Must Have Android Apps

1. DROPBOX (Free)
Backup your files or share documents. Dropbox is an app that syncs your files between your computers and your mobile device. It's an easy way to just not access files in your Dropbox folder, but also upload files from your phone.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• make your stuff available anywhere, on any device
• save photos, docs or email attachments in your Dropbox folder
• share your docs or photos with other people
• easily edit your Dropbox docs

2. EVERNOTE (Free)
Make your Android device an extension of your brain. Evernote is an award winning app that will let you bookmark and recall everything that happens in your life. You can put everything into Evernote, ideas, notes, recordings and snapshots, all your bookmarks will instantly synchronize from your phone to your online Evernote account and your PC or Mac.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• sync your stuff across all your devices
• save and edit to-do's, notes, tasks
• record voice notes
• organize stuff in notebooks, put tags
• save email notes and tweets
• share stuff via Facebook or Twitter

3. PHONELOCATOR PRO (Paid: $2.80)
Keep your Android device secure. PhoneLocator Pro is the safest Android tracking app that will give you the ability to retrieve your lost or misplaced device by remotely controlling it through SMS messages. PhoneLocator Pro is the only tracking app available that will do the job even if the phone's data connection has been turned off, which is most likely to happen if your device gets stolen.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• tracking with position on Google Maps
• remote lock
• set device auto-lock if an unauthorized SIM card is inserted
• remotely wipe personal data
• receive call logs from your device
• forward text messages
• make your phone ring at max volume

4. WHATSAPP (Free)
Extremely useful smartphone to smartphone instant messenger. WhatsApp is available for all platforms, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows so it's the perfect solution to exchange messages with any of your friends or contacts without having to pay for SMS. No need to add buddies, WhatsApp scans your phonebook and automatically creates contacts based on their phone number. To send and receive messages, or share files, Whatsapp uses your existing internet data plan or WiFi, if available.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• send text, video, images, voice notes
• group conversations
• works with pone numbers, no pins or usernames required
• offline messages
• share location, contacts
• custom wallpaper

5. KINDLE FOR ANDROID (Free)
Get thousands of free books and over 100 newspapers and magazines on your android phone. Kindle for Android app has a beautiful and easy to use UI and will let you access more than 900.000 books in the Kindle Store, without a Kindle.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• access Kindle store
• buy, read and sync
• free book samples
• instant dictionary word lookup
• search inside books

6. PULSE (Free)
Make news reading on your phone fun and engaging. Pulse is an excellent news reader that will really change your way of viewing news. You can select from a list of predefined topics or input new feeds of their own. After you setup your feeds, Pulse Reader will display them in a unique 'colorful mosaic'. There's also support for feeds based on your friends Facebook, Twitter profiles, as well as YouTube, Flicker, Digg or PicPlz.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• all your news in one place
• dual view: clean summary or go to website
• sync offline
• easy news sharing via email, Facebook and Twitter
• integration and sync with Google Reader

7. SOUNDHOUND (Paid: $4.99)
Identify songs by holding your phone in the direction of a speaker or artist. This app will identify the song with lyrics and artist info. SoundHound is the fastest music search and discovery app.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• instant lyrics and artist info
• home screen widget
• voice search

8. APP2SD PRO (Paid: $1.49)
More phone internal storage. Installing apps could make you run out of internal phone memory, APP2SD is a great app that will check each and every app you install if can be moved to SD card. The process is done automatically on new apps and a notification will pop-up if the app can be transferred to the SD card. App2SD is essential for memory management issues.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• movable apps list
• non-movable apps list
• move one or more app to SD card and back
• notifications when new movable app is installed
• uninstall apps
• show app info
• customizable notifications
• show app cache total size
• show storage size

To install any of these apps on your Android smartphone is an easy process. All you have to do is to register a Google Android Market account based on your Google account, type the name of the app in the search field, download and click install.

The list could be bigger, but this depends on each user, if you are a social network addict you can go next for Facebook or Twitter apps, if you are a tech junkie you will find a lot of great tools to tweak your phone, the next step is your choice. We have been testing all sorts of free and paid apps and eventually, these are the essential 8 apps that should be installed first on any new Android phone.

Hope you liked our article and found our list useful.

iPhone and iPad Application Development - Designing App Icons

2010 has seen a sudden upsurge in the market of Mobile iOS devices. There astronomical rise in the sales of iPhones and iPads. The Apple Application Store is directly accessible to the iPhone, iPad and iPod devices that run on the iOS.

When any iOS designer submits the mobile application, he/she has to also submit the icon along with it. The process of developing an icon could consume a bit of time but its returns are handsome too.

There are different icons each having different size and used for specific purpose. There are different devices that run the iOS. This implies that the application designer has to know which sort of icon is to be used when and how.

Icon sizes for iPhone /iPod applications:
The Icon sizes for Application, iPhone 4, App Store, Spotlight Search and iPhone 4 spotlights are 57x57px, 114x114px, 512x512px, 29x29px and 58x58px respectively.

There are not many variations in the icon sizes for iPhone applications. The size of the official application icon which is displayed on the home screen of the user is 57x57px. Higher resolution is also supported by the iPhone 4 so it is better to include the icon with size 114x114px, though not necessary.

The largest icon size that is recommended is 512 x 512px. This icon is quite big. This icon is meant for being displayed over the App Store as well as when the visitor is browsing the applications in Cover Mode. When you start a new icon design with the help of the Photoshop it is better to start initially at 512px and then slowly decreasing the scale.

Icons with a bit smaller size of 29×29px are supported for Spotlight search. The iPhone 4 features screen with higher resolutions and because of this the icon size for spotlight search should be 58×58px.

Icon sizes for iPad applications:
The Icon sizes for iPad Application, App Store, Spotlight Search and Settings are 72x72px, 512x512px, 50x50px, and 29x29px respectively.

The touch screen of the iPad is comparatively larger than that of the iPhone or iPod. This allows the application icon to be a bit larger. It is 72x72px. The size of the App Store Icon which is 512x512px is the same as in the case of iPhone. The icon size for Spotlight Search is 50x50px. The icon of the size 29x29px can be used as a setting icon.

A small icon will be displayed beside the tab if a settings page is created within the general functionality of the iOS. This allows inclusion of different user names and accounts and change of themes too. The smaller or minor options of the application can also be fiddled with because of this arrangement.

The application developer should also note that the applications that offer icons in PNG files are only accepted by the Apple App Store.

Twitter - The Latest Feature Of iPhone iOS 5

It was first Orkut, then Facebook, now it's Twitter. Twitter is the world's foremost social networking site. It is a site that is more lightweight than Facebook and more precise. It is an on-the-go site that is fairly simple to use. Used by stars and celebrities it has gained popularity all through the world for instant updates. The iPhone is definitely not late in catching the Twitter-fever. Thus the Twitter application on iPhone was born thanks to the hard work by iPhone developers.

The Twitter application is integrated in iOS5 and is an extension of the Twitter website, in the form of an iPhone application. Each update put up on the website is called a 'tweet'. A tweet is understood both as a noun as well as a verb. Somebody always tweets a tweet. Since Twitter is incorporated into the operating system of the mobile, it can be invoked from a list of other applications namely safari or YouTube or maps.

Setting Up

In iPhone, a Twitter account is set up in the settings section, just like how email accounts are setup. We can set up any number of Twitter accounts. The important feature here is that we can store the Twitter usernames of our friends, right in their contacts, just like their mobile numbers. This ensures a one-time login and a one-time storage of names. If you have a 3Gs then you can find the Twitter application in the Apple AppStore which you can download and install.

Photo Tweets

Thanks to the iPhone development teams gone are those days, when you have to take your digital camera and your laptop on the go. Here, with this single application on your iPhone, you can make your travel luggage light as well as keep everyone updated about your life. And these updates can contain a photo of the moment that you want to share with your friends. It is a single one step process to tweeting. Take the required photo and touch the screen. There will be a drop up menu with the option tweet. It is as simple and easy as that.

Across Other Applications

This application is one of its kinds in the history of iPhone applications. Though there is a separate icon for Twitter, it can also be invoked from other applications. For example: if we are browsing through the internet on safari and we like the link that we are accessing. We want to tweet it. So what we must do is just click on the tweet option. The link along with our comments (if any) will be posted to the website. The other applications, from where we can tweet, are YouTube and Maps. From YouTube, we can tweet the video that we may have just uploaded. And from Maps we could tweet the location we are in or any distinct location that we want to tweet about.

An All-In-One Application

Hence, an iPhone incorporated with this application, is a digital camera, a laptop and a GPS, all rolled into one and this is due to the pains taken by the iPhone development teams to give us the best.

5 Best iPhone Games

Thanks to daily advancement in the industry of technology and communication, there are always new things being invented and released into the market. Various brands of iPhones have been designed with features that can support and run heavy graphical applications such as games. Game lovers now have more reasons to smile because of the increase in the releases of iPhone games that are catchy and interesting to play. There are so many releases of iPhone games and the following are just some of the best games that had incredible buzz in the last two years:

1. Arcade

Arcade is one of the best space shooter iPhone games with amazing graphics and design art. It is fun controlling the plane in the space competing against its components using dual stick controls. It is also a platform that involves swordplay and stealth.

2. Across Age Dx

Interesting game to play, Across Age DX is one of the highly designed releases among iPhone games. It has very flourishing graphics and a storyline which involves a girl being escorted through the dungeons using some hidden powers.

3. Call of duty: World at War: Zombies

Since its release, World at War: Zombies has been one of the best iPhone games. It comes with very sharp graphics, quality arts and design. It's fun and interesting playing the game because all you need is to make very quick moves and shoot at your enemies. It has all the controls that keeps you equipped and these will enable you to go through the hordes successfully. The game is available at affordable prices and can also be downloaded and played online.

4. Doom Classic

Doom Classic is a first person video game which requires you to fight successfully in the space marine setting against the Hell's Legion. It is a 3D firefighting game and it comes with graphics that displays very exciting and sharp video output. You are provided with all the resources such armor, ammo and health that will keep you going throughout the play.

5. Metal Gear Solid Touch

Being available at a cheaper price, the video game has become one of the best iPhone games than involves gun shooting and armory. While playing Metal Gear Solid touch, you are supposed to fire back at several foot soldiers that will also be shooting back at you.

Conclusion

If you are game player, the above iPhone games are just but a few of the games that were rated as the best in the past few years. They come with very new features and amazing storylines.

Apple iPhone 4 16GB Gains New Best Deal From O2

The original iPhone 4 which has now been superseded by the new iPhone 4S has continued to be discounted in the background whilst the mad rush for the new model has been taking place.

Prices for the iPhone 4 16GB started to drop just a few weeks before the official release of the latest iPhone and the cheapest deal available was offered by the 3 Mobile network which has now been available for over 3 weeks.

This iPhone 4 deal has now been beaten by rival network; O2, who have via a third-party retailer now beaten the overall price of owning this previous model by just £4.01, this may not sound like a massive saving the kudos that goes with offering the cheapest iPhone 4 deal is worth a lot to the supplier.

This new O2 iPhone 4 deal costs £21.50 line rental per month with a 24 month contract agreement, the consumer also needs to part with a £199.99 upfront cost for the handset which means the total price paid over the minimum term contract period equates to £715.99.

So how do these two deals stack up against each other?

This new O2 offer will not suit everyone, there are only 100 minutes of inclusive calls available each month so those that use their phone daily may find that they exceed this cap and end up paying a lot more, the 3 Mobile deal includes 300 minutes of calls which although is still relatively low will suit many more users requirements.

When it comes to text messaging the O2 iPhone 4 deal offers 500 whilst the 3 Mobile package includes ten times this with 5000 inclusive SMS every month, what both of these deals do match each other on is the allocated data volume at 500MB on both tariffs.

So, for the sake of saving just £4.01 over a 24 month period it would still seem that 3 Mobile offers a far better deal for those that use their phone regularly, the inclusive minutes breaks down to 10 minutes of conversation per day, any more usage than this and the consumer should look to pay more line rental for more inclusive minutes.

3 Mobile do offer their popular 'One Plan' package with the iPhone 4 16GB which includes their industry leading 'All You Can Eat' data allowance, this provides unlimited access to the internet along with 2000 minutes of calls and 5000 text messages with the cheapest line rental available at £35 per month.

Anxiously Waiting for Apple's iPhone 5

Even though Steve Jobs has retired, he still has a lot of people in the palm of his hand. After all, the gadgets his company makes remain the "Apple" of the eye for most people. And a lot of people want to take a bite of out a certain Apple product: the iPhone 5.

The iPhone is a multimedia and smart phone device made and marketed by Apple. It is characterized by its simple design, easy user interface and multitouch screen which include a virtual keyboard and runs on Apple's mobile operating system iOS. The first iPhone was released in June 2007 and has spawned four models to date. The latest iPhone 5 is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2011.

The iPhone has various capabilities:

• It functions as a standard mobile smart phone capable of sending and receiving text messages and visual voicemail, as well as make and receive calls. It can also access the internet with its Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity.
• A camera phone that can take pictures and videos
• A portable music player

Ever since the first iPhone came out, people have been coveting this gadget. The subsequent models that were released sold like hot cakes and people are eagerly waiting for the new iPhone 5. The internet is abuzz with rumors and gossip which fuels the anticipation further.

Release Date
There has been talk that it will be released in September as there were a lot of indicators. Prices of the iPhone 4 have been reduced, Apple has hired more staff and AT&T has imposed a holiday ban for its staff. September came and went and an October release is said to be making rounds of the rumor mill. The release has been pushed back because Apple wants to launch the new iOS 5 and iPhone 5 at the same time.

Specs
The new iPhone 5 is said to have the new A6 chip. It will have a faster 1.2 GHz processor, more storage and a bigger memory.

Versions
There has been gossip that Apple will also launch a smaller iPhone called the iPhone Nano. This is the company's answer to the competition that comes out with cheap Android phones. Then there are suggestions that there will be two renderings of the new gadget: a regular version and pro version. This news started because the company is said to have been buying different parts for smartphones but the amount is not enough to use for all phones being manufactured.

Design
The new iPhone will undergo a redesign. It will feature a larger screen compared to the older models and will support HD (1080p) capabilities. The glass back will be removed and replaced by a metal one which will double as the phone's antenna. It will also be available in two colors: black and white.

Whether you believe the hyped up speculations surrounding the latest must-have gadget, one thing is sure: expect long lines at the Apple Stores around the world when it finally comes out.

Norton's Security for iPhone Improving Mobile Security

Mobile devices such as the iPhone will benefit from a software program released by Norton to increase the security of enterprise mobile. The application, Norton Connect Beta, can be used by users of the iPhone, iPad and Android-powered mobile devices and downloaded in Apple's App Store or the Android Market.. Launched by Symantec, the software contains many beneficial features.

After downloading the application and storing data online with either Norton Online Backup or Norton 360, users have the option of sharing the data via their mobile device. This may include documents, photos, music and videos. With the ever-increasing technology that is available today, consumers want to be able to access data from all devices. Social networking sites are one of the areas where the application will be most useful since this is a popular venue for sharing data.

By strengthening mobile security, Norton 360 will provide an advantage for millions of these users who use social networking sites. The software will protect users from the conventional threats including phishing protection, anti-spyware and anti-virus protection. In addition, protection from identity theft, drive-by downloads and bots will be provided by the new program.

Security is extremely important as many smartphones are used for checking on bank account balances and many passwords are at stake. They are also used for exchanging information by businesses and some of this information may be of a very sensitive nature. Smartphones and tablets are essentially used as a smaller versions of the personal computer today, making them vulnerable to the same threats and security issues.

Until recently, iPhones did not have the option of security that was available to computer users. The latest encryption systems were given a good look and upgraded to provide users with safer connections. Hackers have become very adept at gaining access during vulnerable times and retrieving information from smartphones. This includes bank account passwords, other passwords for frequently-visited sites and email information. This is partially due to the fact that mobile phones are used much more often and more indifferently than computers. People often do not realize how vulnerable their smartphones may be when it comes to hackers.

Norton Connect will allow users to access information that has been stored in Symantec's storage if the information is in Norton 360. The security service is also available to those subscribing to iPhones and Android phones. The plan is considered to be a highly successful feature because it inserts Symantec security into products that are not necessarily accessed, unlike personal computers.

The iPhone operating system is focused on keeping viruses at bay, but that doesn't mean there are no inherent security risks. Norton's application allows users to feel more secure in sharing information via their smartphones. As the senior vice president of Symantec's Consumer Products and Marketing said: "consumers today expect to be able to access and share their files, photos and music anytime, from any device and our mobile applications make that possible."

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iPhone 4G Review - 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy Apple's Newest Product

When Steve Jobs revealed the Apple iPhone 4G during his 2010 Keynote address, the announcement was met with much speculation and skepticism. Why now? Why so soon? Why the necessity? These are just some of the questions that greeted the advent of the newest model in Apple's flagship line.

But in this iPhone 4G review, we wish to assure you, the prospective end user, that the newest iteration of the popular handheld device truly, certainly, absolutely, undoubtedly ROCKS!

Stop asking how to afford an iPhone 4G. There are many ways to score a free iPhone 4G anyway, which we will discuss later on. For now, take a look at 10 fabulous reasons why you should own the next incarnation of the world's most popular mobile phone.

1. Video calling. This is, perhaps, the most exciting addition to the Apple iPhone 4G. With the addition of a front camera, video calling is now possible. You can use IM video conferencing, video calls allowed by your network, or Apple's proprietary video chat application, the iChat.

2. Sexier design. The iPhone 4G is said to be 25% lighter and thinner than previous models. Aesthetically, this would mean a sleeker, sexier design. Functionally, this would also mean that people with delicate hands - particularly females - will have an easier time handling the device.

3. Longer battery life. For this iPhone 4G review, the longer battery life promised by Apple is the clincher. After all, our enjoyment of this cellphone greatly depends on how long we can use it. With more than 30% battery life added to the unit, we can be guaranteed of a longer time in enjoying the new things that the iPhone 4G can offer.

4. Front cam applications. Of course, the front camera isn't only good for video calling. A slew of applications are now being developed to make good use of this new feature. Imagine, a game where you - with your exact likeness - would be the protagonist. Or a real time makeover app? The possibilities are endless.

5. Higher resolution. The unit boasts of a 960 x 540 resolution, a fantastic dimension for mobile devices. HD videos would look amazing on the iPhone 4G's new OLED screen. And with the improved HD audio playback promised by Apple, you can have a marvelous multimedia experience on the go!

6. Better camera. Improved to 5 megapixels, the newest version of the popular product just made an already impressive image capturing feature even more powerful and noteworthy! Also, the 4G model now has a flash!

7. Lower price, with no subscription plans. At $199 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB, this should put a stop to searches for answers to the question how to buy an iPhone without subscription. You're free to choose a telecommunications network you're comfortable with, and you won't have to worry about a restrictive lock-in period.

8. Better WiFi connectivity. The newest model will finally support 802.11n, which will make it at par with its current generation rivals, the Google Nexus One and HTC HD2.

9. Multitasking capabilities. Tired of having to close an app just to open up a new one? Well, the 4G model will finally, FINALLY allow you to multitask, i.e. to open up several applications simultaneously. This iPhone 4G review's reaction can be summarized in 3 words: it's about time!

10. The small things that pack a wallop. Unified mailbox. A folder for apps. New wallpaper and background options. True GPS built in. These are just some of the many more software additions to the model, making it the best iteration of the product to date.

So, what's the verdict of this Apple iPhone 4G review? Is Apple's newest product worth the purchase?

Android Devices in Wireless Internet and Mobile Broadband

Android devices, such as the Motorola Milestone A 854 and HTC Desire 6275, use the Android software stack which was purchased by Google, who then made it open source enabling it to be used by any developer working on software for mobile devices. Android was built on the Linux Kernel, and can be used to develop mobile applications that make full use of the true potential of a mobile handset, and enable developers to combine the various functions that a handset is capable of providing.

Using Android, your phone's core applications can combine with third party applications to offer services not otherwise possible, such as combining internet data with that on your cell phone, which would not be possible without Android. You can design your phone to match your interests, and make full use of mobile broadband and wireless internet applications. In other words, by using Android a developer can enable you to use your phone in ways not possible without it.

Because it is open source software, anybody can use it, and it is currently installed on a number of Android devices, including smartphones marketed by Acer, Cherry, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, and also on some tablets and e-readers. Where installed, full use can be made of the Android Market, offering a number of applications such as the free Time Mobile, offer the latest from Time Magazine and Sports Tap, also free, providing the latest sports results and stats.

To make full use of Android devices you will need Wireless internet and Mobile broadband (such as in the Motorola Milestone X MB810). With Wireless internet, or Wi-Fi, you can access the internet through 'hotspots' allowing wireless access to a router wired to the internet. Mobile broadband, such as 3G, allows internet access from anywhere at any time, and most mobile phones these days have mobile broadband technology integrated into their software.

Mobile broadband offers wireless high-speed internet access by means of a portable modem, cell phone or any other device that can access a wireless signal. It is available to laptops via a USB 'dongle' that provides a connection, and other Android devices that can provide mobile broadband connections are PC cards, notebooks with built in mobile broadband modules and all leading laptops.

One of the advantages claimed for Android is that because it is open source, more developers will use it because it's free, and the fact that it is implemented under an Apache license enables Android to be more easily used in software development. You should thus be able to connect your smartphone to car radios and many other Android devices.

A smartphone using Android always knows where you are, and one of the apps on Android Market is known as Aloqa. No matter where you are, Aloqa will make real time recommendations to your phone based on your choice of preferences in respect of restaurants, music, hotels, events and activities close to where you are at the time. This can be done because Android enables developers to interface the location of your device with other devices that can offer you this type of information.

Naturally, this also makes use of wireless internet or mobile broadband. Without either of these connections, Android would be extremely limited in application, as would other smartphones that don't use it such as Blackberry. Blackberry has its own platform and its own version of some of the apps on Google's Android Market.

So the obvious next question is which is better - Android devices or Blackberry or even Apple's iPhone system. If sales matter, then the Android platform phones are selling better in the USA than iPhones, while Blackberry (RIM platform) and Window's Phone 7 (Windows Mobile platform) dropped even more. Android phones now have 33% of the American cell phone market. It's not a matter of how they compare technically, but how many phone manufacturers are using each platform.

Naturally, you will find the best selling platform will have most apps, and Google is expanding its range of apps on Android Market. Not all are free, but a good number are. Among them are the highly rated games Robot Defense and Spec Trek. Both are extremely popular, but why not pop over to Android Market and check out what they have. Some are free while others are not so free.

Most Android devices therefore, such as the LG Axis 740, will also offer a WiFi internet connection and likely mobile broadband to enable you to make the most of the Android platform and apps downloadable from Android market. There must be some reason for most cell phones being supplied with Android, and Google is currently tightening up the rules regarding its use so that it less fragmented with more interoperability between applications and Android devices.

Advantages Of Rooting Your Android Device

Android is emerging as another popular mobile OS rivaling the more established platforms. Android mobile applications have seen a tremendous burst of android development activity with its ever-increasing scope and range. The functionality of your phone can be extended by rooting it. Let us discuss what is rooting and what are the advantages in doing so.

What is Rooting?

Rooting of an Android device is similar to jail breaking of iPhone. Rooting gains you access as a super-user on the Android platform. Rooting your phone implies taking complete control of your phone by modifying the operating system that originally shipped with it. A program called SU (switch user) when uploaded on the device provides root access to programs. SU manages this by exploiting vulnerability in the operating system code or device drivers. Needless to say, manufacturers do not approve the process of rooting. The advantages of rooting your Android device are enumerated below.

Customized Android OS

Android devices are not bound to its original OS. You can customize the OS to suit your needs. The more popular devices have more customized, after-market OSes. Rooting gives you full control over Android and you can alter system files, use themes, change boot images, delete apps that you do not want. For example, HTC Desire has more than 20 customized OSes that allow among other things saving apps to an SD, adding Arabic support, and removing SenseUI completely.

Backup and restore

Rooting gives you the ability to back-up your entire device image onto an SD card, which can be restored later if required. This allows trying out different OSes on your phone. If you want to try a new ROM (modified, after-market OS), you can back-up your phone, erase it completely, and then flash the new ROM. If you are not satisfied with the new ROM, you can restore your phone to the old image from the backup.

Save Space

Sometimes you may reach the maximum storage limit on your device. To overcome this hitch, you need to enable most applications to become movable to an SD. Tools like CyanogenMod, the popular Android custom ROM, enable the user to transfer most apps to SD even if the Android developers of those apps have not enabled this feature.

Apps Requiring Rooting

Some Android apps specifically require rooting. A tool like ROM Manager requires rooting to flash ROMs from SD card to your phone. Similarly, setCPU is another root-requiring app that helps you to under/overclock the device

Caution

Ensure that you follow the instructions carefully when rooting a branded or locked device. Improper execution may result in a bricked phone - a bricked phone is one where the firmware is damaged or a software error has occurred rendering the device unusable in any capacity. In some instances, the phone can be usable through a ROM flash.

Conclusion

Customized Android ROMs have evolved from being simple tweaks earlier to allow advanced full access controls covering most of Android phones today. Hyper-optimized versions and CPU overclocking can make your phone incredible swift. The best way to get started is to Google for information on rooting your phone by the search string

What's Better for Business - iPhone or Android Apps?

The popularity of mobile applications, or apps, has caused businesses of all types to try their hand at the mobile market. Creating a mobile app that ties in with your business can be a smart move, but it's not without some risk. Not only that, but knowing which of the two most popular mobile platforms to develop for can be a tricky decision to make.

Developing a Mobile App - Pros & Cons

Before creating an app for your business, it's important to make sure it's a good investment by weighing the benefits versus the drawbacks.

Pros:
- Provides better customer service, allowing users to access your business directly from their phone.
- Shows your business is modern
- Provides your business with more exposure by essentially advertising your company to anyone that browses the app store on their phone.

Cons:
- Requires a significant investment that may offer your business no additional revenue.
- Highly competitive app market means your app may not be downloaded.
- Very difficult to develop a mobile app that perfectly fits your business.

The iPhone

Once you've determined that a mobile app is a right fit, you'll have to choose which platform you want to release it on. The iPhone, due to its massive popularity, may seem like an obvious choice. For one, it has a huge install base that loves to download apps. Secondly, your app can be developed to work on any iPhone since they all have the same specifications. It does have its share of problems, however. For one, the iPhone app store is very competitive. The iPhone app store is significantly larger than the Android market, meaning you have less of a chance at competing. Secondly, while growth is high now for the iPhone, the market for Android-based phones is just beginning and growing at an exponential rate.

Android Phones

The main reason to choose to develop an app for the Android market is due to its growing user base. It has a huge install base of potential customers that continues to grow. Secondly, there is less competition in the Android market, giving your app a better chance to shine. Conversely, while the Android market share is widening, it is spread across hundreds of different phones. Making an app that works with all of them can therefore be tricky. Secondly, despite a large market share, the overall number of apps downloaded to Android phones is dwarfed by that of those downloaded to the iPhone. Even with no competition, your app still might not get downloaded.

Conclusion

If you are sure you want to develop a mobile app for your business, you're currently better off developing for the iPhone. It's overall simpler to develop for, it has a large install base, and its users are known to download a lot of apps

Why Owning An Android Tablet Is Beneficial

Tablet PCs are the newest arrival in the technology market, and Google's Android operating system has been a driving force in it. Most tablets in the tablet market are pre-installed with the Android operating system. There are multiple reasons as to why an Android tablet is beneficial and preferable to other tablets in the market; here are just a few main reasons:

1. The first reason why the Android OS is considered one of the top is because it is open source. This means that the software itself allows users to customize it and configure the software to work in a particular way that suits them. As long as the users download applications that are compatible with the Android system, everything should operate flawlessly.

2. The second aspect is probably one that is highly considered by people who buy the tablets which is the low price. Android tablets are inexpensive compared to other tablets such as Apple's iPad. There are lots of factors that go into the price, and one of them is the OS, and Androids is cheap, open, and easy to use. Android tablets aren't made for everyone, they are made for you.

3. The specs on Android tablets are very high. The memory on the tablet is expandable to 32 gigabytes even with an initial storage space of 8 gigabytes. Some of the other features include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 3G capabilities, and GPS. These features are creating a standard for what sales in a market for tablets. These are included in all tablets.

4. Android Tablets are simple to sync. USB ports and micro SD chips allow Android to be synced and backed up easily with the use of any PC. It is easy to save pictures and videos or sync music and contacts with Android tablets. No other software is needed, just plug and play.

5. The tablets have a lot impressive capabilities. The tablets are made to recognize when a person is using an on-screen keyboard or a stylus. It is amazing how accurate and precise the calibration is on the tablet, it picks up your handwriting, making it almost identically to writing on a piece of paper. These tablets are easy to use for taking notes, typing blogs, and sending e-mails.

6. The tablet's adaptability is the final noteworthy aspect of the tablet. The tablets running on Android Operating Systems have many uses and can serve multiple purposes to one person. Students can use Android tablets for completing home work and reports, consumers can use the tablets to purchase goods and services, a writer can use it to write blogs and articles, and a business professional can use it to create presentations and sell products. Of course, one person can always use it for all the purposes, and that is what Android tablets worthy of a purchase.

These are a list of the top six aspects that are worth mentioning about the Android tablets, but certainly there are more than just six. The android developers are always finding ways to improve the software, which in turn improves their products altogether. They are becoming quicker, easier, and more flexible for the consumers to use. Increased Android development is the reason it remains one of the top competitors in both the tablet and mobile phone markets.

Top 5 Android Phones

Everyone is buzzing about Android! Consumers and manufacturers love it. They love it so much, in fact, that they are producing dozens and dozens of Android-powered phones, each with its own different flavor of the Android OS. What's a poor consumer to do, faced with this impossible array of choices? Thankfully, we've gone out and selected the best Android phones out there for you, so you can make an informed decision on which Android phone you'd like to buy next!

1. Samsung Nexus S
The Nexus One, Google's first foray into the smartphone arena, was an extremely impressive phone; Google continues this tradition, albeit with a different manufacturer, in the Samsung Nexus S. The Nexus S boasts a lightning-fast 1GHz processor which absolutely blows through apps; unless an app is extraordinarily poorly designed, you won't experience anything remotely like lag on this phone. The Super AMOLED display is also beautiful, and one of the nicest available on any Android phone to date.

Another plus for this phone is the OS: It is currently one of the few phones to feature Gingerbread. While other carriers have been pushing Gingerbread out now, the Nexus S was the first with it and it still features prominently as one of the phone's selling points: You get an unadulterated, unmodified, bloatware-free installation of Android as compared to many of the other phones being sold through other providers.

One minor detraction is the lack of an SD card slot: the phone is fixed at 16GB, which will already be too small for many power users.

A final note about the Nexus S is its 4G connectivity; though the first version of the phone shipped without 4G connectivity, Samsung and Google heard the reviews and have since shipped an updated model of the Nexus S complete with 4G connectivity. The 4G is pleasantly quick and, combined with the rest of the features of this phone, ensures that the Nexus S will stay on the top of this list for a long time (at least until Google's next unlocked, carrier-free phone makes its debut!)

2. HTC Thunderbolt / HTC Inspire
(NOTE: The Thunderbolt and Inspire are the same phones, but the Thunderbolt is Verizon-ready and the Inspire is AT&T-ready, thus the reason they are being reviewed as the same phone. I'll refer to it as the Thunderbolt in the review, since that's a cooler name)

HTC has always been one of the top contenders in the smartphone arena; they are well-known for making smartphones that are responsive, fast, and well-made, generally being heavier and more solid than the more plastic-feeling phones some other manufacturers sell. That said, HTC doesn't disappoint with its new phone; the Thunderbolt is built on the next-generation Snapdragon processor, and combined with a new Adreno GPU means the phone really flies.

The major draw here is, of course, the 4G connectivity (on both the Thunderbolt and Inspire). the 4G does make it blazingly fast, but brings with it its own downsides: specifically, the 4G connectivity eats away at battery life at almost that same breakneck velocity. The phone itself also isn't the sleek, smooth beast typical of HTC, like a Nexus One or an Incredible; it is instead a bigger form-factor, more comparable to the Evo. Those of you looking for a smaller phone might be disappointed, but the bigger screen and resolution was certainly welcoming and it didn't feel oversized or fail to fit in my pocket. Overall, a great phone, especially with the 4G connectivity!

3. Motorola Atrix 4G
Motorola gets quite a bit of flak around the Web, mostly in part because of their draconian bootloader policies and other additions that make their Android-based phones just a little less open. That said, however, the Motorola Atrix is an amazing phone. It comes with the new Tegra 2 dual-core processor inside, making it one heck of a fast performer; there's barely any lag when using the phone, even with the heavier load that the custom MOTOBLUR UI seems to sometimes add to Motorola phones.

The phone also comes with 4G connectivity, which of course gives it access to the same blazing speeds as the rest of the phones on this list; combined with the dual-core processor, however, this phone is seriously fast.

The Atrix also comes with a dock that is supposed to turn it into a full-featured laptop; the effect is a bit gimmicky and also very pricey, so we're going to review the phone just as a phone. If this is the sort of thing that appeals to you, however, definitely consider it when you're thinking about the Atrix. It's optional, and as such can only add to the experience if you want it!

4. T-Mobile G2X
The G2X is a fantastic phone: there's no ifs, ands, or buts. Powered by the same CPU as the Atrix 4G, the speeds you get from the T-Mobile are just as blazingly fast. It's got pretty much everything you would want out of a phone: nice IPS display, fast both in terms of phone speed and 4G connectivity, and front and back facing camera. It also has a micro-HDMI slot, as well as expandable memory (up to 32GB).

The only downside to this phone is that it's still running 2.2, though LG has said they will roll out an upgrade very soon. Some people have also incorrectly stated the phone runs a stock version of Android; while the phone does run stock 2.2, it does have some bloat like NFS SHIFT, a custom camera app, custom GPS app, and some other non-stock bloatware that can be annoying. Other than that, however, this phone is amazing and an absolutely great buy for anyone in the market for a super fast phone!

5. Samsung Galaxy S II
Another phone in the line of dual-core, super GPU beasts, the Samsung Galaxy S II is just as fast as the previous two phones on this list, also sporting a dual-core processor along with 4G connectivity. The Super AMOLED screen is beautiful, like the Nexus S, and the phone keeps everything humming along very smoothly.

In fact, the differences between this phone and the G2X are slight; both are amazing phones with great displays and speed. The Galaxy S II does run 2.3, but that probably won't be a problem soon as T-Mobile and LG have said they're going to roll out an update soon. All in all, this one's another great buy (though still pricey!)

Conclusion
So there you have it: The top 5 Android phones out there now. They are all great, with blazing speeds, cameras, and 4G connectivity; hopefully, this article helps you navigate the crazy maze that is Android phone purchasing!

Android Tracking - How To Locate Your Kids Anywhere In The World With An Android Tracking App

n today's society, keeping track of your kids has become paramount, especially if you need to locate them in case of an emergency. Knowing where your kids are in case of an emergency can be made easier using Android tracking apps.

When using an Android tracking application, you're able to locate exactly where your kid/s are. There is no need to call the cellphone, and maybe encourage them to be less than truthful about their whereabouts. Lets take a closer look at how the Android GPS tracking application works.

HOW DO ANDROID TRACKING APPS WORK?

Android, Google's operating system for mobile phones, was created as an alternative to the nearly ubiquitous Apple iPhone OS, Windows Mobile, and Nokia's Symbian OS. Android is an open source operating system allowing literally tens of thousands of applications run on an android cellphone. It is nearly impossible to come up with some function that can't be done on an Android phone, as long as you have the right app.

An Android GPS tracking application, uses the phones own GPS functionality to locate the phone, and therefore the user. After purchase and installation the user gets access to a website that allows remote tracking of the cellphone. The Android location tracker is updated in real time so you will always know where your kids are.

This type of Android tracker may sound like the subject of science fiction movie plots, but the arrival of Android and the low cost of Android tracking apps make science fiction a reality. Now any concerned parent can track their child's location using affordable and accurate Android GPS tracker. These apps can remove any concerns you may have about the phone users location at any time.

WHAT KIND OF ANDROID GPS APP TO PURCHASE?

There are two types of android GPS tracking app, visible and hidden. The visible apps are entry level, tend to be at the cheaper end of the scale and involve the phone user co-operation. If your kid doesn't mind you knowing their location and is happy to switch on a visible app then these apps are appropriate. However, if you are not sure your kid would co-operate fully with a tracking app then you should opt for the hidden app. If you require the app to work quietly in the background you will probably have to spend a little bit more, something in the price range of $50 to $150. For your investment you will get an Android tracking app that resembles James Bond's latest technology. The decision on visible or hidden is one for you to make based on your knowledge of your kids.

If keeping track of your kids whereabouts is important to you (especially having a way to locate them in case of an emergency) then an Android GPS tracking app is the perfect solution.