 p video recording and playback, so if the camera is an important feature to you this phone is for you! The camera comes with some interesting features such as Drama shot, Best face, Beauty face, Night mode, Sports mode, Eraser mode which lets you remove moving objects from photos. Also it has several special effects.
  Now to the more mundane things, the signal strength (which was questionable by some standards on the SIII) seems great so far. Maybe an antenna placement issue? Call quality is very good along with the external speakerphone option. The i call volume is excellent on this device as well. The device comes with the standard Samsung keyboard and Swype Keyboard, both with the numbers on the main keyboard. Texting is the standard Samsung skin, so you may want to consider installing your favorite third party texting app.
  Over all I give this device a strong 4.7 star rating.

  If there is anything you would like to know about this phone or Android in general feel free to hit me up on G+ or in the comments.


John USCC Customer Crew Member.

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