Article by Patrick Hayes
If you are a proud owner of a new Droid phone you might be wondering, what is all of the iPhone hype about? Don’t get me wrong, the iPhone is a great phone, Google has created a device that will surely challenge it in the marketplace. When you get the phone set up and review the programs and features that come preloaded on the phone, your next stop will most likely be the Android Market. Before you jump into the Market take a second to read this article and navigate the links at the end to save you some precious search and download time.
In this article we will explore two amazing Sports Apps for the Droid. The first App is called SportsTap and the price tag for the full feature application at the time of this writing is FREE. What makes this application so incredible is that it is really an one stop shop to follow all of your favorite sports and teams. The application allows you to select and save your favorite teams from each league like the NBA, NCAA, NFL, MLS and many more. When your teams play, the program offers a handy widget that keeps you updated as the game/event progresses. There is also a great feature within SportsTap called LocalTap that automatically finds all of the sporting events within a 50-200 mile radius and provides the most recent scores for those games as well. If you like your sports and can’t wait for SportsCenter to get your updates, this is the application for you.
The second App is for all of you golf fans out there. If you are looking for a great way to follow the tour, or your favorite golfer, Golf Channel Mobile is a must have application. Whether you follow the PGA, LPGA or Seniors Tour, this application provides real time scoring of all the players in the field. An unique feature to the Golf Channel Mobile application is that it allows you to create your own custom leader board with just your favorite golfers so you don’t need to scroll through the entire field to find the player you are interested in. The Golf Channel Mobile Application also provides relevant articles and blog posts about all of the interesting topics throughout golf. A must have app with another great price tag of FREE.
For those of you look to discover great applications for your phone, check out free Droid apps.
Droid 2 For Dummies
Find out what your Droid 2 does with this indispensable, full-color reference!The highly anticipated arrival of the Droid 2 runs on the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system and boasts a suite of apps that wirelessly synchronize with Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Maps, and Microsoft Exchange. Ultimate For Dummies author Dan Gookin shows you how to maximize the performance of your Droid 2 smartphone in his unique fun-and-friendly manner, holding your hand the entire way. Sure, the basic
List Price: $ 24.99
Price: $ 0.31
A Helpful Guide, Especially for First-Time Smartphone Users,
I am writing this review for those who are not already smartphone users (which includes me). Perhaps the most important thing to point out is that this book is intended to serve as a reference, not necessarily to be read cover-to-cover, which at over 300 pages might seem like a lot to have to plow through. Thankfully, each chapter is self-contained, so you can jump around to find those that are best suited to addressing your interests.
Basically, I found this book easy to read, nicely illustrated (with color photographs), and definitely informative. (The author has written many books on technology topics, including the very first “For Dummies” book–on DOS–way back in 1991.) The book is organized in six parts:
Part I: Droid 2: The Sequel. This is your basic introduction and familiarization.
Part II: Phone 101. How to use your Droid 2 as a phone.
Part III: Beyond Telephone Communications. Text messaging, sending and receiving emails, web browsing, social media, networks.
Part IV: More than a Mere Mortal Cell Phone. Addresses other things you can do, such as find locations on a map, get verbal driving directions, shoot videos, and play music and games.
Part V: Hither and Thither. Using your phone overseas, making international calls, customizing for maintenance and troubleshooting.
Part VI: The Part of Tens. A traditional end for “For Dummies” books. Tips, tricks, things to remember, and some of the author’s favorite apps.
In short, although even an experienced smartphone user might find some useful information and tips in this book, I am not sure these users would find the book worth the time, effort or price. However, if you are new to smartphones (and if you just got a Droid 2), then this book is well written, easy to use and sufficiently complete to merit your careful consideration. I am glad to have it.
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Yes!,
This book is written clearly, concisely and with a sense of humor. I refer to it constantly. The “manual” that comes with the phone is absolutely worthless. This book allows one to make the most of all the great features of a Droid phone. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the author for a perfect book!
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The Practical Manual For The Droid 2,
“Droid 2 For Dummies” by Dan Gookin (who also wrote the comparable “Droid X For Dummies”) is the best comprehensive manual for the vast majority of Droid 2 users who want simply to know how to make their phone do what they want it to. This book is especially critical for people new to smartphones, as it starts off with basics and proceeds to discuss most every conceivable feature of the phone and how to get the most out of them. In particular, the first four parts are crucial for people new to Android phones, as they contain 20 relatively brief chapters on how to do things like make phone calls, email, Internet access, synchronizing your Droid 2 with other devices, and last but not least negotiating the intimidatingly large “Android Market.”
The book addresses issues with the Droid 2, which can, frankly, be a clumsy, contrary, and counterintuitive device, especially when you first get it. The book has the typical “Dummies” formatting with things like tips in the margins and blue headings to define new sections, but this book also contains more much color than most books in the series. I am glad the publishers realized the importance of color illustrations here, even if it made the book cost more. In short, I found this book to be more user-friendly than the Droid 2 itself.
I generally like the “Dummies” series of books, and this is no exception. While this book is not short, not everyone will be interested in all the subjects, so feel free to skip around in it or use it solely as a reference. Most of us learn by doing, so get this book out and play with your new Droid; you will definitely get the hang of it quicker than if you hunt and peck blindly on your new device. As an aside, for a smaller, even more concise guide to Android functionality (not specific to the Droid 2,) I like “The Rough Guide to Android Phones” by Andrew Clare; it’s far more portable than “Droid 2 For Dummies” and contains great information that is extremely easy to access.
I recommend “Droid 2 For Dummies” without hesitation, and especially commend it to new smartphone users.
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