Consider It Fixed

Running Google Apps on An Amazon Fire

I got my Amazon Fire on day one.  I immediately was impressed by it.  But as I began to dig deeper, I became disappointed.  I setup email, but couldn’t get to my contacts.  I didn’t like the email client and I could find no way to get to my Google contacts on the device without a manual import.  I could not find a calendar without paying money.  I tried using the Silk browser to access Google Apps.  It was OK until I turned to landscape mode and watched the editing box slide up the screen where I couldn’t see what I was writing.  At the end of day one, I thought that I would probably return my Fire. 

 

On day two, I came across some posts discussing how some users had rooted their Fire and been successful installing 3rd party applications not available in the Amazon Appstore.  I began to explore and discovered that I could get all of the functionality that I wanted without rooting my Fire.  I now love my Kindle Fire as it’s an awesome media device and also a great tool.  In this article I will share my path to liberating my Fire.

These are the steps that I took:

1. The first thing that you need to do is go into settings by tapping on the gear icon in the upper right corner, select More, select Device, and turn on Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources.
2. Next, you need to establish an easy way to install Android application files onto the Fire.  Go to the Amazon Store on the Apps tab and install ES File Explorer.  Using ES File Explorer, you can connect your Fire to a PC via a mini USB to USB cable or you can connect your Fire to a PC via shared folders over a wireless network.  Either way works.  Once you are connected, you can transfer files between your desktop and Fire. 
3. I took a slightly different approach as the first file that I transferred was Dropbox_1.1.1.apk.  I created a directory on my Fire called Fire Apps and copied Dropbox into it.  I then clicked on the file, agreed to the security prompts and I was looking at Dropbox running on my Fire.  For the rest of my file transfers, I created a folder in Dropbox on my PC, put the files that I wanted to install on my fire in it, and opened up Dropbox on my Fire.
4. Now, I have to tell you, that finding the necessary installation files is not easy as they are typically hidden by the Android Market, Amazon Appstore, or other app sources.  If you go to Google and look for the apps, you will find them.  Just be careful about exploits and old file versions.  Don’t say that I didn’t warn you.  Also, make sure that you restart your Fire before running any newly installed apps.  I also want to state clearly that this worked for me.  But it may not work for you.  You do any or all of this at your own risk.  I also do not endorse the installation of any files that are for sale.  All of the files that I have installed are available at no cost or if they are for sale, I paid for them.

The files that I installed to get Google Apps running are:

1. GoogleServicesFramework.apk
2. GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk (contacts sync)
3. com.google.android.gm-2.apk (gmail)
4. com.google.android.apps.reader-1.apk (reader)
5. com.google.android.apps.googlevoice-1.apk (voice)
6. com.google.android.youtube-2.apk (youtube)

Additional applications that I have installed are Dolphin Browser, Subsonic, Xmarks for Dolphin, and Lastpass for Dolphin.  The only way that I was able to get a working calendar that syncs with Google Apps is by purchasing CalenGoo from the Amazon Appstore.  It works just fine.

I now have an Amazon Fire that is just perfect.  I hope that Amazon is listening and understands that a bridge is often necessary as users live in an integrated world.

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Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com

 

Managing Your Medications with an Internet Calendar and a Smart Phone

I was recently diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease.  Lucky me – I live in central Connecticut – the epicenter for Lyme disease.  My treatment consists of a significant regiment of medications and supplements that I take 3 to 4 times a day.  To make matters a bit more complex, these medications and supplements may be changed, added, and subtracted as my treatment progresses.  Initially, I was very overwhelmed as I tried to organize and manage my treatment.  As a technologist, my predisposition was to find a simple solution to manage this complex task.  Simply put, I needed to be reminded of what I need to take at the time that I need to take it.

I live in a world where I have easy access to computers, online calendars, and smart phones.  I currently use these tools to manage my personal and business life - much of which centers on my calendar.  So, I set out to adapt these same tools to my medication/supplement challenge.  I was easily able to create a working solution using my preferred tool: Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal, Microsoft Exchange Server, and an Apple iPhone.  However, this solution can be easily created using many other popular software tools found on PCs, Macs, and the Internet.  Several free calendars are available from Google, Yahoo, Windows Live, and others that can readily synchronize with a number of popular smart phones.  As well, not everyone needs to use a smartphone.  For many, just using an online calendar with reminders will be a significant enough improvement. 

Setting up the Calendar

While it’s not well known, most calendar programs support the idea of using multiple calendars.  For example, you can have a personal calendar, business calendar, and in this case, a medication calendar.  Several  calendar programs also allow you to have a calendar with others.  In a business, this may be useful for booking a meeting room.  A family may use a shared calendar to manage everyones' summer schedule.  I suggest using a separate calendar from the one that you may already be using for your personal and/or business information.  In my case, I added a new calendar in Microsoft Outlook that is called Ian’s Medication Calendar.

Let’s say that you need to take 6 medications in the morning, 4 at noon, 5 at dinner, and 8 before bed.  To start, create an appointment in your medication calendar on whatever day is currently is.  For the title of the appointment, input the names of your 6 morning medications and their dosages, or as I do, the number of each pill that I take.  I list them all separated by commas.  Let’s say that you need to take these medications around 8 in the morning.  So, set an appointment time at 8am and give the appointment a length of 2 hours.  The reason for the 2 hour duration is so you have a large enough appointment block available to show the entire list of medications.  Next, set the appointment as reoccurring (or repeating) for as long as you will be taking this mediation.  If it’s open ended, simply set the end date for sometime in the future.  I typically set mine for around 6 weeks as I see my doctor around every 6 weeks.  Most calendar programs have the option to select that days that the appointment repeats on – everyday, every other day, selected days, etc.  This is very useful if you need to take one medication on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays rather than every day of the week.  The last step is to create a reminder for the appointment so that you will be notified when it’s time to take your medication.  The final step is to repeat this process so that all of your medications and schedule times are listed throughout the day and by using repeating settings for as long as you need.  You now have a calendar listing all of your medications, the times that they need to be taken, and a reminder system.  You can use your computer or simply print out your calendar in a weekly view to have a schedule that you can carry with you.  As your medications and supplements change, you can simply change the appointment title and repeating information as needed.

Figure 1 is a screen shot of my medication calendar in Microsoft Outlook.

Figure 1

Figure 2 is a screen shot of my appointment settings for my morning medications in Microsoft Outlook.  You can see my medication/supplement list in the Subject field.

Figure 2

Figure 3 is a screen shot of my appointment reoccurrence settings for my morning medications in Microsoft Outlook.  Here I can set the length of the appointment so that it displays correctly and I can set the reoccurrence to daily and for 6 weeks long.

Figure 3

Integrating the Calendar with a Smart Phone

If you’re like me, you may be out and about during the day, and need to be reminded to take your medications.  If your calendar is based on a calendar on web, it is often easy to add it to your smart phone.  I use Microsoft Exchange Server with Microsoft Outlook to do this.  As I mentioned earlier, many Internet-based calendars can easily synchronize with popular smart phones.  If you don’t know how to setup this part, many Internet calendars provide help and instructions or you may want to contact your smart phone vendor for technical assistance.  Since I already had my calendar integrated with my smart phone, my new medication calendar magically showed up on my iPhone as soon as I created it. 

Figure 4 shows my 2 calendars on my iPhone.

Figure 4

Figure 5 shows Ian’s Medication Calendar on my iPhone.

Figure 5

Figure 6 shows my business calendar on my iPhone.

Figure 6

Figure 7 shows my Medication Calendar and Business Calendar overlapping on my iPhone.

Figure 7

In closing, I offer to you a simple solution to a somewhat daunting task.  My approach is one that uses widely available computer-based tools.  You can even take this approach further.  As some of you may know, several technology companies are working on tools to help manage our medical information.  I'm referring to significant companies like Microsoft and Google.  Image if your doctor had access to your medication calendar.  During your office visit, your doctor could update your calendar so any changes would be available immediately.  By doing this, we could reduce mistakes, create excellent records of medication changes and everyone would benefit.

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Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com

We Support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Fast Fact: Did you know that a new case of invasive breast cancer is diagnosed in the U.S. every 3  minutes?

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a remarkable, interactive weekend Walk that raises critical dollars to provide access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. The Walk provides the opportunity for all participants to make a tangible commitment toward eradicating breast cancer while also increasing critical awareness of this deadly disease.

For 2 days and 39 miles, everyone who has been touched by breast cancer touches you - in gratitude. My wife, Lori, will walk in the New York City Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on the weekend of October 6 – 7 and is committed to raising $2000. The money that she raises will allow medically underserved women and men to be treated giving them access to the care they require. And hard-working research teams will be powered by the funds they need to fuel their quest for the cure.

Please donate generously in our Tip Jar (located on our homepage). 100% of the money donated with go to the Avon Foundation. I wish that we could consider breast cancer fixed. Maybe some day we will.

Please see the Avon Foundation for more information.

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Contact info: info@consideritfixed.com