[App] Music Remote - Control Your Stereo With Your Android Device | WITHOUT Wifi or Bluetooth

    One of the great things about Android is the ever evolving, open, and increasingly easy ways to connect everything we use on a daily basis.  This has become a major selling point for the platform, and there are so many apps that lend to this.  Some apps shine and actually make our lives a bit simpler; the way it should be.

For example, have you ever wished you could use your Android device as a remote control with your stereo?  Music Remote by Ubergrund, is a free app that lets you do this, easily and best of all - without the need of a wifi or bluetooth connection.

    I have personally been using this app for a few months and I highly recommend it.  It's reliable and fairly simple to set up and use.  It's also an easy and cheap way to breathe new life back into those old Android devices you may still have lying around or in a drawer.

The premise is simple:  

1. Install the app on your old Android device, enable the app in Settings, then connect it to your stereo.  This can be done via the headphone jack.
2. Next, install the app on your other Android device, as well.  Set it up same way you did the first one and choose which device to use as the server (the device connected to the stereo).
3. Choose a playlist/tracks and remotely control playback, as well as volume, with your other device.  Simple. 

Via the Browser Interface URL (mobile)

Another great feature if you don't want to install the app on the other device or don't have a second/spare Android device to use, is the ability to control it with your Mac/PC/Chromebook via the web.  

Operating this way is just as simple:

1. On the connected Android device, go to Settings > Browser Interface > Enable.
2. Then tap Share Browser Interface URL.
3. Send the link to your email, open it in your web browser, use the on screen controls to operate your connected device remotely.  Be sure to bookmark it, baby...

Via the Browser Interface URL (pc)

So, head on over to the Google Play Store and grab it.  It's easy to use and it's free!  Don't forget to rate the app after you try it for a bit.  Devs need love, too...

Link: Music Remote  (Google Play Store)

The Power of Intimidation

The government's recent crackdown on internet piracy file sharing is both frustrating yet understandable in some very rare instances.

I, personally, don't like it but we were due. This sorta thing has to happen every 7-10 yrs or so.

The list is growing, too. I'm witnessing many file storage/sharing sites voluntarily shutting down in order to avoid getting nailed by the feds. The intimidation factor is real, here. Some of our favorite sites have succumbed to the heat, such as MegaUpload, MegaShare, & btjunkie:(

Ok, so now it's not only affecting the "technologically inclined" who frequent many of these sites in search of files needed to mod and optimize their devices, such as smartphones and tablets, among others. It's affecting the way the developers working on 3rd party ROMS distribute applications such as the Google Apps package (Gapps) & what is included in it now. Mind you, I believe the biggest reason for the change in what is offered here is due to the fact that the Android OS has recently undergone a very big change so some of the stock apps in the package may not be completely compatible with earlier OS versions such as Gingerbread & Froyo. But the fact remains, that this is all quite obviously in direct relation to federal crackdowns.

Of course, there is a flipside...

For starters, for every 1 file sharing site shut down, 5 pop up in it's place. This isn't going to shut down the system at all but will most definitely force many of them to tighten things up a bit. Bummer. But something to consider is the fact that many of us have saved most if not all the files we've downloaded. Some of us have done so for different reasons, but mine has, without a doubt, been because I've seen this coming for quite some time. Many of us will continue to help other modders, hackers, enthusiasts in our endeavors by providing the files needed to accomplish whatever is needed but moving forward, it may be a bit more complicated securing newer files online.

Again, this happens every 10 yrs or so. Anytime things are made available for free over here, when so many people are paying for the same thing over here, eventually the government decides it doesn't have anything better to do and sticks its very long nose into places it doesn't necessarily belong. One word: LOBBYISTS.

For more information about the changes being made with the distribution of newer Google Apps packages and more, click the link below and read- courtesy of Rootzwiki....

Google Apps and Vanishing APKs - Addressing Best Practices in Software Distribution:

'via Blog this'

Android Apps Coming With Option To Zoom For Larger Screens

Here's a little tidbit I came across recently. Apparently in an upcoming version of Android, users will be able to choose how they'd prefer their device to scale an app to their Android device's screen (rather than Google sifting through thousands of apps in the Android Market, retrofiting each one to fit a larger tablet), which makes some sense.

Cool, I suppose. Anyway, click the link to learn more...

Apps getting option to zoom in to fill larger Honeycomb tablet screens | Android Central