If you’ve been dying to get your hands on the full version of Documents to Go but simply could not afford, or did not want to pay the high asking price of $29.99, you can now get it for the low price of just $9.99 between now and December 6. I don’t know everyone’s particular economic situation but if you want or need this app, I doubt you’ll find it for a better price. I purchased mine when they had the $14.99 sale so I think $9.99 is an absolute no-brainer. Drop a comment if you have taken or will take advantage of this great offer. (Note, I get nothing for touting this offer. I just think it’s a really good deal).

Related posts:

1. Pure Calendar

Since it takes time for me to properly review an app, particularly an app with a lot of features, I will, from time to time, post a quick review which I will call a QuikRev. These will be short reviews of apps that are not necessarily feature-rich, but serve a useful function on your phone. In this installment, I will review an app called Bookmark Manager.

Details

Developer Web Site: http://www.impulseapps.com/bookmarkmanager
Developer Email: feedback@impulseapps.com
Price: Free/Donate UK£1.00
Version Reviewed: 1.0.4/Free

Features

• Sort – Move your bookmarks up or down your bookmark list or sort alphabetically or most visited
• Delete – Delete your bookmarks
• Launch – Open your bookmarks in your browser

This simple app allows you to sort your browser’s bookmarks in any order you please. There are buttons to quickly sort by most visited, A-Z and Z-A. You can move bookmarks up and down the list as well as delete them. The app also gives you the option to launch a bookmark in your browser, however I fail to see need for this. It’s an extra step to open an app just to open a bookmark. It’s quicker to open the browser and then open your bookmark from there, or, if you have bookmark shortcuts on your home screen like I do, you only have to click once. Overall I think that this app if very useful for ordering your bookmarks the way that you want them ordered. This way, the most important bookmarks can sit at the top of the list so they are easily accessible.

Screenshots

Interface
This app has a one screen interface but that’s all it needs. It allows you to manage your bookmarks in a very basic manner and nothing else. But then again, that’s what this app is supposed to do.

Usability
The app is easy to use. The free app places a pop-up notice on the screen asking you to donate and it is safe to assume that the donate version does not. Donate if you feel inclined but the app works fine without it.

What I’d Like to See

• Edit – I’d like to see the ability to edit bookmarks. I know this can be done in the browser but since this app is called Bookmark Manager, I’d like to be able to completely manage my bookmarks.
• Add – Just like the ability to edit bookmarks, the ability to add them would complete this application. I don’t want to have to open the browser just to add a Web site’s address.

Price
You can’t beat free. However, I do think that the developer is asking too much for the donation version at UK£1.00. It should have been one US dollar for an app that doesn’t exactly do a whole lot (as useful as I feel it is) but as a former/current developer, I do understand why he’d like as much as he could get for his hard work. You can also just use the free version if you choose but consider helping out developers if you can afford to do so. My donation is on it’s way.

Related posts:

1. Open Home
2. Pure Calendar

Check back here over the next few days and keep an eye on my Twitter page. I will be running a contest to win some screen protectors for your G1 or myTouch. It’s a pretty small prize to start but I hope to add other contests with bigger prizes such as apps and other accessories.

That’s all for now. Feeling pretty crappy about not having my G1 but I’ll live.

Related posts:

1. Open Home
2. QuikRev – Bookmark Manager
3. Pure Calendar

Updated
Please note that this review was recently updated to reflect changes made by the app’s developer. The updates are clearly noted within the article’s text.

I don’t know about you but I find it of utmost importance to have my upcoming calendar entries staring me in the face at all times. I put everything in my calendar so for me, my calendar is the window into my day. With Pure Calendar, that window is wide open with a multitude of options on how exactly you wish to look through it. Pure Calendar allows you do add widgets to your home screen and display your upcoming calendar entries in a variety of ways, colors, sizes and skins. This is a must have for anyone who wishes to put their calendar to good use.

Details

Developer Web Site: http://koxx3.wordpress.com/
Developer Email: koxx3@free.fr
Price: €1.49
Version Reviewed: 1.3.9 (some screenshots taken in previous versions)

Features
If you are lucky enough to have switched from BlackBerry to Android (congratulations) you may feel that you are missing a very nice feature that the phone provided. While not exclusive to BlackBerry, today screens allow users quick access to the latest calender information right from the main screen.

• Skinnable – There are a nice amount of skins to fit anyone’s needs
• Multiple Widgets Sizes – 2×2, 2×3, 2×4, 3×2, 4×1, 4×2, 4×3 and 4×4. Phew!
• Date/Time Format – A variety of options for how the date and time are displayed
• Text Color – Nine different text colors (at the moment)
• Optional Calendar Display – If you use multiple calendars (e.g. US Holidays), you can choose which to display
• Event Options – A multitude of ways to display events (and more keep getting added with each update) including my favorite, “Show event calendar color”
• Update Frequency – Set how often the widget is updated, the most important available value being “On Calendar Modification”

Screenshots

This widget gives you the option to set everything from the calendar’s font color to its update frequency, the latter being a great feature for any widget to avoid being a resource hog. Some other settings include a setting for the number of widget rows used per event and a plethora of options for how to display events. The former is a great option if you use descriptions in your calendar entries.

Interface
If you are familiar with this developer’s work (Weather Forecast Widget, Pure Grid Calendar Widget), then you will be no stranger to this talented XDA developer’s interface. There are two interfaces for this app as there often is for widgets with settings. The first interface allows you to set up the widget and the second interface is the widget itself. The settings interface is pretty standard yet very functional. Once you select your widget’s size from the add widget screen on your home screen, you are taken to the setup screen. Once you set your desired settings you can either save and exit using the default skin or you can continue on to the skin screen. This part might be a little confusing at first. There are two buttons at the bottom of the settings screen: one reads “Save and exit” and the other reads “Save and skin.” It might make a little more sense for one to say “Finish” and the other to say “Continue and skin” or just “Continue” like you might see in a standard Windows setup wizard. Nonetheless, once you get it, you get it. UPDATE: This had been changed. See Usability below. If you choose to exit, your widget will be displayed. If you choose to skin your widget, you will be taken to a screen where you can choose from a variety of skins which total more than twenty from which to choose at the time of this writing. Although it might be a bit confusing when selecting a skin (you need to long press to reveal the options), I think it can be excused. While the setup screen is not the best I’ve ever seen, the options are plentiful and the widget is really what you paid for.

The second interface is the widget itself. While I think it is excellent—note the high rating—there is always room for improvement which I will discuss in the What I’d Like to See section below. With a plethora of display options and nearly two-dozen skins from which to choose, Pure Calendar’s interface is a winner. It is not only functional but adds to the look and feel of your home screen and phone in general. The interface is both beautiful and easy to use and the developer is constantly updating its features to satisfy user needs and recommendations.

Usability
Pure Calendar is a bit lacking in the usability area as far as the setup screen is concerned but for some reason I don’t hold it against the app. There is a small learning curve as compared with other apps but there is hardly any real consistency among Android apps anyway so I don’t feel this is such a big deal. Once you use the app once or twice you will be an expert and the somewhat poor usability will be overshadowed but the excellent app. Besides, once the widget is on your home screen and you have set your desired settings, there isn’t much more you need to know. In this area, Pure Calendar is fine. I do feel, however, that there are a few things lacking. While the Refresh and Settings buttons are obvious, the Quick Add feature (activated by touching the top of the widget) and the agenda (activated by touching anywhere on the widget) are not immediately obvious. DONE!

UPDATE: The developer of Pure Calendar is so responsive that just about every issue (I use the word “issue” very loosely here) that I had had with this app has been fixed/updated. The setup flow has now been changed to be much more fluid. The Quick Add feature can now clearly be accessed from the widget as an add button has been added. You still have to click anywhere on the widget to get to the agenda but I am so used to this now that I feel it’s no longer an issue. I’d still like to see this changed to be able to click individual items as per my What I’d Like to See section below.

What I’d Like to See

• Ability to Click Individual Entries- As with other smartphones with today screens, being able to click and individual calendar is a nice feature. This way, you can easily see details not available on the widget and be able to quickly edit the entry without having to first go to the agenda.
• Change Font Style – Even though this section is supposed to be about what I want to see and I don’t really care to change the font’s style, I think others would like that ability so I threw it in the mix.
• Show Event Description – I originally wanted to be able to show the location using more than one line but the developer of this app is very quick and has already added two features that I had had on this list. So now that that’s done, I’d like to be able to see the event’s description as well. Additionally, perhaps some of the other information can optionally be shown. While it may be a bit much, it would be nice if I could pick and choose. DONE!
• Ability to Show/Hide Events – I would love to be able to, for example, long-press an entry and be able to hide it. Sometimes I don’t want an entry to be shown for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it is private or I would rather allow room for a more important entry. While I am requesting things, the ability to long-press on an entry an be presented with calendar options would be nice. Hey, a guy can hope.

Price
More than fair for what you get particularly because this developer provides frequent updates using feedback he receives from users. You will not be disappointed. If you rely on your calendar, this widget is an absolute must.

Related posts:

1. Open Home
2. QuikRev – Bookmark Manager

I am usually not a big fan of themes and customizations when it comes to PCs. In fact, when Windows XP was first released I went out of my way to remove the new look and feel in favor of the Windows 2000 setup. But when it comes to my G1 I don’t think I can live without the various theme applications. The G1’s default theme, while very nice, is also very limited. Third party themes are not just about look and feel. They are also functional. They add many features not available out of the box. In this review, I will examine a theme application called Open Home and talk about some of the features that it will add to your G1.

Details

Developer Web Site: http://betterandroid.wordpress.com/
Developer Email: betterandroid@gmail.com
Price: $3.99
Version Reviewed: 2.7 (some screencaps taken in previous versions)

Features
I have several home replacement applications installed on my G1. For the last two months I have switched between the various apps available while testing, and Open Home is among the best of the lot. In terms of ease of use and features, I don’t think you’ll find a better home replacement application. Here are some of the highlights of this application.

• Multiple Home Screens – Up to seven (3, 5 or 7)
• Themes – Many from which to choose as well as the ability to use themes from other home replacement apps
• Icons – Ability to download icons in addition to the theme’s icons
• Fonts – Downloadable font packs
• Widgets – Included with the app as well as the ability to add others, including both third party and built in widgets
• Task Manager – Ability to view running tasks and processing as well as reclaim memory
• Battery Monitor – Ability to add the current battery percentage on the bottom of home screens

Screenshots

Open Home gives you the ability to add more home screens than the default Android setup. Out of the box, Android allows three home screens. Open Home allows three, five or seven. Personally, I have been using five screen and I don’t really see what use there is for more. Particularly, the more home screens you fill with widgets and icons, the more precious memory Open Home consumes. This causes it to draw the screens more slowly and bog down your system. I recommend you only use necessary icons and widgets, not just with Open Home, but in general. Still, the ability to add more than three screens is very nice. Open Home also allows you to name each screen. For example, I have one named “Widgets” where I keep several important widgets that I frequently use. I also have one name “Photos” dedicated to the Picture Frame widget that comes with Cupcake. Now, when I want to show off pictures of my kids (even though everyone hates that), I don’t have to fumble through folders searching for them. I just slide to the right-most screen and there they are.

There are scores of themes for Open Home in the Android Market, most of which are free. If you can’t find one you like, which would itself be a difficult prospect, you can use themes from aHome, an alternative home replacement application. With all the customization options in Open Home, if you don’t like a particular aspect of a theme you can always change it. For example, if you don’t like a theme’s background or icons, feel free to use your own. Icon packs and font packs, like themes, are also freely available on the Android Market. Most themes comes with a nice set of icons to replace the default icon set (just about twenty at my count). You can also download matching icon sets for many themes that will allow you to add icons for many popular apps so that your home screen is nicely matched up. You can see what I mean by checking out the screenshots above.

Interface
If you look at the screenshots above, you will see the options menu screen of Open Home. This screen can be reached by the added “More” option when the Menu button on your G1 or myTouch is clicked. From here, you can change the skin (theme), icons and fonts and colors. You can even use themes designed for aHome. The Settings menu offers a host of options from changing the number of screens to labeling them. There are also a few settings here that I found interesting. If you look closely at the screenshots above, you will notice a little star on the right-hand side of the screen and a little magnifying glass on the left-hand side of the screen. These provide some added functionality to your home screen, both of which can be disabled from the Settings menu. The magnifying glass, when touched, will shoot you over to the screen containing the Search widget. This is especially useful if you are using five or more screen and want the ability to quickly bring up the search box. I also use this screen for my frequently used widgets and this feature gives me a quick way to access them. The star can also be a very useful option. It allows you to dock apps so that they are available from any screen. Just touch the star and it slide out to reveal the apps you have added. While it shows three apps at a time, you can slide through a larger list of apps much in the same way you would your home screen. While I suspect that it can hold an unlimited amount of apps, don’t hold me to it. I got tired after adding forty apps to the list. The list can even be rearranged in any order and apps can be added and removed as easily as on your home screen.

The screenshots above show four themes (in order): Aero, FadetoBlue, HTC Hero and OS X Leopard. Note that I have a theme flashed directly onto my G1 which changes the entire phone. Note that only the clock widget from the above screenshots is from a theme. The rest of those shown are third party widgets. Also, I am currently using a Hero theme which is why the status bar on the top is also changed as you can see in the last four screenshots. Open Home does not change this. There are many other themes from which to choose and changing between them could not be simpler. There are also matching icon packs for many of the themes as you can clearly see from the Aero theme used in the first four screenshots. One thing that bothers me is there is no icon pack to be found for the ever popular HTC Hero theme but I am still holding out hope for one.

Usability
While Open Home is extremely easy to use, it can, at times, lag a bit. In fact, there were times when I almost couldn’t take it. I am not sure if this is a limitation of the G1 itself or the application but I suspect it more the application. I have tried Open Home, albeit briefly, on the myTouch with a similar experience. However, the developers of Open Home are constantly working to make it faster and have succeeded with each version upgrade. Everything task in Open Home is very straightforward and easily accomplished. Downloading and changing themes, icons and fonts couldn’t be simpler. If you can stand a little lag now and then, and like the ability to customize the heck out of your phone, give Open Home a try.

What I’d Like to See

• Improved Performance – While they keep working on this, and improvements can be seen in recent updates, I’d love to see more speed, speed, speed. I know that this is often an issue with the stock ROM that ships with many Android devices (i.e. the G1) and improved performance can be achieved via custom ROMs, this doesn’t apply to the average user. Until the app can keep up with the phone in its current state I cannot rate it above four stars (okay, maybe I can but I’ll have to wait and see).
• More Icons and Icon Packs – Themes need to contain more icons or at least have matching, downloadable icon packs. Moreover, icon packs need to have more relevant icons, particularly ones that represent the more popular Android apps. For example, the Windows 7 icon pack contains way too many icons that depict things that don’t even exist on any current Android mobile devices, such as DVD icons.
• Even More Themes – There are plenty of themes from which to choose so it’s difficult to complain too much. However, more themes can’t be a bad thing.
• Ability to Export Settings – This is extremely important, particularly for those of is who flash third-parts ROMs onto our rooted devices. There are times when we need to do a factory reset and our data is wiped. Having to setup our entire Open Home environment can be a real pain and a time waster. Other home replacement applications, such as aHome, already have this option and I think this would be a tremendous improvement.

Price
At $3.99, Open Home is reasonably priced. If you are looking for a full-featured home replacement app, look no further than Open Home. You get the best bang for your buck, and with the ability to use themes from other home replacement apps, you save yourself money by only having to purchase one app.

Related posts:

1. Pure Calendar
2. QuikRev – Bookmark Manager