Good news for Google Drive users with old Picasa storage plans!

Since learning about the Google Drive service finally launching, I've been wondering what would happen to my old Picasa upgrade plan.  That one gave me 20GB of storage for only $5 a year.  Although I primarily used the storage space just for the photos I keep on Picasa, it also allocated that storage upgrade to Google Docs.  Docs, which we know, is now Drive.

So being that I planned on using drive, I naturally wondered if this would roll over or if I'd be paying a separate fee for each.  Unfortunately, information specific to this was rather limited.  Now after digging around in the Drive settings from my desktop (I've been busy), I see that they grandfathered my old plan over and I keep it as long as I keep that subscription going.  So yes, I get to pay $5/year for the same storage you normally pay $2.49/month for.  Glad I finally found the info on this, and thank you Google for letting us keep our old plan.

Review: Acer Iconia A100 Tablet

I've had myself on a little quest recently which lead to this review.  I wanted to find a tablet that's more of a mid to high range, not over-sized, fair on price, and with ICS (or at least a stable ROM for ICS I could put on it).

The trick on the "fair on price" part for my was trying to stay around a $200-$250 price range, simply because I have no plans on replacing my laptop with it.  However, I didn't want a huge loss in performance due to the price which would end up having my shelve it 3 months after getting it.  That appeared to be the trade with most that I found.  Most models around the price I wanted either had a huge dump in performance and quality, or the ROM and app support was limited due to it being a waste of time.

Honestly I thought I was going to end up having to buy a Nook or Kindle to find one under the qualifications.  I lucked out by randomly running into Acer's Iconia A100 model.

Specifications:
OS: Launched with Android 3.2 Honeycomb (updates for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich started 4/27/12)
Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2 1.0GHz dual core
Display: 7" LCD display, 600x1024 resolution 16M colors
Memory: 8 or 16 GB, 1GB RAM (up to 32GM MicroSD card)
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n
Camera: 5MP primary, 2MP secondary

I've always heard good things about the Acer tablets.  The price tag telling me it's only $260 definitely got my attention.  The Nook and Kindle models both are right at $200, so paying a little more to get a full fledged tablet was definitely an option.

Right on the box it advertises the ICS upgrade which was essential for me.  I bought this now about a month ago and Acer right around that time announced the expected launch date for the upgrades.  They announced it to start on 4/27, and have all models finished by the first week of May.  I'll give them credit, my upgrade pushed on the first day as soon as I turned it on.

The Good:
Battery life on this was pretty respectable.  The Tegra processor does fairly well keeping me from having to plug it in constantly without having to sacrifice on performance.  I honestly haven't clocked the full charge time or anything, and the usage has varied from basic ebook reading, streaming Google Music, and cursing at Angry Birds.

The performance on this one is solid.  I keep pushing on, and it just keeps on going smoothly.  No lag or skip issues at all.  Apps open up and close quickly and no heat issues.

The screen looks great.  Photos and video hold full quality on it.  Outdoor use in the sunlight still holds up well.  There's only a minor amount of loss due to sun glare, nothing that would cause any real issue.  I have yet to test it on the HDMI connection to see how that goes.  The touch is also very responsive without being twitchy.  Everything so far with it has been very accurate.

I haven't found a lot of accessories from Acer directly for it, but the size and dimensions still keep it very compatible with most 3rd party options.  And of course Amazon offers a ton that work and at a good price.

It has a dedicated screen lock button!  Yes I know I'm excited over something simple, but I use this a lot.  Most times I keep the tablet and even my phone in portrait mode.  I'm personally not a fan of landscape, and the constant rotation drives me nuts.  This makes it much more convenient than having to go 3 layers deep in the settings or waste space on a shortcut widget.

Kudos to Acer for not going crazy on the UI.  Personally I'm not a fan of the Sense UI and others that overlay a lot of their own stuff on top of stock ICS.  It tends to slow it down and use more battery for a lot of options I don't really ever utilize.

Thanks to the size, I can hold it in portrait mode and reach the full keyboard to type with my thumbs.  No need to prop it up on something to be able to tweet, etc.

The Bad:
The weight is a bit of a concern.  Most tablets now are pushing to get super thin and light weight.  The A100 isn't a brick by any means, but it's got more bulk than a lot of the other options on shelves.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of Honeycomb.  It's not a bad OS, it just lead a lot to be desired with some of the UI and support on apps.  Anyone who has the tab needs to do the ICS update immediately.

Personally, I'm not a fan of proprietary charging cables.  It does have the normal micro USB cable for data transfer, but it doesn't charge through USB.  Luckily the charger cables can normally be found online between $16-$20 each.

If you're a fan of the overloaded UI, this tablet isn't for you.  There's plenty of UI replacement apps you can use though to compensate at least.  It won't be that super fancy UI experience though.

Overall Impressions:
I'm beyond happy with the choice to pick this one up.  Keeping with the 7" display maintains the portability I wanted so I can take it around and not feel like I'm just carrying my laptop.  After a month in with it, I really have no big complaints about it.  If you're looking for a good tablet and not needing to go absolute top end, it's probably one of the best choices on the market and you can't beat the price.

Ok, time for the photo session.  Yes, I know my ability to take good product pics is .....well ......lacking.  But hey, they're not too bad.

Product box, with previously mentioned ICS upgrade in the corner.

Front view with the manufacturer sticker still on it. 

More front view in box.

  

One of my own wallpapers with the stock UI widgets. 

One of the third party cases I found locally. 

A little superhero nerdgasm for the ladies

Feeding my comic book nerd this morning: Try not to die laughing out loud.

When Did iTunes come to Google?

When I logged into Google Music (on the web) this morning it looked normal, until I hit an album to play. Then I got this:

Um, where is my beloved Android Market and why does this look like a Google-fied version of iTunes?

Wait, let's hit that learn more button ....


Google is planning to move all of your content into Google Play. 


Play Anywhere

All your entertainment in one place

Google Play is your one-stop shop for all your favorite entertainment. With over 450,000 apps, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies, Google Play has something for everyone. Before you decide what you want, sample a free music or book, view app ratings, reviews, and screenshots, or watch a movie trailer. Google Play is a more connected, powerful experience.

There's more here detailing every aspect of the updated market -- books, apps, movies, games, and music. They really should have added some playground graphics as much as they mention the word "play".

For your phone and/or tablet:

Updating Android Market/Google Play
If your device can be updated, the Android Market app will automatically update to the Google Play Store app. Once you have it, the Google Play Store app automatically updates itself when new versions become available. This is a silent update, which means you will not see a notification and will not be prompted to update.

But you know what? I still can't uninstall apps!!!

or even a batch uninstall built into the Android OS .. like Titanium has @phatemokid @tyronem
— Annette(@daNanner) February 29, 2012

Want to know more? Here's the downlow:
 Q: What is Google Play?
A: Google Play is a new digital content experience from Google where you can find your favorite music, movies, books, and Android apps and games. It’s your entertainment hub: you can access it from the web or from your Android device or even TV, and all your content is instantly available across all of these devices.

 Q: What is your strategy with Google Play?
 A: Our goal with Google Play is to bring together all your favorite content in one place that you can access across your devices. Specifically, digital content is fundamental to the mobile experience, so bringing all of this content together in one place for users makes the Android platform even more compelling. We’re also simplifying digital content for Google users - you can go to the Google Play website on your desktop and purchase and experience the latest movies, music and books. With Google Play, we’re giving you a simpler way to get your digital content.

 Q: What will the experience be for users? What will happen to my existing account? 
A: All content and apps in your existing account will remain in your account, but will transition to Google Play. On your device, the Android Market app icon will become the Google Play store icon. You’ll see "Play Store." For the movies, books and music apps, you’ll begin to see Play versions of these as well, such as "Play Music," and "Play Movies."

 Q: When will I get Google Play? What markets is this available in? 
A: We’ll be rolling out Google Play globally starting today. On the web, Google Play will be live today. On devices, it will take a few days for the Android Market app to update to the Google Play Store app. The music, books and movies apps will also receive an update today. Around the globe, Google Play will include Android apps and games. In countries where we have already launched music, books or movies, you will see those categories available in Google Play, too.

 Q: I live outside the US. When will I get the books, music or movies verticals? I only see Android apps and games? 
A: We want to bring different content categories to as many countries as possible. We’ve already launched movies and books in several countries outside the U.S. and will continue to do so overtime, but we don’t have a specific timeline to share.

Q: What types of content are available in my country? 
Paid Apps: Available in these countries
Movies: Available in US, UK, Canada, and Japan
eBooks: Available in US, UK, Canada, and Australia
Music: Available in US

Q: Does this mean Google Music and the Google eBookstore will cease to exist? What about my account? A: Both Google Music and the Google eBookstore are now part of Google Play. Your music and your books, including anything you bought, are still there, available to you in Google Play and accessible through your Google account.

 Q: Where did my Google eBooks books go? Will I still have access to them? 
A: Your books are now part of Google Play. Your books are still there, available to you in your Google Play library and accessible through your Google account.

 Q: I don’t use an Android phone, can I still use Google Play? 
A: Yes. Google Play is available on any computer with a modern browser at play.google.com. On the web, you can browse and buy books, movies and music. You can read books on the Google Play web reader, listen to music on your computer or watch movies online. Your digital content is all stored in the cloud, so you can access from anywhere using your Google Account. We’ve also created ways to experience your music and books on other platforms such as the Google Books iOS app.

Q: Why do I not see Google Play yet on my device? 
A: Please see our help center article on this here.

 Q: How can I contact Google Play consumer support? 
A: You can call or email our team here.

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Related articles

• Introducing Google Play: All your entertainment, anywhere you go (googleblog.blogspot.com)

NOOK Color™ - Gets 1.4. Who needs a tablet?

I am so freaking stoked!!! Too bad I already took my lunch break. I never successfully dual-booted my Nook, for some reason CM7 and I don't get along (by the way, if you need something broken, send it my way).

I went into a B&N the day the tablet dropped and saw that new Nook Color's were shipping with 1.4. For the last 3 weeks I have been anxiously waiting my software update. And now it's here!!! I got the email less than an hour ago (about the only good reason to register your devices, people). So it's not as fast as the Nook Tablet .. I can live with that. Over the last few months I have realized that I am not the demo for a tablet user. I use my laptop for way more things than the casual tablet user. And my phone. But I read (and play Scrabble) a LOT on my Nook. And now I can watch Netflix (and other streaming content) while my boyfriend watches sports on the big screen :D

Image courtesy of Barnes & Noble

Among the new features, NOOK Color v1.4.1 now offers access to streaming popular movies and TV shows through Netflix, comics and graphic novels, new PagePerfect™ NOOK Books™, reading NOOK Books in portrait and landscape modes, and many other enhancements through-out the device. 

To get the update manually, you can download the software update to your computer at any time and then copy it onto your NOOK Color. Simply follow the steps below. Manual Download Instructions:

1. From your computer, click here for the software update file. Select Save and select Desktop as the location. Do NOT modify or change the downloaded file's name in any way. Do NOT open the *.ZIP file.
2. Press the Home Button and then tap Settings on the Quick Nav Bar. Then tap Device Info and make sure your NOOK's battery charge is at 20% or more.
3. Connect your NOOK Color to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device. A new, removable drive should show up in My Computer (Mac users will see the NOOK drive appear on the desktop or in devices). You should also see a "USB Mode" message on your NOOK screen.
4. From your computer, drag and drop the downloaded *.ZIP file onto the main directory of the NOOK drive. Do NOT open or unzip the file. You should not create a new folder on the NOOK drive or add the file to any other existing folder.
5. Eject or Safely Remove the NOOK drive after the file transfer is complete.
6. Your NOOK will automatically recognize the file after a few minutes when it goes to sleep mode, and proceed to install the updates.
7. Please do not turn off your NOOK during the installation process.
8. Once the installation is completed, your NOOK will automatically restart and go to the unlock screen.
9. On the bottom left status bar a green "n" will appear. Tap on it for additional information; the software has been successfully updated.

NOOK Color must remain turned on while the update is being installed. Once the software is installed, your NOOK will automatically restart. To verify you have the latest update, tap Settings from the Quick Nav Bar, tap Device Info, then tap About Your NOOK, and check to see that your software version number matches the number at the top of this page.

Congratulations, your NOOK Color has been updated! If you need additional help, please call Digital Customer Service support at 1-800-843-2665.

I wonder if I can install the update via Dropbox....

No More Surprise Cellular Overages?

For anyone who has gotten a heart attack when your cell phone bill showed up and said you owe $600 due to not being able to stop talking, your days of worry are over it appears.  Under FCC recommendations, new policies from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile will start effective October 17, 2012.  I saw recommendations loosely, as the FCC is already working on new policies to force smaller regional carriers to follow along and play ball.  The FCC also warned the big 4 that if they don't play ball under teh agreements, there would be "strict consequences."  Awesome!

Under the new policies, carriers must send alerts to customers when they are close to their allocation of voice, text, or data.  Yes, some of these people still have bucket plans for texting.  It's amazing.  It also requires notification when you're about to incur international roaming charges (because you obviously had no clue you mysteriously wondered outside the U.S.), and disclose tools where consumers can check their use themselves.

At this point, Verizon already offers the free alerts, as does AT&T.  T-Mobile offers free alerts although I'm not sure if they're automatic, and Sprint has an option to text for usage info.  All four carriers also provide self help tools online to check use.

Ok so there's all your happy info, and I'm sure millions of cellular customers will rejoice.  It seems though that after conversing with some co workers (I work for a cell phone carrier) about the changes, I'm an odd man odd for not doing cartwheels after reading about this.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for not dealing with people calling and screaming like an idiot after getting $200 in overages they swear are totally wrong.  I am, however, against The Great FCC stepping in and forcing these changes on cellular carriers.  The minor concern, oddly enough, is cost.  Services like this take resources to perform them.  Resources in place for the constant monitoring of thousands or millions of customer accounts depending on the size of the carrier, and systems to then push those notice as they hit the marks to require them.  These resources require cash to provide them, and that cash has to come from somewhere.  That somewhere ends up being your wallet.  Cell phone carriers ate the full cost or majority cost of a lot of fees they endure for being in business, so you can count on this being one you'll pay something toward.

That's all great you say?  I don't mind paying a little extra to know where my usage is.  It ends up being less in the end than paying the overages.  Right, right?

This brings me to my second dispute, customers tend to be complete idiots.  Yes, it's a large majority.  Cell phone companies already provide tools available 24/7 to check your use.  You ALREADY have these services, yet a large majority of customers either don't know about them or ignore them.  Most times, it's that they ignore them.  The problem is personal responsibility.  They don't proactively check their use, which is YOUR responsibility and NOT the carrier.  You are an adult, and you made an adult decision to get a service.  You're given the information up front on what you get with your plan, and how to monitor it.  You should be ashamed of demanding a babysitter.

You're usually going to get at least 2 out of the 3 options below...

Internet:  Log into your account online.  You'll probably find a big bright button as soon as you log in to check your current usage.  They don't hide this.
Call in:  It's a safe bet when you call your carrier, that annoying little menu system has an option there to check your use.
Text message alert:  You shoot a text to a short code, and it sends a text back telling you the use.

So let's try a new approach, let's be proactive to our responsibilities and put on our big kids pants.  Now hopefully I get a bit of relief and someone else agrees with me lol.

Priority Inbox

It's been a year since I started using Priority Inbox, and it hasn't helped me one bit. It may be that I actually get too much email for Google to handle. It labels things important that aren't that important to me -- like GetGlue notifications. I miss things like invitations for Fresh and Easy wine tastings, which are very important to me and which I mark as such. Still, a new one comes in and it gets buried in my general inbox. Luckily I have friends in real life who ask "Did you get the invite to such-and-such event?" prompting me to frantically search my email in the hopes that I am not a suddenly ostracized blogger.

Google advertises:

Email is great, except when there’s too much of it. Priority Inbox automatically identifies your important email and separates it out from everything else, so you can focus on what really matters. 

This little experiement has been a big fat fail for me. I have 500+ unread in my priority inbox that I need to sort out as "not important" since Google is not doing it automatically. This is not a time saver. Let's not even talk about my general inbox. I need to declare email bankruptcy at this point.

Has it worked for you? If so, what the heck am I doing wrong?