The pulse of Alexander Interactive

About 2 months after I got my Android Developer Phone 1 (aka ADP, G1, Dream, etc) I wrote a post about the applications I can’t live without. I figured it’s about time to make a new list of Android applications I love and can’t live without.

First up, I should say that I am still using the same ADP, and I can’t live without the hard work that cyanogen and other members of the Android community put into the CyanogenMod ROMs. Right now I’m running CyanogenMod 6 RC2.

Connectbot is still my SSH client, and I haven’t found any compelling reason to try anything else in the past year and a half. It is always a smooth, pain-free experience using this program.

SetCPU is a program that overclocks rooted Android phones. It makes my ADP, which can be painfully slow by today’s standards, a little bit snappier.

ClockworkMod ROM Manager is a great tool for managing your ROMs and keeping your ClockworkMod Recovery up to date.

Google Voice gives me a nice visual interface to my Google Voice inbox. I have my voice mail set up to forward to Google Voice, so having the application on my phone makes using it all the more pleasant.

Engadget. An app to read my favorite blog with? Yes, please!

IMDB. This one is pretty new, but I am frequently looking up movies, directors, actors and actresses at their website, and am quite happy that they have released an app.

TweetCaster is currently my twitter client of choice. It is certainly not the stablest twitter client on my setup, but I really do love the look and feel of it. Plus it has a great feature list as well.

Applications that are no longer on my must have list are:

Nitrodesk Touchdown. It is a great application, but I just don’t need it any more. The built in Microsoft Exchange connectivity is more than sufficient for my needs, and is lighter on my system. It’s not an issue of cost since I already own it.

Locale. It was a really fun toy when I first got my phone. But as it turns out, it wasn’t worth $10 to me. If it was $5, I’d probably buy it. Or maybe if all the plug-ins were free I’d pay the $10.

Ever feel like you’re doing the same silly things to fix things the same things over and over? Ever read forums where 10 people enthusiasticly post the same solution that you’re already trying to find an alternative for? Well, no need to post on forums any more, your answers are all here.

How to fix:

• Windows XP - reinstall
• Macs – delete preferences, fix disk permissions (really?)
• Windows Vista – install Windows 7 (really!)
• Linux – you’re already capable of helping yourself. Move along.
• iphone – you’re holding it wrong
• blackberry – delete service books, wipe data
• android – root your phone, install a community ROM, then complain to Cyanogen

Credit: “You’re holding it wrong“  courtesy of Engadget, my favorite blog.

A recruiter in New Jersey got ahold of my contact information last year. He called and managed to learn from me that I do some of Ai’s hiring. I did not choose to use him for any of our staffing.

Since then, he has called me reliably, every two weeks, to see if I need him yet. Last fall I got tired of his calls and told him, flat out, to please stop calling. We have no relationship and his repeated attempts to wear me down were not working.

He ignored this request and keeps calling. Today was his most recent ping. I now recognize his phone number on caller ID; I don’t pick up when he rings me and I delete his voice mail without listening. And still he calls. (It’s been so long that I feel like I blogged about him once before.)

What percentage of a user base gets worn down by this tactic? Is it worth alienating a high percentage of a potential consumer segment in the hope of finding a sale?

I’m sure my recruiter/stalker has found that repeated calls work on some people sooner or later, but in the meantime, I’ve memorized his name and sworn never to work with or recommend him. Is that good business?

This is a good thing for an online marketer to consider before buying email lists and defaulting signups to opt-in.

G’day mate! I am pleased (and a wee bit freaked out) to be flying to Sydney tonight to participate in Online Retailer, Australia’s leading ecommerce conference. With more than 4000 confirmed attendees, Online Retailer looks to be compelling and exciting.

I hope to be part of that excitement, as I am presenting at the conference on the ROI of user experience. It’s a frequent topic at Ai and one I’m looking forward to sharing. I am also doing live site critiques, my stock in trade at the Internet Retailer conferences, and joining in several other discussions and events.

If you’re in Australia, drop me a line, or swing by the conference and see for yourself.