TechSource: Best Custom ROMs for Android

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Best Custom ROMs for Android Posted: 30 Oct 2012 08:36 PM PDT Android devices these days come with a lot of customizations. Big companies like Samsung, HTC, and Sony make their own changes to the vanilla Android OS and then ship the final product. Many of these changes are in the UI and in the applications. One of the main reasons for making these changes is to make the smartphone stand out from other vanilla Android-based models. Furthermore, these modifications also convey the brand's identity that goes along with the model. That said, these modifications don't necessarily make the Android smartphone better. In fact, they're the number one cause of Android's famed fragmentation problem. Also, apart from fragmentation, the manufacturer's software often tends to bloat the system making it sluggish. And yeah, the worst part is that you can't get the same smooth feeling of a vanilla OS your Nexus-owning friends get. Thankfully, though, there is a simple solution to those problems. Soon after the introduction of the HTC Dream in September 2008, developers found out a way to attain privileged control or root access within Android's Linux-based subsystem. Having root access, combined with the open source goodness of the Android operating system, allowed the phone's stock firmware to be modified and re-installed onto the phone. This is where the craze of ROMs began. For the uninitiated, Android ROMs are modified versions of Android OS that you can install on your phone. Since Android's launch, developers have come up with various such ROMs, which add different features and functionality to smartphone without the bloat. Also, people go for these ROMs not just for the features, but also because they want the latest version of Android, which, thanks to the manufacturer, takes months to reach the user. Thus ROMs serve as a great way for users to get the most out of their system, making them quite popular, not just among tweakers, but among normal users as well. So, if you're clueless as to which custom ROM to choose for your beloved Droid, here's a list of the best ones: CyanogenMod Undoubtedly the most popular ROM around, CyanogenMod (pronounced sigh-AN-oh-jen-mod), is a customized, aftermarket, open-source firmware distribution for Android devices. The project is based on Android's open-source version AOSP and has a huge community supporting it.  CyanogenMod 6, which was the first release of this firmware, was based on Android 2.2 Froyo and was released in 2010. Later, many new versions came up with the latest being CyanogenMod 9, which is based on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Cyanogen offers features like native theming support, FLAC support, OpenVPN client, support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB tethering, CPU over-clocking and many other features that are missing in the vanilla or the manufacturer's version of Android. As of today, there have been over 3.1 million installs of CyanogenMod.      MIUI Pronounced Me You I, MIUI is an aftermarket firmware for Android-based phones made by Chinese mobile phone company Xiaomi Tech. Despite being closed-source, MIUI has achieved immense popularity thanks to its distinctive look and amazing features. The custom ROM features a heavily modified UI that is kind of a cross between Samsung's TouchWiz UI and Apple iOS. Though not a complete iPhone rip off, keen observers will find many similarities in both the operating systems. Features included in MIUI are toggles for notification pull-down, improved music, gallery, and camera, and a gorgeous-looking phone dialer. MIUI is based on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and CyanogenMod 9 and includes some extra applications to enhance its functionality. One of the most popular ones in the stock app is MITalk, which is a Blackberry Messenger Clone along with other applications. AOKP Android Open Kang Project is another great custom ROM distribution for your Android device. Though it is quite similar to the aforementioned CyanogenMod ROM, it does offer some features that make it stand out. With support for add-ons and other customizations, AOKP isn't simply a Cyanogen-alternative.  SlimROM SlimROM is a lightweight ROM for Android that gives you all the basic features without any bloat. Designed to keep things to the bare minimum, SlimROM brings some great new tweaks and add-ons to your phone. The latest version of the firmware is SlimBean, which is based off of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).

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TechSource: Things To Do After Installing Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal)

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Things To Do After Installing Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) Posted: 28 Oct 2012 03:42 PM PDT Ubuntu's latest version, that is, 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) was released last week. With brand new features and updated applications, this release was an important milestone for Canonical. New features included an improved Unity experience, updated core applications, slight design improvements and a newer kernel. Many users were glad to find the new Previews feature in the Dash that lets them take a sneak peek at files and applications without opening them. Furthermore, a refreshed Nautilus, a revamped Empathy, and the game-changing web-apps feature make Ubuntu 12.10 one of best non-LTS releases ever. If you're a new user switching to Ubuntu for the first time, you'll be surprised how stable and easy to use it is. But many users keep wondering about the things they'll have to do after a fresh install. If you're one of those people, here is a list of things you need to do after installing Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal): Install Restricted Extras If you want to rock out to the latest MP3s and watch movies in most of the popular formats, you'll need to install Ubuntu Restricted Extras. To do that, simply open up the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and type in or paste the following command: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras Set Up Online Accounts To make the most out of this release, make sure that you integrate your Ubuntu box with the best of the web. Once you do that, you'll be able to search your Google Docs (Google Drive) files right from the Dash. Moreover, you can search for photos you uploaded to your Picasa account without opening the browser. To setup online accounts, go to 'System Settings' and the look for 'Online Accounts'. Configure your Privacy Once you start using Ubuntu, it will start logging all your recently used files so that you'll have a more personalized experience. However, if you're using a public computer, or if you're sharing your device with anyone, the logging becomes quite a bummer. To get rid of this problem, simply go to 'Settings', and then look for the option that says 'Privacy'. Here, you can configure which apps are tracked and which aren't. Also, you can specify which folders you want to be excluded from the search results. Finally, if you want to clear your history, you can do that by using the 'Forget Activities' option. Disable Online Search Results (a.k.a. Shopping Lens) If you're tired of Amazon offers popping up on your computer every time you search, you can disable online search results in the same 'Privacy Settings' tab. If, however, you want to get rid of the Shopping Lens entirely, here is the command to do that: sudo apt-get remove unity-lens-shopping Enable DVD Playback Ubuntu, by default, doesn't come with DVD playback. This means that on a fresh Ubuntu installation, you won't be able to play your favorite movies. To fix that, you have to enable it by installing the right codecs. Here's a command that lets you do that easily: sudo apt-get install libdvdread4 Install VLC If you are one of those people who download a lot of movies, then the default movie player or even any other movie player is not half as versatile as VLC is. It is one of the best applications that the open-source community has ever produced. To install VLC, simply paste in the following command in your terminal: sudo apt-get install vlc Install New Applications The Ubuntu Software Center has been revamped to make it faster and more easy to use. Simply click the orange shopping bag icon on the left and start looking for new applications. Setup Ubuntu One Ubuntu One offers 5GB of free online storage to its users. The service lets you sync all your files across various devices including Windows, Mac, and of course Ubuntu. To use it, you have to simply sign up for the service then login to your Ubuntu One account from it. Change The Wallpaper Ubuntu 12.10 comes with a fresh set of mind-blowing community wallpapers. Simply dress up your desktop with the one you like or you can set the wallpapers to auto-rotate from time to time.  Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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TechSource: Why the Upcoming Google Nexus Smartphone May Easily Beat the iPhone 5

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Why the Upcoming Google Nexus Smartphone May Easily Beat the iPhone 5 Posted: 26 Oct 2012 05:55 PM PDT Google is on a roll these days. If their recently released Android Jelly Bean update was not enough, they're busy working on the next Nexus device already. In fact, many rumors suggest that the next Nexus smartphone might be unveiled to the public by as early as October 29th. The device will be made by LG rather than Samsung marking a huge change in the Nexus lines of phones. However, no matter who manufactures the device, one thing's for sure that the upcoming Nexus smartphone is going to make waves in the world of gadgets. Apple, Google's fiercest competitor in the smartphone race is not basking in the success of iPhone 5. They know that Google can come up with something radical that will give them a tough fight no matter how classy they are in front of their fanboys and fangirls. Furthermore, there is very little doubt that the upcoming Nexus smartphone is going to steal the show from Apple. So, what's so great about the next Google Nexus smartphone that will make an iPhone 5-killer? Well, let's find out: Android is dominating Google's Android already has grabbed around half the worldwide smartphone market share and it's growing strong each and every year. While Apple fanboys and fangirls throng to the Apple Store in line to grab a fresh iPhone or iPad, Android lovers simply have to go to a gadget shop and choose for a smartphone that suits their needs and budget. They can choose a low-end one or a really fancy one, there's no fixed price like on Apple products. Slightly deviating from the norm comes the Nexus line of phones. They are, as we say, the best way Google can kill the iPhone. What makes the Nexus line so special is that it is uniquely handcrafted by Google and it comes with the latest hardware and yes the latest Android OS that's out there.  Furthermore, Google aims to perfectly blend in the hardware and the software making the device a perfect iPhone-killer. That is why Nexus smartphones get a huge amount of coverage. Well, not at par with the Apple product line, but nonetheless, it's something that grabs your attention. The upcoming Google Nexus smartphone will come with awesome specs Made by LG instead of Samsung this time, the upcoming device will most likely feature a 4.7-inch display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and Android 4.2 OS. This will make it a tough competitor to the iPhone 5, which comes with a smaller display and lesser features. More rumors suggest that Nexus 4 will come with 2 GB of RAM, LCD True HD IPS+ display, 1280 x 768 resolution and more. This compared to the iPhone 5 is a lot more to boast of.  Whether or not these rumors are true, we're sure of one thing that Google will come up with something we'd be really impressed with. It may come with Android 4.2 'Key Lime Pie' While many Droid fans are impatiently awaiting Jelly Bean to land on their brand-new smartphones, Google will be launching the next Nexus phone with the latest version of their OS. Android 4.2 will come with an enhanced Gmail, a revamped Gallery, and a multiple accounts feature. The multiple accounts enhancement will let you and your family members use the same device by simply logging in with their respective Gmail accounts. The features are not as breathtaking as everyone expected them to be; however, Android 4.2 'Key Lime Pie' will surely offer some nice improvements over the popular Jelly Bean version. Leaked LG Nexus 4 image courtesy of @evleaks Conclusion There is very little doubt that the next Nexus smartphone is going to create a disruption in the mobile market. It might not become an all-time bestseller, it will, however, steal the limelight off of iPhone 5. Definitely worth watching out for even if you're not an Android user.

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TechSource: Best Science Apps for Android

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Best Science Apps for Android Posted: 24 Oct 2012 07:36 PM PDT If you're a science enthusiast, then you must never have thought how useful your little mobile device might actually be for your passion. Like on iOS, on Android too, there are a lot of apps for budding scientists, accomplished scientists, and even science enthusiasts, that will help them learn more things while on the go. From little kids to adults, these applications make science fun, simple, and easy for everyone and also make it accessible from anywhere. So, if you're looking for some of the best science apps for Android, look no further, here's the big list: WolframAlpha While not a dedicated science app per se, Wolfram Alpha is quite helpful if you are looking for some science information. You can get results for any scientific data by simply entering your query. For example, you can use Wolfram to compute properties of a Turing machine by entering 'Turing Machine 2506' and the result will show up in a neatly organized form. You can also do many such computations by simply entering the data in your mobile phone, no matter where you are. The service is so popular that even the famed Siri relies on it to fetch its data.  DOWNLOAD HERE Basic Science Quiz Do you fancy testing your scientific knowledge? Then here's a simple app for you. Basic Science Quiz is a free application that lets you test your proficiency in the science world by presenting you with 100 basic questions. Well, don't let the word 'basic' fool you here; some questions in that quiz are quite difficult to answer even for adults. Remember that show "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" Well, this quiz is somewhat like that. DOWNLOAD HERE Science Mobile Science Mobile is a free app that brings you the latest in the science world. You can read summaries and abstracts of the latest scientific findings and even mail yourself links to the full text. Overall, this is a great app for science lovers.  DOWNLOAD HERE  New Scientist New Scientist is a magazine that reports the latest science and technology news. Here, you'll find information about the latest discoveries and technological advances from all over the world. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars, New Scientist is freely available for download from the Play Store.  DOWNLOAD HERE Skeptical Science Imagine someone coming up to you and telling you that global warming is just a hoax! Well, you know very well that it isn't; however, you don't have enough data or knowledge to refute that man's argument. In that case, what would you do? Well, don't worry; this is where the Skeptical Science app comes handy. This free app lets you find out what the peer reviewed science has to say about global warming and whether it is actually a hoax or not.   DOWNLOAD HERE   Top Science News Top Science News is a free app that aggregates and displays news from various science magazines like Scientific American, Natural History, and Popular Science. The free app can be very useful if you're tired of visiting multiple websites just to get your daily scientific fix.   DOWNLOAD HERE Amazing Science Facts Amazing Science Facts is a free app that includes a collection of interesting scientific facts. These facts are constantly updated and can be shared easily with friends and family from within the app. Furthermore, if you are knowledgeable enough, you can even submit your own 'amazing' fact.   DOWNLOAD HERE  Science Fun To Go This is basically a kids' app that helps them learn about volcanoes, earthquakes and other scientific phenomena whilst having fun. The app is updated 5 times a week and can be very helpful for your kids whether or not they're interested in science.  DOWNLOAD HERE  Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

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