How to recover deleted text messages from an Android smartphone

If you've accidentally deleted text messages by mistake, fret not! You can get lost SMS back with a 99% chance of success, but there's one ingredient that is most important: time! If you've deleted your SMS inbox you have to act quick, because the messages are only recoverable until the portion of memory on which they are saved is rewritten. So the longer you wait the higher the likelihood of getting new text messages, app updates or who-knows-what saved to the same location, obliterating them forever. Here's how to recover lost text messages on Android.

Tools to recover deleted SMS

There are a couple of different PC-based tools to help you through this part of the process, and of course, also for Mac users. Generally speaking they are free (or have a free trial) and do the job equally as well as one another.

The particular tool you choose will depend on your personal preference, but they all do basically the same thing: scan your Android's memory, identify and recover your ''deleted'' messages. They'll all walk you through the process, which is usually only four steps long: connect, scan, preview, recover. The process works for other data besides text messages as well. Some programs worth trying out include:

Coolmuster Android SMS+Contacts Recovery

Wondershare Dr. Fone for Android (requires root)

Android Data Recovery

How to recover lost text messages on Android

Depending which program you choose, the steps may be different, but all you essentially have to do is the following (I'll use Wondershare for illustration purposes):

1. Download and install one of the programs above. Launch the program on your computer.

2. Enable USB Debugging on your Android. To do this, you need to have access to the Developer Options in your main Settings menu. If you don't, just go to About Phone, scroll down to Build Number and start tapping repeatedly.

You'll now get access to Developer Options in the main Settings menu (just above About Phone). Go into Developer Options, scroll down to USB Debugging (or Android Debugging, depending on your ROM) and check the box.

3. Connect your Android to your computer (with the recovery program installed and program running) with a USB cable.

4. Follow the prompts in the recovery program to scan or analyze your Android's memory.

5. Once the process is complete you will have access to browse and preview the data stored on your Android device (whether it has been ''deleted'' or not. As long as the particular part of memory on which is was originally stored has not been saved over, you can still get the data back. This is why it's important to act quickly if you've lost data.

6. Simply locate your text message folder (or however the particular program displays your data), select the messages you wish to recover and either use the Recover action in the program to put them back on your device or save them to your computer for safe keeping.

Note: if you want to complete this process without a PC, chances are you will need root access on your device and more than likely a paid recovery app. In any case, it's easier and free to use a computer.

How to never lose a text message again

Ok, so maybe you've learned your lesson, maybe you haven't. If you're not into paying for any of the programs above long-term or simply don't like the free options, your best bet is to ensure you don't have a need for them again. This means backing up your messages from now on. It's so simple it only takes five minutes to save yourself the pain of having to deal with this situation again.

I use a free app called SMS Backup & Restore. It's straightforward, looks nice and works perfectly: basically all you need for this type of operation. Check out the screenshots below for the walkthrough. Read More.......

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​How to set up email on Android - the easy way

Android smartphones can be a tricky business when it comes to email accounts. You've got POP3s popping up at you, IMAPs that you can't quite map out. And then Microsoft wants to setup an exchange, and you've got no clue why. If you've ever struggled to setup an email account on Android, we've got you covered. Whether you're rocking a Hotmail, Live, Yahoo, or something else, here's how to setup an email account on Android.

So, which service do I use for which type of email? IMAP, POP3, or Microsoft/Active Exchange? The good news is, if you don't know what they are, you probably don't need to worry about them. For anyone else, you can head to the Microsoft support page for an in-depth look at Microsoft Exchange.

How to set up email automatically (the easy way):

Give automatic email setup a try if you're a beginner.

• Go to you app drawer and find your Email icon. Tap it. (Note: it may be called Mail on some Android versions)
• In the email address box, type your email address, and in the password box, your password.
• Hit next.

• Your device will attempt to automatically setup your email account. If unsuccessful, it may be because your email address or password were typed incorrectly. Try to enter them again correctly. If you are successful, the next page you encounter will be your account settings. Here you can select how often you receive notifications regarding your emails, as well options for syncing contacts and calender details. We suggest leaving these boxes ticked unless you know for sure that you don't want them. Tap Next.

• The last page will ask you to enter a name for your account: you will only see this, and it will only appear on your phone, so call it whatever you want.

Tag : Android App Developers India, iPhone App Developers India

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Best cloud storage apps for Android: 6 to backup your data

The importance of SD cards and internal storage is waning in the face of the greater options for "cloud storage." For those who aren't aware, cloud storage allows you to upload & back up your data to an online source, saving you precious gigabytes of data on your Android device. Here is our list of the best cloud storage apps for Android .

Google Drive: the all-rounder

We're starting with an obvious one. Google Drive is just so hard to overlook because it offers 15 GB of no-questions-asked free storage and never fails. Google Drive shows a nice history of your changes too, you can allow others to view and edit your work and it offers support for many different file types.

It's an obvious solution for anybody with a Google account because it's so seamless and requires very little time or management from the user.

As a side note, the Google+ social network app provides a pretty excellent cloud storage service, allowing you to store an infinite amount of pictures (at less than 2048 pixels) and videos (under 15 minutes long and no more than 1080p resolution). Not too shabby.

Dropbox: reliable and well-liked

Dropbox has been a firm favorite on Android for many years now. It has a relatively 15px storage capacity - a paltry 2 GB to begin with - but this can be expanded up to 16 GB in various (and fairly simple) ways.

Dropbox is fast, intuitive and free, with some unobtrusive automatic backup features perfect for those who want to take quick snaps and then view them on their desktop computer in a flash.

It's a great overall package if you can invest a little bit of time expanding the initial storage cap.

Box: simple and effective

Box is available free in the Google Play Store and is very easy to use, offering 10 GB of free space with a 250 MB upload limit. Beyond this point you are asked to pay 10 USD per year for 25 GB of cloud storage.

Box is perhaps the most basic application of our list because it has no super special features: Box is there simply to upload, download and share files, although it is possible to edit and comment on files in the cloud. Box also has a widget that notifies you of any changes to shared documents.

SugarSync: most intuitive

SugarSync offers 5 GB of free data as a 90 day trial, and after that the cheapest package is 9.99 USD per month for 100 GB. But it is really simple and fast!

This cloud application differs from others because it offers more payment methods, more storage space in the cloud, and it allows you to invite friends to use your files for example, and is also connected to social networks.

Personally, I think this is the most intuitive online storage app I've ever tested, especially for inexperienced cloud service users. Instead of a series of folders, we are shown a clear menu with quick options such as Photos, Shared Documents, Private Documents, etc. The app's simplicity and clarity certainly helps to better locate each file.

MediaFire: great value

With this tool, you can really say that you are using cloud storage. MediaFire serves it up on a platter, because this application offers up to 50 GB of free available space, which is perfect for saving or sharing music or videos.

But all that glitters is not gold: there is obviously critical points too. First of all, you only get 12 GB to start and have to earn the rest (or you can pay $2.50 US/month for 100 GB) and although its interface is clean the menu is a bit confusing.

It has all the basic functions to download images, download and share archives etc., including those off your camera, which saves a lot of time. But another disadvantage is that the size limit for each file is 200 MB, at least in the free version. Paying more of course will earn you access to more privileges.

Mega - largest free capacity

Mega is an application that provides 50 GB of storage to users upon arrival, free of charge! This is one of the best offers on Android and is based out of New Zealand, the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Everything you upload is encrypted and the encryption keys stay with the user, so there's no need for privacy concerns here. You can manage your Mega account, download files and even synchronize your camera directly to your account to automatically obtain a copy of the images and videos when you connect it.

For now, it is pretty basic, but it should be updated soon, and it is offering you 50 GB of genuine free cloud storage. Choice bro!

TAG : Android App Developers India, iPhone App Developers Indai, Phonegap Application Development

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Microsoft reportedly plans to invest in Cyanogen: what could this mean for Android?

Microsoft is reportedly investing in Cyanogen Inc., the developer of one of Android's most popular custom ROMs. If confirmed, Microsoft would form part of a 70 million USD investment group. The move would see Microsoft - a major rival of Google - become a minority investor in the open-source OS developer, which currently accounts for around 50 million Android users.

The news, via The Wall Street Journal, may come as a surprise to some, as Microsoft already has its own Windows Phone platform. Cyanogen currently only develops software based on Android.

"We're attempting to take Android away from Google," Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster said in a recent interview. This notion, coupled with speculation of Microsoft's interest, could have a major impact on the Android ecosystem.

Cyanogen made a name for itself largely thanks to its CyanogenMod ROM, which offers a rebuilt version of Android free of Google-imposed restrictions. It was also the OS of choice for the popular OnePlus One flagship from 2014.

A reported 1 billion Android smartphones were shipped in 2014 alone, proving Android's immense popularity and growth. This growth is likely to have a roll-on effect for Cyanogen, meaning an investment in the startup a safe bet. With Microsoft yet to hit big with its Windows Phone platform, an investment in a successful OS like CyanogenMod would make sense.

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Infographic Depicts Evolution of iOS From iPhone OS 1 to iOS 8

Fancy a trip down memory lane? Take a look at this infographic from 7dayshop that depicts the evolution of iOS from its beginnings as iPhone OS 1 all the way to today’s iOS 8.

While the grid of icons might be mostly the same (save for more rows on larger screens) looking at old versions of iOS certainly makes you feel old despite the first version only debuting in 2007.

I won’t add in everything from the infographic as it’s best viewed as a whole — you can check it out at the source link. It’s not just about home screens and icon design, though — it also provides a useful little lesson in iOS and iPhone history with added features, release dates, supported devices and more all listed for reference. It’s crazy to see how far the iPhone App and iOS have come in such a short space of time.

What’s your favorite iOS feature from the past or from today? I have to say I’m torn between the addition of multitasking in iOS 4, iCloud in iOS 5 or all the new Continuity and Extensibility features iOS 8 brought.

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7 best keyboard apps for Android

Tap tap tap, tappety tap tap, tap tap tappy tap, tappy tap tap… oh, sorry I was just busy typing something. Typing words into a computer is a breeze for me with my giant keyboard and giant fingers, heck, I could type all day (if anybody asks – I do type all day). But when it comes to typing on my smartphone, I often struggle. It’s never fast enough, it never autocorrects autocorrectly and it often leads to frustration: that's why I've been investigating the best keyboard apps for Android. Here's what I've found.

Google Keyboard

Google? Never heard of it myself but apparently it's got some good credentials. Anyway this "Google" company has made an Android keyboard with a simple and clean interface that just works very well. Material design themes, a ton of languages, text-to-speech, gesture typing – it has a lot to offer. Apparently Google is quite good when it comes to making useful software (who knew?!) and you can download this keyboard for free in the Play Store with no in-app purchases. It's compatible with devices running Android 4.4 and up - there's no good reason not to give Google Keyboard a go.

Multiling O Keyboard

Multiling O Keyboard is a feature-packed keyboard app, and while it lacks the understated sophistication of Google Keyboard it does bring a lot to the table. For example, it's the only app on the list to come with a calculator included (for when you want to message your pals and divide 600 by 19) and it has a plethora of customization options. If you're the kind of person who really likes to tinker with every little detail (and we think you are), this app is perfect for you.

When I said it had a lot of features, you can check out Multiling O Keyboard's Play Store promo video to take a look at some of them in action. It's over seven minutes long.

TouchPal

TouchPal narrowly missed out on my last keyboard list because at the time I didn't consider it to be a "serious" keyboard app. Truthfully, it is still heavily focused on emojis/emoji art/smileys/pictures, but it also features over 85 languages, swipe/glide functionality and cloud prediction and contextual prediction. Don't let its cutesy Play Store store description and branding put you off, there is far more to TouchPal than just colors and themes; as a straight up keyboard for messaging quickly and comfortably, it should easily make its way onto any best keyboard list.

Swype

Swype is a popular keyboard which employs the swipe (or "glide") method for character input. You slide your finger across the letters of the word you wish to type, and then let go once it’s finished (you can learn more in our article on swiping verses typing). It's a common feature on a most keyboards now, but nowhere is it better implemented than in Swype.

Swype learns from your messaging habits, automatically updating its dictionary with new phrases that you type. It creates automatic spaces between words to speed up your workflow and adapts to common mistakes you make. Only when you’re swiping very fast do you encounter problems, but it’s silky smooth for the vast majority of the time and highly responsive. I’m a long-time fan of Swype, though I recognize the swiping technique is an acquired taste. If you want the best example of it, however, then look no further than Swype - the autospace feature alone means faster typing.

SwiftKey

Possibly the most well known keyboard app on the Google Play Store, SwiftKey has one of the finest typing interfaces available on Android. Like Swype, you can type in the traditional manner or use swiping (which SwiftKey calls "flow"), and both methods function equally well.

Swiftkey isn’t the only keyboard that offers predictive sentence creating but it might be most useful here. Based on past messages you have typed, SwiftKey is able to guess what the next words in your sentence will be. For example, if you normally follow the word “how” with “are you,” then you can be sure that when you type "how" in future it will offer "are" as the next word. It's an attribute that often allows you to type common sentences in seconds.

There are some great options for keyboard size and layout to suit most preferences, including an intriguing “thumb” mode which creates a space between the left and right half of the keyboard. I don’t know exactly how this improves functionality when using your thumb, but it certainly didn't harm the experience in my tests. It's a convenient keyboard and is the only completely free product on our list. Download it and see what you think.

Adaptxt

Adaptxt utilizes the standard input method or swipe, but swiping definitely works best. It comes with a number of unique features, like enabling you to post straight to Twitter or Facebook once you’ve typed a message, and it can even use your GPS to give word suggestions, like street names or landmarks, based on your current location.

Adaptxt also contains the ability to put your keyboard in “private mode”, meaning it won’t learn any of the terms or phrases you use while its enabled. It's something I'd like to see in other keyboards, though maybe it’s a function that’s of more use to me than most other people.

I find it annoying that pressing backspace deletes the whole word, not just individual letters, when trying to make quick edits, and overall it doesn’t seem quite as responsive as Swype. However, Adaptxt beats most other keyboards on features and customization options, so it's well worth checking out.

Fleksy

The first keyboard on the list which doesn't employ swiping, Fleksy nonetheless focuses on speed and accuracy, with large buttons and brilliant autocorrect. It's extremely user-friendly but also houses additionally features like keyboard shrink and even the ability to make the keyboard invisible. Typing with the invisible keyboard actually worked surprisingly well (I was surprised it worked at all, to be honest) but I can’t really see a practical application for it, except to show others how quirky your keyboard can be.

I find the default button size a bit large for my personal tastes but I can’t deny its efficiency. It delivers accurate typing, and the simple swipe up and swipe down functions for correcting / adding new words to the dictionary are great. Pressing a button or swiping to make a space does seem slow when other keyboards come with automatic spacing, but for those not yet onboard with how swiping handles, this is my top recommendation for standard typing.

Minuum

This is an intriguing little number. The Minuum keyboard isn’t strictly QWERTY-based, but is capable of shrinking in size to allow the alphabet to sit on one line. With such 15px keyboard, Minuum’s autocorrect function needed to be extremely tight to compensate for mistakes, but somehow I was able to type with relative ease and I quickly became proficient.

It’s a unique interface and I hope it becomes a success as it genuinely offers something new and credible. I don't usually feel a need to minimize my keyboard, personally, but if it is something you want to do I don’t think you could find a 15pxer or more efficient solution. Will it speed things up for regular users? I'm not sure. Try it for yourself.

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