Thursday, July 11, 2013

Experience Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on Your Windows, Mac and Linux Computer

Have you ever fancied experiencing you favourite operating system for mobile on your desktop or laptop computer? The very idea of any possibility of such thing might thrill any tech-enthusiast. In the past, we shared another emulator tool for Windows based computers that could recreate Android environment. That tool called “WindowsAndroid” emulated Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on a pop window. You can know about that program here.

Here is another amazing emulator that does the same stuff but in a little more charming way. Genymotion, as this emulator is called, is a complete set of tools that provides a virtual environment for Android. The program is easy to use when set-up but before that it is a little complicated.

The Genymotion Android emulator can be very useful for developers and app testers because it also supportsADB (Android Debug Bridge) and thus you can various tasks with it and even play games that are not compatible with your Android device.

If you are a developer, you’ll have have to install the Eclipse plugin before you can test your application developed with Eclipse IDE. It uses ADB to connect to any active Genymotion Virtual Devices and then push your applicationvia commands. While installing Genymotion, you are asked to choose an Android device that you want to emulate and the list of virtual devices with various screen resolutions is pretty big.

COMPATIBILITY:

To be able to install this Android emulator on your computer, you must have a system with any of the following Operating Systems:

Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (32 or 64 bits)
Microsoft Windows Vista (32 or 64 bits)
Microsoft Windows 7 (32 or 64 bits)
Linux Ubuntu 12.04
Linux Ubuntu 12.10
Mac OS X 10.X

DOWNLOADS:

To download the program, hit the link below and sing up with Genymotion.

Genymotion with VirtualBox

HOW TO INSTALL:

As I mentioned above, setting up Genymotion is a bit complex and for that you’ll need a guide on how to get things started.

Download the Genymotion installer from the link above and run it on your Windows/Mac/Linux computer.
When the installation is finished, double click the “GenyMotion” icon shortcut created on your desktop. Mac users can click on the icon from App directory and those with Linux can launch it by typing: [InstallationPath]/genymotion]
When it is launched, click on Add button and then enter your Genymotion User name and Password when prompted.
Next, you’ll be asked to choose a virtual Android device which you want to emulate on your computer. Select a device from the list and then click on Add button.
On the next screen, you’ll be shown the virtual device properties. Click on Next button.
Your selected virtual Android device’s file will be downloaded now. In my case, it was 200 MB in size. When the download is finished, click on Next button.
Then choose a name for your new virtual device, and then click on Finish.
Your virtual device will be created and you’ll see the following screen.
Now close this window to come back to the main window.
Finally, you’ll be greeted with the main window. Just click on the Play icon and wait till the real action begins.
The emulator will ask you to define your Android SDK location before launching, If you have installed it, select the location. In case, you do not have it or do not want it for development purposes, just skip it.
Your selected virtual Android device will now be ready at your service. If you are an Android user, I do not think you need any further guidance on how to explore the interface and settings.

I forgot to mention it above that the Android 4.1 environment that you have on you computer is very much like your rooted phone. Just play with it, install your favorite apps and do all stuff that you do on your real phone except making calls.

Do not forget to share with us how Android feels on your computer! Cheers to all!

Source : http://droidviews.com/

By: Unknown On 1:14 PM

How to Boot Android Devices into Safe Mode

Android is the most popular operating system for mobile devices and we love it for being open source, easy to customize, having nice features and millions of apps. While most of the apps are awesome, there are still many that might have had a bed impact on the performance and battery-life of your device. There are yet a few freaking apps out there that are capable of screwing up your Android phone or tablet in such a way that a basic users might find not find a way out.

It has just been a couple of days when I experienced a very irritating situation on my HTC One. Actually, I was looking for an app that could let me unlock the One by pressing any of the volume keys on the phone. After a little digging, I went for an app called Button Lock Screen (never try this crap, guys!), and enabled it. It did not work at all and my phone was stuck on the lock screen. Since HTC one does not have an external SD card slot, all my data was on the device itself and so I wanted to avoid a data/factory reset.

It was then that the “Safe Mode” thing hit my mind. And let me tell you guys, it was just a lifesaver for me! Thanks to Google for adding this mode to Android. So, what is the Safe Mode and what is its role on your Android devices?

WHAT IS SAFE MODE?

If you use Windows, you must be familiar with Safe Mode. The option to boot your PC into this mode comes up when your computer shuts down unexpectedly due to power cut or any other reason. Android has a hidden Safe Mode that is a very useful, though not essential, tool that can save you time and important data and fix an issue created by a mischievous app. Safe Mode is perfect for pulling out the nuisance that is responsible for apps crashing, device reboots, or fast battery drain.

The mode is the best way to check if the issues you are experiencing is caused by a third-party app! When you reboot your phone into Safe Mode, your Android device temporarily disables all third-party apps that you’ve installed on it and lets you analyze the cause. If you see those issues even when the device is in Safe Mode, there might be some problem with the software installed on your device. And if, they just disappear, the culprit is some app installed from the Play Store.

Though Safe Mode does not show the apps in the app drawer and stops them to function, it lets you uninstall those app. Open Settings> Applications> All.

How to Boot Devices into Safe Mode

The Safe Mode tool is found on almost all Android devices but the method of accessing it differs from one manufacturer to other, device to device and sometimes, one OS version to other. Here I’ll try to add the method and hard key combos to get the device into Safe Mode.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SAFE MODE:

Turn off the device.
Press the power button to turn it on.
When the screen turns up keep tapping the soft Menu key that is left to the Home button till the device boots up.

You will see the Safe Mode label at the bottom-left corner of the screen. This will be persistent throughout the UI.

SAFE MODE ON GALAXY S3, NOTE 2 AND OTHERS:

This is the most common way of booting Galaxy Devices into Safe Mode:

Turn off the phone.
Press the Power key to restart it.
When you see the Samsung Logo screen, press and hold the Volume Down key till the device boots up.

SAFE MODE ON HTC ONE, ONE X AND OTHER DEVICES:

HTC devices have a common method of entering the Safe Mode. I have tested it on HTC One.

Turn fastboot off in your power settings.
Switch off the device.
Power it on
Once you see the HTC splash screen, press and hold the Volume Up key till the phone boots up in Safe Mode.

On some HTC devices like Desire S, you need to press the Volume Down key instead.

SAFE MODE ON NEXUS 4 AND OTHER DEVICE:

If you got a Google Nexus device or have installed an AOSP, AOKP or CyanogenMod based custom ROM, you can get into Safe Mode as described below. This method works on most devices with Jelly Bean.

Press & hold Power button
It’ll bring up Power off/Reboot options
Then press & hold the “Power Off” option
It’ll ask for your confirmation to boot device into Safe Mode.
Tap OK button.

SAFE MODE ON MOTOROLA DEVICES:

Power the device off.
Power the device on.
When the Motorola splash screen appears, press and hold Volume Up /Down keys simultaneously.
Continue to hold the Volume Up & Down keys until Safe mode appears in the lower left corner of the screen.

In case, the method give for your device does not work for you, you can try the steps for other devices.

How to Exit Safe Mode:

Exiting Safe Mode on most Android devices is as easy as powering off and then turning them on. However, there are a few devices on which you will have to hold the button combination you used to enter Safe Mode to exit it. There are some other devices that require you to press and hold the volume down key to boot device normally.

Should you ever notice app crashes or battery drain on your device remember Safe Mode before doing a factory reset or reinstall the whole ROM. As always, I just hope it will help you understand your device better! If you have any question, doubts or suggestions, please let me know.

Play safe & cheers to all!

Source : http://droidviews.com/

By: Unknown On 1:12 PM

Samsung Galaxy S4 like Micromax A87 Themes

I am pretty happy to share this awesome micromax a87 theme, which will give an exact galaxy s4 look to your A87. When ever we talk about android themes first name came to our minds is Cyanogenmod. Cyanogenmod having a speacial features that is theme chooser, there are thousand of themes available in market which can only be used with cyanogenmod ROM. So congo to all those device user who got cyanogen port, you can check our collection of Cyanogenmod 7 themes. But unluckily cyanogenmod port is not possible for Micromax A87 because of no kernel source. But that doesn’t end the mmx development.

One of our Facebook group developer Viraj Trivedi have done an awesome job he edited the framework & systemui of micromax a87 so nicely to make a galaxy s4 look alike micromax a87 theme. If you are using Micromax A87 ninja 4.0 smartfone then probably you have idea about android rooting, custom rom, cwm recovery, Mods etc. I guess many of you have already rooted there a87, because rooting is the first step of android customisation, only after rooting you can load your device with ROMs , THEMES. So if you haven’t rooted your a87 yet then check out our guide onhow to root micromax a87.

Pre-requirement to Install Micromax A87 Themes

1) 60% Charge level

2) Rooted Device : check our micromax a87 rooting guide.

3) Custom Recovery Installed : check how to install micromax a87 cwm recovery.

[alert-announce] Download Micromax A87 theme [/alert-announce]

How to install this Micromax A87 Theme

1) Download this theme from above link.

2) place it in your sdcard.

3) Boot into A87 cwm recovery mode.

4) select wipe cache.

5) select Install Zip from Sdcard.

6) Choose the micromax a87 theme zip which you placed in your sdcard.

7) Reboot.

[alert-warning] This theme will not work with Cyanomax ROM :Source[/alert-warning]

Micromax a87 theme Screeshots

Thats it here’s the end of my post, I am damn sure that you will like thismicromax a87 theme so leave feedback after trying to encourage the developer,so that he can offer lots more themes to you. If you need help regarding micromax a87 theme installation then leave you comments bellow.

Source : http://www.andro-park.org/

By: Unknown On 1:10 PM

How to print from your Android phone or tablet

Android phones and tablets are just like computers. They’re not as powerful, but they’re extremely portable. As portable computers, they can be used to send emails, browse the Web, watch YouTube videos, and all sorts of stuff that you can also do on your desktop or laptop. Yes — including printing.

With the advent of cloud-based printing technologies and services, as well as cloud-ready printers and apps, printing is no longer an impossibility on your Android phone or tablet. In this post, learn how to print from your Android phone or tablet. For a video tutorial, you can skip to the end of this article.

Connecting your classic printer to Google Cloud Print

Some printers let you print from your Android phone or tablet over a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB connection. However, if your printer doesn’t have such capabilities, you can register your printer to Google Cloud Print, a technology and service that lets you connect your printer to the Web, making your printers accessible wherever you are. You can even make your printers accessible to your friends or print documents from your mobile devices.

Google Cloud Print works with most printers. But, for the best experience, a Cloud Ready printer is recommended. These types of printers can directly connect to the Internet and don’t need a computer for it to work. Google keeps a growing list of Cloud Ready printers compatible with and supported in Google Cloud Print.

If your printer doesn’t have cloud capabilities, you can still connect your classic printer to Google Cloud Print via your computer. For this to work, you will need a Google account and the Google Chrome browser installed on your computer. (If using Windows XP, make sure Windows XP Service Pack 3 is installed on your PC.)

The steps below describe how to set up your local printer for use with Google Cloud Print:

Launch Google Chrome on your computer.
Click the Menu button (represented by an icon showing 3 horizontal bars) at the upper-right corner of the window.
Select Settings.
Click Show advanced settings.
Scroll down to the Google Cloud Print section and click Add printers.
Log in to your Google Account to enter Google Cloud Print
A confirmation message appears on the next screen. This will register the printer that is connected to the computer. Click Add Printer(s) to confirm.
Your printer is now registered with Google Cloud Print

Google Chrome acts as a go-between for your printer and Google Cloud Print. When you print something from your mobile via Google Cloud Print, you actually send data from your mobile device to Google Cloud Print, which forwards it to Google Chrome, which in turn tells your PC to print the document on the attached printer. So, to print via Cloud Print, always make sure that your PC is connected to the Internet, that you are logged in to your Google account in Google Chrome, and that your printer is on.

Printing from your phone or tablet

Now that your printer is accessible via Google Cloud Print, it’s time to print from your Android phone or tablet. For that, you will need Google’s official Cloud Print app for Android.

Download, install, and launch Cloud Print on your Android phone or tablet.
Set your Google account, making sure that you use the same account as the one you registered on Google Cloud Print.
Tap the printer icon to select a file to print. You can select a file from Google Drive, Dropbox, Gallery, and other file manager apps on your device.
The next screen will show you a list of your printers registered on Google Cloud Print. Select one printer.
The print preview page will appear. You will be able to set the orientation of the document, media size, DPI, and the number of copies.
Once all are set, tap the paper plane icon at the top row to send the data to Google Cloud Print and print your document.

PRINTING WEB PAGES AND GMAIL MESSAGES

Printing Web pages is also possible through Cloud Print. Just open your Android browser’s Menu, tapShare, and select Cloud Print. From here, you can then print the Web page to any of your printers registered on Cloud Print.

Or, if your phone or tablet’s Internet browser supports printing functionality, you can directly send the Web page to your printer over a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB connection.

As for printing Gmail messages, Google’s Gmail app for Android doesn’t have an option that allows you to print your mails. But, if you access your Gmail account through a Web browser app, you can print your mails. Just open a Gmail message in your browser, tap the arrow to reveal additional buttons, and select Print. You will then be taken to Google Cloud Print to print your mail.

Third-party printing apps

Several third-party apps for mobile printing are available on the Google Play Store, including such apps as Cloud Print (by Paulo Fernandes) and PrinterShare Mobile Print (by Mobile Dynamix).

CLOUD PRINT BY PAULO FERNANDES

Developer Paulo Fernandes’s Cloud Print app for Android may have the same name as Google’s official app for its own service of the same name, but the two apps are different. Both, however, use the Cloud Print service to allow printing from phones or tablets.

The free version of Fernandes’s app comes with ad support and has certain features restricted, but the app is generally still usable. You can upgrade to its premium version for about US$3.00 to remove the ads and remove the feature restrictions.

Here are the general steps for using Paulo Fernandes’s Cloud Print app:

Download, install, and launch Paulo Fernandes’s Cloud Print app on your Android device
Select or add a Google account that you registered with Google Cloud Print.
On the next screen, select a printer registered to your Google Cloud Print account. You can either select Google Cloud Print ready printer, HP ePrint printer, or Other Printers.
A list of registered printers will be shown on the screen. Select one that you want to use.
On the next screen, tap Print test page to check if your printer has successfully connected to Google Cloud Print. Or, you can tap the arrow at the bottom of the screen to skip this step.
Once the app and printer have been set, you can now print from your Android phone or tablet using the Cloud Print app.

What I like about this app is that it allows you to print your SMS messages, scan documents by taking a picture and print them afterwards, create scribbles or drawings for printing later, or jot down notes and print them later. The app also allows you to access your Dropbox and Box files, Facebook images, Google Drive files, Gmail attachments, and Google Calendar events and print those files from within the app.

PRINTERSHARE MOBILE PRINT

PrinterShare Mobile Print also uses Google’s Cloud Print service to connect your printer and Android phone or tablet via the cloud. The app’s free version includes the following features:

Perform a printer test to printers connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB
Free and unlimited printing via Google Cloud Print
Print up to 20 pages over the internet with Remote mode.

You can upgrade to its premium version for about US$13.00 to be able to connect and print to your printer via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. The premium version also lets you print to shared Windows or Mac printers nearby, as well as print without limit with Remote Mode.

Here are the general steps for using PrinterShare Mobile Print:

Download, install, and launch PrinterShare Mobile Print on your Android phone or tablet.
Open the settings menu and tap Select Printer.
On the next screen, select your printer connection type. You can connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Google Cloud Printer, or through a Remote Printer. For now select Google Cloud Printer. (NOTE: If you’re using the free version and you connect your device to your printer via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, you will only be able to perform a printer test unless you purchase the premium key.
Select a Google account and the printer registered on your Google Cloud Print account.
Once the printer has been set up, you can now print from your Android phone or tablet via PrinterShare Mobile Print.

The types and categories of files that PrinterShare Mobile Print can print are displayed on the app’s main screen. You can print pictures, contacts, calendar, Web pages, SMS messages, call logs, Gmail messages, Google Doc files, and other documents.

Conclusion

Mobile printing has become easier, thanks to Google Cloud Print and third-party printing apps on the Google Play Store. With these technologies and services, you can easily print your files or data from your Android phone or tablet.

How often do you print from your Android phone or tablet? Do you use a different method or solution? If so, what solution do you use? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.

Source : http://www.androidauthority.com/

By: Unknown On 1:09 PM

How to make your smartphone look like stock Android without rooting

Android handsets are purchased on a daily basis, whether we’re talking about that shiny new HTC One, a mid-range device like the Galaxy S4 Mini, or any other phone for that matter.

However, far too many people come to be disappointed with their purchase due to the modifications on top of Android that ruin the experience for them. This problem can be solved by rooting and flashing a custom ROM, but that’s hardly a solution for everyone. But there’s another way to get that vanilla Android experience on a smartphone without rooting.

Developers have been hard at work creating solutions to feed our stock Android craving, in the form of launchers, icon packs, keyboards, and other apps. We’re going to walk you through some of the most useful and show you how to transform the interface into a vanilla-like one, without root and without hassle.

Launchers

There are a lot of cool launchers out there. Action Launcher Pro combined with the Stark icon pack is one of my favorites, however, there are a lot of offerings to get that stock Android feel.

So the first step is to choose a launcher. For that, we’re going to take a look at Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, and Holo Launcher HD. Alternatively, you can use Holo Launcher Plus to achieve stock Android for Ice Cream Sandwich.

Nova Launcher is a free download, however, paying for the Prime version of the app will give you access to a few more features. Apex Launcher and Holo Launcher HD are both free downloads, but they have pro versions for added features as well.

Before and after

When it comes down to it, you’re going to need to choose which one you’re most comfortable and satisfied with. In my case, I went with Nova Launcher. After you have a launcher downloaded, simply hit the Home button on your device. A pop-up window will appear, and you’re going to need to set your chosen launcher as the default (instead of TouchWiz, Sense, etc). Alternatively, open up the Nova Settings, and, on the first page, there’ll be an option to set the Nova Launcher as the default launcher.

Once that’s done, your home screen should, more or less, look like the image above.

Lock screens

Custom lock screens on Android are a fickle thing, as they’re often filled with bugs and are unreliable. However, there are a couple that’ll get the job done, though not many.

Holo Locker Plus is a good a Jelly Bean locker to use when paired with a Jelly Bean-themed wallpaper. If you don’t want to pay for anything, a great alternative is the GO Locker, which will require you to download two apps, the base GO Locker app and then a theme addon, namely a Jelly Bean one.

Once GO Locker is downloaded, adding the Jelly Bean theme is pretty self-explanatory. However, Holo Locker Plus is another story — it’s easy to enable Holo Locker, but in my findings, it does not come with a Jelly Bean wallpaper. So you’re going to need to find your own. To do that, you need the Plus version of Holo Locker to access the features that let you add a custom wallpaper to the lock screen. You can use any wallpaper you’d like, but, to get the coveted stock Android feel, a Jelly Bean wallpaper would be ideal.

If you’re looking to achieve stock Android with Ice Cream Sandwich, GO Locker is your best bet with this theme.

If you’re using Holo Locker, the final outcome should look like the image above.

Keyboards and Wallpapers

Nexy, you need a new keyboard and wallpaper to finalize the makeshift vanilla Android experience we’ve created. A Jelly Bean wallpaper package can be easily found in the Play Store. Anyone will do, but I used this one. A Ice Cream Sandwich wallpaper package can be found in the Play Store easily as well. Lastly, we need a new keyboard.

When it comes to keyboards, you really don’t need a Jelly Bean one in particular. Any kind will do as long as you’re comfortable with it, even if its your manufacturer’s stock keyboard. However, a lot of people tend to go for things like SwiftKey or Swype. If you insist on a stock Jelly Bean keyboard though, Google recently brought it to Google Play.

Final thoughts

It should only take you a few minutes to complete these steps. After you do though, you’ll have an awesome makeshift vanilla Android experience on any device of your choosing. If you’d like to break away from stock Android a tad bit, I like to download the Stark icon pack to freshen things up a little bit. It’s not a requirement though, it just looks nice.

Finally, to show you that this was all done using apps through the Google Play Store, we used Root Checker to prove that there was no rooting or flashing involved.

Do you plan on using this method for a makeshift vanilla Android experience? If you went ahead with it, how did it work out for you?

Source : http://www.androidauthority.com/

By: Unknown On 1:08 PM

How to Overclock T-Mobile Galaxy S4

Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s latest flagship and one of the most popular and powerful Android based smartphones available on the market. But when talking about power and speed, especially when we refer to a smartphone, we can surely affirm that there is never enough, meaning that there will be anytime room for improvements. If you think that too, then resume this step by step guide and learn how to easily overclock your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4. As you will see, by completing this operation you will be able to increase the power that your phone provides and also you will be able to gain more speed and an improved Android Jelly Bean experience.

So, overclock your T-Mobile Galaxy S4 if you want to take your smartphone to a higher level of performance. As you know, there are other ways that can be used when trying to upgrade your handset, like gaining root access or updating with a custom ROM firmware. But when the classic methods are just not enough, or if you want to spice things up, then you have to overclock the CPU. That’s exactly what we will be doing on your Galaxy S4, so don’t hesitate and use this tutorial.

Overclocking your Android device is quite similar with overclocking your computer or notebook. In a few words, here is what you will do: you will change the maximum CPU frequency, which means that your Galaxy S4 will provide and operate on more power. Don’t worry, as it is unlikely to burn your handset, especially if you know everything about overclocking Android devices (use the link if you want to learn everything about this process – do so before applying the present tutorial). Also, if you properly set the frequency, (increase it with only 10-20%) then you will not have battery drain issues. Therefore, don’t hesitate and overclock your T-Mobile Galaxy S4.

Unfortunately, by overclocking the warranty of your SGS4 will get voided. This is happening because you first have toroot your phone as you need to flash a custom kernel for enabling overclocking. So, as you will see below, before increasing the power of your S4, you will first learn how to install a new kernel into its system. Anyway, remember that you must root your smartphone before going any further. A final tip related to the warranty: you can restore the same by downgrading / updating the stock / official Android firmware.

Then, install CWM or TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S4. Do this after rooting your phone as a custom recovery image can be applied only on unchained systems. Don’t skip this part because you will not be able to install the custom kernel without using the custom recovery tool – the stock recovery that comes pre-installed on any Android handsets can’t be used when dealing with unofficial operation like the present one.

Those were the essential pre requisites; now let’s see which the general preparation things are – complete the same as you can’t perform this guide without properly preparing your SGS4 for the overclocking process.

Backup the contacts, messages, call logs, market apps and calendar info from your phone.
Backup EFS and internet settings, along with your personal info and accounts.
Make a Nandroid backup for storing the stock ROM.
Make sure you can use a computer on where you will save the kernel file.
In order to avoid the unpleasant situations, make sure that on both computer and handset there aren’t security tools installed – if different temporarily deactivate them.
Enable the USB debugging option on your Galaxy S4.
It is recommended to charge the phone’s battery before going any further; you can skip this step if your phone has more than 60% power left.
This step by step guide has been developed to work only for the T-Mobile version of the Samsung Galaxy S4, so don’t try to overclock a different or similar device by using the steps from below.

How to flash a custom kernel on T-Mobile Galaxy S4

From this page download the custom kernel (we should thanks those of xda-developers for the same).
Place the downloaded file on your computer, preferable on desktop.
Take your phone and connect it with the PC via USB cable.
Select the downloaded file and copy-paste the same from the computer to your phone’s SD card.
Then, disconnect the devices by unplugging the USB cable.
Turn off your handset.
Reboot it by pressing the Power, Volume Up and Home buttons at the same time.
The recovery mode menu will be displayed.
By using the same select “install zip from SD card” and “choose zip from SD card”.
Pick the kernel file and install the same on your device.
Finally, in the end select “+++go back+++” and “reboot system now”.

Now overclocking is enabled on your T-Mobile SGS4 which means that you can safely precede to the next, and final, section of this step by step guide – we are almost done.

How to Overclock T-Mobile Galaxy S4

Go to Google Play.
Download any of these apps: SetCPU, or AnTuTu CPU Master.
Install the app on your SGS4.
Run the tool.
By using the menu that opens set the new frequency (remember to increase it only with 10-20% or else you might have battery drain issues).
Close the tool and reboot your device.
Test the new results as you are done.

There you have it, the best way to use when looking forward in bumping the power of your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4. Anyhow, since you have successfully overclocked your Galaxy S4, use the comments area from below and share your experience with us and with other users who might need a proper advice. Also, stay close as we will bring further Android tips, tricks and tutorials.

Source : http://www.android.gs/

By: Unknown On 1:02 PM

Overclocking your Android device: Everything you need to know

The Android based smartphones / tablets had become more and more similar with a notebook or computer in both performances and usability (you can use your device for watching HD movies, for taking high res pictures, playing games, develop apps, organize and plan your work strategy and a lot more), so now most of us rather choose to buy a tablet or a high end smartphone with a “generous” display, instead of using the classic notebooks. That’s why, when having an Android device, you should always find new ways for improving and upgrading the performances, as it’s really unpleasant (mostly you can’t afford it) to buy a new smartphone from time to time.

And since the best way for powering up the performances of your Android handsets is to apply complex and risky operations, you should always do a proper research before tweaking your gadget. Else, you can end up in bricking your phones and that’s not a good thing especially due to the warranty aspect: when performing unofficial methods, the warranty gets void. Anyhow, during the present tutorial we will discuss about Android overclocking; basically, by reading the following lines you will be able to find out everything that’s related with the overclock operation, from advantages and disadvantages to proper ways in which you can speed up your Android devices.

You should overclock your Android smartphone / tablet if you want to obtain more power from it, as by overclocking we understand: increase the CPU frequency / speed in order to receive better performances. So, the overclock operation applied on a smartphone or tablet is similar with the one performed on a PC or notebook as both will increase the CPU frequency; the best is that is hard, almost impossible to burn your phone’s CPU (especially if you follow and use dedicated tutorials) by overclocking as the mobile CPUs are coming with more safety mechanisms to prevent CPU from burning up, this compared with computer’s CPUs.

So, is Android overclocking safe? Well, we can say yes, though you should overclock only 10-20% of your stock frequency, or else your device will encounter another issue: battery drain. Anyhow, let’s say you overclock your handset from 1 GHz to 1.5 GHz; now this doesn’t mean that your Android device will constantly run on 1.5 GHz, as that power will be used only when needed (running games, or multiple apps, showing HD movies or running 3D tools).

As already mentioned, usually, after overclocking the CPU, the Android users are complaining about battery drain issues. In order to increase the power and also keep the battery performances I recommend you to bump the CPU frequency only with 10-20% of your stock power.

Well, now you know what Android overclocking refers to. Furthermore, we will be checking on how to prepare your device for such operation and how to actually apply the same.

Overclocking – pre requisites

Of course overclocking the CPU frequency is an unofficial operation that has nothing to do with Android, Google or your phone’s company. Therefore, before completing this method you have to prepare your device. Unfortunately, here come the negative aspects, all being related to the warranty of your handset: it will get void. However, if you are about to overclock your device, first read and apply the tasks from the following list.

Root your handset. Bumping the CPU performances can be performed only if you flash a custom Kernel; and for doing such thing you first have to unchain the system of your smartphone / tablet.
By gaining root access you will also gain access to the internal system of your handset (the factory restrictions will be removed) so the warranty will get void.
You can restore the warranty by downgrading to stock Android OS, or by updating with an official Android update.
Replace the stock recovery with a custom one – like CWM recovery or TWRP recovery. The stock recovery can’t be used when trying to flash a custom Kernel, so the custom one must be previously installed.
Take note that many custom ROMs are coming with custom kernel that supports overclocking; so if your device is currently powered by a custom firmware, then overclocking might be already enabled – in that case you don’t have to flash the custom kernel.
It will be important to backup the data that is being saved on the internal storage of your Android device, because usually wiping operations are being required (when installing a custom ROM software or custom kernel).
Also, it will be a good idea to make a Nandroid backup for saving the current ROM – you will be able to restore the same after overclockinng.
A computer will be required, your handset and its USB cable.
On the computer you will have to install the device’s drivers and there shouldn’t be running any security tools.
You should charge the battery of your smartphone / tablet before beginning the process and you should also enable the USB debugging option from its system.

That’s all; you are now ready to overclock your Android device, so let’s see how to do that:

Well, as already stated several times now, a custom kernel is being required. Therefore, you will have to follow a suitable step by step guide that can safely be applied on your device; don’t install a custom kernel by yourselves as you can end up in bricking your phone.

Do remember that most of the custom ROMs are coming with kernels that enable overclocking. In that case you can skip the operation mentioned above.

Then, after enabling overclocking you need to download one of these apps: SetCPU, No-frills CPU Control, or IncrediControl; install the tool on your device and run the same. Follow the on-screen indications in order to increase the CPU frequency, reboot and that’s it.

So, that was all for today; now you should know almost everything about Android overclocking. Do use the comments area from below if you have questions or if you want to talk with our team (if you have problems with your handset try to resolve the same by using the guide from here) – we will assist you as soon as possible. Also, stay close because we will bring overclock tutorials suitable for almost all the Android based smartphones / tablets out there.

Source : http://www.android.gs/

By: Unknown On 1:02 PM

How to Root Galaxy S4 on Leaked Jelly Bean 4.3 Firmware

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware has been ported to the Samsung Galaxy S4 from the Google Edition of the same device, the update being anytime available for you (you can manually apply the software on your handset). Anyway, those who have installed the JB 4.3 OS on their devices had complained that the root access has been revoked and there is no suitable root solution for the new Android system. Well, now you can easily root your Galaxy S4 on leaked Jelly bean 4.3 ROM as a new version of the Chainfire tool has been made available.

The best is that the new app is working on the Android 4.3 system which means that by using the same you can now safely root your SGS4. So, during the present step by step guide I will show you how to use the Chainfire app for gaining root access, all being explained and detailed below. On this tutorial you will have to use the stock recovery image of your Galaxy S4, as the root package can be flashed by using the same – therefore you have nothing to worry about as you don’t have to install and use complex and risky programs that might damage the system of your device.

The root operation should be applied by those who want to obtain more power and control, because once you apply this method, the factory restrictions and default settings of your Galaxy S4 will be removed. That’s why, on a rooted system and OS you can easily install complex apps that requires root access, remove in built programs for improving the battery life, update with custom ROMs for improving the performances, customize the looks and so on. Furthermore, on a rooted system you can also overclock your Samsung Galaxy S4, this being the perfect method to apply when looking into bumping the speeds and the performances.

Unfortunately, by completing this tutorial the warranty of your smartphone will get lost. As you can tell, this operation is an unofficial one and that’s why you are dealing with this aspect. Anyhow, don’t panic as if you follow this guide, nothing bad will happen. Also, if needed, you can restore the warranty; all you have to do is to downgrade / update your phone to stock / official Android OS. Of course, then the root access will be revoked and the factory restrictions reinstalled.

Use this guide only if your Samsung Galaxy S4 is on leaked Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware; else your phone might get bricked or its system damaged. Furthermore, ensure that:

You can use a computer and the phone’s USB cord.
On the computer there are no security programs running; if different uninstall or deactivate the antivirus, antimalware and Firewall protection.
On your handset the USB debugging option needs to be enabled; else you won’t be able to connect your device with the computer.
You should charge the S4 if there is less than 60% power left; else your smartphone might get turned off and bricked, while you are trying to root its JB 4.3 software.
Backup the SGS4 data because it might get corrupted – you won’t be able to use it after rooting the internal system.
So, make sure you save everything that’s important to you, along with the EFS folder and internet settings.

So, that was all. You have prepared your phone for the installation procedure that will shortly follow and you also checked which the main aspects related to the root operation are. So, head to the next, and final, section of this step by step guide and learn how to:

Root Samsung Galaxy S4 on Leaked Android Jelly Bean 4.3 Firmware

Download the root package from here and save the file on your computer.
Place the file on desktop as you will need it in a second.
Connect your phone with the computer.
Use the USB cable for establishing the connection.
Select the root package and copy paste or drag and drop the file from the PC to your smartphone’s SD card.
Turn off your S4.
Reach recovery mode.
For recovery mode all you have to do is to press Power, Volume Up and Home buttons at the same time, until the recovery mode menu is being displayed.
Select “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”.
Now, by using the recovery menu choose, or select “install zip from SD card” followed by “choose zip from SD card”.
Pick the root package and flash the same.
In the end, return to recovery and select “reboot system now”.

Good job, you have rooted your Samsung Galaxy S4 on leaked Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. If there were problems while trying to apply the steps from above, use our dedicated guide and learn how to resolve the most common issues. Also, use the comments area from below if you want to talk with us or if you have something to share.

Source : http://www.android.gs/

By: Unknown On 1:00 PM

Update HTC One with MIUI v5 JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM

As you know, the latest version of the MIUI custom ROM firmware, v5.0 has been released for the HTC One. So, if you want to update your handset with a fast, stable, based on stock Jelly Bean 4.2.2 OS and powerful custom software, then use this tutorial and learn how to flash the MIUI v5 firmware on your HTC One.

The best about MIUI v5.0 is that the ROM is coming with the stock Android 4.2.2 JB experience (looks, user interface and so on) along with stock and extra features (that cannot be found in the default version of the Android platform) meaning that you will be installing your HTC One with a custom update that looks like the default Jelly Bean 4.2.2 OS but performs like a custom ROM that is featuring its own apps and capabilities.

Even though you will flash an official-like ROM on your One, do remember that the MIUI system is actually a custom software and not an stock Android update released by HTC or by Google. So, be careful when applying the same as your phone’s warranty will get void. This is happening because you need to root your smartphone before starting the update operation as a custom ROM can be updated only on unchained systems.

Don’t panic though, as for the future, if you will have to, the warranty can be regained. For achieving the same you will have to un-root the OS and that can be done by: performing a un-root procedure, downgrading to stock Android firmware or by updating with an official release of the Android software. DO note that on rooted devices, the OTA updates can’t be received; so you will have to manually apply the future official updates.

After gaining root access you will have to flash CWM recovery, or any other custom recovery image, on your phone. As you know, a custom ROM can be updated only if you use a custom recovery, so the same is applying when dealing with MIUI v5.0 JB 4.2.2 firmware. Therefore, root and install CWM recovery on your HTC One. After completing these operations, you can start the update process.

But, for avoiding the unpleasant situations and for ensuring that everything will go as planned, first complete the list from below.

Backup the HTC One data, including text messages, call logs, market apps and contacts list – don’t forget about internet settings and current ROM (via Nandroid backup) too.
On the computer you will use (you need to have access to a computer or notebook) uninstall the antivirus protection along with any other security programs. Do the same for your device too.
On your phone go to “Settings -> More -> Development Options -> USB debugging” and check / enable the USB debugging box.
Take the charger in plug it in if your handset is having less than 60% power left.
Remember to root and install a custom recovery on your HTC One or else you will not be able to flash the MIUI v5.0 Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean custom ROM.

Good job; you are now ready for the proper update operation. It is important to know though that this tutorial was designed to work only for the HTC One smartphone – don’t use the next steps if you own a different device. Also, we have to thanks’ the MIUI team for providing the ROM for us.

How to Update HTC One with MIUI v5 JB 4.2.2 Custom ROM Firmware

On your computer or notebook save the MIUI custom ROM file – use the link from here for downloading the update package.
Save the ROM on desktop, as you will have to use the same in a minute.
Take the phone’s USB cable and plug it in for connection the smartphone with the PC.
Now, take the downloaded file and place it on your handset.
Disconnect the devices and turn off your HTC One.
You now need to enter the One in recovery mode.
For that first reboot by pressing Power, Volume Up and Ok buttons.
The bootloader mode will be displayed; from there select “recovery” and enter the same.
From recovery wipe the system: “wipe data factory reset”, “wipe cache partition” and “wipe dalvick cache”.
First, return to recovery menu.
And then select “install zip from SD card”; next select “choose zip from SD card”.
Select or pick the MIUI custom ROM file.
Flash the firmware on your device.
Select “+++go back+++” and “reboot system now”.
If your handset will get stuck in a boot loop, re-wipe the system once more, or follow thisdedicated tutorial which will show you how to resolve the most common Android issues.

Congratulations, you have completed the step by step guide. Now, your HTC One should be powered by the MIUI v5.0 custom ROM firmware. Remember that this software is based on stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and comes with stock looks along with extra features and capabilities. The system should be stable and without bugs, but test the same and share your impressions with us by using the comments field from below.

Source : http://www.android.gs

By: Unknown On 12:59 PM

Update T-Mobile Galaxy S4 to stock JB 4.2.2 UVUAMDL Firmware

The T-Mobile Galaxy S4 had received a new OTA, the JB 4.2.2 UVUAMDL firmware. But if your handset is on a custom ROM, or rooted, then the OTA can’t be received and installed. Furthermore, if you will have to downgrade your Galaxy S4 to stock Android OS, or if you will have to restore the warranty of your handset (the warranty gets void when you root your phone) then you will have to use a manual method for installing the official Jelly Bean 4.2.2 software. So, for all that, use this step by step guide and update your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 to official Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean UVUAMDL firmware.

This guide will take you through the installation procedure of an official update. So by completing the steps from below, the warranty of your Galaxy S4 will not get lost. Actually, if your device is currently rooted or based on a custom ROM (or if you have completed an overclock operation), now you will be able to revoke the root access and restore the warranty. Therefore, the root access will be revoked, so you will have to use a root method that is suitable with the new JB 4.2.2 UVUAMDL OS – if you will need to unchain the system of your phone. Don’t worry though as this update operation is compatible with both rooted and un-rooted T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 devices.

Since we are talking about an official update and since we will flash the UVUAMDL firmware on a Samsung branded handset, for completing this tutorial we will use Odin. Therefore, you don’t have to worry as there won’t be used complex and risky apps or programs. Odin, is a dedicated tool used on update and root operations; the program is designed and offered by Samsung, so you have nothing to worry about.

Of course, if Odin will be used, then you will have to use a Windows running computer, your T-Mobile Galaxy S4 and its USB cable. Also, on the computer the S4 drivers must be installed – download Samsung KIES and install the drivers via the program. Also, as usual, on your computer you have to deactivate the security protection; then you need to enable the USB debugging option on your smartphone and you also have to charge the battery of the same. All these are preparation tasks that have to be applied if you want to successfully install the stock JB 4.2.2 UVUAMDL on your Galaxy S4.

Don’t forget to backup the SGS4 data, this being the most important thing to do before heading to the flashing procedure. Save everything you need to, including EFS folder and if possible the current ROM – Nandroid backup.

Now, since the UVUAMDL software is the stock Android JB OS released for your T-Mobile Galaxy S4, the firmware will be coming only with stock features and minor bug fixes. If you want to improve the JB experience or power up the performances of you handset, then don’t hesitate and update your smartphone with a custom ROM, or even consider in overclocking your T-Mobile SGS4.

Anyway, do note that this guide is compatible only with the Samsung Galaxy S4 model number M919. Applying the next steps on a different or similar Android based device will probably brick your handset.

How to Update T-Mobile Galaxy S4 to stock JB 4.2.2 UVUAMDL Firmware

Remember to install the proper drivers on your computer.
Then, download Odin and unzip the file on your computer.
Install the tool and run Odin.
On desktop, download the update file and unzip the same.
You can download the update package from here.
Turn off you phone.
Reboot in download mode -> press and hold Power, Volume Down and Home buttons.
Connect your S4 with the computer.
Check Odin: the “added” message should be there and the ID:COM should be yellow or blue.
If not, you must reinstall the drivers; then repeat the steps from above.
From Odin you need to select “PDA”.
Then you have to pick the firmware file from the desktop.
Don’t check the re-partition option from Odin, also don’t make any other changes on the program.
Just click on “start” and flash the ROM.
In the end, you will see the “pass” message displayed.
Unplug the USB cord and reboot your device.

If Odin gets stuck during the update operation, or if in the end your S4 gets stuck in a boot loop, use our tutorial and learn how to resolve the most common Android issues. Then, return here, use the comments area and share your experience with us. Anyway, your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 has been updated to official Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean UVUAMDL OS, meaning that we are done for today.

Source : http://www.android.gs/

By: Unknown On 12:57 PM