The Xiaomi Mi 5 is a fantastic phone, and the best version of all is the Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro. If you’re in the market for a high-end handset then this is definitely one for your shortlist. Here are 5 reasons to buy the Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro.
Marshmallow, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage? Oh yeah!
Update,
March 9: Boom! Google
has just made Android N Preview official! We’re working on updating this post
with all the new Android N features.
Original
post: With Google
I/O 2016 fast approaching, the new Android N release is not far
away either. As confirmed at last year’s I/O, Google will now release major new Android updates yearly,
following the path established with Lollipop. So for this year, we know we’ll
see the Android N developer preview at I/O, followed by monthly(ish) updates
until the full Android 7.0 release in October. Here are all the confirmed,
rumored and expected Android N features.
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser is a great device which will receive the Marshmallow treatment in an official manner. The firmware will be OTA released by Asus but until then, if you want to check how the new Android M runs on your device, you can try a custom ROM that’s based on stock Android 6.0.1 system. I am talking about an unofficial release of CyanogenMod, which can be anytime safely installed on your phone. So, what do you say, are you interested in trying out a fully optimized update that can improve the performances of your Zenfone 2 Laser?
There is an unofficial CM 13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow build ready for the AT&T Galaxy S3 users to install. If you follow all the info listed in this post you will learn how to successfully flash this new custom ROM on your device.
This new Android 6.0 CM 13 Unofficial ROM is based on AOSP Marshmallow releases and on the stock CM 13 builds. If you want to learn more about this release, then you should check the Custom ROM developer’s post here at XDA Forums.
Team Bliss are a group of popular developers that are releasing Unofficial Android 6.0 Custom ROMs for various smartphone models.
In this post you can find their BlissPop Android 6.0.1 Custom ROM installation steps. So, if you want to install this new Marshmallow AOSP / CM 13 hybrid custom ROM on your International Galaxy S3 LTE phone, then you should check all the instructions below.
At an event in London, HTC has confirmed that the Android 5.0 Lollipop update will start rolling out to HTC One (M7) and HTC One (M8) in the New Year. While the Google Play Editions of both handsets already have the Lollipop update, there's now not long for everyone else to wait. HTC had promised to make the Android 5.0 Lollipop update available within 90 days of Google releasing the source code, and the company seems to be making good on that promise.
If everything goes according to plan, there's just over a couple of weeks until the Lollipop update starts to roll out We've already seen leaked screenshots that show how HTC Sense 6.0 looks in combination with Android 5.0 Lollipop, and this is what owners of the HTC One (M7) and HTC One (M8) have to look forward to. There are slight differences to other versions of Lollipop, including HTC-specific icons and navigation buttons.
The HTC One (M8) is the successor to 2013's HTC One (M7). It was one of the best smartphones of 2014, so it seems fitting that it starts 2015 with some Lollipop goodness.
One
of the main problems that smartphones encounter as they age is
that they stop being able to cope with modern apps and new software
updates. To help you defend against performance issues with older
hardware, here is our guide for how to increase phone RAM, both with and without root access.
People complain about "lag" all the time with regard to their Android devices. This is the delay or slowness seen on the device when it opens an application or swaps between windows. Gaming
fans are the ones who suffer most, and lag has caused many a device to
be thrown across the room in anger. But there is an app which can help
remove lag on Android, and its name is Seeder.
It's something that happens to all of us from time to time. It might be a pushy salesperson, or it could be a misdialled call that just keeps coming through to your mobile – we all get calls we want to avoid. There's no need to ignore the calls, and no need to send it straight to voice mail; you can easily block calls from a specific number on your Samsung Galaxy S4. Once blocked you'll never be pestered with unwanted calls from that number again, and you'll not even be told that the person tried to call – sweet silence!
The ability to block calls from a specific number is something that is available on your Galaxy S4 without the need for any software – it is built in by default. There are two different ways to block numbers, the first of which is to make use of call logs.
Whether you’re pushing your Android device to the limit by playing some of the latest games or just using it for extended periods of time, you’ve probably noticed that it gets a little hot. Well, if you’re not trying to use your smartphone or tablet as a replacement heater during the winter, you might be interested in giving out Coolify a test and help curb your overheating issues.
Available languages in Rom: Catala, Cestina, Dansk, Deutsch, Eesti, English (Australia), English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Espanol, Estonian, Euskera, Francais, Galego, Hrvatski, Icelandic, Irish, Italiano, Kazakh, Latviesu, Lietuviu, Macedonian, Magyar, Nederlands, Norsk bokmal, Polski, Portugues, Romana, Slovencina, Slovenscina, Suomi, Svenska, Turkce, Uzbek, Greek, Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Korean
Fully Deodexed
Zipaligned
Rooted
BusyBox
SuperSU
EFS auto backup
NO WIPE
Disabled boot sounds
New Tweaks
More Optimized
Increase Contacts adding for the message (1000 contacts instead of 10 contacts)
If you want to install the latest official Android updates on your Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 then you should know that a new OTA has been rolled out for your Android tablet. The new OS improvement is dubbed as ZCUANA2 and represents only a minor update that comes to resolve the bugs reported and some force closes errors. Thus this firmware is still Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean system, though the ZCUANA2 software is more stable and smooth then the previous versions of JB that were released for Galaxy Tab 3 10.1.
Therefore, as I have stated before, if you want to install the ZCUANA2 Android 4.2.2 official update on your Tab 3 10.1 then you should use this step by step guide. The ZCUANA2 is also OTA available but only in limited markets. Furthermore, when talking about OTA launches, you should know that the software is being offered in phases or gradually which means that some users will receive the notification sooner than others. So, if you want to use a manual update method for flashing official ZCUANA2 Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, then this tutorial will be more than useful for you.
It should be clear for you that you will install the official Android update on your Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and not a custom ROM. That’s why this manual update operation is official and uses only safe programs (Odin will be used – the program is developed and offered by Samsung so you have nothing to worry about) and not custom or risky tools. Anyway, you should check the guidelines from below, as if you somehow manage to mess things up, you can also end up in bricking your Android tablet.
Since ZCUANA2 is the official Android 4.2.2 update, the same can be installed (manually) on both rooted and locked Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. In fact, if currently your tablet is rooted, after completing this tutorial, the root access will be revoked. Because of that this guide can be used for restoring the warranty of your Android device (the warranty usually gets void when performing unofficial operations such as gaining root access) and for fixing your bricked Android tablet (for example you can brick your Tab 3 while trying to install a custom ROM firmware). Thus, the best will be to bookmark this procedure as who knows when you will need it.
As I have already specified, ZCUANA2 is only a minor update released for your Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. The firmware brings only bug fixes and stability improvements and no new features, apps or capabilities. Anyway, you should flash the ROM if you want to run your tablet on a stable and smooth firmware that has no bugs, things that aren’t working properly or lags. Also, you should always apply the official updates for receiving the best Android experience and for resolving all the problems that were spotted on previous versions of the platform.
But for being able to complete this guide you should first complete the pre requisites list from below. Don’t skip this section as you can end up in damaging your device and not in updating it. Also, this section represents the most important part of the present tutorial, so be careful and apply all the tasks explained and detailed below.
Backup your tablet in order to save everything that you might use afterwards. I know that when using Odin it is unlikely to lose something, but when talking about personal data, info and accounts you can never be too sure.
So, take your time and use dedicated backup and restore apps from Google Play for saving the data from the internal storage memory of your tablet.
Then, make sure that you can use a Windows running computer; also the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and its USB cable must be near you since a connection between your device and your computer must be established.
Due to same reasons, first of all, on your device go to “menu – settings – developer options” and enable the USB debugging option.
Moreover, from your computer temporarily deactivate the security protection because the antivirus or antimalware programs might interfere with the update operation.
If your Android tablet has less than 60% power left (check the battery status in that matter) before doing anything else plug in the charger.
In case your Tab 3 gets turned off in the middle of the installation procedure, your device might also get bricked.
Android 4.2.2 ZCUANA2 Jelly Bean OS has been officially rolled out for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 model number P5200. Because of that this step by step guide is compatible only with the mentioned Android tablet, so try not to mess thing up.
How to Update Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 P5200 to ZCUANA2 Official Android 4.2.2 JB Firmware
The first thing to do is to download the required files on your computer; so from here download the Android firmware file, then download Odin and Samsung KIES.
Save all these files on desktop.
First unzip Odin and install the program by following the on-screen prompts.
Then on the same folder as Odin unzip the update file.
Finally, the Galaxy Tab 3 drivers must be installed on your computer; in order to do that you can use Samsung KIES.
Now, run Odin on your computer and also turn off your tablet.
Enter your device in download mode: press and hold power, volume down and home buttons at the same time.
Up next, connect your Tab 3 with your computer; plug in the USB cable in that matter.
Take a look on Odin as now on the program the “added” message must be displayed and the ID:COM section must be yellow or blue.
If not, you will have to close the program, to unplug the USB cord and to force restart your device; then retry the process explained above.
From Odin the first thing to select is “PA”. Then from the window that will be displayed choose the ZCUANA firmware file.
It is important not to change anything else from Odin; at this point you should click on “start”.
Wait while the update is being flashed; in the end the “pass” message will be displayed while the ID:COM section will turn green.
Just remove the USB cable and reboot your handset as you are done.
If the above method didn't work or if you have any questions, please leave a comment below.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 update has been rolled out recently to carriers in the United States and to international models of the phone as well. The firmware update of the phone is supposed to bring in enhancements to the performance of the phone but apparently it is actually doing the opposite. Reports seems to indicate that the update is littered with several bugs that seem quite serious.
The most noticeable effect of Android 4.4.2 on the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been the effect on the battery life of the phone. Users have reported a drastic decrease in the battery life of the device since updating to the latest software. Apparently for one user, the battery dropped to 30% after installing the update from 100% and this was after about 20 minutes of browsing and 2 hours and 40 minutes of idleness. This means that battery was depleted by 70% by almost three hours of no work.
Others are complaining that the update results in a complete mess when it comes to the performance of the phone. Reports claim that the phone now lags when switching apps and going back to the home screen takes longer than before. Also using the home screen button also sometimes brings up the menu of apps that are currently running. Below is a video which shows some of the issues in action.
The last problem that has gotten a lot of attention since the update is the black lock screen. Basically, the bug causes the color of the lock screen to a plain black color. Users can unlock the phone using the black screen but that also depends on the amount of familiarity that the user has with his or her phone since that requires a little bit of experience. There hasn’t been any official word from Samsung on whether there is going to be a bug fix update. Apparently going to the settings > lockscreen > lock screen widgets > clock or personal message > clock will get rid of the black screen permanently.
Have you experienced any issues with the Samsung Galaxy S4 updates so far if you have gotten it? If so please leave us your comments on how the update has worked for you and if you have experienced some of the problems detailed below.
Ever since device makers armed mobile phones with top-of-the-line cameras, many have not stopped snapping and capturing those precious life moments. And, when easy Internet connectivity came to the mobile phone, many also started sharing their photos to friends, family, and in many cases also to the world at large.
Yet, despite great strides in digital imaging and mobile interconnectivity, how easy is it to share photos between devices, especially those running different platforms — say, between the iPhone and an Android phone? If you own both — or are switching over from iPhone to Android — you will eventually need to know how to transfer photos and images from iPhone to Android.
In this post, I’ll show you several ways to transfer your photos, albums, and galleries from your iPhone to Android.
Manual Methods (Windows)
Drag and Drop
The easiest way to transfer your photos is to simply drag-and-drop the images from the iPhone’s default photo directory/folder to Android’s image folder.
For this method, you will need a Windows PC and the USB cables for both your iPhone and Android phone. Make sure that you’ve installed the device drivers of both phones so that they will be detected by your PC.
Follow the steps below to drag-and-drop your iPhone photos to your Android phone:
Connect your iPhone to your PC via USB cable. Do the same for your Android phone.
On your Windows PC, open My Computer.
You should be able to see two new drives or entries under Portable Devices. One is for your iPhone storage (usually labeled “Apple iPhone” or “Elmer’s iPhone” or something similar) and the other is for your Android. If you don’t see them, try installing the phone drivers.
Open the iPhone’s storage in a new window.
Open your Android’s storage in a new window.
On the window for your iPhone’s storage, locate the folder named DCIM. You will find your photo folders inside theDCIM folder.
Simply select the photos that you want to transfer. Then, drag them from the iPhone images folder and drop them onto your Android images folder.
That’s the quickest drag-and-drop method that I’ve ever used. Sometimes, however, the copying process can stall — and can even completely hang — for some unknown reason, especially when transferring a very large number of images. I usually take an intermediate step by copying the images from iPhone to PC first, then copying from PC to Android. This requires the use of a temporary folder on the PC for storing the iPhone photos.
Importing
As far as manual methods go, I favor the drag-and-drop method because it allows me to select which photos to bring over from iPhone to Android. If you have no use for such selectivity, you can just simply import all your iPhone images to your computer in one go. Then, from your computer you can transfer them to your Android device. The following steps will show you how this is done:
Connect your iPhone to the computer.
Open My Computer and right click on your iPhone’s storage under Portable Devices.
From the popup menu that appears, select Import pictures and videos.
Your computer will scan your iPhone for images.
Once done, click Import to import all images and videos to your computer. By default, your images will be transferred to your computer’s My Pictures folder.
Open the My Pictures folder on your PC.
Connect your Android to your computer via USB cable.
Open your Android device’s storage and navigate to the image folder. It is usually labeled DCIM.
Copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop the imported photos from your PC to your Android device.
The two manual methods will transfer images from your iPhone to your Android device. However, these methods will only transfer images saved in your iPhone’s Camera Roll. Images transferred to your iPhone via iTunes will not be included.
Using the Send Anywhere app
Apps can also help solve the problem of transferring photos from iPhone to Android. The Send Anywhere (File Transfer) app, which is free for both iPhone and Android, is an example of an app that can help with such task.
The Send Anywhere app allows you to wirelessly transfer files — not just images — from iPhone to Android and vice-versa, without the need to physically connect your devices to a computer.
The file that you want to send to the other device is actually uploaded to the cloud. This means that for the app to work its wonders, both phones must be connected to the Internet and both phones must be running the Send Anywhere app.
For security and privacy, the sending device generates for the receiver an authentication key either in the form of a PIN, a QR code, or a Web URL.
If you already have the Send Anywhere app installed on both your iPhone and Android phone, follow these steps to transfer your photos:
Run Send Anywhere on your iPhone.
Tap the Send button.
From the list of file types, select Photo. Select the photos that you want to send. You’ll see check marks at the bottom-right of the selected photos’ thumbnails.
Tap the Send button at the bottom after selecting the photos.
The app will generate a PIN and a QR code image for the receiver. These authorization credentials will expire after 10 minutes (by default, but can also be set to 5 or 30 minutes), so make sure that the receiver device gets the file within that time frame. Or, if you want to share the file(s) to multiple recipients for a longer time, upload the file(s) by tapping the Upload button. This latter option will also generate a PIN, QR code, and a Web URL that are valid for use by the receiver(s) within 24 hours (by default, but can also be set to 12 or 48 hours).
On the Android phone, run the Send Anywhere app.
Tap the Receive button on the main screen.
To receive the file(s), you can enter the PIN and tap the arrow button or scan the QR code generated by the iPhone. Or, if the sender shared the Web URL of the file, open the URL in a Web browser.
Transferring images via Dropbox
The popular cloud storage service, Dropbox, can also offer a convenient means for transferring images from iPhone to Android. You need to install the Dropbox app on both your iPhone and Android phone. The app is free.
To be able to bring over to your Android those photos stored on your iPhone, you need to upload them to your Dropbox account first. To be able to upload and share files, login to your Dropbox account on your iPhone. You can sign up for a free Dropbox account if you don’t have one yet.
Also, you can enable the Camera Upload feature if you want newly captured photos to be automatically uploaded to your Dropbox after you capture the photos. This also uploads existing images in your Camera Roll.
For photos that are not automatically synced to your cloud-based Dropbox, you may manually upload them from any of your iPhone folders/albums to your Dropbox folders. To do this, tap the Menu button (three-dot button) from within any of your Dropbox folders, tap Upload, select photos, and upload away. This can be particularly useful if you want to share photos that aren’t automatically uploaded (i.e., photos that are stored in a different folder or location).
Now that your photos are in the cloud, the next logical step is to enable your Android phone to be able to access them.
To allow your Android phone to access your Dropbox photos, login to the same Dropbox account as you are using on your iPhone. If you do this, you’ll be replicating the folder structure of your cloud-based Dropbox right on your Android phone and your cloud files will be accessible to you.
Or, if you don’t want to use the same Dropbox account or you want to share only some of your iPhone photos to another Android user via Dropbox, you can use Dropbox’s sharing feature. You can share just one file or many, or an entire folder.
Just a very quick note here about the conveniences of the Android version of the app. Dropbox’s folder sharing feature in the Android app exists in two forms: “Send a Link” and “Invite to Folder,” both of which are accessible by long-tapping on a folder name, then selecting Share.
Send a Link lets you share folders but without sharing file management privileges (i.e., the recipient can only view the files, download them, or add them to her or his own Dropbox account). The Invite to Folder option lets you grant file management privileges, which means that both you and the invited user can do stuff to the files in the folder (e.g., delete files, add new files, etc.).
But, here’s some sad news: In the Dropbox app for iOS, you can use the Send a Link option only. Sharing a link is accomplished on the iPhone by opening the target folder in the Dropbox app, tapping on the Share icon (rounded box with upward-pointing arrow) at the upper-right corner of the screen, and selecting the app to use for sending the link. For simple copying of photos from iPhone to Android, this method will suffice.
If you really want to allow other users to be able to manage your Dropbox folder(s), you’ll need to walk the extra mile by logging in to your Dropbox account through a Web browser and set up the shared files or folders (i.e., invite users to your folders) through the Web interface.
On some devices with Dropbox integration (e.g., Galaxy S4, HTC One), you may be able to sync your photos from cloud to phone automatically over Wi-Fi. So, each time your iPhone uploads a photo to Dropbox, the linked Android phone also automatically gets a copy and you can view the shared photos in the Gallery app. You don’t need to export the photos to your SD card for you to view them or share them with your other apps. Unfortunately, you cannot use the Gallery app to manage the shared photos; that is, you can’t delete shared photos or move photos via the Gallery app.
On Android devices with no Dropbox integration, you may not be able to browse your Dropbox-stored photos and albums in your Gallery app. For your photos to appear in the Gallery app, you need to first export them to your SD card through the Dropbox app.
Conclusion
Thanks to mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android phones, we can take and share snapshots of what’s happening around us. If you have an iPhone and you want to copy or transfer your photos to your Android phone, you can do so easily using any of the methods described in this post.
What method do you use to transfer your photos from iPhone to Android? Tell us about your experiences with photo transferring. We’d love to hear about them in the comment box.
As always, you have to proceed with caution as Android Essentials doesn’t assume any responsibility for any damage done due to the firmware installation.
Before you get started, please make sure your GS4 is the GT-I9500 version.
After you have made sure of this, you should back up your data and also make sure to charge your phone to at least 80% or have it charging while doing the installation.
Finally, you must enable USB debugging mode and you do this by going to settings and then on to developer options.
2) You must then put your GS4 in download mode by holding down the volume down, home and power buttons. When a warning appears, you must press the volume up button.
3) You should then unzip Odin v.3.07. run the .exe file and then run it as an administrator.
4) Using your USB cable, you should connect your Galaxy S4 to your PC. One of the ID:COM fields should turn blue in Odin. If this doesn’t happen then you should reinstall the relevant drivers for your phone.
5) Within the Odin program, you should perform the following operations.
A) Press PDA and select the file that has .tar.md5 in the file path.
B) Press Phone and select the file with Modem in the file path.
C) Press CSC and select the file with CSC in the file path.
D) Press PIT and select the file with .pit in the file path.
6) Make sure “re-partition” is NOT selected. After this, check auto reboot and F. Reset Time.
7) Press the start button and the installation process should commence. Leave it alone until it is done.
8) Once your Galaxy S4 phone had rebooted, you will be running Android 4.4.2 Kitkat.
Have you used this method to update your phone? How did you find it? Please leave us a comment below and we will get back to you.
If you are feeling like you need a new launcher or would like to try another one out for a while to discover a new scope of functions, then check out this list. You might just find the launcher of your dreams.
Please note: These are just a few of the tons of great Android launchers that exist and these might not be the most popular or best ones (yet), considering many are still in beta phase. We have also previously covered the top 10 Android launchers in the past if you are looking for the creme de la creme. You can also check out 5 other alternate Android launchers if the list below doesn't do it for you.
Zeam
Zeam is an Android favorite among many users, especially for those who are a big fan of minimalism and small app sizes (this one is only 388k). Zeam provides a clear overview thanks to the intuitive folder layouts and apps grid with vertical scroll. You can also add shortcuts to the grid and manage wallpapers.
Aviate is an Android Launcher for which you have to request an invitation. This app, in comparison to Zeam, is a lot more complex: it categorises your apps depending on the time of the day, displaying the apps that it assumes you will need at that specific moment. For example, when you wake up, you’ll be greeted by the weather and schedule apps. On the road to work, it will show you Maps to get you traffic and direction info. I think you get the gist. The launcher heavily alters the look of your home screen by basically auto-adapting it to your lifestyle. The app has been in beta phase for quite some time now.
Here is yet another app still in beta phase. You can tell by the name that this launcher focuses in on various themes like futuristic, minimal, beautiful etc. All the icons, widgets and wallpapers will transform to go with the style you have chosen, giving your user interface a unified look. It also comes with a smart categories function that auto-categorizes your apps, while the Zooper widget pro feature will show you all themes at once.
It seems that many good launchers are still in the beta phase. Cover is like the Glovebox launcherwe recently discovered, but better. It also learns from your smartphone habits and makes it easier to get ahold of the apps you need, when you need them. The difference compared to Themer and Aviate is that it presents apps down the right or left side of your screen over the top of the app you are using at the moment as well as on your lock screen. Also, Cover allows you to set up various ringer volumes and wallpapers depending on the time of day.
Action Launcher comes in both a free and paid version, though the free one comes with a huge array of features. First of all, you get a Quickdrawer for all of your apps/widgets and a Quickpage which is a quickly accessible additional home screen which you pull down from the right edge of the screen. Both of these quick functions can be accessed at all times. Then, there is Quicksearch which helps you search not only for apps, but also for contacts and music right from the action bar. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of features, with lots more to be discovered!
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser is a great device which will receive the Marshmallow treatment in an official manner. The firmware will be OTA released by Asus but until then, if you want to check how the new Android M runs on your device, you can try a custom ROM that’s based on stock Android 6.0.1 system. I am talking about an unofficial release of CyanogenMod, which can be anytime safely installed on your phone. So, what do you say, are you interested in trying out a fully optimized update that can improve the performances of your Zenfone 2 Laser?
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser is a great device which will receive the Marshmallow treatment in an official manner. The firmware will be OTA released by Asus but until then, if you want to check how the new Android M runs on your device, you can try a custom ROM that’s based on stock Android 6.0.1 system. I am talking about an unofficial release of CyanogenMod, which can be anytime safely installed on your phone. So, what do you say, are you interested in trying out a fully optimized update that can improve the performances of your Zenfone 2 Laser?
There is an unofficial CM 13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow build ready for the AT&T Galaxy S3 users to install. If you follow all the info listed in this post you will learn how to successfully flash this new custom ROM on your device.
There is an unofficial CM 13 Android 6.0 Marshmallow build ready for the AT&T Galaxy S3 users to install. If you follow all the info listed in this post you will learn how to successfully flash this new custom ROM on your device.
In this post you can find their BlissPop Android 6.0.1 Custom ROM installation steps. So, if you want to install this new Marshmallow AOSP / CM 13 hybrid custom ROM on your International Galaxy S3 LTE phone, then you should check all the instructions below.
