Download Android App APKs From Google Play Store To Your Desktop

Back in February 2012, we reviewed a Google Chrome extension that lets you download APK files of Android apps from Google Play directly to your PC, to be able to manually sideload them to your device. This method helps you grab any app that you are otherwise having problems installing to your device due to regional restrictions. Though that extension required some tinkering after Chrome's latest updates, and stopped working for some altogether. Today, we're bringing you a Windows app called Real APK Leecher that provides a more convenient way to download Android applications to your PC by similarly using your Google account associated with your device. Read More

All-In-One Toolkit For Samsung Galaxy S3 GSM

The Galaxy S III seems to be making some really fast progress in terms of third party support for software development for this device. Earlier, we had covered quite a few ways of rooting the device, including installation of ClockworkMod recovery as well. For those who fear flashing files via ODIN, XDA-Developers forum member mskip has just released a Samsung Galaxy S3 Toolkit, making life for inexperienced rooters who just got their hands on a brand new S3, very easy. If you thought the functionality is limited to just rooting, installing recoveries and kernels, the toolkit offers a plethora of functions ranging from installing APK files to pulling or pushing files onto the device. Read on for more information on this invaluable toolkit and how you can use it for your SGS III. Read More

Download APK Of Google Play Store (The Rebranded Android Market) Now!

Just a couple of hours ago, Google announced Google Play Store – the rebranded version of your beloved (now previously) Android Market. More than anything else, the move can be cited as an attempt to provide Android users with a unified platform to explore all the apps, games, books, movies and music featured by Google under one roof. The new-look interface of the web variant of the new Google app store looks pretty impressive. However, from the mobile client’s perspective, nothing much has changed apart from the icon and, of course, the name of the app: Google Play (that has already created quite a hullabaloo among Android users and critics alike). Although Google has already started rolling out Google Play Store to Android devices (running Froyo and higher) over-the-air, there are quite a few users who might not have received the update yet. If you’re among such users, you don’t have to wait any longer as we bring you the APK of the brand new Android Market aka Google Play Store. Read More

How To Download APKs Of Android Market Apps To Your Computer With APK Downloader

Certain Android-powered mobile device manufacturers (Amazon and Barnes & Noble, for instance) design their variants of the OS without the Android Market, forcing users to make do with the limited number of apps in their native app stores. You could always install apps of your choice on a Market-sporting Android device, extract their APKs and side-load them onto such devices, but why go through all that trouble when you can use APK Downloader, a Google Chrome extension that lets you download Android Market APKs directly to your desktop. The extension seems to bypass any location or device restrictions, allowing you to easily side-load apps that aren’t yet available for your region, or try out those that are supposedly incompatible with your device. APK Downloader hit the blogosphere a couple of days ago, shortly after which the developer took it down, fearing that it would be used for pirating paid apps. Fortunately, courtesy of the persuasion of a few users, the developer has now released a new version of the extension that only allows downloading free apps. Read More

How To Remotely Control Your Windows PC via Android Device [Guide]

And you thought your expensive wireless desktop mouse and keyboard were sweet? Own an Android device? Well then, your mobile device is about to give your wireless desktop components a run for their money thanks to the abundance of apps out there that turn your phone or tablet into a remote control for your PC. From exploring files on the PC to controlling your media players, there is an app for almost every need. Apps like WIN-Remote, gPad, VLC Remote, PCAutoWaker etc are only a few examples, but most of these and others are more or less focused on performing one remote function. For example, VLC Remote may control your VLC player, but it won't control your mouse if you’re at some distance. Of course you could try an app that offers the touchpad function, but it would be awesome to have an app that contains most – if not all – of the features needed to control your PC remotely. It is here that we decided to go with Unified Remote, one of the most popular remote apps for Android, which contains a suite of quite a few remotes and best of all, there’s a free version available that does not disappoint at all. After the break, we’ll be showing you how to control your PC via this app. Read More

Change Carrier Name On Android Phone Easily [How To Guide]

When it comes to modifying Android devices, then users with extended modification / flashing experience tend to customize each and every feature of their Android devices. And perhaps this hackability of Android OS is the main reason for it’s speedy growth. The first task of many jailbreakers on iOS is to change their device’s carrier name and until now, this mod was missing from Android devices. But Holabalola, XDA member and Android app developer, has recently released an app that allows you to change carrier name with a single click and without the need to know any thing about rooting or flashing. The app requires you have to a rooted Android devices because the functionality of this app is directly linked with tinkering System files.

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MyAppSharer – Share Apps Via Bluetooth, SMS, Email & More [Android]

Want to help out your friends finding/downloading Android applications? With MyAppSharer, you can easily achieve this purpose by sharing the HTML link, QR code and/or APK (installable Android Package) of any application that is installed on your Android device. The sharing mechanism is fairly convenient and allows you to share multiple applications with multiple recipients simultaneously. APKs can be sent directly to a recipient's device via Bluetooth whereas HTML link and QR code sharing requires a mobile/data network or internet connection on both ends. The shared HTML and the QR code link leads the recipients to the Android Market from where they can download the particular app to their devices. Read More

Control Android Apps And Services From Your Computer With LazyDroid Web Desktop

There is always a demand for apps that provide comprehensive integration of mobile devices with computers and vice versa. While Motorola took the concept to a whole new level with the Motorola Atrix and its Webtop capability, not all of us can afford such expensive devices. LazyDroid is a free app for Android that allows you to control your device from your computer via a simple web-based interface. The app does so through both WiFi and USB, making it quite a versatile tool. For more on this wonderful application, read on! Read More

Mimic Hardware Keys On Android Devices Using Gestures via zMooth

Hardware keys were part of early Android devices, like the much popular and still widely used, HTC Desire. Then we had the versatile HTC HD2 that ran Windows Mobile but can now run the Android OS. The HD2 has hardware keys as well. While newer devices have shifted over to capcitative hardware keys and we all know it’s such a blessing. So for those of you becoming tired of pressing those hardware keys on your HD2 or Desire, XDA-Developers forum member windroidHD brings to you zMooth, an app that mimics your hardware keys via on screen gestures! Read More

Calibrate Battery On Android Devices With Battery Calibration

Experienced ROM flashers of Android devices will be quite familiar with the concept of clearing the battery stats every time in order to calibrate the battery. This is mostly needed when a new ROM is flashed with the battery at less then 100 percent. Earlier, we covered the manual method on how to fix the battery drain issue on rooted Android devices, but this manual re-calibration can be quite cumbersome depending on your device type as it requires you to boot into recovery mode, and more. Not anymore, thanks largely to the XDA-Developers forum member marosige, who has come up with an app named, Battery Calibration. This free Android app allows you to clear those battery stats rather more conveniently through a simple user interface. Read on for more on this app and to download it. Read More

Enable CRT Animation, SMS And Get Desktop Versions Of Websites On Motorola Xoom

Motorola Xoom, Google’s flagship Honeycomb tablet has just received a mod courtesy of XDA-Developers forum member, sangreal06 that has suddenly taken the device to a new level of awesomeness. Your Xoom can now let you view the desktop version of websites, without needing to redo the “about:debug” trick over and over again. That’s not it, we have SMS and the Gingerbread CRT lock animation as well. For more on this mod and how to get it on your Xoom, read on! Read More

Blur Face To Hide Identity With Privacy Camera For Android

There are numerous Android apps belonging to the photography genre, but most of them either let users embellish their snaps with a handful of retro filters/effects or focus primarily on presenting you with a simple photo sharing, exploring and socializing platform. PrivacyCamera app is a brilliant free app for Android devices developed by usi3 that lets you take photos of people while blurring or hiding only their face in the end result. The app is very handy, say for citizen journalists, who tend to interview people a lot and not every interviewee is keen on letting their faces be revealed. And well, for moments of proud mischievous activities as well  to be honest. For more on this wonderful free app, read on. Read More

How To Install Multiple APKs On Your Android Device

Let’s face it, not all the applications that are dug up by Android fanatics, available in the Android market. It can be frustrating when you have a load of these apps on your PC, and want to install them on your Android device. You could always copy them onto the device and install them one by one through a file explorer, or you could use Auto APK Installer, created by XDA-Developers forum member Stickman89. Read More

Sign APKs And Update.Zip Files Directly On Android Device

If you’ve been into Android development and modification, you’ll be fully aware of the importance of signing APKs and ZIP files in the Android operating environment. For more novice users, every package that is executed in the OS, whether it’s an application package (APK) or an archive package (ZIP), must be digitally signed with a unique key before the OS can execute them. This signature check is kept in place to ensure that the contents of the files have not changed, the intent being to keep users safe from malicious code being executed. Read More

What Is Zipalign In Android And How To Make Apps Zipaligned [Complete Guide]

If you’re a hardcore Android fan, chances are strong that you’d be eagerly trying out new themes, custom ROMs and all such mods for your device. One of the main confusion points is the terminology associated with these mods – something quite familiar to the developers, but not to much to the novice user. Two of the most commonly-occurring words in custom ROMs and themes are ‘deodexed’ and ‘zipalign’. A few days back, we covered ‘deodexed’ in detail. In this article, we’ll explore what zipalign means and how APKs can be zipaligned. Read More