There has been a lot of talk about the fact that Samsung and T-Mobile have not yet updated the Vibrant to the 2.2 Android system, also known as FROYO.  Speculations are all over the map as to why this has not yet occurred with the most popular belief being that the companies are postponing the update for fear it will slow sales on the upcoming Vibrant Plus that is said to be coming.  There has even been talk of a class action lawsuit against both companies citing unfair and deceptive consumer business practices.  To be honest, it doesn’t surprise me, we have become a very litigious nation and everyone looks for the smallest thing to sue for.  So here is my take on the issue.

First, in my opinion, the only ones that get anything out of class action lawsuits are the lawyers.  The “plaintiffs” may get a few bucks but nothing that will make them rich, which is what many people that sign up for these things are looking for.  As for the issue of the update, as far as I know, T-Mobile, nor Samsung ever promised or put into writing the expected date the 2.2 would be available, if ever.  As a Vibrant user myself, I would love to have the update but I am not going to cry over the fact it has not come yet.  The phone is awesome as it is and, while it does have some issues, all phones do.  If you want to talk about issues with a phone, let’s look at the HD2!  The makers of that phone should be boiled in oil!

Eventually, Vibrant owners will receive the update to 2.2 and I expect some improvement in speed and other functions but I do not expect the ridiculously high level of improvement that people claim it will provide.  A 3-5 times improvement in speed is simply too much to be realistic.  Therefore, I will be glad to wait until the update is available and enjoy using the device until then, preferring to look at how to get the most of what I do have.  As to whether or not the companies are intentionally withholding the update, I have no idea and you are welcome to your opinion if you believe this is the case.  If you are upset over what you feel is deception then maybe you should move on to another device or carrier.  I prefer to believe that the delay is simply a matter of the companies wanting to ensure all of the bugs are worked out before releasing the software.

If you own the Samsung Vibrant (Galaxy S) phone, you know there are 4 icons on the bottom of the screen which are “Dialer”, “Contacts”, “Messaging” and “Applications.”

You can change these icons to others if you wish by following the instructions below.

1.  Tap “Applications” from the home screen to open the applications tray.

2.  While in the applications tray press the menu button and select “View Type.”

3.  Now select “Customizable Grid.”

4.  Long press the selected icon and drag it to the dedicated tray.  The icon you replace will move to the application tray.

NOTE:  If you replace the “Applications” icon I highly recommend that you place it on one of your home screens BEFORE you close the application tray!

If you’re looking for a great place to search or browse apps for your wonderful Android device, I recommend that you check out AppBrain. It’s “..a website for discovering Android apps.” AppBrain lets you search via your computer, all apps in the Android Marketplace. If you’ve ever tried to navigate Google’s Android Market, you understand that searching is well ….lacking.

With AppBrain you have a chance to browse apps by categories such as, popular among men, popular among women, country, arcade/action, entertainment, and of course newest apps. AppBrain will also group the apps according to Hot Today, Hot This Week and All-Time Popular. Once you click an app that you like, you will find ratings, reviews, update logs and links to pages about that app. This is really nice as it allows you to get a feel for how other users are liking/disliking the app.

Using AppBrain requires a site log-in and an Android app installed on your phone. Once this happens, the real magic of AppBrain starts to shine. As you browse the site and find apps that you like, you have the chance to create a list of apps right from the site and then install them to your phone at a later date. Or you could install it right away. Jump back to your AppBrain app on your phone and click the Sync function and whatever apps you chose to install from the site will be installed. With the app, you can also browse and install apps from your phone.

AppBrain also keeps tabs on your installed apps and lets you know when there are updates. Many times I’ve been notified sooner than the Android Market of new updates.

I recommend using AppBrain because the information they provide about the apps is easy to understand, plentiful and informative. All of the apps are directly from the Android Market, including pay apps, so when you click to install, you’re taken to the Android Market.

http://goo.gl/sppd

AppBrain QR Code

The fine folks at Samsung have released an app to the Market that optimizes GPS in the Vibrant and Captivate. GPS performance on my phone seemed improved, not only in accuracy (at work I was no longer shown in the middle of the highway), but in the tendency to hold on to the signal. After you install the app, make sure you have a clear view of the sky and it will get things updated. Let us know how it works for you.

https://twitter.com/#!/GalaxySsupport/status/9687785392832512

Ever wish you could change those shortcuts along the launch bar along the bottom? Well, you can.

Out of the box our phones display the following shortcuts, from left to right:

Dialer, Contacts, Messaging, Applications

To change one or more of these, click Applications, then Settings. Choose View Type, then Customizable grid. Again, press Settings, then Edit.

Now all of your icons will have a red circle with a dash in it. The shortcuts will move after you long-press them. Move a stock app to the screen to remove it from the launcher bar. Once a space is open, drag your new desired app shortcut down to the bottom and you’re set.

Press Settings, Save and you’re good to go. You can change your View Type back to whatever it was before you started.

Enjoy your new launch bar icons!

As smart phone users, there are plenty of music sites/apps available for our consumption. Audiogalaxy is one that I’ve been using for a while now and have become quite attached to. It is easy to set up, easy to use and it’s free. Don’t worry about filling your phone’s memory with your music library – let Audiogalaxy stream it to you.

Audiogalaxy is a streaming music service that has the story of humble beginnings as a peer-to-peer network. After being shut down, it’s founder, Michael Merhej, went on to other projects, one of which would become Audiogalaxy.

The idea is simple – stream YOUR music.
The set up is just as simple – add the Audiogalaxy Helper to your home machine, add the app to your smart phone – and listen.

Upon initial setup on your home computer, Audiogalaxy will search the folders you tell it to and find your music. You can create playlists if you’d like, but really, you’re ready to go.

On the phone side of things, the app is simple to use (all versions of Android) and easy to navigate. You can browse by Artist, Album or just do a search. Playlists are easily created by long pressing a song or artist and selecting Add to Playlist. The app also provides you with a widget for your home screen which is nicely sized and provides all the necessary functions (song title, artist, skip forward, backward, pause, play).

Overall, the streaming quality is great. The app will stream .mp3, .m4a, or .FLAC files which are DRM free. Inside the settings of the app is the choice to hear high quality songs. I have experienced very few skips using the high quality stream and the app itself works very fast. Skipping around within the song is fast and switching songs is quick with virtually no lag. The latest release adds

Obviously this isn’t the app for you if you want to find NEW music, but Audiogalaxy is great for getting you in touch with your music library whenever you might be out on the go. It is very easy to navigate and the interface is simple and user-friendly.

Recent changes:
1.8.4
-swipe for prev/next
-gapless transition after track
-more accurate last.fm scrobbling for partial songs
-better support for flaky networks
-save current song when app is closed
-bug fixes

1.8.3
-Support for headset controls
-Reload previous playlist on start
-option to keep screen on

1.8.0:
-Widget

Latest version: 1.8.4 (for all Android versions)

Audiogalaxy QR Code

Although it may not be acceptable to have your cell phone out in everyone’s church, especially when services are being conducted and the minister is speaking, you will certainly enjoy having the KJV Bible app when you are: sitting in the doctor’s office waiting area, waiting for your child/children to finish sports or music practice, or simply to read an uplifting or inspirational verse because you are having a bad day. Perhaps, you are not in the mood to read at all. Let the KJV Bible app read aloud to you!

It has the entire bible from Genesis to Revelations and gives you the option of sending verses to others via: copy and paste technique, email, or SMS message. You can even  bookmark a specific spot if you chose to return to it later. It shows all books of the old testament in black print and the new testament verses in red. It has a very easy navigation system that allows you the option to search specific keywords if you do not want to read through the entire chapter or passage. I’ve found it to be a great tool when exchanging thoughts and ideas with fellow church members and friends.

JE Fit is yet another fitness app for the Android phones. You can download it for your Samsung Vibrant as well. You can use the built in exercises or make your own exercises to create a workout plan. You can have one super set of exercises with many sub sets for each exercise. With such an arrangement, you can get the actual idea of how you are doing with the individual work outs.

The app lets you easily switch between bulking, cutting, general fitness and if you are a sports person, it has sports specific routines as well. The app has an automatic logging system. It automatically logs a lot of data while you are working out. You can go to the calendar view to see all the logged data in detail.

The app provides you a graphical chart with a lot of data in it, like body stats, lifting stats, tracking weight and much more. The app also has a big database of exercises with animations on how to do the exercise. You can even create your own such exercises.

You can download JE Fit for your Samsung Vibrant or other Android phones from the Android Market for free. Discuss the app on our forum.

Cudoku, the name sounds familiar, right? Yes, this game is almost the old classic game Sudoku. If you are a fan of Sudoku, you have to be a fan of Cudoku as well. This is a game for your Samsung Vibrant and other Android phones. The only difference here is, you get more color here and less numbers, but its still the brain teaser. You have to work your brains out even more to win here.

You are given particular constraints here to play the game. The board is divided into blocks with colors. Each color block is given a particular constraint. You have to satisfy this constraint. Each block will have constraints for the rows and columns. But all you have to do is pick up a color that matches the constraints given. It should not be a big problem if you are master in Sudoku.

You can download Cudoku for your Samsung Vibrant or other Android phones from the Android Market for just $1. Discuss the game on our forum.

Buddhist Meditation Lite is a free meditation app for your Samsung Vibrant or other Android phones. The app gives you a very good and simple understanding of how meditation works and how it is supposed to be done. the app gives a few free music which are created and inspired by Buddhism.

The sounds are very serene, pure and calm, which will help you disconnect yourself from the world surrounding you and get into a serious meditation phase. Instruments such as the gong, large bell, large drum, wooden fish, small cymbals, large cymbasis and Chinese tambourine are used to create these music.

The sounds that are given in the app are kind of strong. By strong here, I dont mean fierce. The sounds are soft, but not weak, pure but not dry and still but not sluggish. These are the actual words that the developers used to describe the app. There are 11 soul-stirring Buddhist melodies that are included in the app to make you feel better. Other important points to note about this app are as follow:

1.Great Compassion Mantra

The N?lakantha Dh?ran? is popularly known as the Great Compassion Mantra in English, is a Dhahran of Mahayana Buddhist origin. It was spoken by the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara before an assembly of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, devas and kings. It is often used for protection or purification.

2.Amit?bha

Amit?bha is a celestial Buddha described in the scriptures of the Mah?y?na school of Buddhism. Amit?bha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmak?ra. “Amit?bha” is translatable as “Infinite Light,” hence Amit?bha is often…

You can download Buddhist Meditation Lite for your Samsung Vibrant or other Android phones from the Android Market for free. Discuss the app on our forum.