We just wanted to quickly share a tip that will enable the new browser-based Voice Search that was announced today by Google.  First off, you’ll need the latest version of Chrome in order for this to work (no Firefox or IE support at this time).  Once you have that up and running, head over to google.com and sign into your account.  After that, you’ll want to head over to this Google Experimental Labs page and click the “Join this experiment” button next to Voice Search.  And that’s it!  Head back to google.com and try a search by clicking the microphone button.  Just try not to do this.

Cheers to @ethankjfan!

It was just last week that we reported on a new blocking method that Verizon had enabled to stop rooted DROIDX users with Gingerbread from using select wireless tether apps.  Today though, thanks to one of our fabulous readers, we have a work-around for the DROIDX (possibly other devices) that appears to get you up and running in just a matter of minutes.  Hopefully this gives you a little bit of time while that FCC complaint over this very same subject is being looked at.    

We almost hate to approach the topic of Task Killers on Android after all this time, but with so many new faces here at Droid Life and in Android in general, it’s something that needs to be done.  In fact, after seeing the Amazon app of the day and reading through the Twitter conversations we just had with many of you, this thing needs to be posted immediately.  Let’s see if we can’t get you all some better battery life!

First off, please ignore the image up at the top of the post.  If this was 2009 and we were all running something less than Android 2.2, that statement plastered on that red banner might be somewhat correct.  But since it is 2011 and the majority of people on the planet are running Android 2.2, we need to get you away from the mindset that killing off tasks on your phone is a good thing.

So rather than me blabbering about the inner-workings of Android and how it manages RAM for the 10,000th time, I’m going to just pull from some posts that friends of ours have done that explain this in the plainest of ways.  

Upgraded to Gingerbread on the DROIDX and love that new app drawer, but can’t part ways with LauncherPro?  We have a solution that’s built right into LP that will get you the best of both worlds.  All you have to do is…

1.  Long press on your app drawer.
2.  Choose Change shortcut>App groups>All apps.
3.  After that, pick an icon and your life with both the GingerBlur drawer and LP are  complete.

All good now?  Any other tips for new GingerBlur that we should let everyone know about?

Cheers Shawn!

If you are considering a DROIDX2 but haven’t pulled the trigger yet, maybe you have had some unanswered questions about the device or simply wanted to see more information on it? The fine folks at Motorola have you covered with this new series of videos that walks you through almost every single aspect of this dual-core beast.  Wondered how this phone’s hotspot feature would work?  How about the new set of home screens and notification bar in Blue Blur?  Thinking about grabbing an HD dock for it?  All covered in this set of 20 tutorials.  

Motorola XOOM champ BigRushDog just released some magic – a patched version of Flash 10.3 that allows for Hulu playback as long as you are on Android 3.1.  And it definitely works.  Here is how to do it:

1.  Uninstall your current Flash 10.3.
2.  Download the file from below and install it.
3.  Head into your browser and update the UAString to “Desktop.”

Type:  about:debug and press enter.  Head into Settings>Debug>UAString>Desktop.

4.   Jump over to Hulu.com and enjoy.

Download:  Flash_10.3-Hulufied_BRDizzle.apk

Again, all credit to BigRushDog at XDA.  Be sure to donate to him.

Via:  XDA

Cheers Joe!

Since I’ve helped out a dozen or so people now that have run into a Motorola XOOM that either won’t turn on or is stuck at a black screen, it’s time to drop the fix as a tip on the site so that more people can find it.  And we’re not sure exactly why some XOOMs hit a black screen that leaves the power button almost useless at times, but it’s definitely happening to more than a couple of people.  Don’t worry though, there is a simple fix that can be applied by pressing just a couple of buttons.

So how do you fix it?

Hold Volume Up and Power until your XOOM turns back on.

Seriously, that’s it.  And actually, Volume Up + Power will get you out of all sorts of jams on your XOOM.  If you are ever stuck with your device on or off and can’t make anything happen, this will almost surely get you back to normal.  And now back to XOOMin’.

Cheers to those of you who ran into the issue!