Author: Aditya Thawardas

Android is a relatively stable mobile operating system, but every now and then, performance issues arise. Safe mode is a great tool that you can use to troubleshoot these issues. Safe mode boots your phone running only the apps that came with the phone – that means no third-party apps. Therefore, if your phone runs without an issue when you’re in safe mode, it’s a pretty good bet that the problem isn’t system related, and instead a third party app you downloaded.

Click through the break to see how you can enable safe mode to test if it’s a system problem or a third-party problem.

Unfortunately, not all phones have the same method to enter safe mode. Most Jelly Bean devices use the first method below, but devices with older versions of Android and some newer devices (like the Galaxy S 4 and HTC One) use the alternate method further down the page.

Method 1 (most Jelly Bean devices)

1. Hold down the physical power button on your device.

2. Long-press the “Power off” option that appears.

3. A dialog box asking you if you want to reboot to safe mode may pop up. Tap OK.
(Note: If the box doesn’t appear, go on to the alternate method.)

4. When the phone reboots, you should see a “Safe Mode” watermark at the botom left of the screen, to let you know that you are in fact in safe mode.

Alternate Method (older versions of Android and some Jelly Bean phones)

1. Turn off your phone.
2. Once your phone is off, turn it on by pressing the power button.
3. As your phone is booting, hold down both the volume up and volume down buttons (yes, both) and keep them held.
4. Once your phone has booted, you should see a “Safe Mode” watermark at the botom left of the screen, to let you know that you are in fact in safe mode.

Note: If the alternate method also doesn’t work, you can try holding down menu instead of volume up and down while booting.

In safe mode, while you can’t use third party apps, you can uninstall them. So if your phone is giving you problems as bad as freezing and not letting you uninstall apps, you can uninstall the problem app/apps in safe mode. In addition, if you need to, you can backup your data or factory reset your device in safe mode .

To exit safe mode, you just restart your device as you normally would.

Happy troubleshooting!

Come comment on this article: How to boot your Android phone or tablet into safe mode for troubleshooting

After launching a new Gmail interface and updated Play Store and Play Music apps, Google still wasn’t done for the day. They have also updated their Calendar app, which now features a new UI and custom event colors. The design is totally Holo-riffic now, with snazzy redesigned date and time pickers. Customizing event colors, a feature missing until now, is very  to accomplish. In addition, the update also makes it easier to schedule repeating events and schedule events in different time zones.

While the update is technically live, it will be rolling out gradually. When it’s your turn, you can grab it from the link after the break.

 Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Google Calendar update includes new UI and color-coded events

Until version 4.0, Twitter’s Android app seemed like an afterthought to the iOS version. 4.0′s overall was a welcome change, and 4.1 adds even more features, including rich notifications and simplified image sharing.

The folks at Twitter have taken advantage of Jelly Bean’s rich notification capabilities, and now notifications show profile pictures of those who have interacted with you, as well as a list of interactions if you have multiple. In addition, the compose window, which used to be a pop up, has been transformed into a real window. Image sharing is now incredibly easy through the new compose window, as you can now choose the photo you want to share straight from the app, without opening your phone’s gallery. Also the full preview is visible, instead of the cropped version that used to be shown. Twitter brags that you can now tweet a photo in under six seconds, and I just attempted and confirmed their claim.

Other tweaks in 4.1 include easier account-switching, removed borders for more reading space, and the ability to remove your location from individual tweets. You can read the full change log and download the updated app after the break.

What’s new in Twitter 4.1.0 –

The new Tweet composer makes it easier to share with quick access to your camera roll and clear previews of how your Tweets will appear. Also:
• Richer notifications now include details like avatars and indicate how people are interacting with you (reply, retweet, etc.) for devices running Android 4.0 and higher,
• Enjoy wider and taller timelines in all parts of the app including profiles, search, and Discover.
• Receive a notification when a friend has joined Twitter.

Play Store Download Link

 

Come comment on this article: Twitter updates to 4.1, gets richer notifications, new compose mode

Over the weekend we showed you leaked screenshots of a new Gmail interface. Today the new tabbed interface, which Google says “puts you back in control,” has been announced. The new design features five tabs – primary, social, promotions, updates, and forums – in which Gmail will automatically sort your incoming mail. This is just another step in decluttering and simplifying your email experience.

The tabs are pretty self explanatory, social is for emails from social networks, promotions is for coupons, updates is for confirmations and receipts, and forums is for messages from discussion boards and mailing lists. Primary is of course for everyday email that you don’t want sorted. You can tell Gmail to remember sort your emails differently by dragging messages to different tabs, and tabs can be removed, but for some reason they can’t be reordered.

If you look closely at the screenshot above, you can see that enhanced swiping support and a new navigation menu have been added to the Android app. The menu looks very “Holo,” and goes along with all of the other Google apps that have been updated in recent weeks.

This new inbox view is of course optional, just like the “Priority inbox” view has been for the last three years. Android and iOS versions will arrive in the next few weeks, but you can get a sneak peek at the desktop version by watching a “Configure inbox” option pop up in the settings menu in the top right of the interface.

Source: Google Blog

Come comment on this article: Gmail gets new tabbed inbox, Android update “available within the next few weeks”

Earlier today, we showed you the new Google Chrome Experiment game “Roll It” which virtually lets you play SkeeBall on your phone through your PC. “RACER,” which we first saw at Google I/O and has now launched, might be even cooler. “RACER” lets up to five smartphone or tablet users virtually race cars on a track that is built depending on how many users are playing.

“RACER” is built on HTML 5, so any device with Chrome (iOS or Android) can play. To set up, all you need to head to the source link, sync up your devices, and you’re ready to race. Gameplay is incredibly easy, and quite fun – the only thing you need to control is pressing on the screen to accelerate.  The color on the top of the display indicates which car the device is controlling.

You can check out yourself through the video and source link after the break. Enjoy, and happy racing!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Chrome RACER

Come comment on this article: Google debuts RACER, another Chrome cross-platform game

One of our favorite music playing apps, doubleTwist, is undergoing a makeover. The folks over at Android Police managed to sneak a look at a blog post that was accidentally posted by their developers dealing with a Holo user-interface redesign. As you can see from the image above, it’s not really a full redesign, but more just design tweaks to flatten and simplify the design to make it less 3D.

The blog post mentions that the doubleTwist team was initially reluctant to fully switch to Holo in fear that Android may shift their design guidelines in future versions. Now that Holo looks like it’s here to stay, they went ahead with the redesign. Before it was deleted, the blog post was dated May 28, so we will probably see the update live in the Play Store tomorrow.

Source: Android Police

Come comment on this article: Music app doubleTwist to undergo Holo UI redesign

 

Arguably the best Android smartphone on the market may be coming to Verizon, after all. Recent rumors have been both positive and negative for Verizon users, but the latest leak from anonymous tipster Evleaks is a screenshot from someone “that needs advance knowledge of upcoming devices” showing the HTC One as a product in Verizon’s 2013 roadmap.

According to the source, the Verizon HTC One would launch in “early summer,” likely sometime before July. It would be a great boost for the largest carrier in the United States and a welcome site for Verizon users who have been waiting very patiently.

Source: Slash Gear 

Come comment on this article: Leaked screenshot says Verizon HTC One to launch before July

Facebook introduced something great along with Facebook Home – chat heads. You’re probably already familiar with them, but the general gist of the feature is notification bubbles that appear on the screen, in which you can directly deal with the notification in an overlaying panel. The feature was initially available for only Facebook Messenger, but Paranoid Android expanded the feature to include notifications for all apps in the HALO feature of their ROM. Now a developer by the name of crazyfool_1 has also developed the feature to support all apps with his Floating Notifications app.

Right now, Floating Notifications is a great concept, and supports most apps, but is still a little confusing to use. Set-up is easy, but the controls and gestures are a little hard to get used to, as they aren’t exactly the same as Messenger. Still, the app is pretty cool and worth a download, and you can try it out by downloading the APK from the source link. Try it out and let us know what you think.

Source: XDA Developers

Come comment on this article: Floating Notifications app adds chat head notifications to all apps

The Nexus 4 has been spotted many, many times in white. Let’s add another appearance to the list. A white 16 GB version of Google’s phone is reportedly on sale from “local retailers” in India. With the same specs sheet as the black version, the white phone is available for 360 euros, close to the 349 euros the black version runs for.

It’s unknown if the phone will come with Android 4.2 or the upcoming 4.3, but the phone is rumored to be announced by Google along with Android 4.3 and a Nexus 7 tablet on June 10. We’ll be here providing you with all the information you need.

Source: Into Mobile
via: Tutto Android

Come comment on this article: White Nexus 4 spotted yet again, for sale in India

 

The unannounced Samsung Galaxy Note 3 might feature an enhanced camera, according to a report. According to the report, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a technology with capabilities to reduce motion blur when taking pictures or recording video, will be included in the upcoming phone. 3x optical zoom was also considered, but seems improbable as it would increase the thickness of the device. Many phones today already have software-based image stabilization, but OIS technology would actually deal with issues caused by motion at the lens or sensor level.

It’s not surprising that Samsung is improving camera features, as they are reportedly launching a camera-focused Galaxy S 4 Zoom with a 16-megapixel camera in the near future. Stay tuned to TalkAndroid as we continue to learn details of the Note 3.

Source: Electronic Times
Via: Android Authority

Come comment on this article: Galaxy Note 3 could feature Optical Image Stabilization, according to report

A few days ago we showed you screenshots of a redesigned Gmail Android app that were leaked at an I/O session.  An anonymous tipster sent some sloppy screenshots to some sites a few days ago, and now ryan_socio of the Verge (who was the first to leak that Google Babel was actually Hangouts) has confirmed the rumors. The interface reportedly has five tabs – Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums – in which incoming email will automatically be sorted. The desktop version of Gmail uses tabs to display the categories, Android puts them in categories in the inbox, and iOS lists them in the sidebar.

The tip says that the rumored images are from a draft of a Gmail Blog post, so it could be only days until we will see if it’s true.  A refreshed Android app with the collapsible navigation drawer would be a welcome site to see. The categories feature, which should be optional, could easily replace Gmail’s “multiple Inboxes” option and improve the “SmartLabels” feature currently in Labs.

Source: Android Police

Come comment on this article: Redesigned Gmail app with categories rumored to release Wednesday

Android developers in Argentina have received a letter from Google informing them that Google will no longer be able to accept payments on behalf of the developers beginning June 27. This applies to both paid apps and in-app purchases, and is likely due to new restrictions by the Argentina government on currency exchanges. Not only will payments come to a halt, but beginning July 27, Google will remove paid apps and in-app items developed by Argentines.

Developers in Argentina will still be able to offer free apps, and Android users in Argentina will still be able to purchase apps in the Play Store, however. Google suggests in their letter that a solution for Argentines is to move their accounts to another country without such restrictions. Google hopes to restore payments in the future, but “no specific plans are in place at the moment.”

Source: The Verge

 

Come comment on this article: Google no longer able to accept payments for app developers in Argentina

It took long enough, but it seems like the Sony Xperia S is finally going to be able to enjoy Jelly Bean. Numerous deadlines have come and gone without a Jelly Bean release, but Sony France has now confirmed on Twitter that the 4.1.2 update is being slowly rolled-out to users. Sony says that “many more builds will arrive next week,” so don’t worry too much if you haven’t already received the update. When it’s time, 4.1.2 will be available via both the Sony PC companion and over-the-air.

Have any of you Xperia S users already received the update?

Source: Xperia Blog

Come comment on this article: Sony Xperia S finally receiving Jelly Bean update

It seems like Google may have casually leaked a preview of an updated Gmail app. During an I/O session called “Structure in Android design,” a few screenshots of what looks like a revamped Gmail app design were shown, highlighting a new navigation drawer and a moved action bar.

The navigation bar looks like it would be scrollable, considering important functions like trash, archive, and drafts are missing from the screenshot.  The action bar has been consolidated into just compose and search, and have been moved to the top of the screen, allowing for more room to read emails. There are a few more less significant changes as well, like larger stars in the inbox.

These changes look great, and should make the app easier to use. I’m interested to see what other changes, if any, the update will contain. We’ll let you know when more information comes out, and of course when it releases.

Source: Android Police

Come comment on this article: Screenshots of redesigned Gmail app leaked during I/O session

AT&T customers can expect to pay a little more every month. The carrier has decided to add a 61-cent charge to each of their customers’ bills. Beginning May 1, the “Mobility Administrative Fee” is considered a “below-the-line” fee, meaning it appears with taxes and other surcharges at the bottom of a customer’s phone bill, below the service charges.

A charge of less than a dollar might sound insignificant, but when multiplied by all of the number of customers they have, it could add more than a half-billion dollars of revenue for AT&T. AT&T is quick to say that below-the-line charges are ”consistent with similar fees charged by other carriers,” and that the revenue will “help cover certain expenses, such as interconnection and cell site rents and maintenance.”

Source: Wall Street Journal

 

Come comment on this article: AT&T adds new “mobility administrative” 61-cent fee to all monthly bills

There’s a lot to like about the HTC One. Now there’s more. HTC has announced that their HTC One is the first HTCpro certified smartphone in the United States.What exactly does this mean? It means the HTC One is enterprise-ready and meets the Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 certification, offering 256-bit encryption, and level-one government-grade security. As part of the distinction, the One also offers built-in VPN functionality to offer data protection and security, and in the future will offer multiheaded Internet Protocol Security (IPSEC) VPN support from Mocana. Aimed obviously at business professionals, this is an important step for HTC.

Source: Laptop Mag

Come comment on this article: HTC One becomes the first enterprise-ready HTCpro certified smartphone in US

UK “Facebook phone” fans will have to wait to see if they ever get the HTC First. A spokesperson for carrier EE in the UK confirmed in a statement that Facebook has “recommended holding off launching the HTC First in the UK” as they work on a better Facebook Home experience with new customization features.

Facebook’s prized phone is not having much success in the United States, with the price dropping from $99 to under a dollar, followed by news that the phone will reportedly be discontinued by AT&T. It will be interesting to see if the improvements Facebook makes to Home  will spark a renewed interest in users who had previously given up on the app.

Source: Android Central

Come comment on this article: Facebook puts HTC First launch in UK on hold

 

Google has been trying to streamline their apps’ user interface to go along with the “cards” look we first saw in Google Now. Google Play Music and Play Books have already been updated over the past few days, and now Play Magazines follows with their new UI. The white background with purple accents fits very well into  Google’s new simplified design style. Aside from the new UI, bug fixes are also included in the update, version 2.0.

I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of Google’s apps updated to match. You can download the updated app from the link after the break.

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Google updates Play Magazines user interface as part of design streamline

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is one of the premium smartphones on the market today. However, if it’s just not quite premium enough for you, GoldGenie is offering gold plated versions of the S4 at a very premium price. There are three 24ct. options to choose from – gold, platinum, and rose gold.

The phones obviously aren’t cheap. The gold plated comes at around $2564, the platinum at $2654, and the rose gold at $2609. GoldGenie ships the phones in cherry oak finished boxes along with a limited edition certificate to show off. GoldGenie assures that their phones are  ”sim free and unlocked to work on any network in the world.” So, who wants one?

Source: GoldGenie
Via: Sam Mobile

 

Come comment on this article: GoldGenie offers Samsung Galaxy S4 plated in gold, platinum, or rose gold

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is by all accounts the next big thing, but its predecessor isn’t dead just yet. Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile announced today at the CTIA that they will offer a 4G LTE-capable Galaxy S3 beginning next month. The device will run on Sprint’s 4G LTE network, which is currently available in 88 markets nationwide.

On Boost Mobile, the S3 will be compatible on their $55 Android Monthly Plan with Shrinking Payments. For each payment made on time, the monthly cost drops by $5 until you are paying $40/month. For Virgin Mobile users, the Galaxy S3 will be work on their unlimited data and messaging plans that start at $35 a month. At this point, pricing for the phone has not yet been announced.

Come comment on this article: Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile to offer Samsung Galaxy S 3 beginning in June