Some Android Apps are Unbelievably Big!

Are developers getting code lazy or just trying to cram in far too many features into apps these days. I originally thought about this around three years ago when I decided that an app designed to clean and free up memory on my Kindle Fire HD should not be an elephant (in size) in itself! It might not sound much but Clean Master which is now 11.5Mb.

Recently after seeing Strava reviewed a great app for running and cycling, as I am thinking of trying to get fit but was shock to discover it is 23Mb for my Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. Another example is Evernote which I had been using before they started adding features I did not want  is now 20.82Mb on the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and 23.3Mb for the Kindle Fire HD.  Even Facebook is reported to be around 42.43Mb.

Now individually this may not sound like much but in total this will take a big chuck out of your RAM and storage particularly when you realise the true amount which is really used. For example, Google Calendar app declares to be 23.68Mb (on Sony Xperia Z1 Compact) but under Apps (under Settings) is reports to use 35.84Mb on device (excluding data) which is quite a difference. This is not the only app which uses more than you expect. Android applications have historically been limited to a maximum size of 50MB but according to CNET developers can attach another 4Gb. Perhaps we will need Terra Bytes of storage soon with longer lasting batteries just to keep up.

Android Lollipop has arrived for Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

Though Lollipop 5.0 is here I am going to wait about a week just to see if anyone out there is having issues with the update from KitKat to Lollipop on the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.

Best to let someone else break their phone first. I always prefer not to rush and upgrade as soon as one arrives, I would rather wait a little and see how things settle down.

The only issue I have seen with other devices (not Sony) is that some are having battery issues and some WiFi.

UPDATE (23rd December 2015)

I thought it was about time I left an update. I did upgrade about a month later and have been very happy with Lollipop. There is now talk of Marshmallow coming soon to newer Sony Xperia model.

The 0.0% three musketeers

Bavaria have three more 0.0% flavours available to enjoy in the UK.

Premier Original - A delicious malt (lager) with all the taste without the hangover of a alcohol version. Definitely my favourite.

Wheat Beer (WIT) - A cloudy and slightly sweeter beer both full of flavour and very refreshing.

Fruity Rose - Another delicious malt with a fruity twist of raspberries, cherries and bilberries. Different and works surprisingly well.

You can purchase the Premier Original bottles from Sainsbury's or Waitrose and cans from Tesco or Morrisons. The Wheat Beer I have only found in Waitrose and Fruity Rose so far only from Tescos.

The Taste Without The Hangover

I have also discovered that many pubs and clubs sell Becks Blue which is a nice beer.

Since finding in Norway that restaurants there sell non-alcoholic beers is normal and supermarkets sell a range of these drinks I have found that the UK is getting there. May be I just wasn't looking properly. I was surprised at how many beers were available from various supermarkets. My favorite is Bavaria 0.0% (larger) which is mainly sold in bottles but I have found Morrisons sell both bottle and can versions. Being a keen biker I attend many biker rallies and do a lot of camping and all campsites do not allow 'glass' so this is brilliant but the only company I have found which do this. Bavaria do a Bavaria 0.0% (Wit) which is nice too.

It all started when I had some medication which recommended you should not drink alcohol and as I wanted to make sure it worked I decided not to drink at all. Since then I found I did not miss the alcohol and decided to stop completely. I run my own businesses so there are advantages in being able to leave a party, pub or restaurant and get straight in a car and drive. I really don't miss it at all now and feel a lot better for it.I started on juice and lemonade then my wife found Kopparberg in both Pear and Mix Fruit Alcohol Free. We then found that Sainsburys do a set of de-alcoholised (0.05%) wines from Germany. I found the rose too sweet and tasted more like a fruit drink. However the white is nice but the red is even better which I tend to mix with some lemonade. Another nice red (Cabernet Sauvignon) comes from Eisberg and is available from many supermarkets. The red wines do contain tannin so your tongue will stain red (as with normal red wine) and you can feel a bit rough if you drink too much neat though this might be psychological or just the tannin.

One thing to note is that a beer or wine can be classified as Alcohol Free if it contains 0.05% or less and De-alcoholised contains 0.5% or less.. So if you want no alcohol then make sure you read the label. Another benefit is the number of calories, for example Bavaria 0.0% (larger) contains 25 kcals (per 100ml)..

The main problem with the white wines and ciders are they tended to be a little to a lot sweeter. The Kopparberg particularly which makes it hard to drink more than two of these.
Now before someone asks "what's the point of alcohol free, it just isn't beer", there are many reasons why someone will not or cannot drink alcohol. With these products you can feel like you are part of a BBQ, party or social event and still be able to drive your friends home.

A useful source of information is The Alcohol Free Shop which has an extensive collection of wines, beers, stouts and Gluten free but check the prices.

How to have DAB Radio in your Car

This was the best present from Christmas 2011. It is the Pure Move 2500 Personal DAB Radio (in black) which I can connect in my car via a 3.5mm stereo cable which I bought separately (providing your car has one). I use a long cable about 1.5m as this is the arial which would normally be done by the earphones. Though reception is not perfect for a car, I have found that it is very good on the journeys I have made even if I have to hook the cable over the drivers mirror to improve reception. If there is poor reception it doesn't last long, from a few to less than 5 seconds.

The battery is amazing. I charge it anything from every two to four weeks. As it is portable you can remove from the car and slip into your pocket or bag and a lock switch to prevent it switching on (or off).

SPAM a Clearer Look

I have noticed that this week SPAM to a particular email account have increased loads just this week. Where I would normally get about 5 to 8 per day it is now around 40. Though most is identical.

 (Click on image above for larger image)

Even though all SPAM is caught by the email system and placed in SPAM, it is always a good idea just to check that nothing has ended in there which you want. To make it simpler change the sort order by Subject instead of by Date as this groups the SPAM.

(Click on image above for larger image)

If there is an email which is caught by mistake, make sure you tick and check the Not Spam button.

To prevent good email from being treated by your email system as SPAM make sure you add that person to your Contacts as this will help.

Not Perfect but...

The for this see if you can use a dictation machine and Microsoft windows seven speech recognition to write a blog. 

This is basically a test to see if you can record what you want to say to an Olympus WS-110 Digital Voice Recorder then play it with Notepad open using Speech Recognition from Microsoft in Windows 7. I then copy&paste it into Blogger. The above is raw unedited so not bad.

QR Codes - Making Your Own

Here is a great site called Kaywa for generating QR Codes, they also have a program for some devices. If you do use it a lot then you probably should think about making a donation but there are many others out there, just do a Google for Free QR Code generator.

This QR Code simple contains a link to this blog but you can easily have some text, phone number or SMS.

Biker Protected Gear - How Much Does Yours Weight?

Out of interest have you ever wondered how much your bike gear weighs. Right, Me and Gear is 77Kg - Me 69K with gear removed equals 8Kg. So that's leathers, boots, gloves and lid weigh 8Kg.

It would be interesting how much a fully loaded bike of camping gear would add to this.

Installing a 12V socket to a Yamaha FZS600 Motorcycle

It has taken me nearly 2 years of saying I would do this to actually installing a 12V socket on my Yamaha Fazer. Camping by bike is what I do most for events like BMF and The Bulldog Bash which is both enjoyable and good value for money. This will now allow me to charge a SatNAV, mobile phone or plug in a pump for an air-bed.

If you are planning to do the same first look at where you want to put the socket. Think about the length of cable from the plug to the device to help you decide where. I chose to put mine under the seat which means I do not have to wire it into the ignition circuit or put a switch in to stop anyone draining my battery.

The 12V Waterproof Socket Cigarette Lighter (C) came from Amazon and was the most expensive part at £4.50. Both 10A Blade Fuse (A) £0.52 and 30A Blade Fuseholder (B) £2.29 came from Maplin which was bought in store.

Firstly strip, twist and solder the joins. One the red cable I reused the connector which came with the 12V socket hence the extra join. You will need another.

A mate let me have some spare black wire and also provided tubing which covered the joins which was then heat shrunk using a heat gun.

I decided to use black insulation tape over the top too to make sure that it was water tight.

I would recommend getting a multimeter and checking the resistance just to make sue all the joints are good and there are no short-outs. Do not install the fuse yet.

Attach the socket under the seat to a cleaned area using Velcro. This means you can move it out of the way to make more room under the seat for luggage. When positioning make sure you leave enough room to be able to plug & unplug and that the plug can sit in the socket cleanly when the seat is put back into place.

With the fuse not installed from this new wiring first connect the red positive (+) cable to the battery. I actually used latex gloves to avoid accidentally shorting out the battery or the motorcycle wiring. Clean up the current connections to the battery. I put a tiny smear of Vaseline on the connectors to ensure of a good connection.

There was enough gap to push the connector through the back of the red protective terminal cover.

Next connect the black negative (-) cable. Again clean and Vaseline the contacts.

I did not wear latex gloves for this bit as the bike is negatively earthed so this cable is normally okay if it touches any part of the bike.

Finally put the fuse in.

You can now put the 10A (amp) fuse in. I tested it by plugging in just my SatNAV cable which had an LED which lights even when the SatNAV is not connected.

Providing your motorcycle is charging the battery correctly it should be possible to have a mobile charging without the engine running. Anything like a pump make sure the engine is running or you might be push starting your bike next time. Basically if in doubt run the engine.

The other advantages of having this not connected as part of the ignition circuit are you can lock a mobile on charge under the seat (make sure no one sees you doing this) while you go get some lunch and do not have to leave your keys in the ignition.

The main disadvantage is that if you have soft panniers which lay across the seat then it is difficult to get under the seat. As they say think about Location Location Location.... and what and how you are going to use it.