Android KitKat

Android KitKat ( Android 4.4 ) is here ! 

Android 4.4 is Android KitKat and this shows that Google smartly changed the name of their Android 4.4 OS to Android KitKat when it was due for release. There was a lot of buzz about Android 4.4 or 5.0 being Android Key Lime Pie since the name was possibly leaked or Google just trolled everyone. However we like the Android 4.4 named as Android KitKat ; Who wouldn't like a KitKat for dessert? Apple users boasting about the all new iOS 7 are in for a tough competition as Google just released Android KitKat. Lets have a brief Android OS version count: Android Cupcake, Android Donut, Android Eclair, Android Froyo, Android Gingerbread, Android Ice cream sandwich, Android Jellybean and the all new Android KitKat. 

Whats new in Android 4.4 ? 

Most of you would think that an update from Android Jellybean 4.3 to Android Kitkat 4.4 would not mean much and Android 4.4 would probably have very minor changes. But the all new Android 4.4 comes loaded with excellent features to make your phone work better than what it was with Android 4.3 Jellybean. Currently the Google Nexus 5 comes shipped with Android KitKat 4.4 out of the box. Some of the features of Android 4.4 KitKat are explained as follows with the help of the Nexus 5:

Android 4.4 KitKat Features: 

 1. Translucent Status & Navigation bar:
One good feature included here in Android 4.4 is that the OS has a translucent status and navigation bar which used to hog up some of the screen space in the earlier Android 4.3 and before. Plus point is that Android 4.4 devices will feel a lot better because of the extra screen space which was earlier used up.

nexus-5-status-navigationbar

2. Supported on Android devices with lower Specifications:

 The Android Kitkat 4.4 is said to be a very memory efficient OS compared to the earlier ones. Android KitKat 4.4 is optimized to run on lower end devices i.e devices with 512 MB of RAM can support Android KitKat 4.4

easily. However devices should be within the Google 18 month upload period as stated by gsmarena.com in its FAQs.

3. OK Google:
On Android KitKat 4.4 all you need to do is say "Ok Google", to pop up the voice search. Thus you get a hands-free interface to search anything on Google using Android KitKat 4.4 . This will be convenient as you don't have to keep opening the app manually every time you need to search something.

ok-google-nexus5

4. Hangouts:
Android 4.4 has a new and improved Google Hangouts. Hangouts has now integrated SMS and MMS and can be set as the default app for Messaging. Off course it still retains all its earlier features the most important being IM using google accounts.

5. Dialer & Contact:
The dialer and contact app is completely new in Android 4.4 . When you open Contacts you'll get a list of contacts based on how frequently you used them. Android 4.4 integrates Google Search in the Search bar placed above which will search your phone or over the Internet for the contacts you type. The Dial pad will slide up and be ready for use once you press the button situated below.

 

 6. Incoming call detailed search:
 If you get an incoming call from some local business etc. Android 4.4 will allow Google to search for Caller ID and  give you details about the caller like the name, image, address etc.

7. Home Screen with Google Now integrated:
Google now has become a part of the home screen in Android 4.4 and cant be shifted or moved, its position is fixed.

8. New Home Screen Icons:
Android 4.4 has changed the look of the icons present on the home screen. The new icons have a fresh look and they have received positive reviews by all.
 

homescreen-icons-kitkat-nexus5

 9. Emojis in the Google Keyboard:
Now you have various Emojis a.k.a. emoticons, smileys etc integrated in the Google keyboard in Android 4.4 which you can use when you chat.

emojis-kitkat-4.4-nexus5

10. Full Screen Album Art on Lock screen:
Android Kitkat gives some good style to the Lock screen of the phone which is visually appealing. It displays the Album Art along with the media/file which is being played.

These are some of the most Notable Features Of Android KitKat 4.4 and there are various other features which makes the New Android KitKat 4.4 OS standout from its predecessors. Google has Integrated what they do best i.e Searching using Google Now with almost all of the important apps present in the phone. 
Thus Android KitKat 4.4 has proved to be an all new and refreshing Android Operating System made by Google. 

Android on PC

The easiest way to get Android on your PC running a Windows operating system is to download an Android emulator software.
One of the most widely used Android emulator is BlueStacks.
BlueStacks is a free Android emulator software which lets you run almost any Android app flawlessly on your PC. Best part about BlueStacks is that it is a free software and supports almost all the Android apps out there. 

Download
Official BlueStacks website 
http://www.bluestacks.com/ 

If it doesn't work you can try out the Beta -1 version
http://www.4shared.com/rar/FXeJPv-I/BlueStacks-SplitInstaller_nati.html

Some Screenshots :

BlueStacks loading

BlueStacks home screen

How to Download and Install Apps on BlueStacks ?

Its very simple to install Android apps on BlueStacks. You can click on App stores which will allow you to use 3-4 different app stores from where you can download the new apps on BlueStacks.
Else you can simply click on the Search icon and type the name of the app you want.


FOR EXAMPLE:
Downloading and Installing Facebook Messenger

PLAY ANY ANDROID GAME ON BLUESTACKS !

 As you can install any android app, you can install any android game the same way using the stores to download games. Ever wanted to play some good Android games, but no Android device to play them on ? Or your phone got a bit outdated and cant keep up with new game releases ? Or you would simply love to play Android games on your large PC monitor, then BlueStacks is all that you need to have fun and play Android Games on your PC.
BlueStacks will allow you to play any non motion sensor game almost flawlessly on your PC. Make sure you have the latest version of BlueStacks by updating frequently so you can play the latest games and install the latest Android apps.

JETPACK JOYRIDE Android game on BlueStacks
This is a simple yet very addictive Android game where you need to touch the screen of your Android device to control the player.
On BlueStacks we will use the Click of your Mouse on the Monitor to perform the same touch action and play this game.

SCREENSHOTS:

  
RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

- Any Dual Core Processor

- 2GB RAM 

- 2GB of free Hard-disk space  

- A good GPU (graphics processing unit) or an old PC with a good   Graphics card.  

Note: If you receive and error saying " incompatible GL " you can fix it by downloading and installing the latest graphics driver for your system. However if you still receive the same error, then your system does not meet the recommended graphics requirement.
 


 

Nexus 4 India

LG Nexus 4 is officially available in India. The wait is finally over to get your hands on this powerful handset. LG Nexus 4 (16 GB) is available on Flipkart for a price of Rs. 25990 with a 1 year phone warranty and 6 months warranty for accessories. LG Nexus 4 is a powerful phone which is an addition to Google's Nexus line of phones.

LG Nexus 4 will feature Google's Latest Android OS 4.2 Jelly bean out of the box.

Jelly bean 4.2 features:-
1. Photosphere
2. Gesture typing
3. Tablet sharing
4. Miracast support ( Wireless display)
5. Improved Google now
6. Day dream
7. Lock screen enhancements and
8. Enhanced notifications


Some of the significant new features in LG Nexus 4:

• LG Nexus 4 packs in some new hefty hardware, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) chipset.
• It has a 1.5 GHz Quad-core Krait CPU along with an Adreno 320 GPU (400MHz) capable of delivering QXGA / 1080p resolution. 
• LG Nexus 4 has a 4.7 inch True HD display screen, 1280x768 pixels (318 ppi pixel density) which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which is 20% thinner for a better touch response. 
• 16 GB Internal Memory.
• 2 GB RAM.
• Wireless Charging on  using any Qi-compatible charger.
• 8 MP camera with LED flash.
• Full HD 1920x1080 recording @ 30 fps. 
• HTML5 web browser present in the Nexus 4. 
• Li-po (Lithium polymer) 2100 mAh battery.

Cons:
The only sad part of LG Nexus 4, is the absence of a memory card slot.

• No expandable memory.
• No 4G (LTE).

Facebook Home Download and features

Facebook Home On Android

Facebook Home

Facebook is all set to go full mobile with this good interactive Facebook Home App all set for release in a few days. There was a high anticipation that Facebook Home would be Facebook's very own Operating System, however Mark Zuckerberg clearly stated that Facebook Home will be an App which will run on the Android Operating System. Thus its concluded that Facebook Home will not have total control over the phone. The main feature is that Facebook Home will behave in a similar fashion to the Go Launcher or the other launchers where it will control the entire Home screen of the Android phone. Therefore an other Apps on the phone needn't be disturbed by its operation as it is treated as a separate app altogether. 

Facebook Home is purely made for all the people who are totally glued to facebook all day long. It comes together as a good user friendly interface for you to post, share, chat, comment and do many other things hassle free. It will transform your Android phone into a Social phone.

This App's for you if you love Facebook.

Facebook has teamed up with HTC to make the 

Facebook Phone " HTC First ".   

HTC First

 The HTC First will be the first phone to have Facebook Home powered along with Jelly bean Android 4.1 .

This phone is specially designed for people who are socially connected using Facebook. The HTC First will be out on 

April 12th for $450 and for $99.99 on a contract from AT & T in the US. 

 

Facebook Home Screenlock :

 

Facebook Home wants to be as friendly with its users as possible.The screenlock is pretty neat and features the users image.   

Other Screenshots :

 

Facebook Home screenshots

Facebook Home will be available for download on Google Play from the 12th of April this year.

Other than the HTC First

The Facebook Home App is expected to release for the following phones : 

Samsung Galaxy S III, S4, Note II, 

HTC One and One X+ .

Mark Zuckerberg also added that the Tablet version of the Facebook Home App is expected to complete later in the year.

 

   

Unbrick Galaxy Ace

Unbrick Samsung Galaxy Ace GT - S5830i
If you own a Galaxy Ace GT - S5830 Do not proceed at any cost as both the models are different and it will harm your phone.
The Stock Rom works like a charm, please save it carefully for future use.

Warning ! Proceed at your own risk, I am not responsible for any kind of damage caused to your phone. 
The stock ROM of Galaxy Ace GT - S5830i doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the respective owner who compiled it. All credits to the person who compiled the Ace GT - S5830i ROM. I am just giving a simple tutorial and re-posting the GT - S5830i ROM here as it is very difficult to find the correct working stock ROM.

Note: Your phone should have a minimum 85% of Battery before you start the operation.

Galaxy Ace GT S5830i

• If you have accidentally flashed the wrong ROM for your Galaxy Ace GT S5830i and want to revert back to the stock ROM this is simplest way to get your phone back its original condition. 
• This tutorial will also help you if your phone is bricked i.e. unable to get past the Samsung logo upon switching it on etc. 
• After a lot of research I found this as the most simplest way to do it.
• I have put all the files you need in one place, so you don't have to go hunting and download it from multiple sites.

If your phone isn't starting at all, just follow the steps strictly in the exact sequence

Follow the steps below : 
1) Install the usb drivers of your phone in the PC, or you can simply install the Kies software from Samsung.
 
2) Download and extract all the files from here in one place using Winrar or any other software.
https://www.4shared.com/rar/lK21z9YI/repacked_by_DSZ.html
The rar file will consist of the following files :

• Odin
• Readme
• S5830iXXKL1____********

3) Extract the " S5830iXXKL1____******** " file in the same folder, password is in the Readme.
You should get the following files :

• BOOT_S5830iXX *******
• DefaultCalDataWithBoot_S5830i******
• GT-S5830i-MULTI-CS*****
• MODEM_S5830iX*******
• PDA_S5830iX******  

4) Now you have all that you need, no more downloading required.
Lets proceed to get your phone fixed.


5) Open Odin and run as Administrator.

6) Insert the following files in Odin very carefully.
Use the Readme file if you have any doubt .

7) Open your phone in Download mode.

• Make sure your phone is not connected to the PC.
• Now open your 5830i in download mode by doing the following:
• Press Volume Up and Volume Down and then the Power key all together.
• Now connect  your phone to the PC via USB.
• If your phone is connected properly it will display as below

8) Now click on Start to begin the flashing.
9) If the Flashing is successful it will display as below.

10) Your 5830i should restart automatically and have a normal startup otherwise power it on yourself if there is complete in-activity.
Don't forget to Select your language at startup !


Congrats ! you have Unbricked and fixed your Samsung Galaxy Ace 5830i with the Stock Firmware.

Key Lime Pie Phones Android 5.0

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie

The next upgrade to the Android OS Key Lime Pie Android 5.0 was already in talks in 2012, however the much awaited Lg Nexus 4 didnt bag the Key Lime Pie OS. But yeah we are approaching Mid 2013, Q2 and Key Lime Pie update can be expected anytime soon. Samsung has released their latest Galaxy S4 with Jelly bean 4.2.2 and you can clearly expect that its the most likely phone to get Key Lime Pie 5.0.

Key Lime Pie

Yes the Key Lime Pie looks tasty, and you cant expect less from Android 5.0 with Samsung Galaxy S4 having sensors and gesture control features already, Key Lime Pie may introduce more specially features which you couldn't have thought of.

Now these are the Samsung Galaxy devices which are likely to get Key Lime Pie Android 5.0 :-

•  GT I9300 - Galaxy S III
•  GT I9305 - Galaxy S III LTE
•  GT I9500 - Galaxy S 4
•  GT I9505 - Galaxy S 4 LTE
•  GT N5100 - Galaxy Note 8.0
•  GT N5105 - Galaxy Note 8.0 LTE
•  GT N5110 - Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi
•  GT N7100 - Galaxy Note II
•  GT N7105 - Galaxy Note II LTE
•  GT N8000 - Galaxy Note 10.1
•  GT N8005 - Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE
•  GT N8000 - Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi

This list has been given by insiders and it very accurate as per the spec requirement is concerned. We hope Samsung adds more devices to this list.
Expect Key Lime Pie Android 5.0 to be out mid 2013.

Temple Run 2 Download Release and Preview

Temple Run 2 is the most awaited game at the start of this year by all the hand-held gamers out there. Personally Temple Run is my most favorite game till date, the game concept is just too unique and addictive. Temple Run has been on Apple devices since 2011 and the following year, 2012,  it was released for Android devices.
Temple Run : Brave was next in line. It is a paid game with, a little variation of Temple Run in collaboration with Disney.

Temple Run 2

 The all new Temple Run 2 was released for iOS earlier this week on the 16th of Jan, 2013 with amazing game play, the good just got better. That not all folks, Temple Run 2 is confirmed to release for Android devices in the following week on 24th Jan, 2013.
Temple Run 2 features same controls as Temple Run but a lot more new features like :
- new location
- new obstacles
- new power ups
- zip lining
- mine tracks
- sharper turns and
- flames of fire
Also the three monkey like creatures which chased the character in the first game has been replaced with a single large monkey.

Temple Run 2 is mostly going to be a free game, so you just cant get more excited enough to start playing it.





Screenshots :

Temple run 2 zipline

temple run 2 zipline , mine

temple run 2 mine

  



  

Tipo

Sony Xperia Tipo & Tipo Dual

Sony Xperia Tipo & Tipo Dual are two distinct smartphones launched by Sony in the regular usage category. The two Xperia Tipo phones are very identical to each other, the only difference is that Tipo Dual is a dual sim phone with a dedicated button to choose which sim card you want to use. In my eyes it is the Best Dual Sim smart phone in style and features for a price of around Rs. 8500 for Tipo  and around Rs. 9250 for Tipo Dual. The Sony Xperia Tipo & Tipo Dual price in US Dollars is 160 $ and 170 $ ,  price in UK pounds is £ 110 and £ 130 for single sim and dual sim respectively.

Tipo

The Sony Xperia Tipo & Tipo Dual comes with Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 OS out of the box which is a small step below the newer Android 4.1 OS Jelly bean. But personally I consider it a must buy, because of the features, looks, Sony Xperia brand and a lot more things, which I have explained in detail in the following post.

* Click here for Details on Xperia Tipo and Xperia Tipo Dual *