ANORIDE-Z

Forgot your lock pattern? Here’s how to bypass it

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:29:00 +0000

If you’re human, you’ve forgetting something before. Whether it be leaving your front door open, where you’ve left your car keys, or just simply what your pattern lock was on your Android device, it happens. Unfortunately, for the latter, it might mean that you’re locked out of your tablet or smartphone without being able to get access to anything through no fault of your own. Thankfully, there is a way that you can bypass this by providing a few more credentials.

We’ve covered the method on how to do this on Samsung devices, and thankfully, the method is relatively similar for other Android devices as well. However, before you ever enable anything having to do with a lock pattern or PIN, make sure that you’ve got all your stuff automatically backed up. In order to do this, head to Settings > Backup & reset and make sure you’ve got everything checked off. This is particularly handy should you ever need to wipe your device remotely in case of theft or if you’ve got a HTC One M8 that will erase your data after 10 failed unlock attempts.

Locked out?

So, you’re locked out of your device and cannot remember your pattern unlock. What do you do? Thankfully, you don’t need to panic as there is a pretty straight forward way to get into your device.

Attempt the pattern unlock five times (maybe you’ll get lucky and guess it/remember it!).
After the fifth attempt, you’ll be locked out but an option at the bottom of the screen that sasys Forgot Pattern will appear, click on it.

Sign into your Google Account.
Once authenticated with your Google Account, you’ll be able to choose a new PIN, pattern, lock, etc., and unlock your device.

This method will work regardless of whether you’re using a PIN code, password lock, or pattern lock. If you cannot for the life of you remember your Google Account on top of your pattern unlock, you’re out of luck. The only way to bring your device back to life will be to perform a factory reset which will delete everything off the device.

Motorola Connect problems and an alternative

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:23:00 +0000

For those of you who use Motorola connect it might have proven to be a very useful app. For those of you who do not know what Motorola Connect is, it is a two pronged solution that in tandem with an Android app and a chrome browser extension allows the user to respond to incoming calls from the desktop as well as to see and reply incoming text messages from the desktop as well. This is very useful for users who may miss calls and alerts due to being on the PC a lot of the time.

Motorola is the company behind the connect service/ © Motorola

The downside to this Motorola Connect thing is that it has been down since last Friday apparently and there has been no word on when it will be up and there also has been no word from Motorola as to what the actual problem is.

Users of the service have apparently tried everything including re-installing and nothing has worked. We can only guess that something is wrong from Motorola’s side of things. The service is limited to Motorola devices like the Droid ones and the Moto X.

The good news is that while you wait for the service to get back up and running again, there are some alternatives for you to try. Pushbullet is one and like the name suggests it pushes notifications from your phone on to your desktop PC. Much like Motorola Connect, it also relies on a chrome extension to work too. Responding to text messages on this app is a little different as it doesn’t really allow you to send a text message but rather if you add the contact as a pushbullet contact, you can push messages to their device. Obviously the other person has to have push bullet installed as well.

What do you think of this solution? Was it useful for you? Please leave us a comment below and we will get back to you.

You can download the chrome extension for the app here.

HTC One (M8) tips and tricks

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:22:00 +0000

The HTC One (M8) is a very expensive handset but it currently represents the best that Android has to offer right now. It’s predecessor was hailed as the best smartphone of last year and HTC has not disappointed amidst all the hype. In this article we will show you how you can make the most of your superphone from HTC.

The HTC One M8 / © AndroidPIT

Customize BlinkFeed

BlinkFeed. / © AndroidPIT

BlinkFeed gets content from the web and from your social network profiles. The idea behind this feature is to give you a glimpse of what is happening in your world without really having to open your Facebook or your Twitter. HTC now lets you customize your BlinkFeed which means you can change the way the feed looks and make it more suited to your tastes. In order to do this, you have to go to settings > personalize > theme and here you will find the different themes to choose from. This will alter the look and feel of BlinkFeed as well as the top navigation bar in the Sense UX.

Hide bloatware

HTC One M8. / © Geek.com

Handsets ship with some apps that are really not necessary and this rings true for the HTC One (M8) as well. HTC has noticed that this may be annoying to users and has added an option to hide this bloatware within Sense 6. In order to do this, all you have to do is simply go to the applications menu, and isolate the applications you do not want to see or use from view. You can then select the option to hide or unhide from there. This doesn’t remove the application but just hides it from your view.

Answer calls from lockscreen

HTC One M8 lockscreen/ © Anoride-Z

Your new HTC device let’s you answer calls from the lockscreen. In order to do this, when a call comes in you simply swipe downwards. This will answer the call without you having to leave the lockscreen. The feature can be turned off by simply going to settings > call > auto answer call. It is that simple.

Use your M8 as your remote

You can use the HTC One M8 as a remote for when you're watching TV / © Amazon/Google/Anoride-Z

Like the previous iteration of the phone, the M8 also has an infrared blaster. This means that you have the option of using the phone as a remote for your HDTV. In order to do this, you will need to go to the HTC TV app on your phone. Follow the instructions there but just before you begin, make sure that your TV is turned on. The process takes about 5 mins but once its done, you can finally dispose of your previous remote in favour of your trusty HTC One (M8).

Make folders within the icon tray

HTC One (M8). / © Anoride-Z

If you would like more room in the icon tray you can simply create folders there so that you can access more apps from there. To do this, simply create a folder and then give it a name. Drag the applications you want there and then simply store this folder in the icon tray by dragging it there. This way you can have an uncluttered view of your wallpaper.

Remove BlinkFeed

If you don’t like BlinkFeed we can show you how to disable it. When you’re on the home screen, pinch your fingers together. This will open up the widget and homescreen manager and from here you can drag BlinkFeed up to the right and remove it.

That’s it for now. Please check back for more articles on the HTC One (M8) and if you have any more tips that you would like to share, please do not hesitate to leave them in the commments section below.

More Samsung Galaxy S5 tips and tricks

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:21:00 +0000

The longer you have a Galaxy S5, the more you realize how full it is of little in’s and out’s that take some time to get used to. Today we’ll share more tips and tricks with you, if you didn’t get your fill from the essential S5 tips and tricks earlier this week, all demonstrated in a hands-on video.

Check out the tips and tricks in our video demonstration:

Link to the video

One-hand operation

For small-handed folk, the one-handed operation mode offered on the Galaxy S5 is a huge help. Especially when on that daily commute where one-handed operation is a must, it will minimize the size of the used screen, so everything can be reached with your thumb. First you need to switch in this feature in the settings, which you can then trigger by swiping your thumb in and out of either side of the screen, depending if you are a right and left-handed users. It includes quick access to some apps on the bottom and side of the minimized window, whose size can also be adjusted by pulling on the outter corner.

Cinema mode

The best possible viewing mode for watching videos, playing games and even doing online shopping is cinema mode, which is easily located in the settings under Display. This mode provides for the best color replication and make your viewing experience a lot more enjoyable.

Private mode

Nowadays, everyone is worried about keeping private information under wraps and Samsung took this into consideration when creating the software for the S5. They integrated a new feature called Private Mode, which allows you to hide documents, videos, pictures and more in a special private mode. You first need to turn on the feature which you can find in the settings under the personalization subcategory. Switch on the feature and create a PIN. You’ll see that the mode has been activated in the notifications bar. Now, go to your gallery app for example and long press on the pictures you want to keep private. Press on the menu button and select ‘move to private’. These will then be moved to another folder, which will disappear when you exit private mode.

Private mode is Samsung's solution for keeping your personal data under wraps. © Anoride-Z

Toolbox

Toolbox is tiny helper feature that can be toggled on or off right in the notification bar. It won’t be visible at first among the Quick settings, you need to swipe left and it will appear at the very end. Toggling this on will make a tiny hovering circle with three dots appear, which you can move around your display. Pressing on this will open a series of app icons, like internet explorer, calculator and more. Basically, here is another way of getting quick access to basic and commonly used apps.

Aside from the Quick Settings in the notification bar, toolbox provides you with fast access to some of your basic and most used apps, like the calculator and memo pad. © Anoride-Z

S Finder

You can use S Finder to find anything on your Samsung Galaxy S5, whether it is an app, an event, a contact, a Google Drive document etc. Simply pull down the notification bar and you will see the S Finder button. Tap on this and it will open a new window where you simply type in what you are looking for. This will save a lot of time instead of wandering in the wilderness on your smartphone looking for something.

Find anything on the S5 with S Finder. © Anoride-Z

Do you know of any other helpful tips and tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S5?

How to hide pictures and more in Private mode on the Galaxy S5

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:20:00 +0000

The Galaxy S5 has many new features that Samsung has added to its TouchWiz skin, all of the old ones, with a whole heap of new ones piled on top. With the concerns of privacy and security of data becoming more prominent, Samsung didn’t fail to step up to the plate and has added a private mode to the new flagship, which serves the purpose of keeping pictures, videos and documents under wraps, for your eyes only. Here’s how.

Private mode is an easy to set up mode, which you can access from the quick settings in the notification panel. If you haven’t customized the quick settings yet, it should appear at the bottom next to Touch sensitivity.

1. Tap on the icon to launch the setup process. It will give you a quick rundown of what it means and then prompt you to set up an unlocking method when trying to access Private mode in the future. You can use a PIN, password, swipe and of course, a fingerprint, thanks to the new scanner which is found on the home button.

2. Once the Private mode is on, you can move files there at your leisure. The only thing is that you cannot select the photo while viewing it full screen, only when it is in the album in thumbnail format, which wasn’t very well explained in the mini tutorial Samsung provides.

3. Long press on the desired image thumbnails (or video, song, voice record or document) and select the menu button on the top right corner (three vertical white dots).

4. Here you will choose ‘’move to Private’’, which will move the pictures to a bring new Private album. You can also opt to move these back to another folder.

5. Once you are done and want to get out of Private mode, swipe down the notifications panel and tap on Private mode turned on. This will turn off Private mode so that any open content will be closed.

Now you can rest assured that any files that you would like to keep private will stay that way, even if someone tries to sneak around in your phone or on the occasion of it getting lost or stolen.

Have you used this mode on your Galaxy S5 yet?

How to protect your Android from the Heartbleed bug

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:19:00 +0000

Heartbleed is one of the biggest security breaches the internet has ever known. Here’s how to protect your Android smartphone against this OpenSSL bug which leaves your phone vulnerable to virus attacks.

What is Heartbleed

Hearbleed is a flaw in the OpenSLL software ‘’Heartbeat’’ function which is what’s behind secure internet connections. It is this function that is buggy, allowing attackers to manipulate it and cause some serious damage to the affected systems. The Heartbleed vulnerability impacts any infrastructure that has the affected version of OpenSSL.

So who is affected?

According to Symantec, the majority of main browsers do not use this OpenSLL software. But on Android, it’s the complete opposite. Your Android is at risk, which means that private info stored on it is as well. You can use the Symantec SSL Tool check to see if a website is vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug.

Heartbleed on Android

Generally speaking, if you are on a vulnerable website and a new identical tab opens when you have entered your identifiers, stop right there and close out right away. Another method that hackers often use is to inject a code into a vulnerable Android navigator, which allows the instigator to fish out sensitive information that is stored in the phone’s memory.

How to protect your Android against Heartbleed

Lookout, a developing group that you might already know thanks to their antivirus app, have developed a new app called Heartbleed Security Scanner that will help you see whether your phone is vulnerable or not: the application however does NOT protect you, which means you will have to wait until Google or your manufacturer releases an update.

Tips to protect your data

Change your password regularly
Avoid using the same passwords on various websites
If you detect a vulnerable site using the Symantec SSL toolbox, wait before changing your password.
If your Android is vulnerable, be cautious and make sure you update your phone.

The real problem with Heartbleed is that the bug has already existed for over two years, and that your passwords are potentially exposed, yet another reason why you should change them regularly.

How to calibrate the battery on your Android device

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:18:00 +0000

Battery problems are one of the biggest concerns for smartphone users which is why we offer many useful tips and tricks to solve battery drain problems. If you notice that your battery performance and duration has decreased, it could be time to consider calibrating it. Today we will explain in detail what calibrating the battery of your Android actually does and how to do it!

First of all, if you have had problems with the performance of your battery, you can consult our 16 tips and tricks to extend battery life on your Android smartphone. If you notice that the performance continues to decline, then it’s time to try to calibrate the battery. One of the most obvious signs that it’s time is when your mobile battery drains quickly or the device won’t charge.

Users that have encountered these problems may think the battery or device is damaged. This may be the cause, but before doing anything drastic, we highly recommend trying to calibrate the battery properly.

What does it mean to calibrate a smartphone?

The Android operating system has a setting called Battery Stats which indicates the battery capacity, when it is full or empty. The problem is that it sometimes become corrupted and starts displaying data that isn’t real, which causes the phone to turn off before reaching the 0%. The process of calibrating the battery would correct the information.

How to calibrate Android device battery without root access

Method 1

First you must check the capacity of your battery, which you can see on the battery or by searching for its specifications on the internet. Check our hardware section for your device.

Install an application called Current Widget: Battery Monitor from the Google Play Store.

This application will show the battery charge in milliamps (mAh). Charge your smartphone for the duration of time needed until you reach the total milliampere amount indicated for your specific battery.

When the required amount is achieved, turn off the phone and restart it. The battery will now be charged to 100 % and in theory shouldn’t cause any more problems.

Method 2

Fully charge the battery with the phone on and when the phone is fully charged, unplug the charger and turn it off.

When your phone is off, plug it into the charger and let it charge to 100% again. The green LED light will indicate when this is done.

Next unplug the charger, turn on your phone and set the option so that your screen doesn’t turn off, if you have this option. Then reconnect to the charger and wait for it to charge again to 100%.

Once loaded to 100%, unplug the charger again and do not load until the smartphone turns itself off after reaching a 0% battery level. Once off, fully charge it again and it should work properly. The screen setting can put back to normal again (meaning turn off after a certain amount of time).

How to calibrate Android device battery with root access

Method 1

First, install the Battery Calibration app :

To start, connect your device to charge until the battery reaches 100%.

Then open the Battery Calibration app and check the number of 'mV ' that are next to the percentage, a number that will continue to rise. If the number continues to grow even if the battery is at 100 %, continue to charge the phone.

When the numbers stop rising and the battery is charged to 100%, press the Battery Calibration button and then restart the device. The current level will be recorded as the point of maximum capacity and the old information is deleted in the Battery Stats when a new one with the correct data is created.

If this method didn’t work, try method 2.

Method 2

Go into recovery mode on your Android and navigate to the Advanced section where you will find the "wipe battery stats" option. This will erase any previously made calibration either by the user or when having installed a ROM .

Second, you have to fully drain the battery and then connect the phone to the charger. This must be carried out without interruption and with the device off.

When the load reaches 100%, turn it on again without disconnecting from the charger and open the Battery Calibration application. Click on the center button, which will prompt SuperUser permissions to pop up that you will have to accept. Shortly after a message saying ‘calibration succeeded" will appear. Press OK, unplug the device from the charger and close the application.

That's it. Have you tried any of these methods? Do you know an alternative way to fix battery problems?

8-tips-on-how-to-protect-your-android-touchscreen

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:36:00 +0000

Noways, smartphones and tablets come with the toughest and most scratch-resistant touch screen panels, thanks to such materials like Corning Gorilla Glass. It takes a lot to break and damage them. This, on the other hand, is not impossible if you behave recklessly with your Android device. Here are some precautions to consider in using your touchscreen.

1. Only use your fingers or stylus, if one comes with the device, like the Galaxy Note 3 for example. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra allows you to use pencils on the display, however this should not be done with any other device.

Only use your stylus or finger on an Android touch screen, and for pete's sake, be gentle!

2. Avoid letting your touch screen come into contact with other electrical devices. There are many people who think that magnets will damage your phone, when it fact it likely won’t. The only thing that a magnet might do is mess up your built-in magnetic sensor which is used for compass apps.

3. Electrostatic discharges, meaning a sudden surge of electricity between two connected electrical devices, could ultimately cause the touchscreen to malfunction. This might happen when your smartphone is placed near an object isolated to the ground that conducts electricity.

4. This may seem obvious, but do not tap your phone with any sharp objects or bang it to make it work if it’s being laggy. Your smartphone isn’t like your old TV set. Also, though you might get over excited while playing Candy Crush, do not apply excessive pressure to the display.

Screen cracks are more common than you think.

5. Ever heard of the term burn-in? This is what sometimes happens when you leave the touchscreen idle for an extended amount of time without deactivating the display. What you’ll see when you switch to something new is an afterimage, ghosting or screen burn-in, all terms apply here. If this is happening to you, check out how to fix a screen burn-in. To prevent this from happening though, set the lock screen to turn off after a certain amount of time in the settings of your smartphone or tablet under the lock screen section.

6. Invest in a screen protector, sleeve, padded bag or hard case for your tablet or smartphone. There are many cheap but effective ones that you can find on Amazon, WalMart, eBay etc. If you drop your phone, scratches are the least of your worries, but shattering or cracking can happen even with the most durable of panels.

A case, cover, screen protector or pouch keeps your smartphone or tablet looking in top shape. © Google Play Store

7. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Leaving your smartphone or tablet with an LCD display out on the patio in mid summer can really damage the quality.

8. When cleaning your display, use a microfiber cloth, which is ideal for touch screens. You can even use the one that came with your sunglasses. Be careful if using a moist cloth. Simply dampen it slightly or breath on the screen and then wipe it down gently. If you do end up using water, make sure that it is distilled water since normal tap water often carries calcium and other types of minerals. Do not over-rub. Let your phone air dry if there is any water left over so that you don’t accidently push any liquid into the phone’s inner hardware.

What tips do you recommend when it comes to taking care of your touch screen?

How to simplify Android for non-tech users with Wiser Simple Launcher

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:33:00 +0000

If setting your smartphone to easy mode, like on the Samsung Galaxy S3 under home screen modes, isn’t enough for you, you can install a launcher that will make your Android experience a lot simpler and less fussy, all the while being able to enjoy using a smartphone. Wiser is great for newbies, kids, and seniors.

The average Android users might not know all the in’s and out’s of their smartphone or tablet. For those not-so-techy or smartphone-literate people who just want to be able to find everything they need on their device free of frustration, they could try an Android launcher developed by UIU LTD called Wiser - Simple Launcher. You can install Wiser for free from the Google Play Store.

The launcher couldn’t be any simpler: the main home screen page is divided into the functions on your Android that you need the most: contacts, dialer, messaging, camera, gallery and applications. By swiping to the left, or pressing on the arrow, you can customize Favorite people and Applications pages that you use the most. Just tap on the ‘+’ icon to add and on the cogwheel in the top right corner to remove. Pressing the house icon at any time will bring you back to the main home screen.

Divided into a few clean screens, the user is provided with a nice overview of the essential things they need.

Pressing on Applications will bring you to all the apps on your Android device in a very clear overview. You can also find and install more apps by tapping on the ‘Add’ button in the top right corner which brings you to the Google Play Store. You will also receive your notifications in one clean ''Notice board'' so you never miss anything.

You can set Wiser as your default launcher on your Android. When you want to get rid of it, simply go to Settings > Applications > Wiser App Info and then 'clear defaults'.

What do you think of Wiser? A good app for newbies or is it missing something?

How to fix ''Unfortunately app has stopped'' - Beginners alert!

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:30:00 +0000

There is a problem that plagues not only beginner users, but advanced Android owners alike (the only difference is the latter usually know how to fix it): sometimes when you are using an app, it will suddenly close and the message ‘unfortunately (fill in the blank) has stopped’ will appear. This message also show up when you aren’t even using the app. Here is a way to fix this issue.

Clearing up app storage

This problem often arises with the contacts, gallery and launcher apps, among many others. For example, I always receive the ‘Unfortunately contacts has stopped” error on my Galaxy S3 and it’s particularly annoying. The procedure to fix this is generally always the same.

First, you must navigate to the settings on your Android smartphones.
Scroll down until you see Application Manager or Apps, the name differs per Android device.
Swipe left until you find the ‘All’ applications tab.
Scroll down to the app that stopped and tap on it.
Here you will clear the data and cache.

What you need to understand is that clearing the data will erase the changes made to the app’s settings, but not the actual content, like pictures in the gallery app for example. Cleaning the cache will get rid of saved data which allow apps to load much quicker when you launch them. Erasing this will only slow opening up an app a little bit, but will also help solve the problem.

In addition to clearing the cache with the red arrow, you always want to clear the data, this will erase any saved settings for the app in question.

Uninstall the app

If the app isn't a built-in app, like Contacts for example, you can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app again from the Google Play Store. Simply open the Play Store app and open the menu bar on the left hand side and tap on ''My apps''. Find the app in question and hit uninstall, which takes a few seconds. Atterwards, you can install it again.

Soft reset

You can also try doing a soft reset. This is super simple and is quite effective if your phone has been on for a long time. A soft reset will power cycle your phone, meaning turning it off and then back on again. This of course won’t delete anything. It’s a good idea to turn your phone off every few days for a few minutes and will help a sluggish phone with a variety of issues, whether app, network, audio, email issues and more.

In the case of Google Play itself not working, the solution is a little more extensive: delete the cache as a first step and if this doesn't clear things up, you can then clear your data, and finally uninstall any Play Store updates. The same goes for Google Play services, but try these one by one, you don't want to lose all your Play Store preferences for no reason. Check out the complete tutorial onwhat to do when the Google Play Store isn’t working.

Last resort: factory reset

In the worst case scenario when nothing is working, you can resort to a factory reset, but again, this really shouldn't be done until no other option presents itself. When doing a factory reset, ensure that you have backed up all of your data beforehand. I repeat: backup all of your data first. I mean it. Do it. A factory reset will wipe your device to factory defaults, taking any bugs with it. You can then restore your apps and data afterwards.

Did this fix the problem for you? What others fixes do you know for these little pesky Android problems that you can share with your fellow beginner users?

How to set up a VPN on Android

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:29:00 +0000

Malware, spies, viruses, the heartbleed bug, fake antivirus apps, it’s enough to get one quite scared for the safekeeping of private information (banking accounts, social security etc) that is stored on your Android or looked up on the web. If you are feeling uneasy, you should consider using a VPN server to protect your data on your Android device. Here is how to set it up.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for virtual private networks. Basically it means that a group of computers are connected via a network that works over a public network, in most cases, the internet. Some companies use VPN to access private networks and websites when out of office in order for sensitive data to remain secure. Often people will use a VPN to secure and encrypt communicated data when in a public network that may not be trusted.

How to set up a VPN on Android

The procedure is quite simple. To start off, you need to choose a VPN client.

VPN apps for Android

The best VPN apps are Hideman VPN, Hideninja VPN, HotSpot Shield VPN, Shellfire VPN and Tunnelbear VPN. Today I’ve used Hideman VPN, with 3.4M, it is small compared to some of the heftier ones on this list. Hideman VPN provides you with five free hours of use each week. To set it up a VPN with an app, there are usually step within the individual applicaiton to set it up. With Hideman VPN, you simply need to tap on one button.

Web-based VPNs

1.There are also ones available on the internet that you can also use on your Android. If you've chosen a web-based client, retrieve the identifiers from the software to be able to connect to the VPN. As always, the steps in the settings and the names for each section might vary depending on your Android device, but in every case you want to look for the VPN menu. In the case of Samsungs, head to the Settings, under Wireless and network choose More settings and finally VPN.

2. Tap on VPN network.

3. Choose a name as well as VPN type that corresponds to your VPN server.

4. Enter the server address.

5. Activate the encryption by checking on the box.

6. Hit save.

Depending on your Android device and software version, the steps to get to the VPN menu may differ.

7. Now all you need to do is to click on the VPN one more time and enter the username you’ve chosen as well as your password.

How to set up automatic connection to a VPN on Android

1. Head back to settings again, then more settings and finally VPN.

2. Tap on the VPN that you would like to connect to.

3. Tap on the icon on the top right, then permanent VPN and then select your profile.

Done!

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:13:00 +0000

3 HIDDEN MODES IN ANDROID MOBILE PHONES

Hello Friends, In my previous article about hidden secret codes for Google Android mobile phones which can be used to enable/disable secret phone settings and to show various interesting and useful information. As android is a new mobile platform so these codes and hidden modes can prove highly beneficial to users that why i am sharing these with you.

Android Secret hidden Modes

Today in this topic, I will reveal 3 hidden modes in the Android Mobile phones:

Fast Boot mode
Download mode
Recovery mode

DISCLAIMER: This information is intended for experienced users. It is not intended for basic users, hackers, or mobile thieves. Please do not try any of following methods if you are not familiar with mobile phones. We'll not be responsible for the use or misuse of this information, including loss of data or hardware damage. So use it at your own risk.

1. Fast Boot Mode

This mode is used to flash the phone firmware using command line tools. To access this mode:

Power off your Phone.
Press and hold Call and End Call/Power keys.

2. Download Mode

This mode is also used to flash the phone firmware. Mostly this mode is used by GUI tools for easier and quicker flashing. To access this mode:

Power off your phone.
Press and hold Volume Down, OK and End Call/Power keys.

3. Recovery Mode

This mode is used for recovery purposes like to reset the phonefirmware. To access this mode:

Power off your phone.
Press and hold Volume Down, Call and End Call/Power keys.

Once the alert triangle is shown on screen, press "Menu" key to reset the firmware or press "Home" and "End Call/Power" keys to show recovery menu

How to fix camera failed on Samsung Galaxy S3

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

The most annoying thing is when apps close suddenly or display an error message. I think that they should integrate a better user-friendly help system, especially on Samsung devices, to fix these problems. There is a Samsung app called Samsung Cares that you might want to consider installing. In any case, this is how to fix the annoying camera failed problem on the Galaxy S3.

Wipe cache and data

There are a few standard things that you can do, and some of them are pretty easy. First off, you can clear the camera cache and data. This won’t erase your images, but it will wipe any preloaded data that help the app to load quicker when starting it up. In most cases, this data is corrupted, so you need to wipe it clean. Doing this won’t have a noticeable effect on your camera’s speed, but it may clear up the camera fail problem.

Tap on the menu button when on the home screen and select Settings.
Tap on Applications Manager and swipe to left to find All apps.
Scroll down and select the Camera app.
Once in the Camera app info, tap on force close, then clear cache and finally clear data. Settings that you may have saved will now be wiped, but you can easily set them up again. No pictures will be deleted.
After this is done, restart your phone (press on the power button and select restart).

Menu button, Settings, Applications Manager, All, Camera app info!

Did this work for you? If not, there are some other solutions to consider. You might want to do this for the Gallery app as well.

Clear cache partition

If this is still causing your problems, you can also clear the cache partition for the Galaxy S3. This, again, is quite simple to do, but might seem scary if it is your first time. Never fear! You can do it. Here’s how it is done:

Turn off your Galaxy S3
Press the Volume Up, home and power keys and hold them.
Once the phone vibrates, let go of the power button but keep pressing on the volume up and home buttons. Soon enough, the Android System Recovery screen will be displayed.
Navigate to the Wipe cache partition using the volume down key and then press the power button to select.

This is not a factory reset, it won’t delete your data, but it will wipe app cache contents, which will alleviate the problem (hopefully).

Factory reset

If the problem is still here (gosh darn it!) there is yet another few solutions. The next consists of doing a factory reset, which you can learn on how to do in our forum tutorial how to factory reset the Galaxy S3.

Alternative apps

If all else fails, you might want to consider using a 3rd party app, and there are a bunch out there, like the Google Camera app for example, which is an awesome app everyone should be using. Install the Google Camera app for free from the Google Play Store.

Defeated? Get a new phone

If you don’t want to settle for an alternative app, then it would be a good idea to bring it back to a Samsung or Best Buy mobile shop, or wherever you bought it. A representative will likely try to flash factory binaires from an image factory reset and if you still get the camera fail message, you could be in line for a new smartphone.

I hope you found a solution that works for you! What do you do when this happens?

How to make my smartphone battery last longer

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 05:00:00 +0000

One of the joys of lithium batteries – one of the most popular battery types available today – is the fact that the old ''battery memory'' problems do not affect them. But this doesn't mean that you shouldn't look after your battery at all. With a simple couple of pointers you can get longer life andbetter performance out of your battery.

Non-removable or replaceable, battery care is important for all smartphones.

Charge regularly

Because there's no battery memory, there's no reason to fully discharge and fully recharge your battery. Li-Po batteries don't respond well to low-voltage and can even cause you issues if they drop too low, so whenever that 30% battery warning pops up you should seek power. Anything around 10-20% battery remaining is the best time to charge though. Try to never let your battery fully die.

Finding all the battery optimization settings mean you'll need to rely on this less frequently.

Don't overcharge

I've talked about this before in my general battery saving tips, but it's a really bad idea to overcharge your battery. That means plugging it in overnight for a full 8-hour charge cycle when it only needs two and a half hours. Considering the stories of exploding batteries last year, do you really want a superheated and potentially unstable power source lying next to your head while you sleep? I charge my device over breakfast or at my desk at work and top it up if necessary in the evening. If you want to know what happens with ''thermal runaway'' you can read my tips to stop your battery exploding.

With accidents like these occuring, the last thing you want is an exploding battery next to your head.

Think about charge cycles

As long as you're not overdoing it with all-night charging you're off to a good start already, but remember that batteries have a lifespan based on charge cycles. This means that you'll get several thousand charges before your battery dies for good. But the amount you charge each time and the amount of battery you've used before you do so (depth of discharge) affect the number of charge cycles you'll get out of your device. Ideally, you'd charge from around 25% to 80% once or twice a day.

Despite being made of the same stuff, battery performance varies greatly.

Turn your phone off

If you want to maximize the lifespan of your battery you might consider turning it off once in a while. When you charge it, for example. Not only will this make it charge faster, it will also lessen the amount it heats up while charging. Plus, if you're about to go into a couple hours of meetings or the cinema, why not turn your phone off to give it a break? This will also prolong your battery life during the day and it might even get you away from smartphone-dependance a little too.

If your battery is removable, charging it outside of your phone in a cool area is best.

Keep your cool

Even though smartphones with lithium batteries (lithium-polymer and lithium-ion) come with thermal switches to avoid overheating, there's no need to tempt fate. Avoid overcharging, as mentioned above, but also avoid charging your device in hot areas, like on the car dashboard or on top of a hot object like a computer or the refrigerator. Leaving your phone charging in direct sunlight is also a bad idea, as it basically adds fuel to the fire, so to speak, where overheating is concerned. Try to find a cool place to charge your device and keep an eye on it whenever possible. Avoiding dust is also a good idea.

Do you have any other battery tips? How long until you usually need to replace your battery?

How to install and use Viber on your PC

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 04:59:00 +0000

For those who use Viber for Android, did you know that you can install Viber onto your PC and sync your contacts and conversations? The way to do this is simple! Here’s how it’s done!

As opposed to WhatsApp, Viber has a version for PC, Mac and Linux. You don’t need to perform any complicated steps, like installing WhatsApp on PC.

To start, install Viber for Windows PC from the Viber official website. As a prerequisite, you need to create a Viber account on your Android device, and have the app activated on your device. Without doing this, Viber for PC will not work.

Once the installation is done, Viber will ask if you use Viber on your smartphone. Click yes. Then, select a country and wait until you receive the activation code. This code will arrive via Viber messaging. I also received a message via SMS,which is considered invalid for the Windows application. The sent code doesn’t work all the time either. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second one if the first one didnt work.

Once you’ve received the four digit code, the connection is made and the two Viber apps, the one on your smartphone and your PC will sync.

Vibar allows you to take advantage of all the mobile functions on Windows: free calls, instant messages, video chats etc.

Did this work for you? What other messaging or voip apps work well on PC?

How to clean up your Android device: cache, history, files and more

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 04:58:00 +0000

Cleaning up your Android device can be just as annoying as doing spring cleaning at home. As opposed to doing housework, which usually cannot be done with the touch of a button, you can install a ton of free Android apps on your device that will get the job done for you. Set it up for automatic clean-ups and you are good to go. Now there’s nothing left to do other than enjoy your smartphone (finally!).

1-Click Cleaner

1-Click Cleaner will get rid of the clutter found in the your phone, such as search and browser history. It cleans up the cache, sorts through calls and messages, scans documents and cleans and releases storage space. With all the unnecessary temporary files removed, your device will keep on running smoothly, thanks to one click! Install 1-Click Cleaner for free.

App Cache Cleaner

Clearing the cache on your device and for individual apps won't necessarily speed up your device, because the cache is used to launch apps faster, but it can clear up some memory. What if you never had to manually go into each app to clear the cache? I hope your answer is yes please! Ok, so my excitement about this app aside, you really can just tap once to clear all cached files to free up internal memory. There’s an auto-clean function that will launch the process at app launch, and you can even set up regular intervals of cleanups, among some other great features.

Startup Manager

A developer friend of mine once said ‘Friends don’t let friends use task killers’’ and we agree, which is why there are no radical task killers on this list. What Startup Manager does is to disable (or enable) items at system boot, meaning when you turn your device on. The app works for both tablets and smartphones. Startup Manager will monitor system startup entries in the background, disables any undesired apps or processes and provides you with a startup entry manager feature. I would be careful when disabling an app because it may cause something to malfunction, like your morning alarm for example, so disable with care.

History Eraser

This app is again a ‘one-tap wonder’ that will free up internal storage all while clearing browser history, call logs, texts, Google search history, clipboard data, app cache files, download history etc.

DiskUsage

This last mentioned app won’t do anything to your device’s memory, but allow you to monitor which files and directories are using up a lot of space on your storage card, by displaying them in a diagram depicting their size in relation to other items. If you are someone who works better when visualizing an issue, this could help you better understand and later solve some of your memory problem.

Forgot your lock pattern? Here’s how to bypass it

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 04:55:00 +0000

Locked out?

Attempt the pattern unlock five times (maybe you’ll get lucky and guess it/remember it!).
After the fifth attempt, you’ll be locked out but an option at the bottom of the screen that sasys Forgot Pattern will appear, click on it.

Sign into your Google Account.
Once authenticated with your Google Account, you’ll be able to choose a new PIN, pattern, lock, etc., and unlock your device.

How to use two numbers in WhatsApp at the same time

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 04:54:00 +0000

Having a dual SIM smartphone has its perks but unfortunately users of these devices have to choose just one number to register on WhatsApp...until now! A developer on the XDA Developers forum resolved the issue by creating an application that allows the use of two numbers simultaneously on WhatsApp. Here's how it’s done!

The OGWhatsApp is a modified version of the popular messaging app for Android and it doesn’t require root access to be used. Besides the innovative function allowing you to simultaneously use two numbers, it also lets you to open images in the preview app without having to save them, watch videos (with a player like MXPlayer) without taking up any internal memory, among some other great functions.

To install the application on your dual-SIM device, follow this tutorial:

Make a backup of your WhatsApp messages
Change the name of the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp on your device to /sdcard/OGWhatsApp.

Download the OGWhatsApp from the XDA Developers website.
Uninstall and re-install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store or simply clear data.

Re-register your original OGWhatsApp account and a new account with the official WhatsApp app.

Two icons are added to your home screen allowing you to now manage your two WhatsApp accounts with two numbers quite easily!

Did OGWhatsApp work with your dual SIM card? Let us know in the comments below?

How to record screen on a Nexus 5

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 04:49:00 +0000

When Android KitKat first arrived on the Nexus 5, one of the more obscure but super-cool new additions was the ability to record the screen. Just because you had the ability though did not make the process simple for the uninitiated, requiring a computer, USB cable and an ADB command to make it all happen. The process is actually really easy, so here's how to do it, as well as how to do it with a simple app if your Nexus 5 is rooted.

There's plenty of reasons you might want to record your screen, and two easy ways to do it!

ADB method

ADB isn't as scary as it sounds. Sure, if you've never familiarized yourself with Android Debug Bridge command line tools it might seem alien and daunting, but it's not. All you need to do – and this process works on non-rooted Nexus 5's – is connect your device to your computer with a USB cable and, assuming you already have the Android SDK or ADB Tools installed, enter a single ADB command: adb shell screenrecord/sdcard/NAME.mp4

This is the command prompt window with my screen record ADB command. I called my file s1 but you can call yours whatever you like.

Obviously, NAME refers to whatever you want to call the file. When you're done recording just hit Control + C on your computer to stop and grab the mp4 file from your Nexus 5. If you want to use ADB to grab the file, enter the command: adb pull/sdcard/NAME.mp4

What you need

If all of this is moving too fast for you, let's back it up a notch. You'll need the following:

AD B Tools and drivers (download from AndroidPIT)
USB cable
Computer
Nexus 5

Make sure that USB Debugging is enabled in your Developer Options (go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number until the notification toast pops up). Then, turn off your Nexus 5 and press Volume Down and Power to enter Fastboot. Connect the device to your computer with a USB cable. On your computer, navigate in Windows Explorer to the ADB Tools folder. Find some blank space in the window and right click while pressing the Shift key. Select ''Open command window here'' to bring up the ADB command prompt. Then (with your Nexus 5 connected in Fastboot mode with USB Debugging enabled) enter the ADB command from above. If you need help getting this far, here's a great tutorial on installing the Android SDK (you only need ADB Tools for this tutorial though, the entire Android SDK takes a while to install).

App method

If your Nexus 5 is rooted there are a few apps in the Play Store that will remove the fuss of ADB commands and add a shiny interface to the whole procedure. One of the best is called Rec. (Screen Recorder). If your Nexus 5 is rooted simply install the app and get started. There's a Pro version that allows you untethered screen recording and combined audio/video recording for up to an hour. The free version limits you to 30 seconds, but in my experience most screen recordings I've made are always less than that anyway.

Rec. (Screen Recorder) is a neat little root app that makes screen recording easy. /

Set your preferences and give your recording a title then hit Record. You'll be given a countdown until the recording starts, and you can set Rec. to minimize while you are recording in the app's settings. Your video progress will appear in your notifications shade (you can also use this to stop recording) and you can access your recorded file when you're done via a file manager app like ES File Explorer.

Once you've granted Rec. superuser privileges you can screen record with ease.

Tips

Because Rec. can also record audio, if you are making a quick demo or tutorial for YouTube or some other purpose, you can save yourself the hassle of doing a voiceover of the video by recording the audio as you make the video.
If you don't want the Superuser toast to be on screen at the start of your video, just go into your App manager settings and turn off notifications for whatever Superuser app you have installed. When you're done recording you may want to turn notifications back on.
If you're making an instructional video, you might want to enable visible touches in your Developer Options so your viewers can see your touchscreen presses. Just go to Developer Options and look for the Input section and tick the box for ''Show touches.''
If you have issues with glitchiness in your recordings, mess around with the bit rate and the speed at which you swipe and navigate in your video. Taking it easy not only improves the chances of your video coming out smoother but it means your viewers will be able to follow what you're doing more easily.

Enjoy your screen recording fun! If you want more info head over to the Android Developer page.

What other apps can you recommend? What do you use screen recording for?

Google Play authentication is required'' error: 3 tricks

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:52:00 +0000

This is a surprisingly common problem on Android devices and it makes you realize just how much you rely on Google products for your smartphone activity, especially the Play Store. The good news is that it's a super easy problem to fix, so much so that's it's not a problem at all!

1. Simply remove your Google account

The first trick is to go into your settings and then accounts and simply remove the Google account you have registered (the one that's getting the ''authentication is required'' message). Once you've done this you can re-add the account and you should be fine if it's simply a sign-in issue (this sometimes happen when the Play Store is updated). However, you may need to do this step in connection with the second step below.

2. Clear data from the Google Play Store

For this step you simply need to go into settings and then apps and find the Google Play Store. Tap it and clear the data for the app (you can also clear the cache first and try the Play Store again, but clearing data will clear the cache as well). If the previous step didn't work for you, simply remove your Google account, clear the data for the Google Play Store, and re-add your Google account. You can also add reboots in between each step of this process if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

3. Uninstall Play Store updates

Perhaps the problem is not your credentials but the Play Store. If this happens you can simply go to the Play Store in settings and apps and ''remove updates''. This will take you back to the original version of the Play Store installed on your device. Then, all you need to do is install the latest version of the Google Play Store and sign in once again.

You can, of course, mix these steps up a bit too if you're still having problems: remove Google account, reboot, uninstall updates, install new Play Store, reboot, add account, etc. Just keep trying until you get the result you're looking for. Unfortunately there's no science to dealing with simple bugs like these, just mixing up the known ingredients until you get something resembling what you wanted.

How to fix ''Google Play authentication is required'' error: 3 tricks

How to free memory with Link2SD on your Android device

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:25:00 +0000

After a while, most smartphones and tablets begin to clog up, and a good cleaning of the memory becomes necessary. Aside from our list of tips and tricks resolve low memory issues, a typical solution over time has been to move and save your apps and files to your SDcard. For users running Android 2.0+, moving apps to the SD card is a challenge: you need to have root access and a second partition on your SD card. Today we will explain how to do the latter, and how to free up memory by moving data from your internal storage to your SDcard.

Requirements

a rooted Android device
a backup all of your data completed beforehand, which you can do with an app, or transferring all of your files to your computer.
MiniTool Partition Wizard
Link2SD, an app which can be installed for free from the Google Play Store via the install link below.

Link2SDINSTALL

MiniTool Partition Wizard

This next step involves getting a second partition on your SD Card. Ensure that you have downloaded the program above on your computer, install it, open it and then follow this procedure:

1. Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB chord.

2. Choose MiniTool Partition from the menu.

3. Identify your SD card in the bottom section. This varies depending on the USB port that you are using or the size of your card. In my case it showed up as Disk 2. Select it.

4. From the left column, under Operations, select Split Partition. Allocate 1 GB (1024 MB) in the ‘’New Partition Size’’ and then press OK.

5. This will then create a new partition of 1 GB. Select this again from the Operations section, and select Format Partition, and choose EXT4 from the drop down box for File System. Then choose OK.

6. As a final step, select the option ‘’Set as Primary Partition’’, from the Operations’’ and select Apply which can be found on the top left corner. Confirm this and wait for the end of the process.

7. If for some reason, you’ve lost your files, you can simply copy them from your PC onto the FAT32 partition (the larger one).

Now, if you already have Link2SD installed on your device, uninstall it and reinstall again (or simply delete the cache in the settings of your device under Application manager, then scroll down until you see Link2SD). Place your SD card in the device and open the Link2SD app.

Grant root permissions.
Select the ext4 partition that you have just created
Your device will restart.

If you are having problems using Link2SD to locate the second partition, change the file system of your SD card’s second partition to ext2, which is a less evolved option, but it is usually compatible. As a last resort, try FAT32, however this may pose some security problems with some of the private files of the app.

Once the steps above are complete, select all of the apps that you would like to move to the SD card, but to do this you use the option of ‘Create shortcut’ instead of ‘’move to SD’’. If it is a system app, you will first need to convert it to a user app under the ‘’actions’’ menu option.

Link2SD got this name because it tricks the system to think that the apps are really stored on the internal memory, when in fact these apps are stored on the SD card.

In the settings of Link2SD, you can also activate the ‘’auto connect’’ portion which ensures that new apps are directly installed on the SD card.

Congrats! You can now breath new life into your device, and install many new applications without any memory problems.

If you want more information about Link2SD, you can check out the Link2SD FAQ page on their website.

How to fix ''install error 961'' on Android

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:24:00 +0000

A problem that has recently been plaguing users is one that might seem devastating, but actually can be resolved quite easily. Experienced users might know how to fix the error, but there are many Android owners who are stumped. Fear not, here is how to solve ''unknown error 961''.

/ © AndroidPIT

When downloading an app, either free or paid, sometimes there’s a problem when installing due to ''unknown error 961''. Don’t panic! First, in order not to lose any money if it's a paid app, ask for a refund immediately, which you can do within 15 minutes just by selecting the repayment option in the Google Play Store. If you need extra help with this, we’ve written a tutorial on how to try paid apps for free. After this is done, you need to get down to solving the issue itself.

When fixing this problem, clear the cache and the data from the Google Play Store app in your phone's settings. © AndroidPIT

1) To do this, go into your phone’s settings, then Applications (or Apps or Application Manager), swipe to the left to ''All'' and scroll down until you find Google Play, tap on it.

2) In the app information page, tap on the button to empty the cache.

3) If this doesn't solve the problem, try to delete the data from the Play Store which is found on the same page (Settings > Manage applications > Google Play > Delete data). This was how I was able to download and install the app when faced with the error 961 message. Hopefully this post will help you in future!

I hope this helped you solve the problem. Let us know in the comment below.

Heads Up! Get floating notifications a la Android L on your Android device [Update]

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:01:00 +0000

One of the bigger innovations to make its way onto the Android L showcase is the new floating notifications and how they are handled. With these new notifications, you’ll get information for your new emails, calls, or texts directly on your screen. With the help of Heads Up!, you can get these new notifications on your device right away without having to root or have Xposed Modules installed on your device. Update: We've added more screenshots, explained how to use the app and included our hands-on impressions.

Heads Up! is available on any Android device running Android 4.3 or higher and it uses a whitelist only with applications that you’ve chosen, so you will only get notifications for these in the Heads Up! style. While they are handy for making sure you know that you’ve received notifications, they will still pop up on your display even if you’re running a full screen app. Heads Up is either available as a free APK from the XDA Developers forum or can be bought for a nominal fee of 99 cents in theGoogle Play Store by clicking on the link below.

Heads Up! - notificationsINSTALL

Once you've downloaded and installed the app, you'll head to a menu which offers four options. Our suggestion would be to start by clicking on Whitelist, and add apps for which you would like notifications. After this, activate the app by pressing Play. You'll next need to confirm a message, and then the phone will reboot.

Done! Now you need to see how the app works. To do this, we opened the app once again and asked someone to send us a WhatsApp message. They did, and it worked, it was smooth and reliable. If you want to reject a notification, you simply swipe it to the side, or open it by double tapping.

In the video, you can have a closer look at how it will look on your device if you need a preview before purchasing

Did you give either the XDA developer app or the real app a try? What did you think? Are you pleased that this will be included in the next version of Android (already of course in the Android L developer preview)?

How to update your Android firmware

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:00:00 +0000

One of the things that interests most Android users is whether or not their handset will be gettingupdates, whether you own a Galaxy S3 , Nexus 5 or original HTC One. On Apple iOS devices, since there are only a handful of devices that are under Apple’s control, updates are regularly rolled out across all the devices at the same time, but sometimes with Android it can take ages to start a roll-out and even then, there is no guarantee that your device will be seeing the update, or there may be issues with the update itself. There are generally two ways to update your device: over the air (OTA) or manual updates, which is a bit more complicated. We’ll show you how to do both across various devices.

How to do automatic updates

Usually software updates roll out to our devices automatically, which happens OTA. When this happens, you’ll notice a notification that will tell you that an update is ready to install to your device and all you have to do is click on it to begin the process. If, for whatever reason, the isn’t being pushed to your device or you accidentally cleared the notification, you can check manually for yourself if there is OTA update available by heading to About Device > System Updates > Check for Updates. This exact terminology will vary depending on what type of device you own, but it should be in the general same area.

How to manually update

There are various reasons that you’d want to manually update your device, but some of the most common ones are that you don’t have a stable mobile or WiFI network or you’ve rooted your device and aren’t receiving OTA updates anymore.

1. Locate a ROM

The first step to performing a manual update is locating a ROM that you want to install on your device. In case of an official ROM, we would check the appropriate website for each manufacturer and locate the proper ROM for our model of device. The firmware of the more popular manufacturers can be found here: Samsung (SamMobile), Sony (Xperia Firmware or Flashtool), LG (LG Phone Firmware), or Motorola (Motorola Firmware).

2. Installing the ROM

To install the ROM, you’ll have to locate the specific program suitable for your brand of smartphone or use a custom recovery, which requires your device to be unlocked and rooted.

KIES: This program is used to update Samsung branded devices, allowing us to download the ROM and install it to the mobile device from your PC. KIES itself downloads the firmware for your based on your device and location, so it a ROM has not been rolled out to your device or location, you won’t be able to install it using KIES.

Odin: Another program that allows you to install ROMs on your Samsung devices. The advantage here is that unlike KIES, you can install ROM you’ve downloaded yourself, such as from SamMobile. For a brief overview, you can check out any of our various tutorials on how to root your Samsung devices.

Flash Tool: This tool is used to flash ROMs onto Sony Xperia devices. You’ll have to keep in mind that this will only work on Xperia devices that have their bootloader unlocked. Right now, it’s in beta stages but works across most Windows PCs.

HTC Sync Manager: As the name suggests, this program is used to install updates, among other things, on HTC devices. To get it, you can head over to the official HTC website and grab it. Once installed, you just have to connect your smartphone to your PC via USB and then fire up the program. It will search for software updates for you, but only official updates will be available to you.

HTC One Tool Kit: This program was developed by some folks over at the XDA Developers Forumand works for HTC devices. In this tool kit you can unlock your bootloader, root some devices, and of course, install official and custom ROMs on your HTC. You can grab the toolkit from the following link: HTC One Toolkit.

LG PC Suite: This program will update LG devices and can be downloaded by hitting LG's device search page and searching for PC Suite - just download the one for your device. Once the program is installed, you just have to click on the box Check Phone Update. As with some of the other official programs, this will only install official updates for your device.

KDZ Firmware Updater: This is another program that allows you to update and flash ROMs, both official and custom, to LG devices. Note that although the installation of this program is relatively simple, you may have some issues with Windows Vista or 7 because you’ll need to make sure you give the program administrator privileges. You can grab the program from the following link: KDZ Firmware Updater.

RSD Lite: Motorola users usually don’t have problems with receiving updates, however, this toolkit will allow you to flash stock firmware on your Motorola again if you ever have any issues. You can grab the program from the following link: RSD Lite.

Custom Recovery: If you don’t see a compatible program in the following list for your device or manufacturer, the best option may be installing a custom recovery on your device. This is one of the simpler methods for flashing custom ROMs and backing up your device and is accessed when you reboot your device. As such, you can download custom or official ROMs straight to your device and then install them without having to use a PC a middle man.

ROM Manager: This app, for rooted devices, allows us to see which ROMs are available for your device. This also offers users to install ROMs straight from the app and provides a pretty simple solution for you to browse and try out different ROMs.

How to hide WhatsApp photos from gallery

xeeshanqaswar@gmail.com (Zeeshan Qaswar) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:38:00 +0000

Let's face it, we all get the occasional picture in WhatsApp that we don't particularly want showing up in our photo gallery. Especially if you have the kind of friends that borrow your phone to look at a picture and then start wildly swiping around like it's the most acceptable thing in the world. Today we'll show you how to quickly and easily remove your WhatsApp pictures from your gallery app.

First up, you'll need a simple file manager app like ES File Explorer, Total Commander or Astro. I'll assume you already have some images in your WhatsApp folder, but you can do this process anytime you like for existing and future images and it's a breeze to undo too. You don't need root access or anything fancy like that either.

1. Launch your file manager app. For this tutorial I am using ES File Explorer.

2. Navigate to your WhatsApp folder. It's more than likely on /sdcard, as you can see in the images below. Click WhatsApp and then Media.

3. Next you're going to want to go into WhatsApp images and click the + icon in the bottom left. This will bring up the ''Add'' box where you want to click ''File''.

4. Create a file called .nomedia and hit OK. You'll get a toast saying that .nomedia has been created.

5. Go back to gallery app and you'll see that your WhatsApp folder has vanished without a trace (if it is still visible, try clearing the cache for your gallery app in settings > apps/app manager, depending on your manufacturer) If this freaks you out, all you need to do is delete the .nomedia file. The savvy amongst you may notice that there is no .nomedia file in your WhatsApp images folder. All you need to do is enable hidden files in your file manager. In ES all you do is tap the little blue icon in the top left (the phone and globe), then scroll down until you see the on/off switch for ''Show hidden files''. Turn this option on.

6. Now if you go back into your WhatsApp images folder you'll see your hidden files. Just long press the .nomedia file and delete it. Your WhatsApp images will now reappear in your gallery app (again, if they don't try clearing the cache and rebooting your phone if necessary). Don't forget to turn off hidden files if you don't want all of them showing up in every folder in your file manager.