Blackberry and Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720 users who have already installed their devices with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, may root their devices using the tutorial below.

This tutorial uses CF-Auto-Root file released by recognised XDA Developers, Chainfire. The CF-Auto-Root file allowing Galaxy S4 users to root their devices easily without depending on the firmware. It completely supports Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and future firmware as well.

Disclaimer: Rooting voids the warranty of your device. We and the developer of this rooting procedures shall not be held responsible if any undesirable outcomes may happen to your device. use of this root guide is solely at your own risk!

Pre-requisites
1) Install USB Driver for Samsung Galaxy S4 on the computer.
2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone by navigating to Settings >> Developer Options.
3) Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.
4) Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 per cent.
5) The CF-Auto-Root file works only on Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720. Applying this on any incorrect variant will brick the device. Verify the model number of the Galaxy S4 by navigating to Settings >> About Phone.

File Required
1. CF-Auto-Root (Mirror Link) for Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720 (CF-Auto-Root-jfltespr-jfltespr-sphl720.zip)
2. Odin 3.07

Steps to Root Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720 Running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean Firmware
Step 1: Extract CF-Auto-Root and Odin 3.07 files using winrar/7zip/winzip or any other extracting tool.
Step 2: Switch off the Galaxy S4. Then boot the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down + Home buttons together and then press the Power button until the device turns on. Now press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Step 3: Launch Odin on the computer.
Step 4: Connect the Galaxy S4 to the computer using USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. Wait until Odin detects the device. When the device is connected successfully, the ID: COM box will turn yellow with the COM port number. Additionally, the successful connected will be indicated by a message saying Added.
Step 5: In Odin, click the PDA button and select the CF-Auto-Root-jfltespr-jfltespr-sphl720.tar.md5 file.
Step 6: Verify that Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected in Odin. Also, ensure the Re-Partition option in Odin is not selected.
Step 7: Double-check and click Start in Odin. The installation process will now begin.
Step 8: Once flashing completed, your phone will restart and soon you will see a PASS message with green background in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. You can now unplug the USB cable to disconnect your device from computer.

Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720 running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean firmware is now rooted successfully. You may now install any app that requires root permission.

Thanks to all fellas at XDA who first tried out this rooting technique. This method was originally posted via XDA-Developers original thread.

Click here to know How to Update Galaxy S4 (Sprint) SPH-L720 with Android 4.2.2 VPUAMDL Jelly Bean official firmware.

LG has unveiled the world’s slimmest Full HD LCD panel for smartphones, conveniently launched just ahead of its Optimus G2 event next month.


Measuring just 2.2mm thick with a 2.3mm bezel, the 5.2-inch Full 1080 x 1920p HD panel is world’s slimmest and should allow smartphones to be considerably thinner.

Not only thinner, the panel is also lighter than other screen and will provide a larger surface area upon which to view content on smartphones.

“Today’s introduction of the world’s slimmest Full HD LCD panel represents an exciting advancement for the high-end smartphone segment, and is possible due to our world-class expertise in IPS and touch technologies”, said Dr. Byeong-Koo Kim, the VP and Head of LG Display’s IT and Mobile Development Group. “LG Display will continue its commitment to developing products that maximise consumer value as well as opening new doors for the mobile and tablet PC industry.”

The super-slim panel includes the latest touch technology from LG Display, named Advanced One-Glass-Solution (OGS). By inserting Dual Flexible Printed Circuits between the panel and the “touch film” increases the responsiveness of the screen.

LG Optimus G2 Rumours

LG has conveniently launched this super-slim panel technology just ahead of its August 7 launch for the LG Optimus G2.

The clearest LG Optimus G2 images emerged earlier this week, supporting the original reports that the smartphone was too thin for buttons. In fact, the smartphone’s volume rocker is supposedly located on the rear of the device below the 13-megapixel rear camera.

The South Korean electronics manufacturer could include this latest panel technology in its upcoming flagship, due to replace the LG Optimus G.

Lastest rumours have suggested that the smartphone will pack a 5.2-inch display, which could be this super-slim panel.

Other tipped specs include a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU with 2GB of RAM powered by a 2700mAh battery.

Sony promised to release Android 4.2.2 updates for the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL soon after their launch. And even though the Xperia ZL hit the shelves a few weeks later than the Xperia Z, it is the first one to taste the latest 4.2.2 version of Jelly Bean.


Currently the Android 4.2.2 update is available for the Sony Xperia ZL C6503 (LTE) model across Europe. You can have it both through Sony PC Companion and over-the-air. We expect the other Xperia ZL flavors and more countries to join the roll out in the next couple of weeks.

Since Sony Xperia ZL and Xperia Z are practically identical, save for the different shells, we guess the update for the water-proof Xperia Z should be just around the corner.

An iPad mini 2 release date has been tipped for September, with industry insiders suggesting the handset will start shipping in August.


Seemingly set to land a year after Apple’s original 7-inch iPad mini tablet, the mooted iPad mini 2 has been pegged for a September launch with the Google Nexus 7 rival reportedly set to touch down alongside the eagerly awaited and heavily rumoured budget iPhone.

Citing unnamed sources within the supply chain, DigiTimes has claimed the iPad mini 2 release date will follow shipping in August, a launch window that would see the next-generation tablet arrival touting the newly unveiled iOS 7 operating system. It has suggested the Apple’s manufacturing partner Pegatron will start piecing together the second-generation tablet next month.

With some suggesting the iPad 5 could have been a surprise WWDC 2013 unveiling earlier this week, latest reports have suggested the 9.7-inch tablet revision will actually be pushed back until early 2014 to accommodate the next iPad mini.

Claiming the iPhone 5S had also been pushed back in to the new year, the reports stated: “A next-generation iPhone and 9.7-inch iPad reportedly will appear in early 2014.”

iPad mini 2 Rumours

With an iPad mini 2 having been on the cards since the arrival of the original model, it is widely believed that the refreshed model will boast Apple’s stunning Retina display technology.

As well as being on the end of a visual overhaul, further iPad mini 2 rumours have claimed the tablet will sport a faster, quad-core CPU, improved graphics and upgraded camera optics. An iPad mini 2 release date has previously been pegged for Q3, with Apple reportedly intent on capitalising on the lucrative pre-Christmas shopping spree.

Vertu has announced a new special edition of the already special Vertu Ti handset. Called the Vertu Ti Color (surely they could have afforded to come up with a more creative name), the limited edition handset will be available in two colors, Sunset Red and Midnight Blue. Only 1000 units of this handset will be made.


One of the things that sets Vertu devices apart from other phones is the choice of material gone into making them (and the other being the resultant price tag). The Vertu Ti Colors follows that tradition by having a grade 5 titanium body, which other than making it five times stronger than other smartphones also makes it very light. Complementing the metal is calf leather in either of the two colors.

In terms of hardware specifications, the Vertu Ti Color has a 3.7-inch display with sapphire crystal cover that is said to be the largest ever engineered. Sapphire crystal is known to be extremely hard and weaker only to diamond.

On the inside is a 1.7GHz processor of unknown make and model, 8 megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and dual LED flash, 1.3 megapixel front camera, 64GB storage memory, NFC and a rather outdated Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Also part of the package is Vertus famous Concierge service.

The Vertu Ti Colors is priced at HK$90,000 (or US$11,600) and is on sale right now.

A Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date has reportedly been set, with the camera heavy S4 spinoff pegged to go on sale in the UK on July 8.


One of a trio of Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs recently confirmed for launch, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom boasts an impressive camera with 10x optical zoom and will line up alongside the 4.3-inch Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the waterproof Samsung Galaxy S4 Active.

While a number of recent reports have pegged the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini release date for this weekend, independent online retailer Clove has now claimed the S4 Zoom will go on sale a week on Monday.

Allowing wannabe S4 Zoom owners to pre-order their smartphone turn compact camera right now, the retailer has claimed the Android powered handset will start shipping on July 8. A Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom price tag has been set by the retailer at £442.80.

While Clove has stated “First stock [is] due week commencing July 8th,” Samsung has yet to offer any official word on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date.

In announcing the S4 Zoom, Active and Mini, Samsung suggested that, having looked to milk the cashcow that is its flagship smartphone brand dry, there would be no further Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs making an appearance.

“With the arrival of the Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy S4 Active and Galaxy S4 Zoom we can finally say the Galaxy S4 range is complete,” DJ Lee, President and Head of Sales and Marketing for Samsung’s IT and Mobile Communications Division said.

A July 8 Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom release date would see the South Korean manufacturer’s new camera phone offering hit retailers just days before what is likely to become its biggest rival is formally announced. On July 11 Nokia, at a New York launch event, is expected to unveil the Nokia Lumia 1020, a Windows Phone 8 handset with a 41-megapixel PureView camera.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Features

Something of a hybrid device, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is half smartphone, half compact camera with the 4.3-inch device packing Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean alongside its showpiece 16-megapixel snapper with a 10x optical zoom.

With a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display lining up with a relatively low key 960 x 540p display and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom specs sheet sees the handset further benefit from a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, further expandable via microSD.

Landing alongside the showpiece 16-megapixel snapper, the S4 Zoom adds a 1.9-megapixel forward-facing camera and a 2330mAh Lithium-Ion battery. The handset lines up at a considerable 15.4mm thick and a hearty 208g in weight.

The Nexus 4 has it all as far as most Android users are concerned. A gorgeous slim design, a sharp display, enough power and RAM to run games and Twitter with ease, and those critical sparkly bits on the back of it that give you something else to look at when youre done trawling your usual apps and feeds.


More importantly, being a Nexus device means its always first in line for software updates direct from Google, so it always features the very latest pre-loaded apps and tools that other Android users have to wait for their makers to port across.

Currently the Nexus 4 is running on the 4.2.2 iteration of Googles mobile software, which is as new as it gets. Were also expecting Google to push out an updated version of Android quite soon, most likely version 4.3, over the coming weeks. But until then, get the most out of your current edition Nexus 4 by installing these ten top apps that further enhance Googles current Android flagship.

DashClock Widget

One of the new additions within Android 4.2 that Nexus 4 owners can enjoy is the ability for some widgets to be installed on the lock screen, with the lock screen itself scrolling from left to right like the phones actual desktop.

DashClock Widget replaces the default clock, also letting you select from a list of additional extensions that add more data to the lock display.

You can have your emails incorporated there, the weather, battery status, upcoming Calendar entries, SMS messages and more, all in a stylish, Android-like layout. Its the Nexus advantage in full effect.

SphereShare.net

The Nexus 4 doesnt have the best physical camera in the smartphone world, but it does have Googles most feature-packed camera software -- including the impressive PhotoSphere tool that lets anyone create Street View style 360-degree panoramas by walking around in a circle and letting the phone stitch together the results.

Problem is, these PhotoSpheres are large, difficult to share and are usually only viewable through Google+, which is where SphereShare.net comes it. It lets you browse PhotoSpheres taken by other Nexus 4 users on your phone, giving you an instant gallery of staggering panoramas to leaf through and drop into.

Photosphere Live Wallpaper

If you have been so absorbed by the act of slowly rotating on the spot to categorise your surroundings you want a constant reminder on your Home screen, install this.

It lets you set a PhotoSphere as your wallpaper, using left and right swipes to scroll it roughly in time with the screens it sits behind, and the phones motion control sensors to move your "head" up and down.

Relive that great view or a 360-degree panorama of your bedroom with ease.

Chrome Beta

The Nexus 4s very latest Android OS already comes with the excellent mobile Chrome browser built-in, so the only way to get an even more bleeding-edge, nerdy web experience is to install Chrome Beta.

Its a separate, standalone app, which Google uses to test new functionality with understanding users who dont mind the odd glitch. It means you get new features first, which is one of the big reasons people invest in Nexus devices in the first place.

Feedly

If your Nexus is your mobile news hub, youll no doubt be gutted that Googles decided to close its Reader RSS feed tool by the summer of 2013.

This leaves a massive chasm in the world of desktop and mobile RSS reader apps, with few alternatives offering such a seamless RSS experience.

Fortunately, Feedlys just about there when it comes to matching Googles old Reader in terms of cross-platform reading, article syncing and sharing, plus it comes with a vastly superior design that borrows heavily from the stylish news aggregators like Flipboard and Googles own Currents app.

Twilight

This is a weird one, but it might change your life. Or at least change the sleeping part of it.

Twilight makes some very believable claims about the blue spectrum of light emitted by mobile screens, suggesting its these that tell our brains its the middle of the day -- despite the fact we tend to stare at our phones in the darkness before going to bed.

By eliminating the blue light from the screen output this app supposedly alleviates the effects of looking at a bright light in a dark room, helping your brain realise its dark and therefore bedtime. In short, it might help you sleep better if youre in the habit of using your phone before bed, in return for using a red-tinted display.

WeVideo

WeVideo adds loads more options to editing movies on the Nexus 4, letting users drag and drop videos onto a timeline to create long-form edits, add filters, drop in images and MP3s for use as a soundtrack, create titles and much more.

Google ought to buy it for a few hundred million and make it a standard thing.

Cinemagram

While Android users wait for Twitters developers to release a version of video sharing app Vine for Android, theres this stylish alternative to practise on.

Its pretty much exactly the same as Vine, letting users record short clips, live, with the press of a button to start/stop recording, which are automatically compiled into tidy, looping edits, and chucked online to share through social sites.

Theres some social network stuff built in too, but its best used as simple a simple way to share small video files.

Dextr Email Beta

There are plenty of third-party email apps competing for installation on your Nexus 4, plus the onboard generic Email option that comes as part of Android 4.2 is certainly worth using, too.

But this ones different. It syncs with a Gmail account and replaces Googles mail tools, giving you a simpler interface built around threaded messages that pop up in a modern Android-inspired layout.

A friend system lets you sort the humans from the automated notices that plague modern email, hopefully making reading messages less of a chore.

CloudMagic

Make sense of that mass of social networks, email providers and cloud services with Cloud Magic, which lets you search through all of them in one go.

The first task is the not insignificant chore of opening the app and separately signing in to everything again, but climb that mountain of tedium and you can then use its interface to search your Google account, various social networks, Microsofts mail systems, Evernote files and more, all through one little search box.

Do it often and you have to pay for increased access, but the occasional rummage is free -- and theres a lock screen widget for ease of access, too.

The sky was falling last week when it emerged that there was a major security hole that could mean 900 million Android devices could be vulnerable to hack attacks - but Google has now rolled out a patch.


It was quite a dramatic state of affairs, with security firm Bluebox reckoning that 99 per cent of Android handsets were vulnerable - there was the potential for nefarious devs to modify app update code.

That would mean that users could be merrily installing what appears to be a legit app update, but is actually riddled with nasty code courtesy of nefarious developers.

Patchwork

However, Google has been working to close the hole since February and has now succeeded.
Exactly when youll get the update will depend on your phone make, with individual manufacturers responsible for rolling out the update.

Samsung owners are quids in though, as Google confirmed to ZDNet that "a patch has been provided to our partners" with "some OEMs, like Samsung… already shipping the fix to Android devices".

Google says that its been a bit of a storm in a teacup though, adding, "We have not seen any evidence of exploitation in Google Play or other app stores via our security scanning tools. Google Play scans for this issue - and Verify Apps provides protection for Android users who download apps to their devices outside of Play."

Samsung has started rolling out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update with base firmware XXDMD2 for the Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100. This official update is currently available for download via Over-The-Air (OTA) update as well as through Samsung KIES, for the Galaxy Note 2 users from Southeast Asia countries.

Firmware details
PDA: N7100XXDMD2
CSC: N7100OLBDMD2
Version: Android 4.1.2
Built date: April, 2013
Regions: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand

The Galaxy Note 2 users who fail to upgrade their devices with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean using official method for being region specific, may follow our step-by-step guide to install the update manually.

Pre-requisites
1. Install USB Driver for Samsung Galaxy Note on the computer.
2. Enable USB Debugging Mode.
3. Make a backup of all your important data before following the guide.
4. The Galaxy Note 2 should be factory unlocked and not locked to any particular carrier.
5. Ensure the battery of the phone is charged more than 80 per cent.
6. The Android 4.1.2 XXDMD2 Jelly Bean firmware is compatible only with Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100 and installing this on any incorrect variant will brick the device. Therefore, verify the model number of the Galaxy Note 2 by navigating to Settings>> About Phone.

File Required
1. Android 4.1.2 XXDMD2 Jelly Bean Firmware
2. Odin 3.07

Steps to Update Galaxy Note 2 N7100 with Android 4.1.2 XXDMD2 Jelly Bean Firmware
Step 1: Extract Firmware zip file that you downloaded already from above link, you will get a .tar.md5 file and some other files.
Step 2: Extract Odin zip file and you will get Odin3 v3.07.exe along with few other files.
Step 3: Power off your phone. Wait 5-6 seconds for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
Step 4: Boot the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down + Home buttons together and then press the Power button until the device turns on. Now press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Step 5: Run Odin on the computer as an Administrator.
Step 6: Connect the Galaxy Note 2 to the computer using USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. Wait until Odin detects the device. When the device is connected successfully, the ID: COM box will turn yellow with the COM port number. Additionally, the successful connected will be indicated by a message saying Added. If Odin fails to detect the device then re-install USB driver.
Step 7: Choose the following files in Odin from extracted N7100XXDMD2 firmware folder by using respective checkboxes:

More pictures of the Nokia EOS PureView have leaked online, showcasing Nokia’s rumoured 41-megapixel camera smartphone.


The Nokia EOS PureView has emerged online again in new images that are much less blurry and clearly show the bulging camera housing in all its glory.

The pictures come from two separate sources but this only serves to reinforce the legitimacy of the leaked images, especially seeing as the rumours suggest a July 9 Nokia EOS PureView release date.

Packing a 41-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera, optical image stabilisation and potentially a variable aperture, the Nokia EOS PureView smartphone will be the upgrade to the successful Nokia 808 PureView that featured pixel-perfect lossless zoom technology.

Featuring a polycarbonate body, the Nokia EOS PureView is fairly beefy, reportedly 1mm thinner than the Nokia Lumia 920’s 10.7mm form factor, which has been criticised for its size.

The camera-centric smartphone could also have the same 1280 x 768p HD resolution display as the Lumia 920, but the screen size is currently unknown. It won’t be able to cope with full 1080p HD resolutions though, so it won’t be able to compare with the stunning displays of the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One.

Although the majority of the Nokia EOS PureView specs are still unknown, the latest rumours suggest that the smartphone will pack 32GB of internal storage. What’s surprising though, is that it will lack a microSD card slot, which is pretty much a necessity for a camera packing that many megapixels.

Following suit with the other Nokia Windows Phone 8 devices, we should expect to see a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, and judging by the images, it’ll have the same design refresh as the latest Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 925.
























Next: Read more news from the smartphone world.

If you are the lucky owner of a Samsung GALAXY Note II then you need to check out our video guide to the best apps to make the most of Samsungs innovative pressure sensitive S Pen.


The real beauty of the Samsung GALAXY Note II is the fact that it opens up a whole new world of apps that work even better with the S Pen. Check out the video above for a run through of our current favourite apps on the Google Play store that make the most of the S Pen.

LayerPaint

£1.99
If you want to create something really spectacular on your Note II, then an arty app is a good place to start. LayerPaint makes the creative process even easier by allowing you to work with different layers.

There are loads of handy tools available to help perfect your masterpiece, including brushes, bucket tool, gradation and hand tool.

Once youre happy with your creation, you can even export your work as a Photoshop file to pick up where you left off on your laptop or desktop computer.

Touch ReTouch HD

£0.62
An app thats essential for any keen photographers out there is Touch ReTouch. Using your S Pen, you can tweak and edit your GALAXY Note II photos in great detail quickly and easily. You can remove shadows, ghosts and flare, touch-up facial tone and even remove whole bridges and buildings from a background.

Then if youre unsure of the changes, theres an unlimited undo/redo feature and you always keep the original image resolution.

Maze Racer

Free
Maze Racer is hand drawn and looks beautiful. It was originally created for a Best S Pen app competition, so is perfect for the S Pen.

The aim is to draw a line from the word start to the word finish, with lots of obstacles getting in your way.

Youre even encouraged to draw your own levels and send them in – which is made infinitely better using the S Pen.

Angry Birds Space

Free
Angry Birds isnt an S Pen specific app, granted, but we reckon its even better to play with one. The precision of the S Pen is loads better than clumsy fingers and you can swipe your catapult across much faster too.

This time the eponymous Angry Birds and the enemy insolent swines find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy. But of course the games built on the same principles as before – launch your birds to destroy as many pigs as possible. This version has 140 levels to complete too, so should keep you busy.

Googles latest version of its Android software takes it up to version 4.0 and higher, which is commonly known as the Ice Cream Sandwich update of the mobile OS.
The big selling point is that it unifies the experience across all hardware, so users of phones running ICS see largely the same interface, albeit with some layout changes for the bigger screened devices.



Of course, theres still the issue of manufacturer skins to take into account. While Android 4.0 offers a basic and seriously updated feature set, some tools and features may be missing or accessed through different means when using the same OS on phones made by different companies.

So Samsungs Android 4.0 update, which were seeing arrive on its Galaxy S II right now, looks and works differently to the Android 4.0 youll shortly see arriving on HTCs exciting new One Series of phones.

Which makes compiling a list of tips that work on all versions of the OS out there rather hard. But enough of our moaning. Here are a few useful shortcuts to getting the most out of your Ice Cream Sandwich serving, whenever the metaphorical waitress decides to bring it to your metaphorical table.

1. Add quick controls to the browser

One of the options buried beneath the Labs section of Android 4.0s web browser is the Quick Controls option. This adds a pop-out menu to the browser, which pulls in a little semi-circular collection of shortcuts to the main browser features, removing the URL bar and giving you more screen to play with. Also, holding down the Back button is the Android standard way of bringing up the bookmarks and history tool, too. But thats been around for years.

2. Long-press to uninstall

Long-pressing on an app within the app drawer lets you drag it to a Home screen, but it also pops up a couple of menus along the top of the screen. App Info gives you the boring technical stuff about how much memory its taking up, or you can fling it off the other way to uninstall it.

3. Flying Android screensaver

One odd undocumented little secret within Android 4.0 is this strange little collection of flying Androids, which you can... look at. Look at for as long as you like. To activate it, head into the phones About screen and hammer away at the Android Version tab and itll all happen.

4. Save your eyes with inverted rendering

Inverted rendering is a posh way of saying it makes the pages black and turns the text white, so it looks like youre reading the internet from 1997. It also supposedly saves battery, plus is easier on the eyes if youre reading in the dark. Its under the browsers settings tab, within the accessibility area - and theres a contrast slider, too.

5. Set a custom rejection text message

When your Twitter action is rudely interrupted by someone actually telephoning you, theres a polite way to give the caller the boot. Android 4.0 lets users ping a rejection text message to callers - and youre able to customise this too. Just answer a call and ping the lock screen notification up to access to custom rejection messaging area.

6. Stop app icons automatically appearing

One of the many new ICS features is the way Google lets apps automatically add shortcuts to themselves on your Home screen when theyve finished installing. Its useful, but if youre a control freak and wish to remain 100% in charge of your Home layout, head to the Google Play apps settings tab and untick the Auto-add Shortcuts toggle.

7. Theres a Settings shortcut in the Notifications pane

That little settings icon in the ICS notifications area isnt just art to fill the space. Its a shortcut to your phone or tablets settings area. So use that instead of giving it a Home screen icon slot all to itself.

8. Manually close apps

Googles lovely new recent apps multitasking menu also lets you close apps quickly, should you suspect ones gone rogue. A Long-press within the Recent Apps listing lets you visit the apps info page, from where you can easily force close it.

9. Remove the lock screen

Its possible to entirely bin your Android 4.0 lock screen, making the phone instantly turn itself on when you press the power button. Its a security nightmare, but if your phone lives entirely on your desk and you demand instant access without any unlocking, head to Security > Screen lock and select none. Then be very careful.

10. Folders in the dock

Androids new official love of folder formation makes it dead easy to combine app shortcuts and make folders, simply by dragging one icon on top of another. You can make these groups of apps even easier to access by dragging a folder onto the ICS floating dock, meaning you can squeeze stacks more content on to each creaking Home screen.

11. Take photos while recording video

The Android 4.0 camera app that arrived with the Galaxy Nexus has one cool little extra feature - the ability to fire off still photos while recording video clips. Simply tapping the screen takes a shot at full resolution, which is saved to the phones gallery while the videos still happily recording away.

12. Bin animations and transitions

Hidden within the Developer Options section of the Ice Cream Sandwich software are quite a few nerdy ways to adapt your phone. Most wont be of any use to those who are just using their phone as a phone, but if you want it to feel faster, or at least look a little different, the scrolling, zooming effects on windows and menus can be edited in many ways.

13. Take a grab of your phone

Screen grabbing of your phones display is finally in Android. On the Galaxy Nexus, its activated through holding the power button and volume down switch. On HTCs new models its done by holding the power button and pressing Home. Other phones had different techniques for doing this before Ice Cream Sandwich, but its good to see this now becoming part of the standard Android feature set in Android 4.0.

14. Long-press dotted words

When typing on the Android 4.0 keyboard, you may see some suggested words appear with the "..." icon beneath. Doing a long-press on this one will pop up a much bigger window of suggested words, letting you bail out on some of that tedious typing a little quicker.

15. Add additional faces

The ICS face unlock feature, as found in the Galaxy Nexus, lets you unlock it by scanning your face with the front camera. Which is great, but what if you havent shaved for a month? The software can actually store multiple images of your face, so you can do left parting, right parting, shaved, unshaved - or even add a trusted a friend to the visually verified user list.

16. Experiment with GPU settings

Another hidden little gem found within the Development options tab is the hardware acceleration Force On toggle. This makes ICS attempt to boost the performance of any apps that dont already use the feature. It may also break them in the process, though, so its something of a trial and error fiddling exercise to do on a very rainy day.

17. Type like an adult

Make a stand for grammatical standards in this day and age by long-pressing on the stock Android 4.0 keyboards full stop button. This brings up such doomed punctuation as commas and speech marks, plus even a semicolon for the extra brave mobile typist.

18. Nick wallpapers off the internet

Found a lovely photograph of some stars, a pretty computer generated planet or even the mighty Professor Brian Cox himself? Long-pressing on any image in the web browsers lets you instantly set it as your wallpaper, without the hassle of saving it, finding it, and setting it the long way.

19. Limit background process

If you fancy an even more serious bit of fiddling, the same ICS developer area contains the option to "limit background process" demands by the OS. You can use this to stop your phone or tablet storing so many apps in memory. Whether this has any effect of the actual battery life of us users is up for debate, but again, its something to play with and see if it suits your phone use patterns.

20. Quickly access Notifications

Heres a simple yet huge change Googles made in Android 4.0 - the Notifications pane can be accessed from the lock screen. Press power, touch the Notifications area, then scroll down to read your latest messages. Obviously its a bit of a security risk and lets anyone access your messages, so best be careful.

Dropbox has revealed a new set of developer tools called Dropbox Platform, which aims to help make your data readily available across platforms and apps.


The company announced the new tool at its first Dropbox developer conference, DBX, which is being held in San Francisco this week.

The Sync API already lets developers access Dropboxs file syncing technology, but this latest announcement opens up far more possibilities.

For example, the new Datastore API allows app developers to sync app-specific data to the cloud. This could involve settings, contacts, to-do lists, sketches, and even game save files, to name just three.

It means that you could have an app installed on multiple devices and it would sync up across them without fuss. Potentially the most exciting aspect of this will be for mobile gamers, who will be able to start a game on their Apple iPad and continue it on their Android phone (or vice versa).

The other tool is Drop-in, which provides simple lines of code to add important Dropbox functionality to your app quickly and efficiently. The two initial examples provided are Chooser, which grants quick access to Dropbox files from within an app (for sharing files, for example), and Saver which - you guessed it - permits one-click saving to the cloud.

The important thing to note here is that Dropbox Platform doesnt provide a whole heap of brand new functionality, but it does make it a lot easier for app developers to sync data to the cloud. This should ensure that we see such features as standard in a lot more apps from now on.

Amid a mass of budget iPhone rumours, claimed images of Apple’s upcoming cut-price handset have leaked online, showing off the phone’s colourful body.



















A device expected to sit under the upcoming iPhone 5S as a more wallet-friendly offering, the mooted budget iPhone is expected to target the mass of mid-market Android handsets which have given Google the smartphone edge over Apple.

Although far from official, the latest claimed budget iPhone images show a plastic rear shell that looks set to sport a similarly elongated design to the current iPhone 5. Unlike the monochrome high-end iPhone, the budget handset has leaked in vibrant green hue, one of ‘6-8 colours’ the device is expected to ship in.

While the components which are set to make up the plastic clad iPhone have not been made clear by the latest images, the pictures have suggested the budget smartphone will sport a rear-mounted camera with an integrated LED flash and microphone hole for improved video recording capabilities.

With past budget iPhone rumours offering contrasting views on whether the cheap Apple handset would feature a plastic or brushed aluminium body, the latest leaks have hinted that the device could feature a cheaper material akin to that used on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Budget iPhone Rumours

A product that has been shrouded in much rumour and speculation for a number of months, the budget iPhone is believed to be heading for launch later this year and could even to make it to retail ahead of the flagship iPhone 5S.

According Topeka Capital analyst Brian White, a man renowned for being an Apple tipster, the budget iPhone will precede the iPhone 5S. In a note to investors earlier this month he suggested the budget iPhone will land under the heading of the iPhone mini and will sport a 4-inch display.

With the budget iPhone expected to go on sale in September, it has been suggested that, like the latest iPod touch iteration, the handset will land in a variety of colours. Said to run iOS 7, the budget iPhone will reportedly touch down in “white, pink, green, blue and yellow” hues.

AT&T holds the exclusivity on the dust and water resistant Samsung Galaxy S4 Active for the United States.

The phone was unveiled earlier this month and its worldwide availability will start with the US and Sweden.
AT&T has been taking pre-orders since June 14 with a promised shipping date June 21. As it turns out though AT&T started shipping the Galaxy S4 Active yesterday, which is two days ahead of schedule, and many users are already using the tough smartphone.



AT&T website is still taking pre-orders though it now says those will be fulfilled on June 19.
Other markets will launch the Galaxy S4 Active later this summer.

Following the handset’s formal unveiling yesterday, a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date has been rumoured for July 1.



With Samsung having yet to confirm a precise Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date, reports have claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoff will hit the UK in a matter of weeks, landing in retailers from Monday July 1.

A water, dust and drop proof remake of the flagship S4, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active boasts IP67 protection and many of the high-end features and components that are present on its iPhone 5 and HTC One rivalling sibling.

The early July release date, which has been mooted by serial Samsung rumourmonger SamMobile, fits with the Korean manufacturer’s promise to hold a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active release date during the summer.  The handset is one of many devices set to be formally showcased during the handsets

Citing an unnamed “well-known source, the serial Samsung tipsters have claimed that “the Galaxy S4 Active will be released in the UK on July 1st.” We must stress that this has yet to be confirmed and, given the source’s history, might want to be taken lightly.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Features

Capable of being submerged in up to 1 metre of water for half an hour without damage, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active runs Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and the same 1.9GHz quad-core processor as its title model sibling.

Having dropped the S4’s 13-megapixel rear-mounted camera in favour of an 8-megapixel offering, the 9.1mm thick, 151g in weight Samsung Galaxy S4 Active boasts a special Aqua Mode offering improved underwater snaps.

With 16GB of internal storage and a 2600mAh Lithium-Ion battery, the S4 Active specs sheet is rounded off by a 5-inch Full HD display, 2GB of RAM and a second 2.1-megapixel forward-facing camera.

Next: Read more smartphone news, or find tips and tricks for your phone.

There were two people in the house when a noise was sounded. They were Sofía, who had got 16 years old and Alejandro, who had 17 years.
They were very confused because the noise were sounded a lot of times. It was very uncomfortable to listen
because it was very powerful.
Sofía was called a her mum very worried but her mum not taked the phone.
Sofía and Alejandro were very scared but when the noise was stop a men was entrer by the door and do a lot of knife wound a Sofía in the chest and Alejandro was leaved to request help.
The men was follow to Alejandro and, at the moment, Sofía was die.
The mum of Sofía was arrived to the house and when she was looked a Sofía, she decided to commit suicide.
When Alejandro was knowed that, he changed the house.

                                                             Marina López Manzanera 4ºAX

Summers soon here and if you dont want to suffer the indignity of being stuck in the house with bored, screaming kids for the duration of the sun-friendly months ahead, you need to book yourself a last minute bargain getaway.

And the GALAXY Note II is, as ever, your friend in this most worthwhile of endeavours, with a welter of great apps that work a treat on its expansive 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED screen.

Heres our choice of the top ten best last minute getaway tips for your Note II this summer.

Hotels.com

Free
The latest update of this all-encompassing hotel search app is designed specifically with GALAXY Note II users in mind.

The app has been optimised for the phones generous display, with a Draw a Search function, which uses the handsets S Pen to personalise a specific search area.

Hover the S Pen over a chosen hotel to get exact details on room rates and availability, along with images of the accommodation. Theres a huge range of options, with listings for more than 154,000 hotels in 200 countries. So wherever you end up going on holiday, this neat add-on will have it covered.

Flightboard

£2.39
This natty app is ideal if youve got tight connections to make on your last-minute trip. Flightboard covers 3,000 airports and 1,400 airlines, so unless youre plotting some serious off grid action in western Mongolia or the Namib desert, chances are itll have your arrival or departure covered.

As well as being a practical must-have thatll stop you searching out screens in cramped departure lounges, its also a joy to look at. The design is based on the classic ticker board at Pariss Charles De Gaulle airport.

Its also chock full of social features so you can share info with everyone else on your trip via Facebook, Twitter and email.

XE Currency

Free
Getting stung at the bureau de change is no way to start your holiday. XE Currency serves up real time info on the latest exchange rates, whether youre after US dollars, Euros or Bulgarian Lev.

That way if you cant reach an ATM, you can always check to see if the people youre buying your money from are giving you the best deal. Whats more, it syncs currency conversions offline, so theres no need to pay hefty data roaming fees on your Note II when you touch down on the other side.

TripAdvisor Hotels Flights

Free
Getting the perfect hotel or choosing the right airline is imperative if you want to make your last minute summer break a relaxing one. TripAdvisors reviews are always refreshingly honest and give an up-to-the-minute insight that guidebooks just cant manage.

The app is a doddle to use - browse restaurant reviews by food type, cost and rating and compare flight prices on one page. A nifty Near Me Now feature uses your location to tell you the best places to go in your area, making this the ultimate replacement for your tatty old Rough Guide.

Voice Translator

Free
Learning the lingo is always common courtesy, but moving beyond hello, goodbye, please and thank you can sometimes be a daunting task. Thats where Voice Translator comes in.

This app lets you type in what you want translated or simply dictate it via your Note IIs microphone. You can listen back to the translation and either attempt it yourself or simply hand the phone to a local and hold your conversation in a whole new way. Over 50 languages are supported, including Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish and Hindi. Youll be hard pushed to find a destination where this app doesnt help.

National Rail Enquiries

Free
If youre opting to stay in Blighty rather than fly off to foreign climes, then sticking this freebie on your GALAXY Note II is essential.

National Rail Enquiries serves up live train departure and arrival times for every station in the UK, so whether youre spending a week on the beach in Cornwall or a few days on the West Highland Way, youll know exactly when to get your train there and back. You can check a specific journey between two stations, track trains in real time to check on delays and even buy tickets via third parties.

AA Route Planner

£1.99
Alternatively, if youd rather use the car than take the train, AA Route Planner is a smart bet for the directionally challenged. While it serves up standard ways of getting from A to B, its directions also point out local landmarks, making it easier to work out when you need to turn off the road or carry straight on.

There are route options for caravans and those looking to avoid toll roads. You also get the full route and turn-by-turn instructions via a specially design interactive map. No more crawling down country lanes and wondering if youve made a wrong turn.

Camping Trip Planner

69p
Hardy camping types, this ones for you. This app features a handy, editable checklist of things youll need to take to ensure you dont find your week under canvas an uncomfortable dirge.

You can add things youll need depending on what time of year youre going away or what sort of destination youre planning on camping. So, if youre hitting Provence, remember to pack a corkscrew. Or, if youre Alps-bound, ensure youve got walking boots marked down on the list. You can even save different lists depending on where youre headed.

WeatherPro

£2.49
Before you click buy on that too-good-to-be-true last minute package, hit WeatherPro. This app is just about the best weather add-on going and serves up extremely detailed forecasts for myriad destinations around the globe.

Get long-range forecasts, check cloud cover and make sure that where youre going is getting all the sun you could possibly want. Two million locations are covered, you get radar images of Europe and the US and even info on wind speed, air pressure and rain percentages. Perfect for plotting a sunny getaway.

TravelSafe Pro

99p
It pays to be prepared; especially when your holiday has been booked in a hurry and youre busy deciding how many swim suits to pack.

TravelSafe Pro packs a plethora of essential information, including local numbers for emergency services, embassy contact details and 12 different language settings to help get over any communication barriers. Everythings stored locally, so if something bad does happen, then you wont be hit by high data charges while abroad.