NorthStarNerd.Org

Recovering Memory on your Android Smartphone

Bloatware! Anytime you purchase an Android Smartphone it comes with all kinds of pre-installed apps. However, more often than not you rarely use these apps and to make matters worse ... these same apps take up valuable memory / storage space on your phone (or tablet). 

There exists a fairly easy solution. Via your settings menu, select the uninstall option for each application, Your device will confirm whether you actually want to delete the application, and should also inform you that the factory installed version of the app will be installed in place of the version you are deleting. Accept the noted actions by selecting "yes" and you are almost done.

You have to visit the Google Play store for each app and toggle off the "allow automatic updates" box (see image). This action will prevent the newer version of the apps from reinstalling over the factory version. Please note that the factory version of each application almost always uses up much less storage, and has the capabilities needed to use the service. Surprisingly, most people including myself feel the older version of Google Maps is much better than the new version. Smartphone and tablet apps are becoming similar to regular personal computer software. As the apps age they acquire more and more features, which often make them less use friendly ... bloatware.

 

A Superior Sunrise (Lake Superior Time Lapse Video!)

In the pre-dawn light this morning I wondered if the combination of clouds and clear sky might make for a beautiful sunrise over Lake Superior. The answer to my question was yes! This video reduces 22 minutes to 22 seconds and uses a CHDK Time Lapse Script on a Canon SX40 camera. The important item about that data is that I am NOT using a super expensive high end camera. My SX40 retails for Amazon at present for $320. However, by having installed CHDK I was able to enable many hidden features on my camera. Canon, like many vendors uses the same software on many of their camera, but often chooses not to makes certain features available. CHDK allows me to access those capabilities!

• Learn more (past NorthStarNerd.Org posts explaining / demonstrating CHDK)
  • Creating a Dual Boot Digital OS Camera
  • Northern Lights Photoshoot

• And a still photograph taken this morning!

Kill Your Android, iOS and Windows Auto-Updates!

One of the first settings you should disable upon acquiring any computer whether it is a Windows based PC, an Android smartphone or tablet, or an iOS device is the <auto-update function>. While you should still actively monitor new available updates particularily as system upgrades relate to security, it is dangerous to blindly accept auomatically everything Apple, Google and Microsoft push at your device.

The basic question is "why not auto-update". The temptation is to set your parameters to accept all updates, and then not worry about system currency. There are many problems with this blind accpetance approach:

• Is the physical time of day the upgrade gets pushed by the vendor convenient to you and your data plan? An update that occurs via your cell connection rather than wifi could end up costing you serious money depending upon your data plan.
• Software and App updates are not "bug free". It is not uncommon for some basic functionality to stop working or one of your apps to be incompatible with a new operatin system after newly installed updates. Here are two examples my family experienced recently:
  1. Upon upgrading to iOS7, my wifes iPad would not connect to our local wifi. This was obviously a problem.
  2. When Google upgraded my Nexus 10 tablet recently problems surfaced between the use of the OTG (on the go) USB cable interface for data transfer, and the actual ability to charge my tablet. Ultimately my tablet ran out of battery power and I lost valuable data. Given I was in the middle of my 2,300+ bike tour in a remote part of Quebec, I had few options available.
• In both of the cases outlined above, these "bugs" quickly became known issues for both Apple and Google. My families issues were not unique.
• An App you use may have different functionality, or lose functionality in an updated version. If you are on the road for a business trip or vacation, this could become a major a head-ache for you.

Assuming I've convinced you that "auto-updates" are a bad idea, here are some solutions for Android and Windows. Unfortunately as I do not use Apple's iOS devices, I can not recommend best approaches for dealing with this problem in that environment.

Windows: Disable Auto-Updates (click upon any image to view at full size)

Step #1

Step #2

Step #3

Android Auto-Updates

Step 1: As of the date this blog post was published, it is impossible to disable Android system updates, but one MAY disable updates to individual apps. Thus open up Google Play on your Android device 

Step 2: Select your specific installed App.

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Important Notes & Comments

1. What if you've already allowed an App to ugrade. Is it possible to back out of an installation? Yes, if your App was already installed by the factory when you purchased your device. Navigate to your list of installed Apps via your Android device's settings and follow these steps: Force shut down of App; Delete data; Uninstall App. You should be presented with a message warning you your App will revert to the Factory Installed Version. This is fine! If desired, you may always update again at a later time. I used this option to return to a previous version of Google Maps (learn why from a prior post)
2. How did you solve your Google Nexus 10 Charging Problem which was caused by the Android auto-update to 4.3 and your use of USB OTG (on the go)? Google has not chimed in with a solution, and the product forums have differing possible solutions. Here is what worked for me: purchase a Google Nexus 10 Pogo Charger (uses the magnetic port rather than the USB port on my Nexus 10). In addition, many people found the combination of these actions helpful: Shut down your Nexus 10 (do not just turn it off). Before your shut down insure your USB port has this setting enabled (see images).

Google Nexus 10 Charging Problem Image #1

Google Nexus 10 Charging Problem Image #2

Grand Gaspe Bicycle Tour is Complete!

2,350+ self supported bicycle miles! Complete.  We were on the road for just shy of two months, but are now home in Minnesota. Here is the completed trip diary:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/GrandGaspeTour

Drove home via the Straits of Mackinaw. Thus even our trip by car to and from the East Coast was memorable.