Moto X Adventures part 2

I suppose following a brilliant revelation about the case I have been using that the Moto X was not intended for a case.

I had been having a problem with getting the screen to come back on after answering a call. I couldn't figure it out until I had to do a voice audition for a potential job tonight.

My husband reminded me that it didn't used to do this. Realizing that he was right we took the case off, and magic! Problem solved. Except that now we're taking bets on how long before I stop this one and have to call the insurance people to replace it.

Grocery Apps

I have been working with several of the available (and "free") grocery applications for Android since my last post.  A few were tossed out of the competition quickly; having proved themselves to be unacceptable for normal use.  The 3 that are still installed on my phone have immense potential for everyday use.   List Ease, Out of Milk and Our Groceries are those lucky apps.
Let's discuss the good, bad, and ugly of these 3 Inventory/Grocery List Applications


List Ease

• Keeps track of $$$$ -- Allows you to input the cost of each item, as well as sales tax.  Will estimate the cost of your shopping list.
• Large barcode "vocabulary"  recognizes most products when scanned.
• List share and sync
• More features available when you upgrade to a subscription

Out of Milk

• Different types of lists -- Shopping, To Do, and Pantry(Inventory).  User creates sub categories within each to further organize items.
• This application is tied to an account, which means that you will not lose your lists if you uninstall for whatever reason (Like your SI surprising you by making Google Wallet work while you're putting groceries away; yes this happened during the course of my testing)
• Customization seems to be a huge part of this app.  Not only within the lists themselves, but in the settings as well.  The ability to change what actions do what is easily available, and fairly idiot-proof.
• List Sharing -- share lists using whatever means you wish

Our Groceries

• List Sharing/Sync -- can be requested or allowed from the app.
• Recipe section -- allows user to add ingredients to a shopping list

List Ease

• No dedicated section for recipes (although this could be done by making a new list for each recipe)
• Switching phones means lost lists.  Syncing does not work, leaving me to think that the developer abandoned users.

Out of Milk

• Scanning an item multiple times does not increase item count; instead creating another instance of the item, which can be slightly helpful if you have scanned two entirely different things, and the scan has resulted in identical item information.

Our Groceries

• Having switched phones this weekend I cannot access lists on the new phone that were created on the old. This was expected since there is no "sign-up" or "log in" to lead anyone to believe that it would sync.

I had totally planned on putting in the Ugly section as well.  Unfortunately, between life (aka looking for work and parenting) and a change in technology (I am now rocking a Moto X, and handed off ownership of my Note 2 today) I was unable to get as far as deciding just what the Ugly for each one was.  

Moto X Adventures

If you follow me on Google Plus; you may have noticed that I've got a new phone!  I'm now working with the Moto X, and given that it's SUCH a gigantically different user experience I was surprised how much I actually enjoy using it.

My favorite things (so far):

• Small enough to use easily; and not too small to use for what I actually do with my phones
• Camera is fast, simple and easy to use (quality of pictures is a bit lower than the Note 2, but I no longer have to struggle to both hold my phone still and take the picture) There are also some pretty cool things it lets you do with your pics after they're taken.
•  The look of it!  Lines are simple, and it just isn't a flashy phone at all.
• I have yet to experience that "echo" during a phone call, and I could actually understand what my mumbling older brother was saying the last time he called, and I didn't hear what I said repeated in my ear 2 seconds after saying it.
• GPS is spot on...  We visited Elmira, NY over the weekend to assist in rebuilding their Level 8 status (and yes, to also Max out our inventory) and I experienced absolutely no drift (granted from time to time GPS signal was completely lost; and took a bit of time to get back, however I might attribute that to the area/Network)
• I can actually hear a notification from 2 rooms away w/ a door closed.  I could never do this with the Note 2 even with the volume all the way up. 
• Assist; absolutely has yet to fail at knowing when I am in a moving vehicle!
• "Okay Google Now" yeah; I absolutely love that this works; and only works for my voice. Yes, my family has tried and failed.
• Also; Anyone who has ever bought a smartphone knows that the film on the display usually has a bunch of text or whatever on it; to tell you (who they think must be that dumb) where all the buttons are...  The film on this phone has only a small white corner, and is otherwise clear, allowing me to use it while waiting for the ones I ordered to get here.

The stuff I could do without (so far)?:

• It's a slippery bugger, just like the Note 2 was, only the back panel is prettier (which is helpful since it's not the regular snap-on variety)
• The battery is NOT removeable, which means when the battery dies; you have to be near a power source
• Video chatting in low light; not happening.  It just doesn't gather light the way the Note 2 can.