Galaxy S3 mini and Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO has made a big impact during the last week. So big that I also wanted to be a part of it, but with a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini and Android 4.1.2 it wasn't possible... Although...

While I was in Toronto last week the Internet was already filled with stories, screenshots and all sorts of stuff about Pokémon GO. You couldn't avoid it. Even the Toronto Metro had three articles about Pokémon GO, with one about the advantages for the children like learning to use GPS and managing mobile data ('Parents should make most of Pokémon Go', July 13).

Anyway, at the same day after my arrival in Chicago on the way to my accommodation I met a guy playing Pokémon GO while waiting on the sidewalk before the lights turned green. He caught a wild Gastly. At that I point I thought: 'You need to have that!' 

Unfortunately installing the app wasn't even possible with my three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S3 mini. At least Android 4.4 would be necessary. But I couldn't go further than 4.1.2. I found some tutorials and saw that it's possible to run a modded version of Android 5.x on the Galaxy S3 mini.

I already wanted to try some Android mods earlier, but up until now there was no need because every app I used was still running properly. With Pokémon GO I finally got the motivation to upgrade.

Custom Recovery and Custom OS

So the first thing I needed was a Custom Recovery. The integrated Recovery Mode within my branded phone doesn't have the option to install a custom OS. Of course not. In order to install this recovery system you need to use Odin on your PC and connect your phone via USB cable. Turn off your phone and press Volume Down, Home and the 'Turn on' button to able to install a Custom Recovery via Odin.

Possible Custom Recoverys are either Clockworld or TWRP. After my first attempts using TWRP failed, which meant that the old recovery mode started instead of the new one I tried Clockworld which could boot without issues, but after reading that it would be better to use TWRP for Android 5 on this phone I tried to install TWRP again. Starting the Recovery Mode is possible by starting your phone with Home button + Volume Up.

This time it worked. In the next step I had to copy the Android 5 image (to be found on http://novafusion.pl/downloads/) and a Google Apps package on the root folder of my phone, After starting the recovery mode I was able to select the images, first the OS, then the Google Apps package. I selected the little basic one.

OS: aosp5.0_golden.nova.20141106

Apps: pa_gapps-modular-mini-5.1-20150315-signed

After a reboot the configuration for the Android Lollipop 5.1.1 started. It went flawlessly through. After installing some basic apps, I could finally install Pokémon GO, but without using the Play Store, because my phone isn't listed for being able to run this game. So I downloaded the apk file (com.nianticlabs.pokemongo_0.29.2-2016071201_minAPI19(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com) and installed the app manually.

While being in Las Vegas I could finally start catching Pokémon through the hotels WiFi. It was quite fun running through the casinos looking for the monsters.

By now I could catch 14 Pokémon and I'm about to reach Level 5. It's far from being a master and was just getting started.

And as a side effect it feels like having a new phone. Faster and better, it's the best what could happen to my phone from 2013.

For those who need more information upgrading their S3 mini - feel free to comment below. 

Blog stats - June 2016

Let's take a look at some stats from June which Google Blogger offers me. Let's take a look at the click percentage of the countries, browsers and operating systems.

Of course these numbers aren't completely accurate and some countries with a low amount of clicks are missing. Anyway, looking at the big ones - the most clicks are coming from the United States, France and Germany.

Looking at the operating systems we can clearly see Windows with the biggest percentage, but it would have been interesting to see which Windows versions were used. Ùnfortunately we can't see more with Google Blogger, Google Adwords would be better for that.

And finally a view at the web browsers: Google Chrome is clearly ahead followed by Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer and Safari with 7% each were rarely used.

Enabling DVD boot for Lenovo G70-35

No matter how often you try to press F2, F6, F8, F12 or anything: If you have a pre-installed Windows 10 you need to change some settings in the BIOS/UEFI in order to be able to boot from your DVD.

First, you need to get into the BIOS/UEFI menu to change the boot order by pressing Fn+F2. As you directly notice you can't even see the DVD drive.

In the following you should select 'Boot Mode' and chose 'Legacy Support' instead of 'UEFI'.

And in 'Boot Priority' you should also change from 'UEFI First' to 'Legacy First'.


Go to 'Exit Saving Changes' and open the BIOS again. Now you can see a bit more and also the DVD drive like you were used to in the older days.

Finally you should put the DVD in the first position ahead of the HDD. Save the changes and your inserted DVD will boot.

You'll be able now to install Windows 7, 8, 10 or anything from your DVD drive.

Another step forward: WhatsApp for Windows

Today WhatsApp finally released its desktop version. It's a step forward following the WhatsApp Web version - but is it really better?

Actually it looks more or less the same as the web version. The connection between the computer and the phone also works via scanning a QR code on the screen with your phone.

So still no connection via email address or another user ID possible. A solution like in LINE I'd prefer more. But maybe they'll think about it in the future.

The Windows version is recommended to work with Windows 8 or higher, but some users also mentioned that it's also usable with Windows 7. In the same step there was also a Mac OS version released.

The only difference to the web version is that the desktop app has it's own window and that you can see the amount of new messages with a white number in a red circle at the WhatsApp icon in the taskbar.

I hope they use this desktop version to create better chat backups in coming updates. A HTML export shouldn't be such a big deal. And other messengers have it - so hopefully it's going to come.

Anyway, I see the introduction of a desktop version a step in the right direction which they will hopefully use to build on.

Mouse gone in Windows 10

You're using Windows 10 with your laptop and suddenly you can't see and move the mouse with your touchpad anymore. Here's a way out.

A first attempt would be to just reboot your computer, even though it's unlikely to work. Another idea is to plug in a USB mouse, unplug it and hope that the touchpad is now working.

If that also doesn`t work go to the control panel or Settings. Select 'Mouse' (or 'Mouse & Touchpad'). Go to the Mouse properties ('additional mouse options').

Select the ELAN tab (maybe called differently on another laptop, this was on a Lenovo one) and enable the device which should be disabled at that point.

I also experienced similar issues with Windows 8 and it could be solved in more or less the same way. This issue can occur from time to time.

Is LINE better than WhatsApp?

(c) LINE (c) WhatsApp

LINE is a messenger and especially in Japan often used. But is it better than the even more popular WhatsApp? Here's what I found out.

Recently, I wanted to know how the messenger works and if LINE has some things better solved than WhatsApp. Interestingly, there're a few things.

But from the beginning: I downloaded LINE from Google Play Store and after starting I could already see who from my phone contacts also has this app installed. Quite WhatsApp-like. The chat itself is as easy as it should be.

The emojis are in comparison to WhatsApp really different. The emoji list starts with white-colored heads, but there are also some of the already known yellow faces. LINE also has more animal-referring emojis. So basically it's different. In addition LINE has stickers (bigger, moving icons) like you may know from Facebook, which WhatsApp hasn't included.

Like in WhatsApp there are also free calls included, but LINE already has the video call feature. Video calls are expected to be added in WhatsApp in the future, but in terms of that LINE lies ahead by now.

I also saw that there's a PC version for LINE. With an email verification - which includes a few exchanges of numbers to make the connection more secure - it's also possible to login on your computer. It's somehow reminiscent to the classic ICQ. A real messenger software installed on your PC.

And everytime you connect with your PC your phone gets a message. So in case of an inauthorized usage you'll be informed. And your phone don't have to be online to use LINE on your PC. Unlike WhatsApp Web where your phone needs permanent Internet connection to be used.

The whole identification with your email address is something WhatsApp also needs in the future. Also in this point is see that LINE is ahead.

Another interesting feature in LINE is the included timeline - something we all know from Facebook and that's something WhatsApp doesn't have. Anyway, it gives LINE users the opportunity to share content with anyone they want from their list. Ok, WhatsApp has broadcast messages and the profile status - the last one LINE also has - but it's a entirely different way to share a message. In the privacy settings you can also decide which one of your friends is allowed to see it and who not. I wouldn't say WhatsApp should have that but it's an interesting approach.

Also interesting is the 'KEEP' feature: LINE offers every user 1 GB of cloud space to save pictures, messages and so on. So you can touch a message and chose 'Save to Keep' in order to move it into the cloud. Same as WhatsApp LINE has also the search option to find special messages with keywords.

Additionally LINE has also included a coins system in order to purchase more stickers or even games and apps.

So let's take a look at this overview to see the important points:

Where LINE is better 

- video calls included
- login with email address or ID (not just phone number)
- a PC software version and the phone doesn't need to be online 

Where WhatsAPP is better 

- no in-app purchases

Where both can improve 

- a better chat backup as an HTML, not just a colorless text file

Conclusion

Comparing to WhatsApp LINE has a few features which the worlds no.1 messenger doesn't have yet. But I expect these to be added to WhatsApp soon - especially video calls. A possible email verification is also on my wish list. Same as independent usage from other devices.

The only advantage I see in WhatsApp is that there are no in-app purchases. Even the subscription has been changed to 'forever free'. Else it's worth to mention that WhatsApp has more than a billion users and LINE just around 220 million, but it only looks less in comparison. It's still a lot. Else, they're pretty equal in my view.

But there's one thing where I see both can improve: The chat backup and export. Both WhatsApp and LINE only have an export option as a colorless text file. I'd like to have an HTML like with in 'MyPhoneExplorer'. That tool made it possible with SMS exports in a nice website file.

But anyway. It's worth to test and use LINE, but you just need someone to communicate with. You usually find more WhatsApp  than LINE users, but in Asia it seems easier. Just give it a go and you'll see.

Facebook Live for everyone - My first viewer impressions

(c) Facebook

After Facebook launched its live video feature for everyone it's interesting to see how people are using it. A first impression...

The first time a noticed the new live feature was a few months ago when popular people were using it to communicate with their fans.

For example the Formula One vice world champion Nico Rosberg used it to have a Q&A with his followers which were using the comment section to ask their questions. I found it was a quite interesting way too reach a lot of people.

Basically a live stream is nothing new in the Internet, but an interesting feature for social media. YouTube also has this feature of course, but on Facebook it makes a difference - especially for usual people.

Many people don't have a YouTube channel and are just using it passively - it's more likely they have a Facebook account. So the audience is different and the kind of recorded videos are also different. More natural and uncut. You can see that especially when you take a look for who is using the live feature at the moment.

To do that you can now see 'Live map' listed under 'Apps' in Facebook. Following that you can see a world map with blue points. Every point means there is a live broadcast right now. I clicked on various points just to find out what people want to show to the world, here's an overview:

• A Korean girl singing Japanese songs but she only showed half of her face
• A Russian driving with his car
• two people in Alaska playing with a little snake in a bathtub
• pupil in Chile discussing in school class
• a band playing in a bar
• two guys sitting in the office working in California
• a DJ mixing music on his laptop in Portugal
• Greece girls listening to music
• a concert in Spain
• people using a Shisha at the Canaries
• a German girl eating cookies
• girls chilling and playing with their hair on Hawaii
• a guy walking through the streets of Melbourne
• a sunset on Tenerife with guitar music in the background
• people eating in Tokyo

And this could have been continued endlessly. So entirely different things, but it's surely interesting to follow - not everything, but it gave me a basic impression about this 'new way of watching videos'. I mean everyone can have 'his own TV station' to have a worldwide broadcast just by using a phone. And it's really easy to use.

It's an interesting development and there's way more to follow. Facebook will expand its features way more. I only need to say 'VR'...