How To Get Rid Of Unknown Icons on Android Home Screen

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If you are reading this post you might be bugged by several unknown icons appearing on your Android phone. I was annoyed by such unwanted icons appearing on the home screen of my Samsung Galaxy S2. These icons are actually advertisements that are flushed on your home screen using “push notifications”  by some application(s) that are installed on your phone. The app developer earns a revenue each time you click on it.

Here is a screenshot of my home screen in Samsung Galaxy S2 which shows how these push notification ads look like:

Android-Unknown-icons-1

As I said before, you have installed some apps which use this push notifications to earn revenue. Our next step would be to find such (cr)apps and to do this we have this smart app . Download and install this app. It immediately tells you what apps are pushing those unwanted icons on your home screen:

As you can see in the pic above, I have got three apps that are annoying me with those crappy ads on my home screen.

Now when you have found the culprit apps, you have two options. Either you uninstall these apps or you find another way to stop these push notification ads. You can easily do the first one. But if you do not want to uninstall the app, you should go for the second option. Lets see how to do it.

How to stop push notification adds

Install .

Opt-out on the web at  . Just enter your IMEI and our tool will encrypt it using md5 and then permanently opt it out. We must encrypt it with md5 since we only store the encrypted version on our servers as an additional privacy layer.

If you are okay with providing the IMEI to a third party application, you should be happily using it. One more thing, it will stop the push notifications for the apps installed till now. If you install a new app which uses push notifications, you need to opt-out on the web again.

Hope it helps you in getting read of the unwanted icons on your home screen in Android. Cheers :)

How To Take Screenshot in Galaxy S2 Android Ice Cream Sandwich

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Android Logo Linux Windows 150So you have this awesome Android powered, iPhone killer, Samsung Galaxy S2 and you are looking for some easy ways to take screenshot of your phone screen. If you tried to look for some free app in Play Store, you must have been disappointed because it has some (cr)apps that are mostly paid and are not worth using at all. If you were an iPhone user, you must be missing the easy two button pressing screen capture method.

Now don’t miss iPhone for just that one feature because guess what you can do the same in your Samsung Galaxy S2 as well. Yes! There is this most easy way to take screenshot in your Galaxy S2 running on Ice Cream sandwich (other Android OS are also supported). Lets see how can you take the screenshot without any app in 1 second:

Press the volume down button and the power button at (almost) same time and hold them together for around 1-2 second.

Don’t forget to hold them for 1-2 second. You will see a capture sound and a message on screen that a screenshot has been captured.

Screenshot-Galaxy-S2-Samsung

You can find the captured screenshots in Gallery->Screenshots folder.

Samsung-Screenshot-Galaxy-s2-2

I hope you were able to easily take screenshot in Galaxy S2. Let me know if you face any problem. I will be only happy to help :)

How To Turn Your Android Smartphone Into A Home Improvement Tool

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Can you use your Android smartphone to hammer a nail into the wall? You can, I suppose, but you’ll be shopping for a new phone afterwards. Yet your Android can still help you with projects around the house. It won’t replace your hammer, wrenches, or screwdrivers any time soon, but it can make annoying projects just a little more palatable.

Thankfully, all it takes is a few apps and a little ingenuity. We all have those, right? Then it’s time to put our Android phones to work around the house.

1. Apps that assist

There are a few exceptions, but for the most part Android smartphones have straight edges. The advantage to this is obvious. While yes, you can draw straight lines with it, you can also use it to determine whether a picture frame or other surface is level. There are a few apps that make this easy for you.

Apps such as will let you know, with a decent degree of precision, whether any surface is level. It’s just one creative use for the accelerometer in your Android smartphone. There are also apps for and rulers, giving you some more uses for your Android around the house.

2. Reminders for maintenance

Want to avoid those big home improvement projects? Better yet, want to avoid calls to plumbers and electricians and other specialists that cost you plenty of money? There’s only one solution: regular maintenance. The problem with performing regular maintenance is that many of us simply forget about it. We say we’re going to do it, but then let it slip through the cracks. We can use our phones for this.

With simple reminder apps — even your free, pre-installed calendar app — you can remind yourself to perform certain maintenance tasks monthly. For instance, my calendar reminds me to tighten up the pipes under sinks on the first Saturday of every month. The second Saturday of the month involves cleaning or changing the various air filters around the house — air conditioner, furnace, etc. On the third Saturday I check the basement (you do not want one of these to break, or your basement will flood when it rains). You get the idea.

It sounds simple, but it’s a perfect use for your Android smartphone. Schedule your maintenance on your calendar or reminders app and ensure that the job gets done.

3. Portable consultant

The internet is full of useful information. When working on a home improvement project many people will consult how-to and DIY sites. That’s all find and good when you’re researching a project beforehand, but what about when you’re down on the ground, crouched and hammering away at something? You don’t really want to get up and pull up a web page on your computer. Again, your smartphone is your friend.

There’s no need to go across the house, or even across the room, to find the answers to your questions. You can pull them up right on your Android smartphone, which is probably in your pocket or attached to your belt. You can even get a so you can figure out everything right form your work station. There’s no need to hustle back and forth between your project and your computer when you have an Android smartphone.

So get out your toolbox and put those tools to use. Performing basic home maintenance is not only easy, but it can save you money as well. Keeping your Android at your side and using it to its fullest can only help.

Author Bio: Joe Pawlikowski writes, edits, and consults for several technology blogs across the web. He keeps a personal blog at JoePawl.com.

5 Best Remote Desktop Apps for Android

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We love our smartphones and our tablets, but right now we still need our regular computers. While smartphones and tablets have become much more powerful in recent years, there are still things that we need a PC to accomplish. But when we’re on our road we might not have a PC. Many people have replaced their laptops with tablets, and are even relying on smartphones for portable computing. But they’re not always enough.

If you’re carrying around a tablet or smartphone instead of a laptop, there is one bit of software you must install: a remote desktop app. These apps connect to your home computer and allow you to access them remotely. Best of all, there are remote desktop apps available for both smartphones and for tablets. Both versions will benefit you greatly.

Here are some of the best that Android has to offer.

1. Splashtop Remote Desktop

Splashtop is the big name in remote desktop apps for Android. They’ve continually updated the app to create the way to access your computer from wherever you are. It has won many awards, including multiple Best Of CES honors. It also frequently shows up near the top of the Google Play rankings, so you might have seen this app before.

Splashtop’s big feature is seamless streaming technology. Whether you have a video on your computer that you want to stream to your tablet, or you want to stream a Flash-based video (because Flash on Android is terrible), you can do it right from Splashtop.

It might be on the expensive side, but it’s worth the investment. You can for your Android tablet for just nine bucks. This is the one I’ve installed on my Lenovo Tablet PC, and I have to say that the combination is stunning.

2. GoToMyPC

While Splashtop leads the market, that doesn’t mean they’re the only player in the game. Citrix, the developer behind the invaluable GoTo line of business apps, has created its own remote desktop app. The title goes right in line with their other offerings: GoToMyPC. It’s a tablet-based remote desktop app that holds its own in a competitive niche.

In nearly every way, Splashtop is superior. It provides faster and more responsive access to your PC. It has better streaming capabilities. Even the zoom is a bit better on Splashtop. Then why would you choose GoToMyPC? Because it’s free. If you’re looking for a cheap, easy way to access your home computer every once in a while, this is the way to go.

You can if you want to.

3. RDP

Not everyone has a tablet, and those who do have tablets don’t carry them around everywhere. I know I don’t carry mine to many places, especially if there won’t be WiFi available. But I always have my smartphone, and I’m sure you do too. If you’re looking for a quality remote desktop app for your Android smartphone, RDP might be your answer.

In terms of functionality, RDP ranks up there with Splashtop. The streaming video capability isn’t quite as smooth, but it’s still watchable. The ability to connect to any PC at any time, and get excellent response speeds with any computer, make this a worthwhile app. The only problem: it’s very limited. You can only connect to Windows PCs, but you can’t connect to any Windows Home Edition versions.

If you’re inside the limits and need a quick and free remote desktop app (you’ll see two ads per day), you can .

4. PocketCloud Remote RDP/VNC

The remote desktop app market is competitive, because there is a great demand for remote desktop apps. But it’s even more competitive because there are different ways to connect to your PC from your Android device. That can be over a Remote Desktop Protocol (the most common method), via Virtual Network Computing, or through Auto Discovery. PocketCloud can connect on any of those three levels, meaning you can take advantage of the fastest, most responsive connection.

Not only that, but the less technically inclined can use the plug-and-play Auto Discovery connection method. It gives them all they need for a clean connection to a remote PC or Mac. More advanced users can use VNC and RDP, which gives them more options and a sturdier connection.

Smartphone users can get . There’s a more advanced version, for $15, that includes Enterprise support and multiple connection options. The free version can connect to only one computer.

5. Remote Web Desktop

This is actually the opposite of the above-reviewed apps. Instead of connecting you to your desktop via your Android device, Remote Web Desktop connects you to your Android device via your desktop computer. It works right through your web browser, too, so you don’t need any special PC software. Just install it on your Android and take control from anywhere.

Remote Web Desktop lets you perform basic phone functions, such as SMS and phone calls, from your computer. That’s convenient for those who don’t have a Skype Out account. It also lets you explore basically any element of the Android device, managing files and the whole nine. Most impressively, you can use the app to act as a spy cam. Mount your Android anywhere and you can check the video feed from your desktop. The app is worth it for that feature alone.

The app is also worth it, because it’s free. You can . It works with Mac, PC, and Linux machines.

Author Bio: Joe Pawlikowski writes, edits, and consults for several technology blogs across the web. When he’s not working on those, he’s keeping personal thoughts at A New Level.

How to set or change default launcher in Android [Galaxy S2]

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Android Logo Linux Windows 150There are several beautiful launchers available to replace the default launcher provide by Android. I had downloaded this stunning Go launcher Ex and I really like it. I had set it as my default launcher. I have also installed Launcher Pro installed on my Galaxy S2. Now the situation is I want to change the default launcher from Go Ex to another launcher.

When I selected Launcher Pro it was changed but as soon as I pressed the home screen, the launcher went back to the previous one (goEx). I wanted my new launcher to be set as the default launcher. Here is how I changed the default launcher and set a new launcher as the default:

  • Go to Settings
  • In here, go to Applications and choose “manage applications”
  • Go to the “all” tab
  • Look for the launcher application which is the default one
  • Click on it and look for the option of “Clear Defaults“
  • Now select your favourite launcher again to launch it
  • Press the home screen. It will ask to set the default launcher. Choose whatever you want

By the way, the above suggested steps are valid for changing any default application on any Android based phone and not just only Galaxy S2.

Best Free Phone Locator (Anti Theft) Apps for Andorid

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Phone tracking software have become necessity these days. These apps let you easily track a cellphone almost anywhere in the world. For example if you have phone tracking app installed, you can track mobile phones in Mumbai while sitting in London. You just need to have an account with the app developer and you can use web or mobile interface to track the phones on which you have installed the app.

You can use the Phone Locator Apps to locate your family members and you can also use these phone tracking apps as anti-theft device to track down a stolen phones. Though most of the premium apps charges a fee, here are some of the best free Phone Locator Apps for Andorid (with their official description):

GPS Tracking Pro:

Track your family or friends real-time location using any Android phone. GPS Tracking keeps your family safe. Using GPS technology, the GPS Tracking app tracks the exact location of your family members and alerts you when they are in trouble, using the app’s innovative check in feature. GPS Tracking also lets you see sex offenders in your area.

Wheres My Droid

The first find your phone app on the Android Market continues to get better and better. Now with an online Commander and a more user friendly interface, it is easier then ever to track down your missing phone.

Where’s My Droid can turn the ringer volume up and make your phone ring. The app can also get the GPS coordinates with a link to Google maps if you’re not near enough to your phone to hear the ringer. You have the freedom to track your phone from anywhere, either with a text messaged attention word or with our online Commander.

avast! Mobile Security

This is a complete antvirus for your Android phone along with the phone-tracking capability. Sadly, it is not a stand alone product. You have to download and use the antivirus to use this facility. It has following features:

• protect personal data with infected-URL alerts and automatic virus scans;
• stop hackers with the firewall (works on rooted phones only);
• control your phone with anti-theft features via SMS: history wipe, phone lock, siren activation, GPS tracking and many other tools;
• make our security app ‘invisible’, making it extremely hard for thieves to find and disable.

Lookout Security & Antivirus

Like Avast this too is a complete antivirus package that has several other features including cell phone tracking and anti-theft. This boasts of some really good features that comes at no cost at all. Free features include:

Security:
* Antivirus: Block malware, spyware, and trojans
* Scan each app you download to make sure it is safe
* Schedule daily or weekly antivirus scans. Get automatic, over-the-air, protection against the latest threats
* File System Monitoring: Scans new files on your SD card to protect against malware

Find My Phone:
* Locate your lost or stolen phone on a Google map
* Activate a loud alarm, even if your phone or tablet is on silent
* Log into mylookout.com to locate your phone from any web browser, anywhere!

Backup & Restore:
* Securely backup your contacts to mylookout.com
* Restore them to an existing mobile device

Track a cell phone

Loosing your phone is not a good experience. But with Phone Locator you can find it for FREE. You can view and track the location of your lost phone on the map, even if the GPS is not connected. Its feature include:

– Find phone using GPS Location (GPS phone tracker technology)
– Find phone by cell phone tower signal
– Family Messenger
– Remotely wipe phone data (contacts, sms, photos, videos etc)
– Web control panel (send commands to phone)
– Geofence alerts
– Callbacks
– Full history phone location

Is there anything we missed out? Do let us know what is your favourite best free anti theft app for android.

Get 3GB of free extra space on Dropbox

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Its raining free online storage for Android users. Few days back Box.com announced 50 GB of free space just for using its Android app. Now Dropbox has followed the suite and announced upto 3 GB of extra space just for using its Camera Upload feature in its to put the photos and videos taken on your phone instantly to Dropbox. [Read more…]

Box is offering 50 GB Cloud Storage free for Android Users

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No, it is not a hoax but true. The popular cloud storage service Box (earlier known as Box.Net) which generally offers 5 GB of free cloud space is now offering 50 GB for free in a limited period offer.

What you need to do:

  • Register for an account on Box if you do not have one already
  • Get the Android app for Box.
  • Log in to your Box account from your Android phone
  • You should see a message as in the pic below

Remember, it is a limited time offer. So hurry up!

 

How to fix: Android Samsung Galaxy S2 not recognized on Linux

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Problem:

I was facing problems connecting my Samsung Galaxy S2 on Ubuntu, which is particularly annoying bearing in mind the total lack of support by Samsung for Linux (even Kies is of no use). Strange enough, it works flawlessly on Windows 7, where it recognises it instantly and I can transfer files between my phone and computer.
When I plug it into my Linux machine, it is recognised and I can see the contents of the root of /sdcard and the SD card but I cannot access the contents of any file or folder as all the folders are empty.
When I connect my phone to USB there is no “mount USB” option but just MTP application in the home screen. [Read more…]