Thursday, April 5, 2012

Use keyboard shortcuts to switch between applications in android

Use keyboard shortcuts to switch between applications in android:



Don’t forget to bookmark this page, this is a long one!


If you want to create your own shortcuts: Settings > Application settings > Quick launch


Open applications:
Browser SEARCH + b
Contacts SEARCH + c
E-Mail SEARCH + e
Google Mail SEARCH + g
Calendar SEARCH + l
Maps SEARCH + m
Music SEARCH + p
Messaging SEARCH + s
YouTube SEARCH + y
You can add/change these here: Settings > Application settings > Quick launch


Scrolling tips:
Page down SPACEBAR
Page up SHIFT + SPACEBAR
Jump to end of list ALT + TRACKBALL roll DOWN
Jump to top of list ALT + TRACKBALL roll UP


Typing and text navigation tips:
Insert special character ALT + SPACEBAR opens special character selector
Delete character to left DEL
Delete character to right SHIFT + DEL
Delete entire line ALT + DEL
Persistent CAPS Press SHIFT twice; press SHIFT again to escape
Jump cursor to beginning/end of line ALT + roll TRACKBALL left/right
Create tab character ALT + q
Highlight (select) text SHIFT + roll TRACKBALL
Cut text MENU + x, or Highlight text, press & hold TRACKBALL, select Cut
Copy text to clipboard MENU + c, or Highlight text, press & hold
TRACKBALL, select Copy
Paste text copied to clipboard MENU + v, or Highlight text, press & hold
TRACKBALL, select Paste
Undo change MENU + z
Select all text in field MENU + a, or Highlight text, press & hold
TRACKBALL, select Select all


Browser tips:
Open Go to window MENU + s
Open Bookmarks MENU + b
Open Windows MENU + w
View history MENU + h
Refresh or stop page MENU + r
Go back a page MENU + j
Go forward a page MENU + k
Find on page MENU + f
Go to home page MENU + ENTER
Zoom in MENU + i
Zoom out MENU + o
Go to Settings MENU + p
Page down SPACEBAR
Page up SHIFT + SPACEBAR


Map shortcuts
Directions MENU + d
Select map mode MENU + m
History MENU + h
My Location MENU + 0 (zero)
Go to Settings MENU + p
Zoom in MENU + i
Zoom out MENU + o


GMail shortcuts (while viewing message)
Forward F
Reply R
Reply All A
Archive Y (works on list mode too)


Other Google apps:
If you are in the mood for more shortcuts on any google apps like mail, calendar, docs, try typing: “?” in the webbrowser when using that app.
You would need to enable this option in settings for mail. The other apps have this enabled by default.

Forgot lock pattern on android? Here’s a way to reset it.

Forgot lock pattern on android? Here’s a way to reset it.



Enter wrong pattern 5 times and wait for 30 seconds.
 
Select “Forgot pattern” and enter your gmail account username and password.
 
Make sure you use the same account that was used to activate the phone and double check the password by logging in to that Google account in a browser.
 
If you don’t have access to the original Gmail account, you will need to do a hard reset and loose your settings and apps on the phone. The data on the memory card will not be wiped though.

How to add ringtones on Android, so they appear in the ringtone menus

How to add ringtones on Android, so they appear in the ringtone menus


Locate music dir on the SD card (create it if not found)

Create three directories, ringtone, notification, alarms in it.

Any music files placed in these directories will appear in their respective menus.

May have to reboot the phone so they can be seen and picked.

You can also long press on a song in the songs list in the music player to add it to the ringtones.

Use Ringdroid to cut a song and use it as a ringtone.

Android Reset Directions

Android Reset Directions:


Reset your phone to increase storage space and speed it up:

The easy way:
Settings > SDCard > Format
Settings > Privacy > Factory Reset

The hard way:
Do a hard reset and format your phones. You will have to re-download your apps and settings.
1. HOLD power button and shut down the phone.
2. Hold HOME and RED POWER down for 25 seconds until you see a triangle with an exclamation mark in it. Keep holding it down even though the G1 logo shows up.
3. Now you can do 4 things.
Home+Back reboot system now – (Soft Reboot)
Alt+L – Toggle log text display – (Toggles between the exclamation and menu options)
Alt+S – apply sdcard:update.zip
Alt+W – Wipe data/factory reset – (Out of Box reset need to re-register.)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Get Free 23GB Dropbox Storage on Android – Download Apk for Extra Space

Get Free 23GB Dropbox Storage on Android – Download Apk for Extra Space

Dropbox is a free cloud hosting services which simplifies the life by allowing users to get files cloud which can be accessed by any platformed based device like laptop, tablet and mobile phone. It makes accessing of important files easier and you never email a file again to your other electronic product that you have. Dropbox initially provides 2 GB of free storage for you for anyone who registers with them. Here comes a Dropbox hack by which you can get more space than you can get the maximum cap of 10 GB per user via referral. This time is whooping 23 GB up for grab and let me tell you that this is not a promotional offer or campaign by Dropbox. Let me make it clear that this is a third party application file and it involves installation of APK files on your Android device. This was released by theos0o on XDA Forums and we thank him for the efforts.

I was struggling with 2 GB storage which came free initially when any one signs up for Dropbox. Latter I found that by referring users you can add 250 MB for each successful referral and maximum was set to 10 GB via referral. Above that users have to pay yearly fee to get higher amount of storage. Follow the procedure below on how you can get additional 23 GB of free storage on your Dropbox -
First you need to uninstall the existing Dropbox app and to do that follow the path Settings > Applications > Manage applications > Dropbox and tap uninstall.
On the other side you need to Download the APK file on your Android smartphone. To install this APK file you need to make sure that you have turned on the ‘Unknown Source’ under Settings > Application.
Now tap on the APK file and it will ask for the confirmation to install or not. Tap on
You will further find that Dropbox will be installed on your phone.
Finally it will be installed.
When you tap on the Continue to Dropbox, you will be taken to further step of setting up your email with Dropbox.
Once you install the APK file and complete full installation of Dropbox APK file you will a mail at your registered email ID which says -
 Hi Android Advices,

Congrats on becoming a Dropbox Guru! We’ve awarded you 23 GB of bonus space for the next 24 months! You now have 33.5 GB on Dropbox. To get even more space, check out our upgrade options.

Thanks again for supercharging your HTC device with Dropbox!
Here is the proof of 23 GB additional storage which I have got it on my account, previously it was hard earned 10 GB via referrals.
 That’s it. That complete installation and you can now enjoy additional 32 GB of storage on your device. But this 23 GB free storage will last for at maximum of two years and once you complete two years, you will be asked to upgrade your account to premium.

How to Use QR Codes to Share Contacts & Install Android Apps

 How to Use QR Codes to Share Contacts & Install Android Apps?
Did you ever come across those square barcodes and on website, visiting cards and on products? Did you ever wonder how they actually works and why are they meant for? Well today we will go through the barcodes ie., the QR Code and where we use this barcodes.



QR Code basically are the two dimensional square barcodes which has data inside it, it may be a website link or phone number or the text but mostly users use to refer to a website. Many phones comes with bar code scanner application, one you ON that it will go through camera application so that it can scan the QR code. Many sites provide QR codes so that users can quickly scan through the code and visit the site without typing anything. So you just need an Android phone with built in camera and barcode scanner application which can be found on the Android PlayStore for free. Its quite easy to create a QR Code on the web and there are various sources by which you can generate QR Code for your site, product, application, link or picture or anything which is one the web in the URL format. Some of the major applications that we have gone through usage of barcode are the installing of Android Apps.

Using the Bar Code

First you need to install the application dedicated for scanning the QR Codes. There are numerous number of Android applications available on the Android Play Store for free and paid as well. We recommended using the Norton Snap Android applications on your device because this application protects you from scanning the dangerous and harmful QR codes. Since you don’t know what might be the source URL, you should stay with secure and safety and so is why Norton Snap is the recommended one. Along with that there are other applications such as Barcode Scanner, Barcode reader and ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner.

Installing Applications using Bar Code

Once when you see a Barcode, open the barcode application on your mobile phone and the place the camera towards the QR code.

When you points towards the square barcode, flashing red lines are been displayed on the screen of your phone. You need to centre the QR code and please don’t move your camera too much as it will require a constant few seconds scanning.
When the barcode is finished reading it will identify the QR code and will show the option to open browser, share via email and share via SMS.
It’s clear with those terms and if you have an Android App you will be forwarded to Android Play Store to the app link. Now you just need to click on Install option. For your easy understanding I have the Android Birds Rio Android applications by Rovio and here I am through that QR code.
You can share the QR code using Bluetooth, Email, Gmail, Google +, messaging, Social hub, Wi Fi direct.

So that quite easy to share with your friend but I think there will be not much applications for sharing. The QR code can come good when you have a advertising phamplet or broucher given to any one and the instead of provide URL, the bar code will provide quick access to the site.

Its just the beginning of the exploring the new world with Android and the bar code.

Angry Birds Space Released for Android

Angry Birds Space Released for Android

Rovio Entertainment has finally released the much awaited ‘Angry Birds Space’, a major brand new version of Angry Birds game line-up. The game is available now for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android devices, as well as for Mac and Windows.

Angry Birds Space introduces you to new adventures on planets, features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular gameplay ranging from slow-motion puzzles to lightspeed destruction. With brand new birds, brand new superpowers, and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit! It also includes many hidden goodies, secret levels and cool space content. The gameplay has been thoroughly optimized for all platforms, and it fully supports Retina display on the new iPad. The PC version features the DANGER ZONE, the most difficult Angry Birds levels ever! Can you master the Danger Zone?
Features:
60 interstellar levels 

Regular free updates
Brand new birds 

Brand new superpowers
Zero-gravity space adventures
Trick shots using planets’ gravity
New in-app purchases
Hidden bonus levels

Beautifully detailed backgrounds
 



DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK:- http://bit.ly/spaceonandroid (Free)
                                         OR
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Force stop Android Applications


Force stop Android Applications










Settings > Manage Applications> Menu button > Filter by “Running.” > Select application > Force stop

You could also try the Advanced Task Killer to manage running apps more easily.

What is root android?

What is root android?


“What is rooting? Why should I root my Android device?” These are common questions that I get asked quite often. Today’s lesson is to talk to you about both the advantages and disadvantages of rooting your Android devices. But before we get started, a word of caution: rooting or modifying your phone in any way will void your manufacturer’s warranty and possibly “brick” it. What does “bricking” your device mean you ask? Exactly what you think… It means screwing up your phone software so badly that your phone can no longer function properly and is pretty much as useless as a brick. I do not in any way recommend anyone to root their Android device. This article is simply to introduce you to the subject of rooting and present you with both the pro’s and con’s so that you can make an educated decision on your own.



What is Rooting?



“Rooting” your device means obtaining “superuser” rights and permissions to your Android’s software. With these elevated user privileges, you gain the ability to load custom software (ROM’s), install custom themes, increase performance, increase battery life, and the ability to install software that would otherwise cost extra money (ex: WiFi tethering). Rooting is essentially “h@cking” your Android device. In the iPhone world, this would be the equivalent to “Jailbreaking” your phone.



Why is it called Rooting?



The term “root” comes from the Unix/Linux world and is used to describe a user who has “superuser” rights or permissions to all the files and programs in the software OS (Operating System). The root user, because they have “superuser” privileges, can essentially change or modify any of the software code on the device. You see, your phone manufacturer/carrier only gives you “guest” privileges when you purchase your device. They do this for good reason… they don’t want you getting into certain parts of the software on your phone and screwing it up beyond repair. It makes it much easier for them to manage and update the devices if they lock it all down. This way, all the users are running the same unmodified version of the phone’s software. This makes it much easier for them to support the devices. But, for the tech-savvy crowd, only having “guest” privileges on your device is pretty lame and it locks down a lot of potentially useful features.



What are the Advantages of Rooting?



Custom Software (ROM’s)



You may have heard of people loading custom “ROM’s” on their devices. A “ROM” is the software that runs your device. It is stored in the “Read Only Memory” of your device. There are many great custom ROM’s available that can make your Android device look and perform drastically different. For instance, you might be stuck with an older Android device that is stuck on an older version of the Android OS and it is not getting any of the newer updated versions of Android. With a custom ROM, you could load up the latest and greatest available Android versions and bring that antiquated device up to par with some of the newer ones. There are lots of great ROM’s available for many different phones and it is up to you to find the one that best meets your needs. The best place that I have found to find custom ROM’s for Android devices is the XDA Developers Forums. The XDA community is filled with smartphone enthusiasts and developers for the Android platform. Check them out and see if you find any ROM’s that would meet your needs.


Custom Themes



Themes are basically the graphics that appear on your Android device. Rooting your device allows you the ability to fully customize just about every graphic on your device. You can load custom themes that totally change the look and feel of your device. Here are some examples: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=527



Kernel, speed, and battery



There are many custom ROM’s and apps available for rooted devices that will allow you to drastically improve the performance (speed) and also extend battery life on your device. A lot of developers tweak the kernels (layer of code that handles communication between the hardware and software) for added performance, battery life, and more.

Baseband



Rooting your device grants you the ability to update the Basebands on your smartphone. The Baseband is what controls the radio on your device. By updating to the latest Basebands, you can potentially improve both the signal and quality of your phone calls.



Latest Versions of Android



As mentioned earlier, custom ROM’s can allow you to update to the latest version of the Android OS before they are officially released. This is a great feature for those who are tech-savvy and want to stay on top of the latest and greatest software updates before it hits the mainstream crowd. This is also useful if you have an outdated device that is no longer being updated by the manufacturer.
Backing up your device



The ability to easily backup all of your Apps and Data is one feature that is sorely missed on the stock build of Android devices. But if you root your device, backing up everything on your device (both apps and data) becomes a simple task. Titanium Backup is a must have app for anyone who has rooted their devices and wants to backup and restore their phones
Unlocking Additional Features



By rooting your Android device you also gain the ability to unlock some features that your carrier may charge for. One example is enabling free WiFi and USB tethering, which many carriers charge money for. Now, I’m not suggesting you do this. But I did want to make you aware of the fact that it is possible to do this. However, your carrier may catch on to the fact that you are using your device as a free WiFi hotspot and figure out a way to charge you for it. So use this feature at your own risk!
 

What are the Disadvantages of Rooting?



Bricking



The number one reason not to root your device is the potential risk of “bricking” it. As mentioned earlier, “bricking” your device means screwing up your phone software so badly that your phone can no longer function properly and is pretty much as useless as a brick. You would likely need to purchase a new Android device since the manufacturer of your device will void the warranty after any attempts at rooting.



Security



There is an increased risk of unknowingly installing malicious software when you root an Android device. Root access circumvents the security restrictions that are put in place by the Android OS. There isn’t really an effective way to tell just what the application intends to do with that “superuser” power. You are putting a lot of trust into the developer’s hands. In most cases, these applications are open source and the community can take a look at the source code to assess the risk. But, nevertheless, the risk is there. Fortunately, malicious software on rooted devices hasn’t really been a problem as of yet. But I thought it was worth mentioning since this could be a potential risk in the future. I’d recommend installing an Anti-Virus and Security App just to be safe. Lookout Mobile Security seems to be one of the best ones available at the moment.

Can I Unroot my device if I change my mind?



Yes. You would need to do some research for your specific type of device. As mentioned earlier, the XDA Developer Forums is the best place to start. [Link Here]



How do I learn how to root my device?



Unfortunately, there is no easy way to teach someone how to root their Android device. Each device has a unique method to rooting and some research most be done on your part. As I mentioned earlier, the best place to start would be the XDA Developer Forums. [Link Here] Another option is to simply Google your model phone and the term root (ex. “HTC EVO root”). Have fun and good luck to all of you! I hope you found this lesson on rooting to be helpful.

How to install ALL applications on SDcard

How to install ALL applications on SDcard

To run commands which will enable Move to SD card button for most installed apps, you need to have adb executable on your computer. Adb stands for Android Debug Bridge and is used for Android software development, but it is a very useful tool to have for any advanced Android user. You do not need to have a rooted phone to run adb commands.

here is the steps you need to do:-

1.
Download the SDK installer from Download
and install it. (it will need some JAVA stuff for running ADB,dont worry, if you already have , then it will installed, and if you dont have , it will show you what to install)

2.
After installing, open SDK Manager from your SDK installation directory (usually its c:/android/sdk)

3.
it will load after about a minute, so pls be calm
it will get update for new packages, let it do so.
after that, select "platform-tools" (Its in second line mostly)
click on "1 install packages.." button on right lower corner.

A popup will open, just select "accept" there and install the component.

4.
Go to settings > Applications > Development and enable USB debugging.

connect your phone to PC via USB cable (do not turn ON data transfer mode)

5.
open command prompt from "cmd" in windows.

and go to your "ads" directory
(if you have install sdk in default path, then this should be done via typing this command "cd c:\Program Files\Android\sdk\platform-tools"

you can change location as per your installation.

6.
when the folder is loaded, type this (without the quotes)
"adb devices"

and you must see some no. (like 0123456789ABCDEF device)

if you see this, then you are ready to go to next step.

7.
Now type this
"adb shell"
and hit enter.
you should see a "$" sign in next line.

now type this
"pm setInstallLocation 2"
and then "exit"

Done now

now just go to Settings->Applications->Manage Applications
and select the SD card / USB storage TAB.

there, you will see tick on some apps, which are already installed on SD card.

so, just click the apps which are not ticked (i.e. installed on phone) and select "move to SD"
and you are done



Note:-

Some application with widgets will not work properly if they are installed on SD card.