Mark's Think Tank

I make things. Digital and not. Android, iOS apps, a Garmin watchface, and more.

[marksthinktank]

Android: Bluetooth Speaker Switch

My latest app for Android: Bluetooth Speaker Switch

I got tired of hunting through menus on my phone to just change which bluetooth device is playing music. So, I made this app. With just a single tap you can switch devices and the music keeps on playing. 

The full version gets homescreen widgets for even faster access:

Free Version with Ads on Google Play

Full Version with Widgets and Device Renaming on Google Play

[marksthinktank]

Video of updated Wave Control using the Samsung GALAXY Note 3's nifty gesture sensor to allow more types of gestures! 

[marksthinktank]

Wave Control updated to use Samsung Galaxy Note 3's Gesture Sensor!

[marksthinktank]

I guess April 1st doesn't start on PST for Google. 

Here's a little treat I found in the Android Developer's Console just now. 

Why add a regular app when you can add an AWESOME App?!

[marksthinktank]

Samsung Galaxy S4's Unique Hardware Feature No One Is Talking About

On the list of features, it's listed as the "IR Gesture Sensor." So far it looks like Samsung is only using it for their "Air Gesture" feature.. which is like my app Wave Control except with the help of this new sensor can detect more gestures than my proximity sensor based solution. 

It looks like it has the ability to sense 4 directions (up, down, left, right) instead of just the near/far of a proximity sensor. This opens up more gestures options than the simple waves I use currently.

From the hands-on videos of Air Gesture, it doesn't look all that great now but there's a lot of potential. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on this phone and taking advantage of this new sensor's abilities.

Original Image Credit: Gizmodo UK (Highlighting mine)

[marksthinktank]

Essential app for the Samsung Galaxy Note II, Galaxy SIII , and original Galaxy Note with the Flip Case. 

Flip Case Control turns on the screen when you open the case and turns it off when you close it. Simple. Super Convenient. 

24 Hour Trial 

Full Version 

[marksthinktank]

Tasker support is in Wave Control as of V2.30!

With it, you can choose a profile to activate. Each profile is capable of changing all settings  and gesture assignments. So everything can be set at once. 

Potential uses: 

1. On headphones plugged in: Load Wave Control, delay 2 s, Load Music PlayerSwitch to a profile that sets your favorite music app and sets it to screen off only mode and gestures assignments: 

  Hover: Play/Pause 1 Wave: Next Track 2 Wave: Screen Toggle 3 Wave: Enable/Disable

2. On car dock attached: Load Wave Control, delay 2 s, Load Podcast App, Switch to profile that sets Podcast player as target app, and gesture assignments: 

  Hover: Play/Pause 1 Wave: Fast Forward 2 Wave: None 3 Wave: None

Many many possibilities... 

[marksthinktank]

Fitbit Scale

Fitbit Aria Wi-fi Smart Scale, Black

More write up coming soon. 

[marksthinktank]

Make your Galaxy SIII more responsive

I had seen this tip awhile ago but finally got around to implementing it myself. 

Disable the double-tap home button shortcut to S-Voice.

The response to a press of the home button lags with this on because it's waiting to see if you'll press the button again and change its response accordingly. 

How to do it:

1. Open up the S-Voice app

2. Push Menu Button

3. Settings -> Launch S Voice (uncheck this)

4. (Optional) Disable Wake Up Command - saves battery life

Obviously, do this if you're like me and don't use S-Voice often enough to justify the constant lag of the Home button response. 

You can always just leave a shortcut on your homescreen for the app if you do use it. 

This makes the phone as responsive as you would expect it to be given the beefy processor inside. 

Enjoy!

Originally spotted at XDA

[marksthinktank]

Tasker Support Update

So development on the Tasker plugin is coming along nicely.

First to get it will be Wave Control. It will allow you to activate one of your Wave Control Profiles. Great for location based profile setting. In the car, at the gym, at the office, etc. 

After that I'll make versions for Around Sound and Sound Asleep. 

Stay tuned. 

[marksthinktank]

Playing around with my wallpaper and layout... 

[marksthinktank]

Lifehacker Pack for Android: Our List of the Best Android Apps

Wave Control is in the Extended Pack section! This is a yearly round-up, so extra honored to make the list!

[marksthinktank]

PC World: 15 of the Best Apps This Year -- Check out #2!!

PC World Link

[marksthinktank]

Battery Life Fix on the Galaxy SIII

I had one gripe about the Galaxy SIII, the battery life. It looked like "Cell Standby" was eating up my battery. I thought it was a problem with the modem firmware and would have to wait for a firmware update to fix it. I was losing 30% overnight.. not cool.

For me the problem turned out to stem from the Beta for Chrome. (even after updated to the release version) 

There two issues that make narrowing down the battery loss difficult.

1. The cell standby is being mis-reported according to this thread it's off by a factor of 10: 

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1732722

2. Chrome is not releasing a wake lock but it doesn't show up in the default battery stats: 

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1743669

(It's being said now that it's the sync bookmark feature that's causing the problem)

So most are left thinking is the modem's fault.. because that's exactly what it looks like. 

I was losing 30% overnight and after uninstalling Chrome I lost 4% last night.

So now.. battery life is great! My last criticism of the phone is solved and I'm very happy with this phone. 

Hopefully this will help others with the same issue.

[marksthinktank]

Jet Lag Fading...

Back in the US for a visit. The jet lag is hanging on longer than usual. 

I'll get some dev work done in the next couple days... I think.

[marksthinktank]

A quick side by side comparison between the iPhone 4S and the international version of the Samsung Galaxy SIII 

I wanted it to be an apples to apples comparison so I used the beautiful app Flipboard showing the same content. 

Overall: If you're not totally opposed to a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy SIII is a great phone. Finally there are starting to be real competitors to the iPhone. 

... Buuuuut the iPhone 5 is looming on the horizon. 

Bravo to Samsung on this one. And to Apple.. well, we always expect greatness.

[marksthinktank]

Version 2.0 is out for Android