Slacker Station Caching (updated 2/24/10)

Update 2/24/2010: I've been using Slacker 2.0 for about a day now and want to give a quick review of features.

• Cached radio stations are downloaded to your memory card so you can listen to slacker radio without a network connection. 
• Caching greatly increases battery performance. 
• Stations can automatically be refreshed overnight when phone plugged in.
• The interface is very smooth and responsive
• App comes with a nice widget with album art
• Share music your listening with friends via email, sms or twitter.

Slacker 2.0 Widget

Unfortunately, to enable slacker caching you need slacker radio plus which is $4.99/month but there is a 14-day free-trial period.  I personally don't mind paying the $5 a month since I can now use slacker while I'm at work with no cell service, at home though the web, and in the car via FM transmitter. Works as a nice satellite radio alternative.

Update 2/23/2010: Slacker 2.0 (v2.0.40) was released today with caching capabilities. I am downloading now and will post later with more info.  Enjoy!

Reader Jimmy S submitted a question asking:

Can you find me a way to continue using pandora at work.  My productivity has suffered since they blocked it.

I am not a pandora user so I don't know much about the android app. I do know that one feature that's missing is station caching.  I use slacker radio on both the desktop and android and before I switched to android, the blackberry slacker version had caching. Station caching ables you to listen without an internet connection; It works by saving the stations music to your internal memory card. It also saves battery life because its not using the network connection. Unfortunately, slacker 2.0, the version that supports caching, was announced at the 2010 CES and is not currently released. As soon as its released (hopefully 2-3 weeks) I will make sure to update the post.

Slacker 1.0.388 on Motorola Droid

Android Google Maps 4.0...now with buzz

4 days after I wrote about Google Maps 3.4 with Pinch Zoom, Google Maps  (v4.0 for Motorola Droid) came out with Buzz support. Post a buzz with or without a picture and view other people's buzzes(?) that are near you.

Swype Tips and Tricks [video]

As a follow-up to my previous post on Swype, I decided to make a video showing some tips and tricks. Its my first video so comments are greatly appreciated. 

Reader DCuTiE17 posted a question asking how to delete a word from the Swype Dictionary. If you watched the video above you remember that I added a word "hffvug". All you need to do to remove it is write the word and click the swype icon in the in the bottom left of the keyboard. You will then be prompted to remove the word from the Swype Dictionary.  

Android 2.1 for Droid rolling out 'this week'

Updated (2/14/2010)

Well motorola took back their statement on releasing the Android 2.1 update "this week" but they did release a page on their website that gives a timeline on update. The offical new statement for the Droid is:

The DROID by Motorola over-the-air software upgrade is expected to roll out soon

Motorola announced on their facebook page:

Hi all-- we know you are frustrated with the lack of details regarding Android software upgrades and we sincerely apologize for not being able to share info sooner. We're happy to relay the 2.1 upgrade to DROID will start to roll out this week, and we will have more information to share on other device upgrades laterthis week as well. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

And according to engadget the 2.1 motorola droid update will contain the following updates:

• Identified as 2.1 version 1, mirroring the update just pushed to the Nexus One last week.
• Google Goggles will be pre-installed
• The browser's now has multi-touch enabled, just like Google Maps 3.4
• No Flash support
• The home screen's still has the 2.0.1 look, no rotating 3D grid of app icons (people think its because the Nexus One doesn't have a slider and the icon grid was not designed for landscape mode.
• No active wallpapers
• The news and weather widgets introduced on the Nexus One are included. 
• No information if the Picture Gallery will be multi-touch and 3D same as on the Nexus One or not
• Music Player Application Updates
• Voice Recognition for text input screens

Google Maps 3.4...now with pinch zoom

I just downloaded the new version of Google Maps (v3.4 for Motorola Droid) from the Market and it has multi-touch pinch zoom support. Hopefully this means we are closer to getting the browser/gallery updated in a software update soon. This update also includes the Navigation "night mode" that was released a few days ago on the Nexus One. (Night mode automatically is turned on based on the time of day.) Other features include personalized suggestions and synchronized starring. For more info check out the google mobile blog.

Google Maps Navigation Day Mode

Google Maps Navigation Night Mode

Android Quick Tips and Tricks

5 quick tips and tricks for new Android users. For battery life tips and tricks see my previous blog post.

1. Hold down the Home button to bring up a list of the 6 last run applications  
   
   
   
   
2. Hold down the search icon to bring up Voice Search 
3. Slide your finger downward over the virtual keyboard to hide it
4. Long Press the URL bar in the browser to quickly copy the URL or share it. You can then paste the URL in any text input by long pressing and choosing paste.
   

5. When using the virtual keyboard hold down certain keys to bring up additional keys

Have additional tips and/or tricks. Leave them in a comment below.