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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

How to download an APK file from the Play Store

 9:17:00 PM     Android, android apk, google play store     No comments   

Say you've just paid for a game on Google Play, something large and juicy, and then you realize you can't install it because you don't have enough room on your phone. What do you do if you don't have time to go through your phone and delete some files to clear up some space? Or maybe your tablet is not supported for a particular title or there are location restrictions in place. Did you know you can simply download an APK file directly from Google Play to your computer and install the APK later, once you've had a chance to free up some space? Here's how to download APKs from Google Play.



What is an APK and how do I install them?
Now, there's a couple of ways you can download an APK directly from Google Play. You can use a Chrome extension or a website that will generate a specific download link for you - we've covered both methods for you below. You can even download paid APKs if you have already purchased them on the Play Store, but take a look at the excerpt from Google Play's Terms & Conditions at the very bottom of this tutorial to see their take on the subject.



Get the latest Google app APKs

How to download an APK from Google Play with a browser extension

If you're likely to download lots of APKs, then getting yourself a Chrome extension or Firefox add-on is probably a good idea. An extension is simply an additional tool for your browser that makes certain actions a whole lot easier: from ad blocking to link sharing to APK downloading.

1. For this tutorial we're going to be using CodeKiem's APK Downloader extension version 2, which supports both Chrome and Firefox browsers.
  • Download APK Downloader extension for Chrome
  • Download APK Downloader add-on for Firefox


2. Once you've added the extension to your browser you're good to go, but you need to do a few things first.

3. You need to add your email address, which will be stored in the Chrome extension associated with your Google Play account, and also your device ID for later requests.



4. To get your device ID, hit the dialer on your phone and type in.

5. Then just look for the bit that says ''aid'' (Android ID): enter this in the Chrome extension. You should see the GTalk Service Monitor information (screenshots below).

6. If you don't get the above screens, you can install a simple app from the Play Store like Evozi's Device ID to get, you guessed it, your device ID, amongst other useful bits of information. The app doesn't require internet access, but if you're the suspicious type, turn off your internet connection, use it to get your ID, clear the app cache through Settings > Apps and then turn the internet back on.

7. On your phone, you're also going to need ''Unknown Sources'' enabled in the Security settings.

8. You're also going to need a USB cable. When you connect your phone to your PC, you should get the necessary drivers installed automatically and your phone should show up like a USB storage device. If tyhis doesn't happen, hit Google for your particular device's USB drivers.

9. Then copy the APK you downloaded to your PC onto your phone (called ''sideloading''). I'd recommend an obvious location like the Downloads folder.

10. Go to your Downloads app on your phone and tap the APK you just transferred over. Don't forget to disable ''Unknown Sources'' when you’re done.


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Friday, November 21, 2014

Android 5.0 Lollipop in Nexus 4 Hands on Review

 8:35:00 PM     Android, android l, android lollipop, nexus 4     No comments   

Checking Lollipop version - also you can play game using this

I felt my Nexus 4 is reborn after the upgrade. I was scared to update initially after reading some posts about WIFI connectivity issue and battery issues. I am running from yesterday and did not find any lag or issues.

Here are the features / changes in lollipop

1) Faster

I felt significant improvement in the performance compared to 4.4. Apps are starting faster. Lollipop is running in ART (Android run time) instead of Dalvik and may be one of the reasons for performance

2) Fresh

There are animations everywhere and it is done beautifully. Let it be alarm, tool tips, Google now – all these apps are using the power of animation and material design. The color and font is mild and pleasing.

3) Lock Screen

Lock screen is looking great with new gestures and notifications. It will show estimated time to fully charge. I was using dynamic notifications in 4.4 for notification summary and it is not required in 5.0.

Charging indicator in lock screen
Notifications in lock screen


4) Pull down notification panel


This is one of the best features. More options are available in notification panel to enable wifi, mobile data, flash light etc.
Pull down notification; last set of ugly icons are coming from Notification toggle app


5) Battery Saver mode

This mode will stop most of the background running apps to improve the battery. Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook won’t notify me for every update and it will be refreshed only after opening them. Also most of the animations will be automatically disabled

Orange shade for status bar


I felt 15-20% improvement while running in this mode. Your notification and action panel will appear in orange in this mode. It is similar to using apps like Greenify to hibernate resource hungry apps

6) Recent Tabs

It is highly inspired from Chrome. Recent apps will appear as tabs instead of stack. Looks beautiful and easy to switch recent apps

Recent apps in Chrome style tabs


Multi-user support


This is not a new feature for Android since Android used to support multi users from 4.1. But this was available for Nexus tabs and some other custom ROMs like Cyanogenmod. It was not made available out of the box since phone was considered as personal device and it was not supposed to be shared with others.

Switching users


Things have changed… Line between tablet and phone is getting thinner and people started using phablets.


I can add guest user and allow them to use the phone. Guest will not be able to access any apps or personal data (including gallery). This becomes handy if your kid wants to play some games or colleague wants to make some urgent phone call

7) Screen Pinning

Another useful feature and it is an abstract version of multi user. I can pin one of the app and give the phone to someone. He/she will be able to use only the pinned app

Go to Settings Ã  Security Ã  Screen pinning

Enabling screen-pin option


You will be able to see pin button in recent tabs. Pin any one of the app and it is the only app user will be able to use. Click on back and recent button to un-pin. You can add additional security feature using lock pattern or pin. User will be redirected to lock screen if they tried to unpin and they have to know the pattern to view home screen.

8) Dialer


Dialer interface and gesture animations are good

Dialer with quick search and dial pad
Right gesture to view recent contacts


9) Google Chrome

Chrome works differently in 5.0. Add new tab button is moved to menu and switch tab was missing. Later found that chrome tabs are also listed along with recent apps. It was bit annoying in the start and now I’m used to it

10) Gallery

I am disappointed to see that there is no gallery app and only Google photos app is available. It is difficult to view the folders since the way it is organized is not so user friendly. I was expecting a redesigned Gallery

11) Camera

No improvements in camera even after upgrading. The same camera app used in 4.4 is available in 5.0 as well

12) Battery

I did not find any major improvement in battery life compared to 4.4. I was expecting huge improvement since I read about Project Volta – a project to improve the battery.

Quick recharge - Nexus 6 supports fast charging - charge for 15 minutes and use for 6 hours. Looks like it is not a feature of 5.0


13) Other issues

Most of the apps used in 4.4 works without issues. MX Player did not work and hopefully they will update the app soon



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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

iPad Mini 2 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

 10:17:00 PM     Android, ipad mini 2, iphone, mobile phone, sony xperia Z3     No comments   



When it comes to mobile, Apple is always the manufacturer to beat. We can agree or disagree on the winner, but there is no denying the industry looks at Apple as a standard. And with an 8-inch iPad Mini 2 in the market, a whole crowd of tablets is bound to try and take down the Apple from its tree.
Among the most important 8-inch competitors we can find the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, a device that is leading the batch of Android tablets of its size. Can it go up against the almighty iPad Mini 3? Let us tell you right now it can definitely hold its own.

iPad Mini 2 specs

  • iOS 8
  • 7.9-inch Retina Display (2048×1536)
  • A7 processor
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 16/64 GB of internal storage
  • 5 MP rear-facing camera
  • 1.2 MP front-facing camera
  • 6471 mAh battery


Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact specs

  • Android 4.4
  • 8-inch 1080p display
  • 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
  • 3 GB of RAM
  • 16 GB of internal storage
  • 8.1 MP rear-facing camera
  • 2.2 MP front-facing camera
  • 4500 mAh battery



Design, Form and Function – Sony is the Complete Package
Some will say there is no way to compare the iPad Mini 2 against the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact in terms of design. Apple is known for its great looks and I will have to agree that I do prefer the design of the iPad Mini 2. That is not to say the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is bad looking, though.
Both look great, they are just different. The iPad Mini 2 will offer that slim and now-classic Apple look so many of you love. The aluminum body also gives it a very sleek and solid feel. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is made of mostly plastic, but it’s good plastic.



The back of the Z3 Tablet Compact is much better for keeping away fingerprints, for example. Furthermore, that matte finish does look very good. There is one thing Apple jsut won’t be able to beat Sony on, though – resistance.
The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a mouth-full, but it is lighter, slimmer and it is waterproof. Sony wants you to take your tablet with you everywhere, just like the rest of their Xperia Z line-up. They realize devices have to be rugged, stylish and usable in a world where stuff happens. You might not be the kind of person to take your tablet in the pool, but if you get caught in a rain storm you can be sure that your device won’t care.

Hardware – A Story of Two Tanks



TABLET
APPLE IPAD MINI 3
SONY XPERIA Z3 TABLET COMPACT
Screen
7.9-inch IPS LCD (324ppi)
8-inch TFT LCD (283ppi)
Weight
331g
270g
Processor
Apple A7
Snapdragon 801
Storage
16/32/64/128 GB
16/32GB + microSD memory card
SIM?
Yes, 4G
Yes, 4G
Camera
5-Megapixel
8-Megapixel



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How to root Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop [updated]

 9:38:00 PM     Android, Android App Developers India, android l, android lollipop     1 comment   

Android Lollipop


The Android 5.0 Lollipop glue has not even set on the Nexus 5 yet, but there is already an exploit out to provide you with beautiful root privileges. Here's how to root the Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop. Update: I've added the modified kernel boot image to the instructions below. Apologies for any confusion.


How to root Nexus 5 on Android 5.0 Lollipop :


1. Make sure your phone has USB Debugging enabled in Developer Options. If you don't have this option in Settings already, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number until the notification that Developer Options have been enabled pops up. Then back out a step and you'll see it at the bottom of your Settings menu.
2. Make sure you have the Nexus 5 USB Drivers installed on your PC.
3. Double check your Nexus 5 battery is charged, and if not, charge that bad boy!
4. Open the ADB Tools folder on your PC. If you don't have it installed already download ADB Tools here.



5. Ensure Fastboot lives in the ADB Tools folder once you're done installing. If it doesn't, download Fastboot for Windows.
6. Download SuperSU on your PC too.
7. Copy the SuperSU zip file to the root directory of your Nexus 5. To do this, connect your Nexus 5 to your PC with a USB cable and copy the file to the place where all the root folders are: not in a folder.
8. Download ClockworkMod custom recovery to your PC and put it in the Platform Tools directory as well as the modified boot image with the modified kernel patch for Lollipop. Extract the zip file and put the boot.img in the ADB Tools folder.
9. Restart your Nexus 5 in Fastboot. Turn it off, then press and hold Power and Volume Down until you see the Fastboot menu. You should still be connected to the PC with a USB cable.
10. Open a Windows Explorer window and head to the Platform Tools folder.



11. In a blank space in the window, hold Shift and right click your mouse. You'll want to click on Open Command Window Here.
12. Type in the following command:
13. You'll now be rocking ClockworkMod recovery. Next you want to enter the following ADB comand:
14. And now you'll be rocking the modified boot image with custom kernel. Use the volume keys to select Recovery Mode on your Nexus 5 and hit Power to enter it.



15. From CWM, use the volume keys to select ''install zip'' and hit Power to confirm, then select ''choose zip from SD card'' – no prizes for guessing what comes next.
16. Locate the SuperSU zip you copied over earlier (mine appeared in /sdcard/0/Alarms) and press power to confirm your selection, reconfirm and wait until you see the notification at the bottom of the screen that says ''Install from SD card complete''.
17. Back out to the main menu and reboot your Nexus 5. make sure you tell SuperSU to fix root!
18.The first boot may take ages (this is why you charged your battery) – don't freak out. Go have a cup of tea and let it do its thing. Do NOT unplug your phone from your PC or winged monkeys will fly through the window and do all kinds of terrible things to you.
19. Once your Nexus 5 has rebooted, that's it. You're rooted and ready to roll with SuperSU installed and requesting superuser access. Install RootChecker from the Play Store to double check your root status. If you have the gren light you're all sorted.
20. If you get stuck in a bootloop (meaning after a long time your phone still hasn't booted up normally), you can switch it off, reboot into Fastboot, go to Recovery and wipe data, wipe cache partition and reboot again. That should do the trick.
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      • How to download an APK file from the Play Store
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