Pure Android

Monday, April 25, 2016

Free Netflix with Google Play Rewards on Android

A recent update to the Netflix app states that you will soon be able to pay for your Netflix subscription with Google Play Billing. So does that mean you can use your Google Play Rewards money to get Netflix for free? Let's hope so.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Control Your Android Phone with Google Now and Voice Access

Google has released an app into Beta that allows you to control almost every aspect of your phone with just your voice. The app is called Voice Access. Once started, either by Voice or by tapping the icon in the notification tray, your screen will display numbers next to icons or buttons that you want to Press with your Voice. See screenshot:

Surprised as I was by this great feature, I was even more surprised that even the button on Widgets are also accessible by Voice. Navigation by voice is not limited to Number. You can also say things like Go Back, Go Home,Next, Swipe Left, Swipe Right, Scroll Down, or say Show All Commands to learn how to turn your volume up or down, turn on or off WIFI or Bluetooth.

To use you must sign up for the beta here: https://g.co/voiceaccess and you will be linked to download the app.

OK Google, Call My Wife

Eventually, Google will automatically know who your wife is, your mom, dad, and maybe even your neighbor! Until then (or do they already), you can tell Google Now who these people are by assigning them a Google Now Voice Shortcut. You can view all your Nicknames under account Settings in your Android app.

To setup a Nickname, all you have to do is make a call using your voice. For Example, "Ok Google, Call my Wife"

Google will then ask who your wife is. Search for her and set it! Now all you have to do is tell Google To Call Your Wife.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Deposit Cash to PayPal with Android App

The recent update to PayPal's Android app

states that you can now deposit Cash into your PayPal account at CVS or Rite Aid. Once you have the latest update, you press on Add Money, select In Store Cash, select your store and you'll be presented with a Barcode to show the cashier. Once they scan, you hand over the money. After 15 minutes and after a 3.95 fee, it will show up in your account.

Nifty idea if you're in a pinch. Are there any other services that offer such a thing?

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Toyota's New Nexus 7 Car Mount

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Installing CyanogenMod 10.2 (Andoird 4.3 Jelly Bean) on a Nook Color

Previously we had posted a step by step guide to install CyanogenMod on the Nook Tablet. This time we will be going through the very simple task of installing CM10.2, which is Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. You will need 4 files, an SD card, and a Nook Color. In these steps, you will be flashing a recovery image to an SD card, flashing CM10.2, Flashing Google Apps, and a permanent Recovery image to the Nook. Let us begin.

The 4 files you need to download:

The only Zip file you download from above that needs to be extracted is the first one.

First, extract the content from file #1. You will now have a file named sdimage.img. This is needs to be flashed to your SD card. In Windows you can use Win32DiskImager (or your favorite app) and in Linux you can do this command:

sudo dd if=sdimage.img of=/dev/sdX

You must replace the X in sdX with the appropriate letter for your SD slot. There are many ways to get the correct letter but we use the program Gparted.

Once you have flashed your SD card, copy the remaining three files onto the SD card. You will see several other files on the SD, and it might be labeled as BOOT. Don't touch any of those files, simply copy the remaining three files on the SD card.

With your Nook Color powered off, insert the SD card into the Nook. Once inserted, power on the Nook. It will now boot into ClockwordMod Recovery. Use the Volume keys to move to Install Zip From sdcard. Press the N key. You will now see the three files from above. Flash CM10.2, then, Google Apps, and lastly, the permanent recovery. In that order.

Once you have done all three go back to the main menu in recovery and do wipe data / factory reset.

That's it!

Reboot, remove SD card and you are good to go!

NOTES and Credits:

Enabling the back menu in recovery can be tricky. Pressing the Volume keys at the same time, or repeatedly will enable the back option. You'll see a message that says it has been enabled but you might not see it. Simply, enter into an option and you will then see the back menu to get out of it. Keep going back to main menu.

Try another SD card if you experience failures of any kind during the flashing process. I had to get a different card reader for some reason to be able to flash #1.

Once done, you can format the SD card on your computer and use for something else.

CM10.2 doesn't require the SD for every day use in my experience.

Credit to CyanogenMod!

Credit to ClockworkMod!

Credit to eyeballer for Original Guide this is based on!