Sameed Khan

Executive Editor
Electronics engineer | Writer/Blogger | Technology & Graphic design enthusiast | Avid PC gamer | Twitter | Google+

Dropsync For Android Gives True Two-Way Sync Between SD Card & Dropbox

by on
3
A good few months ago, we covered Dropspace for Android – a free app that automatically syncs, or rather, uploads files from your SD card to a directory within your Dropbox folder after regular intervals of time and, in addition, syncs back any changes made to them (including deletion). However, the app does not provide true two-way synchronization between your Dropbox folder and SD card (does not sync new files from the Dropbox folder to the SD card). New to the Android Market, Dropsync does just that. As of this writing, the app is perhaps the closest you’ll get to a replica (in functionality) of the desktop app for Dropbox. Link a directory on your device’s SD card to any folder within your Dropbox cloud storage and the app syncs existing files, modifications ad deletions both ways automatically after user-defined intervals of time. Said feature along with a host of options to customize the link between your Dropbox storage and SD card makes Dropsync a perfect alternative to the official Dropbox client. Read More

Hearing Saver Automatically Changes Volume On Plugging In / Unplugging Headphones [Android]

by on
2
Do you listen to a lot of music on your Android device? Then you probably know how much of a hassle it is to adjust the media volume every time you plug in your headphones and again up when you unplug them. Well, no more. Introducing Hearing Saver for Android - a small yet extremely handy tool that allows you to set separate media volume levels for when your headphones are plugged in and when they’re unplugged, saving you the trouble of touching that volume rocker each time. In addition, the app can be set to automatically mute ringer and notifications whenever headphones are plugged in – once again, a pretty impressive option to have up your sleeve. Although notification sounds are usually no longer than a beep, most users would rather want they weren’t disturbed by the sound of, say, an incoming SMS or email, while listening to music on their devices. What Hearing Saver offers is a functionality that many would like to see as part of the Android OS. However, even if the guys at Google stick with manual volume control, custom ROM developers can always integrate said functionality into their ROMs. Hearing Saver is free and open source. Read More

InvisiBright For Android – Swipe Or Tilt To Control Screen Brightness

by on
4
New to the Android Market, XDA-Developers member dannygirsh’s InvisiBright is a handy little tool that allows you to increase or decrease the display brightness of your Android device from anywhere simply by swiping up and down along a side of the screen or tilting the device forwards or backwards. This isn’t the first time we’ve come across such an app. Its functionality is quite similar to that of Brightness Motion. However, said app only uses motion (the accelerometer) to control the level of brightness and owing to the fast right-to-left and left-to-right flicking motion that it requires, is rather uncomfortable to use. InvisiBright, on the other hand, allows you to control screen brightness with slight motion and easy swipes. Read More

360 For Android Gets Major Update, Brings Better Panorama Stitching

by on
Leave a comment
We reviewed 360 for Android a while ago when the 3D panoramic photo capturing and sharing freeware was new to the Android Market. We believed the app was a welcome addition to the Market, seeing as there aren’t a lot of good apps of the genre available for the platform. And now we hear that the developers (TeleportMe) may have been approached by Google to build the app for their OEMs (Samsung and HTC). The initial release of the app was a tad rough around the edges as far as the process of capturing and stitching panoramas is concerned. Freshly released to the Market, version 2.0 of 360 not only improves upon said process, it adds easier sharing on Facebook and Twitter, providing greater efficiency and ease of use that is sure to earn the app an increase in its user ratings. And with support for over 200 Android devices and the added option to browse through a stream of panoramic / regular photos uploaded by 45000+ users from all around the world, the app may soon step in with the best of its kind out there. Read More

Red Cyan 3D Camera – Capture 3D Photos With Two Cameras Or Webcams

by on
5
If 3D photography intrigues you (like almost every other technology enthusiast) but you can’t afford a 3D camera or just aren’t crazed enough to spend the required amount of dough, say hello to Red Cyan 3D Camera – the next best thing. The freeware lets you capture Red-Cyan 3D images using dual cameras. You can use webcams too. The cameras should ideally be identical, facing the same direction and placed slightly apart (about 4 inches) from each other. The application allows single shots, timed capture and a sequence of shots that are separated by user-defined intervals and carry on for a user-defined amount of time. Alternatively, you can manually load and merge twin images into 3D (for instance, two slightly displaced photos of the same scene). Read More

[How To] Receive Updates For Side Loaded Market Apps From The Android Market Client

by on
11
When you side-load an Android Market app that is unavailable in your regional variant of the Market (Google+ or Google Maps, for instance), it isn’t included in the My apps list within the Market client on your device and hence, the client does not notify you when an updated version of the app is released. So, to keep your side-loaded apps up to date, you have to go through the ordeal of searching for and downloading APKs for every update that said apps receive on the Market. You could always use Market Enabler to spoof your network / location and download the app directly from within the Market app but the app requires your device to have root access. After the break, we explore a simple 3-step workaround that will allow you to link your side loaded Market apps with the Android Market mobile client so that you may receive timely and/or automatic updates for each, without requiring you to root your device. Read More

Get HTC Sense 3.0 Lockscreen On Your Android Device With Agile Lock

by on
11
As of this writing, there aren’t a lot of Android devices that support HTC Sense 3.0 or have stable ports of (or custom ROMs based on) the firmware. If you’re one of the many Android users who appreciate selective elements of the Sense 3.0 UI, then try Agile Lock on for size. The lockscreen replacement app is an impressive replica of the Sense 3.0 lockscreen. In fact, it's arguably the best one around. Agile Lock doesn’t just look like the Sense 3.0 lockscreen, it feels like it too. And purchasing the full version from the Android Market unlocks the app’s settings menu and the many customizable options that it contains. The developer seems to have a knack for creating replica lockscreens. Just recently, we covered a honeycomb lockscreen replica named Ripple Lock by the same developer. Read More

View Calendar Events On Android Lockscreen With Lockscreen Calendar

by on
Leave a comment
From the developer of Notification Toggle and Wallpaper Changer (XDA-Developers member j4velin) comes Lockscreen Calendar, yet another nifty freeware for Android. The app scans for upcoming events saved within the stock Calendar application and displays them on the lockscreen. You can set the app to display Calendar events affiliated with multiple Google accounts, define the number of events to be displayed and the time after which the app rescans / updates Calendar events. The app works perfectly with stock Android and CyanogenMod series of custom ROMs based on Android 2.2 or higher. We even tested it successfully with a lockscreen replacement application (Agile Lock). Read More

[How-To] Get The Facebook App For iPad Before Its Official Release!

by on
3
The iPad variant of Facebook’s official iOS client, the existence of which was a mere rumor at first was later on confirmed by the New York Times to have been in development. However, the social networking giant is yet to announce an exact release date for the app. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait for the official release. Just a few hours ago, TechCrunch reported to have found the app hidden within the code of the official Facebook app for iPhone. In what follows, we’ll walk you through a simple workaround that’ll allow you to enjoy the Facebook app for iPad before it hits the App Store (whenever that might be). The hack requires your iPad to be jailbroken and, of course, the Facebook for iPhone app to be installed. Step-by-step guide after the break. Read More

NoMoarPowah! – Alternate Charging Screen For Rooted Samsung Android Devices

by on
Leave a comment
It seems old Chainfire isn’t going to run out of original ideas any time soon. The veteran Android developer’s latest venture into the Android Market is as unique (both in name and functionality) as his other endeavors (such as Chainfire3D). The app is called NoMoarPowah! and its purpose is to replace the default charging screen of your Samsung device with a more practical one. That is, it replaces the graphic that appears while your phone is being charged while powered off with an interface that displays the current time and battery percentage, allows you to reboot your device with a single tap or set it to reboot once the battery is fully charged. And that’s not all. From within the app, you can customize the charging screen to wake your device at a time of your choice or, if the battery level is critically low, when said level reaches 15%. The app works only for selective Samsung Android Devices with root access. Read More

Free Version Of Fruit Ninja Hits Android Market

by on
1
It’s about time! Sharpen your katanas and brush up on your ninjutsu, Android users, because one of the best games on the Android Market now has a free (ad-supported) version. Fruit Ninja Free for Android comes with all the features, game modes and fruit-slicing fun that is a part of the full version (unlike the Lite  iOS variant, which only includes one of three game modes and demos for the other two). The only catch is the ads that appear within the menus and at the end of each game. Although the full version of Fruit Ninja doesn’t set you back much (slightly over a dollar), there are a lot of regions wherein the Market does not support purchases. Also, this gives non-gamers an incentive to try their hand at the game. If you haven’t tried Fruit Ninja yet, be warned – it’s extremely addictive. Ads or not, once you get a hold of the game or worse, get indulged in a high score competition with a friend, it becomes really hard to let go. Read More

Android App Player Beta For BlackBerry PlayBook Leaked! [Download]

by on
6
Announced in March and demoed at BlackBerry World 2011, the alternate ‘app player’ for RIM’s maiden tablet seems to be nearing its release. That’s right. We’re talking about the very app player that will allow you to run Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook. A few hours ago, a link to a beta version of the app appeared on the BlackBerry website, within the changelog of BlackBerry Desktop Manager. The linked page was taken down shortly after, but not before the app was spread across multiple file-hosting websites. The beta version of Android App Player, as it seems, comes packed with stock Android apps. Other apps will have to be downloaded from BlackBerry App World, that is, once they’ve been ported over to the platform by their developers. The app simulates Android home, menu and back buttons with bezel gestures. The on-screen back button that was part of the app during its first demo has been replaced by a bottom-left swipe gesture in the beta. Download links after the break. Read More

Official DC Comics Android App Lets You Download & Read Your Favorite Issues On The Go

by on
Leave a comment
Prep your utility belts and don your capes, DC fans, for the official mobile client for DC Comics is now available on the Android Market. Developed by comiXology, the app comes packed the same Guided View technology and roughly the same interface that governs Comics for Android – comiXology’s acclaimed comics reader. The app lets you browse through, purchase and read all the latest DC Comics right on your Android device. Prices range from $0.99 to $4.99. Additionally, the app features a host of digital comics that can be downloaded for free. Contrary to what one would expect, the reading isn’t awkward at all, courtesy of the aforementioned Guided View feature that allows you to shift from one scene or speech bubble in a comic to the next simply by swiping across the screen and caches your progress through each comic, allowing you to pick up from where you left off every time to reopen them. Read More

Air Playit Streams Audio/Video From PC & Mac To iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch

by on
1
Applications like AirPlayer and AirServer (for Mac) or Shareport4w and Air Stream Media Player (for Windows) let you stream media from your iOS device to your computer, in most cases, eliminating the need to transfer files from device to computer. Quite a lot like VLC Streamer for iOS and Emit for Android, Air Playit reciprocates said functionality. The app works in conjunction with a desktop client (server application) to stream and download video and audio in up to 320 different formats from user-defined directories on a computer to your mobile device, either over a shared WiFi network or via the web. But that’s not all. The app features highly customizable video playback, the option to set varying permissions for shared media directories and an offline video converter particularly useful for older, slower mobile devices. As of this writing, Air Playit is only available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch but an Android variant of the mobile client is around the corner. The app may be new to the market, but it is undoubtedly among the most comprehensive and efficient desktop-to-mobile media streaming solutions around. Read More

Visidon AppLock For Android Uses Face Recognition To Unlock Protected Apps

by on
5
Protecting the private data on your mobile device from prying eyes often comes at the price of convenience. To what degree your preferred security tool hampers your day-to-day usage depends on the method it employs to secure your privacy. Most users prefer setting a lock screen password, PIN or pattern. Although said method is the simplest, typing in a password/PIN or drawing a pattern every time you unlock your device can prove to be quite a hassle, especially if you only need to secure a select few parts of your device – messages, photos and contacts, for instance. Developed for Android devices with a front-facing camera, Visidon AppLock is a free tool that eliminates the need for going through said ordeal over and over again. The app allows you to lock any number of apps and set one or more faces as passkeys for unlocking them. Read More

Air Stream Media Player – Stream Videos & Photos From iOS Devices To Windows PC via AirPlay

by on
1
If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 4.2 later, you should know you don’t need to buy an AirPlay receiver device to make use of the integrated AirPlay feature. While there are already a couple of solutions for Mac (such as AirPlayer and AirServer), users with Windows-powered computers needn’t despair either. Like (previously covered) Shareport4w for Windows, Air Stream Media Player streams media from from your iOS device to your Windows PC over a shared WiFi network. But while the former only streams music, Air Stream only streams videos (this includes YouTube videos) and photos. What’s the point? No wires and no waiting for your device to sync – that’s what. The next time your friend visits you with his iPhone after a hiking trip, you needn’t plug it in, login with his Apple ID and wait for it to sync just to view a couple of pictures and a few minutes of recorded video. Read More

Dolphin Browser HD 6.0 Leaves Beta, Adds More Webzines [Android]

by on
3
Dolphin Browser HD 6.0 was released on the Android Market as a free beta roughly a month ago with minor interface tweaks and a new Webzine feature that displays feeds/articles from a website, blog or social network in a magazine-like format more suitable for reading/ browsing through on a mobile device. The Webzine feature, in addition to deep integration with Facebook and Twitter within their respective webzines, now comes packed with support for a host of major news/informative websites and blogs arranged into ten different categories. AddictiveTips, too, has its very own webzine within the Science & Tech category. More after the break. Read More

Mr. Mouse Turns Your Android Device Into A Motion-Tracking WiFi Mouse

by on
1
There are tons of apps on the Android Market that allow you to control your computer’s mouse pointer from your Android device over WiFi. But this is the first time we’ve come across one that doesn’t use a virtual touch pad to do so. Mr. Mouse for Android is a free tool that, in addition to the providing you with the conventional touch pad interface, allows you to move your computer’s mouse pointer by tilting or waving your device from side to side. The app employs your device’s camera to detect its motion. The camera detects changes in the image, transmits said changes over a common WiFi network to a server application installed on your computer, which in turn causes the mouse pointer to move accordingly. The app is still in beta as of this writing and doesn’t seem to support a lot of devices. Also, the aforementioned Camera Mouse feature requires quite a bit of processing power, so you might experience considerable lag (between the motion of your device and the response of your computer’s mouse pointer) on most if not all devices. Read More

Facebook For Android 1.6.1 Adds Comment Likes Improves Pages Support

by on
Leave a comment
Android users are having a field day yesterday. Twitter for Android isn’t the only official social network client o receive a major update. The official Facebook app for the platform has also been updated to version 1.6.1 with improved Pages integration and the option to Like comments. The new version adds a separate tab for Pages that can be accessed either from within the Friends screen or by hitting the Search button. Said tab provides access to all Pages that you have created or have admin rights to as well as those that you have Liked. You can post as admin on Pages that have you registered as an administrator. More after the break. Read More

Finally! Twitter For Android 2.1.0 Adds Push Notifications & Multiple Accounts

by on
Leave a comment
It's been a long wait, but it's finally over. Twitter, arguably the world's leading micro blogging platform, has decided to level the playing field for the iOS and Android variants of its mobile client. If you’re an Android user who has long been battered by his iPhone-owning friends for having to use undoubtedly inferior social networking clients, you should know that you need not take their insults anymore. Twitter for Android has been updated to support push notifications and multiple accounts. If you don’t know what that means, then you probably won’t be interested in the benefits said features bring to the table. However, if you do, you’re probably already jumping and clicking your heels together. Twitter v2.1.0 also comes packed with new home screen widgets that can be customized to show tweets or mentions from a registered Twitter account of your choice. More on the update after the break. Read More