A Better Way To Take Notes

     While I’ve always liked the idea of the Boogie Board, I rarely have found an occasion that I personally would really use one. The ability to take notes and have them permanently stay on screen is neat, but you quickly run out of room and have no backup or digital way to save them – until now. The new Boogie Board SYNC from Improv Electronics fills in that hole by providing a method of both backing up and syncing with nearly any device.

     The new Boogie Board saves all data and entries directly to an SD card, meaning that you can take notes on the go then connect them to any of your devices later on (both wired and wirelessly) and sync them all up. The booth had some early prototypes of the unit (as well as the desktop and mobile applications) all showing the syncing across all devices, almost real-time with each stroke. The new SYNC could allow many users to write, draw, and take notes all with a realistic pen and paper feel – without needing a new tablet or stylus optimized screen. Improv stated that the product will likely be available late 2013 to the public.

The post CES 2013: Boogie Board SYNC appeared first on Droid Nerds.

Having the power of a Kinect, right inside your pocket

     Extreme Reality’s (XTR3D) new program enables any developer full access to an open SDK which provides the tools necessary to create and port many 3D motion controlled games over to various platforms. What all does this mean? Developers can take existing games that were previously exclusive to motion controlled systems like the Xbox Kinect, among others, and with little effort port them over to mobile devices and PCs featuring the simple limitation of a front or rear facing camera (which is available on most if not all devices nowadays).

     The real excitement makes its way onto the stage when seeing new games adopt the technology and bring new titles (and port previous ones) to phones, tablets, and PCs alike. Some of the games they were demoing included various racing, sports, and dance related games all controlled with the front facing camera of a Laptop and the software provided by the company.

     Hopefully we’ll see some aspiring developers porting and bringing plenty of games for us to test out in front of a TV. See how many devices support a form of video out, software like this could allow us to turn any of our phones or tablet into a console. Be sure to check out the video embedded above and read up on Extreme Reality’s site for more information.

The post CES 2013: Extreme Reality – Turning Any Camera-Enabled Device Into A Kinect appeared first on Droid Nerds.

In the words of the developer:

Notification Reminders of your Favorite Upcoming Shows, Hot Shows recommendations, Clean Sexy UI, Ease of use, Offline support, Android 2.1 support and up, currently in Beta and will get much better once the full app launches!

Keeping track of TV Shows without the hassle

     Voodoo TVDB brings many welcome ideas to enhance watching and keeping track of your favorite shows; from episode-by-episode descriptions, to progress, air date, and more all available from the homescreen on the application. From the home menu you can see upcoming shows, ‘What’s hot’ on TV, and what’s coming up next on your queue.

     Possibly the most useful feature of the application is the timeline view and the notifications which accompany it. The timeline view gives you a brief overview of the upcoming episodes, their air date and time, and what series/show they are with. Grouped by their air date and sorted by time the timeline view will most likely become your most used view within the app. Not a user who frequently opens all their apps and weaves through upcoming events? No worries. Voodoo notifies you of your upcoming shows via a notification, letting you know ahead of time (with custom values set by the user) when to notify you of your next show coming on.

Overall

     Voodoo TVDB is currently available for free on Google Play (although in Beta, it still feels very polished). The application really makes tracking shows and series very easy and without the hassle of others on the market. Want to catch yourself up on seen episodes? No worry, simply check the most recent one and the app does the rest. Download it and take it for a spin, offering some feedback for Jacobo!

The post Indie Apps of the Week: Voodoo TVDB (Beta) appeared first on Droid Nerds.

     When the Nexus 4 was first announced and released into the public, we were upset at the lack of apparent MHL compatibility, but were relieved to find out that wired mirroring was still an option, just through a slightly different route. Instead of using MHL, Google and LG decided to go with SlimPort. While similar, SlimPort provides a more user friendly experience when attempting to mirror your device’s display to a external monitor.

     When using MHL, as most of you may have found out, the device requires a specific MHL compatible external display to allow you to simply plug and play your device without having any problems. You start to run into issues with you have a standard HDMI input which is not “MHL Optimized.” What this means is the user now has to plug in an external power supply in order for the MHL cable to transmit to the external display. SlimPort is trying to get rid of that requirement by enabling new displayport products and devices to power the device directly from the receiving port on the external display. What if the port doesn’t support it? SlimPort is still able to provide video output even without needing an external power supply.

     While this seems like a pretty taken for granted technology, it removes the need for multiple cables and ports on modern devices just to get an external display up and running. As well as only requiring a fraction of the work, these new cables will support various video out capabilities such as displayport, HDMI, and VGA – meaning that you’ll be able to attach it to nearly any monitor on the go. You read up and check out some more information which is available on SlimPort’s site.

The post CES 2013: SlimPort vs MHL appeared first on Droid Nerds.

A Perfect Fit

     Like many other games, Hanger is simple enough to keep your attention while providing the perfect gameplay for a mobile device. With a simple three button control scheme, you only have one goal: to get your person all the way across the map. This proves to be more difficult than think when the later levels start to show up. Check out the embedded video below which really shows off how great Hanger is:

Overall

     Hanger is the perfect time waster to pull out between quick tasks, or to compete with friends or family. It’s a fun little game which provides plenty of gameplay and promises more levels in the future. Be sure to grab the game off of the Play Store and help support a small time studio with their first release on Android!

Aesthetic	Performance	Price
Smooth flash-like graphics with great gameplay and simple physics	The game runs very smooth, unlike some of the other “flash ports” that we’ve seen in the past!	The game is available for $0.99 on Google Play, a great deal to support more development for this promising app!
Worth it?

The post Game Review – Hanger for Android appeared first on Droid Nerds.

Don’t bother using spreadsheets or pen and paper

     When you’re looking to keep track of your weight, you generally only need a few basic options to get you going. Simple Scale lives up to its name by using Android’s Holo style and an easy to understand interface to allow you to track your weight and progress towards an overall goal. Starting with the main screen, the application places you right into the game by telling you to enter your current weight, and a goal weight. Entering both starts your tracking by filling in some of the basic information on the stats page, as well as setting the starting point for the graph.

     From the start you can see how simple the application really is: there’s no complicated views, additional dialogs, or other intrusions. The four tabs included in the design are the “All” list type tab, the “Add” homepage, the “Summary” page, and the “Graph” page which provides exactly what it sounds like. Perhaps the most helpful, the Summary page, provides 5 lines of information which tell you your current weight, goal, current change (from the previous entry), the change since you’ve started tracking, and the amount over, or under, you are from your goal. The graph is a nice visual representation but will become more useful over time as more information is typed in – obviously it’s a bit lacking in the beginning.

Grab it and start keeping track

     There’s not a lot to say about the app, but that’s a good thing. It’s a simple application which does exactly what it’s designed for and executes it quite well. It’s available off of Google Play for free, as long as you don’t mind an ad when exiting the application. Pressing ‘back’ to exit prompts you with a “would you like to try more free apps” dialog – I’m usually against them, but developers who are offering useful applications for free with unobtrusive ads I have no problem with. Thanks to Kaikishoku Software for Simple Scale and be sure to grab the free application off of the Play Store.

The post Indie Apps of the Week – Simple Scale appeared first on Droid Nerds.

Finding the best price made easy

     As soon as you open the app you are greeted with the numpad on your keyboard, allowing you to quickly type in the price and amount (whether you choose weight, volume, or unit count) which will compare it to all previous entries and tell you how much you payed per pound/unit/gallon. Saving money in the long run involves comparing the prices between multiple size containers and locations. Buying bulk from a large store might save you money in the long run, but you can have a quick comparison and see by just how much between all stores by viewing the history tab per product.

     If you need to add a price, simply tap the “Add Price” in the top right to add a new product, or update a price for an existing one. If you choose a previous product, all of the information will be loaded, and the amount that you typed in on the main screen will transfer over: meaning that adding a new price takes only seconds.Products can be rated, stored in categories, and filtered by stores. So when you go back to find the best price, all you have to view is the history tab to find out which store will be the best for you.

     The main page includes a list of the current filtered category, which can quickly be changed by pressing the dropdown. Filtering by category can allow you to quickly review the prices for multiple products so you can choose which you’re going to purchase right away (if on a budget and can only choose one of a specific type of product).

Check it out

     Price Compare is a great application which runs and feels smooth thanks to the integrated Holo interface. You can grab Price Compare off of Google Play and take it for a test run using the free lite version available; the unlock key can be purchased for full access to all features for only $2. You can also check out Cryptopone’s original app which we reviewed earlier this year, School Scheduler which is great for keeping track of Schedules and classes. Thanks for taking a look!

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The Cruzerlite Androidified case has become one of my favorite cases in general thanks to the slim feel and great design. I can’t tell you how many times I have been complemented on the Android sitting on the back while pulling out one of my devices and typing a quick text. While Cruzerlite may not be the first company creating cases for a variety of devices, they sure are one of the first to give them a unique look that is static across every one.

The Build, Protection, and Price

If you’ve come looking for your first case for your HD, look no further. The Androidified provides all you could look for in a day-to-day case. Unless you plan on going hiking daily, or work in a dangerous environment for your phone, the case provides the protection that you need. Keeping the sides, back, corners, and front protected from drop, shock, and scratches.

The overall design of the product is a simple slide-over case with no extra layers or attachments, keeping it simple for those who like to remove it when they get home or plan on placing it in a dock. One of the things that bugs me about other cases is their lack of accommodating larger third-party cables for charging or interacting with your phone. Thankfully, the cutout on the top of the case provides plenty of room for even the bulkiest USB, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio plugs we had around the office. While the cutouts for the buttons make it a tad difficult to press at times, they do allow you to find the buttons easier at night and make it significantly easier to press than cases of the same material which cover the buttons.

When you look at the case, you can pretty much gather for yourself the amount of protection it’s going to provide. It’s no Otterbox Defender (thankfully), but that reflects both in the low price of the product, and the limited protection that it offers. Having used the Androidified case for 8 months or so on my Note, I can say that protection really isn’t a problem. I’ve dropped my device on the sides, corners, and face-down with no damage done to any piece of the device. The most you’ll see done to the case is a little indentation if dropped on asphalt or something with a similar texture.

The Androidified style on the rear keeps a Android logo on the back with a flat finish and a glossy surrounding material. It’s glossy so it’s going to naturally attract fingerprints. Nothing that won’t wipe off when sliding in or out of your pocket, though.

Overall

Coming in at a low $9.99, you can’t really go wrong with the purchase. Other ‘feather’ or lightweight cases cost nearly two to three times the price, while offering similar protection and a more difficult installation process. Be sure to take a look at the case provided through the links below.

Build	Bulk	Protection	Price
Great high quality TPU construction Single layer design for easy installation/removal	Does not add a large amount of bulk Provides extra grip thanks to textured sides	Provides protection for sides, front, corners and back Does not include packaged or integrated screen protector	Low price for $9.90 off of Amazon or Cruzerlite’s website Excellent quality for the price point! Won’t find any cheaper for the same quality construction
Worth it?

The post Androidified A2 TPU Case Review for the Motorola Atrix HD appeared first on Droid Nerds.

The Look and Feel

One thing you’re immediately going to notice about the case, which is something Cruzerlite excels at, is the Android branding all over it. It is perplexing why other companies seem to shy away from stamping the Android logo on their cases, when most of us want to represent our favorite operating system as much as we can. Cruzerlite picks of their slack though and on this case in particular, has stamped the Android logo as a pattern across the back.

Aesthetically I find the case to be extremely sleek, the Nexus 7 is a slim device and you’re going to want to protect it with a form-fitting case. The edges have a shiny finish to them while the center with the Android army has a bit of a matte finish to it. This will provide additional grip as well as prevent from sliding on slightly angled surfaces. Your screen will remain protected as well since the case wraps around to the front of the device providing some elevation in case you’re looking to lay your tablet face-down.

Accessibility is a real issue I’ve found with cases for the Nexus 7 so far. If you’ve used the device you know that the power and volume buttons aren’t raised very high at all from the rest of the body. While this contributes to the slim feel of the tablet, it makes it extremely difficult to use with any case. The problem most cases have is either it’s an extremely inconvenient reach around the side of the case to push the button or the TPU is so stiff that you have to exert an extremely large amount of extra force to actually get some responsiveness from it. With the limitations of the buttons themselves Cruzerlite has given as much access to the buttons as they could while still providing protection. It is much easier to access the buttons in the Androidified Clone Army case than most of the competitors.

Price

While most of Cruzerlites products sell for fairly cheap, the Androidified Clone Army Case is going to cost you around $20.00. This doesn’t include shipping, but this item is Amazon Prime eligible so if you’re a member you won’t have to worry about that. Now how does the value stack up to all of the cheap Chinese products on Amazon for less than $10.00? The packaging gives it an initial cheap feel as it isn’t too dissimilar from all of the low quality cases you can buy from overseas. Protection provided is superior though. It would be better to spend a bit more than to settle for some garbage quality case. The most important question though is going to be how competitive they can stay to the likes of large companies such as Amzer (our review on their case here) who are selling similar products for less.

Overall this is a case that you shouldn’t hesitate to purchase or recommend to someone you know. While the price of the case puts it into competition with much larger companies, Cruzerlite’s distinctive Android flair and dedication to the community and their fans continues to shine and show that they’re a company here to stay.

Amazon Link for Those Interested:

OR Purchase Straight From Cruzerlite HERE

Build	Bulk	Protection	Price
Feels like a high quality product Prevents sliding on surfaces, but wont attract any dirt or dust. Awesome Android army stamps across the back	Helps retain the slim profile of the device Volume and power buttons are actually easy to access	Adequate drop and scratch protection. Raised edges alongside the front will keep the screen protected while laying face-down	Don’t let the packaging deceive you, it’s better option than the cheap Chinese products that pop up all over Amazon Slightly more than larger companies, but the awesome Android flair helps balance that
Worth it?

The post Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case Review for the Nexus 7 appeared first on Droid Nerds.

What’s new

     Cruzerlite changed up the style this time around with the addition of a second polycarbonate layer, covered buttons, and a built in kickstand – overall aiming to add an additional layer of protection onto your phone without forcing the device to become unpleasant to hold. While this can be a difficult task, Cruzerlite did an excellent job of achieving it thanks to the slim design and tightly integrated stand.

     The kickstand is visible from the back and fits snugly into the central raised area on the rear, keeping it tucked nicely away until needed. Thankfully, they went with a horizontal design which means that watching videos and listening to music is simple and easy to do. The central placement of the kickstand allows for you to place pressure on any area on the front of the device when horizontal without sending the device tumbling over, like some of the other cases that we’ve messed with. This makes navigating through the various menus and apps on your phone easy without having to worry about knocking the phone over.

The Build, Protection, and Price

     Quality vs Price is a big thing that we focus on when purchasing a new product for our phones, considering we’re consumers as well, we want to get the most bang for our buck. Cruzerlite has always offered excellent styles and design for a low price aimed at bringing the best to the consumer. This time around was no exception – the inner TPU skin and exterior polycarbonate skeleton are designed to provide as much shock protection as possible to keep your phone in pristine condition for only $19.90 – which is significantly cheaper than much of the competition we see online.

     The inner skin fits snugly over the device and stays in place even without the exterior layer, ensuring that the case stays on the SIII and won’t easily be pulled off when taking out of pockets or bags.

You can see the grip on the sides, and the kickstand folded away in the back center

     When it comes to bulk Cruzerlite’s new case does an excellent job of staying thin while providing grip, comfort and access to the SIII. The Androidified case had rough edges on the sides to assist in providing grip for your hands, while this one does not have the same design it does offer a similar system. The textured ridges on the sides of the case help keep the case in your hand instead of offering a soft and flat surface.

Overall

     The Spi-Force Series provides you with the same protection as other cases on the market without asking a ridiculous price. The dual layer design is a new style for Cruzerlite but we’re happy to see some new features without giving up protection or function. If you’re looking for a case designed for protection and media, this is a great case for a great price. You can check out a gallery of higher quality photos below, and grab the case off of Amazon through the provided link.

Build	Bulk	Protection	Price
Great quality construction with TPU interior skin and polycarbonate exterior skeleton Provides built in kickstand for viewing media	Does not add a large amount of bulk Allows you to grip the device thanks to ridges on sides to assist against drops	Provides excellent protection thanks to the dual layer design, raised front, and covered buttons Does not include packaged or integrated screen protector	Low price for $19.90 off of Amazon or Cruzerlite’s website Great quality for the price point!
Worth it?

The post The Cruzerlite Spi-Force Series Review For The Samsung Galaxy S III appeared first on Droid Nerds.