droidStory

Per popular demand I added a NEW feature to the existing conversion service that now allows you to automatically convert your voice mails. Previously you had to manually forward the email containing the wav attachment to wav2mp3_at_droidstory_dot_com to get a message emailed back with the converted mp3 file attached. If you receive a lot of voice mails that can be a hassle.

If your current phone system allows you to forward voice mails via email, simply change your existing email address to the following new format (here is an example):

All you have to do is basically change the @ symbol in your email address to # and add @droidstory.com to the end.

The old manually method of forwarding voice (e)mails to wav2mp3_at_droidstory_dot_com still works too, or you can just use the new address format if you want the reply sent somewhere else.

And the best part is: Unlike similar services, there is still no setup or registration required.

And it works for iPhones too.

Use the comment section to report any problems or if you need any setup help. Enjoy!

Legal Disclaimer: DroidStory provides this free service as-is and assumes no liability for any damages or loss of any kind that might arise from the use of, misuse of, or the inability to use this service. All data is removed from the server after conversion. Abusers will be blocked.

Anyone using this service consents to these terms.

Our company phone system allows me to forward voice mails as file attachments. Unfortunately, playing the WAV files on my Android phone doesn’t work. There are some apps in the market that allow you to play the different wav-file formats, but I decided it wasn’t worth buying/installing yet another app for the few times I needed this feature. Instead, I enabled a simple conversion-mail-back service on the DroidStory server.

If you ever need a quick conversion of a voice mail wav file to mp3, simply forward your email containing the attachment to wav2mp3_at_droidstory_dot_com and you’ll get a MP3 file mailed back.

That’s it, no registration or setup required. Enjoy!

PS: No worries – your privacy is ensured. Our server space is much too valuable to keep your files. All data gets removed right after conversion. Guaranteed!

First things first! It looks like the Swype Beta registration is currently open again. Hurry over to http://beta.swype.com/ and see if you can grab the Android Beta version.

I admit it, I got totally hooked after installing an early Beta of Swype that was leaked a few months ago. Even though that version had some kinks and was not quite working on my Nexus One, it was such a huge improvement over the default Android keyboard. Then, without warning, Swype pulled the plug and all unauthorized versions in the wild stopped working. Bummer!

I registered for the closed Beta, but no luck until last week when I received my own Beta invite.

Yes – score!

If you have not heard of Swype, you may want to check out the video below. You’ll never want to go back to pecking your emails and text messages on the regular keyboard once you’ve experienced Swype. It does take a little practice, but swyping your words becomes very natural quickly.

Nexus One owners can now get the latest pre-release Froyo serving directly from Google.  This is a rapid follow-up to version FRF50 that was leaked just a couple of weeks ago, appearing on XDA. All signs are pointing to an imminent official release.

What’s coming in Froyo?

• Performance Boost and additional RAM
• Adobe Flash & Air support
• WiFi and USB Tethering
• Better Exchange support

If you are the adventurous kind you can easily install this latest version without rooting your phone.  The file name of the update (signed-passion-FRF72-from-FRF50) suggests that you can only install FRF72 over FRF50 though. I cannot confirm this since I had already flashed my N1 to FRF50 and the update to FRF72 was easy as always.

The performance improvement is noticeable. My battery seems to last longer as well – no more inter-day topping off required. However, my favorite new feature by far is WiFi tethering. No more hunting for free WiFi, just turn your phone into your private hotspot. I’m very curious to see how and if the major carriers (Verizon & ATT) are going to embrace this. New bandwidth capping plans seem to indicate that they are already preparing for this feature.

Verizon officially launched Skype for most of their Smartphones today, including all of their current Android handsets – the Motorola Droid, HTC Eris and Motorola Devour.

This is a very important move for Big Red, basically acknowledging that the future of mobile networks is in providing high-speed IP connectivity for all network applications, even the ones that compete with the providers traditional voice business.  Verizon is finally getting with the times by abandoning some of their past customer unfriendly business practices.  Blackberry users may still remember when their GPS capable phones had their hardware disabled by Verizon, rendering Google Maps useless, unless you paid an extra $12/month for VZ-Navigator. Of course there were also all the other bogus surcharges for tethering and BES Enterprise use.

The arrival of the Droid and now Skype seem to usher in a new era for Verizon. Let’s hope the bureaucrats at the company are not trying to turn back the clock for the sake of the bottom line.

UPDATE: Skype doesn’t work on Wi-Fi! Come again!?
Not sure if this is Verizon meddling with phone/application functionality again, but why?

No more fighting over the remote, just use your Droid to change the channel.

Verizon just released an app exclusive to the Motorola Droid that allows you to control your FIOS HD set-top-box from your phone. Just install the free mobileremote app from the Android Market Place, connect to your Wi-Fi network and pair the Droid with your FIOS Box by using the Mobile Remote Widget on your TV, enter your phone number, and you are all set.

Now you can use your Droid just like your FIOS remote to change channels, pause, rewind, fwd, etc. In addition, you can view pictures stored on your Droid directly on your TV, either individually or as slide show. The app will even mute the TV when a call comes in. Pretty cool, huh?

Of course, you can also use this to prank your family and change channels from another room, since Droid uses Wi-Fi to remote-control the FIOS box.