Common questions!

I’ve been getting a few common questions and thought this was a good time to discuss a few of them and help you increase your productivity on your ZTE AWE phone.   Each one of these tips is good to use for your phone to help you make it easier to get what you need to get done with your phone.  This phone is 4.1.2 Android (Jelly Bean).   

TIP 1: Keep your Phone updated

If you haven’t already, you should check to make sure you ZTE AWE is updated in several areas.   You can easily do this by hitting the 3 dashes on the phone that look like a small bar graph.   Then select “System Settings” and scrolling all the way to the bottom of the screen.   You will select “System Updates”.  Once your their you will find 4 options: 

• Update PRL
• Update Profile
• Update ZTE Software
• Update Firmware

Each one these can help you in several areas.  First question people ask me is what is a PRL it is “Preferred Roaming List” and can be very useful to keep your signal strength at highest possible strength for your location.   You should do this from time to time or when you have done a hard reset to get put keep your phone updated to any new cell towers in your area.  

Updating your Profile basically helps you keep your phone validated with the network.   You should occasionally keep it updated to make sure you have the latest codes for your phone to be able to communicate with the cell towers and for you to be able to use their services.   This can be quite useful if your experiences some problems with connectivity problems with your 3g service.

Update ZTE Software is a form of drivers that you need to use to have your phone work with Jelly Bean.   I am sure there are some Cyangen Mods out there that can get around this but I am not really concerned with using a mod right now.  As you know it is another layer to the Android community for them to have some for of ownership of their phones.   Nothing you can do about it but you should keep that updated just in case there is something new you can use with your phone.

Update Firmware can be very useful if your just bought your phone and you wanted the latest version of Android on your phone.   You will get updates from the provider if there is an OTA (Over The Air) update that is available for your device but those aren’t very reliable and thus you can check manually.  Who knows you might someday be able to use the Android 4.3 or 4.4 the Kit Kat Versions!

Tip 2: Multiple Folders and Groups

The nice thing about Jelly Bean and above on the android devices is that you can now have folders on your  home screen and any other menu area you are wanting to put it.   On the ZTE you have 4 spots that you can have a permanent folder.  The Home bar as I call it can be easily used to keep those folders of apps that help you on your phone.   I’ve got a Social Folder with Facebook, Twitter, and any other social app that I want.   I also have several different phone apps that allow me to do stuff like Google Voice.   I even have a games folder so I do have to go back to the home screen to play games that I use offten on my device like Words With Friends.

If you would like to add or remove icons on the bottom bar, just press on the icon shortcut and hold for a second or two and then move it to where ever you wanted to move it to.   If you happen to delete an important shortcut just find them in the apps menu.   That is the Circle with 4 small squares in it!  

TIP 3: Adding a VPN

If your are worried about people spy on you on public or when you use your phone.   You can have a VPN on the phone.   You can use something like VPN4ALL but if your wondering what a VPN is, check out my article on the subject.   If you value your privacy you will want to read both articles to better understand how to use a VPN.   

Adding a VPN is easy, just hit the menu key (3 Bars) and then select:

System Settings  —-> More —-> VPN —-> Add VPN

There are sever different options to setting up a VPN on the ZTE AWE but I recommend the L2TP/IPSec PSK or the IPSec Xauth PSK ones.   They may not be NSA backdoor but I can’t be 100% sure about that.   I do not recommend at all to use the PTPP for VPN because that is not the best idea for keeping people out!

More to Come!

It seems this will be a good one to come back to in the coming weeks.   I will post even more tips and tricks in the coming weeks and if you haven’t subscribed to my RSS Feed or my Email list.  If you don’t you might miss a valuable tip or trick for your ZTE AWE or some other device that I’ve talked about in the past!

 

The Ducklings all quacking!

I have been seeing a lot of chatter about the Duck Dynasty and how Phil Robertson was removed benched indefinately.   I usually don’t like to way in on these things but I feel I must at least try share my two cents on this subject.   I will tell you, I support what all the family has said in their statements and even though it has been 5 long seasons with this show.   I must say if this is it, then so be it.   We’ve had a lot of people up in arms over this, from the gay and lesbian community to the Christian community.   I am one who not hide anything, I am a Christian and I have thought long and hard on this subject, constantly seeing what people are saying and trying to come to a understanding.   The question that I must ask myself and ask you is this “What would Jesus Do?” in this situation?   

Everyone has an Opinion!

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.”  Thomas à Kempis — The Imitation of Christ!

So we have people throwing opinions that we should not accept but still love them.   The important question at hand is how do you love someone who will not listen.   I think the only way you could make it happen is Mark 12:31, because once you learned to love them with all your heart and soul and Mind, you have greater power than just trying to love them from afar!   I have a feeling this will all work in the long run but until it does, we will need to do three things!

Speak Softly!

One thing that You will need to learn is that if your yelling at people, it usually isn’t heard.  We have this really good nack of subconsciously of ignoring what is being yell at us about.   I have learned if you whisper, it is likely to be heard because people will strain to and listen to what you have to say.   So the easiest way to get someone to listen to your is just to drop your town and speak really softly!

Show Support!

This one seems almost a No brainer to me at least, but if you want to make a really good point and have them change their decision.   Go buy their products from places that won’t support A&E directly.   You can go to several places and show your support and make A&E rethink their decisions.   I am going to show you a few places you can show support.

 

• CafePress — They have some great Duck Dynasty and We Support Phil decals/sweaters/Shirts and everything you might want to buy to show support.   
• Amazon US — This is another good place to go to by those We support Phil materials again.  

Give Unto Ceasar

This one is bittersweet, if you really want this show to continue and show your support.   You must look at the Bible and it has a very clear understanding of this.   Matt 22:16-21 says it best, if there is tax then pay that tax.   This go without say, but if you really want the show to continue we have to show as much as support as we can possibly show in a Godly way and not in a vengence but in love.   You should consider buying all seasons of Duck Dynasty and on whichever device you have to show your support.   A&E will see just how much they could loose if the show doesn’t go on and thus we can change that decision even more by making a clear point on how much you like the shows.   You can buy the season on Video on Demand or on DVD but this one is a must to make a real impact on if this show is to continue.  

 

• Amazon — I must warn you, that Amazon is a sponsor of my blog and thus anything you buy using that link I get a little compenastion, but it cost you nothing!
• Google — Google Only has Season 4 but hopefully they will get the rest later.   I have a Google Android and thus it is good for watching on my devices like this!
• Itunes — Apple has all 4 seasons, so you should consider buying those and whenever 5th one comes out buying that one too!

Again take this as you like, I am no preacher but this is all sound advice from someone who has been working this problem and this is probably the only way it will actually get A&E or some other channel to pickup the show!