Android Family – Page 13

5 Incredibly Fun Android Games

One of the best parts of smart phones and tablets is the instant entertainment you can get when you pull them out of your pocket. I’m going to share some our families favorite games, but I really want to hear about some of your favorite games to, so you have to comment!

Angry Birds

If you haven’t heard of Angry Birds you are missing out. I love this game, but Zane is addicted. He loves playing Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio. Check out the cinematic trailer:

Peggle ($2.99)

One of the rare games that I have made it through all the levels! This game is almost a mix of Plunko and Bust a Move! When I heard it was like Bust a Move I figured it was another boring remake, but no it’s so much fun!

I couldn’t find it on the android market, we actually got it free from the Amazon App Store, so the link will take you to the amazon app store (& is an affiliate link).

Now this game was not approved for tablets but I loved it so much I had to have it on my tab. The easy way to work around this is to get on your phone and add it to your account. Then while on your tablet go the Amazon App Store and click install. It was easy and I only have a glitch once in a while.

Yumsters

Another game I got free on Amazon App Store that I love. We have the full version but I linked to the lite version for you to try it out. The idea is that you have a worm that eats only one kind of fruit (they match the color). You want to drag them through the fruit they match and they will eat it away. More fruit will be thrown at you and you want to get your worms to leave spots open for the new fruit. I think this game is tons of fun and very unique.

Pinball Deluxe

This was my husband’s pick for games to share with you. He has a few games that he likes but he says out of all of them this is the one he always comes back to. Zane also really enjoys playing this game too. It’s basically pinball in your pocket!

Ant Smasher

This one of the first games I looked for when I got my android phone. I had seen it on a friends iPad and knew that Zane would love it! It’s one of those great mindless games that is just addicting enough that you always seem to come back to it. And they have the best squishy sound as you squish the ants!

Now your turn!

Okay there are so many good games out there now I want to hear your favorites!!

Android Family

Disorganized? 5 Organization Apps for Android

I’m in a constant battle with organization. The harder I try the more disorganized I become. Or at least that’s the way I feel. I’m sure that at times you feel the same way. I will be sharing some of my favorite organizational apps that have helped me on my Android Iconia Tablet and my Android phone.

Action Method

Action Method is a project management tool I found to use for my business, but I’ve also quickly found I love using it for my other to do lists. I think I like it because you can view your tasks in so many different ways. You can view your tasks by project, by when they are due, or by color.

I think I also enjoy Action Method because it is very visually appealing and to me that helps with the overwhelmed factor I get as I stare at my to do lists as they grow. The app also auto syncs to your phone, your desktop application, the online version and your tablet with no worries.

I’ve used Remember the Milk in the past and enjoyed it, but I just didn’t really feel like it was worth the yearly fee to use it on my phone. With Remember the Milk I would still run into the issue of feeling overwhelmed with how much there was to do. Plus you can’t really try out the app without paying the fee as far as I’m aware.

After using the free version of Action Method for my business on my phone, tab and computer I chose to buy the yearly subscription. I had used it for 3-6 months before buying it and I was a heavy user since it was used for my business projects. I think a casual user may not even have to buy the subscription.

Another feature that I haven’t used is task sharing. You can easily share tasks with people and keep on top of what they are working on and what you need from them.

ColorNote

ColorNote has been one of my all time favorite apps. I use it for organizing everything in my life. I can do anything from make quick to do lists to keep track of prayer requests. I use it for blogging a lot, but I will be talking more about that in my blogging app post.

When you make a ColorNote you can choose to either make a text note or a checklist. You can then write your note and choose a color for it. I have been known to color code my notes for different things like blogging = blue, family= orange, church = purple, urgent = red, and so on. You have 8 colors to choose from. The best part is you can stick your notes on your home screen as an instant reminder or for instant access!

I also just found out they have a calendar feature that they just added which I’m so excited to try out!!

Evernote or Springpad

I was using Evernote, but I have found that with how disorganized I am this is only feeding the Disorganization Monster. I never got really good at using their notebook/tag setup so everything is just jumbled into one notebook. Most don’t have tags because it is hard to add those on the android app. They do have a great search on the web so that is what I mainly use.

It also drives me crazy that I have to login ever week on their website, log me in and keep me logged in!

Today I decided to try SpringPad. But because I haven’t had a real chance to use it (Zane just stole my tab), I wanted to mention both of these apps to you. I saw the video SpringPad has posted at the market and it looks like you can change the notebook and tags easily from the screen you are adding the note. Evernote you have to jump from the notes screen to a separate screen to add tags.

The thing that really sold me for SpringPad is it looks like it is incredibly easy to go from saving a link or note to sharing it on twitter or facebook (maybe G+ if I’m lucky). Right now with Evernote I’m saving it to Evernote then have to go into the online site, copy the link and then share it on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest. There may be an easier way to do this from the Evernote app, but I haven’t had the time to figure it out.

Pomodroido

This is not my favorite app, but it is the best Pomodoro Technique app that I’ve found that works on a tablet. I find the color scheme annoying as others have mentioned in reviews and it doesn’t fit perfectly on my tab screen, but it works.

If you haven’t tried Pomodoro Technique I highly recommend it. I have just started it, I’m not an expert, I haven’t even read the huge manual I found on it, but just jumping in and doing it so far has helped with my “to do list anxiety”.

The basic idea is that you take your to do list and you work on one activity for 25 minutes then take a break and repeat until you have your to do list handled.

I tend to try and multitask but usually find myself overwhelmed and feel like I haven’t gotten anything done. With Pomodoro I get more done, I feel more focused and seeing the tasks crossed off my list keeps me motivated.

Right now I’m using an awesome application on my computer called Pomodairo. I also love that this particular program lets me make a short to do list. I have been putting my Most Important Tasks here so that I know I at least get 3 of the basic tasks for the day done.

Jorte

I don’t use this app any longer on my tab or phone. But with my experience I know that some of the basic calendars on Android devices can be hard to use or just ugly. If you are looking for a good replacement of the calendar that came on your phone or tablet I would recommend Jorte. This app does take a little setup but it has lots of options and you can make it work with you and your style.

Any Suggestions?

I’m always looking for new and better ways to get organized do you have any app suggestions?

Android Family

6 Android Apps for Preschoolers

Last week I shared 5 Basic Android Apps you must have. This week we will be talking about 5 great preschool apps that you will want to add to your phone or tablet for your kids.

Zane, my 4 year old, has sleeping problems and for a while he was waking up at 3am. We tried everything we could do to try and get him back to sleep, but it just wasn’t working. To the point of exhaustion we gave up and would take him downstairs and snuggle with him as he watched cartoons. But when we got our first tablet, I had a great idea. Instead of taking him downstairs I would let him play games on my Galaxy Tablet while snuggling in bed.

Kid Mode

If you are going to add one kids game to your phone or tablet Kids Mode is the one to add! You enter your child’s date of birth and the app will pull games and videos from all over the web that are age appropriate for your child. You will get games and videos from Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, YouTube and more. The only thing you have to remember is you do have to have a internet connection for this game to work

Toddler Lock

This was one of the first apps I ever put on my phone. This is aimed more at younger children, but even Zane likes to play with it sometimes. This app locks your buttons so your children cannot accidentally get into something you don’t want them to. Toddler Lock then lets them draw in colorful lines and shapes and as they draw your phone or tablet will make pretty bell tones. This is great for even the littlest of children you trust with your phone.

Zebra Paint

This is one of the first painting app I added to my phone and it has been one of my sons favorites. I’ve tried other coloring apps, but really this has been the best. I thought that changing the colors would be complicated for Zane, but he proved me wrong. With this paint program you just pick your picture, your color and then each section fills with color as you touch it. Zane has a habit of enjoying coloring the whole page one color.

Kids Connect the Dots

This is a great app to help your child work on there numbers and counting. I like this companies other apps, though the lite versions are more obvious on their limitations. On the alphabet one you only get up to letter H. I’m really considering buying the full version of these.

5 Pumpkins

This isn’t just one app but a series of apps that are just great! They may not be as flashy as Kids Connect the Dots but Five Pumpkins apps are full from A to Z. These were the first educational apps I had on my phone and I love that they grow with the children. They have very basic beginner skills like colors and shapes but they also do letters and numbers and then they have sight words and days of the week and months!

Grow Free

I didn’t want to just give you educational apps for our kids, it’s good to offer them some fun sometimes too. We actually have the full version of Grow, but we got it free on the Amazon App Store. Zane has a fishing game he likes too, but I asked him which he liked best and he said he likes grow the best. You basically move your fish around the fishbowl eating fish that are smaller than you and avoid bigger fish. As you eat fish you grow and once you are big enough you can start eating the bigger fish.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($1.99)

This is a pay only app, again we got it free from the Amazon App Store, but I really like it. It’s a mixture of different kids on matching, color, number games. Every time you get the answer right the monkey will jump and eek at you. I think one reason I like this app is that it also works on listening skills. You have to listen to what you need to do at each level. This is something I’m really working on with Zane.

Conclusion

I hope you find these apps useful and enjoy teaching your children through a great tool as your phone or tablet. Let me know how your children enjoy these apps too! Next week I will be sharing some more apps so if you want to stay connected you can subscribe to PepperScraps in your reader or you can get it straight to your email subscribe to PepperScraps by email!

What are some of the apps you have tried with your kids? Do you have a favorite app? I would love to have some more for Zane!

Android Family

5 Basic Android Apps Everyone Needs

I’m addicted to my android devices! I have a Samsung phone which I won’t name because it’s not my favorite and I’m waiting for a new one to come on the market to replace it. But I also have an Acer Iconia Tablet that I adore.

I’m constantly downloading apps and playing with them and I thought I would share some of my favorites. After starting writing this post I realized I was going to need to make this a series! In this first post I will be giving you a list of must have android apps.

Advance Task Killer

When I first got my phone I really needed this little guy. But doing some research for this article I found out that I don’t need him anymore and he may be hurting my phone and tab. I was chatting with some people on google+ and got some great information on this:

“… don’t use them on ANY android OS 2.2 or up, you can on Android 1.5 and earlier … I mean, you can use them on 2.2 and up but it’ll just argue with Android’s built-in task manager and could drain battery even faster.” – Randall Hanley

Amazon App Store

Amazon App Store is great because they offer a free app every day. Some days are okay apps, but I have actually gotten a few apps that I almost bought. You do have to follow special instructions to download this app to your phone as it is not available in the market. Learn how to get started.

Or download it via QR code:

Barcode Scanner

On of the greatest things I love about smartphones is that you can use it to scan barcodes. This is great for shopping and price comparisons it’s also great when you see a QR code and want to find out more about it. Or even download apps like the one above!

Ringtone Maker

I’m a true geek I love customizing my phone and one of the first things I do! I liked ringtone maker because it had some great variety and I was able to snip the part of the song I wanted for the ringtone.

FxCamera or Little Photo or Vignette

I’m torn between these photo editors. If you like the photos you see people posting from instagram these are the closest options for editors to make similar photos from an android phone. Have you used one of these are a combination of them? Which is your favorite?

Pandora

I’m not a huge music person, but even I like Pandora. I think one of the reasons I like it the most is that I can turn it on, choose the genre I’m in the mood for and get some great music. I have found some new music and bands that I would not have found otherwise. So for me I like Pandora.

Conclusion

I will be sharing more apps that I use on my phone and tablet including preschool/kid apps, organization apps, blogging apps, and more. I hope you will join me as we talk about some of the great apps.

What is your favorite android app? What kind of app have you been looking for?

Hi I am Pepper, yep that’s my real name, it’s on my birth certificate. I’m an old school blogger going back to her roots. In 1999 I wrote out my feelings and shared my silly random thoughts.

Well I’m back! This is me sharing the real me, hoping that it shows you that hey you aren’t alone in those weird, funny, hard moments in life. I’m putting the pieces of life back together after divorce, emotional abuse and starting out on a new adventure. Want to join me?

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