Mini T-World: Essential Android Apps

If you have an Android phone in Korea, you probably have a Galaxy S, which means you probably means you are with SK Telecom. If that is the case, then you need to have the Mini T-World application, which is available on the T-Store on your phone as 미니 T world.

Check out the overview of the app here.

Naver Maps: Find your way by bus or subway

By all accounts, Naver Maps has surpassed Google Maps and Daum Maps in usefulness on both iPhone and Android platforms. It is fast, clear, and full of useful information and features. I will focus on transit directions this time, as that is what I have found sets it apart from the rest.

Head here for the full App guide: Finding your way by bus in Korea

iTourSeoul lets Aliens reserve with ease

Nutcracker, anyone?

iTourSeoul (http://www.visitseoul.net) has been flying under my radar, and apparently also out of view of most Aliens living in Seoul. Thanks to Mr. Cornelius for letting us know about this, via a JoongAng Daily article about their forthcoming smartphone app.

The website, and the app which releases early next year, is an entertainment / leisure guide for Seoulites of English, Japanese,  Chinese, and (yes) Korean persuasions. iTourSeoul is particularly of use for those who have a hard time navigating Korean-only ticket reservation websites like Interpark (which may or may not accept your alien number). They have an online reservation system for concerts and plays in Seoul, which will be good for booking your next date.

SK Telecom’s T World now usable in all major browsers

This may come as a surprise to those aliens in Korea who don’t use Internet Explorer (6 even!?) or heaven forbid, don’t use Windows.

I use a Mac, so there is no such thing as IE in my world. I had already assumed I couldn’t make use of the T World website to order my TTL membership card (제휴카드, more on this in a later installment). For some reason I decided to give it a shot today. What a surprise I found, when this little notification popped up.

I am trained to ignore most notifications, because it’s usually some new credit card in which I have no interest. This time, however, where we are usually told that our Chrome or Firefox browsers can’t match the ultimate power of IE6, and thus cannot use this site, we are told that T World is compatible with IE, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. Holy Shit! Progress is being made.

Let’s hope this is a trend.

SK Telecom Smart Wallet Application for Android

As a side note, if you have an Android phone, I would strongly recommend getting the Smart Wallet app for you phone, and among other useful things such as free Dunkin Donuts coupons, you can have you TTL card on your phone. This will allow you to avail yourself to the many discounts that come with the card. If you’re interested in all the discounts available, and you didn’t realise that such a thing was possible, check out this page, which outlines all of the benefits of a SK Telecom Membership. Every carrier has member discount cards too, so don’t be like most aliens, and miss out.

SK Telecom TTL Membership Card on Anycall Galaxy A

Getting around Korean Android Marketplace limitations

It is currently impossible to get Games on your Android phones though the Google Android Marketplace in Korea. You have one solution in the T-Store app (more on this in an upcoming post), which allows you to get paid or free games / apps. These don’t always include games and Apps which are available in other markets. This includes Google Listen (a very convenient podcast app).

So, if you have a spare five minutes, this is your solution.

Step 1: Search for and Get AppBrain App Market from the Android Marketplace on your phone.

Step 2: Sign up for App Brain.

Step 3: Search for an get Fast Web Installer from the Marketplace on your phone.

Step 4: Touch on the Fast Web Installer icon and enable it. This only has to be done once, and if there is a problem installing apps in the future, you can try enabling it again.

Step 5:

i. Find the app you want on the AppBrain site.

ii. Find the “Install” Button under the title of the App

The "Install" Button from AppBrain

iii. A dialogue will appear with the Permissions this app needs, so click “Install this app” if it seems safe.

Click on "Install this app"

iv. Check the status bar of your phone for an icon shows it is installing. Wait, and it is done!

Look in the top left corner for the notification (arrow) icon

The App "Falling Ball" is downloading

Angry Birds Lite Beta for Android

Angry Birds Launch Screen

And now for something completely out of form, a preview of Angry Birds for Android. This is physics game in the style of “Crush the Castle,” an online flash game where the goal is to launch stuff at structures and knock it over.

There are currently 15 levels in the Lite (read: free) Beta Version, and it doesn’t seem like there is a version you can purchase yet. There is only one bug I noticed on my Anycall Galaxy A (running Android 2.1). It crashes on launch a few times before it starts up normally — an acceptable inconvenience.

This has been a hit game on the various i devices for a while, and it is now in beta for Android. It’s a good time waster on the train or bus. But make sure you don’t miss your stop!

If you can’t get it because you’re in Korea, first follow the steps here, and install it at AppBrain.

Get more pictures and info after the jump~