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Monday, January 30, 2012

TechSource: How To Backup Apps and Data on Android

TechSource: How To Backup Apps and Data on Android


How To Backup Apps and Data on Android

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 11:27 PM PST

We've already written a detailed guide on how to backup your Android devices; however, we haven't touched much upon the backup process for apps and data. The backup process for apps and data is quite different, and sometimes tedious, when compared to contacts syncing or bookmarks syncing. Don't worry though, as we've got it all covered in this article.

Backing up Apps and Data

Backing up apps can be a tiresome job, even more so if you have a lot of them installed on your Droid. There are a few applications that will help you backup your apps, but most of them require root access. In this article, we've listed some of the best apps to take backups, two of which don't require root, and one requires. So, whether you're a geeky rooter, or a fledgling Droid-fanboy, there's no excuse when it comes to backups.

On a side note, if you're on the fence whether to root your phone or not, do check out our earlier article where we've highlighted all the pros and cons of rooting on Android.


App Backup And Restore

App Backup And Restore is a highly rated backup app for Android that lets you backup and restore your device without the need for rooting. Once installed, you can use this app to backup apps to SD card, and restore them in case things go wrong. For protected apps, there's an option to backup the market link so that all your apps will be with you even after a fresh install.

Other important features include batch backup, restoring apps from SD card, and multi-version backup. What's more, you can also send APK files by email so that you won't lose those important apps.

Rated 4.6 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, App Backup And Restore is freely available for download from the marketplace HERE.


MyBackup Pro

This next app lets you backup all your important data, including your apps, photos, homescreens, etc. right to the cloud. Though in Beta, MyBackup Pro is the perfect, and perhaps the most easy-to-use backup app for non-rooters. Once installed, the app lets you backup applications, SMSes, MMSes, System Settings, Alarms, Music Playlists, and even call logs to the cloud or to your trusted little SD card.

If you have rooted your phone, there's something in it for you as well. Rooted users can take advantage of advanced features like freezing of bloatware or system apps, wipe cache of applications, uninstall applications, link apps to Android Market, unfreeze applications and force-close applications.

Though not free, MyBackup Pro is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in the marketplace. However, if you want to try before you buy, you can always grab the free trial version HERE.


Titanium Backup Pro

One of the most powerful tools in the Android Marketplace, Titanium Backup Pro is more than just a backup tool. The root-only app allows you to backup, restore, and freeze all of your applications and data. The app comes with a barrage of interesting features which include, but are not limited to, Dropbox sync, multi-user app data, encryption, cache cleaning, apps freezer, integration of system apps into ROM, zero-click batch restores, and the ability to send backups by email.

One great thing about Titanium is that despite being a geeky tool, it is so simple to use that even an Android novice can figure out most of its features. Oh, and just because it's geeky doesn't mean that it's not popular; Titanium has been rated 4.8 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, which is a very high score, even for a non-root app. Oh, and don't forget, the app has over 3.5 million users and has been translated in over 28 languages. Definitely worth your every penny. You may download Titanium Backup Pro HERE.


Saturday, January 28, 2012

TechSource: Best Internet TV Apps For Android

TechSource: Best Internet TV Apps For Android


Best Internet TV Apps For Android

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:47 PM PST

Television, since its inception in the early twenties, has gone through a plethora of changes. From the big curvy boxes to the thin and flat LCDs, the attention-seeking living room device still stays one of the most popular gadgets around.

While watching the television whilst sprawled on a sofa has been the ultimate Sunday experience, the need for mobility is slowly changing this scenario. TV, these days, has become a bit more mobile, thus catering to the needs of people who are always on the go. Our very own Android too hasn't been that immune from the mobility boom as it has some amazing Internet TV apps to boast of. So, to help you choose the best of the lot, here we are with another article outlining only the essential Internet TV apps for Android.


Plex

Though basically a media platform, Plex does come in handy if you're looking for a comfortable way to get access to Internet television. With a beautifully organized interface, Plex works well in unison with the Plex media server.

Apart from letting you browse, play, and manage your media from your Droid, Plex also gives you access to 200 of the hottest Internet TV channels. You can get the best entertainment from sources like CNET, YouTube, Vimeo, Revison3 and more. Working seamlessly across Windows, Mac, Roku, Android and a bunch of other devices (including TVs), Plex serves as a great one-stop entertainment solution for Internet-TV junkies.



Crackle

Crackle is a popular entertainment app that lets you watch full-length Hollywood movies and TV shows for free, right from your Android device. The app provides full-length uncut TV shows, the list of which includes an impressive number of classics like Seinfeld, Samurai-X, The Three Stooges, and more. With high-quality streaming over Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G, Crackle also allows you to watch hundreds of full-length movies. Though limited to US, UK, Australia, and Canada, Crackle does prove to be a great source for catching up with some great television entertainment.



BBC iPlayer

Folks in the UK must be well familiar with this application. Official app of the largest broadcaster in the world, this free but region-limited application lets you watch and listen to over 400 hours of BBC programs. You can listen to live radio, watch live TV, and browse through a schedule of upcoming shows. Though Flash-based, the app is very popular in the United Kingdom.



Online TV Player

This is a nifty little application that lets you stream TV content from over 100 online TV channels for free. The app, which uses ffmpeg and libmms, supports a wide variety of formats including rmvb, rm, avi, mpeg, flv, and more.



Revision3

Revision3 is a popular Internet TV network, mostly known for shows like Tekzilla, Diggnation and App Judgement. This free app brings the whole Revision3 experience into a nice little Android application letting you watch all the popular shows like Tekzilla right from your Android device.



Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus for Android brings the highly popular Hulu experience to your mobile phone. Once installed, Hulu Plus members can stream thousands of episodes from hundreds of current and classic TV shows. Though mainly for Hulu Plus subscribers, the app does provide a lot of free episodes for non-subscribers to sample out. Users can also opt-in for a one-week free trial if they want to. Once the trial ends, the service costs about $8 a month.



Justin.TV Broadcaster

If you're a fan of Justin.tv (don't worry, it's not another Justin Bieber fan site), then this app might be something you should download right away. The free application lets you broadcast live content to the web over Wi-Fi and 3G. What's more, you can also chat with your viewers while doing the show.



You may also check out: 5 of the Best Internet Radio Apps for Android


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.


Thursday, January 26, 2012

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 01/26/2012

HowtoForge Newsletter 01/26/2012
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*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual


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ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

With the ISPConfig Monitor App, you can check your server status and find out if all services are running as expected. You can check TCP and UDP ports and ping your servers. In addition to that you can use this app to request details from servers that have ISPConfig installed; these details include everything you know from the Monitor module in the ISPConfig Control Panel (e.g. services, mail and system logs, mail queue, CPU and memory info, disk usage, quota, OS details, RKHunter log, etc.).

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .


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*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
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We at HowtoForge are proud to announce that our new Facebook page is now available under http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge. As most of you probably have a Facebook account, we want to use this additional channel to post updates and get feedback from you. Therefore we would like you to "Like" our page, share it with your friends, post comments, etc. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************


New HOWTOs:
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* Dualbooting Windows 7 And Linux Mint 12
* The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
* VBoxHeadless - Running Virtual Machines With VirtualBox 4.1 On A Headless Ubuntu 11.10 Server
* AVG Antivirus For Linux/FreeBSD Plus Postfix Mail Server
* RedHat Cluster Suite And Conga - Linux Clustering
* Simple Linux Auditing

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Dualbooting Windows 7 And Linux Mint 12
=======================================

Dualbooting means having installed two operating systems on one hard disk and being able to boot from any of them. This tutorial will explain how to install Linux Mint 12 alongside Windows 7 - the procedure however should be the same for all Ubuntu based distributions and only slightly different for every other.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/dualbooting-windows-7-and-linux-mint-12


The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
===============================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare a CentOS 6.2 x86_64 server for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: nginx web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, BIND nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, Mailman, and many more. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache; this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses nginx, not Apache.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-centos-6.2-x86_64-with-nginx-ispconfig-3


VBoxHeadless - Running Virtual Machines With VirtualBox 4.1 On A Headless Ubuntu 11.10 Server
=============================================================================================

This guide explains how you can run virtual machines with VirtualBox 4.1 on a headless Ubuntu 11.10 server. Normally you use the VirtualBox GUI to manage your virtual machines, but a server does not have a desktop environment. Fortunately, VirtualBox comes with a tool called VBoxHeadless that allows you to connect to the virtual machines over a remote desktop connection, so there's no need for the VirtualBox GUI.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/vboxheadless-running-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox-4.1-on-a-headless-ubuntu-11.10-server


AVG Antivirus For Linux/FreeBSD Plus Postfix Mail Server
========================================================

This document describes how to deploy AVG Antivirus for Linux/FreeBSD to a Postfix mail server. It is usable for AVG version 8.5, 10 and 2012. By using AVG Antivirus with your Postfix mail server, you can ensure virus-free inboxes.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/avg-antivirus-for-linux-freebsd-plus-postfix-mail-server


RedHat Cluster Suite And Conga - Linux Clustering
=================================================

This how to describes an easy step by step installation of the RedHat Cluster Suite on three CentOS nodes and prepare them as nodes of a cluster. You will also install the Management suite which is web based and is known as Conga.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/redhat-cluster-suite-and-conga-linux-clustering


Simple Linux Auditing
=====================

Basic Linux system auditing is a bit tricky and data collected and information of that is out of place and readability is not that good. Recently this lead me to put together a Open Source code project and develop simple BASH scripts that do the job nicely. The code and tar ball can be downloaded from both google code or from SourceForge's website and the project website has links to documentation, help, installation and code.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/simple-linux-auditing


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

For a monthly fee of 5 EUR or 25 EUR for half a year, you can become a HowtoForge supporter and help us cover our costs (servers, bandwidth, etc.) and support ISPConfig development. In return, you receive the following benefits:

1. Download the ISPConfig 3 Manual (from http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual).
2. Access the whole HowtoForge web site without any ads.
3. Download the results of our tutorials as VMware images (where available) (a list of downloadable VMware images is available here: http://www.howtoforge.com/list-of-downloadable-vmware-images).
4. Download our tutorials as PDF files.
5. View our tutorials as printer-friendly pages.
6. You will be marked as a "HowtoForge Supporter" in your forum posts.
7. Plus, you support the ISPConfig development.

If you have the free VMware Server or Player installed, you can import our VMware images and start playing around with the results of our tutorials immediately. It's a great way to track down problems with your own setup or simply to save time. ;-)

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

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Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

TechSource: Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

TechSource: Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster


Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 10:33 PM PST

Over the years, people have pinned Windows down as the slowest of all operating systems. While Mac still remains a class product, our beloved Ubuntu Linux has shot to fame because of its amazing speed and power, even on low-end systems. Windows, after months, or sometimes weeks of usage, tends to bloat and behave like a sluggish car beyond repair. Ubuntu on the other hand, tends to stay as agile as it was when you first installed it, making it one of the most preferred operating systems on low-end computer users.

That said, grass isn't always green in the Ubuntu Linux world. As with every operating system, perfection eludes the open-source distribution, thus making issues like slowdown and incompatibility more prominent. These problems, however, cannot be pinned down as Ubuntu's fault because most of them arise from incompatible hardware, especially graphics cards. So, if you too, in some point in time have faced, or are facing issues of slowdown and choppy graphics, here are some simple tips to help you alleviate those problems and in effect make Ubuntu Linux run faster.


Install/Update to the latest graphics driver

About three years ago, when I went to purchase a new graphics card, the vendor recommended me ATI, telling me that it's much better than the almost-omnipresent NVIDIA, and that I won't be disappointed by the performance. I couldn't agree more with him as I too had read a lot about ATI, but never had the chance to try it out. So, I went home with a sparkling grin, installed it, and tried out the latest game that was available out there, and boy, I was thoroughly impressed with it. The card ran as smooth as butter on Windows, but then, once I installed Ubuntu on my computer, that's where the problems began. Not only did I have a tough time installing the drivers, I also had trouble getting the card to work just enough to play movies.

However, sticking to ATI paid off, as graphic support for my card has improved by miles over the last couple of years. Though not as good as it is on Windows, it is still quite satisfactory when you have a lot of RAM.

If you ever have faced similar issues in the past, I don't need to tell you how important it is to update your graphics drivers.


Use Unity 2D instead of 3D

If upgrading your graphic card doesn't help alleviate the problem, then it may be good idea to move to something lighter. While XFCE is a perfect desktop for extremely low-end and dated computers, for those stuck with an incompatible or old graphic cards, the Qt-based Unity 2D comes in really handy. The light environment brings the best features of Ubuntu without using too much of your RAM.


Use apt-get often

With the advent of Ubuntu Software Center, the classic-yet-powerful apt has lost its prominence. Though as good as Ubuntu's new app store is, apt-get is almost ten times faster thus saving you a lot of valuable time that's usually spent while updating and installing applications.


Check start-up applications

Ubuntu doesn't bloat like Windows, but having a dozen of start-up applications surely slows it down. To remedy that problem, it's always a good idea to check which apps you have added to your start-up list. To do so, open the launcher (Super Key/Windows Key) and type in the words 'startup applications'. Once the 'Settings' window opens, chose which applications should load when Ubuntu starts up.


Clean your browser's cache

Sometimes, especially if you're a web addict, the browser cache tends to pile up and slow down the computer. A simple solution to this problem is clearing the cache by going to your browser's settings menu.


Install Preload

Preload is an adaptive readahead daemon, which, once installed, monitors the applications you run, analyzes that data, and, by predicting which application you'll run next, loads the predicted program into your memory. Of course, this won't dramatically speed up your computer, but you'll certainly see some improvements. To install preload, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install preload


Monday, January 23, 2012

TechSource: Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

TechSource: Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android


Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 03:08 PM PST

You are busy strumming at that beautiful guitar, moving from the verse to the chorus. Just as the word SOLO appears on the lyrics page, with a flourish of excitement and a slight fumble of fingers, you manage to finish what seemed like the most difficult riff of your life. You complete the song and then, wiping the sweat from your brow, you shout out loud "I need to start a band."

Starting a band eh? Well, it's not as easy as it looks, well, at least, that's what I've heard many people say. And anyway, who'd go through the trouble of looking for new bandmates? No, no, not me sir; I'm just happy sitting here in front of my computer and having the world come to my desktop. And what better way to do that than to have a cool app like GarageBand instantly downloaded on my desktop?

So, if you're one of those aspiring musicians lacking a full-fledged band, an app like GarageBand is a blessing in disguise. And though the application is only available for iOS, Android users don't have to go green with envy yet. Our very own Android has a good repertoire of GarageBand-like apps, some of which are even free.


ReLoop Loop Sequencer

ReLoop Loop Sequencer is a loop-based music sequencer that lets you make music using samples and loops. The application comes with real-time loop preview, a nice little feature, which lets you get a feel of how the loop will sound when added to the track. By default, ReLoop comes with three effects: Delay, Low-pass filter, and distortion; however, more effect packs can be added for free by downloading them from the marketplace.

As the app comes with support for gestures, the interface is really easy to use. Just dragging, dropping, and tapping are the only actions you'll need to know in order to start using ReLoop.

Finally when you're done creating your musical masterpiece, you can export it to a CD-quality track. Though not free, ReLoop Loop Sequencer is one of the best synthesizer apps out there; and don't worry if you're a tablet computer user; the app works exceptionally well on many Android tablets.



RD3 Groovebox

Developed in Berlin, Groovebox is an amazing app that lets you program your own grooves. With support for multi-touch gestures, the app comes with loads of features that audiophiles and musicians will love.

Groovebox includes a virtual analog synthesizer, multiple waveforms (3 types), high-quality filter modes, drum machine with 8 drum kits, and 3 play modes. The interface is really easy to use, thanks to the multi-touch support and the built-in ability to cut, copy, or paste patterns.

Once you're done creating your tunes, you can either save the session, or export the audio loop. Though not free, RD3 is a highly polished synthesizing app for Android.

If you're a tad skeptical about spending your money on this app, you can always try out the free demo version of the app.



PocketBand Uloops Pro

One of the most highly rated apps in this genre is PocketBand Uloops Pro. Unlike the aforementioned apps, PocketBands comes across as a powerful application thanks to its reliance on cloud technology. Despite the downside of requiring a fast, unlimited data connection, PocketBand is perhaps the best synthesizer app for Android.

The app comes with a 12-channel mixer (with effects), a drum machine (35 drumkits), recorder, modulator, and an arpeggiator. The recorder makes use of your phone's microphone to provide live audio recording. As for the effects, PocketBand leads the pack with a great lineup that includes delay, flanger, reverb, phaser, and more.

Once you're finished recording your song, you can either share the song on the Internet or save it locally. If you want, you can also share your work under Creative Commons license so that it can be remixed and listened to freely by the huge community. What's more, you can also remix songs uploaded by other musicians (only if they're CC-licensed).

Overall, PocketBand is a great, feature-filled synthesizer with a multitude of quality effects, which turn your Android gadget into a full-fledged mixing device.



Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.