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Windows Phone 7 Look on Android Using Launcher 7, Statusbar+ and WP7 Lock

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:
If you're anything like me, your phone looks different every week or so. I either change my Home Launcher application from ADW to MIUI or Launcher Pro or Launcher 7. But the one I've seem to have been using the longest is Launcher 7. This is a Home Launcher Application that mimics the metro UI of WP7 (Windows Phone 7). I enjoy the look of WP7 but love the Android market place. So having them both is pretty awesome. The applications I will be covering are Launcher 7, Statusbar+ and WP7 Lock.

Launcher 7:

Launcher 7 has been around for a while. When it first came out I tried it, but there were too many bugs and not enough options. Now, using version 1.0.1.18, most of the bugs are gone. This launcher runs smooth while scrolling through the apps and even main screen. There is a free and paid version of this application. Ive noticed that the free version drains battery faster than the paid one. Could be because the adds but who knows. You can change the color and transparency of the metro tiles, make a tile display as an image and pretty much short cut anything to the main screen just like on a normal WP7 device. There are three background themes; Black, White and Wallpaper. The status bar can also be changed to Black letters, White letters or Transparent bar. I feel this is the best WP7 launcher for an Android device.

Statusbar+:
This is also needed because Launcher 7's status bar disappears when you aren't on the home screen. Statusbar+ allows the status bar to stay the whole time no matter what app or setting you are using. So there is no more frustration when your cool WP7 notification bar disappears.  You can change the color of the status bar, enable click to drop display icons (like WP7), enable swipe down for notifications, etc. Some setting changes require you to reboot your device for them to become active. This is definitely an essential piece to the Wp7 look on Android. There is also a free and paid version of this as well.

WP7 Lock:
Wp7 Lock is a lock screen that looks just like a WP7 lock screen. You swipe up to unlock. The lock screen shows Messages, missed calls and emails. You can also change the unlock image by changing your background image in your phones settings. This some times force crashed or doesn't load at first. Just go to your apps and click on Wp7 Lock and disable and re-enable it again. Than it should work.
Well there you have it. The three essentials for converting your Android phone to a WP7 mimic. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. Any questions feel free to ask me or the developer of Launcher 7. He is very helpful and quick to respond to any issue you are having.

Download the apps here:
Launcher 7, Statusbar+, WP7 Lock

A New Flexible Phone Prototype by Nokia

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

At the Nokia World Event, Nokia not only showed their new line of Windows Phones but they also showed off a prototype of a flexible phone. Kind of like an accelerometer used inside phones to correctly orientate the device, shuffle a song or drive a car in a game; this flexible phone has points where pressure can be added.

Adding pressure to specific sides of the device will do different things. Twisting/bending the phone left or right edges will either change the song, photo or switch applications depending on what application/setting you are in. Bending the phone in and out will make it zoom in or zoom out and bending it in the middle of the left or the right side will either open/play an application or go back to the previous application/screen.

The screen is obviously a type of plastic. So that means its not scratch resistant. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than a bunch of scratches on my screen. But, the screen is a nice WVGA OLED display with wide viewing angles.

Will this UI ever catch on? or will it just stay a prototype? Bending your phone takes more effort and one more hand than just taping on the screen to open an application or scroll through a list. We will have to see where Nokia goes with this prototype.

Source: GSMarena

Steve Ballmer Announces 4 New Features for Windows 8

 

 Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

At the Dell Conference last Friday, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer revealed 4 new features to the new Tablet OS Windows 8. These 4 features are lock screen, Metro start screen, Metro live tiles and Windows 8 servers. I understand that these things have been talked about before but at the recent conference these were the four main features he highlighted.

Lockscreen: Even tho the lock screens are pretty standard, this is one of the things you see most often. When you’re away from your device, it locks like it should. However, even tho its locked, you still receive notifications, emails and social media updated right on the screen for when you get back (sounds like every other mobile OS?).

Metro UI Start Screen: Many people have complained about this start screen and the Metro live tiles. Windows developers have been doing their best to keep up and fix these issues as Ballmer reminds everyone that this is an early version of Windows 8, not the final product.

Windows Metro Live Tiles: Windows developers have stuck with the simplistic live tiles. But with Windows 8 they are showing off something new. You can make custom live tiles that display specific information from news or stock. So any information you might need could be instantly available. Now I can see that being a feature people use often.

Windows Server 8: This feature was available back in 2008 however, it was not perfected. Now with windows 8 in the works, Microsoft plans on perfecting this virtual server for IT administrators making it faster and smoother. I know not many people are worried about this but I’m sure there are developers and tech workers who are very excited.
Well that’s an update of Windows 8. One main feature that most of us are excited about is porting programs and information from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Will this be the next best step for Microsoft?

Porting Android Applications to Blackberry Made Easy

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

Recently Blackberry released a packager for Android apps that will allow Android developers to redesign, format and submit their application to the Blackberry platform using the SDK and ADT plug-in's provided by RIM. This tool kit will package all your information, sign and prep everything you will need for a successful submission. This is mainly for porting games and applications to the new Blackberry Playbook and such. Devices that will make user experience very enjoyable on both platforms (less likely on phones but, still available).  But is this a good idea? As we know, Blackberry is pretty much a dying market for most mobile users. Most of Blackberry's revenue comes from company's who use Blackberry's as company phones due to contracts. So are company's going to want to play your android games or use your apps? Applications ported to Blackberry that may be useful will be programs company's can adhere to and use on a daily basis.

Will this move help Blackberry out of it's slump?

One of the Biggest Release Events for Android to Date

Written by Doug Puccetti(Me) on www.techhog.com:

So tomorrow is the day. The day we finally see the Motorola Droid RAZR in person, the day where Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is revealed and, most importantly (in my opinion), the day we are introduced to Android 4.0 ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich). At noon eastern time the reveal of the Motorola RAZR for Verizon Wireless will begin. But Samsung and Google take the stage at 9:30 pm EST to begin the most anticipated release for Android users to this date. You can watch this event live tomorrow night on Youtube at www.youtube.com/android. I know we will do all we can to watch this event live. So I hope everyone does the same. This will be one release event you do not want to miss!