Essential Android Apps

Did you just switch to a smartphone and don't have a clue on what apps to install? New to Android?Here's a run down of my essential Android apps that should be on your Android device. Almost all these apps are FREE by the way.

1. SwiftKey 3 Keyboard 

SwiftKey is one of the best keyboard replacements for Android. The keyboard spacing is better than the default S3 keyboard and the text prediction is one of the best you will find. The app will actually scan all your texts and email (with your permission of course) to find out what your commonly used words are. After that, autosuggestion of words becomes very intuitive. You'll be pleasantly surprised when work jargon, non-English words you commonly use, and even full hashtags are automatically suggested as you type.

Add to the spacing, it also has several color themes you can choose from. Since I use a white S3, I figured a clean white keyboard would look best with my phone.

2. AirDroid

Everyone connects their phones to their laptops. Even during the Nokia days, USB connectors were essential for transferring music, photos, and even sending texts through your computer.

AirDroid does all of that and more without a cable, via wifi, and through your internet browser.

This app connects your Android to your computer via your wifi network. Once you're connected, you can transfer files (straight to the folder you want), explore the contents of your phone, view and send text messages, and view other details of your phone.

The way the app connects your phone to your computer is pretty cool too. You first go to the AirDroid webpage where a unique QR code will be shown. Then, you open the app on your phone and use the camera to scan the QR code on the screen. A few seconds later and everything on your phone can be accessed through your browser. No typing of passwords or selecting networks/computers. Once your phone reads the QR code, it connects and you can access your phone through your browser.

There are also options to connect the two through passwords and unique URLs, but QR code scanning is the easiest and the coolest. For me, this is the best use of QR codes I've ever come across.

Connecting via your internet browser means that you don't have to download anything on your computer. As long as you have a browser (of course, it has to be updated) you can connect to your phone.

3. Dropbox

If you want to treat your phone as another drive on your computer, dragging and dropping or copy-pasting files from Explorer/Finder folders to your phone, DropBox is the best solution for you.

You have to download an application on your computer and your phone individually and set it up, but once it's done, sharing ANY file between your phone and computer is extremely easy.

A real life example: I took a screenshot on my phone which I want to include in this post. After I took the screenshot, I went to gallery and selected share to Dropbox. Now, I just browse through the files on my computer, go to to the Dropbox "drive", and then select the photo. Easy.

Additionally, Dropbox has the option to automatically save the photos you take on your phone onto Dropbox. This ensures that all your photos have a backup copy and makes it easy to view them from any web device.

Actually if you have a Google+ account, your Android phone will automatically backup your pictures to your Picasa as well. What, you don't have a Picasa account? If you have a Google account, you do.


4. The Social Network Bundle: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

I don't think I need to explain this one. Also of note are Pinterest, Tumblr, Google+, and foursquare. If you're on these social networks, then always be on.

I'll talk about aggregators in another post. Also, see Flipboard below. 

5. The Google Bundle: Google Gesture Search / Gmail / Google Drive / Google Goggles / Google Translate 

For me, Google Gesture Search is the simplest and smartest launcher available.

The app will index all your apps, contacts, and music. Once the app is open, use your fingers to write individual letters anywhere on the screen. The app will then search your phone and display a list of what it thinks you want to open. Whatever you want to open on your phone is just a click and a few letter swipes away.

Gesture Search will also figure out which apps, contacts, or music you access the most. So the next time you write a C, the Calculator app automatically leaps to the top of the list.

Bonus: Another app, Gesture Search Bar, allows you to open Gesture Search through the notifications (swipe down) screen. 

Yes, you have a built in email app, but if you have a Gmail account the Gmail app will be prettier and more intuitive. It will also give you access to "stars" and "important" email. If you use Gmail, ditch the default email app and make the Gmail app your primary email app.

If you use Google Drive (formerly known as Google Docs) get the app for easier access. Google Docs used to be a free online "Microsoft Office" where people can simultaneously edit a document. It still functions as such, but now has additional features.

Earlier this year, Google decided to revamp Google Docs and turned it into Google Drive. The change of name is because Google wanted to do what Dropbox is doing. Essentially, Google Drive functions exactly like Dropbox, as free cloud storage.

The main reason I use Dropbox over Google Drive is because I have 50 GB in Dropbox that I gained through referrals. My Google Drive only has 5GB of free space.

I however still use Google Drive because I have a lot of spreadsheets and documents in Drive/Docs that I work on.

Google Goggles is an amusing little app. If you want to talk about practicability, it functions as a QR code reader (3D barcode reader).

Aside from that, it recognizes logos, foreign language characters, and popular pictures and tells you what the images are. It can integrate itself into your camera so it will automatically scan whatever you take pictures of and tell you what you're shooting.

Google's mission with this app: you can already search by typing text and using your voice, Goggles lets you search through your camera.

Okay, this app is not really "essential" but Google Translate has a pretty cool trick: it can translate actual foreign speech into text. Have someone say something in another language into the app and it translates the language for you on your phone. You can then type in your response in English and the app will read the translated text to the person you're talking to in the foreign language.

It also does what Goggles does, translating text you take through your camera into English (or whatever language you like). So if there are Japanese characters on the biscuit you're eating and you want to know what it means, open the app and it will magically translate it for you.

Not exactly apps, Google Calendar and Google Contacts should be integrated into your phone already. Make sure your accounts are connected for cloud backup, anytime access from any web device, and hassle free phone upgrading.

Also, your built in photo gallery can also be linked with Picasaweb. If you have Picasa on your computer, syncing between your computer, phone, and the cloud is super easy. On your desktop, you can select albums in Picasa you want to sync to the web and it gets synced. What is on the web will also appear on your phone if your connection is always on.

Oh, the perks of being on Google.

6. SMS alternatives: Go SMS Pro or Handcent

I pick between the two for aesthetic reasons. I originally used Handcent but I switched to Go SMS Prop because I liked the iPhone-like messaging layout (I came from an iphone) and subdued color scheme.

Both apps are powerpacked with features but one of the best features available in both is the ability to schedule text messages. If you want to be the first to greet your friend a happy birthday, but you're already sleepy, you can create your message at 7pm and tell the app to send it at 12am.

If you know other people who use the same app, you can also both create an account and send free texts through the internet. There are a lot of internet messaging services out there, but since this is integrated into your main SMS app, sending internet messages becomes less cumbersome.

A unique feature of Handcent is the ability to delay text messages. Once you hit send, it waits a few seconds before it actually sends the message. Why do that? Just in case you realize that you sent your text to the wrong person or that autocorrect picked the wrong word, you still have time to hit cancel and avoid that embarrassing text.


7. *updated* If you've been here before, please don't download Double Twist. It doesn't sync playcounts back to iTunes, it only syncs it to the Double Twist desktop. They have lots of hooks for upgrades and I'm frankly not happy. I apologize for endorsing them earlier.

I am currently on the hunt for the best music players and syncers.

For sure, iSync really syncs back playcounts to iTunes. The interface however is crude and there are connection issues with newer phones.

So, the search still continues. If you have any ideas, please hit up the comments.


8. Flipboard

Quite simply, Flipboard is the prettiest way to view online content on your tablet. It excels in converting your Facebook and Twitter feed into a flippable magazine complete with automatically loaded pictures, article text, and varying layouts.

Great for tablets, pretty good for phones.

9. The always on communicator bundle: WhatsApp + Viber

If your contacts have unlimited mobile internet or if you need to communicate with people from across the world, Whats App will give you free text messaging and Viber will give you free voice calls.

The best feature for both is each app's ability to scan your contact list and tell you who among your contacts are also using WhatsApp/Viber.

In reality, Viber also has messaging features, but I find that more people are on WhatsApp.

I would have added Facebook Messenger to this list, but the existing Facebook app already incorporates the features of Facebook Messenger. If someone sends you a direct message in FB, your phone will already prompt you with a notification if you're always on and have the official FB app.

10. The Note Bundle: Any.Do + AK Notepad

The prettiest and most straightforward to-do list for Android must be Any.Do. It has a clean and minimalist interface & widget selection. It can sync with your Chrome browser on your computer so you can view your to-dos or add additional tasks from your browser.

There are a lot of notepad apps out there but (especially if you're coming form an iPhone) AK Notepad looks the most like a notepad.

Both Any.Do and AK Notepad also backup your data in the cloud. At this day and age, backing up your phone's data should really be automatic.

There are still a lot of great Android apps out there, but more on those some other time. If you're new to the Android community, these apps should maximize your connectivity and productivity already.

Enjoy!

12 Things I Love About the Galaxy S3

I recently bought a Galaxy S3 after owning a Galaxy Nexus and an iPhone. After deciding between the S3 and the Lumia 900, I'm convinced that the S3 is the best phone available as of today.

HERE ARE 12 REASONS WHY:

1. Off the bat, it's the speed. The quad-core just does wonders. Think about it, this phone is more powerful that probably 70% of the world's laptops right now.

2. ICS all the way. True multitasking, resizable widgets, flexibility, control. Apple and Nokia are miles away from having all these freedoms.

3. Surprisingly, the screen is just the right size. Perhaps it's because I got used to the Nexus and my other phone prior was an Xperia Arc. I'm sure people with Galaxy Notes will say that their screens are just the right size as well, but given all the biases, I think the screen is just right.

Tip: When you're moving from small screens to these big screens, it's important to realize that you have to change how you hold the phone. Instead of cupping the phone with your whole palm with fingers wrapping over the edge, your fingers just have to be at the back of these bigger phones.

When you realize the change, navigation becomes easy and you'll wonder why you kept up with such small phones in the past.

4. All the "natural" motion sensors. The front facing camera looks at your eyes to stop the phone from dimming the backlight. You can unlock the screen using face unlock, by using your voice, or by moving the phone around a certain way. You can launch the camera from standby by touching the screen and holding the phone as if you were going to take a picture. You're reading a text, put the phone to your ear and it starts calling that contact.

Needless to say, the gyroscope is used to full effect. I haven't seen a phone maximize movements so much. It actually makes sense to me now why Samsung used their human nature theme.

The gestures make sense! I never really fully appreciated the reviews until I got to use it for myself. Now, I'm a fan. I hope all future phones act this way.

5. Improved TouchWiz launcher. Coming from a purely native Nexus, I wasn't such a big fan of the TouchWiz when I started using it. My ex had an S3 and I wasn't really impressed with how the whole thing worked.

That is until I decided to just overhaul all the preset widgets. I removed everything, put in my folders, and all of a sudden, it just made sense.

I hate that I can't move the apps/trash button though. I would really rather have that in the middle much like the Nexus.

Plus points to the fact that when you reach the right or leftmost screen, it goes back to the first one. Also, when you're moving around icons on the launcher, you can actually tilt the phone to the left or right and the screens automatically move to the direction you want to go. Pretty neat.

6. Hold menu for Google search. I was looking for the omnipresent Google search bar at the top of the launcher, but I realized that if I just hold the menu button for more than a second the search dialogue appears. Now I have more room for my widgets!

7. S-Voice. It's a pretty noble effort and having been disappointed with Siri, I would say that it's at the minimum at par. I haven't really fully explored S-Voice yet, but just the fact that it tries to constantly learn how I talk is a big thing already for me.

8. Flipboard and apps. Being a former iphone user, I hated the fact that there was no Flipboard for Android. Actually, the fact that there was no Flipboard, Temple Run, and Instagram. Well folks, they're all on Android already. I think those three are the last breed of relevant apps that are iOS-centric. Certainly, software developers can not deny that there are now more users of Android than iOS.

In a year or so, there will probably be more Android apps than iOS apps already.

9. Functional standby screen. So Apple wanted to sue Google for slide to unlock? Well, the S3 certainly kicks that argument in the ass by coming up with something much better than that ancient movement.

From the standby screen, you can view time, weather, news, stocks, notes so you won't even need to open your phone. PLUS, you can pick up to 4 apps that you can launch from the standby screen by simply swiping their icons on the screen. AND, if you have messages or notifications that are pending, they appear as bubbles on the standby screen so you can simply swipe them and go to those notifications immediately.

10. It comes in blue or white. The important thing here is that it isn't black. That already says a lot about how Samsung is moving forward. Apple made a killing with their white gadgets. Why would people let go of their old phones just to get a white version? Beats me, but that's what the consumer wants.

I don't understand why it took manufacturers such a long time to realize that black was just plain dull. Safe is not good enough anymore.

11. The screen is beautiful; the sound is great. This is a great improvement from the S2 and the Nexus which sounded like it had mono speakers. Well, the S3 does still have only one speaker, but sound quality and volume is so much better now.

12. Quick controls are available from the notifications bar. All of us Android folk are used to having power buttons that control wifi, brightness, bluetooth, etc on our widget walls. The S3 has put them all on the topmost part of the notifications. It makes sense, it saves on screen real estate, and it makes you wonder why no one thought of that before.

A note about iOS 6: Please also understand that I am writing this as someone who already was using ICS. If I decide to compare this with iOS 6, there would be more to write about (and that's another article). 

Most of the improvements you see in iOS 6 are actually available in Android as additional apps. That feature is still missing in the iOS world. 

To be fair, Google and Samsung have also been getting ideas from these add-on apps and integrating them into the core OS. That may be unfair to the developers, but it's a win for the consumers in the end.


I must say that I'm really just nitpicking at this point, but for the sake of objectivity, here are some points for improvement on the S3:

1. Style wise, the silver bezel makes it look a little less modern and gives an 80s design vibe to the aesthetics.

2. Being a former Galaxy Nexus user, I'm convinced there is no need for a physical button on the face of the phone. I'm pretty sure the S4 won't have any buttons anymore.

I'm sure all the iphone users with that floating white orb on their screens will agree with this point as well.

3. The LED is too big. I love its functionality, but the light blends through the plastic and it makes the phone look a little cheap. Yes, it's great design that the light seeps through the plastic, that there is no physical LED light visible when the light is off, but it could have been executed better.

4. This is really an ICS issue, but we want to see a launcher that will work in landscape mode already. Hopefully, it will be available with the release of Jelly Bean.

5. The keyboard and the messaging app suck big time. The native ICS keyboard and messaging apps were good enough, I don't know why Samsung had to make their own versions.

Fortunately, as I've mentioned, it's easy to replace those in the Google ecosystem. I recommend using SwiftKey and Handcent SMS as alternatives.


All in all, this is the best phone I've ever held in my hands. I'm happy with my buy. And even if distribution in my home market sucks (I'm talking to you Samsung) I'll gladly be an ambassador for this phone.

As of posting, this is the best phone in circulation anywhere in the world and it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

It's more fun in the Philippines

Since my photo folder was already open, decided to make a few more:

Viva Pit Senyor!

Because it's Sinulog but I'm not there, decided to just make a contribution to the #itsmorefuninthePhilippines campaign.

Photos from Sinulog 2010.

You touch the right spots (iOS 4.3 preview)

Part of what I've been looking forward to see in Honeycomb is the transitions between open apps. It's like an alt+tab using your fingers. The transitions are apparently great in HP's touchpad (i.e. the video keeps on running through the thumbnails). Same is somewhat true with the demos of Honeycomb, including the drag and drop between windows.

I've complained about how the iOS will lag against these new features on Honeycomb, but come on, Apple knows better than that.

Here's a hands on video featuring the new iOS features:

• The five finger "close" gesture will close your current app and return to home (the counterpart of tapping the home key)
• A 4-finger scroll upwards is the equivalent of the double tap on home, revealing the apps that are open for multi-tasking
• While a 4-finger towards the left or right scrolls through open apps.

It looks great. Good sign of things to come.

Rumor has it, the ipad 3 may not even have any dedicated buttons, just a screen. I can see that working. Again, a step ahead of the competition. Damnit. This iOS upgrade will help with the catchup, but it of course will not be enough.

Scream for Ice Cream

Already there are details on Honeycomb's successor, Ice Cream, which is supposedly marrying the best of Gingerbread and Honeycomb.

Here I am considering a Gingerbread phone (Sony's Xperia Arc), looking at a Honeycomb tablet, and praying for a Honeycomb phone by the end of the year, and already there's a successor! These aren't just minor changes between versions either, each upgrade is a whole new experience. These transitions are incredibly fast and is a clear indicator for me that Android is the way to go.

Here come the tablets! One after the other, manufacturers are coming out with tablets that will feature the new Honeycomb OS. As I've noted before, the iOS just fails in comparison against this beast from Google. Every other competitor of the iPad before these tablets were running the wrong OS (read: Windows).

Honeycomb as an OS works. It works better than the iOS on the iPad. And as it can be used by any manufacturer, this just might be the tipping point that will strengthen the second wave of the tablet revolution.

The first real competitor of the iPad was really the Galaxy Tab. But inconspicuously, it differentiated itself from the iPad through one glaring difference: the size. To a point, that was kind of clever. It tried to define a new category and decided not to go heads on versus the Apple pioneer.

One area where the ipad is still untouchable though is the price. Brian Chen from Wired.com has a good theory as to how Apple does it: as Apple does everything in house, from OS development to retailing, they eliminate a lot of costs along the way.

My love's a revolver, an iphone killer

I'm overdue for a new phone, but I'm holding on to my money till a Honeycomb phone arrives. If rumors are true, a version will materialize by Q3 this year: the HTC Revolver. Not much news about it, except for the fact that it will have the new OS.

I was supposed to get an iphone 4 by Christmas last year, but I put it on hold to balance out my spending. Good thing I did! Right now, prices of the iphones are dropping. Stocks are also starting to build and promos are popping up left and right. That only means one thing: there's probably going to be an iphone 5 soon. Already, Engadget reports a bigger 4-inch screen for the iphone 5 (in contrast to the current 3.5 inch screens). Other sources also point to a slide-out keyboard, which will be a first for the iphone series. The iphone will probably go the route of the ipods in terms of diversification: the 5 will be the touch, a new iphone nano will be the nano, and the 3Gs and 4 will be the ipod classic. Fearless forecast, Iphone 5 out by July.

Very exciting news for Apple, BUT I'm still going to wait for that Honeycomb phone. Still am clueless even as to what sense a Honeycomb OS will be of use to a small device, but I'm really after the technology. I need an Android phone that will match up to my iphone. No other smartphone is up to par up to now. The Nexus S is a close second. There are no concrete competitors in the near future. So, I'm pinning all my hopes on the Revolver and its Samsung and Google phone counterpart.

Here's Google's official Honeycomb video preview. Not as impressive as the Xoom hands on, not as sexy as a Mac, but full of potential.

Worth the wait, I tell you. Don't buy an ipad! As for me, I'm sticking to my 3GS for now.

Get it together

So what's going to ruin the Xoom? Business. At $800, getting a Xoom is just ridiculous. Also, reports have it that WIFI will only be enabled with a plan. What? That's just a bunch of crap.

Their superbowl commercial wasn't as existing as I thought it would be either:

But not to worry, Samsung has already announced the protégé to the Galaxy Tab, the lousily but practically named Galaxy Tab II. This pretty young thing will also sport the promising Honeycomb OS.

Motorola Xoom Superbowl ad teaser

Remember that post about Honeycomb? The video in that was the Motorolla Xoom.

Here's a sneak peak at their ad coming out for the Superbowl.

If you were Apple fans in the 80s, doesn't this seem a bit familiar? Apple is the new Microsoft. Ha!

I swear, this is a genuine ipad competitor. Well, at least from what I've been reading. I reckon when the big guns (apparently, Motorolla is not a big gun) get their hands on Honeycomb. Tic-tic-tic. The end is near.

Will post the full ad when I find it.

Honeycomb on the horizon

Google is coming up with Android Honeycomb soon and there's been a lot of good reviews on the net. Things are looking very promising. This early, I can say that I am definitely not going to buy an ipad. It just seems to be lagging in features—actually, as it always has.

High on the praise list for Honeycomb is how widgets don't have to snap to a wide grid. This means that your tablet is already starting to work more like how a computer's user interface works. There will also apparently be options at the top of the screen where you can toggle menus and other application options. Again, computer behavior floating to the top.

This is the most fluid Android OS I've ever seen by far. Check out this hands on video from TechCrunch:

The obvious fault of early Windows tablets was that it was a computer OS shoved into a tablet. The processing power in the tiny devices just wasn't strong enough, rendering these early renditions too slow. But beyond that, using them they just didn't feel right. It was a mouse and keyboard centric world trapped in a touch interface (they even wanted you to use a stylus).

Apple started it right. They picked a behavior and built the tablet around it. Even the applications were built specifically for how the tablet was used. Although they were immensely successful at creating a new category, they now have to evolve faster than Google.

Google is already moving in the right direction. The ipad just isn't fulfilling its potential. Although for some people, simplicity is a distinct advantage, when Google cracks how to fully maximize the tablet, opening it up to a universe of applications that the ipad just can't hack, Google's OS will rise the way Windows 3.1 once did.

It doesn't help that Steve Jobs is sick.

The future of the ipad will mean that MacBooks will be rendered obsolete. If you can edit photos and videos on an ipad, when they reach 15 inches and more, when they have the processing power neatly hidden in a thin sheet, why would you still need a laptop? Google's laptop quite frankly sucks and failed with the critics. They've got nothing to lose moving into this direction. Incidentally, it was earlier reported that ipad sales were actually bigger than MacBook sales in 2010. So it looks like this is really the way to go.

So the question now is, who will get there first? And remember, there are two dimensions to this race: operating system and hardware. Honeycomb is definitely getting close to the ideal state. If Google can keep this pace and decent hardware options appear, watch out Apple, the end is near.

Streaming video to my HD TV

I used to own an HP laptop. To watch movies on my TV, I just connected my laptop to the TV via a VGA cord. It worked pretty well, except that my laptop was all the way beside the TV and to control any features I had to crawl towards my console. I actually thought of buying an expensive wireless mouse to solve that problem.

Well, that laptop is dead and I now own a MacBook Pro. And as you MBP users know, we don't have VGA ports.

Been watching video on my laptop the past few months, while my TV gloats in the background. Decided to maximize my assets. So I searched around for an alternative and found the WD TV LIVE.

Seems like a good idea.

First of all, it's pretty cheap.

Second, it plays a wide range of file formats. The only exception would be "protected" file formats, but what pirate would have that right?

It also has a remote control and a DVD-like UI.

I'm looking at buying one this week and looking forward to testing it out soon.

Zeitgeist 2010

I saw this video a few days ago and decided to share it still.



We're a month into the year and I think it's a great time to reflect on the hopefulness and ambition we had 30 days ago.

It's going to be an awesome year. It's totally in our hands still. Keep on going. Don't stall. Do it now.

Incidentally, I started a FB page that should keep you inspired through the year. It's called GV Quotes (also, follow it on Twitter). It's actually a project I started a few weeks ago. The purpose is really just to share positivity. Like it. Be a fan. Contribute.

11 months to go. Let's do this people!

Armchair Creative

Stumbled upon this article about being an armchair creative from the99percent:

But the thing is, the time I spend in the armchair is usually some of the most creative and productive time in my whole week. I go there when I need to stop and look at the big picture, or think through a complex problem that has me stumped. (Are you an armchair creative? by Marc McGuinness)

Basically, it suggests that you should have a place at work where you can take a step back and change the view. This for me is usually lunch time (which is why I never have lunch in our building) but it can also mean any place that will allow you to take a breather. Hopefully, that little break will allow you to see what you are working on from a different perspective and thus allow you to take a more creative approach.

I often also encounter this when I conduct field checks or attend conferences or workshops. A day away from work actually allows me to see the bigger picture, making me see other ways of doing or approaching things. In many cases, it actually makes me realize WHY I do what I do. I focus less on the specifics and more on the reasons or end goals and that makes a big difference.

Another angle I got from this short article is that where you work and how you "dress up" your workspace actually affects how you perform. Personally, I like changing things up to avoid the monotony. This appeals to me now because I have a lot of projects pending (outside my day job) and working in my room may not always be the best alternative. I'm probably going to set days where I work in cafe shops or other public places to keep the juices flowing.

I'm looking forward to a very productive & creative year. I hope it is for you as well.

Scott Pilgrim DVD Extras

If you liked Scott Pilgrim vs The World, check this out: alternative scenes for the movie from the DVD extras.

Enjoy!

Getting fit through Google

Stumbled across this video from Google:

If I only had an Android phone, I'm pretty sure that I would get that wifi weighing scale and pedometer. Actually, there should already be a pedometer app by that time.

I think autosync is a good thing. I used to (because I haven't been running in a while) really appreciate Nike+ tracking my workouts. A visual representation (especially using graphs) of your workouts can actually encourage you to push yourself more. Seing how much (or how little) you run at x pace through y distances and z times plotted in tables, graphs, or even through a "wall" can help you plan and set goals better.

If you think about it, it puts the work of a personal trainer into your hands. It's a great idea.

Of course, this is another example of how Google runs our lives. But again, I'm not complaining. I really am just waiting for Android to match up to the flawless UI that my iphone provides. I digress.

For now, I am stuck with Nike+ (which by the way is connected to my Apple devices) and I have no way of monitoring my weight. That still works, but I'm sure I'll get more progress if more of my activities were tracked.

What gets measured, gets done.

Playlist: Crazy

Today’s playlist theme is crazy.

Craziness can be confusing, but I think we all need a little bit of it every now and then.

First, something from the best band in the universe, U2. This song is actually one of the staples on my running playlist. I think it has something to do with the cartoons running in this video.

So, when was the last time you thought to yourself, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.

Next, a song from the most handsome man in the world. This person not only proposed inside a decked out igloo in the Canadian rocky mountains via helicopter, but he's also married to Heidi Klum—and they have 4 kids now. So, who’s got game?

Heidi probably wouldn’t have gone for Seal if she wasn’t a bit crazy. And Seal wouldn’t have probably gotten the eye of Heidi if he wasn’t a bit crazy himself. Looks like he took a page out of his own body of work. We’re never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy.

This is Seal with Crazy.

What’s the most awesome way to announce to the world that you have an 18-year old daughter? Feature her half-naked in your music video. Add to that the Clueless 90’s heartthrob Alicia Silverstone and you've got gold.

Featuring Liv Tyler's grand reveal to the world, Aerosmith's Crazy.

At this point, I want to introduce something that this isn’t a video and isn’t even remotely connected to music, but I just want to share. Do you have your Joe with cream and sugar? Well, Meet Joe Black. It’s hard to fall in love with the angel of death, but that’s the kind of stuff that leads to true love apparently. You think Claire Forlani would have her doubts right? She did. But these are her dying father's words of wisdom:

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find that person? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

Yes, I think I’ve lost it. But I think you’re crazy, just like me. Who do you think you are?

And after all of these videos and—err—quotes, just remember that you always have to draw the line somewhere. We all get a little crazy sometimes and it's good, but let's not go overboard and become sociopaths. Don't go blowing up buildings—or minds for that matter.

I don't want to have an anti-climactic, disclaimer infused ending to this playlist.

Sometimes, we're on the verge of going out of our minds, but we muster up enough sanity to accompany the crazy. Hopefully, it's for a worthwhile cause.

Let's end this list with a classic, U2's With Or Without You

Playlist:

1. U2 - I'm Gonna Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
2. Seal - Crazy
3. Aerosmith - Crazy
4. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
5. Musiq - Halfcrazy
6. U2 - With or Without You

New Music Weekend

It's a crazy mix this week.

First, a great new find, Two Door Cinema Club.

I'm a big fan of Phoenix and I was very happily surprised to somehow have come across this band. I think I like all their songs in their album. Their album, Tourist History, which I got hold of has 10 tracks and I love all of them. I think their current single is Undercover Martyn (shown above).

Interestingly enough, the band's Facebook page has their genre listed as "alteronica". That's super awesome. Haha!

Next we have something for the more mature music lovers out there.

Seal's Soul and Harry Connick, Jr's Your Songs. Here are two of my favorite songs from the two albums. (These aren't music videos, but it's the easiest way I can put the songs here)

And for some strange reason, I've been singing this song since Sunday morning.

Okay, time to change the mood. Something more current. This next one is from the OST of Step Up 3 (yes, that 3D dance movie). Trey Lorenz with Already Taken.

Interestingly enough, this video also features dance with chalk. In Justin Beiber's Somebody To Love, they also have dancing with chalk. Is this a new trend?

Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet -- Engadget

Cathay Pacific will offer really fast WIFI and pay-per-view across their entire fleet by early 2012. They will also have voice services and live TV, but who cares about those.

I wonder how long it will take other airlines to follow suite. This is reason enough for me to pick Cathay for my next trans-pacific flight (at least starting 2012). Pay-per-view means that you can watch live sports events miles in the air--LIVE. You no longer have to miss anything while flying.

This better be a standard by 2015.

Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet -- Engadget

Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse

We all get crazy over seemingly useless gadgets once in a while--and we all should. My current guilty pleasure lies in the Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse.

It’s a mouse. It’s wireless. But the unique thing about this fancy little rodent is that it doesn’t use a laser to track movement. Instead, motion is detected via an accelerometer and gyroscope combination.

So you can use it the way you would use a magic wand (come on, you've waved an imaginary wand at least once in the past 3 months). You don’t need a flat surface too. You can be on your back, in bed, with your eyes half closed, and still control your mouse by just waving it around in the air.

Why in the world would this be particularly useful?

Well, I came across this peripheral while I was trying to put together my home entertainment system. I needed something to control my computer which was all the way across the room. Naturally, I checked out wireless mice but the common drawback was that they all needed a flat, solid surface to work. And then came this wonderful gem from Logitech.

The mouse also features a touch scroll pad (not a clickity wheel) for scrolling through whatever you may be reading as well as dedicated buttons for back, pause/play, and volume. The volume button is pretty interesting as if you hold it and wave your mouse to the right the volume actually increases, and vice versa. I could spend all day doing that.

Battery life is supposedly very good (comes with a dock) and range reaches about 30 feet—just in case you’d ever be that far from your computer.
And did I mention that it looks real cool as well?

People, this is a must have!

But why doesn’t everyone have one? It retails for about $90 on Amazon or Php 5,750 on PCX. Ouch! But hey, you’re sure to impress whoever is lucky enough to pass by your room.

New Music Weekend (favorite albums)

This week, I'm going with 2 of my current favorite albums.

First we have The Bird and The Bee's Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1 - A Tribute to Daryll Hall & John Oates.

This album is just great. Combine The Bird and The Bee's mild synthpop, mellow vocals, and classic Hall & Oates songs and you get an album that will definitely get you into the groove.

Best tracks for me are I Can't Go For That, Kiss Is On My List, One On One, and Maneater. I'm sure you know all those songs, and you probably like them, but The Bird And The Bee bring a different feel to it. They don't change it out too much, but they apply their style to the classics very effectively.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Here's a clip from The Bird And The Bee's guest appearance on Ellen:

Next is the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I know nothing about indie music. I just like it. That's what was first apparent to me when I got a copy of this album. Of the 15 artists in this compilation, I only knew 2.

I loved the movie, but it took an HBO screening to make me wonder why I never got the album. So I did, and I was really impressed.

Of the 15 tracks in the album, I loved 13 of them.

It's hard to pick a favorite track, but notable are The Real Tuesday Weld's Last Words, Vampire Weekend with Ottoman, Riot Radio by The Dead 60's, Fever by Takka Takka, Xavia by The Submarines, and Paul Tiernan's How To Say Goodbye. Again, it's really hard to pick a favorite track.

Here's a sample of one of my favorite tracks, The Real Tuesday Weld with Last Words:

It's a very laid back album that sounds very indie. Indie is now a genre right? If you can remember filler scenes from the movie where they show New York at 4 in the morning, the album feels like that.

Again, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.