Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 From Cricket

Built in the Axiom shell is the latest Android Galaxy. This means that if you need a new case or any accessories, you have a good chance of finding the parts you need by simply looking for Axiom. Or go into setting/about device and scroll to bottom you will see a model number SCH-R830c. Google that or search eBay for that number and you will find Axioms and Galaxy Admire 2 are the exact same phone, and share a lot of identical parts.
Video of first boot of my Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 From Cricket to show it’s boot time (scroll to bottom of page). Then pictures to compare the Admire to a Bionic and a Zio. ( Benchmark scores)
I received my Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 today from Cricket. and right away, put the phone on it’s charger. Battery was at about 50% charge upon arrival. (of course I didn’t think to take pictures until a bit after opening and charging)
charging 	Samsung Galaxy Admire 2
Admire_Quarter

Finally, No stupid logo in the front.

Finally, No stupid logo in the front.

The sim card and micro SD already inserted. For the record, this phone does not require a special memory card to Cricket’s Muve Music.

Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 with back cover off

Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 with back cover off

Now understand, I am upgrading from a very out dated Kyocera Sanyo Zio. Which is a decent phone for it’s time. But. Single core 600mhz little to no storage, Android 2.2.1.  on the plus side, the phone is almost bullet proof. Been dropped countless times and still works fine, no cracks and less than average scratches. It’s a little tank.
Little is the key word. The screen is a bit small so the Samsung Galaxy Admire 2  will be a nice upgrade with near 1/4 inch larger screen.
Here is a front comparison of the two phones the Samsung Galaxy Admire 2  and the Sanyo ZIO
admire_zio
Which doesn’t look like that much pocket space has been compromised, but look at the slight difference in the screen size.
Here is a side photo of the two phones
admire_zio_side

Very little (if any) difference in thickness.

I do have to admit that for a couple months, I had a flashed Motorolla Droid Bionic from Verizon , but there was this stupid update notice that I was warned not to do. Well one day, I was typing a text…. and the notice popped up. yep… I clicked it. $50 for the flash right down the drain. but the screen on the bionic was huge. and the Android version was Ice Cream Sandwich. Some options and abilities from Froyo android 2.2, gone, but some things ran smoother with ICS. Also I had to replace the screen on the bionic on the second day after flashing to Cricket. Dropped  the thing not even 2 feet. Landed on a corner.
Here’s a front view comparison of the Motorola Bionic and the Galaxy Admire 2.
admire-bionic
The screen area of the Bionic is nearly the same size as the entire Admire 2.
Thickness comparison between the bionic and the Samsung Galaxy Admire 2.
admire_bionic_side

The Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 is a considerable amount thinner than the Bionic.

Took me too long to figure this out, but the tiny button on the right side of the Samsung Galaxy Admire 2 is the power button. Not the big skinny button in the front.

Now for the initial boot up

Very fast boot.
Shockingly fast.

Big issue I have run into repeatedly is the back button and menu button. They buttons are too close to the edge. My fingers barely ever make proper contact. and then add the edge of the case I recently added. Plus, for some reason that space between the buttons and the glass, is somehow active and sensitive. So whatever is on the screen above that space activates when you hit that space.

Facebook Pictures Goes Myspace

As of today, your Facebook pictures are now bloated and crummy like Myspace pictures became.

Facebook gets more and more like Myspace every time Facebook does an update. Except Facebook gives away your personal information every time they update.

Facebook Pictures

Myspace Pictures

So what can we do to put our pictures back to the way they were before the update ?

So what do we do when Facebook loads as crappy as Myspace ?

Fun With GIMP

I have been using The Gimp for several years now. I use it at work. Even though I  have photoshop on my work computer I still insist on using GIMP. Why? well because I have been broke for many years and am very used to using GIMP.

Well I have been watching one of my Facebook friends do a bunch of stuff with her Apple computer. She has been editing pictures using what ever program that thing uses and well it makes some of the complicated stuff quite easy. Then again she has never been the total newb so it might actually be hard. I don’t know.. I just assumed. =-\

Well I noticed she posted a photo that was unedited.

MY FB FREIND

(she is a hottie so I am blurred her face as to not get stalked)

So I ripped it off and started digging into it to see what I could change.

Three stooges

I spent about 35-40 minutes editing :-)

(to the tune of pinball wizard ) That slightly colorblind kid, sure does a mean photo edit!

Addition of 15 more minutes editing

15 more minutes editing

Sometimes It’s best to leave “well enough” alone.

Do you know any cool aps to add to gimp?