Free Instagram App for Android

iPhone users hove one less reason lo lord it over the Android-toting masses now that Instagram has been ported over. The Android version of the popular photo editing and sharing app is more or less identical to the iPhone one, with 17 different filters you can apply to snapped photos, the option to upload to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Tumblr (the iPhone app offers a couple of more sharing options), and integrated access to Instagram's own social network for sharing photos with your followers.

If you haven't stumbled across the Instagram phenomenon yet, its beauty lies in its ability to make the most mundane photos look interesting. Boring shots of your cat, the chicken schnitzel you ate for lunch, and even your grotty old gym shoes are transformed into arty masterpieces, courtesy of the retro-style filters that you apply on top of your original image.

The fact that it's free and easy to use has made it a huge hit with smartphone users. Filters are applied with a single tap, and you can apply them to photos you've already taken or to o photo that you've shot from within the app. There are also basic editing options for fixing exposure and rotating the image.

If you're more of a power user, however, the limited selection of filters ond options - not to mention the inability to layer filters for different effects - may have you seeking out richer apps like Vignette, which comes with no less than 76 filters and effects (including the ability to double-expose shots and add a tilt shift effect) and works as a full camera replacement app as well.

Also worth mentioning is that Facebook recently bought Instagram for a whopping $1 billion. Great news for the developers, but whether it continues as a separate service or is folded into Facebook remains to be seen.

[ Instagram on Google Play ]

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Top 5 New Essential Applications of Android

In the below post, we will be discussing about some of most interesting Android applications which were released recently or have seen a major upgrade recently.

TouchDown HD

For anyone dealing with business email on an Android tablet, the bundled email app for use with IMAP and Exchange accounts isn't very good. There's no synchronizing of tasks or notes, and no search facility, which can be a real pain if you're out and about and need to dig out an old memo* TouchDown HD fixes all these problems, adding a few useful extras, including encryption and a brilliantly effective remote-wipe facility. This lets you send an email with a kill code to your email address, which will wipe data from a lost or stolen tablet.

Due Today

Everyone needs to make to-do lists at one time or another, but Android offers no such facility as standard. That's a pretty big omission, but Due Today fills the gap with admirable aplomb. Naturally, you can create simple lists of tasks, give them priorities and due dates as normal, but that's not all Tasks can be assigned to "contexts" -to help you keep work and home items separate, for instance - projects and people. It's easy to use, with a simple yet effective front-end, and it also synchronizes with the online to-do list service, Toodledo.

LogMeIn Ignition

For those times when you simply must have access to your desktop PC. you'll need a remote desktop application and there's a wide choice. LogMeln Ignition, though, remains our top pick. Connection is a doddle - no fiddling around with port forwarding is needed - and response times are quick. It's a little pricey on Android, but is free on iOS, with cloud storage and other features available as an annual in-app purchase.

ES File Explorer

ES File Explorer is almost insanely powerful for a free app, functioning as a file explorer for both local device storage and networked devices, an application manager, a file viewer, Bluetooth transfer tool and it will even sync with your cloud storage client. It's not the simplest of apps to use, but it makes up for it with the breadth of its functionality - a must download for any Android user.

SwiftKey Tablet X Keyboard

SwiftKey is a popular keyboard option for Android phones and has recently made the shift to tablet devices. SwiftKey helps you increase your typing speed using a virtual keyboard by use of clever Al predictive text (which learns from your vocabulary). It also allows for a split screen keyboard, letting you thumb type while still holding the device.

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Google Chrome for Android Tablet [BETA]

And so it's begun, the great divide between Ice Cream Sandwich users and the poor saps stuck on Gingerbread or Honeycomb. If you're in the former comp, you'll be able to download the new Chrome for Android Beta, which looks and feels a lot better than the default Android browser, thanks to the cleaner interface. It offers extra features like syncing with Chrome, which lets you see any tabs you have open on any device (handy for moving between the browsing sessions on your computer, tablet and smartphone). as well as a unique tabbed interface on the smartphone version, and an 'incognito tab" mode that hides particular pages from your history.

But it doesn't sport oil the bells and whistles. Adobe Flash is one feature that's been left off the menu, which means you'll need to revert back to the default Android browser if you need to load Flash sites. Chrome for Android Beta doesn't support plug-ins or extensions like the desktop version of Chrome either.

The big question, though, is whether Chrome for Android Beta is any faster than the default browser. It feels faster, but the benchmarks we ran weren't really conclusive on this matter, Sunspider 0.9.1 reported a score of 2277.6ms for the default browser and 1966.1ms on Chrome (lower numbers are better), while Rightwore Browsermark reported a score of 109.925 for the default browser and 104,736 for Chrome (higher numbers are better). We switched to the more real-world test of loading up the desktop version of "The Pirado"  website; the default Android browser fully looded the page in 17.5 seconds, while Chrome for Android Beta loaded it in a more leisurely 26.2 seconds.

Video 

Android users stuck on older versions of the platform aren't missing out on too much with this ICS-exclusive app. while the few that are blessed with ICS can take advantage of the cool syncing and Incognito features.

Download Google Chrome for Android Tablet

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How to : Install a Custom ROM on your Smartphone

CyanogenMod is a free Android distribution that replaces the factory firmware on your phone - or, potentially, your tablet. It offers a clean, simple front-end based on the stock Android interface, and brings a huge range of customization features, including some you won't find in the standard firmware. If you're sick of manufacturers weighing Android down with proprietary interfaces and preloaded applications, CyanogenMod is the antidote.

Unfortunately, device manufacturers don't make it easy for you to change the operating system. Installing CyanogenMod requires you to overcome several technical hurdles - and there are other issues to be aware of if you plan to use it on a daily basis. On these pages we'll explain the process, and the potential risks; if you're then ready to take the plunge, we'll guide you through the process of downloading and installing CyanogenMod.

Where Does Cyanogen Come From ?
CyanogenMod is developed and maintained by a large team of volunteers, but it was originally created by Seattle-based coder Steve Kondik, better known by his online handle Cyanogen. Hence, the operating system comprises "Cyanogen's Modifications". It isn't the only customized Android installation out there, but it's one of the most stable and feature-complete, making it a good choice for everyday use.
Like all mobile operating systems, CyanogenMod is often referred to as a "ROM" - a term that harks back to the days when mobile operating systems were embedded into physical microchips. Nowadays, flash memory is used, so the operating system can be updated or replaced: it's more accurately described as "firmware".

The Benefits of CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod offers many features that aren't normally found in the branded firmware used by phone manufacturers (especially if that firmware is based on an older version of Android). In the current stable version of CyanogenMod these include VPN support; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB tethering; audio enhancements; continuous autofocus in the camera and camcorder applications; an incognito mode for the built-in browser; and the ability to over-clock and underclock your device, to balance performance against battery life. There are many interface tweaks on offer, too: for a complete list, see http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Features.

CyanogenMod is lightweight, too: although loaded with customizable options, it takes a minimal approach to preinstalled software, with almost no extraneous applications included by default.

Is it Safe to Use ?

CyanogenMod is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) - a Google initiative that makes the basic Android source code freely available to anyone who wants to customize and redistribute it. That means you can legally download it and install it on any device you choose.

However, there are still some important issues to take into account before you dive in. For a start, installing a new operating system on any sort of device always involves a small element of risk. So long as you follow the installation instructions carefully, you shouldn't have a problem - after all, millions of people have successfully tried out CyanogenMod before you. But if you do get something wrong, it's eminently possible to leave your phone in a non-bootable state. Recovering from a botched installation such as this can be a daunting and stressful process, and you can't assume that your mobile operator will be able or willing to help you.

Even once CyanogenMod is installed and up and running, your chief source of help is likely to be web forums, not the friendly call centre you may be used to. You'll probably be outside of the terms of your warranty, too: if your phone develops a physical fault, you might want to reinstall the stock operating system, if possible, before sending it back.

Before taking the plunge you should also be aware that - as with most operating systems - it's safest to install CyanogenMod as a clean installation. There's no need to format the device completely: personal data files such as music and videos won't do any harm.

But it's a good idea to wipe all previously installed applications before upgrading, and reinstall them afterwards. If you're using Google backup, your phone numbers and various settings will be automatically restored; but you're likely to lose app-specific data such as saved game positions. If you don't like the sound of that, check online to see whether these files can be backed up and restored at a later date.

Finally, it's important to understand that the CyanogenMod installation process entails "rooting" your phone  do. This has implications for security.

What Hardware can Run it ?

The first version of CyanogenMod ran on the HTC Dream, but the current stable edition - CyanogenMod version 7.1 - supports more than 60 devices, with unofficial forks and experimental releases available for many more.

Almost all of these are native Android devices, so superficially the installation is a simple case of replacing one edition of Android with another. However, while the same codebase is used for all devices, each requires its own drivers for things such as the camera and the audio hardware. This means if s necessary to download a specific build for your device. You can always find the latest stable and experimental versions of CyanogenMod for all supported devices via http://tinyurl.com/7uvpw6f.

At this point it's worth taking a moment to explain CyanogenMod version numbers. The current stable release, version 7.1, is based on Android 23, familiarly known as Gingerbread. The next version was supposed to be CyanogenMod 8, based on Android 3 (Honeycomb). But when Google decided not to release the source code for Honeycomb, CyanogenMod 8 had to be shelved. Now the team is working on CyanogenMod 9, based on Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) - but a stable release is some way off, so for now we recommend you stick with version 7.1.

The ClockworkMod Bootloader

CyanogenMod completely replaces your existing Android operating system, so you can't install it from within that system. Unfortunately, stock ROMs normally offer no way to boot into anything else. Before installing, it's therefore necessary to install a bootloader - a tiny program that kicks in as soon as your phone starts up and gives you an opportunity to update the operating system before booting.

The preferred bootloader for CyanogenMod (and for other custom ROMs) is called ClockworkMod. It presents a very simple text-based menu, called the Recovery environment. You can find a guide to using ClockworkMod at http://tinyurl.com/5tav6fs - but in practice it's very intuitive. Simply use the physical volume buttons to move the cursor up and down, and press the home or power button to select items.

Installing software in ClockworkMod is as simple as pointing it at a zip file. Since each CyanogenMod build is specific to a single device, there's no need for a complicated Windows-style installation procedure: all that's needed is to extract all the required files to the right places.

ClockworkMod can also erase your phone's various caches, and reformat its system partitions. If you haven't poked around "under the bonnet" of an Android device before, you may not have realized that the built-in flash storage is divided up just like a regular Linux installation. It's a good idea to completely wipe the system areas before installing CyanogenMod to ensure there's no detritus hanging about to interfere with the new OS installation. Unless you specify a complete factory reset, your personal data won't be lost: this is kept either on a physical SD card or a separate user partition. See our walkthrough opposite for a guide to this procedure.

Rooting Your Device

In order to install ClockworkMod - and to make use of some of the advanced features of CyanogenMod - many phones and tablets need to be "rooted". Put simply, this means enabling applications to take complete control of the device, rather than running with restricted privileges, as is standard. The term derives from the "root" user who has complete control of Unix and Linux systems (the equivalent of an Administrator in Windows).

Running as root allows apps to do things that would otherwise be prohibited. Screenshot tools, ad-blockers, tethering toots and over-clocking utilities all rely on root access. Indeed, even if you don't want to replace your stock firmware with CyanogenMod you might still wish to root your phone to gain access to applications such as these, which you'll find in the Android market.

Be aware, though, that a malicious app running on a rooted device can do more or less anything it likes, from running up your phone bill to stealing passwords. CyanogenMod includes an app called "Superuser" that allows you to grant or deny root privileges to individual apps: keep an eye on this, and consider installing one of the many reputable free Android security apps from the Market.

The precise method used to root a device depends on the hardware and firmware model. In many cases, you can do it with a single click, using the free SuperOneClick tool (http://shortfuse.org). If this doesn't support your device, check the relevant page in the CyanogenMod wiki (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com) for more information. If that fails, check the forums at www.xda-developers.com and http://rootzwiki.com. These are also good resources if you hit problems or have questions about any other part of the process.

Installing CyanogenMod on the Samsung Galaxy S II

Step 1 : 

SuperOneClick : Screenshot

A Start by rooting your phone. Download SuperOneClick from http://shortfuse.org on your PC and extract it. Turn on USB debugging on your phone (under Settings | Applications | Development ) and connect it to your PC with the USB cable. Run superoneclick.exe and click "Root". If the phone isn't recognized, install Samsung Kies. The process takes a few minutes: a notification will pop up when it's done.

Step 2 : 

Samsung S II: Full Update Guide

From the Galaxy SII page on the CyanogenMod wiki, download the codeworkx kernel (containing ClockworkMod) and the Heimdall Suite (for installing it) to your PC. Then scroll down the page to find links to zip files containing the CyanogenMod 7 ROM and the latest version of the Google Apps. Download these to the phone's internal storage - not the microSD card, if you have one.

Step 3 :

Extract the Heimdall zip file into a folder on your PC. Then reboot your phone. While it's rebooting, hold down the Home and Volume-Down keys till the phone enters download mode. One your PC, launch zadig.exe (from the Drivers directory in the Heimdall folder) and enable Options | List All Devices. Pick Samsung Android as shown and click install Driver. Close the tool when this is done.

Step 4 : 


Open the coderworkx ClockworkMod archive (use a tool such as the free 7-Zip archiver) and extract zimage into the Heimdall directory. Reboot the phone, holding down Home and Volume-Down for download mode. In Windows, open a command prompt, cd to Heimdall directory and enter : "heimdall flash - kernel zimage". ClockworkMod will be installed and the phone will reboot.

Step 5 :

ClockworkMod Recovery

From the menu, back up your stock firmware before installing CyanogenMod (volume buttons to navigate to "backup and restore", then power button selects). Backups are written to internal storage. When done, select "mounts and storage" and format the cache, data and system partitions. Don't format the SD card !

Step 6 :

Finally, select "install zip from sdcard", then "choose zip from sdcard" for a directory listing. Select the CyanogenMod zip and confirm the installation. Once it's done, repeat the process to install the zip containing the Google Apps. Return to the main menu. Select "reboot system now" to boot your new OS for the first time.

Installing the Google Apps

The first time you boot into CyanogenMod is an exciting experience; but if you've installed only the standard zip package you'll quickly realise there's no Gmail app, no Google maps - and no Market to download them from.

This is because these applications are owned by Google, and aren't freely licensed in the same way that Android itself is. But you can easily download them separately, and install them using ClockworkMod in just the same way as the operating system itself. CyanogenMod maintains a page of links to the latest version of the Google Applications : http://tinyurl.com/3pml38l. For CyanogenMod 7, there's only one archive to download and install, regardless of your device.

When you boot into CyanogenMod after installing the Google Apps you'll be greeted by Google's welcome screen - just as if you were switching on a new device for the first time. You'll be prompted to log into your Google account, restore backed up settings associated with this account and configure Gmail. You can also now access the Market and choose which other Google apps to install.

Note : Installing this software can void your warranty and expose you to malware

Android phones can do things better than iPhone and are far better than iPhone. here are the reasons :Why Android is Better than iPhone ?

 

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Ultimate Guide to Tablets

They're all the rage and are here to stay, but what exactly are tablet computers, what can they do and which one should you buy? Read our post to find out what all the fuss is about

The basic definition of a tablet PC is a portable computer that uses a touch-sensitive screen, rather than a traditional QWERTY keyboard and mouse, as the primary means by which the user inputs information, browses the internet or controls games, software and other applications on the device.

Indeed, the booming markets for cheap netbooks and smartphones have contributed to the emergence of the new market for affordable tablets. They are in many ways the next stage in the evolution of portable computers, building on the developments made by netbook and mobile phone manufacturers in creating ever more portable processors, flash-based storage, smaller, increasingly powerful batteries and improved wireless and mobile connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 3G networks.

Tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Apple iPad use the latest versions of the ARM processor, which was previously only used in smartphones. This is now capable of powering a portable computer designed for browsing the internet, viewing photos and video or playing casual games.

While the netbook is sometimes described as little more than a smaller, cheaper and lower-powered version of a conventional laptop, the tablet computer gives increased value beyond promise users enhanced portability (by being far lighter and easier to carry, having jettisoned the keyboard altogether), as well as an entirely new way of interacting with work, web and entertainment apps.

For many computer users, particularly younger children and those who are not able to touch-type, touchscreen control that allows you to input using fingers on a screen, as opposed to controlling a cursor with a mouse or touchpad, is far more intuitive. The obvious educational value of tablet computers, both at home and within the classroom, is certain to drive forward this new technology in the coming years. And for those that do want to type using every finger, each new tablet PC operating system comes with a built-in 'virtual' QWERTY keyboard for knocking out the occasional email, word processor document or instant message to friends and family.

What can a tablet do for you?

A tablet computer is a superb device for those that want a portable machine to surf the web, enjoy music and movies, or just check and update their Facebook profiles. Basically, it's far easier to slouch on the couch with a tablet on your lap than it is to have a netbook or laptop precariously balanced on your knees. But what else can you do with a tablet that you might not want, or be able, to do with a netbook?

The emergence of new operating systems (OS) such as Apple's iOS and Google's latest tablet version of its Android OS (nicknamed Honeycomb) and their accompanying online app stores means there are lucrative new markets opening up for games and application developers to create ever better entertainment, media and productivity software.

Traditional 'old media' content producers, such as magazine and newspaper publishers, have also been quick to get in on the act. You can now get digital subscriptions to tablet-friendly versions of your daily newspaper or favorite magazine, providing you with a new way of keeping abreast of the news. These are all designed to be more appealing and offer more interactivity to the user than accessing a bog-standard website. All of this means that a touchscreen tablet is ideal for consuming information or multimedia content.

Added to this, the shift in the computing industry to what is often referred to as 'cloud computing' - whereby users store their data online instead of on a local hard drive, and access music, movies, TV and other multimedia content by streaming them from the internet- has also been an important reason why tablets are becoming increasingly popular. While the on-board storage of your touchscreen slate tablet might not match your desktop or laptop's capacious hard drive, the fact that you can watch TV shows and movies using services such as the BBC's iPlayer and Channel 4's 40D, or listen to music via music-streaming software such as Spotify, means that you are far less reliant on storing your favourite shows or songs on your own machine. What's more, there are apps for all these brilliant services, so you can use them in a manner that's intuitive, relaxing and comfortable.

Six ways that a tablet can improve your life


GREAT MOVIES & TV
With their portable designs and vibrant screens, tablets are ideal for watching films or TV shows. With most tablets packing a camera, you can also record and edit your own home movies and then connect to your HDTV to share the results with friends and family.

CHAT WITH FRIENDS
If you're looking to stay in touch with friends and family around the world, it might be time to ditch the phone and get a tablet instead. With apps such as Skype and Apple FaceTime, you can make video calls to anywhere in the world, often completely free.

AMAZING APPS
Perhaps the most fun feature of tablets is their ability to be enhanced by high-quality applications - often free. Whether you want your tablet to function as an HDTV, a home recording studio or a games console, you can be sure there will be an app to do it.

PLAY THE LATEST GAMES
Forget the Nintendo 3DS, the biggest name in handheld gaming is the tablet, home to the next generation of hit games. While tablets' low-powered graphics can't beat gaming laptops, their portability and unique interface makes them great gaming systems.

BOOKS & NEWSPAPERS
With their handheld design, gorgeous screens and intuitive interface, tablets are perfect for flicking through books and newspapers. Thanks to packed online bookstores, bestsellers are always close to hand and you can download them wherever you may be.

PHOTOS & MEMORIES
Thanks to their stunning screens, tablets are perfect for viewing your photos. And with most sporting a camera, you can even use them to snap and edit pictures on the go. Using multi-touch gestures, you can zoom in and out and spin pictures around for a better look.

Can a tablet replace a laptop?

If you are looking to replace your netbook or laptop and are considering buying a tablet, then you really need to consider what you are going to use it for. If, for example, you are going to need the machine for work purposes, then a tablet is probably not the right machine for you.

This particularly applies if you are looking for a single machine on which you can easily perform a wide range of work functions, such as writing text-heavy documents or compiling complex spreadsheets, while also using it for your personal entertainment and web use at home and on the move.

With no dedicated physical keyboard, you are likely to find that using a tablet's onscreen keyboard to type up long documents is far too fiddly and not at all conducive to long-term work.

If, however, you are looking for a second portable computer to use alongside your main machine and want to use it mostly to consume information and surf the internet, while listening to music or idly checking out what's popular on YouTube this week, then it's really worth considering investing in a tablet as opposed to a slightly more cumbersome netbook or low-end laptop.

The comfortable touch interface, large screen and easy usability make tablets accessible to the youngest or oldest of users and anyone can enjoy all that the internet has to offer, even if you have little or no experience of using a computer before.

While some users may miss the physicality of hitting keys while typing, many others don't seem to mind the lack of a keyboard. Plus, there are plenty of office-friendly apps being developed for the iPad, Android tablets and all other new slate PCs, which means that they are fine for occasional work use.

Basically, you need to decide which camp you are in before making your final buying decision. Are you going to value the lightness, interactivity and instant-on appeal of something like an Apple iPad or an Android tablet over the familiarity of a laptop's touchpad and keyboard to use your main applications and surf the internet? If so, then a tablet could be the ideal portable computer for you to buy.



Windows 7


Not one to miss out on the emergence of a new category of personal computer, Microsoft is busy developing tablet-friendly versions of its ubiquitous Windows OS. While several tablets are already available that use the existing Windows 7 operating system, there are also rumours that    functionality can feel somewhat Microsoft is readying a tablet version of the forthcoming Windows 8 soon, in an attempt to compete with Apple's iPad and the many Android 3.0 tablets that are arriving on the market this year.

Microsoft Windows is already by far the dominant operating system, found on most of the world's desktop and laptop computers. It is clear that many users will greatly value the familiarity and connectivity of a Windows-based tablet, which will easily synchronise with their main home or office computer. The company is also making fast headway in the smartphone market, with its recently released Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system.

For now, Windows 7 already offers tablet users the option to ditch their mouse and keyboard, with Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions all offering touchscreen and multi-touch control support and handwriting recognition.

The main downside to choosing a tablet with Windows 7, however, is that the operating system wasn't designed strictly with tablets in mind. As a result, the touchscreen tacked on and you certainly get the sense that you're using an operating system that was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard rather than with your hands. This is made even clearer when you compare it with tablets running iOS or Android and feel just how smooth and comfortably tablet-centric they both are in practice.

On the plus side, as Windows is the most used operating system in the world today, you'll find that the vast majority of software and hardware currently on sale is fully designed with Windows-based computers in mind. As such, anyone choosing to purchase a tablet running Windows can buy almost any computer-related product they come across, and be pretty much guaranteed that it will install and run with no problems at all on their tablet.

BlackBerry PlayBook

Designed for those users that want a tablet PC as a work tool as well as a casual entertainment, web-connected slate, Research In Motion (RIM) has released the BlackBerry PlayBook. It features RIM's own OS, honed to allow corporate users to squeeze the most from their tablet.

The BlackBerry PlayBook features a fairly nippy 1GHz dual-core processor, two built-in Full HD video cameras, HDMI output and Wi-Fi, as well as full support for Adobe Flash video and HTML 5. This is certainly one reason why many YouTube and internet video fans might prefer RIM's tablet OS to Apple's Flash-unfriendly iOS.

Whether or not BlackBerry's new 7-inch tablet can persuade consumers to switch may depend on how well the OS appeals to BlackBerry smartphone fans and waverers alike. For the corporate user or web addict, however, the mere fact that the PlayBook supports loads of web platforms and technologies may well be the factor that seals the deal.

HP web OS3.0

Tablets may well currently be dominated by iOS Ik and Android 3.0, but these are certainly not the only ones you can opt for.

Palm, recently bought out by HP, first introduced the webOS software back in January 2009. HP's new tablet version of webOS is set to compete with RIM's BlackBerry OS, more so than Android or Apple iOS, as it will appeal to the business user and those looking for a tablet device that can easily double-up as a work and entertainment machine. Users with Palm smartphones will no doubt be more inclined to invest in HP's TouchPad, as they will already be familiar with using webOS.

HP's new webOS will work seamlessly with a number of cloud-based services and will also sync with printers and other peripherals in your home or office. It's designed to be a workhorse with fast multi-tasking between a selection of productivity apps, as well as providing users with access to entertainment options.

Android 3.0

With a vast number of Android-based tablets unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Google's latest version of its mobile OS, (nicknamed Honeycomb) is set to give Apple's iOS a run for its money.

If you are already using a smartphone running Android, then it is likely that you will be keen to invest in an Android tablet, capitalizing on your familiarity with the OS, as well as being able to sync your mobile phone with ease.

Google has put considerable time and resources into ensuring its Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet OS is specifically designed for use on tablets. The new Motorola Xoom tablet is one of the first devices to appear on the market running Android 3.0. One of the main new additions is the arrival of the System Bar which sits at the bottom of the screen and is the user's primary way of navigating around the OS. There is also an application-specific Action Bar which appears at the top of the screen when an app is running.

Google has considerably improved the multi-tasking options available with Android 3.0, with
Honeycomb's Recent Apps feature giving you a list of thumbnails of currently active tasks to switch between easily. The company has also improved the on-screen keyboard, with larger keys and better copy and paste options. In addition to the Motorola Xoom, there will be numerous other Android 3.0 tablets to choose from, with many big name tablet manufacturers all planning to offer their own devices running the Honeycomb operating system as 2011 progresses. 

Apple iOS

iOS was the first fully touch-focused OS to be released when Apple unveiled the original iPhone in 2007. Then with the release of the iPad at the start of last year, Apple not only brought the OS to a tablet, but kick-started the current tablet market in earnest.

The popularity of iOS for most users comes from how easy people find it to use. While Android comes in many flavors, the simple touch-based interface of iOS is almost identical, regardless of whether you use it on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Another benefit is Apple's excellent App Store, with thousands of apps all tested to meet Apple's strict quality standards. Even Android's growing Market app store cannot yet match the scope of Apple's offering. So if adding apps is something you're keen to do, then the iPad is arguably the best choice at present.

iOS is not without its flaws though. As with all Apple products, iPad users are tied into Apple's way of doing things and have little freedom to customise their tablet.

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Turn Your PC into a Tablet

Don't tell your iPhone-owning, iPhone-loving friends, but they're not relevant anymore. No more do you have to put up with them flashing their phone around down the pub proclaiming: "This app is hilarious". No, no it's not, it's a grown man pretending his phone is a pint of beer, or worse, making fart noises by pressing a big red button. Genius, that's exactly why humanity spent a century discovering electricity, semiconductors and million-line operating systems that can run on a 500mW processor. Ranting aside, Google Android has done an impressive job of catching up with Apple, perhaps not so much on the consistency or slickness of the interface, but most definitely in the functionality, flexibility and features that it offers.

Another area that Google excels in, much like Microsoft, is wooing and caring for developers. The Android SDK is freely available to download for both Windows and Linux platforms. This opens up some interesting features for everyday folk, not just developers. One is running Android on your desktop PC in the form of an Android emulator. It's designed so you can test out your newly compiled apps without needing an actual device, but it gives you a chance to play around with a functioning Android phone or tablet running any version of the OS from 1.5 through to 3.0. There are even manufacturer specific builds available, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and various Sony Ericsson phones.

Firing up the SDK

We're going to take you through how to install and run your own Android emulator, plus do a little hacking. We'll also 'root' the emulated device so we can hack-in Market support. The SDK is useful beyond this as well, as you can use it to screen grab an Android device (for example your phone).

The Android emulator is a development tool, it's not like the Amiga, Spectrum and console emulators you may have tried over the years. The emulator isn't optimized for speed and it runs on a single thread, so our old 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo felt sluggish. A Core i5/7 model with Turbo Boost is going to help things along here. That aside everything inside Android is available to play with, apart from the Market. It all runs well too, apart from web browsing, which does seem to chug.

The emulator also comes with a number of useful options and additional compiled operating systems to play with. If you follow our hacking guide you'll see how you can set the emulator to start from a command line. This is mostly useful for accessing advanced test features, such as adding GPS locations, adjusting audio and routing fake calls. There are more basic options, such as no-boot-anim that speeds up start times by eliminating the opening animation.

Editing features

The built-in emulator controls tend to be more easily accessible. For instance, when you click Start the ghosted-out Scale display option provides an easy way to control the size of the emulation window without affecting its resolution. Usually five-inches will get an oversized window under control. Alternatively, select the device, click 'Edit' and under the Hardware section you can add and adjust a number of attached emulator features. These include adding a virtual D-Pad, keyboard and controls over partition sizes and memory allocations.

Bless Google, they do try, but in the scrabble to just get the thing out of the door, it feels like the odd useful item gets forgotten. One such item is any sort of built-in way of taking screen grabs and being able to fetch them off of an Android device. Thankfully someone at Google remembered, because part of the SDK debug tool is a built-in capture option and we've outlined just how to go about getting that to work in our last walkthrough.

Grabbing video

As it turns out you can take this feature one step further and use it to grab video footage, of a sorts. There's a damn handy Java tool called Droid@Screen available at blog.ribomation.com/2010/01/droidscreen. This is a standalone Java tool that can hook into the Android SDK ADB tool to stream your Android device's output to your desktop. It was originally devised as an easy way to project an Android screen via a PC.

Download and run the Java tool and the first thing that it'll do is ask you where ADB lives. This will usually be C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools, unless you installed the SDK elsewhere or have a 32-bit operating system, in which case knock off the (x86).

If the Android device is connected it should pick ADB tool up and display it for you. If you want to capture video then use camstudio.org to capture what's going on in its window. You are even able to specify an actual region so you can grab exactly the Android screen area to cut out the borders of the window.

PART I : Emulating Android

Run an Android tablet on your desktop PC, in three easy steps :

1. Snag the SDK

The key to getting all of this good stuff up and running is the kind heart of Google that provides the Android SKD freely for download. Head over to developer. android.com/sdk and grab the latest Windows executable, at around 32MB this is only a pre-installer. The rest of the Android SDK is downloaded as optional extras enabling you to install versions from 1.5 through to 3.1. We suggest grabbing it all.

2. Enjoy Some Java

Android as a platform is Java-based, so having the right version of Java is somewhat important. Oracle, now the owners of Java, provide a bewildering array of variants and it's also likely you already have a Java Runtime Environment, or JRE, installed on your system. To use the Android SDK you need a Java Development Kit, or JDK, from bit.ly/bMkbpo we suggest grabbing the JDK + Netbeans.

3. Paranoid Android

Click the top-left Virtual devices entry, this lets you create and manage all of your virtual Android devices. Click the 'New' button to get this bandwagon rolling. Give the device a name, ours is 'marvin', choose a suitable Android Target; 3.1 will do and enter a 512MB SD card size. You can keep the other settings as is, though feel free to pick your own resolution or drop the density from 160 to make icons larger.

PART II : Setting up Shop 

Get More from your emulator, enter into the Market

1. Secret files

Taking the 'marvin' device we created earlier you're going to have to copy some files around, push some files to the emulator and generally bully Android. To start, copy the system.img file from x:\ Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platforms\android-11\ images to x:\Users\\.android\avd\marvin.avd replacing the ‘x’ and with your own.

2. Follow the path

To make life easier add the following paths to the Windows PATH variable, do that by right-clicking on My Computer > Properties > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables... select 'Path' from the System Variables box and click 'Edit'. Add the two paths below separated with a ';"x:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\ platform-tools' and 'x:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\tools'.

3. Grab the APK

Two application files called GoogleServicesFramework.apk from bitly/inxlei and Vending.apk from bit.ly/i9UcYL need to be pushed to the emulator device. Download, extract and place them on your Desktop. This all has to be done from a command line so select Start, type 'CMD' and Press [Return] to open a command prompt and type 'CD desktop' to change directory to where those apk files are.

4. It's a shell start

Fire up the emulator as a background process with a 200MB partition by typing the following: 'Start /B emulator -avd marvin -partition-size 200'. Type 'adb shell' to open a virtual shell for the device. This lets you communicate with the emulator's system kernel. Make the system partition read/write and root the device with: 'mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2/dev/block/mtdblock0 /system'

5. Push it real good

We've assumed in the last step that the system partition is mtdblock0. If it's not you'll need to type 'mount' and make a note of the system partition and adjust accordingly. Finally type 'rm /system/ app/SdkSetup.apk' and exit. Back at the command prompt type these two lines: 'adb push GoogleServicesFramework.apk /system/app' and 'adb push Vending.apk /system/app' and the Market icon will appear.

6. Beat the system

It's likely it won't log in, if this is the case in the emulator select Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > All. You need to find the GoogleServicesFramework task and select 'Clear all data' and 'Force Close' then do the same for the Market task. Restart the emulator from the shell. This step is a little hit and miss, it's important not to start the main SDK Manager and leave 'Snapshot' unselected.

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Regain a Dead Smartphone

What should you do when your Smartphone decides to play dead? Resist the urge to throw it against the nearest wall and try one of these techniques instead.

Soft Reset
 

All phones have a soft reset function, which is similar to restarting your computer. Beware that performing a soft reset will cause you to lose any data that isn't saved, but you will retain information previously stored on your smartphone.
 

■ MOTOROLA BACKFLIP. Power the phone off. Remove and reinsert the battery, then power the phone back on.

■ ANDROID (OTHER). All remaining Android models use a simple power cycle to perform a soft reset. Just turn the phone off and then back on again.
 

■ BLACKBERRY (QWERTY KEYBOARD). Press and hold the ALT-CAP-DELETE key combination. The display goes black for a second and your BlackBerry resets.
 

■ BLACKBERRY (SURETYPE KEYBOARD). Press the ALT-CAP and Right Shift-DEL keys. When the screen goes blank, release the keys.
 

■ BLACKBERRY (TOUCHSCREEN). Turn the BlackBerry off and remove the battery for at least 30 seconds. Reinstall the battery and turn the device back on.
 

■ IPHONE (ALL MODELS). Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the top of the iPhone and the Home button. Continue to hold both buttons (approximately 10 seconds) until the screen goes blank. You'll see the white Apple logo as the iPhone reboots.
 

■ NOKIA (ALL MODELS). Power the phone off and remove the battery for 30 seconds. Reinstall the battery and power the phone on. Alternately, you can enter the code *#7380# and select Yes.
 

■ PALM PRE. If the phone's menus are still active, select Device Info, Reset Options, then select Soft Reset. If the Palm Pre is locked up or frozen, hold the power button and cycle the ringer button on and off three times. If that doesn't work, press and hold the Orange, Sym, and R keys until the device reboots. Turn the phone off, remove the battery for 10 seconds, reinstall the battery, and power the phone up.

All other smartphones. You can generally perform a soft reset by powering the phone off, removing the battery for 30 seconds, and powering the phone back on.
 

Hard Reset 

A hard reset is a last-ditch option that returns your phone to its factory settings, which means you will lose all data and installed applications. Before you perform a hard reset, remove the memory card from your phone; that way you can recover data from the card later.

AT&T TERRESTAR GENUS. 

With the device turned off, press the red power key. When the TerreStar logo appears, press and hold the E-Power keys until a green checkmark appears in the lower-left corner. Release all keys. The device will power up and perform a factory reset.
 

ANDROID (ALL MODELS WITH FUNCTIONING MENU SYSTEMS).

One of the following menu-based systems for performing a hard reset should work, depending on the phone and version of Android. Open the application menu. Tap Settings, SD and Card Storage, Factory Data Reset, and follow the on-screen instructions.
• From the Home screen, tap Menu, Settings, Privacy, and Factory Data Reset, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
• From the Home screen, tap Menu, Settings, Security, and Factory Data Reset, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
When the menu system isn't functional, follow these phone-specific options to perform a hard reset.

■ DELL VENUE. With the device turned off, press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons. Without releasing the buttons, press and hold the Power button. When the device configuration screen appears, release all buttons. Use the Volume Up or Down button to move the selection to Factory Reset. Press the Camera button to select the Factory Reset option and start the reset process.

■ GOOGLE NEXUS ONE, NEXUS S. Turn the phone off. Press and hold Volume Down while you press and release the Power button. Use the Volume Down button to select Clear Storage from the list of options. Press the Power button, and confirm your selection by pressing the Volume Up button.

■ T-MOBILE COMET. If possible, back up your data to Google's servers by selecting Privacy from the Settings screen. Select the Back Up My Data option. When the backup is complete, return to the Settings screen and select Privacy and Factory Data Reset. When prompted, tap Reset Phone, then tap Erase Everything.

■ T-MOBILE G2X. If possible, back up your data to Google's servers by selecting Privacy from the Settings screen. Select the Back Up My Data option. When the backup is complete, power off the phone. Press and hold the Power/Lock-Volume Down keys for at least 15 seconds. The phone should turn back on and perform a factory reset. If the screen is frozen, or the phone doesn't turn back on, remove the battery, wait 30 seconds, then reinstall the battery and try again.
 

■ MOTOROLA DROID. Turn the phone off. Press and hold the Power-X keys to force the phone into recovery mode. Next, press and hold the Volume Up-Camera key to display the recovery menu. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset from the menu, and then select Reboot Phone.

■ MOTOROLA DROID PRO, DROID 2 GLOBAL. Select Settings, Privacy, and Factory Data Reset. When prompted, tap Reset Phone to erase all data and return the phone to factory conditions.

■ MOTOROLA BACKFLIP. Power the phone off. Press and hold the Power and Camera buttons. When the phone turns on, release the Power button but continue to hold the camera button until prompted to release it. Next, press the Volume Down button. After 15 seconds, a yellow triangle with an exclamation point will appear. With your phone closed, tap the bottom-right corner of the display and select Wipe Data/Factory Reset. Press OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

■ BLACKBERRY (ALL MODELS). Remove the battery for 30 seconds. Reinstall the battery and turn the phone back on.

■ BLACKBERRY STYLE, BOLD, STORM, CURVE, TOUR, TORCH. Click the Options icon on the Home screen. Select Security and then Security Wipe. Select all three of the available checkboxes to perform a complete wipe and reset the device to factory condition. Type the word BlackBerry and click Wipe.

■ HTC ARRIVE, HD7, SURROUND. Press Start and tap the right-facing arrow. Tap Settings, About, and then tap Reset Your Phone. Tap Yes, and then tap Yes again.
If the screen is frozen, turn the device off. Press and hold the Volume Up-Down buttons and briefly press the Power key. When the screen displays instructions for resetting the device, release the Volume Up-Down buttons.

■ IPHONE (ALL MODELS). From the Home screen, tap Settings, General, Reset, and Reset All Settings. This action resets all preferences but retains applications and data. If that doesn't work, from the Home screen, tap Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content, and Settings. This will delete all data and applications and return the iPhone to factory conditions.
 

■ NOKIA (ALL MODELS). With your phone powered on or in standby mode, type *#7370# and select Yes, when prompted. You may need your Lock Code for confirmation. The default lock code is 12345. If your phone doesn't turn on, try pressing the On/Off button, *, and 3 simultaneously.

■ MICROSOFT WINDOWS PHONE 7 (ALL MODELS). Press Start and tap the right-facing arrow. Tap Settings, About, and Reset Your Phone. Tap Yes, and then tap Yes again.
 

■ PALM PRE. Open Device Info, tap Phone Reset Options, and then tap Full Erase twice. If your Palm Pre is frozen, and you are unable to use the menus to perform a reset, try running the latest version of webOS Doctor (ws.palm.com/webosdoctor /sorry.htm) to troubleshoot and reset the device. Then follow the on-screen instructions. 

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Nokia's Fall And Android's Rise

Google's handsets have dubbed iPhone-killers, but it's Nokia and its Symbian Operating System that has suffered most. Android's share of the smartphone market has reached from zero to a market-leading 36% in three years. Overall smartphone sales have doubled this period, with Google's OS picking up many of those new customers, alongside Apple's iPhone.

Nokia had been tipped to ditch Symbian for Android, but instead plumped for Microsoft's Windows 7 - but will it pay off, delay the inevitable decline, or even speed up the classic handset maker's fall? 

 ( Click image to enlarge )

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Why Android is Better than iPhone ?

Recently my sister has bought a new phone. Previously she was using iPhone but now she purchased one Android based phone, What is the reason? Is network providers to blame? Are the restrictions that providers set in place with Apple limiting innovation?

Android phones can do things better than iPhone and are far better than iPhone. Below are the reasons :

Availability:

Android phones are almost universally available, unlike the iPhone, which is available only at Apple Stores and a select few stores. Also, nearly all Android phones are available almost instantly in India when they are launched worldwide, but the iPhone is available in USA first than in other nations usually after a year, when it is already too old.

Network lock:

The major drawback of iPhone is, it is sold with a network lock - it works only with one mobile service provider to which it is subscribed, and you cannot use it with another provider. Android phones do not have any such restrictions and the users are free to use any network of their choice.

Price:

With Style and features, money also matters. When a new iPhone is launched, it is priced exorbitantly and is out of reach for most customers. Whereas, Android phones are a mixed bag as far as price is concerned, as there are so many of them that almost every price segment is covered and you can choose the Android phone that suits your pocket. .

Widgets:
 
Widgets are valuable because they can provide an at-a-glance look at lots of different kinds of information and quick access to valuable apps and configuration settings. Android phones have screen with widgets with an actual purpose, giving you information at the flick of your finger tip.

For example, Data Counter widget instantly displays data usage to check your internet usage, On the other hand, Twitter widget keeps you updated with your Tweets.

No need for software application on the computer:

iPhone needs iTunes on your computer for syncing to do just about anything on the iPhone, such as transferring applications, music, videos or contacts. In addition, you can sync it with only a limited number of computers. Android phones do not need any such application - simply plug the phone into any computer and exercise complete control over your phone.

Data transfer is as easy as drag and drop. On a side note, I deem the SD card expandable memory option in the Android phone to be better than having no memory slot as in the iPhone, because you can carry additional memory cards with you and use when required without worrying about running out of memory.

Convenience:

You can instantly switch on or off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile Network or GPS on the Android phone just by simply clicking on the provided buttons on the home-screen. This goes a long way in conserving battery life. In the iPhone, you have to go deep into the settings to be able to enable or disable these features.

Better web browser:

The web browser on the Android phone is really awesome. To know the reality, you have to use it personally. It is faster than Safari, has every feature that you expect from a web browser, and supports Flash. Being an operating system developed by Google, as expected Google is integrated deep into the heart of Android. Thus, if you want to search, simply enter the search button and enter your search string and the results will appear with no delay. There is also Google Voice app available for Android.

Of course, the browsing experience varies with the speed of the processor inside the Android phone, which means that you will get the best browsing experience on the more expensive phones. Also, we must mention here that the web browser on the iPhone 4 is supposed to be the best around, but we don't get the iPhone 4 here in India and even if we were to import it, it is too expensive. 

Notification system:

In the iPhone, there is a very limited notification system. For example, if you are a Twitter user, then you need to open the Twitter app to find the tweets.

In Android based phones, notifications are organized in a better fashion. These apps can access the notification system of the operating system and alert you on the notification bar to a new email, voice message, and Twitter or Facebook notification, in addition to SMS. The application runs in the background and you do not need to open it to find out the status.

Click image below for information about app design :

 (Click image to enlarge)

Apps from Market:

Just like the App store from Apple, there are lots of apps for Android available in the Android Market. Just about every iPhone app has an equivalent, which is usually free. The coolest part is that you need not sign into your account every time you want to install an app from the Market, even if the app is free. And yes, Market has more liberal censorship laws for Android apps - Google does not play the moral police.

Unlimited personalization:

Android phones can be personalized the way you want. Thus, you can make the phone appear the way you want, and behave the way you wish.

  

Depending on the type of user you are, you can configure each desktop to serve your needs. If you are a business user, you may want a screen with contacts, emails, stocks and news updates via RSS, etc. A social network user may want to have a Facebook desktop, a Twitter desktop, and so on. You can even add a whole new desktop if you want and set default actions for different contacts. This is the power of Open Source that is not available in iPhone.

OS update makes your phone better:

Updating the operating system on an older iPhone such as installing iOS 4 on the iPhone 3G, usually affects the performance in the negative way, forcing me think whether it is a strategy by Apple to force you into buying their newer iPhone. Forget about preventing the OS being updated in older devices after a certain version, Apple does not even care to warn the users against the ill effects of updating the OS on older devices.

Android on the other side, has been seen to actually make the phones work faster with the updated OS. Better still, to avoid any problems as we have seen in the previous example, a trend has been seen where most Android phone manufacturers play safe by setting a limit that an Android phone can update its OS only twice in its lifetime.

Some of the above limitations can be overcome by Jailbreaking the iPhone, but then would you risk voiding the warranty on such an expensive device? I wouldn't.

So at last, i have some good enough reasons to decide to go for an Android phone. Please tell me your views in the comments section below. 

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