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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

The way the app works is that your own phone reports its network experience, combined with location information (GPS and/or cell tower) back to Sensorly’s servers. The more people participate the more detailed maps get built.

Frankly, I’ve been wondering for a while why the wireless providers are not using this kind of technology to map out their problem spots.

It is not clear how many data samples are required and what statistical algorithms are being used for building a map. Also, problem phones like the Nexus One could potentially skew results by reporting insufficient 3G coverage for areas that in fact are working with other phones.

The app itself is a basic map viewer with a color coded overlay, with each color and shade representing a specific network and signal strength level.

The Android version currently maps only GSM and some Wi-Fi networks – sorry Droid users, but CDMA (Verizon and Sprint) maps are planned to be rolled-out in the coming weeks.

The company also plans to release versions for the iPhone and Windows Mobile.

The following maps are now available for free:

Editing: crop, straighten, rotate, flip

Effects: exposure, saturation, tint, black & white, soft-focus

All features are accessible through intuitive touch and tap gestures, which quickly makes you want a touchscreen for your desktop as well. Adobe also offers an easy way to share your pictures online though photoshop.com. A free account provides 2GB of on-line storage space. Pictures can be uploaded selectively or automatically by keeping your phone and online account synchronized in the background.

For some unknown reason both app and online service are only available for users in the U.S. and Canada at this time.

I first received my Droid on Friday morning at the Verizon Wireless store in Leominster, MA.  I was excited to try my new windshield mount, which immediately placed the Droid into navigation mode.  My plan was to give it simple directions to check out the system.  I had it take me to Interstate 495, which is 15 minutes away via route 2.   It was a pretty simple shot.  However, this is the route that Google Navigation selected:

Why did Google Navigation take me around Fort Devens?

Google maps came up, took me to route 2, told me to get off of route 2, go around a non-existent Fort, and then get back onto the same highway?  Huh?  I stayed on Route 2 anyway.  There was no traffic, no construction, no delay and no reason to get off of the highway.

This was not the only time that Google Navigation picked a strange route.  I am guessing that there is some kind of bug in the software.

Of course, in defense, I would have reached my destination this way.  So, Google Navigation is clearly better than no navigation device at all.  But, the “Beta” in the description is well deserved.

There are a few other topics that are worth noting:

• Google Navigation traffic is the best traffic that I have seen so far.  It is up-to-date, covers small roads, and has fine levels of detail.  I would get this device just for the traffic reports.  Unfortunately, when you view the traffic reports, the screen is static.  So, you cannot view traffic and see visual directions at the same time.  By the way, I am happy with the traffic reports because they are much more current than the ones on Tom-Tom or Garmin.  I often joke that Tom-Tom and Garmin tell you the traffic from one hour ago.
• Google Navigation does not have 3-D view, which makes it much easier to see where to turn and when to turn.  This is not a fatal flaw.
• Google Navigation has an annoying voice for the TTS.
• Google Street View is sexy.  It shows a picture of the intersection as you approach it and the destination as you approach it.  This is much better than saying “your destination is on the right.”  You see your destination.
• Location search is very smart.  I was able to speak the instruction “Thai restaurant in Wakefield, Massachusetts” and it provided a list from which I could pick the right one.  I did not need to know the spelling or hope it was in my list of POI — as I would with a Tom-Tom or Garmin.  Really sexy.

Now — my biggest complaint and the reason why I will keep my Tom-Tom — when a phone call comes in, the call takes over the device and I no longer see where to turn.  I have received calls in tricky traffic situations before.  When a call comes into the Tom-Tom or the Garmin via Bluetooth, I receive a quick visual notification and the screen goes back to directions.

In conclusion, Google Navigation has some growing up to do.  It will get there.  And, some of the features like Street View and the flexible voice search are amazing.  When the other features of Google Navigation are updated, it will be hard for the Tom-Tom and Garmin devices to keep up.  But, keep your Tom-Tom and Garmin for now.

UPDATE: I was driving last night when a phone call came in. This gave me another chance to look at the Google Nav app with a phone call. As soon as the call came in, I received a message “Data Connection Lost.” This happened at the first ring … so even if I had not answered the phone, the data connection was lost. From that moment on, the maps stopped updating. However, the top bar still displayed directions based on the GPS. I assume that the directions are downloaded all at once, but only the current map is sent.

It was quite disconcerting to have directions on the top that did not match the map. Also, the directions are not enough as a very broad “turn right” could have meant a turn onto a different street than the one I chose. It would seem to me that Google could have downloaded more map information and kept the navigation going — at least for as long as I stayed on the original route.