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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.

 

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

Monitoring the Northern Lights via your iPad or Android Device: Updated

Last night I watched the Northern Lights down on the shores of Lake Superior. The display was fantastic, and I even took photographs of the Aurora Borealis, but how did I even know it was worth staying up late and then spending 2+ hours down at Brighton Beach watching dancing lights fill the heavens till after 1 am in the morning??

(Although most of these post is still very relevant,. there is now even a better app for monitoring the Northern Lights ... see my post of November 15, 2013)

Given I love to sleep, enter some apps and bookmarked web pages which let me know IN ADVANCE whether I should be an insomniac for a given night! This post actually updated my entry from last Fall when I blogged about the same topic. I've actually changed my tune in terms of what I have installed on my Google Nexus 10 due to six months of additional testing. All of these services are free, but an investment of a few dollars will optimize your experience.

Here is the short list of what I use, followed by a more in depth explanation including screenshots and photos taken last night around 12:45 am:

• Apps:
  • AuroraNotifier - This app is my primary choice for my Nexus 10. One does not need the premium version. It does a great job of giving updates on short term viewing prospects (one hour forecast), and has a customizable alert which may be configured by the Kp index.
• Web Sites with a Home Screen Bookmark on my Tablet:
  • Aurora Forecast from the University of Alaska - A wealth of data may be found upon the Alaska site including long term forecasts, short term forecasts, and free email alerts. Visit the University of Alaska web site and out fill out their brief form. You will then receive email alerts whenever the Kp index is greater than a "4"
  • Ovation Aurora from the NOAA (National Weather Service) - See screenshot. This excellent map is color coded and lets me know the probabilty for viewing in my region

Please note I have removed Aurora Forecast (iOS and Android) from my most recommended list. I does a decent job of providing the long range forecast (1 to 7 days), but the short term forecast (next hour) is poor. However, I still keep it installed for a heads up it often gives me a number of days prior to an expected geomagnetic storm. 

Here are my screenshots with accompanying explanations taken during last nights' geomagnetic storm and my Northern Lights viewing down on the shores of Lake Superior. I've include two photos that I took around 12:30 am (ISO: 200, Aperture: 2.7, Exposure: 64 seconds).

Click upon any annotated screenshot or photo to view at full size!

Longer Term Northern Lights Forecast (1 to 7 days)
University of Alaska

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Short Term Northern Lights Forecast (1 hour)
University of Alaska

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Ovation Aurora Forecast (1 to 4 hours)
National Weather Service 

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AuroraNotifier Android App (and alerts)
Google Play

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Kp Northern Lights Chart
NOAA and the Planetary K Index

This chart will help you understand how a Kp number relates to viewing on the ground. Please note the Kp index gives the reading required for Northern Lights directly overhead. Depending upon atnosperic conditions, people to the south may be able to see the Aurora nearer the horizon.

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And finally two photos I took last night. If you are interested in photographing the Northern Lights I highly recommend reading these two web pages:

• How to Photograph the Northern Lights (AlaskaPhotoGraphics.Com)
• Shooting the Aurora Borealis (Dick Hutchinson)

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 Brighton Beach Northern Lights Photo #1 near Duluth Minnesota
Night of June 6/7, 2013

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Brighton Beach Northern Lights Photo #2 near Duluth Minnesota
Night of June 6/7, 2013

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I'm still learning night time photography, which involved hacking my Canon camera with CHDK, but that's a whole different topic! (Creating a Dual Boot OS Digital Camera)

App or Web Site? An Example Using Wildflower Photography

Two days ago I took a 38 mile bike ride along the Luce Line Trail. This abandoned gravel railroad grade reaches out into the central Minnesota countryside. After a long Winter and cold Spring, the wildflowers are finally starting to bloom. I decided it would be a nice photography lesson for me if I practiced closeups where the flower's bloom is the focus of the picture, with the background blurred out.

It was fun taking the photos, and when I returned home I wondered aloud to myself: "What flowers are these?" My first action was to retreat to my trusty Nexus 10 and search on "Minnesota Wildflower Apps".  Eureka, an app named Minnesota Wildflowers existed for $2.99. However, after reading a few reviews I discovered the app was the same service which was online via a superb web site. I found that the web site responded quicker than the "free lite" version of the app, and the advanced search was quicker than the app's search. In the end, I just bookmarked a "home screen" link to the web site. No app required.

My little scenario points out that it is often much better to use a web site for your tablet and/or smartphone needs. Optimizing an app for either Android or iOS can be a daunting task frought with development difficulties and bugs. As a consumer you will often be better off with bookmarking a humble web page which may perform more effectively ... and it's cheaper too!

Here the my flower photographs. Can you match the flower's image (click to maximize) to its name? (Hint: the names are often a dead giveaway)

• Dames Rocket
• Garden Yellow Rocket
• Ground Ivy
• Red Columbine
• Virginia Waterleaf
• Wild Geranium

 
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Buffleheads and Blackbirds on your Google Nexus 10

I often hear the comment, but the iPad has soooo many more apps than an Android tablet. While this may be true for gaming and music, if your tablet usage equates to other kinds of information consumption, this example of Bufflehead Ducks and Red-Winged Blackbirds via iBird Pro is an indication where avoiding Apple's closed environment for the world of Google is to your advantage ... and cheaper still!

Some background, whenever I take a bike ride, my DSLR camera is always with me. Remember, the adage, if you don't have your camera, you'll NEVER get the picture! Given our long Winter in Minnesota, even though it is just a few days shy of May 1st, snows is still on the ground, and the lakes are socked in with ice. Thus, whenever there is a bit of open water, even 30 yards between the shoreline and the ice sheet, the birds flock to these areas. In addition, birds that should be approaching the Canadian sub Arctic to spend the Summer, and stuck in Minnesota. Thus, it is with the Bufflehead Duck. These shy birds have paused their migration near my home. Using my camera seat as my tripod, I took the photo shown below.

While Red-Winged Blackbirds are a common sight, at this time of year they are trying to attrack a mate. Thus, another neat photo opportunity using my bike as a photo taking platform. With respect to the blackbirds, I knew what kind of bird I was viewing, but with Mr. Bufflehead, I had no idea what was the subject of my photos except the duck was not common to these parts. Enter my iBird Pro Android tablet app. (post continued below the bird photos with iBird screenshots and comments)

 
(click upon either image to view at full size and resolution)
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Now some information on the identification of Mr. Bufflehead using iBird Pro

(click to view any of these six screenshots at full size / resolution)

1. Enter Galley Mode ... Whoa ... Way to many birds! (923)
2. Press <Search> to Select and Apply some Filters
   (screenshots for #1 and #2)
      
   .
3. My selections: 
   • Habitat: "Lakes, Rivers & Ponds" and "Marches, Swamps"
   • Shape: "Duck-like"
   • Location: "Minnesota"
     (screenshots for #3)
      
     . 
4. I now reapply my search and a very management number of ducks appears - 32
5. More importantly, I quickly identify Mr. Bufflehead!
   (screenshots for #4 and #5)
    

This is just one example of why your knee jerk reaction when shopping for a tablet should be an iPad. I hope you can appreciate that even if you are not an expert bird watches, iBird Pro walks the user through an easy process which yields a positive identification. Thus, next time you'be able to know the answer to the question, what bird is that?

You may wish to see my other posts in this series of Google Nexus 10 Android Tablet Reviews.

1. Honeywell Minus iPad = Nexus 10
2. Nexus 10: In Depth Review
3. Northern Lights Alerts & Monitoring via the Nexus 10
4. Nexus 10: Follow Up Review
5. Creating True HDR Photos on your Android Tablet | Nexus 10