Top 5 Android Apps to install for Streaming Shows and Movies!

Do you want to watch Doctor Who, How I met your Mother, and more on your Android device. Check out this post to find out how you might be able to do that for free!

Click to read more ...

I dropped my Acer A200 on Purpose and I'll tell you why!

I was in the electronic department!

Your probably would never drop your Acer Tablet A200 on the floor purposing to prove a point.  Most people don’t know how Durable the Acer Tablet is and how easily it recovers from drops and falls.   I must admit the tablet did have a Cover on it [Poetic(TM) Stand Leather Case with Angle Adjustable with HandStrap].  The lady was surprised but what she did not know.   I had a great insurance plan for my tablet if it breaks ,however she wasn’t told that.

That was a Bold Move!

I simply believe this Acer Tablet is way better than any Ipad and I like to prove it to people around my community.   I however know what people will say.   Sooner or later you will drop it enough to damage it and I’d have to say your right.  It isn’t unbreakable but built tough and I know how useful this tablet is.  

The End of the Story!

I am sure you probably wondering why I wanted to share this story.   In the end, I helped the lady find a tablet that is best suited for her 3 to 5 year sons.  It however is probably going to be stuck in her mind about this Acer Tablet and my blog.  I happened to tell her about it.  I wanted to reach and find out what happened to that tablet you bought your kids and find out how it is doing?  If your reading this, Let me know and tell me what you think of that tablet!  In the end, I still recommend The Acer A200 Tablet to anyone who wants a cheap durable tablet for your self or your family member.!

Paul Sylvester

How to Change DNS on a Acer A200 / A500 Tablet!

Fix paging times!

So I have a little problem that I thought would be a good topic to discuss and teach others how to do just in case it happens to to you.   I recently started have page load times slow down and didn’t understand why until I changed the DNS settings on my Acer Tablet!   Seems that it can be kind of tricky to find this out on the web.   

Problems with some DNS Providers!

Use Coupon Code “savenow15” and Save 15% off the lifetime of your account!

Having seen this from time to time, I know that any DNS Provider can have really bad network lag and thus impact your browsing the internet.   You can solve that by changing the DNS to a faster network.  The Problem I’ve been having is not knowing how to do it until recently.  You can change the DNS in your router but that won’t help you if you decide to visit a Hotspot or a Free Wifi.   

The Fix!

If your like me, you may need to do this a couple times to get the hang of it but it is quite simple once you understand how.

Go into your Wireless settings and look for the wifi connection your on or using at the time and just do a Long press until you get a screen that ask if you want to forget the network or modify the network.

Once you click Modify the network, you half way there.   Check the Show Advance Options and change the DHCP to a Static IP.    Once you’ve done that you will see DNS 1 and DNS 2 settings.   I suggest changing them to the OpenDNS Servers : 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. Although this is simply a suggestion you can any DNS Provider you can think to do the job!

Hope this helps, I will have more tips and tricks later on but this one was something that I thought you might want to know right now!

Christmas Gift List for 2012 : How to Shop for the Geek in all of Us!

Christmas Is around the Corner!

I know I did a good little post on what your significantant other might want on Christmas last year.  I thought I would update you a list of what they might want this year so you can be looking into getting them that special gift that will make any Geek happy!   This won’t be a complete list but it will be a list to remember and maybe even come back to when it is their birthday!

Simple Stuff!

It isn’t the things that make it hard but always look for the simple things life that brings the most joy.   I am going to demostrate this by giving out a few good simple gifts that will make any geek happy, whether they are male or female.   Nothing has to be expensive but it has to come from the heart!

• Doctor Who [Affiliate Link]— If they are a Doctor Who Fan this would be a very simple gift idea for them.   Anything Doctor Who will make you an instant favorite in their eyes and it doesn’t have to be expensive just something that they can use time and time again.
• Big Bang Theory [Affiliate Link]— Here is another  favorite of mine and thus it might be theirs also.  You don’t have to be picky about it just know that if you pick from the year you are more likely to make them smile.
• Walking Dead [Affiliate Link] — I’ve not really watched this show but I do have people I work with who talk about it constantly so it must be a good show.  If he likes this show then you might want to head on over and find something to compliment the telivision show.

The are only a few ideas but they might work for your man/woman in your life.   Now I know I talked about tablets last year but I do recommend the A200 to A500 Series of the Acers Myself.  They have been nothing but a pleasure to use to watch all my shows that I might ever want.

More Techy Stuff!

If your guy or girl is more tech savy, you might want to consider getting them something like a Roku or even a Netflix Gift card but it just depends on what you want to accomplish.  If your know who your shopping for then you can always figure out what they are looking for.   If I tell you to buy something and am wrong then you will no doubt blame me but if I give some suggestions then you are the one who blame because you didn’t listen to your other half as well as you should.   

I will not give you any major gift ideas because that is something you should do but I do hope this helps you guide you in the right direction.

Paul Sylvester

Amazon Affiliate Link

Google Play Movies & TV : What needs to fixed!

Google Play and You!

It hasn't been long since I've moved from Amazon to Google Play, but there seems to be something that needs to fixed.   I'm going to talk about some of the things that Google needs to do and possibly help you out in the same process!  I won't say that I regret the process but there are a few things that could be changed and also fixed.   I'm really am hoping that someone reads this and implements these changes in Google and thus making for a better user experience for everyone.   

Show's don't show up automatically!

When I buy a season on Google Play for shows, it doesn't show up.  I have to clear the cache for the Acer a200 to be able to download the newest episode(s).  

1. Visit Menu > Settings > Apps

2. Tab over to "All"

3. Select the Play Store app, and then tap "Clear cache" and "Clear data"

Please note that after clearing the Google Play Store app data, if you have set a PIN code and/or a content filter, you'll need to re-apply these settings

[Google Play]

This seems to be a lot of trouble everytime you have a new episode that comes out.  I waited a full 24 hours before contacting them about the next episode, so I know that if the app is going to check for new updates it should of done so in the 24 hour period.  It didn't, and I had to do those steps to download the next episode to my tablet.   

It would be nice if Google play would clear the cache every 8 hours or so or when you load it up.   This is a failure on the part of Google to think about customers needs.   

Internal Memory and External Memory!

Something else that seems to be a problem is the ability to use the External SD card to put all my movies or shows on.   I bought a Sandisk Ultra 32 Gb Micro SD card [Affiliate Link] for that one reason, to be able to use it to keep my shows on when I download them.  Google doesn't use this card and keeps all my movies and shows on the internal memory card because it think it is the external Memory card.   It sees it as the sdcard and not anything else.   The External Memory is consider is considered External SD on the tablet and thus nothing will be put on it.  

It would be nice to use the tablet the way I want and not the way they want me to use it.   I have been looking for ways to fix this and if I find one, my readers will be the first to know but I am hoping Google reads this post and fixes these two major problems that I've seen so far.   

Do you know of something that needs to be fixed with Google Play and you want my help, you can always Contact me and tell me what the problem and maybe I will talk about it on my website.

Paul Sylvester

My Amazon Affiliate Link!

Goodbye Amazon! Hello Sweet Google Play! More Reasons why I am leaving Amazon!

Amazon is losing the battle!

Let’s face it, when I bought my Acer Iconia Tablet [Affiliate Link] A200, I really thought I was going to not have a lot of shows that I can watch or stream on my tablet.    Lately Thought things have been changing, for the good.  After last year with watching Doctor Who on Amazon, I thought I was going to be stuck with Amazon because there was no way to download my episodes without the Amazon unbox program for my laptop.   I started watching Doctor Who Season 7 [Affiliate Link] on Amazon,  but that is about to change.

Science Fiction is Coming to Google!

As many of my readers knows, I simply love Science Fiction.   I do say that whole heartedly, nothing can be said about anything else.   Lately I’ve been on a kick to have other shows on Google Play or even movies.  I want to share with you some of the shows that I’d like to see added to Google Play:

• Star Trek — From original to Enterprise, I’d love to see all those episodes available to streamed and downloaded onto my Tablet.  Hopefully that is in a process now!
• Babylon 5 — Although there isn’t a link for that series, I’d love to see that come to Google Play Store really soon!
• Kyle XY — Although you can get Seasons 1 and 2, you can’t get season 3 just yet.  I’d love to see the who series on Google Play!
• Doctor Who [Season 7 Only] —  Thank you Google Play, This has been wanted for over a few weeks.   They recently released it to the Google Play store a few days ago.  I just can’t wait for them to bring in Season 1 thru 6.   
• Star Trek : Renegade — They are doing kick starter project for a new series that basiclly is a 5 year arch.  I’d love to see this come to my Android tablet so I can take this anywhere and watch it.  It is a interesting concept and it will be fascinating to see the series when it comes out!

Although these are just a few, I will be looking for more to come to the Google Play store.   Although there categories for TV is limited, I’d like to see more menus added so I don’t have to search as much. All I know, is recently I went to my Amazon pre-passes and stopped all those from continuing.  I have switched all my passes to Google Play store.   So I have one thing to say to Amazon “It was nice knowing you but I get my movies and TV from Google Play Store now, since you don’t support Android Devices”.   

If you would like to see a show or Movie come to Google play, you can always request it.   Just fill out this Form and they will know what shows or movies you’d like to see come to the Google Play Store.  I can’t wait to see what other shows or movies can be viewed on my Acer A200 Tablet!

Paul Sylvester

Amazon Affiliate Link!

Being Impressed with the Acer A200!!

Acer Tablet A200 and Me!

I've been using this Acer Tablet for over a Month and have yet to be disappointed with it.  I usually don't speak more than once on anything I have seen or done but I will tell you some of the amazing stuff that I found out with this little tablet.  I thought it was high time to share with you some of the amazing abilities that you can use this tablet for.

Speech to Text!

I know your thinking this is impossible with a tablet that probably doesn't have the power or speed to be able to change what you say into text.  I've on the other hand have found this to be a very useful way to send emails or even to use Google Voice to send text to people who I really don't have time to sit there and use the on screen keyboard.  I will say this is still a new technology and thus there will always be mistakes when it tries to understand what your saying.   I'm willing to guess that it is only like a 1 out of 10 words that it gets wrong with me.  I'll say that I don't always pronounce or enunciate alot so it really does a good job with figuring out what I said and putting in text format.

Google Play Store!

Another Great resource at your disposal and I do mean that.   Some of the shows that you can watch on your tablet are:

• Mythbusters Season 6-13 -- If your like me you like to be able to watch them any place you go and this will allow you the ability to download them and take them with you.
• Warehouse 13 (Season 1-4) --  I love this Science Fiction like this and want others to be able to experience them on your own Acer Tablet. 
• Royal Pains (Season 1-4) -- Like seeing blood or how Doctors react under pressure this is a good problem solving doctors show.  
• House (Season 1-8) -- Another one of those doctor shows that you might like to watch on your Acer Tablet.
• Naruto (All Episodes) -- This is something that I loved to watch growing up and thus will recommend this show to anyone who likes Japan animation.  It really grows on you as you watch it.
• Naruto Shippuden -- Although you have to stream these episodes you can keep up on the show as it progresses even more.   Thanks to CrunchRoll!

All of these episodes can be done on the Acer Tablet but if you have an Android it should work on any Android device as long as it is compatible with your device.   I just wanted to share with you some of the things you can do with your Acer A200 and show you some of the things I've done with it.  

Paul Sylvester

Amazon Affiliate Link

Acer Tablet A200 [ROMS] and You!

Acer is Good!

I’ve been using the Acer Tablet A200 has been really good with my two weeks of the tablet use and I have been really impressed with it.   I have however decided that I might check out the ROMS that I can use with it as far as using Jelly Bean with the tablet.  If I can install Ice cream sandwich using Acer update then I am most confident that it should also support Jelly bean and I have been looking long and hard for that on my HTC Inspire 4g (ATT) [Affiliate Link].

So let’s get this out of the way!

You will have to unlock and become a Superuser if you wish to install another ROM.  I prefer to find the ones that work best for me and here are some of them that I have to do a lot of explain or even trying to figure it myself.   Here are a Few ways to Root your Acer A200 that I’ve found.   Granted each one of these are “USE at your OWN Risk!” they however seem to be very good at Rooting your device the way you are wanting to.

• Simple Root — Works with Iconia A200 Tablets and I’ve not had a chance to test it but it might be what your looking for.
• Acer Tablet Forum Discussion — I will say this tutorial looks promising and should be considered when rooting and unlocking your tablet.

Which ROMS can be used with the A200?

So I’ve also been looking for some Jelly Bean ROMS that would work with the Acer A200 Tablet and I must say they are few and Far Between at least from what I’ve found but I will share with you ROMS that I will check out later on this week and try them out.   Here are the Ones that I’ve found:

• CM 10  - Preview Build — haven’t played around with this but I am hopeful that this will work nicely with the Acer Tablets.
• CM 10 - randomblames Jelly Bean — Another One that is supposed to work with the Acer A200 Tablet but haven’t tried it out just yet!
• CM10 civato’s JB 4.1.2 FLEX v6supercharged — Different but same!
• [ROM]Jelly-Bean_4.1.2_CM10-FLEX_v6supercharged_Aroma — It is supposed to work with A500’s but Since they are almost exactly the same you shouldn’t have much trouble with using it with the A200!
• [ROM][A500] CM10 Jellytime — Same as above but just a different mod that might work A200!

So as you can see there isn’t many that I’ve found but I might of missed a few here and there and ask that you help me find those roms that I’ve missed by leaving a comment and a link to that mod.  I’d love to hear if you had problems or if which mod you used or haven’t used and tell me your opinions on them all.   I have downloaded at least one mod to check out and get back with you if It works.   I will post later on the results.

Paul Sylvester

My Amazon Affiliate Link!

Reviewing the Acer Iconia A200 10.1 Tablet!

Acer Iconia A200!

I found the tablet for me, it is Acer Iconia A200 10.1-Inch Tablet [Affiliate Link]and I must say I am loving this little tablet.   It is far better than some of the others that you might of wanted.   Here are the specs for the tablet:

Screen Size	2.5 inches
Max Screen Resolution	1280 x 800 pixels
Processor	1 GHz Tegra 2.0
RAM	1 GB DDR2
Hard Drive	8 GB
Graphics Coprocessor	NVIDIA GeForce GPU
Chipset Brand	NVIDIA
Wireless Type	802.11bgn
Number of USB 2.0 Ports	2
Average Battery Life (in hours)	8 hours

Other Technical Details

Brand Name	Acer
Series	Iconia
Item model number	A200-10g08u
Hardware Platform	PC
Operating System	Android Honeycomb 3.2
Item Weight:	1.5 pounds
Item Dimensions L x W x H	10.20 x 6.90 x 0.48 inches
Color	Titanium Gray
Processor Brand	NVIDIA
Processor Count	1
Computer Memory Type	DDR2 SDRAM
Flash Memory Size	8
Hard Drive Interface	Serial ATA

So let’s talk about this little tablet!

It has a very vivid display and lasted approximately 6 hours with me with moderate screen brightness.   I can watch Google shows or Movies thanks to their Google Play Video App.   I also like that I can download movies and shows to the tablet without having to Sync with a Desktop or tablet.   Here are the Pro’s to the tablet that I can think of:

• Comes with Android 3.2.1 but can be upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.3) with an over the Air update Approximately 260 meg download.
• The Weight of the Tablet is about the same weight as an IPAD or a 7 inch tablet.  
• Watch Netflix or Hulu with no problems
• USB Ports: Can plug in a usb keyboard, Mouse or a barcode scanner [Affiliate Link] and use it the way you want not the way they want you to use it. (I’ve tried all three USB devices and not had any problems)
• Reading kindle books or web browsing.
• Emailing people using a Keyboard.
• Can even watch Amazon Shows and Movies using the Web browser with no major issues.   

As you can see this tablet is versatile and can be used for business or pleasure depending on what you need it to be used for and how you intend to use it.   I find the speed of the processor adequate for the size of the tablet and haven’t had any major issues with Ice Scream sandwich and Acer!   I bought this tablet because I have used an Acer Laptop and I have found all Acer products to be durable and stands up to time.

The Cons:

• Google Video Play Store — They are getting shows and movies that I would buy from them but I would love to have BBC and some other Science Fiction shows to be available there.  They do However Have the Warehouse 13 Series and Mythbusters Series that I like so much but I am hoping I can switch entirely to Google in a few months.  
• The Screen size is smaller than the Ipad but it isn’t a big deal if you just want to use it for reading or viewing videos.   I found the video playback to be really nice and neat.
• Default web browser needs to be removed.   I installed  the Dophin Browser because it was much more smoother and faster to run.   
• No Jelly Bean update — Acer confirms that they will not havew the Jelly Bean on this tablet.  I however will be looking around for a way to do it myself.

I really am not happy they will not have Jelly Bean on this version of the tablet but I am sure someone will make a mod for me to do just that because I believe that it is capable of doing so.   I do think this was a great buy and I as such encourage people to go check out other Acer Tablets or for that matter this one all together.

Paul Sylvester

Amazon Affiliate Link