ANDROID 256

Reasons to unlock developer mode in Android

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 20:20:00 +0000

WONDERHOWTO GADGET HACKS NEXT REALITY NULL BYTE

Enabling Developer Options

In order to access any of these cool options, you'll first need to unlock the hidden Developer options menu on your device. To begin, head to the main Settings menu, then select About phone, About tablet, or About device. From here, tap the "Build number" entry 7 times in rapid succession, and you'll get a toast message informing you that the Developer options menu has been unlocked.

From here, just back out to the main Settings menu again, and you'll find the new "Developer options" entry near the bottom, so go ahead and select it.

#1Process Stats

The first interesting Developer options entry we have for you is called "Process stats." When you tap this one, you'll see an interface that's very similar to Android's battery menu—except this one gives you details about your device's RAM memory usage. The bar graph at the top of the screen tells you what percentage of RAM is currently in use, and the app listings beneath it are ordered by how much memory each app is currently using.

If you tap the bar graph, you'll see the amount of time your RAM usage has been reported as "Normal" or otherwise, and beneath that, you can see the types of processes that have been using your memory. On the other hand, if you tap an app listing from the main Process stats menu, you'll see details about the app's RAM usage, with a button that lets you easily force stop a RAM-hungry app.

#2Force RTL Layout

This next cool Developer option is mostly just a fun way to experience your phone in a new layout—though if your system language is set to Arabic, Urdu, or Yiddish, for example, it can be quite helpful, as well as if you're left-handed.

Toggle the switch next to "Force RTL layout," and the orientation of almost all elements on your screen will switch over to an RTL, or right-to-left, layout. Text formatting will still be defined by your regular system language, so you can still read everything, but the formatting might be a better fit for certain languages.

#3Window & Transition Animation Scale

The next entry in our list is actually a set of two options that let you adjust the speed of transition animations. "Window animation scale" affects transitions that occur within apps (such as popups, for example), and "Transition animation scale" deals with the animations that take place when you're switching between apps. A third similar option, "Animator duration scale," only affects certain loading animations, so we'll skip over that one.

If you'd like to speed up the animations, set these options to a value lower than 1x, and almost magically, your phone will instantly feel a lot snappier. On the other hand, if you'd like to see the animations in slow motion, set the values to a higher number.

#4Force GPU Rendering

This next option might help if you're experiencing graphical sluggishness in some apps. As of version 4.0, Android now uses your device's dedicated graphics processor to render two-dimensional objects by default. Some apps, however, haven't been updated to take advantage of this faster method of rendering graphics.

So if you have any apps whose graphics seem to be rendering slower than the rest of your apps, enable the "Force GPU rendering" option. This will make sure that all apps take advantage of Android's hardware acceleration feature, which should make the user experience a lot smoother in some cases.

#5Show CPU Usage

This next option will come in handy if you've ever wondered what was going on behind the scenes on your Android device. Enable the "Show CPU usage" toggle, then you'll instantly see an overlay on your screen that shows you all of the processes that are currently running. These entries are ordered by their current CPU load, and your overall processor usage is shown as a bar graph at the top of the screen.

#6GPU Rendering Profile

If you'd like to test your device's graphics performance, select the "GPU rendering profile" option and set it to "Show on screen as bars." This can be a very useful way of comparing the graphics performance for different apps on your system, since the overlay will be shown on top of all screens.

The condensed graph at the top of your screen shows recent graphics performance history, while the bars across the bottom of your screen depict graphics performance on the fly. Higher spikes mean there was a heavy GPU load at that moment, so in general, this is a great way to see if an app is dropping frames or performing poorly from a graphics standpoint.

#7Background Process Limit

If your "Process stats" menu was looking abysmal earlier, or if your phone just doesn't have much RAM, you might want to look into this last option. Select "Limit background processes," then you can choose the amount of processes that are allowed to run in the background and eat up memory on your device. For instance, you can set this to "2 processes at most," then only the current app and the two most recent background processes will be allowed to run, which should free up a lot of memory on your device.

Which of these cool Developer options entries is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line in the comments

Credit :Android Hacks

PRIMER APP

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 14:47:00 +0000

Here comes a google made app known as PRIMER or GOOGLE PRIMER. It was launched in the year 2014 and by then it was only available and accessible by the people of US as time went on it was made access to anyone on planet earth.

To our surprise as Android256, many of the people have not known it yet yet its a benefial app. And for that we decide to make a summary about for u. Here we go........

Are you a marketer? Or do you look marketing? Or are you planning to join marketing soon or later? Primer is the way to go, as it is a fast, easy way to learn new marketing skills.

It helps you learn digital marketing basics in a simple and efficient way at a free cost.
It gives you all the syllabus at all time anywhere. What do I mean, it's accessible even when offline.

The lessons are delivered via online and offline to enrich hundreds of people with essential digital skills that will enable the people to use the internet and mobile devices for benefits of their business lives.

Expect the best out of PRIMER. From the app's website: Google joined efforts with marketing professionals to produce search an educative app.
So expect the best, just imagine the kind of professionals google can pattern with:- of course the best globally.

Lessons are always provided in 5 minutes of no-nonsense and jargon free. Primer promised to always add up more contents in the app on a weekly basis. Examples of lessons offered include:- content marketing, PR and marketing, search advertising, measurement and strategy, etc

Hope you download and try it..... I am sure you will have the best experience.

Thanks for reading and loving the blog

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 06:12:00 +0000

What you need to know about the Zero 5
• Has an optical zoom
• Comes with the 6GB RAM
• Bring the world closer to you with the dual back camera
• Digital zoom of upto 10x
• Feel the world in your hand, see the world in a new way
• Capture and seize every moment in your life in real time
• It is crafted with a smooth design and elegant metal texture
• Infinix pursues exquisite artistry
• We reflect our passion for improvement
• Redefined cameras with sharp 5.98 inches plus HD display and 1920 designed to consume less battery
• The zero 5 has the corning gorilla glass 3.
• The smooth screen is designed with anti-scratch abilities that makes phone screen appear new
• The zero 5 is designated to take superior quality images even in portrait mode with better focus and zoom ability to create a master piece out of every snapshot.
• Take your photoshoot game to the next level with 6p + 5p lens, fl20 aperture asnd 2.6x telephoto lens
• The zero 5 comes with a dual camera
• The zero 5 is faster than fast with 6GB RAM on DDR4
• The zero 5 has zero time lag when m,ultitasking or using apps
• It is equipped with X-charge for unlimited capacity guarantee success
• The zero 5 has a 16MP 4 IN 1 selfie camera
• It has a strong processing ability
• Uit is powered by Helio P25 to meet user’s expectations of dual camera, optimize snapshotys and great user experience
• Zero 5 is the perfect assistance for your everyday lifestyle
• It is designed with an anti-theft system
• Has the flexible split screen mode
• It is the new smart interaction and is the real MVP

More to come in details....... Thanks for reading and loving the blog

Infinix Zero5 Infinix launch Date in Dubai.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:42:00 +0000

Infinix mobility is yet to launch its new flagship handset on Tuesday 14th November 2017 which is hoped to be a super handset.

Zero5 is rumoured to be packed with the best specs for a 2017 smartphone can't reveal more but to take you back, Infinix is a premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings designed for young generations who desire to live a smart lifestyle. Founded in 2012, Infinix is committed to building cutting-edge technology and fashionably designed dynamic mobile devices to create globally-focused intelligent life experiences through a merging of fashion + technology. Through daily interactions these intuitive products become part of a lifestyle that represents trend-setting and intelligent experiences for young people around the world. Infinix currently promotes four product lines: ZERO, NOTE, HOT S, and HOT in a global marketplace reaching countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America, Middle East and Asia.

For more information about the new flagship stay tuned.

Thanks for loving and reading our blogs

Put your multiple online personalities with Multi-Account

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 11:33:00 +0000

MULTI ACCOUNT APP

Multi account app is an XOS app that is pre-installed in Infinix devices (You may not find it in other earlier Infinix smartphones). You can even install it on any other smartphone.

It allows us to access more than one social media accounts on one device at the very time.

Gone are the times where we used to login and out or switching from account to account from time to time on our phones cause we want to access all our accounts to keep our friends updated CAUSE THE MULTI ACCOUNT APP has come to our rescue.

Multi account app is easy to get: Visit play store and simply search for 'Multi Account'

Below is how it looks/appears after installing it in your Infinix device

After installing, follow the steps below in the images (Screenshots) to enjoy your device with Multi social media accounts open/active.

Thanks for loving and using INFINIX MOBILITY and loving our blog.

Become a Nova Launcher power user

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:48:00 +0000

Because Android is an open-source operating system, other tech manufacturers have been able to create alternate versions of Android in their own images. These alternate versions are what we refer to as “skinned” versions of Android and include Samsung’s TouchWiz, HTC’s Sense UI, LG’s LG UI, and Sony’s Xperia UI. At their core, these skins are still fundamentally Android, but they usually have a different look from stock, or “vanilla”, Android with added customization features, too.

That may sound appealing, but many Android enthusiasts actually dislike skinned versions of Android. Despite the added customization options they usually bring, skinned Android almost always pales in comparison to stock, especially when it comes to smoothness, speed, and stability. Moreover, the skins often make Android look cartoonish with obnoxious colors and juvenile-looking icons, prompting downloads of third-party launchers from the Google Play Store.

Launchers are a great way to change the look — and, to a lesser degree, functionality — of Android without having to install custom firmware. In short, launchers take the place of your device’s homescreen and app drawer. Some of them can even take advantage of the many custom icon packs you’ll see on the Play Store. While there are a number of popular launchers currently available, Nova Launcher remains one of the most beloved of all third-party Android launchers for a number of reasons. But rather than simply giving you a Nova overview, I’m going to give you a run-down of the best and most important features of the king of Android launchers. By the end of this walkthrough, you’ll be a Nova power user who can truly make your Android smartphone your own.

As a note before we dive in, I should tell you that it’s not really possible to cover every feature that Nova Launcher has to offer. A guide that in-depth would be something much longer than I’m sure you’d want to read. Fortunately, Nova is incredibly well-designed with its numerous settings and customization options available in the launcher’s settings menu. Instead of focusing on every feature, I’ll be focusing on some lesser-known features, ones that add functionality or accessibility to Android, to help you take your use of Nova to the next level.

New interactions with Nova Launcher

There are two main ways that we use our fingers to navigate our smartphones: tapping and swiping. We tap things to select them and we swipe to move from screen to screen or to move things from one location to another. In stock Android, there’s very little overlap between these two actions; tapping is for selecting and swiping is largely for navigation.

Nova Launcher adds another dimension to how you interact with the Android ecosystem by giving you the choice to either tap or swipe when you want to select an app. If you simply want to open an app or folder, you tap the corresponding icon; alternately, you can also swipe on an icon or folder to trigger some other type of response.

By holding down on an icon or folder located on the Nova Launcher homescreen and choosing “Edit”, you’ll be given the option to assign a “Swipe action”. The options from which you can choose are sorted under three tabs: Nova, Apps, and Shortcuts. Under “Nova”, you can choose things like opening the app drawer, expanding notifications, putting your device to sleep, and activating your device’s voice assistant. Under “Apps”, you’ll find a list of all the apps that are installed on your device. Under “Shortcuts”, you’ll find a number of specific actions related to the apps you have installed on your device, including opening a new text message to a specific contact, playing a specific playlist in the music player, and adding a new card in Trello. Many of the available options are the same for both individual apps and folders, but folders also have the option for swiping to open the first app in the folder.

Gestures can be assigned to homescreen swipes and individual icons for additional functionality.

Here’s an example: You keep the camera app in the dock on your device’s homescreen because you take lots of pictures; however, you use WhatsApp for messaging your friends and have started using the built-in camera to make sending pictures to your WhatsApp contacts a little faster. With Nova Launcher, you could assign the WhatsApp camera to the swipe action for your stock camera app. This means that when you give your camera app a regular tap, it opens, and when you swipe on the camera app, the WhatsApp camera opens. The two cameras that you use on your device are tied to a single icon and can each be triggered with a different, yet similar, action.

If your Android device lacks the popular ‘double-tap to sleep’ feature, you can restore it by assigning the screen lock/device sleep option to the double-tap gesture

Of course, there are many other use cases for this extremely useful feature that you won’t find in stock Android. The closest thing Android has to swipe actions would be the long-press options that are currently only available in Android Nougat 7.1 on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL; however, Nova lets you choose your swipe action while the long press on the Pixel phones only works on a handful of native apps and can’t be customized by users.

In addition to the swipe actions for folders and icons, there are some gesture options that Nova Launcher brings to Android on a more system-wide scale. Navigate to the Nova Settings menu and select “Gestures & inputs” where you’ll find a list of gestures you can use to activate a variety of different actions, apps, or shortcuts from essentially anywhere in the Android OS. In fact, the options for these gestures are largely the same as for app and folder swipe actions, but the list of gestures is much broader: swipe up, swipe down, double tap, swipe up with two fingers, swipe down with two fingers, pinch in or out, and rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

For instance, if your Android device lacks the popular ‘double-tap to sleep’ feature, you can restore it by assigning the screen lock/device sleep option to the double-tap gesture. You might also choose to bring down your quick settings with a downward swipe and your notifications by swiping downward with two fingers. Again, there are many use cases for this, making this a great way to add a layer of accessibility to your Android experience.

Granular icon control

The ability to deploy icon packs to give Android a fresh look is one of the best customization features that certain Android skins and ROMs bring to the table. If you find stock icons to be lacking in inspiration, you can choose from countless icon packs in the Play Store to make your app icons a different shape, monochromatic, Star Wars themed to match your wallpaper, or to mimic the icons of the flagship you’ve been wanting. Some of them cost as much as a dollar or two, but many of them are free.

Nova takes icon packs a step further by giving you granular control of your app icons. Let me explain.

In Nova’s settings menu, you can navigate to a page where you can invoke the icon packs you’ve downloaded from the Play Store. When you activate an icon pack, every icon in that pack is assigned to the corresponding app installed on your device. The problem with this scenario is that you can’t pick and choose, or mix and match, icons from different packs. Because no matter how much you may like an icon pack, there will inevitably be at least a few icons that are less than awesome.

As well as system wide icon packs, Nova Launcher supports the assignment of specific icons to individual app shortcuts.

Typically, you’d be forced to just deal, but Nova gives you control of your apps’ icons on a granular basis. In other words, you can choose icons on a per-app basis, and it’s pretty simple to do. The one caveat is that the app must be on your homescreen rather than in the app drawer. However, once the app is on your homescreen, you simply press and hold on the app to bring up a small window with advanced options. This is the same place where you can choose the swipe actions mentioned earlier. Click on the app icon from within this window to open a list of the icon packs you have installed on your device. Simply choose your desired icon pack and icon, confirm your selection in the window, and it’s done.

What’s great about granular icon control is that it opens up a world of other possibilities for styling your homescreen and dock. Normally, your icon pack applies to all your icons, which may limit your wallpaper selection. But with granular icon control, you can make the app icons on your homescreen totally different than those in the app drawer. Or perhaps you want to have a completely clean homescreen with only a handful of apps in the dock; you might choose to give those dock apps outline-style icons to match the wallpaper you’ve chosen. Essentially, being able to choose icons on a per-app basis makes it that much easier to make your Android phone your own.

Homescreen grid options

It seems we’re entering an era when “phablets” are no longer phablets; they’re just smartphones. Most new flagships have displays of 5.5 inches or larger, and we want to be able to make the most out of all that screen real estate. Personally, it always plucks a nerve when I see a smartphone with a big, beautiful, QHD display and a 4-by-4 grid structure on its homescreen, which is a colossal waste of space. Fortunately, Nova Launcher offers an elegant solution to this problem by letting you choose your own homescreen grid structure.

Navigate to the main Nova settings menu and select “Desktop”, which is the very first option. In the desktop menu, select “Desktop Grid”, which will bring up a window in which you can choose the exact number of rows and columns you’d like to have on your homescreen. Although you probably wouldn’t want to go beyond maybe five or six rows and columns for the sake of visibility, you can technically go up to 12 by 12. As well, you’ll find a toggle for “Subgrid Positioning”, which gives you to option to position and move your icons around the grid in half-square increments rather than having to keep each app centered in each square.

Back in the desktop menu, you’ll find options for width and height padding as well as an option to remove the Google search bar from the homescreen. Some of the other options that are available include the scroll effect when scrolling between homescreens, choosing what type of page indicator you want to use to indicate which of your homescreens you’re on, and a toggle for widget overlap. These many options will allow you to further customize the utility of your homescreens.

Having the option to customize the grid structure of your homescreen can potentially be a game changer. If your device has a skinned version of Android in which the homescreen grid is limited, Nova gives you the chance to bring much more utility and take greater advantage of your device’s display. Meanwhile, having the option to position apps in half-grid increments is a more subtle level of control that can be useful when you’re playing with the arrangement or layout of apps on your homescreens.

The Pixel touch

This year, Google decided not to continue with its beloved Nexus line of smartphones and, instead, has given us the Pixel. You probably remember how the Pixel’s new launcher leaked almost two whole months before the Pixel and Pixel XL actually launched, and this new launcher showed some pretty interesting aesthetic changes compared to what we’d come to expect from a vanilla Android experience. For instance, the Google search bar had been replaced with the “pill” located in the top-left corner of the homescreen, and tapping on the pill extended the more familiar Google search bar.

Initially, the only way to get the Pixel look on non-Pixel devices was to download the leaked file and install it manually; and unless you installed the file while booted into recovery mode, certain parts of the launcher wouldn’t function properly, including the new Google search pill. Savvy users found a way to mimic aspects of the Pixel launcher in Nova, but it was a prompt Nova update just weeks later that made it possible to replicate the Pixel launcher almost perfectly. In fact, you’d probably have a hard time telling the real Pixel launcher from the Nova launcher once you set it up correctly. Another reason why you might want to follow these instructions to duplicate the Pixel launcher is because you’ll get hands-on experience with some of the many customization options that are available with Nova.

There are a number of steps required for Nova to make your Android device look like it’s using Pixel’s launcher, but they’re all pretty simple. First, navigate to Nova Settings > App & widget drawers. Choose “Icon layout” and make the app icons 115 percent in size. Select “Drawer app grid” and make sure the drawer grid is 5 by 5. Disable the toggle for “Card background” and enable the toggle for “Swipe to open”. Make sure that the drawer background is set to white with no transparency. You’ll also want to enable the search bar option since that’s an option in the Pixel’s app drawer.

Tweaking Nova Launcher’s layout and look can build a UI that’s practically identical to the Pixel launcher.

The next step is to remove the page indicator — the dots near the bottom of your homescreen that show you which of your homepages you’re currently on — by navigating to Nova Settings > Desktop and scrolling down to where you select the page indicator style. Simply select “None” and the page indicator will disappear. You’ll also want to enable the “Swipe to drawer indicator” option, which will put a small arrow over the dock to indicate the swipe-to-open gesture as on the Pixel’s launcher. Make sure the desktop grid is 5 by 5 and bring the size of app icons on the homescreen to 125 percent.

Back in the main Nova settings menu, select “Dock”. In the dock settings, you’ll want to select “Dock background” and choose the rectangle. For content, choose white as the color and make the transparency around 40 percent. If your device has on-screen navigation buttons, enable the option for “Draw behind navigation bar” so that the dock background extends behind your navigation buttons, too. These are the only changes you’ll need to make to the dock.

Once you’ve returned to the main settings menu, select “Folders”. For the folder preview, select grid and choose “N Preview” for the folder background. This will make your app icons appear the same way in folder previews as they do on the Pixel, which is in a four-quadrant grid layout within a circular window.

At this point, many of the smaller details are in place; we need only to change the icons and put the finishing touches on your homescreen. Navigate to Nova Settings > Look & feel > Icon theme. There are a number of icons to choose from in the Play Store that would work for a Pixel-like look. I recommend using almost any of the icon packs that are based on Android Nougat, but there are similar icons — CandyCons, Moonshine, and Sunshine to name a few — that would work well, too. Remember that the icons on the Pixel are primarily circular, so you may make your decision based on which icon packs have mostly circular icons.

Finally, we need to add the Google search pill to the homescreen. This can be done in one of two ways: Either tap and hold on the default search bar on the homescreen and select “Edit”, or navigate to Nova Settings > Desktop > Search bar style. Select the pill-style option, which should be fourth on the list of search bars that are available to you. Scroll down and choose the multicolored “G” for the Google logo and make sure to activate the weather option on the very bottom. Return to the main desktop menu and enable “Persistent search bar”. At this point, you’ll have successfully duplicated the launcher of the Google Pixel.

App badges for unread notifications

Fans of Samsung devices tend to cite the notification badges that appear over app icons to alert them of unread notifications as one of their most-beloved features of TouchWiz. There’s no denying this is an extremely useful and very elegant solution, and it’s unfortunate that this is a feature of TouchWiz (and perhaps a couple other Android skins) rather than a feature of Android at large. Enter: Nova Launcher.

You, too, can enjoy these unread badges by using Nova as your launcher of choice. With this feature activated, any app of your choosing will appear with a small badge on the corner of its icon, and within that small badge is a number that signals how many unread notifications that the app has waiting for you. Activating this feature is as straightforward as most others, requiring only that you have Nova installed as well as an accompanying app called TeslaUnread.

With TeslaUnread installed, navigate to Nova Settings > Unread count badges. Once here, it’s as simple as customizing how you want your badges to look and choosing which apps you want to have notification badges. You can choose the exact corner on which the badge will appear over an app icon, the shape of the badge, the color, and the size. After you’ve designed the badges to your liking, select “TeslaUnread Settings” below the badge customization area, and you’ll find a populated list of your apps for which you want to see badges. Then you’re good to go.

CREDIT :

Dane O'Leary

How to Take a Good Picture On Your Smartphone camera

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 07:07:00 +0000

Whether it be a random, spur-of-the-moment snapshot or well-thought-out compositions, a camera phone is a valuable tool for photography. Often, the most inspiring pictures occur in everyday life when you do not have a standard camera with you. The phone that you are carrying in your pocket can capture those impromptu photo moments when it's impractical or impossible to have your SLR or other camera with you at all times.

The most important thing to remember, however, is to not let good advice stop you from capturing a great moment. The technical and compositional minutiae do not matter if you don't take the picture at all because you're too busy trying to follow the rules. The most important thing in the world is that you take a picture that you will remember. With that said...

Method One of Two:
Setting Up Your Phone for Better Pictures

Clean the lens. Over time the camera lens can collect lint and create a blurred image. Just give it a good wipe with a clean cloth.

Set your phone to its highest picture quality and resolution. You might end up taking a good enough shot that you want to print it out; you won't be able to do this if you only have a low-resolution version of the photo.

Turn off picture frames. A normally great shot may be ruined by a cheesy frame or background; if you really must have one, add the frame after you take the picture.

Turn off any other effects. These include black-and-white, sepia tones, inverted colours, and so on. These aren't as necessarily as cheesy-looking as frames and have their place; nonetheless, these things are much better done in photo editing software later on than on board the phone. You may find, for example, that when you view your photo on a large screen that the colours in your scene are far too good to lose to black-and-white.

Set the white balance, if your phone supports it. The human eye usually adjusts for lighting, and so white appears white in any kind of lighting.^[1] A camera, however, will see that a given subject is redder than normal under normal incandescent household lighting. Better camera phones will give you the option to adjust the camera for this. If you have such an option, use it. If you're not sure what setting to use, experiment.

Method Two of Two:
Setting Up Your ShotEdit

Avoid subjects in low light, at least if you want them to be consistently lit. The small sensors in camera phones cannot run at high ISO speeds (i.e. high sensitivity to light, permitting indoor photos without a flash) without introducing large amounts of noise. In most circumstances, this precludes indoor photos other than in the best-lit places.

If you have to shoot indoors, consider what artificial lighting sources you have. Avoid fluorescent light, as it can cast a green tint on your subjects. ^[2]

Make sure you camera is stable in low light. Camera phones slow the shutter speed in low light, and this can capture any movement you make and blur your photo.

Avoid bright reflections, and other "hot-spots". This will either force the camera to under-expose the rest of the shot, or cause the camera to blow out the highlights on the brightest parts of the shot. The latter is worse, since it is sometimes possible to extract details from parts of the image that are too dark, but impossible to recover blown highlights (since there is no detail therein to extract). On the other hand, this can be used to artistic ends, such as with bright light streaming through a window. People pictures will look best in diffuse lighting such as open shade, under a cloudy sky, or in bright artificial light. Try to include bright colors, which will show up well, rather than a range of light and dark areas (which will both lose detail).

Avoid anything that requires tight focusing. Due to their very short focal lengths (the distance between a camera's optical elements and the sensor, again, owing to their small sensors), camera phones excel at shots where nearly all of a scene is in focus. However, this (and their typically weak auto-focus mechanisms) usually precludes focusing on objects very close to the phone, or having a very shallow depth of field to get a blurred background effect (which can, with varying degrees of authenticity, be faked in software later anyway).

Avoid "mirror shots", as well as arm-length shots taken by yourself. Mirrors also often end up confusing auto-focus mechanisms. Get outside and get someone to take the photo for you. If you'd rather take the picture yourself, most camera phones have an auto-timer feature so you can set the phone somewhere and get into frame.

Keep your subject big and prominent.Fine details, such as leaves on trees at a distance, will be smeared out.

It is best to shoot things as close to the subject as possible. If you can get up close to your subject and frame it tightly, you will get the best results.

Most smartphone cameras have a digital zoom, but using this won't help you get detailed pictures from far away. Using this is just essentially cropping your picture on the screen rather than during editing.

Keep your background clutter free.Camera phones won't automatically focus on the foreground and do not have settings to do so.^[3]

Use your flash judiciously. If you find yourself using a flash because your whole scene is insufficiently lit, you're probably taking photographs indoors in poor light. Don't do this, and go back to the first step; a scene lit entirely by your flash will look un-natural, since on a camera phone it is not typically possible to aim the flash anything but directly ahead (i.e. you can't bounce it off ceilings or walls, as with dedicated flash guns for SLR cameras). On the other hand, a flash is a good option for filling in shadows in harsh sunlight.

Frame your shot. Make sure that everything you want in the shot is in the picture, and ready to be captured. Some phones show the entire viewfinder, meaning that what is on the screen is exactly what will be captured in the image. Other phones, however, only show what is in the middle of the image, but will capture more than the viewfinder shows. Err on the side of putting too much empty space into your picture; you can always crop it later.

Use the rule of thirds. When composing a picture, imagine two horizontal lines and two vertical lines crossing like a tic-tac-toe grid on top of it.^[4] Place strong lines and divisions like the horizon on the gridlines. Let elements of interest fall on the intersections.

Use a backdrop when shooting still scenes. A black background is a good start, as it can make objects and colors pop in your photo.^[5]

Black velvet material is a good choice because it absorbs all light that hits it. It will help diminish shadows and reflections.

Make sure the fabric is taught, as wrinkles will show up in the photo and distract from the subject.

Finally, take the picture. Keep your hand steady as you press the shutter button. After you take the picture, keep the phone in position to allow the picture to be recorded. If you move immediately after pressing the shutter button, often times you will just get a blur!

Save the picture to your phone, if desired, copy it to your computer for any post-processing, and show it to your friends!

credit :Wiki how

xclub survey

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 19:49:00 +0000

As you know there have beenchanges in the XCLUB FORUM (infinix users community forum)

so we would like to hear more from the fans
what you think and what you would like to be added.
visit the link and complete the survay
Providing better experience to everyone is the priority.

http://bit.ly /2yCR3Ta

Post a screenshot when you submit the survey

Infinix S2 PRO

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:01:00 +0000

infinix s2 Pro is a next generation of HOT S SERIES, the phone comes loaded with a 32gb Rom and 3GB Ram, and s2 lite comeswith 16gb/2gb, both loaded with 13 megapixel back camera and 8mpx front dual camera with a wide angle of 135 degress. check screen shots for details,

Display: 5.2 Inch HD IPS 1280 x 720 resolution w/ 2.5D curved glass and Dragontrail Glass protection at 282 ppi

CPU: 1.3 GHz 64 Bit MT6753 octa core processor
GPU: Mali T720
RAM: 3 GB
ROM: 32 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB
Back Camera: 13 MP f/2.2 S5K3L8 w/ AF and dual tone LED flash
Selfie Camera: 13 MP f/2.2 SK3L8 + 8 MP OV8856 w/ AF and single LED flash
Battery: 3,000 mAh w/ quick charging
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow w/ XOS
Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, LTE, Bluetooth, OTG, GPS, A GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM (hybrid)
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, proximity, orientation, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others: Fingerprint sensor, Colors: rose gold, gold, black, blue
Sale is likely to put off this april 10th 2017. That's not final yet though. There's no word on the official price yet as well/ already on pre-order in Philippines

NOKIA 3310 IS BACK!! YES THAT'S CORRECT

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 19:43:00 +0000

Today at Mobile World Congress HMD held a press conference in Barcelona to showcase its first Nokia-branded phones.

As expected, the Nokia 3 and Nokia 5 appeared, and the international variants of the ‘phablet’-sized Nokia 6, the Rolls Royce of the range. Rumours that HMD was going to reboot the legendary Nokia 3310 device proved correct.

The new phones are not manufactured and sold by Nokia but by HMD Global, another Finnish company, which has licensed the Nokia brand.

The Nokia 6 has already launched in China. Its international variant has a 5.5-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 4GB RAM+64GB storage, 16 MP rear camera+8MP front camera and 3000 mAh battery. Nokia 6 will cost 229 Euros and the Nokia 6 Art 299 euros.

Nokia unveiled its Ozo, their 360-degree camera for virtual reality. Nokia also talked about Withings, which it owns, and its plans for healthcare. Withings products will now carry the Nokia brand name as will as new Nokia Health Mate app. Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri outlined plans for the Nokia Home hub.

HMD Global CEO Arto Nummela said the Nokia 6 was sold out in 23 seconds in China during the first sales. The Nokia 6 has a special “Art black” version. The Nokia 5 was also announced but this has a smaller 5.2-inch display and comes in blue, copper, black and silver colours. Priced at 189 Euros.

Nokia 3 has a 5-inch HD display, Gorilla Glass, with an 8MP selfie camera. The price will be 139 Euros. All of the devices will be available from Q2 of 2017 and all run pure Android Nougat. The 5 has an 8MB sensor from camera with a wide-angle for selfies.

Scant information was given about the re-boot of the 3310 other than it will have a massive 22hrs talk time (10 times more than the version in the 90s), 1 month standby time, Snake and the old Nokia Ringtone.

What’s the upshot? HMD Global is using the Nokia brand to gun for the low-end, mid-range segment of the market, with pure Android, premium built devices and all will get Google Assistant.

How Google is trying to make SMS sexy again

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:39:00 +0000

Credit: Google and The Next Web

Messaging apps are constantly adding functionality to allow you to do more than simply chat with your contacts. But now, Google is going all-out to champion SMS as the standard of the future for mobile users.

The company has imaginatively rebranded its Messenger app, which previously handled SMS messages on Android, to ‘Android Messages’. Beyond the name change, there are also a bunch of iMessage-like features that you’ll be able to experience soon.

The Verge reports that Google has rolled out a new platform based on Rich Communications Services (RCS) tech to allow businesses to “brand text messages, alerts and other communications, in addition to giving them access to features not available through SMS, such as group texting, high-resolution photos, and read receipts.”

That means you’ll be able to receive things like travel boarding passes along with QR codes, as well as options to top up your mobile data right within Android Messages. Gamestop, Time Inc., Virgin Trains and Walgreens will be among the first to deliver enhanced messages through the new platform. Google’s app already supports RCS; Android Police noted that the feature was turned on last November.

This is mostly thanks to Jibe Mobile, the RCS service provider that Google acquired in 2015. That firm’s CEO, Amir Sarhangi, was tasked with expanding RCS support. With his help, Google has convinced several carriers to support the Universal Profile standard to ensure that RCS messages are delivered to customers successfully.

Mobile carriers Deutsche Telekom, Globe, Orange and Vodafone have signed on to preload Android Messages on phones they bundle with their subscriptions. Plus, a large number of manufacturers, including LG, Motorola, Sony, HTC, and Nokia, will also ditch building custom SMS apps; Pixel and Android One devices will also come with Android Messages.

The use of RCS, which is compatible with SMS, ensures that all partner companies’ customers receive the texts even if they don’t have Android Messages installed; they’ll just receive a simpler text message than if they had the app. That negates the need for brands to rely on customers using a specific messaging service when they want to reach them.

Of course, Google’s work isn’t finished yet. It still has to get a lot more buy-in from the likes of carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, numerous others across other regions, as well as major manufacturers Samsung and Apple, before RCS is more widely adopted.

Android Messages is available now from Google Play.

Kenya's been schooling the world on mobile money for 10 years

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 20:15:00 +0000

Ten years ago on Tuesday, a gutsy Kenyan company launched a mobile money initiative that would change the lives of millions.
Its name is M-Pesa, with "pesa" meaning money in Swahili.
Think mobile money and your mind will probably jump to NFC-powered payment services from Apple, Samsung and Google. M-Pesa predates all of those and launched before the smartphones they rely on. Four months before Apple's first-generation iPhone went on sale in 2007, Kenyan carrier Safaricom enabled person-to-person mobile payments in the country via M-Pesa.
M-Pesa allows people to store money in a secure digital account and transfer it using their phones, even letting them pay bills and send funds abroad. Authorized agents will swap cash for electronic money and can do the same in reverse. The service is primarily powered by text messages, although an app is also now available for the small number of smartphone users.
A decade after its launch, M-Pesa has expanded to 10 countries, boasts 29.5 million active users and processes up to 614 million transactions per month.
The Western world is catching up, but we're taking our sweet time. Mobile payments in the US and Europe still aren't mainstream, with most people preferring physical charge cards or paper money . But this is set to change, according to research firm Forrester. By 2021 mobile payments will have tripled in the US to $282.9 billion and will grow 23 percent in Europe too.
Global competitors like Apple, Google and Samsung are on their way, but M-Pesa has a solid head start.
Vodafone
M-Pesa, meanwhile, is already used in 96 percent of households in Kenya. That's the kind of market penetration most tech companies can only dream of. It has made M-Pesa the de facto example people use when suggesting Africa can "leapfrog" iterative tech development and put itself at the front of the pack.
"We needed to be revolutionary in order to be successful," said Michael Joseph, founding CEO of Safaricom and now the director of mobile money for Vodafone, in an interview. "If we applied western standards to all of the things we do, we would probably still be in the dark ages in Africa."
Helping the unbanked
As impressive as those stats and milestones are, it's the way M-Pesa has transformed people's lives and created a startup ecosystem in Kenya that cemented the service's reputation. It's also what Joseph is most proud of.
For many M-Pesa users, the service isn't just a debit card equivalent, it's their bank. Not long ago, banks and savings accounts were only for wealthy and middle-class Kenyans. In 2009, M-Pesa savings accounts were introduced and within three months 14 million accounts were set up.
An MIT study published last year estimated that M-Pesa is responsible for lifting two percent of households in Kenya out of poverty. That's equivalent to 194,000 families who now no longer live below the poverty threshold on less than $1.25 per day.
Running alongside M-Pesa are nonprofit campaigns, including a number around women's health. In Kenya, for example, expectant mothers are encouraged to save a small amount for health insurance in a dedicated M-Pesa account, which allows them to give birth in a clinic rather than at home. These projects vary region by region, as well as by country, depending on the given needs of the local people.
From Kenya to India
Key to launching in different markets, said Joseph, was learning how M-Pesa could most benefit local customers and operate within each countries' financial regulations.
In Kenya, for example, the initial six-month trial period was supposed to establish the appetite for microfinancing businesses. Instead, it helped Safaricom uncover what Kenyans wanted most from mobile money: an easy way to send funds home from urban to rural areas. When the service launched in Mozambique, it was the ability to pay utility bills that drove adoption among consumers.
It's India that is proving most tricky, said Joseph. Just like Kenya, people want to be able to send money home to their families. But instead of embracing tech, many people still prefer to physically pass money between family members as they have done for hundreds of years. M-Pesa is the market leader in India, but faces stiff competition from a number of other companies.
Gaining trust and viral success
This tailored approach requires the kind of patience that big multinational tech companies don't often exhibit, said Joseph, who has spent time analyzing the global mobile payments market as a World Bank Fellow.
"In Africa we tend to be much more innovative because we need to be, and we're kind of far from everywhere," said Joseph. "Nobody comes there to look and see what you're doing." As such, Safaricom could spend three to four years turning M-Pesa into a profitable business -- something Joseph hadn't even considered when he first set the project up.
A man sends money through M-Pesa using a simple feature phone.
TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images
"When we launched it, this was another innovation. It wasn't going to be an invention that would change the world," he said. "Nobody knew how successful it would become, and how it would change people's lives. But it has taken off and gotten a life of its own."
It's not just patience, though. Joseph attributes the success of M-Pesa to many different factors -- the culture of innovation within Safaricom, the Kenyan banking regulators and the country's spirit of entrepreneurialism, to name a few.
There is also trust. Joseph said this is gained by ensuring M-Pesa's tech is the best, no money is ever lost and that the customer is always protected. " I always say to the team, you can't have a dropped call with mobile money," he said.
Joseph recognizes that global competitors like Apple, Google and Samsung are on their way, but he doesn't seem too worried at this point.
"I still think that we know what we're doing at the base of the pyramid," he said, referring to M-Pesa's wide customer base. "We offer financial services to the poor, not just payments. We are trusted which is really, really important. And people like the penetration of M-Pesa. Everybody uses it. It's a viral success."
Credit CNET.com

HOW TO FIX ''GOOGLE PLAY AUTHENTICATION IS REQUIRED'' ERROR

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 16:54:00 +0000

e "Google Play authentication is required" error is a surprisingly common problem on Android devices. 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. Let us show you how to fix this Google Play authentification error in three easy steps.

How to solve Google Play Store errors
How to disable auto-install of Google Play apps
. Simply remove your Google account

The error may simply be a sign-in issue, which sometimes occurs when the Play Store is updated. The first trick is to go into your phone's main Settings menu 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 it should work just fine. However, you may need to do this step along with the second step below.

Go into Settings > Accounts.
Then remove that account and re-add it.
2. Clear data from the Google Play Store

To clear data from the Play Store, you need to go into Settings and then Applications and find the Google Play Store. Tap it and than select Clear data. (You can try just clearing the cache first, if you like, but clearing data will clear the cache as well). If the previous step didn't work for you, you may find that it does if you repeat it after carrying out this step.

Go into Settings > Applications and select Google Play Store.
Tap on Clear Data and confirm when prompted.
3. Uninstall Play Store updates

Sometimes the problem is not with your credentials but the Play Store itself. Go to the Play Store inSettings > Applications and hit Uninstall updates. This will take you back to the original version of the Play Store that was installed on your device. Then, all you need to do to fix the error is install the latest version of the Google Play Store and sign in once again.

If the problem lies with the Play Store itself, go into its settings and uninstall the updates.
Uninstalling Play Store updates will set it back to the version that came on your phone.
If you're still having problems after trying all these steps, run through them again in this order, rebooting your phone between the steps: remove Google account, reboot, uninstall updates, install new Play Store, reboot, add account, and so on. Just keep trying until you the error goes away.

Have you suffered from the "authentication is required'' error in Google Play before? How did you solve it? Let us know in the comments.

How to Fix the Google Play Store When It Constantly Force Closes

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 16:44:00 +0000

Nothing is quite as dreadful as seeing that fateful “Unfortunately, Google Play Store has stopped” message…every time you open the Store. Here’s what to do if the Play Store on your phone or tablet just keeps crashing.

Clear the Play Store’s Cache and/or Data

When any app force closes as soon as you open it (or shortly thereafter), the first thing you’ll want to try is clearing that app’s cache. This doesn’t always work—in fact, more often than not it probably won’t fix the issue—but it’s the first thing you should try because it keeps all of your pertinent data (login info, etc.) in place.

First, head into your device’s Settings menu. This is usually accessed by dragging down the notification panel, then tapping the “gear” icon.

Scroll down to the “Device” category and select “Apps.” This will open the menu entry where you can control all the apps that are installed on the device.

On Marshmallow, scroll down until you find the “Google Play Store” option. On Lollipop (and older), slide over to the “All” tab, then find the “Google Play Store” option. Tap it to open the Play Store’s app info.

There will be a few options here, including “Force Stop,” “Disable,” and possibly even one that reads “Uninstall updates.” Go ahead and tap “Force Stop,” just to make sure it’s not running in the background. A warning will appear telling you that this may cause the app to misbehave—just press “OK.”

Here’s where things get a little convoluted—depending on what version of Android you’re running, you’ll see totally different options. We’ll outline both Marshmallow and Lollipop here, but the latter should also cover most older versions as well (including KitKat and Jelly Bean).

On Marshmallow, tap the “Storage” option, then tap the “Clear Cache” button. This will erase the Play Store’s cached data, which could possibly be causing the FC (force close) issues.

On Lollipop, simply scroll down the screen a little bit and press the “Clear Cache” button.

Try to open the Play Store. If the force close issue persists, let’s try clearing data.

Follow the same instructions as above, but instead of tapping the “Clear Cache” button, hit “Clear Data.” Keep in mind that this will delete all login info and and other data, so it’s like starting the Play Store for the first time. Your installed apps will continue to function normally, and any applications that you’ve purchased will still be available—this has no effect whatsoever on your Google account, just the app itself.

Once you’ve cleared its data, try opening the app again. It should theoretically open correctly this time. If not, you have one final option.

Install the Newest Version of the Google Play Store

In some instances, something has gone awry that clearing app data and cache simply won’t fix. In that case, installing the newest version of the Play Store should fix things right up.

Before you can pull the newest Play Store APK (Android Package Kit), you’ll need to allow installation of “Unknown Sources.” To do this, jump back into the Settings menu.

Once there, scroll down to the “Personal” section, and tap the “Security” option.

Scroll down just a bit, till you see the “Unknown Sources” option. Toggle the slider to enable installation of apps downloaded from the web.

A warning will be displayed telling you that this can be a dangerous practice that could put your personal data in jeopardy. While accurate, installing third-party apps—or “sideloading,” as it’s called—is a safe practice as long as you only install things from trusted sources. So tap “OK” to enable the feature.

With that done, head back to the home screen and open your web browser of choice. In this case, we’re using Chrome for Android.

Tap the address bar (at the top), and head to www.apkmirror.com. This is a highly-trusted website that mirrors APKs normally found on Google Play—only free apps are available (no paid content), and each application is verified as legitimate before it’s allowed on the site.

At the top of the page, tap the magnifying glass icon, which opens the search menu. Type “Play Store” and press enter to search the site.

The very first option on this page will be the newest version of the Play Store that’s available for download. Tap the down arrow to go the Play Store download page.

Scroll a little way down the page till you see the “Download” button. If you’re concerned about the safety of the download, you can tap the “Verified safe to install (read more)” link, which will open a small dialog box with information about the app’s cryptographic signature and legitimacy. Once your curiosity has been satisfied, tap the “Download” button to pull the APK from the site.

If this is the first time you’ve downloaded anything on Marshmallow, you may get a popup asking you to allow Chrome (or whatever browser you’re using) to access your media files. Press “OK” to pull the download.

Another dialog will show up a the bottom of the screen asking you to verify the download. Tap “OK.”

Once the app is finished downloading (it shouldn’t take long), you’ll find it in the notification shade. Just tap it to start the installation process.

If, for some reason, tapping the notification doesn’t open the app installer, you can find it in the Downloads folder, which can be access through the shortcut in the app tray.

Once the installer is running, just hit “Install” to start the process. It may or may not show a popup asking you to allow Google to check the device for security issues—you can choose to accept or decline, though I generally just let it go ahead since I like to help Google out.

Once the installer is finished—and keep in mind it may take several minutes to completely the installation process—just tap “Open” to fire up the newest Play Store.

With any luck, it will open without force closing.

The app data/cache clearing method above can be used on essentially anything that’s installed on your Android device, which comes in handy if other applications are having issues. Similarly, if that doesn’t fix the issue, just uninstall the app and re-install it from Google Play.

Best android games for 2017 offline and moded

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 14:12:00 +0000

I present you with updated links to the most daring android offline games for 2017 here is the link to Over kill 3

Overkill 3 is an action game for android.

download last version of Overkill 3 Apk + MOD (Unlimited Money) + Data for android from with direct link

Overkill 3 is a game where you have to complete missions in different regions.
Download android256.blogspot.com

Welcome to the future. It’s grim and dark. The ever oppressing Faction wants everyone to follow and obey. They will stop at nothing. People are scared. Demoralized. The few who fight back are painfully outnumbered.

They need hope. Someone to show them the way. Will you stand up for humanity and fight for its future?

Step into the action of the audio-visual spectacle that is Overkill 3. Lead the Resistance into victory over the evil Faction forces and their brutal killing machines.

> UNPARALLELED GUN CUSTOMIZATION WITH TONS OF GUN UPGRADES AND ATTACHMENTS
Arm yourself with massive arsenal of fully customizable guns ranging from classic shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and machine guns to super-powered futuristic firearms.

> VARIED AND EVOLVING GAMEPLAY
Travel through ever-changing environments, from hostile deserts to abandoned cities and industrial complexes. Fight against loyal Faction soldiers, heavy assault squads and snipers. Use new tactics to win each battle.

> CONSOLE QUALITY GRAPHICS
Experience console quality right on your device. Beautifully rendered world, incredibly detailed gun models, ragdoll physics and special lighting effects are all part of the Overkill 3 experience.

> EPIC BOSS BATTLES & CINEMATICS
As you grow stronger and more dangerous, the Faction will do anything in their power to stop you. Prepare to face dreadful robots and mechanical horrors straight from your worst nightmares.

> 3RD PERSON SHOOTING WITH EASY CONTROLS DESIGNED FOR MOBILE
Get comfortable with easy to use controls designed for mobiles and focus all your attention on shooting.

> STATE OF THE ART NANO-SUITS
Get the protection every soldier deserves! Kickstart the Resistance’s armor research to protect yourself with futuristic bulletproof Nano-Suits.
To survive long enough and become the legendary Resistance leader you will need to master the art of deadly precision. Without it there will be no hero. Only bones left in the sand. Do you have what it takes?

Don't mess with Kansime Ugandan Comedian

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:53:00 +0000

The first Nokia Android smartphone

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 14:48:00 +0000

The first Nokia Android smartphone is already here. Sure, it may not be the old Nokia that many of you loved, but the Finland-based company is still involved in this new mobile adventure. On Sunday, HMD Global, the company that secured the Nokia brand and licensing rights last year, announced the Nokia 6, the first of many Nokia Android handsets that are supposed to launch later this year.
Unfortunately, it’s not all great news. The Nokia 6 is heading to China first, and it’s not clear at this point whether it’ll launch in international markets. The phone isn’t the Android-based iPhone 7 you may have been looking for, as the Nokia 6 will be an affordable mid-ranger that crowds can afford. The phone will sell for 1699 CNY in China, or less than $250.
“The device, which is designed explicitly with the needs of users in mind, combines quality and in-built durability to deliver a real-life premium smartphone experience at a price point for the highly aspirational Chinese consumer,” HMD wrote in a press release.
The phone has a metal unibody made of 6000 series aluminum, and each shel needs some 11 hours of manufacturing time, including machine cutting, anodising, and polishing.
The fact that the Nokia 6 borrows some of its looks from the iPhone doesn’t escape us, including the 2.5D screen and the antenna lines on the back that mimic Apple’s iPhone 7 antennas.
The Nokia 6 features a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution that’s protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass. When it comes to specs, you’ll find inside a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, X6 LTE modem, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 16-megapixel rear camera with phase detection auto focus, 8-megapixel front camera, dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support, and Android 7.0 Nougat running the show.
HMD teases that more Nokia smartphones are coming in the first half of the year, so it’s likely some of them will be launched in international markets as well.

My favorite Animated Movies

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 21:06:00 +0000

Which phone to Buy in 2017

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 15:42:00 +0000

By Android256

A new year brings in new changes, new high end smart phones and new flagship. This is the more reason why you must make a tech resolution in 2017. 2016 we saw a lot of smartphones that arouse our expectations before launch, after launching the spec were complete turn down.
A lot of flagships will be reveal in 2017 and if you don’t know, we are already leaving the era of one camera set up, now it is dual camera at the back with one selfie camera

>>In 2017, it's time to stop buying flagship phones with 16 and 32 gigabytes of storage.
The reason why I said so is because the stuffs on your phone is getting bigger and not all can be offloaded on SDcard . By the time you check the follow come apps, they already take almost half of the space on the phone, what you’ll have left won’t be enough for you.

More so, smartphones with Android 7.0 out of the box needs more space for duplicate partition; meaning phones with Android Naugat out of the box takes more double space compare to Marshmallow and below.

In other words, let 64GB storage be your standard for any of the Android flagship you’ll be getting.

The long awaited Beast Zero 4 PRO

If worst comes to worst settle for 32GB internal storage.

>> Don’t buy 2GB Ram:
Phone manufacturers are already doing away with 2GB ram smartphones, so you need to let that be in the your past. You need more ram for your smartphones to stop lagging, you need more ram for gaming and multi-tasking. Let 3GB Ram minimum be on your list for 2017.

>> Don’t buy Any 3G enabled smartphone.
In mobile, we consider speed and efficiency. And definitely, smartphones that comes with 3GB ram, 64GB rom will definitely comes with 4G LTE … 3G mobile device is equivalent to Blackberry OS7 that has already been buried. 2017, Don’t buy 3G smartphone.

>> Don’t buy smartphone with battery capacity lower than 3000mAh .
To enjoy all the features above, you need a device with good battery capacity.
Should you see any Android new flagship in 2017 with 16GB or 32GB storage, stay clear of them or atleast dig into the settings to atleast see the available space you have left.

Happy New Year Everyone Wish the best from Infinix

Why root? Things to consider before rooting your android phone

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 13:16:00 +0000

Android is based on the Linux kernel, so right from the start, tinkerers and power users were interested in gaining root access to make changes and graft on new features. In the early days, this was a fairly simple procedure on most devices. There were several apps and tools that could root almost any Android phone or tablet, and you’d be ready to truly master your device in mere minutes. As Android became more capable, the allure of rooting has diminished somewhat — it’s also much harder and riskier than it used to be.

So what are the advantages and risks of rooting these days, and why are some devices resistant to rooting? Let’s see if we can’t figure it out.

The advantages of rooting

Gaining root access on Android is akin to running Windows as an administrator. You have full access to the system directory and can make changes to the way the OS operates. As part of rooting, you install usage manager (SuperSU is the main one right now). These tools are basically the gatekeeper of root access on your phone. When an app requests root, you have to approve it using the root manager.

So what can you do with root specifically? Let’s say there’s a system app that you really don’t like seeing, but it can’t be disabled through the standard method. With root you can run an app like Titanium Backup to delete or permanently hide the app. Titanium can also be used to manually back up all the data for an app or game so you can restore it to another phone. Want to change the way your device’s CPU behaves or alter the system UI? Those also require root. Ad-blocking software on Android needs root access as well (it modifies the Android hosts file to block known ad servers).

Android has more built-in backup smarts than it once did, but having root access ensures you’ll never lose anything again. Not only can you restore “deleted” files, you can make full backups of your apps and system. That’s handy in case your tinkering breaks something, and you have to repair the OS.

The risks of rooting

Rooting your phone or tablet gives you complete control over the system, and that power can be misused if you’re not careful. Android is designed in such a way that it’s hard to break things with a limited user profile. A superuser, however, can really trash things by installing the wrong app or making changes to system files. The security model of Android is also compromised to a certain degree as root apps have much more access to your system. Malware on a rooted phone can access a lot of data. Again, you need to be careful what you install.

For this reason, Google does not officially support rooted devices. There’s even an API called SafetyNet that apps can call on to make sure a device has not been tampered with or compromised by hackers. A number of apps that handle sensitive data will do this check and refuse to run on rooted devices. One of the most prominent examples of this is Android Pay — it cannot even be opened on devices that fail the SafetyNet check. If losing access to high-security apps is a big deal, you might not want to mess around with rooting.

Root methods are sometimes messy and dangerous in their own right. You might brick your device simply trying to root it, and you’ve probably (technically) voided your warranty doing so. Depending on the company, you might still be able to get a device repaired if you damage it attempting a root, but that’s not a guarantee.

Starting in Android 5.0 Lollipop, system updates for some phones (like Nexus and Pixel devices) will only work on stock unrooted devices. This is because of a change to the way Android processes the OTA file. Updates now patch the entire system directory as a single blob, so any changes or extra files (i.e. root) will throw off the verification and the update will abort.

On other phones and tablets, virtually every OTA update you get will wipe out root and block the method from working again. If having root access is really important to you, you might be left waiting on older buggy software while you beg for a new root method or a modded OS update.

Why is rooting so much harder than it used to be?

If you’ve been using Android for a while, you’ve probably noticed gaining root access on most devices is much harder than it once was. There were exploits years back that could root almost any Android device in a few minutes, but that’s much less common now. The last essentially universal exploit was Towelroot in mid-2014, but Google patched that rather quickly.

The reason these exploits are patched so quickly now is that having active exploits on your system is actually a bad thing for most users. These are security holes that can be utilized by malware to take over a device remotely and steal data. Google and the device makers are being responsible when they shut down root methods after they are disclosed. After 2015’s Stagefright issues, there are monthly security patches for some devices like the Pixel and Nexus phones. Carriers and OEMs are also better about rolling out these monthly patches on a semi-monthly basis to patch flaws. Sometimes, that includes root exploits.

Android is more secure, and it takes more work to break that security in a way that can grant root access. As a result of this cat-and-mouse game, root exploits are often pretty involved. You might have to push files to your device over USB, enter terminal commands, and flash modified files.

The effort needed to find, test, and develop exploits of this nature is a big part of the reason some popular devices don’t even have public root methods. That’s not to say there aren’t exploits in these devices, but they’re far too valuable to be given away freely to the community. If you peruse XDA, you might come across one of the many root bounty threads where users pledge thousands of dollars to anyone who can offer a working root method for a phone. This works sometimes, but it’s notoriously hard to collect on these bounties and a few thousand dollars isn’t actually terribly much for a solid exploit.

Anyone who does security testing and research on Android will tell you there’s real demand for non-public exploits among security and forensics firms. A modder could make several times the theoretical value of a root bounty on XDA by selling an exploit to one of these companies. A universal exploit like we had back in the day could be worth tens of thousands easily. Most people just won’t give that away for a pittance.

So should you do it?

If you’re primarily interested in Android because you want to tinker, you should figure that in when you choose a phone. Don’t get something hoping that root method will be released, because you might be waiting a long time for a messy exploit that gets patched right away. There are some devices that are relatively friendly to rooting, like Nexus and Pixel devices. They have unlockable bootloaders and can be rooted without much trouble. They also have system images that can be used to restore the device in case something goes wrong.

If you’re not familiar with Android’s tools and how to fix issues with a command line, you might want to give this some thought. Root can be a lot of fun to play around with, but it can also lead to plenty of frustration as you try to fix errors caused by overzealous modding. The added issues with security lockouts via SafetyNet should also give you pause.

Infinix Note 3 Review, a grand new entry phone into Uganda

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 02:03:00 +0000

The Infinix Note 3, a 6-inch display was launched into uganda in november 2016 and i have put it through all the hoops and have my verdict ready for you..

infinix note 3 boosts a bigger battery

Infinix Note 3 Review: Hardware/Design

What we have here is a shift in design compared to previous Infinix phones. If you think the Note 2 is beautiful, the Note 3 is even more so. What we have here is a well crafted metal unibody. With a 6-inch display, the Note 3 is a big smartphone, but it is a pleasant, solid one. From whatever angle you look at it, it remains beautiful . The beauty that makes us/you keep picking up the device again and again and again and again......

The rear of the phone has the 13 megapixel camera, dual LED flash, and fingerprint scanner. On the left hand side is the eject-able dual-SIM compartment. On the right side we have another eject-able compartment for the micro-SD card, as well as the volume rockers and the power/lock button.

Software

The Infinix Note 3 runs Android 6 Marshmallow under Infinix Mobility’s XOS user interface replacing the XUI on lollipop.

One nifty feature is that from time to time, you are notified of the power intensive apps on the phone.

XOS has a number of apps pre-installed though. These include: Ultra Power, XManager, XAccount, XClub , XHide and XWeather. While they may provide some utility, depending on your needs, none of them are uninstallable.

Photography

The Infinix Note 3 has a rear 13 megapixel lens with dual LED flash and a front-facing 8 megapixel unit with LED flash for selfies. The main camera takes pictures of good quality. Details and colour reproduction are quite good. The surprise here is that the front-facing camera is quite good too. The flash light is not the usual soft flash that most front-facing cameras use. It is a proper flash light, and it produces decent results – better than we have seen in many cases.

We have ended up loving the cameras on the Note 3.

Display and Multimedia

The Note 3’s 6-inch display has a resolution of 1,080 x 1920. In numbers, that’s 367 ppi. Which is very good. The display comes out really sharp with rich colors. Viewing angles are great too.

As is custom with Infinix devices though, there’s no Gorilla Glass protection or similar here.

There is a dual speaker grill at the bottom end of the phone. The left sided one harbors the mic. Sound production is good but not quite loud enough. We had to plug in an external speaker to enjoy audio from movies. A set of headphones help with that too.

Multitasking/Performance

In everyday use, the Infinix Note 3 performs smoothly most of the time. During heavy multitasking, there are moments that it slows down quite a bit. it did it heat up though a little. am not sure whether that is because of the current hot weather in Uganda.

Battery life

The Infinix Note 3 is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery. You won’t be worrying about your phone draining fast of battery power. It just keeps going. With fast charge built in, battery and fast charging are strong points of the Infinix Note 3.
Final Words

The Infinix Note 3 is undoubtedly a beautiful device. It is the most beautiful Infinix smartphone till date. But It isn’t all beauty. there’s brawn here too. It ticks all all the right boxes. Good battery life. Big, bright display. Decent cameras. Large internal memory plus memory card slot. Android Marshmallow. A beautiful body and all Ugandans will have a reason to smile when they order one from http://www.kilimall.co.ug

What Android phone should an Android developer buy in 2016?

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 19:38:00 +0000

A serious android developer should have more than one phone. Ideally, you should have at least one nexus-like device to test everything. Since the OS is unaltered in the nexii, it’s easy to locate the source of any problems. Then, you should get some extra devices, with more or less ram, different screen size, different brands (go for popular vendors in that case). In general terms:

If you need the phone purely for testing, you could as well go for Genymotion and test on so many devices with different screen sizes and all that.

If you want a ‘new, classy phone', you may try the google pixel. Its from google. Google officially supports android. Google did the hardware. Google did the software. There are nice reviews for the pixel on the internet. You have extra bucks to spend? You might as well go for the Google Pixel

-Keep a low range device (anything with ICS, the minimum supported version now).

-A mid range device (an old flagship or nexus 4 or 5) . You should do the bulk of the testing here.

-A high specs device (a nexus or pixel). Ideally, this one should be in the latest android version possible.

What are the best hosting providers for WordPress mult sites?

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 19:29:00 +0000

WordPress Multisite is an awesome feature that you can use for various purposes ranging from:

Hosting multiple sites under one WordPress installationHosting client websites for easy ongoing maintenanceHaving a website with either subdomains or subdirectories

When it comes to hosting a WordPress Multisite, I recommend properly planning out:

how many sites you will installhow much storage will you need for all the sites combinedestimated traffic you might receive

These are important because if you don’t have the right type of hosting, your end users will be presented with a slow performing website and might not return.

Shared Hosting?

I definitely don’t recommend shared hosting for this. Your limitations will be to much for your site.

VPS?

A virtual private server is a great starter option. It dedicates resources for you which means your sites will perform better. Try and get 4gbs of RAM at a minimum. A benefit is you get to customize how your VPS works on the server level.

Dedicated Server?

Now this is a great option if you have the funds to pay for it and if you actually honestly anticipate having significant traffic and storage needs. This option means you literally have your own computer aka server that no one else is using. You can find options with all the bells and whistles like lots of RAM, Large Storage with SSD, High end Processors etc. You also get to fully customize the server as you need.

Cloud Hosting?

This is a popular option since it allows you to easily scale your resources as you need. It’s like a VPS but in the cloud.

The Takeaway

If your needs or funds are limited, then I recommend you start off with a VPS, ideally located near where your website visitors will be coming from. This will reduce latency and help with performance.

You will also want to consider using a CDN Content Delivery Network if you will have a global audience.

If you have serious funds and are launching what will be a popular website, then you might want to consider getting multiple dedicated servers.

Server 1 just for your databaseServer 2 for your WordPress InstallationServer 3 for your images and cacheable content

This will greatly improve Read/Write performance. Just like humans, computers have a tough time multi-tasking.

Lastly, just chose a reputable hosting provider that has servers near your location or location of your website visitors. I also recommend to make sure to use a Linux Server. WordPress was made to work effortlessly with Linux.
Check my other website here

Why don't smart phones run different operating systems, like Android alongside Linux and Ubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 18:56:00 +0000

The computer hardware follows a “computer architecture”. Each architecture has an instruction set, “assembly language” that contains basic commands like “add, multiply, store, load, …” that can be executed by the hardware. The operating system is the bridge between software and the instruction set of the architecture. Nowadays most pc’s use x86 64-bit architecture. If you have a 32 bit or AMD64 architecture, you’ll need an adapted version of Windows or Linux.

Special snowflake Apple likes to keep everything in their own hands, so they made their own architecture to work with Intel processors (often called “Mactel”), and MacOS is only available for that architecture. There are some third parties offering MacOS-like systems for x86 and vice versa, but those are definitely not optimal. It’s take the whole package or take nothing at all.

For Apple’s iOS it’s the same story, they own the architecture, hardware and OS, and if you want a different OS you’ll have to sacrifice some efficiency. Android is based on the Linux kernel, and is in theory modify-able to your needs. Ubuntu Touch for example is an Ubuntu system for smartphones and tablets. Given the limited possibilities compared to PC’s and all incopatibility issues, there is simply no reason to do so. There is no real market for different OS.

HOW TO ROOT INFINIX ZERO 4

noreply@blogger.com (android256) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:51:00 +0000

HOW TO ROOT INFINIX ZERO

Credit: d.murimi

The Infinix Zero 4 has been with us for some days now since it was officially launched. The device features include:

- Octa core MT6753 chipset

- 32GB Rom

- 3GB Ram

- 16+8MP camera with OIS feature

- 2.5D 5.5" FHD 1080x1920 screen featuring Gorilla glass for screen protection

- 3x flash charging

- 3500mAh battery

- Android 6.0 out of the box running on Infinix XOS v2.1.0

- Fingerprint scanner, Accelerometer, Gravity sensor, Proximity sensor

- Compass

A post with the complete features will be put up

I have successfully rooted this device and here i will guide you on how you can root your Zero 4. I have also tested Xposed and it is also working as seen in the screenshots

DOWNLOAD

Zero 4 Root

GUIDE

1. Download the file in the download section

2. Extract the file in one folder - scatter file abd recovery.img should be in one folder

3. Launch your sp flash tool - make sure you have vcomm drivers installed and use latest sp flash tool

4. Load scatter from the folder where you extracted the contents of the downloaded file

5. Press download to start flash

6. Connect your Zero 4 to the pc while it is off

7. Flashing will complete in a few seconds and u will have a popup dialog indicating successful flashing

8. Disconnect your device from the pc

NB: Do not boot your device normally at this stage otherwise you will be stuck in boot logo

9. Download this Rooting Zip and copy it to root of your external sdcard

10. To boot into recovery: Press volume up + power key until the devices vibrates, release the power key and then press it again without releasing the volume up until the device vibrates again this time showing infinix logo, release power key and continue pressing volume up till it boots into recovery

11. Once in recovery, navigate to where the SuperSU zip is and flash it

12. Reboot after flashing and do not interupt the device until it boots fully.

13. Confirm with your favourite root checker app that you have root access

Screenshots attached to confirm root and xposed