The Rise of Android Mobile Operating System

Android has emerged as the best-selling mobile phone platform worldwide according to research firm, Canalys. There are over 300 million Android devices in use as of February 2012. According to Google, every day more than 700,000 Android devices are activated worldwide from 21 OEMs in 48 countries and on 59 carriers.
Android achieved a major milestone by reaching 500,000 applications in October 2011and it took only 3 years to achieve the milestone. Android Market is now the number two app store with over 550,000 apps surpassing BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 Marketplace and Nokia's OVI store which are way behind Apple and Android. Android Market has registered more than 10 billion application downloads as of December 2011.
The Android Market made its entry in October 2008 with just 34 apps and 9 games. It suddenly witnessed a spurt in available applications with a whopping 500% increase in just less than a year. Google is right behind Apple in mobile applications with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users having access to more than 500,000 iOS based applications via iTunes App Store. Apple's App Store was launched in July 2008 and it managed to reach the 100,000 milestone in just over 16 months, several months after it achieved 1.5 billion downloads.

Apple presently allows developers to sell apps through its App Store in 100 countries. Android Market is available in 46 countries and Blackberry is available in 65 markets with the support of 6 languages.

Android entered the smartphone OS industry a couple of years back with the release of T-Mobile G1 and it paid off with many handset makers like Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung joining the bandwagon. Android acquired a big chunk of market share within the first year of its release.
Outlook
According to a latest market research report, by 2013 smart phones will grow to represent over 27% of shipments worldwide, with the proportion in some developed markets in Western Europe surpassing 60% and 48% in North America. The recent and upcoming launches of new smartphone operating systems including iOS4, Blackberry OS 6, Symbian 3 and 4 and Windows Phone 7, will help maintain the current trend of heavy growth in the smartphone industry but market share worldwide will still revolve around these four key providers.
Smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola, will use Android platform for their new budget devices that will help Android achieve number one status in North America.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7046814

Android Apps That Help You in Staying Organized

Smartphones have made our lives easy. They entertain us, take care of our data, assist us in a number of ways and help us in organizing various work operations. They are now a device beyond communication. Smartphones have great powers and potentials. They are really a PC-in-your-pocket.
Recently Google's Android has become very popular. This free-to-use mobile operating system has attracted a lot of local and branded mobile phone manufacturers. Apart from regional companies, Sony, Samsung, HTC, LG, and Motorola have also introduced their smartphones powered by Google's Android OS.
Google Play has also played commendable role in making Android smartphone popular. Here at Google Play, Android mobile phone users can download free and paid applications. These mobile applications help the users to stay organized in various tasks related to their work and personal lives. Google Play Android app store has hundreds of thousands mobile applications which help people in their daily lives. Following are some popular apps that help you stay organized:
Evernote
Evernote does not need any introduction because millions of users are already using this app. Evernote is available for both mobile platform and desktops. It is a cloud computing app. It lets you store all important notes and other personal data on the cloud. If Evernote is installed on your Android smartphone, you can retrieve your personal data from anywhere. You can also create notes and mesh them up with some pictures snapped using phone's camera. It synchronizes all your data between your mobile phone and your PC.
ColorNote Notepad Notes

ColorNote is another popular app available for Android users. It has been downloaded over 5 million times. The app brims with a range of features, from color-coding notes to calendar integration. The app turns the desktop of your phone into a colorful bulletin board where you can pin all the important notes, events and more.
Taskos To Do List
Taskos is a bit advanced To Do List for Android. It has an easy to use interface and voice recognition system. If you have this application, you can stay organized just by speaking to it. It translates all the speech commands into text to perform operations. You can use it to add, delete, edit various tasks, and share them with friends. You can also write notes and set these with alarms.
Jorte Calendar
Jorte Calendar has so far been downloaded more than one million times. It is simple, practical smart calendar application to fulfill your everyday needs. It has customizable features to suit your requirements.
Habit Streak
Habit Streak is simple-to-use Android application. It keeps on reminding you about your everyday actions. All you need to do is to mark the things which you want to be reminded of. It is really a useful mobile application development for Android devices.
Droid Wallet
Money management is always full of headache. But an Android application provides you easy ways to manage that. Droid Wallet is a useful application to keep track of your financial activities. The app is fully customizable. It can help you easily manage all your expenses and income.
Astro File Manager
Is managing files cluttering your phone's SD card? There is no need to worry because there is an Android app to help you. Astro File Manager lets you stay organized. It has advanced searching algorithm that filters files in any format. It is a useful if you have tons of unmanaged digital data in your Android mobile device.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7048787

Android ICS Update Coming Soon For The Sony Xperia S

Although new handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the forthcoming iPhone 5 grab the majority of media attention there are some excellent alternative premium smartphones currently available. The HTC One X has attracted some super reviews since it was launched and the Sony Xperia S is also a very impressive handset. There is one problem with this Sony model however and that is that it does not boast the latest version of the Android operating system but this looks set to change over the coming weeks.
The Sony Xperia S is the flagship model in the companies current range of mobile devices so it seems strange that they opted to launch the model with the Gingerbread version of the Android platform installed. The new Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS, version of the software has been available since January and the majority of premium Android devices come supplied with this version. When the Xperia S was first launched Sony promised that there would be an ICS update made available for the phone but they would not give exact details of when we could expect to see it. It has now been revealed that the update for the phone will be rolled out towards the end of May and into the beginning of June. Although Sony have not officially announced this a number of Sony Support staff commented on their website forum that this is when we can expect to see the new software launched.

This news will please both owners of this handset and also consumers who are considering purchasing the model. The new ICS software will help to make the Sony Xperia S one of the very best handsets on the market. The model certainly impresses in terms of specification. The screen incorporated on this phone is regarded by many as being the best display currently available. The large 4.3 inch screen makes excellent use of LED backlit technology to deliver an impressive resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. This means that the phone can offer a pixel density of 342PPI, a figure that surpasses every other device on the market. Another area where this handset really impresses is with its camera features. The primary camera on the phone records still images at 12 mega pixel resolution while some excellent additional features accompany this facility such as an LED flash and a Panoramic recording mode. High definition video footage can also be recorded at a resolution of 1080P.
The specification of the Sony Xperia S has always impressed us but the inclusion of older Android software let the phone down slightly. The new forthcoming update should elevate the handset into the same category as leading handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X.

For Sony Xperia S News and Samsung Galaxy S3 Prices please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7064046

Android Gingerbread on the Sony Ericsson Arc

The Gingerbread OS is the latest smartphone-optimized operating system by Google's Android. A number of Sony Ericsson handsets come pre-installed with this mobile platform. Handsets such as the Mini Pro are powered by this operating system. Another phone that comes with this Android iteration straight out of the box is the XPERIA Arc. There are a number of benefits to be taken advantage of with Gingerbread onboard.
Of these benefits is a user-friendly virtual keyboard. Since this popular phone by SE is used mainly via a touch interface. This keyboard is important. It will allow you to enjoy the ease of typing when it comes to text, emails, and chat. Typing will never feel like a chore.
Smartphones have been plagued by draining their batteries too quickly. This version of the popular smartphone-optimized platform promises to change this. According to Google, this version will manage power consumption on handsets. This simply means you will get to use this phone longer.
This operating system comes with an onboard application manager. This will allow you to check on all the apps or OS applications running on the mobile handheld device. It will also allow you to view the resources used by all the running applications. If you feel something is wrong, you can force an app to stop.
With Android 2.3 onboard, the Sony Ericsson Arc allows to simultaneously run a variety of apps with ease. You can play games. You can watch movies. You can also check on your emails. It will be possible for you to do all of these tasks all at the same time.

When performance comes to mind, Google promises that Android 2.3 is currently the fastest smartphone-specific OS. Compared to the Froyo (2.2), it will allow you to enjoy more from lightning-fast performance. You will feel the performance regardless of the type of processor powering the phone. With a 1 GHz Scorpion single-core processor Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset with an Adreno 205 GPU, you will enjoy unsurpassed performance.
Since this is a more powerful version of Android packed with new features, you might think that it is difficult to use. On the contrary, it is simpler to use.
Gingerbread on this handset will allow you to take advantage of the apps on the Android Market. This app offering is the fastest-growing application marketplace the world has ever seen. Here, you can choose to download applications such as games, tools, eBooks, and so much more.
With Android 2.3 on the Sony Ericsson Arc, you can never go wrong.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6569756

Three Cheap and Economical Android Phones

Smartphones were considered a luxury product when they were introduced in the market because they were priced very high and were beyond the reach of a common man. But now the scenario is different as companies are making affordable smartphone so that they can reach out to the common man.
Here are the list of some Best and Economical Smartphones
1. LG Optimus 2X: Best dual core smartphone available in the market today that supports Android 2.2. This phone is excellent for video recording as it can record video at 1080p with the power of its dual core processor. It has 8megapixel camera along with DLNA media streaming. There is a 1.3MP front facing camera, wifi and 3G connectivity. The best thing is the price. You can get this Smartphone for Rs. 20K here in India.
Following are some brief specifications.

• Dual Core 1GHz Cortex 9 Processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4.0 Inch Display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
• 8MP autofocus camera with an LED flash
• 1080p HD video recording and a 1.3MP front facing camera
• 1,500mAh Battery
• Android 2.2 Froyo, upgradable to 2.3 Gingerbread
• 8 GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

2. Motorola Defy Plus: I think this is the best Android phone for rough and tough users. It has a 3.7 inch display and the best part is Robust, waterproof and dustproof design. It has a decent screen quality along with nice hand fit design and comfortable to use. If you are a music lover than this phone will never let you down as it has excellent audio quality along with good loud speaker and good battery life. The only drawback is its camera as it has only VGA Video recording in place of HD video recording and also there if no front facing camera.
Here are some brief specifications.

• 1 GHz Cortex-A8 Processor
• 512 MB RAM and 1 GB ROM
• 480 x 854 pixels resolution with a display of 3.7 inches
• 5 MP, 2592Ñ...1944 pixels, autofocus and LED flash Camera
• Video recording at 30fps
• Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
• Memory Expandable up to 32GB, 2GB included

3. Motorola Atrix 2: If you are looking for a powerful Smartphone with lots of features within your budget then Motorola Atrix 2 is just for you. It has a 4.3inch screen with powerful 1GHz dual core processor along with 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording. It has an optional laptop dock accessory that will give a better PC experience using Motorola's Webtop software.
Following are some specifications.

• Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9
• Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
• 540 x 960 pixels resolution with a display of 4.3 inches
• 8 GB storage, 1 GB RAM
• 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• 1080p HD video recording
• MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6966884

Flash Android Development

Mobile gamers must be excited to know about the tie up between Flash and Android. Yes, you heard it right. Adobe Flash player can be experienced on your Android. Adobe has recently declared that they are launching Flash 10.1 for Android 2.0 and above. With this technology evolved, the world of internet gaming will experience a vast change. There are a number of gaming platforms on the Internet, which required Flash, such as some Facebook games. These games could not be played on Android enabled devices until now. However, with Flash development for Android, definitely a faster and better gaming experience for the Android users will be delivered. The framework of Flash for the Android devices is known as AIR.
There are two ways that an Android developer may use Flash on a device:

1. The Android developers can utilize the existing Flash content into the old App development of Android powered devices.
2. The developers can imbibe the Adobe Flash content through Android.

Advantages of Flash Android Development:Even though, the development of Flash Android is still in its beta testing phase, the users of Android have already recognized some of its unique facilities that it seems to stay here and win. There are many advantages of the development, which is visible to the Android users as well as to the avid gamers. However, the main advantages, which need to be specially mentioned, are as follows:

Speed:With Flash, you can have a faster gaming experience. Any game, which is developed with Flash Technology, runs a significant time faster on the Android powered set, compared to 3G iPhone or an iPad.
Compatibility:One advantage of Flash development is its compatibility with almost all gaming platforms. There are many games, which were developed with Flash and which were created when Android had not even existed, however, today they run on Android platform as well.
Accessibility:There are thousands of games, which essentially require Flash tools to run. Since the Android powered mobile users have been deprived so far from the Flash gaming experience on their handsets, the Flash Android development has bought a relief for them. Now they will not miss any game, be it Facebook gaming application or any other platform.
Screen:A whole new mobile architecture is makings its way with Android and Flash. The newly arrived Android enabled mobile phones such as Nexus One has a wider screen of 800*480, compared to 480*320 of 3G iPhone. Therefore, the users can experience better and clearer view of the games on the handset, though Flash has to upgrade itself a bit more to support games with more pixels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5995578

How to Find Help With Android Development

We've all come across sticking points when developing our Android apps that just don't seem like they should be causing so much trouble. Surely someone has solved this problem before, right?
Chances are, your issue or something like it has been solved and re-solved by the Android developer community many times over.
There's no sense in re-inventing the wheel unless you're creating a brand new platform. Most of the time, you just want to finish a tasks, not change the world.
Help when you're stuck
Obviously, doing a Google search is a good place to find help and tutorials when you know what you're stuck on.
More often than not, you'll find a post from stackoverflow.com, one of the most complete question and answer sites for programming topics (including Android!). This immensely popular site should be at the top of your list to browse and search when you're having trouble. The moderation system helps make good answers more prominent.
If you have searched Stack Overflow (it's important to search so you don't post a duplicate question) and can't find a question that matches yours, consider asking the question yourself. Many other people are likely also going to come across your issue.
What about when you don't what you should be looking for?
Tutorials and blogs are a great way to follow in the footsteps of someone who has accomplished a specific task. This has the added benefit that the author can include additional related information that you may not have known was important.

Rather than implementing everything from scratch, it's often a good practice to see what others have done and build off of that to meet your needs. Not all tutorials are up to date, though, so be sure you see how old it is (or what Android version it is targeted at).
Aside from random Google searches, where do you look for tutorials? Android Developer Tutorial, as you might expect, catalogs tutorials for Android developers - from beginner tasks to more complicated things like licensing and in-app billing. There are even tutorials on releasing your app and marketing your app afterward.
Contributing
Beyond just asking questions and reading what others have done, consider sharing what you have learned with other Android developers.
Did you find a quicker way to fix something than the article you are reading suggests? Did you figure out a clever way to solve a common problem? Is one of the lower-rated answers on a Stack Overflow question the correct one for you?
The Android community is built on developers that value sharing information and helping each other. Your contributions would certainly be welcome.

Timothy Mackenzie is a software engineer that escaped the cubicle world at a large company to go solo with Android app development. He uses this freedom to teach others how to make money with Android apps. See the Android income blog for reviews of Android app stores as well as ad vendors to earn money from.
For a complete guide taking Android developers from starting out to making money, take a look at the Android Income Powerstart Guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6652024

A Look At Some Battery Saving Apps For The HTC Sensation XE

If you have owned a smartphone in the past, I'm sure that you will notice that the battery life is generally limited if you use your phone often. This is hard to avoid given the advanced specifications of phones like the HTC Sensation XE combined with their relatively compact batteries. Luckily there are a number of solutions available in the Android Market to help you conserve battery power, and I will look at a couple of these in this article.
Advanced Task Killer
Many apps are required to run in the background in order to receive real time info and updates, such as Facebook and weather apps, so that they can gather information and provide alerts in real time. Although convenient, this can be a drain on the battery life of the handset. Advanced Task Killer will display any apps that are running in the background and you can select the ones which you want to disable. You can even set the app to do this takes for you automatically in intervals of 15 minutes and higher. As a bonus, any time you open one of these apps, it will automatically restart its connection so you can use it as normal. This is perfect if you want to occasionally check your social networking updates but don't need to be alerted of notifications in real time. Advanced Task Killer is available for free on the Android Market, and makes a real difference to the battery life of Android smartphones like the HTC Sensation XE.

Easy Battery Saver
This is an app which displays real time data about your phone's battery life. It will show you the percentage of the batteries charge still available, so you can see whether you need to charge your phone. Also, this can prove handy of you are running low on battery and you can then decide if you want to only use your phone for more essential tasks to conserve power. The app also allows you to customise the power settings by adjusting screen brightness, volume, data connections etc so you can optimise how the battery performs. Also, the app will display how much talk time, web surfing time, audio playback time and video playback time your battery is capable of performing based on its current battery percentage. Like Advanced Task Killer, this app is also free on the Android Market, so it is definitely worth a download.
Even if you are able to charge your phone regularly, it is still a good idea to install apps like these in case you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to charge your phone. Although these apps do not completely solve the problem of low battery, that are convenient and can mean the difference between running out of battery and getting a couple of extra hours to find a charger or make an important call. If you have high specification Android smartphone like the HTC Sensation XE, these apps are certainly worth a download, especially as they are available for free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6848724

The Benefits of Owning an Android Tablet PC

Google's android operating system has been a dominant player in the rise of the mobile phone operating systems. Now for the first time in history, this startlingly clean and easy to use operating system is now available for use on Tablet PCs. These android PCs come in a variety of models and have shown extremely promising results for the future, and more than that, for now. These Tablet PCs successfully bridged the gaping hole in between the high-powered laptops and smart phones of today combined in one very portable and accessible device. The capabilities of the android tablet range from listening to your favorite music, to browsing the web, to downloading files from the Internet, to watching YouTube and basically anything else he can do on a PC and as a bonus they come with a startling selection of Google android applications that are available either for free or for purchase.

These android tablet PCs are on the rise in a significant way, these fantastic, sleek and elegant redesign and pieces of equipment. One of the best things about these tablets is that they're relatively inexpensive compared to apples iPad, and in my opinion the qualitative differences isn't worth the price difference. For a student, these Tablet PCs are one of the most convenient ways to keep track of information such as school assignments and extracurricular activities along with the ability to write essays, complete homework or do really any school assignment anywhere without having to carry around heavy books or having to run to a computer in order to get your work done.
For the modern businessman, these are like a super-powered version of the BlackBerry, allowing you to keep track of important dates, client meetings or whatever else is in the agenda with ease. Along with that after the work is completed you can sit back and watch high quality high definition resolution streaming videos and listen to your favorite music. I would highly suggest an android tablet to anyone who is looking for a great tablet PC for low-cost.

Cody Phrenism thoroughly enjoys writing about technology, especially in the field of hand-held Tablet PCs such as the android tablet. He also prizes capitalism and competition in the marketplace and has thusly established an android tablet review so that everyone can find the tablet PC that is right for them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5555733

Twitter Android - Tweeting On The Go

When we tweet what's happening all around us
, most of us tweet not just our own thoughts, but web sites, photographs, video clips, places... nearly anything. Mobile phone devices & Social Platforms like Twitter Android are more and more a part of some of our lives, most times most people are doing almost everything but making phone calls. Looking through the news, watching a movie, and taking pics at occasions like the World Cup usually are the things that we would assume doing on mobile phones - expressing each of our things on these kinds of tiny displays needs to be just as easy and quick as on the big screensWhile programs work effectively with one another, sharing gets as 2nd nature with mobile devices as it will do in the flesh. The particular Google android program is actually good at that, and we've worked with the Google android peeps for making it quite simple to share what is occurring. Currently we're excited that Twitter Android have come together in the market place!
Twitter Apps for Android is a amazing practical application to make use of, in addition to sending any hyperlink or picture is definitely very straightforward as well - simply just look for your share button inside your favorite application and select you fav social network.
Receiving updates is simple from a bunch of areas on your cellular phone. Immediately see your current timeline when using the home screen widget, see your tweet spot on the map, and view your friend's newest tweet in your phonebook, GoogleTalk list contact list and also any kind of application which makes use of Google's Android's QuickContact bar. Check out this list of some of the most popular Twitter Andriod Apps - Enjoy!

• Discover what's happening right now, anywhere in the world with the official Twitter for Android app. Realtime search, trending topics and maps show what's happening now. Tweet,
• TWIDROYD for Twitter -- TWIDROYD (fka Twidroid) is the #1 Twitter client on Android available as a free or PRO version for all devices. Twidroyd is the only Twitter app to instantly see websites and photos>
• Plume (Touiteur) -- Plume is formerly known as Touiteur. (Twitter requested that we change the name) From the creator of Beautiful Widgets - FoxyRing comes the newest Twitter app to hit the Android...
• TWIDROYD PRO for -- Twidroyd PRO (fka Twidroid) is the #1 full-featured client for Android. Compared to the free version, Twidroyd PRO users will always get new features first...
• TweetDeck -- TweetDeck is your mobile browser for staying in touch with what's happening on all social sites including the big T, Facebook, Foursquare and Buzz. TweetDeck makes it easy to stay up to date and organized no ma.
• TwitPic Uploader -- This application uploads the photograph that exists regularly in '/sdcard/dcim/camera/' to twitpic. Moreover, uploaded URL is notified to Direct Message for you. Version 1.0.1 When uploading, so I have no answer to the state application
• Theme For Pandahome -- Crazy home, open home, and a home (full) will not open if you dont have at least one of these. email me with problems or concerns
• Twitter: Link, less memory -- A simple link (with a nice Icon) to the smartphone site. You don't have to install huge Twitter apps, this link is working as good as any Twitter app. This link less memory
• Breaking News Updates -- TwitterBreaking News & Updates Search By Selections from Twitter which allows users to search after specific issues and profiles on The Big T. Information and links from the search results
• FML Twitter Search -- Use it to find FMLs from around the world. Use your own Twitter account to submit your own #FML for others to enjoy. Maybe your day will go better if you see the FMLs of othe... more
• Sms2Twitter --This application tweets the first characters (maximum length of messages is 140 characters) of all your incoming SMS messages with an optionally prepended HashTag to a configurable... more
• Geek Twitter Helper -- Help you speak like a GEEK on twitter or facebook, etc.
• Water Live Wallpaper -- Twitter Live Wallpaper w Twitter visualizes the activity of your Twitter account in animated water. The more is going on the brighter and the busier the water becomes. No annoying notifica...
• Twitter Search Reader -- Simple App for the Twitter Search.(Not Twitter Client App) Functions Save search keywords Save search results Send search results by e-mail Save twitter IDs and search ID's tweets
• Cursting (Twitter) --Let off your steam. Now! Only twitter client that is centered around curses. You want swear but could not find the word? Or maybe not creative enough? Not a problem any more. Cur... more
• Twigee for Twitter -- Twigee is a clean, fast, impressive and full function twitter client (API supported). *NOTE* If you have a trouble to login after update, please try to re-install *1.5.1 Change lo...
• TweetCaster for Twitter -- The #1 Twitter app for Android with the most features of ANY Twitter app! Over a million downloads! * Multiple Twitter acct support * Multiple widgets * Simultaneously post to Twitter..
• Swift App for Twitter --The fastest, leanest, meanest Twitter app. More features per KB than Twidroid or TwitterRide. @swiftapp -Messages, Mentions, DM, Searches, Profiles, Notifications, Conversations...more.
• Twister Beta for Twitter -- Twister is new simply Twitter client for Android. Nice UI, easy to use. Tweet, send DMs, share photos and links to your friends and the world
• Twitsper --Twitsper is a portmanteau of the words Twitter and whisper. It highlights Twitsper's ability to limit the 'audience' for your tweets to a select group of followers. This selection of the intended audience can be made per each individual tweet...more>>.
• TweetCaster Pro for Twitter -- NO-ADS VERSION: #1 Twitter app for Android with the most features of ANY Twitter app! Over a Million downloads! * Multiple Twitter acct support * Multiple widgets * Simultaneously.. more
• ReTweet (Twitter helper app) -- Do you dislike the native style of retweeting in the official Twitter app for Android? With ReTweet, you can easily RT the old way. Just share a tweet with ReTweet from within the... more
• TweetsRide for Twitter -- TweetsRide is a simple and fast Twitter client. (formerly known as TwitterRide) v1.5.6 Auto-scroll option, OAuth Echo support, bug fixes, etc Check our website for more details.
• Twitter Mobile -- Check the latest tweets with this easy-to-use app. Twitter Mobile features an internal browser dedicated to browsing Twitter, to really enhance your experience! 1.1

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5688261

How to Install Android SDK With Eclipse

The Android OS is becoming a very popular operating system for mobile phones. The marketshare of Android phone is quickly increasing and every cell phone carrier now has at least one Android phone in their lineup. Every cell phone manufacturer is also jumping on the bandwagon. The number of apps available for Android phones is now over 20,000.
If you are interested in creating your own applications for either personal use or for profit you will need the right tools. One of the first things you need is to Install Android SDK on your computer. This will show you the exact steps needed along with the different software required.
How to Install Android SDK with Eclipse
The Following are the steps to install android 2.0.1 SDK into eclipse for the first time if you want to start to develop Android apps.

1) Install java 6 SDK from the java website. If you already have a SDK installed make sure it is at least java 5 SDK
2) Install Eclipse Classic 3.5 from the downloads section of the eclipse website. If you already have eclipse installed make sure it is at least eclipse 3.4
3) Download the latest andorid SDK from the android developer website. Unzip the package to a location that you will remember and not delete. Then add this location to your System Path.
4) Install the ADT plugin for eclipse with the following instructions. From the Android Developer website
5) Use the AVD manager to download latest documentation and other SDK's you would like to support 6) Start a new Android Project and start programming your Application

You can find all of the links along with the steps in the link in the signature box.
Good luck and have fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3563072

Top Themes for Android Live Wallpapers

Android is mainly known for its applications because they are functional and are extremely useful for any particular task. However, the wallpapers have stolen the show because there is a variety of them that are sitting ready to adorn your phone screen. Each version of Android has its own exclusive features, and Android 2.1 was no exception. It introduced the highly innovative live wallpapers. They made their debut on Nexus One, and since then they have become the most wanted thing in Android smartphones. It immediately triggered the thought process of designers and developers. As a result, today we have plenty of live wallpapers for Android.
In a layman's words, the Android live wallpapers are basically interactive, and animated home screen backgrounds that behave in different ways depending on the settings. They can be imagined as dynamic apps that run on the background and have access to all the facilities of the platform. They even swift and swirl as you move and touch your device and navigate around the home screens. This is indeed a great, innovative alternative for the static ones.
At present, there are plenty of live wallpapers that are available This article discusses the top themes that are worth for your Android smartphone. They are a must have for your phone and anyone who sees them are sure to give you great complements.

Sun Rise:
This refreshing, spectacular live wallpaper has been rated as one of the top 10 Android wallpapers. This one features the silhouette of a tree, and the background flaunts morning sky with soft moving clouds and flying birds. A rainbow is also featured in this one, but it appears seldom. You get a whole range of screen settings where you can customize it and can set the speed and direction.

Nightfall:
The nightfall is another serene beauty and pictures a shadowed landscape of an enchanting skyline. This live wallpaper has the stars twinkling in the background and a nebula that floats gracefully in the distant sky. The screen settings of this one allows you to control the movement and direction of the moon and the stars. This one has already become the favorite of millions of users. So, you better hurry to get this into your smartphone.

Thunderstorm:
If you are looking for a fascinating live wallpaper that you can download for free of cost, then Thunderstorm is just the thing for you. This one puts up a dazzling show of lightning and storm. You can see the flash of lightning among the storm clouds along with heavy downpour. This one comes with supportive features for the landscape mode and for switching between the home screen.
Blue Skies:
This one takes you on a wonderland. Every time you look at it, you feel like wandering and soaring with the clouds on the blue skies. The free version of this live wallpaper takes you on a tour of the clouds. This one comes with lots of customizable options that including the floating balloons. It even provides proper support for the landscape mode and home screen switching.

If you are looking for your own customized Android live wallpapers, then come to Android Application Programmers. Our experienced Android developers and programmers will give you the required services in android application development for live wallpapers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6929794

TomTom GO LIVE 2535M 5-Inch Bluetooth GPS Navigator HD Traffic Voice Recognition

TomTom's 2535M is part of a new series of devices, offered by this independent navigation service, that has a unique feature built-in, instant road and traffic updates. Based on traffic information reported by its network of towers, the 2535M, looks at the route you have chosen from Point A to B and, if there are any slowdowns or traffic jams reported, updates your routing so that you skirt the traffic.
It is an interesting use of this system and in many ways is much like using a cellphone in that the 2535M listens to its radio system for any updates - it is updated every two minutes so any information you receive is no more than two minutes old - and if there is anything that needs to be changed the microprocessor controlling the 2535M updates the routing to reflect near-real-time road changes. (Unless you have fulltime access to the whole universe of low-orbiting satellites that make up the GPS system, this is about the best you'll find on the market now.)
In addition, the TomTom features Bluetooth technology. Like other Bluetooth pairing systems, you can pair up to 12 devices with your TomTom so that you can use hands-free technology to place your calls. Pairing a device is simple, you go into setup mode, activate Bluetooth searching or device pairing and you ensure that your cellphone's Bluetooth is also running. The synchronization should take no more than a minute or less and you're all set to go.
Most Bluetooth-supporting phones also support voice-command systems so that when you are using your phone in a standard manner or with an earpiece, for example, all you have to do is tap the earpiece twice and the phone will ask for a command. You can "Call Home" or "Call the Office" and the electronics do the rest of the work. The best part is that you never have to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel.

TomTom devices have taken that one step further with WiFi or network-centric technology. Powered by the Android operating system, you have access to the full Google mapping suite as well as to Local Search, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Expedia and Twitter, so you can actually tweet as you travel cross-country. It's an interesting way to keep in touch with your friends.
This is possible due to the high-resolution display on the five-inch TomTom. About the only thing that you may not like is having extra cords running from your dash, but, unless you want to rely on the internal battery of the TomTom and its more useful limited life, you'll probably purchase a cradle and power cable. Fortunately, with today's USB devices (TomTom now supports USB), you also get charging as well as any information from services such as TomTom Map Share Services and the IQ Routes system that keeps your TomTom's routing and display updated.
Loaded with features, the TomTom 2535M is the latest in this manufacturer's line of intelligent location devices. It is very conveniently priced and the lifetime mapping updates are just an added incentive. Overall, we've used this device and have been pleased with it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6942712

Advanced Lock for Android Screen

Advanced Lock is a combination of screen-saver and locker, especially designed for android users who want to prevent their phones from unsolicited or accidental access. Like most people, I want to secure my own phone and protect my important info and personal data on my phone. That is one of the reasons why I install Advanced Lock. I believe most people have the same experience with me, namely, sometimes the home screen is touched by accident without a notice to accidentally access some apps, and as a result, your battery will be drained out slowly. So I need a screen lock to provide adequate security for my own phone. The following is some features of this app summarized by me after installing it.
Firstly, user-defined features are pretty good.
1.Users can customize background image. I do like this feature as I not only can adopt images previously kept in the app, but also can customize my own images. It is undeniable that those presupposed images are very beautiful; however, you can use any image you like for background image if you like. Plus, you even can use your own current wallpaper as background.
2. Six different unlock buttons style are available. I have to say these buttons are pretty cool and nice.
3. Six customized screen timeout are available. You may choose one that is suitable for you.
Secondly, Advanced Lock gives you the option to set an unblock password. You have to enter the password before access home screen. That is why I said it is also a locker as your phone will not be accessible if the user doesn't know the entry password.
Thirdly, its screen is really beautiful, and it still displays date, time & battery usage information even when screen is locked. It is convenient if you want to check the current time as you don't need to unlock it.

The above are some features I summarized according to my own experience. I believe you will gain more if you try it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5363392

Android Tablet Reviews: Honeycomb OS

Android Honeycomb is the current Google Android OS. It is designed only for tablets and is therefore optimized with even more features and benefits than you would normally find on a regular smartphone running on Froyo or Gingerbread.
The Honeycomb has received a dramatic improvement compared to Gingerbread in several aspects. One of the most obvious examples is enhanced applications in Honeycomb. Many of the native apps on Android have been completely rethought and enhanced, such as the email, browser, android market, Google Talk, and YouTube.

• Email. The email apps (both Gmail and everything else) use a two-pane system. So it makes perusing your inbox and various folders much easier. Moreover these apps use a new API open to all devs called "fragments" which allow for sliding panes. This means the left pane starts out listing all available folders for that email account, but when you choose something from the panel on the right side, that then slides over to the left and replaces the folder list. Consequently on the right side, now I can see the entire email thread or full chat that I requested pull up, and I can see the whole conversation.


• Browser. The biggest enhancement is tabbed browsing. You don't need to press a menu button within the browser to see all of the open windows. They're just presented like the Chrome browser on your computer, with the Action Bar showing off multiple tabs that you can switch to rather easily.


• Android Market. "My apps" section shows a listing of all apps you've downloaded, updated and/or installed. You can dictate whether the apps will have updates automatically installed, and you can open each individual app directly from this section. This listing of My Apps also notices if any updates are available, keeps me apprised of download/install progress, and is easy to scroll through.


• Google Talk. The integration of native video chat and Google Talk app makes it more convenient and accessible for anyone to use it. Even if you have a tablet and your business partner doesn't, just have them sign on to Google Talk on their computer and you're all set for a good video chat.


• YouTube. The YouTube app was built with Renderscript, and it's easy to tell because of the extra 3D renderings done up here. The app is set up like a grid with several rows and columns, but when you scroll left or right this grid curves with the scrolling, acting as if it's on a carousel.

With its enhanced applications, Honeycomb has been the biggest leap Android has taken in its growth and development ever since the OS came out. It has made Android much smarter in the process. As a result, Honeycomb will make Android tablets much more competitive with the iPad than existing Android devices running earlier versions of the Android software.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6773171

Sites Similar to Instagram

At this moment, Instagram is a hot topic. After Facebook took over it for $1bn, the alternatives of this photography sharing website are being sought by its followers. Also, suddenly there has been an explosion of applications that give some additional features apart from the regular feature. We found the following interesting alternatives looking at the results of similar sites to instagr.am.
Hipstamaticapp.com
Hipstamatic is a very popular app and it has been existing since 2009. In 2010, it was even named the app of the season by Apple! Photos that haven't been captured while using this app can't be edited on Hipstamatic. This is its one drawback. The standard of the filters is what really sets Hipstamatic apart from the myriads of lesser vintage look apps. The app has several 'lenses' offered, each of them providing a unique vintage look, with a few 'films' and 'flashes' also available to enhance the effects.The alternative of printing the picture is also offered which isn't feasible with Instagram. The app, though aesthetically designed, takes time to getting accustomed to. Hipstamatic isn't free of charge like the other apps, and the basic edition of the app costs about $1.99 to download.
Picplz.com
Virtually identical service to Instagram that lets you share your photos via Facebook and twitter with their app and offers a variety of filter systems to put above the images which once again, aren't different from Instagram. The two essential advantages of Picplz.com are that although Instagram downgrades the quality of your primary photos, Picplz retains the initial quality. This makes a substantial distinction when looking at images on bigger screens or when published. The next benefit of Picplz.com is that in contrast to Instagram, they've got a powerful web existence from where you can evaluate your photos with an online photo album call Flipboard which oganises the images collectively in a nice and interesting method.

Dailybooth.com
Dailybooth motivates people to have one huge discussion about your lifetime in photos. Over-all, it's a really similar app to Instagram but just like Picplz.com, Dailybooth also possess a robust web site to look at your own and your friends' archived images. The primary distinction amongst them is possibly their mindset - while Instagram consumers will look to find fascinating things that will look attractive with a filter on, Dailybooth users take advantage of their item by utilizing it as a diary that files their every day regimens.
Flickr.com
Even though Flickr is greater recognized as an online service to keep high resolution photos, Yahoo! exposed its very first Android Flickr app in September 2011 that had plenty of Instagram-like filter systems. This app includes an activity stream to ensure that you can look at latest photos from your buddies in real-time and surf through all their earlier sets and selections, in addition to your own. Just like with Instagram, you are able to view likes, comments and in addition it is possible to look at a map to discover exactly where the pictures were captured. Like with Instagram, photos could be shared on Facbook and Twitter. Sadly, the filter systems aren't accessible on Flickr's iOS app yet, so not really the greatest alternative for iPhone users.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7115000

Tips for Android UI Design to Improve Appearance of Your App

In recent years, many software professionals have changed their field and tried to get absorbed in the most rapidly growing field of Android application development to contribute in its success and to get some benefits from it. Developing applications in Android requires one to have strong market understanding and creative thinking. Most important thing in Android application development is design and presentation of the application you create.

It is very crucial to have the most appealing and attractive UI of your Android app. A better user interface of your Android app can offer high quality representation of your app, which helps to get higher ratings and reviews from stores. This leads to get better ranking of your app and at the end you get maximum downloads of your application. This article is aimed to provide some essential guidelines for Android UI design which will help to improve appearance of your app.
• Always follow UI guidelines provided by Android and try to implement some of them in your Android app.
• Identify type of users you are planning to target through your app! It is very crucial thing to first know what your user want, expect and like. Just keep user at center when you design UI.
• Try to include most suitable graphics size and formats! It is very essential to make balance between graphic size and your mobile device screen size.
• Always try to show core functionalities or operations of the app which are easily locatable and available. Other additional operations could be incorporated into different menus.
• Always think from the user's point of view and use most suitable and appealing color combination which can help your users to use your app anytime they wish. Sometime developers often choose color combination which is not easily recognizable during sunny day, try to use color combination to enhance user experience.
• Try to make your UI design slick by adding rounded corners in it rather than using traditional harsh rectangles.
• Always incorporate font's styles and sizes which are easy to read and recognize by user of your Android app. Just try to include fonts which are easy to read by user, it will help them to use your app easily.
• Use different shades or colors for different actions on each UI elements or components.
• Test, test and test! Try your application UI design for each worst scenario which users can opt for!
So, above we see some handy but useful tips for Android UI Design. If you follow these simple tips, surely you will get your app on the top of the charts!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7084961

How to Easily Uninstall and Reinstall Android Apps

Perfect Uninstaller is designed for android phone users to easily remove and reinstall your phone's apps without worrying about the inconvenience of searching them in the market again because it gives you the option to back up before uninstalling them.
Of course, you can delete apps that you installed in the market by traditional way, namely, access Menu > press Settings icon > select Applications > click on Manage Applications, and then you will see a list of apps you have installed, select the app you are to remove, and click the Uninstall button, the app will be removed.While this kind of unloading method removes apps directly without giving you a back up. Besides the operation is complex. For me, some apps I have deleted but may become useful later. As a result, it is troublesome that I have to search them in the market once more. With the help of Perfect Uninstaller, it do brings me a lot of convenience because I can choose to back up an app before uninstall it. Plus, its user interface is tidy and easy-to-use. It totally has 3 icons, which respectively are Applications, Back up and Deleted. Now let me express these three icons one by one for you. Application is a list for all your apps installed in the market. Select an app you are going to delete, press it to delete, back up or delete & back up it. Back up list all the apps your have back up before removing them. If you want to reinstall them, just press them to select Reinstall button, it will be reinstalled easily and quickly. The last icon, Deleted lists all the apps that you have deleted. If you forget to back up before removing an app, this feature does help you out because you can also find it in this list and reinstall it simply by pressing Retrieve button.
To sum up, Perfect Uninstaller is an app-remover that gives you the option to back up and you can reinstall easily.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5424257

Is Android Really Open Source?

Android application development has been all the hype since the announcement of the platform, and it has made several claims regarding its open source features. Because of this, many standard smartphone users made the jump to Android hoping that they would experience open source in the same way that they had on their Linux machines. The question is whether or not the open source platform has lived up to its promises.
What is the actual definition of open source? In the world of software development, it is when software is distributed with a license that gives users the freedom to modify the code, reuse it for their purposes and redistribute it. The principles of open source software development is based on a community approach where groups of people collaborate in the development process, often on a voluntary basis. Often times, the developers are also the end users. The work they do not only benefits them in the long run, but also the community as a whole.
The Android platform is open source with regards to the fact that a user will be able to download the code and do what they want with it. They can make modifications and they can upload these modifications to their phones. However, there is no transparency with regards to the operating system's development going on behind the scene. There also lacks a development community where individual programmers are contributing to the project on a regular basis. Developers are left to take whatever Google provides with each major software release.

Although Google is doing the bare minimum to release Android as open source, they are not the only barriers to a truly open source development environment. The phone carriers have maintained tight control over their devices and release them with the Android operating system locked down. Their reasoning behind this is that they believe a truly open source development environment would pose a severe threat to the existing phone services and network. The theory is that a skilled programmer could potentially hijack part of or all of a network. Is this possible? It is certainly a matter of debate and many people believe that these theories are unfounded.
Android application development is not completely restricted to Google's parameters. Many have found root hacks that allow for more access to the software, and Google does not keep users on as short a leash as Apple keeps its iOS developers. With that being the case, many have found that working with Android still provides more freedom than developing for the iPhone.
While Android is technically open source, Google still has a large foothold in the independent development process. However, this has not hindered the growth of the Android smartphone and it's popularity among consumers. Open or not, the demand for Android application development will continue to rise and flourish under the existing development environment.

For more information about Android application development, visit Magenic Technologies who have been providing innovative custom software development to meet unique business challenges for some of the most recognized companies and organizations in the nation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6583367

Tether Your Android Tablet to Your Smart Phone

The concept of tethering Android tablets or your touch screen tablet to your cell phone offers a number of advantages and improves the versatility of the device. Tethering is convenient and once again stretches the capabilities of everyday technology to make our lives easier than ever.
What does it actually mean to "tether" one mobile device to another? And why would we even care about doing this? Before digging a bit deeper into the advantages of tethering your Android tablet to your smart phone, let's look at the commonly accepted definition for tethering so that we are all on the same wavelength.
According to Wikipedia: "Tethering is the use of a mobile device such as a mobile phone to supply internet access for another device which is otherwise unconnected, using the mobile device as a modem. This can be done through Bluetooth wireless technology or cables (such as USB)." Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethering
It is easy to see why tethering would be of use to us. Tethering allows you to connect your Android tablet to the internet via your cell phone's built in 3G connection. The recent explosion of the touch screen tablet craze, tethering gives us the ability to save money and hassle by not paying for monthly internet subscriptions for all of our devices. Tethering makes for the most cost effective use of a smart phone.
Tethering Android tablets to a smart phone is useful in emergencies when one needs reliable, fast online access and the nearby Wi-Fi connection is weak or non-existent. Tethering an Android touch screen tablet to a smart phone is great for business people who travel frequently or find themselves needing internet access in normally inconvenient situations. Tethering can bail one out of emergency situations if the internet connection at home is down.
Another advantage to tethering is that it is an ideal option for those who don't like the potential security issues of public Wi-Fi. Tethering is much more secure and allows complete privacy when handling confidential work or other files.
With all the tethering software available and the easy, widespread use of Android, tethering is a very viable option indeed as there is plenty of support in case difficulties arise. Tethering is definitely the next step in advancing smart phone and internet tablet technology. Tethering proves that the way we access the internet expands and gets better each and every day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5566807

All About Android Launcher Themes

If you've installed any of the many launchers available in the Android Market, you've probably seen multiple mentions of theming. If you've wondered what it is, you're not alone - there are a lot of people who have no idea what theming is, even after they begin using a custom launcher. We'll look to cover the most important aspects of Android launcher themes here, so that you have a better understanding of what they can do for you.
Themes Can Change Almost Everything
Your icons, wallpaper, and dock settings can all be changed with a launcher theme. They have a great deal of power behind them, and can completely overhaul the appearance of your device. One popular theme for GO Launcher is the iPhone theme. It replaces your dock with icons inspired by the iOS dock, and gives an iOS theme to all of the icons in your app drawer and on your homescreens. It even changes your wallpaper to an iPhone theme. In short, it replaces your stale layout.
But They Can't Change Everything
Themes can only affect so many elements of your phone. All of those elements have to be integrated into the launcher. That means that things like your notification bar, the looks of certain apps and your lock screen are all left untouched by a theme. If you want to change those, you need to flash a custom ROM, which is in a different league of difficulty compared to installing a theme.
They Can Be Based on Anything
Take a look in the Market for LauncherPro things, or load up GO Launcher and visit their GO Store. You'll see a lot of themes, such as iPhone and Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) themes. But not all themes follow the same design principles. Some are just based on colors, while some are seemingly-random collections of elements.
Themes Aren't Universal
You installed ADW, now you've switched to LauncherPro. Suddenly, that ADW theme you loved in ADW is no longer available. This is because themes are built specific to different launchers. If you're using one launcher, and install a theme for a different launcher from the Market, it won't be compatible. If the theme you are looking at isn't made for your launcher, your best bet is to search for a comparable one that is.

Anybody Can Make Them
If you're dead-set on having a certain theme but can't find it, you can always create your own. It requires at least fundamental knowledge of Photoshop or other image editing software, but beyond that it's not a complicated process. Check the website for your favorite launcher and chances are you'll be able to find tutorials on building your own themes.

Britney Fuller is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with readers. For more on Android launchers, Snake Bytez offers readers information on the best Android launcher.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6675967

5 Tips for Android's Ice Cream Sandwich

The latest version of the Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), combines both the phone and tablet operating systems. Not only does it help with compatibility on all Android devices, but it also offers some new features as well. Here are 5 tips for the new Android ICS operating system.
Voice Commands - Everyone knows about Siri with Apple, but Android has actually had voice commands for quite awhile. Voice Actions let you call friends, send emails, get directions, set alarms, and perform several other common tasks by simply speaking into your phone. To activate Voice Action commands, tap on the microphone that appears in the search bar on the top of your home screen. Then speak the command into the phone.
Swipe to Close Apps - Android 4.0 offers a new and intuitive way to close apps that are running on your device. Tap on the multi-task button on your device and you will see a list of all running apps. To close an app, simply swipe the icon for that app to the left or right.

Browser Tips - The stock web browser that comes with ICS is actually quite good and is a big improvement over previous stock Android web browsers. With the browser open, long press on the back button to bring up your Bookmarks, History, and Saved Pages. Saved pages are especially convenient because you can view them offline.
Also, add Quick Controls to give you more space for your browser and easy access to your browser controls. Open the default web browser and tap on Menu > Settings > Labs > Quick Controls. Now simply slide your finger from the left or right edge of the screen to bring up a quick control panel. Here you can access the tabs you have open, the URL bar, and menu.
Notification Bar - In ICS, there are a few new features involving the notification bar. First, you are now able to access the notification bar from your lock screen. When you get a notification, you can swipe down on the notification bar without unlocking your phone. This will save you a couple seconds each time.
Also, you now have the ability to dismiss a notification with a swipe of your finger. When a notification appears in the bar, simply swipe your finger left or right to dismiss it.

Take a Screenshot - Unlike with the iPhone, taking a screenshot with an Android phone was not an easy task. Previously with Android, in order to take a screen shot on your phone, you would need to root your phone and then install a separate application in order to capture the screenshot. Now with ICS, you can easily take a screenshot by holding down the Power button and Volume Down button. You can find the screenshots in the gallery on your device.
This list contains just 5 of the cool new tricks with Android's newest operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich. Google is currently in the process of rolling out ICS to several Android devices.

Android Forking From the Linux Kernel

Google's Android operating system originally designed for phones and eventually tablets and netbooks has broken off of the mainstream Linux kernel. There are enough changes that are being made that Android has "forked" the kernel and aren't using the most up to date Linux kernel with no real indication that Android ever will be. What does this mean for the future of Android and Linux working together?
A fork happens quite a bit with open source software. Everyone has access to the code. At some point in time one group moves in one direction with the code while another group does something else. The intention is generally to stay together but at times for various reasons this does not happen.
While it is nice that Google picked to use Linux as the base, it doesn't seem that their intentions were to contribute to the kernel over the long term and develop with the Linux community. It seems that previous version of Linux was just a good starting point for their project to build the basic operating system on.
This means that as of right now it doesn't look like Android and Linux will be working together. There still are applications that can be shared and possibly drivers, but Google is large enough to pave it's own path if need be with enough programmers to patch up any issues as time goes on.
It should be expected that this would happen eventually because Android doesn't really need many of the kernel updates since it's currently running on very limited hardware.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3695119

Protect Your Android Phone Against Viruses

The phenomenal growth of Google Android has in part, been due to open nature of the Android Applications Market. Google provides little vetting for third party developers, looking to promote and sell app's, meaning the number of applications available has grown very quickly. This has also made it vulnerable to hackers pushing malware and viruses. We look a few known malware types, currently targeting Android devices.
SW.SecurePhone (virus) collects data and personal information then sends it to a remote server for 'harvesting' by hackers. Most of these viruses only result in annoying adware and unsolicited spam emails rather than cleared out bank accounts. However, in the wrong hands it could be disastrous and serious threat to your personal 'wealth and safety'. Like most viruses, it runs in the background without any icon being displayed, making it very difficult to remove. Windows users will be more than familiar with this annoying problem, as the operating system is highly vunerable to attacks.
Most malware runs after users unwittingly install, it after downloading external software. The exact sources have not been reported, but the Android Market may well have been compromised. Remember, only download applications from trusted sources and be sure to analyse the developer information before downloading. Often comments and reviews are bogus, so do your own research first.
Soundminer is another malware that asks permission to access the handset's microphone, under the guise of some innocent service. It then records calls and applies a pattern analysis coder capable of 'predicting' the likely content of a voice call. Valuable calls with automated bank systems for example, are recorded and given a hackers 'value rating'. This applies to the data spoken and input into the phone, via the keypad.
When the rating is high enough, the malware sends it to a distant server for analysis and possible action. It is simply a case of collating enough data and putting it together in the right context. The open nature of theAndroidphone Market and the granting of access to third party operators, has been criticised for not being secure enough. Summary Google seem to have a fairly relaxed approach to vetting developers and their products.

Just offering a disclaimer about 3rd party apps will not endear them to customers facing serious malware issues. They need to take responsibility and work at making key products like Gmail secure, as this is typically where viruses and malware strike. Apple has no known viruses and the malware is very tame in comparison to the Android or its dreaded PC cousin. Try and use complex passwords, that use numbers and letters, where possible and keep an eye out for virus announcements, it is ultimatley upto you to stay safe online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6686706

Designing Websites for Tablets - The Mobile Design Challenge

Up until recently, mobile website designers just had to worry about what their applications would look like on small-screened phones and other mobile devices. But with more and more types and sizes of tablets entering the market, mobile designers are finding themselves at a loss.
What happens when a traditional phone application gets displayed on a large screen tablet? The viewer sees lots of empty space and sparse content. And likely won't remain on the site for very long.
To fix that and keep visual interest in the application, Mobile Tuts+ recommended having a ListView on the left side of the screen and a details view on the right side. Use WebView to update the content.
Size and resolution also factors in to design for tablets. The Android operating system can dynamically load resources based on lists of device criteria. Have layouts available for small, medium and large screens.
There are four basic screen according to Android Developers:
• Xlarge screens at least 960dp x 720dp
• Large screens at least 640dp x 480dp
• Normal screens at least 470dp x 320dp
• Small screens at least 426dp x 320dp
Android Developers recommended providing alternative layouts for the different sizes, although the operating system will resize a layout too, so there's no need to design different layouts for each screen size.
When it comes to designing mobile sites that will look good regardless of what type of mobile device a viewer sees it on, keep it simple is the mantra of Developer.com.
Keep screens streamlined and free from clutter to make sure buttons and other touch controls are an adequate size. The site also recommends using flexible layout controls that adjust to screen size, including RelativeLayout and LinearLayout.
Try to keep in mind the people who will be viewing the mobile content. Even the best thought-out mobile plans can go awry and cause users to drift away from the site.
Mobile devices aren't just another ways to reach customers, but are a way to engage them, said Tom Wentworth of Mashable. The gadgets are the most important innovation since the introduction of the computer mouse.
A smartphone user is transaction-oriented and will expect a more no-frills interface -- so stay away from using a lot of Flash and complex sites. Tablet users are looking for more of an experience that could include video, images and other content, but keep the tablet websites easy to navigate.

Betsy is a freelance writer in the UK and Tel Aviv. She specializes in writing creative copy for web, print, film, mobile devices and http://www.Wix.com. Wix is a free mobile website builder mobile website builder that lets users create and customize mobile websites with drag & drop - no coding is required.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6680968

How to Use Your Android Phone As a Modem

You have some great photos or videos on your phone but the screen is just not big enough to view and wondering what to do; well, you can view all these on your computer or laptop by converting your android phone into a modem temporarily. With an application called PdaNet you can stream data directly from your phone to your PC. The application is currently free of charge and can be downloaded from the Android Market.
Before you are able to use your phone as a data modem here are a few points to be considered; first your phone has to have an android OS, the PC that you want to tether, USB sync cable for your phone, PdaNet copy of your phone and PdaNet copy of your PC.
Installing PdaNet on your Phone
If you have all these in hand, then now you can begin by first installing the PdaNet. Go to 'search' on your phone and type PdaNet to display PdaNet options. Choose the June Fabrics Inc. option. The PdaNet allows you to access internet through your android phone. Bluetooth USB and DUN can be supported by the PdaNet and it does not need tethering or rooting. Click on 'install' to have the PdaNet application on your phone. With the PdaNet you can receive and read SMS and MMS. It also has access to your Network communications, your personal information, services you pay for like sending SMS and also your system tools. Finally, click on okay to finish the installation.
There may be duplicate copies of PdaNet on the Android Market so it's safe to install the June Fabrics Technology inc. Run the application after finishing the installation.

To turn it on, tap on 'enable USB tether'. As seen earlier, enabling it for the first time will prompt you to download desktop software. When you only have internet on your phone and not on your PC it can help to download and transfer the application to your computer. If the computer already has internet, then click on 'No' when it asks you to download the desktop software.
Install PdaNet on the Computer
No configuration is required and it's not as cumbersome when installing the application. However, if you have the Android development toolkit on your PC you may encounter two issues. If abd.exe is running you may have to terminate it using task manager. You will be notified that Android drivers are already installed on your PC. When installation is complete the PdaNet icon will appear at the corner.
Enable the USB tethering cable and plug your phone to your Pc to connect internet. Right click and select connect internet if it doesn't connect immediately. This is a great way of exploiting all your android phone's features on a much larger screen and even gives you an advantage when you don't have internet on your computer but your phone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6611521