HTC Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8 In-Depth Review
Interested in the features of Windows Phone 8, or want to know if Microsoft’s signature WP8 device, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, is worth purchase? Check out my video review of the Verizon Wireless HTC 8X and WP8 OS…
Xbox Music’s DRM leading to serious issues for Windows Phone 8 users
I recently came across a major issue in Windows Phone 8 and Xbox Music Pass. The issue, which many users are suffering from, is downloaded music through Xbox Music is giving either “We’re having through playing this right now” or “We are unable to confirm media usage rights for this content” errors when attempting to play music on a WP8 device. I attempted to contact both Xbox Music support and Windows Phone support, with no fix for the issue. My issue has been escalated, but some are reporting that they haven’t heard back. Users have tried everything from removing and re-downloading songs to full resets of their devices, and even swapping out to new devices, with no fix. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the issue, which leaves many users, including myself, very worried.
The Quest for “iMessage” on Android
Since switching from the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy S III, I have been missing a feature from iOS, iMessage. Though this feature isn’t enough to drive me back to the iPhone, it was still driving me crazy trying to figure out how to recreate it on Android; more specifically, why Google hasn’t implemented a unified messaging solution with Google Talk and SMS. After weeks of searching and trying many alternatives, I managed to find a solution to the answer with GO SMS Pro, but does it live up to the real deal?
Can Any.do Remind You Why You Need a Reminder App?
Any.do (iOS, Android, Chrome, Web) has been around since 2010. Founded by Omer Perchik, Yoni Lindenfeld & Itay Kahana out of Omer’s frustration with forgetting to do things and the complexity of doing them once he remembered, the team set about creating a simple to-do app. What evolved was an app that learned from its past, while at the same time trying to make more than just a simple “to-do” app. Does Any.do do.Anything better than the rest of the reminder apps on the market? Is Any.do easy to use and, more importantly, worthy of a Gadget Gurus recommend?
Let’s find out!
What is Any.do?
In a similar vein as Todo?, To Do, Minimalist To Do List, Any.do is a reminders app. In much the same manner as, say, a daily planner, Any.do allows you to log events that you wish to do in the future and set reminders so that you don’t forget to do said events. With features such as folders, which allow the user to group events into similar types (Work, Personal, etc.), reminders, which allow the user to receive notifications, and a fluid, easy-to-use design, Any.do tries its hardest to be the end all, be all reminders app on your iOS device. One of the nicer features of Any.do is the inclusion of multiple views. Hold your device vertically, and you’re greeted with a daily view, similar to a checklist. Turn the device horizontally, and you’re given a calendar alongside the daily checklist. Another nice features is a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes for a very easy method of changing up the order of events.
How does it work?
It really could not be any easier to use Any.do. The instructions give you multiple options for adding events including a plus sign (+), drag-to-type, and even a drag-and-hold-to-speak that does a pretty darn good job of voice recognition. In many ways, I would imagine this is similar to the way iPhone 4s users add events via Siri. Sadly, I’m reviewing this on an iPhone 4 so there’s no way to compare. Once you’ve added an event, clicking on the event will allow you to modify its properties, including the time it’s due, and if and when you’d like a reminder. You can also set priority (which will leave a notification bubble on the icon if set to high) and make notes, share the event, and change the folder.
Swiping the event will allow you to delete it, and shaking the device will clear any deleted events. A neat added feature is some sort of scoring function that I haven’t quite figured out yet. But, hey, everytime I do something, I get a point, and I love points!
There is a small number of settings that can be changed, including the theme (light and dark), sounds, and modifications to the folders. Any.do’s creators seem to be big fans of the KISS method of design, and it’s reflected in this app. In my opinion, its simplicity is its biggest selling point. Often times to do apps are cluttered up with useless functions and additions, and Any.do does a great job of keeping things simple and easy to use.
Conclusion
Any.do is a simple, effective method of keeping track of the things that you have to do, and when they need to be done. With a fluid design and complete ease of use, Any.do stands a great chance at being one of the best, if not the best reminder apps on the market. For folks without Siri’s fantastic voice-to-reminder ability, Any.do makes up for the lack with excellent voice recognition additions and a simple user interface that should have users keeping this app on their front screen.
Guru Review Score:
Ease of Use: 10/10
Graphics/Design 9/10 (Sign-in with facebook seemed to be a bit broken when I reviewed it)
Overall: 9.5/10
iPhone Case Leaks Out
Today, we saw several leaked images of what appear to be Apple’s next iPhone. It could just be a prototype, or we are actually looking at pictures of body casings that are already pre-production models. The body appears to be a unibody design with metal wrapping around the back, and the device overall looks taller than the current iPhone 4/4S. That almost puts the rumors
