My Dropbox is full, how do I fit more in ? - or - How do I shrink all the pictures in my Dropbox to fit more in ?

Here's my latest very useful advice - read carefully and understand - dedicated to Grace and her full Dropbox account.

To fit more pictures onto your phone and into your 'Dropbox', do this...

Dropbox link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android&hl=en

1. Go to you camera on your phone and go to Settings and look for Resolution.

If it is up at the maximum, select a setting that is a lot lower. This will make you pictures smaller in size in terms of Megabytes or Kilobytes.

If you pics are over 1 or 2 MB, they are too big to store or email. Try to keep at around 500 KB.

2. Change the resolution to something a bit smaller

3. Go to your Gallery and find a pic and touch on it to bring up the details. I use 'QuickPic' as my gallery app on my Android phone.

QuickPic link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alensw.PicFolder&hl=en

Check the size of that pic. Mine is 281 Kilobytes which is a good size. If you see 1.5 or 2.3 MB, for example, that pic is too big to email and hogs up the space on your phone and 'Dropbox'.

4 . Download Batch Picture Resize for free. I wonderful and easy program to use.
http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize

Copy and paste it into your Dropbox folder on your computer. 

Here's the link for Dropbox if you don't have it already
https://www.dropbox.com/

You should be looking at this. The Dropbox folder, and then Camera Uploads...

.4 and a bit -  If you don't often download programs, here's what to do...

First click on that link ...

Second, see where you computer wants to save it - some random place from the last download or to Desktop or a place of your choosing.

Find Dropbox and Camera Uploads and choose that spot to download the program.

Third, you should now see the program here in Dropbox - Camera Uploads...

5 . Copy and paste the 'PhotoResize' program into your Dropbox - Camera Uploads folder, if you downloaded it onto your desktop or somewhere else..

6 . Read the instructions, but I'll make it easy for you. Right click on the program file and rename.

I have renamed this one as PhotoResize40PQ75IO.exe

PhotoResize40PQ75IO     - you can copy and past this to rename it. Keep the .exe on the end if you see it there.

** Aside. On my computer in Documents or Libraries, I set my Tools-Folder Options-View- untick "Hide extensions for know file types". This hides or shows the .exe at then end of a file name. This helps me keep track of what a file actually is, such an an executable file, .exe, or a batch job, .bat, a picture, .jpg, and so on. For more, read here ...   http://filext.com/     **

This means - reduce to Percent 40% of original, at Quality 75%, I=overwrite original file, O=don't wait for the Enter button prompt (makes it a tad quicker).

** Warning - experiment first with one picture. Try these

PhotoResize80PQ75IO  - shrink to 80 percent of original. Keep the .exe on the end.
PhotoResize60PQ75IO  - shrink to 60 percent of original

7. Drag and drop groups of pictures on it

Now all your pictures will be smaller - taking up much less space in 'Dropbox' - once it syncs.
You will not have quite as good a quality if you zoom right in, but you will have a lot more space.

** Warning again - experiment first with one picture. Try these

PhotoResize80PQ75IO  - shrink to 80 percent of original. Keep the .exe on the end.
PhotoResize60PQ75IO  - shrink to 60 percent of original

This is an example of  PhotoResize40PQ75IO - My original photo is 481 KB in size...

Drag and drop - very easy.

End result is a picture at only 33 KB in size. This is a bit too small, and looks grainy if I zoom right in. Aim to bring your pictures down to about 500 KB, if they are over 1 MB.

** Warning one - this will use up your data allowance as Dropbox syncs.

** Warning two - keep track of which pics you shrink. Maybe make a new folder called "Shrunk pics" or start making lots of folders to sort your memories / holidays / pets / family etc.

You WILL thank me for this one ! Cheers. Si.

My best free Android apps for HTC, Samsung and Sony phones - August 2015

Here's my little list of good, free Android apps that I use.
I have tried and tested all of these.
I have tried similar apps as comparisons. I just happen to like these ones the best. 
More than anything, this is my own backup list. I'm big on BACKING THINGS UP.
(You too can create a blog like this in about 4 easy steps, for no other reason than to back up your links, photos, documents, whatever you want.)

Please note, you will NOT find any Facebook stuff here. No games either.

Here we go then. Links straight to the Android market. Blue text is not links, just highlight.

3G Watchdog, to monitor my data use.
I have now found I don't need this with latest versions of Android as there is a built in data usage monitor in Phone Settings
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.rgruet.android.g3watchdog

Adobe Reader if it isn't there already.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.reader

AdSense. I have a few blogs and a few videos on YouTube which host Google Ads. I make a tiny amount of money from this. I use the AdSense app to keep track of my AdSense account.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.ads.publisher

App Freeze - to freeze unwanted apps on my root access phone. * Only useful if you have rooted your phone and have super user access. Say goodbye to Google Play Services draining 60% of battery. If you want to 'root' your phone, try the Kingo Root website. It's easy but will VOID your warranty on your phone. Read more on my post "How do I root my phone" and scroll down to the bit about Kingo Root.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartapp.appfreezer&hl=en

ASTRO File Manager to organise my files, plus a few other things.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metago.astro

AU Weather, only relevant if you live in Australia, like me. There's a free and paid version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tomfusion.au_weather_pro

Battery Widget - this is the best one I've found because I like its touch-to-launch menu.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.droidparts.battery_widget

BBC News for my daily news fix.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bbc.mobile.news.ww

Bahasa Indonesia dictionary - good for anyone planning a trip to Bali.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gits.bahasa

CDE. Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. A handy reference guide.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clc.encyclopedia

Contact Widget. Perfect for my needs. Simple and small and works well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=lcc.simplewidgets

CNET news. Very good source of tech news, reviews, etc.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.treemolabs.apps.cnet

ClockSync to check on my time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.org.amip.ClockSync

ColorNote for my shopping list widget.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note

Colors to change my background to a simple plane color. A clever app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citc.colors

Compass
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apksoftware.compass

Contact Sync Fix
"This tool will help to fix some (not all) of the causes of "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly." message from Google contacts sync. If this app does not work for you - it's because there are multiple causes for this error message."

I have always had "Sync is currently experiencing problems." on my phones. This handy little app is a very quick fix to an old problem.
Make sure you look for a phone notification to 'delete faults' if there are more than a few faults.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.ivary.ContactsSyncFix

Convert Pad for all unit conversions. Free and paid versions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mathpad.mobile.android.wt.unit

Device Info. A geeky app to show me all about my phone.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jphilli85.deviceinfo

Dictionary.com
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dictionary

Digital Clock Widget. Perfect for me. Small and simple and to the point.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=red.extension.DigitalClockWidget

Dropbox - an essential app. I use this for my live camera upload to the cloud. I also have their app installed on my computer at home to receive those live photos from cloud/camera. I back up my tax files, resume and a few other documents to Dropbox.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dropbox.android

DuckDuckGo web browser. Search anonymously.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duckduckgo.mobile.android

Easy Uninstaller to uninstall all these apps you are going to try.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.uninstaller
I pay for the Pro version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.uninstallerpro

ES File Explorer, also for sorting files and other things. I use both Astro and ES.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop

Evernote, which I daily to keep track of lots of things. An essential app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote

Exchange rates.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.xelnaga.exchanger

ezPDF Reader
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=udk.android.reader

File Browser Widget - very useful for quick access to my PDF books.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ceenic.filebrowserwidget

Free Dictionary.org
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.freedictionary

Ghostery web browser. The Ghostery Privacy Browser increases your browsing privacy, protection, and speed. I can block all cookies on a site by default.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ghostery.android.ghostery&hl=en

Gmail app. I can't remember if it was on the phone or I downloaded it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gm

Godville - OK, well maybe one game, sort of. All you do is watch your stupid hero do stupid things, and smite him with lightning now and then. Bwahahaha.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.godvillegame.android

Gold Price Live, with some interesting little diatribes and historical graphs.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.goldprice.app

Google Drive (was Google Docs). I keep my resume and a few other bits and pieces handy here.
It's also a good place to store scans of passport docs and travel plans when I go overseas.
I also stash scans of receipts and warranties and precious family photos.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs

Google Finance.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.finance

Google + only really to access my backed up photos. Pardon me but I do avoid social media sites.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.plus

Google Keyboard. This does not always come installed, and it is still my favorite. I love the swipe ability.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

Google Translate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate

Google Maps of course, if it isn't already there.
August 2015 update now has tap to go full screen and remove the Search and Around Here bars.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps

Google Sky Map. For fun, for interest.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Hacker's Keyboard, just for something different.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard

Here maps by Nokia - wondeful offline maps I can save to my SD card.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.maps&hl=en

History Eraser
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.eraser

IMDb for checking out the movie news
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imdb.mobile

Jorte Calendar. My one really essential app.I keep a 1x1 widget on my front page with today's roster, as well as a 4x4 widget on another page showing a fortnight. I can choose from a huge range of widgets, and it will sync to Google Calendar. Make sure you select Google Calendar from your main Google account as the calendar to show. Same in the native calendar app. ( Not PC Sync Calendar, for example.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.johospace.jorte

Knots Guide. A bit geeky, but interesting.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.max.KnotsGuide

Latin Phrases, comes in useful occasionally
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.linuxguy.LatinPocketbook

Marine Traffic -  a fascinating app that let's me look at the world's ships in real time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marinetraffic.android

Marine Compass. Another good, simple compass.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.pierrox.mcompass

Moon 3D moon phases, it has a 1x1 widget plus a tap to show more in the app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.watabou.moon3d

MyBackUp.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackup
I pay for the add free/expanded version... MyBackUp Pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro
I back up to my SD card, as well as to their online service.
** This can be very handy to move an app that is no longer available to a new phone.

My Home Button. Top marks for the bright person that wrote this app.
*** All of you who have an Android phone with a broken Home key, grab this app. It puts a Home key in the pull down notification panel. I now put this app on all my phones as it makes it very easy to back out off apps that require multiple taps of the Back button.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wq.myhomebutton&hl=en

MySMS. Another essential app to sync SMS messages to the cloud, and hence to any phone, and to your PC too. A brilliant app. I pay a subscription for the Pro features. It's well worth it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mysms.android.sms

On this note, always have a link to Settings>Applications>Running Services on your desk top. A lot of games I have tried have remained running long after I shut them down, using battery and also possibly data. If you find that a game keeps running after you've exited it, my advice is to uninstall it.

NASA app, for pics of planets and such like. Great spot for wallpapers and ring tones - "Houston, we've had a problem".
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nasa

No Wallpaper. A simple app to give you a truly black background. Also see Colors above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sapps.android.NoWallpaper

Offline Dictionary.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.nghs.android.paid.dictionnaires

Office Lens by Microsoft. A very clever camera app to capture documents. Combine with OneNote.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.officelens

OneNote by Microsoft - my note taking, cloud sync, app of choice now. Evernote has become too hard to use.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.onenote

Opera web browser. There's a few little things I like about it more than Chrome.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opera.browser

Paper Camera for some nifty special effects
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dama.papercamera

PayPal. Handy to at least check the balance.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paypal.android.p2pmobile

Picasa Mobile. All my photos are backed up on Google Drive (was Google Doc and Picasa). The Google + app also shows this stuff, but this app is a bit easier.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imprologic.micasa

Pocket (formerly Read It Later). I use this if I take my phone overseas. If I'm at a free WiFi spot, I will download a few pages of Wikipedia to read later. I save many articles to Pocket for future reference.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.pro

QuickPic for my photo gallery. It's very good.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alensw.PicFolder

Quick Battery widget. This widget does the obvious and shows the battery level. A tap also enters the app to show Phone Info, Battery Info, Usage and WiFi info. I like this one.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bwx.qs.battery

Quick Settings. A must have for me. Probably my most used and most useful app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bwx.bequick

qPDF Viewer
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qoppa.activities.viewer

QuickDic offline dictionary. This is a nifty offline dictionary app.
I can select which languages I want and it has a nice simple interface.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hughes.android.dictionary

RealCalc scientific calculator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.nickfines.RealCalc

Skitch. Mark up your photos. Good fun and useful too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote.skitch

Satellite AR. Another app where you hold your phone up to the night sky to check out passing satellites. Yeah it's a bit geeky but kinda fun.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agi.android.augmentedreality

Star Chart. Hold your phone up to the sky at night.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.escapistgames.starchart

SkyMap. Much the same as above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.stardroid

Super Tool Box. Not sure if I really need this, but I play with it now and then.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.lepeng.superboxss

TerraTime. OK it's not free, but it's well worth having if this sort of thing interest you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.daylightclock.android.license

Tricorder. Not from Android Market, but from here.
http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Science/Entertainment/Tricorder-Android-71544.shtml
Lots of geeky fun.

UC Web Browser. I like to sample different web browsers.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UCMobile.intl

Ulysse Gizmo for a bit of geeky fun. Compass, spirit level, magnetic fields etc. A bit like that Tricorder above.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binarytoys.ulysse

Urban Dictionary. You have to keep up with this stuff.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citc.ud

XKCD viewer. My favorite comic.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.bytten.xkcdviewer

YouTube, of course.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.youtube

Shortcuts on desktop:
Settings>Applications>Running Services.

My Widgets (which show real time data changes, as opposed to shortcuts to apps).
This is for my info really.
Quick Battery. Jorte 1x1 and 4x4. Moon Phase 3D. 3G Watchdog. TerraTime.

No games. I find too many games stay running after I have finished playing, draining battery. Always keep a shortcut on your desktop to Settings>Applications>Running Services, and uninstall anything that stays running when you don't want it to. Did I say that before ?

Cheers. Si.
Links correct as at August 2015. 

Apps for root phones. You don't need these if your phone is not rooted.

SuperSu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu.pro

Root Checker
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeykrim.rootcheck
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeykrim.rootcheckp

TWRP
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jmz.soft.twrpmanager

Kingo
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kingouser.com

Best free Android app for Notes, Notepad and Note Sync for HTC, Samsung and Sony phones - April 2014.

Buzz buzz. I've gone Android at last.
The trusty old Nokia E63 has gone back in the box as my back-up. I've scored a shiny new HTC Desire HD.

I needed the Best Free App.
None of that Facebook and Twitter stuff, I needed to organise my Notes.

One thing I miss from all my Nokia phones is the 'Notes' facility.
I had thirty or so with various bits of information, shopping lists and bright ideas.
I could back them up onto my computer as text files.
This is one big application that seems to be missing from Android handsets.

So I went searching in the market for a good Note app. I tried quite a few but settled on just two.

Colornote Notepad - this one turned out to be the best for my needs.
I tried quite a few others and have since deleted the links form this post. Grab this one.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note

Evernote. Here's the link. This is the best one ever and has become indispensable.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote

This greatest thing about Evernote is that I can sync my notes on the phone with my computer.
If I change a note on the phone it also updates and syncs to my computer and vice versa. Yay.

This is it running on my main frame at home. That's just two of my many notes.

This is a screen shot I've taken from their page in the Android Market.

I can take a photo note or write a text and edit them easily.
I can update my notes on my PC at home and they will sync to my phone. That's clever.
This one truly is the 'Best Android App.'

I will remind you one more time. Back Up Your Computer Now.

Cheers. Si.
Checked for links and relevance, April 2014.

Picasa free photo editing software and free online photo storage

Here's a tool I use from time to time. Picasa photo editor and online photo storage.

Here's the link to Picasa free download from Google
http://picasa.google.com/

You can download that free program to view and edit your photos.

You can also store them online at Picasa web Albums - which now redirects to Google Photos
http://picasa.google.com/
https://plus.google.com/photos/

This is yet another good way to Back Up Your Computer Now.
If the house burns down or some nasty sod steals your computer, you have your precious pics backed up online.

Running on my mainframe...



Cheers. Si.
Checked for links and relevance, April 2014.