Samsung Email app controls light and dark mode

I found this little neat trick on my Samsung S7 phone. The Samsung Email app is controlling the phone's setting for light/dark mode. There is probably a setting for those on One UI with Android Pie or greater. But this is probably one way to set dark mode for older Samsung phones still on Android Oreo and below without installing additional apps.

After launching the app, tap menu on the top left then the gear button at the top of the menu. Tap "Display style" then choose "Always dark". 

This will force all other Samsung apps to go into dark mode. It will also affect every other app that uses Launch Screen for its loading splash screen such as the Google Play store, Maps and Drive apps.

Get free apps from Amazon Appstore for non-US users

I won't get into the details. Generally other then an Amazon account, you need two key items:

1. Access to a US VPN.
2. Amazon One-click set to a US postal address.

You can only purchase through the PC browser then download the apps through the Amazon Appstore app. I have not tried VPN on a mobile device but it may work.

That's really all there is to get free apps from Amazon Appstore. This should also work for Kindle and MP3 store. 

Warning: Try not to use your main Amazon account if the US address is not yours.

Palm Desktop memo importer for Evernote

I managed to migrate my old Palm OS memos to Evernote with this free program. An excellent tool with support for Linux, Windows and Mac OS that's simple to use and properly tags the memos.

Palm Desktop memo importer for Evernote

Howto add alternative keyboard to rooted Nook Color

We shall install Gingerbread Keyboard for this example. This is especially for those using Manualnooter from xda-developers but should apply to any replacement ROM.
1. Download Gingerbread Keyboard apk.
2. Install File Expert from Android Market.
3. Run ES File Explorer, a free app.
3a. Enable "Root Explorer" and "Mount File System" in Settings.
3b. Copy apk to \data\app (Use copy and paste icons from "Oper" in bottom toolbar)
3c. Copy apk to \system\app (Use copy and paste icons from "Oper" in bottom toolbar)
4. Restart / Off and On Nook Color
5. Run NookColor Tools and Choose Keyboard. The keyboard should be there.
5a. If keyboard doesn't show up, run the keyboard apk from file explorer.

Android's email app is broken...

Android's own email app can't move emails in IMAP. The only workaround is to use a third party app like K-9 Mail which is open source.

Issue 1128 - android - Email app should allow moving messages between folders - Project Hosting on Google Code

"Gnubox in use" error

Gnubox corrupted and stuck in BT/Auto mode.

Solution: "Delete records" under Install option from Gnubox. Create new Access point named "Bt". Run Gnubox and change mode.

Opera Mini 4.2 beta released

Opera has released the next version of its popular free mobile browser, Opera Mini version 4.2. New features include skins, faster proxy server, video support and notes.

Download it from http://www.operamini.com/beta/

Microsoft Phone Data Manager Beta

Microsoft India has released a beta version of a synchronisation software for your mobile phone. It will backup your contacts to Windows Live Contacts online so you can access your contacts anywhere. It works with a range of phone models from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

Microsoft® Phone Data Manager Beta is an application that is designed to take away the worry of losing data on your phone - specifically contacts, music, pictures and videos. It does that by synchronizing your phone contacts with Microsoft's Windows Live Contacts store in the cloud, or by helping you download files from the phone to your local computer.

Personally I would rather store my stuff on my PC instead of the cloud since you are literally trapping yourself.

Download the software from Microsoft Phone Data Manager Beta website.

Free English Dictionary for eReader

I found a free dictionary via PalmAddicts which can be used within eReader. It is converted from the WordNet lexical database so there shouldn't be any license issues on free distribution.

Download WordNet English-English Dictionary for eReader

No more missed calls and messages

I have lost count on the number times I have missed calls or SMSes on my Nokia phone. I finally found a free missed call/message alert app called Total Patrol via Symbian Guru. The app needs to be Symbian Signed to work which is easily done with the old developer's method of signing or with Open Signed online.

With Total Patrol, you can set the time interval, the sound to use for the alert as well as the choice to enable the vibrator. It also includes a low battery warning alert option which you can set to alert you when your battery level reaches a certain percentage. This is a must have app for all Nokia S60 3rd Ed users since Nokia totally forgot to include such an important feature.

You can download the latest version from the Russian site here [betep.allnokia.ru].

Nokia Beta Labs' enhanced calculator for S60

Nokia Beta Labs has released an Enhanced Calculator for S60. This is ported from the old S40 calculator which users have found being more intuitive than the current version on S60 devices. Its standard calculator is similar to Calcium by using the direction pad to input operation. It also includes a scientific calculator and a loan calculator by switching modes via the menu.

Sadly this port is a java app and startup on S60 takes four seconds to start. I'll stick with the default S60 calculator, Calcium and cCalc for now.

Google Maps for mobile devices

Google recently updated their Google Maps for mobile devices on Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile to version 2.2. For those no using such platforms, the Java version is also updated. One major new features is Transit which is available to around 50 cities at the moment.

The preferred way to download download the app is with your phone directed at google.com/gmm. It will check your web browser useragent and serve the corresponding page for download. There is no direct page to download with your desktop browser. For those who prefer to download to their PCs then transferring it to the phone, you can easily bypass this with the User Agent Switcher Firefox extension with the appropriate useragent info (search google for it) and download it with Firefox. The following are some of the links for the major mobile platforms.

Download Google Maps for: Symbian S60, Java Micro Edition, Windows Mobile
The Palm version is version 2.0.2.0: Palm OS devices

Quickoffice Premier 5 for S60 @ $1!

Update: Offer over, seemed too short.

For a limited time of 24 hours, the good folks at Quickoffice are offering Quickoffice Premier 5 for S60 at ONE DOLLAR! I've been wanting to get this for some time to replace the default view only version that came with my phone but never wanted to pay the steep price of over $50. $1 fits my budget just right. Non-US customers may have problem purchasing with their credit cards, paypal works well.

Get Quickoffice Premier 5 for S60