Zayed Rehman

Android Writer
Studying Development Sciences in the humble pursuit of saving this world; making occasional contributions to the world of Android. | Find me on Google+

Get Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Style Toggles On Any Device With AnTek Quick Settings

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There are plenty of Android devices out there running Android 2.3 Gingerbread or Android 4.0 ICS, and ever since Android 4.2 Jelly Bean was released, users have been trying hard to get those sweet looking Quick Toggles on their devices. Needless to mention, even Jelly Bean 4.1 users had to ask around for some developer support to get the feature working on their devices as it did in 4.2. Though in a short while, quite a few apps surfaced mimicking the Jelly Bean 4.2 Quick Toggles. All was well till AnTek Quick Settings arrived on the scene. Forget all you know about Jelly Bean style quick toggles; this app takes the concept to an entirely new level with customizations that will definitely make any other Quick Toggles app feel primitive. Read on after the break to learn more about the various features of this app. Read More

Advanced Mobile Care For Android Gets Anti-Theft, Call Blocking & More

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Some time back, we covered an Android optimization app named Advanced Mobile Care that houses a plethora of mobile maintenance features wrapped in a fancy and intuitive UI. Originally sporting features such as 1-tap performance boost, virus protection, privacy protector and more, the app later received an update bringing in support for cloud backup, a very slick privacy adviser, and a revamped App manager. The app's development team seems to be a serious believer in there always being room for improvement, as  Advanced Mobile Care has just received another major update, bringing in newer features and some improvements to existing ones. The app now houses a new Anti-theft system, call blocker, and improved battery saver, and adds supports for Android tablets including the Nexus 7. Let's take a look at all that's new in Advanced Mobile Care after the break! Read More

Easily Manage Or Delete WhatsApp Data On Android With WCleaner

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WhatsApp has become ubiquitous as the free mobile texting solution of choice for millions of users around the world. The service enables you to not only send and receive text messages but also images as well as audio and video clips. The messages are stored on your SD card in an encrypted format that isn't directly readable in general purpose file viewers or text editors. Over time, all this content can keep on accumulating over your device, consuming significant amount of space and not serving a purpose for those who don't care about keeping all their old conversations. Therefore, it may be desirable for many to periodically delete it. Also, if you are selling or giving your device away to someone else (lets say a family member) without performing a full factory reset, you'll likely want to manually remove your personal content from it, including all those Whatsapp conversations. WPCleaner Beta is a free app that lets you view all the content sent and received over Whatsapp categorically, and allows you to quickly delete any or all of it. Let's find out how after the jump. Read More

Play Starcraft: Brood War & Caesar III On Android With Winulator

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The concept of emulation, particularly for game consoles is not exactly a new one on Android. We've seen emulators for Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Play Station, Game Boy Advance and many more gaming systems since the advent of smartphones running this open-source OS. Now, the PC has been added to the list as well, and while it may not be a console, PC games have their own charm at times. Smartphones have become powerful enough to emulate many old classics, and Winulator proves just that point. To show things off, the Windows 95/98 app emulator supports the famous classic Starcraft: Brood War from Blizzard Entertainment. Not only that; Impression Games’ Caesar III has also made the cut. So if you're a fan of the classic RTS genre, we're sure you must be excited, so read on after the break for more on Winulator and how you can use it to start playing these games on your Android device. Read More

System Monitor Offers A Graphical Summary For All Resource Usage Stats On Android

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Easily one of the most beautiful apps I have come across in a while, System Monitor is a simple, effective, holo-themed tool for users who want to monitor their Android device's critical statistics such as CPU, RAM, I/O, Network and Apps (according to RAM or CPU usage). Sporting a choice of two themes and employing an elegant graph system, the app has just the right amount of settings and tweaks to help you quickly set it up according to your needs. For more on the app and a quick look at its aesthetics as well as features, read on after the jump. Read More

Root AT&T Galaxy S III I747 In One Click On Windows, Linux & Mac With CASUAL

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Yes, the Galaxy S III from AT&T has been rooted for quite some time now, but for anyone who has just purchased the device and is looking for a simple and foolproof way of rooting it, XDA Elite Recognized Developer AdamOutler has just released his famous CASUAL root tool for AT&T’s S III. Short for Cross-platform ADB Scripting, Universal Android Loader, CASUAL works as a one-click root method and it’s massive appeal lies in its ability to run on Windows, Mac and Linux. To take it one step further, there's support for even Raspberry Pi. The tool uses the famous CFAutoRoot by Chainfire to achieve root access on the device. Read More

Run Android Apps In Full-Screen Mode With Access To Notifications & Navigation

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Accessing notifications, options and navigation controls can be a daunting task on an Android device when you’re using an app in full screen mode like watching a movie or playing game. This is most problematic in case of tablets and large phones. Also, there are occasions when you wish the status bar could just disappear so that an app can gain some more screen estate. full!screen is an app that takes all of these scenarios into consideration and delivers functions that will be hard to let go of, once you get used to them. The app will not simply hide the status bar, but will also provide you with two translucent, configurable on-screen buttons that remain available whether you’re watching a video, surfing the web, or just using the phone normally with the status bar hidden. The buttons can also be configured to your liking. Let's take a closer look at how the app functions and what else it has to offer. Read More

Intelligent Ringer Dynamically Tweaks Android Ring Volume Based On Ambient Noise

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So you’re driving, listening to your favorite tracks and have just reached your destination. You pick up the phone and realize you have a bunch of unattended calls, consequently realizing the phone was on silent and the vibrator buzz was just not loud enough in all that music. This has happened to me a lot, and there are plenty of other moments it skips one's mind to turn of the silent mode, or even turn it on – which can be embarrassing at times. Enter Intelligent Ringer - the app that adjusts your phone’s ring volume based on the ambient noise level, and uses the proximity sensor to detect a pocketed phone to enable the maximum ring volume. The app is a breeze to set up as well, and you wont get lost in a heap of complicated settings. Read on after the jump to see how well the app fares and what more it has to offer. Read More

Robird Is A Balanced, Holo-Themed Twitter Client For Android

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Holo themed Twitter clients for Android have been around for some time now. Robird is another such app aspiring to make its mark in that area with the developer giving the app a very minimal and clean look. The simple and clutter-free nature of the app's design is well complimented by the intuitive and simple interface for navigation and using the various functions it has to offer. While it falls short of extensive customizations and settings that the competition may offer, you have to keep in mind that not all users are comfortable with such fancy settings, and many just want to keep things simple and effective. However, Robird does sport the basic must-have settings any casual twitter user would like to make use of. We take a look at how the app fairs, after the jump. Read More

How To Install HTC Sense 5 ROM On DROID DNA [Guide]

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Running Sense 5 UI on the HTC Droid DNA is something not many users would've been expecting, or at least not this quickly. Having been ported from HTC One, this Sense 5 ROM is proof that third-party development for the DROID DNA has started to pick up pace. Sense 5 made its debut with the HTC ONE and offers a fresh redesigned interface to the UI that most HTC users are familiar with. A fancy but slightly complicated app drawer, HTC BlinkFeed and HTC Zoe are some of the key new features of Sense 5, with a focus on minimalism and content this time rather than on heavy graphics - a design philosophy pioneered by Metro design language of Windows Phone OS. The port comes in from XDA Recognized Developer newtoroot in the form of a functional ROM. Installing it on your DROID DNA is a breeze, especially if the bootloader of your device is already unlocked. If not, don't fret as I will walk you through the procedure step-by-step to get this Sense 5 based ROM up and running on your DROID DNA! Read More

Thread For Android Shows Recent SMS, Mail & Social Updates With Caller ID

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Countless phone dialer and contacts replacement apps have come and gone since Android first came to light. Though there haven’t been many apps to break away from the fairly standard features in this regard to produce something innovative – something that is more than just eye candy. Enter Thread - the app that gives you more control and information about your contact during an incoming call. It consolidates all your communication with your contacts in Messages, Gmail, Facebook and Twitter, and neatly brings up the latest feed from each medium when receiving a call. Read on after the break for more on this one-of-a-kind app. Read More

How To Set Your WhatsApp Status To Invisible On Android

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Let’s face it, I love how WhatsApp shows me who’s actually seen the message I left them and the fact I can tell when they were last online on the world's most popular free instant messaging service. However, I dread the fact that people can tell the same about me when I have to open the app to read a particular message left for me, and in turn register my ‘Last Seen’ time. This is manageable by turning off the WiFi or mobile data connection before you open WhatsApp, but is annoying if you have to practice this frequently. Moving on, we come to the ‘typing’ status, – an ingenious implementation on all messaging services these days to keep you updated on the other person's activity during a conversation – that can be really embarrassing when you’re speechless and your contact can see you’re taking ages for typing what ultimately turn out to be one or two lines. You can turn the internet off, again, or you can install WhatsApp Shadow Beta. Be offline while you read your WhatsApp conversations or send messages without your contacts knowing that you’re typing. We're sure you're going all “OMG what?! How? Show me!", so read on for all the details. Read More

Get Screen Standby & Remote Control On Android When Connected To External Display

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If you often connect your Android device to a TV or monitor, chances are you don’t want the device to keep its screen on throughout the time it's connected to the external display. Mirroring the device's display on a separate screen for watching a movie or playing a game nullifies the need for the device’s screen to stay on, as it drains the battery. Enter Screen Standby - the app that puts the screen of your rooted Android device to standby while the device remains fully active and continues it’s normal functioning. Screen Standby offers automated functions as well, including auto detection of attached screen(s) via USB, HDMI, Bluetooth etc. and activation upon launch of a defined app. You can even turn the device into a touchpad while the screen is off. If you want to remotely control another Android device, you can not only turn that device’s screen off, but also launch apps on it, control its volume and much more. More on the features of this app after the jump. Read More

How To Root HTC One M7 Using Custom Recovery

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HTC One rooted! The device that currently sits on the throne of the Android world has gained root access while the hype from its announcement is still fresh. With its off-the-charts specs and prowess, root access is only going to add to the already-popular device’s appeal. If you are one of those lucky few who somehow managed to grab this device, or are planning on getting one soon, you are in luck. The rooting procedure is fairly easy, though the recoveries needed are not fully functional yet and there have been complaints regarding users failing to boot into a certain recovery. The idea is to flash a recovery, boot into it and install the SuperUser package from within. Not sure whether you should root? Our guide on the top 10 reasons to root an Android device might help you out with your decision. Read More

HelloFax Releases HelloSign Android App For On The Go Digital Document Signing

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If you often find yourself in the need to sign important documents on the go and have them delivered to the recipient without wasting much time, there are popular online fax services that will help you do that. However, with the advent of increasingly powerful smartphones, lesser people carry a netbook or a laptop when on the move, which is why Hellofax - the popular online fax service - is available on both web and mobile platforms. The company has just released HelloSign for Android devices – earlier made available for iOS and the web – to help users add digital signatures and a few more elements to any existing document on the go. Better yet, it lets you scan documents from your phone and sign them! We take a closer look at the app after the jump. Read More

View Customizable Pop-up Alerts For Any Android App With Notify Me!

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iOS has used popup alerts for a while now, and is a feature that could be dearly missed once you get the hang of it. Android has its rich Notification Drawer, but no native popup alerts for incoming notifications except for apps that have individually implemented this feature for their own notifications. There are some third-party Android apps like Notification Popup Alert that bring this functionality to the entire OS, though if you want more enhanced and customizable notifications, there's Notify Me! Temember the popup message alerts from the CM10 Messaging app's popup alerts? This app brings something similar for all notifications. You can select any app to be notified about, and even alter the style of the popup. Let's take a more detailed look at Notify Me!'s features after the jump. Read More

Delete User & System Android Apps In Bulk With GO App Uninstaller

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Android has always fallen short of a better app management system when it comes to uninstalling apps. Sure you can do that from the system settings, or from the app drawer as well in case of Android 4.0 and higher. Also, many third-party launchers allow you a quick way of uninstalling apps from their icons, but what if you want to uninstall multiple apps in one go? There are apps available on the Play Store for batch uninstalling, but none offer the simplicity and additional features that GO App Uninstaller brings to the table. In addition to uninstalling user apps, the app can also delete system apps on rooted devices. With no complicated settings to configure, Go App Uninstaller is simple and easy to use for anyone. Read More

Get Weather Info With 4-Day Forecast In Android Notification Drawer

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Android users are not new to weather apps, and there are is a wide array of those on the Play Store with features and functions to suit different tastes. One of the more sought after features is getting weather info in the Notification shade and not just on the Lock screen or Home screen. AOKP ROM brought users an awesome weather panel for the notification drawer, with a minimal design. Though AOKP ROMs are not available for all devices and not everyone might want to install a custom ROM just to get weather info in the notification area. Enter Notification Weather – a no-nonsense, easy-to-set-up weather panel for the Notification drawer of your device running Android 4.1 or above. Let's take a more detailed look at it after the jump Read More

Hide Sensitive Call Logs & SMS From Stock Android Apps With Shady Contacts

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We all have those moments where we know our friends will play around with our phone, and a major concern in such scenarios is them checking out your information you want to keep confidential. If a friend is borrowing your phone for making a call or sending a text, it's nearly inevitable that they will come across your call logs and text messages. If you have an Android phone and don't want that to happen, you can now hide your call logs and messages with a simple and effective tool called Shady Contacts from Droid Mate.  The app does so without arousing suspicion, as it hides call logs and messages from selected contacts. To add to its prowess, it has some very strict security measures, and can itself can be hidden to silently operate in the background as well. Let's take a closer look at its features and how well they function. Read More

Get iOS-Like Banner Notifications Anywhere On Android

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iOS 5 introduced us to what has come to be known as ‘Banner Alerts’ - a simple yet effective feature for those times when you’re running a full-screen app or simply watching a video on your iOS device, and don't want to miss out on your notifications. Android may have triumphed with it’s rich notification center from the start, but Banner Alerts is something we all could benefit from. In case you don't want to wait for Google to implement the feature, Notification Popup Alert is a free app recently released on the Play Store that attempts to replicate the feature on your Android device. The app is still in a Beta state, and does not have a whole lot of customization options to offer for now. However, it does serve its purpose, so let's take a detailed look at it after the jump. Read More