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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