PH Gadgets: Android How-To's

Showing posts with label Android How-To's. Show all posts

Have you ever had that moment, where, in researching for something for your work, whatever field you are in, you come across an article so interesting but you really have to file it for later? Because reading it will consume precious time that you could use to just finish your job so you can go home and read all you like?

This is how I frequently feel. Oftentimes, in doing my work research, I come across juicy blog or website articles that would have been helpful to me: for my work or for my personal development. But the catch is that I may have time to read those ONLY during weekends, or for those long bus rides with nothing else to do but wait till your bus gets to wherever you need to go.

So, the solution is to be able to "pack" juicy links and save them for later.

For those who are working in companies with firewalls, or with security protocols like a "zero flash drive policy," I'm sure you could relate. For those who won't be able to save links on the work computer, it may be best if you can find a way to read your bookmarks and links from your Android or e-Reader when you've gotten off work.

Here are some solutions on how you can sync your article finds with your Android/e-Reader:

Use Opera And Opera Link: If you are browser-agnostic, meaning you don't really care which browser you use, then use Opera and use Opera Mini on your Android. Then, activate your Opera Link account, from the Android Opera Mini browser by going to: Opera Button > Settings Button > Opera Link > then proceed to create a new account.

This is better illustrated in this slideshow:

Then, after you configure your Android, this is what you do with your Opera desktop browser:

Click the Cloud icon to enable Opera Synchronization.

Alternatively, you may enable Opera Link through the Menu:

Go through the process, either create a new account or sign into an existing one:

When Opera registers that account with the desktop browser, voila! Your browser accounts are now synchronized.

You may do this either either way: set up your Android first, or your desktop browser first.

Then, when you find something interesting, just add it to your Opera Mini Bookmarks folder, as shown below:

And when you're on your Android, just logoff then login to sync your data right that moment. Opera regularly syncs its data, but if you want to refresh the synchronization, the best way to do it would be to turn it on and off.

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Use GMail To Send Links To And From Yourself: I find this a little clunky, something über un-techie, but this is faster to do, especially if your company allows you to use GMail. Less awkward if your company will only allow you to use MS Outlook.

Whenever you find a good link to read later, paste in the body of the email, send to yourself, or if from MS Outlook, your work email to your GMail, then later, refresh your Android, find that email you sent to yourself and read in your browser of choice. That simple.

Still, if you want a visual representation of what I talked about, here it is:

Note: If you have inadvertently set defaults for your browser, you may clear it by going to Settings > Manage Applications > Browser/Opera/Dolphin/Whatever has the default > Scroll down to Launch by default > Clear Defaults:

Google Chrome To Phone:

Just when I thought we'd have to live with kludges for integrating the links we find to read on our Androids, Google actually came up with THE solution to the problem: a whole app dedicated to integrating content from desktop browser to Android Phone.

However, there's a catch: this app is not available in the Philippines yet! So if you're looking for this in Google Play via your Android, good luck to you; you won't find it. You will only be able to see it on the desktop/web version of Google Play.

So meanwhile, our other suggestions may suffice.

Enjoy reading!

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Credits: My *serious* thanks to Jing, Skitch, PicasaWeb, Gimpshop and Microsoft Photo Editor.

Photo Credits: Funny Junk

Smart Money is a payment solution that Smart Communications, Inc. developed close on the heels of Globe Telecom's G-Cash success. The concept is similar: send money or pay someone from a Smart Center or accredited partner, and the recipient will receive the credits via his Smart Gold, Smart Buddy or TalkN'Text number.

Today, however, Smart Money differentiated itself from G-Cash by partnering with BDO, providing MasterCard-based transactions, and then leaning heavily on its card-based services and making online transactions easier.

I've found a few great reviews about the use of their Smart Money accounts for online transactions, especially verifying their PayPal accounts, accepting payments as merchants, making Apple App Store purchases, and most importantly, successfully buying premium Android apps:

In general, though, finding reviews of Smart Money online is a little tough, as not a lot of people have made use of it. However, I managed to fish a couple of ReviewStream articles about Smart Money:

The Lady Programmer has also been able to use her Smart Money card to transfer funds from PayPal to EON to SmartMoney. She did this in order to do away with needing to endure the long lines in Unionbank Baguio.

The primary use of Smart Money, as I've found out, has been to verify one's PayPal account. Here are other resources on the different methods of verifying PayPal accounts, and also withdrawing one's PayPal funds through different means:

There were also a few discussions on users' experience of Smart Money, then another discussion on international remittance methods and there was a very informative post on Txtbuff.com. I needed to fish out the discussion via the Google Webcache entry instead of viewing it directly, though. You may view or download the PDF of the discussion HERE.

The bottom line is that users' experience with Smart Money have been varied. I'm not sure whether it's the fact that these are mass Mastercard numbers, debit accounts at that, that cause some accounts to be denied. Another theory of mine might be that since this facility is in partnership with Banco de Oro, there may still be kinks in the system.

No offense to Banco de Oro, but there was a recent report about a BDO branch teller who stole from an OFW's account. Not only that, I have a "six-degrees-of-separation" (actually two degrees of separation) story of a BDO savings account being sapped of its funds. Not only that, the BDO Cash Card has been notorious for going offline on a constant basis (can you say, DAILY), especially during afternoons, as well as for having bugs in it like not really having a PIN, and other such banking-related horror stories.

Though I have not personally experienced losing money through my BDO Cash Card, these cautionary tales make a user wonder if the bugs in Smart Money, which had partnered with Banco de Oro, are due to the bank that they partnered with, and not MasterCard or its own system, per se.

But that's one for another story. The point is that, these are the reviews, these are the cautionary tales, and while I (and now you) have been thoroughly warned, I personally like experimenting and won't mind trying out a few transactions using my Smart Money Debit Card. I believe that the system may have matured by now (note that the successful Android Market purchase was made in 2011 yet), and thanks to the Lock/Unlock feature of Smart Money, no one needs to worry about losing funds. And do check the stories in the PDF we've made available for download. One gal who lost her cash actually got it back. Kudos to Smart Communications Inc. for that!

It is worth noting that there was only one very minor "horror story" I've personally experienced so far: the day I claimed my Smart Money MasterCard, the guard at the Smart Communications Inc., center where I claimed it asked me if I was going to make a "cash-in" or "cash-out" transaction. When I said that I was just going to claim my new card, he mused in relief and noted that their facility was offline. Not much different from BDO Cash Card, so I shrugged that off.

If you have been thoroughly scared about the inconsistencies in people's experience with the facility by now, I really do apologize. I aimed to make a very balanced, very honest overview of the payment facility, since I have not yet thoroughly tested mine.

No worries, I aim to reload my card as soon as I can, since I am itching to buy Pumpkins vs. Monsters power-ups because I'm stuck on Levels 15 of both Castle Tomorrow and Halloween stages. I'm thinking of blowing around Php 300 on Purple Lightnings, Ice Grenades and Grave Pumpkins to get ahead. A little insane, but it's taking SERIOUSLY LONG to earn just one ruby to play the Slots with and earn a few of these power-ups. The ultimate I've-Finally-Beaten-Pumpkins-vs.-Monsters review is long overdue, and for the sake of experimentation in two different Android-related transactions, I'm willing to part with a day or two of my living allowance. :p

Also, I've been itching to buy Easy Money, the app, so that I can make that review, soon. Though I hardly need it, as Google Docs suffices for me.

The thing is, I've presented to you the facts, the stories, the reviews. Now, it's up to you to decide how to move forward from here. Will you bite the bullet and start using Smart Money? Or will you hold off and see more people using it?

It's really yours to decide. :)

Before I go, here are links to another Android App payment method: Your Smart LOAD.

Smart Communications Inc. is piling it thick for its users and potential users, as it made an announcement of this payment method just last month. Check out the blog and press release:

For now, the surefire way to pay for your Google Play purchases would be through Google Checkout, using tried and tested debit and credit cards.

Thanks to reader Waterborne for asking the question on what Smart Money is. :)

Screenshot apps are among the toughest to find on Android Market. No thanks to the proliferation of paid Screenshot apps on the Android Market, most users who have not yet assigned a credit or debit card to their Android Market accounts may have trouble finding ways to add fully free screenshot apps.

But for those with rooted Androids, you may have better luck. And I found a good app in screenshot by Kastor Soft.

The app is pretty simple and straightforward to use. All you need to do is to fire it up, set the delay timer, press the red button, get to where you want to take a screenshot and wait for the sound of the camera taking a shot and the notification that the shot was successful, and you're done!

1. Set the delay timer.

Your Delay Timer Choices

3. Tap/Press the Red Record Button to capture screenshot.

4. Set your screen to show what you want to capture.
5. Wait for the shutter/camera sound.
6. Voila, screenshot!

And yes, thanks to screenshot and Skitch, I was able to make that tutorial for you.

Speaking of Skitch, Skitch is an Evernote app that allows you to make annotations and notes on your screenshots.

Take a look at this:

I snapped that screenshot of my Facebook widget, then blocked out my Facebook Friend whose status update was being displayed.

I just wanted to demo how Skitch worked, plus, I wanted to let you guys know that I totally love the Facebook widget just because it allows me to post statuses on the fly, using that tiny box saying "What's on your mind?"

But that's fodder for another article. So let's go back to screenshot and Skitch.

With Screenshot and Skitch, it would be easier to make tutorials for friends and fam who may need extra directions, right from your Android! And if you're a blogger like me, it'll definitely help with making the tutorials easier.

Skitch allows you to type, to make circles and boxes, and even freeform scribbles.

Click Here For Full Size

No more crude shots like this one:

Boy do I wish I rooted my Android earlier.

(screenshot by KastorSoft is only available for Rooted Androids.)

Enjoy!

Did you know that your Android would be a big help in paying bills?

Without needing to use the electronic card apps, which may give you reasons to be concerned about your financial information's security, your Android could still be a great help when you're out paying banks and bills, even in curbing your spending habits.

This is a little "primitive" as a series of kludges, but it works, but these work, like a charm, for me:

1. Use Google Docs to store bank information of the people you regularly pay or otherwise send money to.

Using Google Docs has always been great for maximum synchronization. Being on the Cloud, you can access Google Docs from anywhere with an Internet connection. Whether it's a computer in an Internet Cafe, or your mobile phone on 3G, you will be able to retrieve your files from there.

One thing I find very inconvenient whenever I need to go out to the bank and pay someone or send someone some money is the realization that I've left their details in a notebook or on the previous payslip somewhere. Though, at that point, I may realize that I suddenly wish I had their details in the mobile phone I brought with me.

Enter Google Docs. As long as you have an Android, or even another smartphone with a browser and Internet connection and access to Google Docs, you will be able to access your details from wherever.

2. Keep your budget on Google Spreadsheets or Google Docs, as a note.

Just like in the previous suggestion, the beautyof this is that you will be able to access your budget list from anywhere. You may also take a screenshot of your budget and keep it on a cloud space, like Facebook, either in a private group with just you and your significant other, or in a private album that only you can view. Photos will be easier to view in a glance.

You may also take shots of your budget using your phone and then just refer to it from your phone's gallery for your ease.

3. Use a good notepad app like ColorNote to take note of your grocery lists, even keep a copy of your budget. This way, as soon as you pay the bill or get to purchase your needs, you would be able to tick it off of the notepad app.

4. Use Memoires or UM Diary to take pics of things you want to buy, but are out of the budget at the moment. This way, you would be able to "sit on" your desires to satisfy your buying urge. Later, you'll figure out if you really should buy the item, of if you'll be content just seeing it in your photo collection.

Last December 2011, I had this mad urge to buy different types of Angry Birds and Starbucks-style ceramic tumblers. While I was taking photos of them, I realized how totally irrational my desire to have all of them is. For one, I certainly won't be able to drink from ALL of them. Second, I would need to wash all of them when I've used them all up. Thirdly, I have a me-sized pantry, me-sized dish rack, me-sized everything. Why do I need ten?!

Eventually, the significant other gave me the red one as a Christmas present. Seeing the rest of the Angry Birds tumbler in a private Facebook Group album after receiving my Red Angry Birds tumbler made me realize that I'm pretty much happy having captured mere photos of the tumblers, and not necessarily possessing *all of them*.

5. For documentation purposes, say, reimbursement with the office petty cash, especially for virtual/telecommute/remote workers, taking pictures of your purchases' receipts is very convenient. File in an app that allows tags, if you're going to use the app as a multi-purpose thing, or use either Lemon - Receipts Refreshed, Receipt Organizer, Receipt Filer Lite, or even EasyMoney, in its Expense Tracker function. This way, it's easy to liquidate office budgets.

It would also serve as a way to track your actual spending. Us shopaholics tend to spend more than what their budgets can afford, so this is a good way to remind us, in-our-faces, that we've gone too far in spending. Seeing how bad the habits have gotten is a great reminder to shape up. None better than seeing actual patterns of sick behavior.

But I digress.

See how useful your Android really is?

Disclaimer: Before you attempt to do like I did, please read our post on ROOTING YOUR ANDROID: PROS CONS, CAVEAT EMPTOR.

I recently posted a full review of the Cherry Mobile Nova, and in there, I complained about how the internal storage had gotten cramped to “sheer frustration,” or “quiet defeat” proportions. I was puzzled why I had been able to retain only 8 downloaded apps:

Android Assistant
Battery Indicator
ColorNote
Opera Mini
TM World Clock
Trillian
Viber
YouVersion Bible

And still get that annoying “Low Storage Space” notification time and again. I’ve uninstalled everything but these last apps, and I couldn’t for the life of me, understand why I still kept hovering around the last 16 to 17MB of space. I could only conclude that my Cherry Mobile Nova has already accumulated enough data gunk to render it frustrating.

Seeing as I’m about to go on a trip back to my home city, and I will be subjected to an excruciating 3-hour ride, one way, I knew I needed something to fiddle with. Probably work out my budget, my expenses, play a game, transfer my contacts, things like those. I knew I needed space on my Cherry Mobile Nova, but given that I’ve loaned my 3G Router and given away my Globe Tattoo dongle to friends in Manila, I didn’t want to risk bricking my Cherry Mobile Nova, for fear that I may not be able to work because I rendered it out of commission.

Geekier Chick, whom I had approached a few weeks ago to ask for help regarding the Cherry Mobile Nova, had assured me in super certain, super confident terms, that if I’ve upgraded the phone using the official Software Update Tool from Cherry Mobile, I’ll be able to go through the Root-and-change-ROM process perfectly fine. I had approached her, because after reading the guide on her website, I realized that my Cherry Mobile Nova is not a good candidate for the standard process of rooting and modding.

Rather, a different process needs to be used.

Geekier Chick had issued several warnings that once you've updated your Cherry Mobile Nova to the official Cherry Mobile Nova Froyo release, it's not a good idea to follow the original process she posted. That one was meant for the Cherry Mobile Nova on Android 2.1.6, Eclair.

After giving my frustrations and my impending trip some thought, I realized I could no longer wait for the time when I’ve saved the money to buy another Android, as a safety net/backup in case things go awry. I had to root my Cherry Mobile Nova, and ASAP.

So I read through the docs that Geekier Chick gave me. And when I came up for air, I got more confused than ever. No offense to her source (another blog guide on rooting and modding), but dang. That’s one heady piece of work, that guide!

I’m a centrist, through and through: I’m geeky enough to work with blog template code, but I will stop short at programming from <html> to </html>. I’m strictly a middle-way kind of geek. I can and will be able to translate geeky stuff to the n00b, but I cannot swim through über-geekiness. Like programming. Or rooting terminologies. My brain just isn’t built for that.

So I asked Geekier Chick if I understood the guide right: I decided to follow her original guide, then go through the guide she gave me, using this file, which she also gave me.

Geekier Chick took pity on my clueless self and made this ROCKING AWESOME SUPER SIMPLE MY HEAD BURST GUIDE.

So in between washing dishes in preparation for Christmas dinner and Plants vs. Zombies and Facebooking and Plurking, I downloaded the ROM.

And fell asleep.

Then woke up to realize that my download had paused. So I redownloaded.

Then discovered that I couldn’t open the .nb0 file (that’s the OS/ROM file) that was uploaded on Uploading.com. I was getting an error every time I tried to unpack it. Either the server hates me for not upgrading to premium, 110MB is just not a happy filesize for Sun Broadband Wireless, or I’m just in seriously tough luck on Christmas morning.

I redownloaded the file twice to make sure that the work computer wasn’t just being an inconsiderate hunk of metal towards me. It wasn’t. It was the file host that was being an inconsiderate hunk of code. Or my 3G Broadband provider. Whichever, the .nb0 file just wasn’t cooperating.

Then I remembered that the other night I had already downloaded the Firetrap Lollipop, from the guys at Ubiquitense, whose guides I couldn’t understand (I’m really, really sorry).

I tried unpacking it. Awesome. Working, fully downloaded file. (Thank you. :D)

So I fired up the Software Update Tool, followed Geekier Chick’s instructions, and twiddled my mental fingers while I tried to journal while my phone was going through a Frankenstein-esque transformation.

According to the detailed log I kept, I started the process at 5:32 AM, after I finished backing up all my apps and data. The Software Update process ended at 5:34 AM. Two minutes!

But then the scary part came: it took too long to open at 5:36 AM. It seemed to stay on the part where the sparkly Android boot screen kept sparkling. Was this the part that I go, “ONOEZ,” slap my forehead and call the significant other and bawl my eyes out for killing the phone?!

I decided to play it cool and reboot the phone the classic way: take the battery out and just turn it on normally.

At 5:43 AM, after figuring out that the Android must be consolidating its bytes for the first-ever boot up (I conveniently recalled that new Androids take a while to boot up, presumably because it’s configuring data for the first time), I decided to wait out the sparkly Android splash screen.

And lo and behold – PORTUGUESE!!!

Just my luck. Why do Google products always keep forcing non-English language on me?!

After wading through the unfamiliar interface and finally bumping into the Language settings, I finally saw the phone’s menus in English. Sweet relief. Then I went back to the apps gallery and discovered that the labels were all still in Portuguese. I tried looking for the settings to change that, but I found none. So I decided to reboot, figuring that the phone needed one to update the language settings.

At 5:50 AM, I could finally confirm that the root and change of ROM was successful.

I tweaked the settings all up to 9:16 AM. Then in a reply to my deliriously happy thank-you emails, Geekier Chick pointed out that the Firetrap Lollipop is Android 2.2/Froyo.

Um, so I didn’t upgrade to Gingerbread (2.3) after all. I just rooted, wiped out and changed the flavor of Froyo I used.

Did I throw a fit and complain? No; I was too busy being happy about having a clean Internal Storage that I couldn’t care less.

Now that I’m on Root, I probably have some privileges that I need to find out. I keep talking about how Lifehacker is all agog about it, but actually, I’ve only just begun to explore what being a Superuser really means. I will be researching on what a Root user can do in the coming weeks, and I will play with my Cherry Mobile Nova to the max that time will allow.

If there’s anything I want to know first and foremost, it’s how to get rid of those stock apps I don’t use, like the generic Email app. Gmail suffices for me, thank you. I don’t even know if Superusers/Root users actually can uninstall those, but I’d be happy if the Root state would allow me to. I’ve been itching to delete the Email, GTalk and Latitude apps for so long, it’ll be a pleasure to finally see them deleted someday.

For now, I’m just happy to make the most out of this new OS. I will be reviewing apps again since the holiday fever is dying down, and I'd like to share more about apps, more than just gadgets themselves, so I predict that the installs/uninstalls will clog up my phone again.

I don’t mind. Geekier Chick directed me to where I can download custom Gingerbread ROMs, and I’m excited to change my ROM once more. At this point, though, having spent 3 hours and 44 minutes Rooting, Restoring and Customizing my Cherry Mobile Nova, I’m pooped from all that excitement. I’m content to wait for when this phone slows down considerably once more and I have the excuse to install a Gingerbread ROM on it.

Tomorrow, a review on what I thought about the OS I used, the Firetrap Lollipop, which is a Froyo distro.

REMEMBER: If you attempt to Root and mod your Android, you will VOID YOUR WARRANTY, and will RISK BRICKING YOUR PHONE. Even if you get inspired by our tales, please, ROOT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

For walkthroughs for the Cherry Mobile Nova, however, I recommend Geekier Chick, as she knows more on the matter than we do.

Enjoy living life on the edge! :D

***

Photo Credits: AndroidGuys

Rooting and modding one's Android has been a hot topic for Android users. One main reason is that most of circa 2010 Androids have Internal Storage sizes ranging from 110MB to 170MB only. What is worse is that over time and a plethora of installs/uninstalls, the Android as a mobile phone OS does get cramped and sluggish. One solution would be to take it to the manufacturer and have them clean and reset the device, or, to root the device by oneself. The former option is definitely safer, and the latter will have to have BUYER BEWARE marquees and lights blinking all around it.

As promised, we'll discuss the pros and cons of rooting your Android.

Why Rooting Is Recommended:

Lifehacker is all agog and rabid about rooting one's Android. They recommend it so that, as a user, you will have full control of your device. It is also recommended so that you can toss out the bloatware you don't need. For example, some users may not use the Email app at all, as their Gmail may suffice. Or, they may prefer to install Yahoo's proprietary email app. So, they may want to toss out the Email app that comes with their Androids to free up more space.

Another reason for rooting one's Android would be data management, as mentioned. Being your own phone's superuser will give you access to the fragmentary files that are left when you uninstall apps and allow you to delete them. Thus, it's easier to maintain your Android when you are a Root user.

There are other benefits of rooting one's Android, and these links should help you decide:

Cons Of Rooting Your Android:

You will void your warranty. In the event that you didn't execute one step in the guide you used properly and you actually brick your phone and then decide to take it to the phone's manufacturer, they may not honor your warranty for it. Even in some cases where the user used the company-provided stock ROM, bricking one's phone through a self-executed upgrade process may render your warranty useless. So if you haven't had experience modding your own computer and finding your way out of a software or hardware gridlock, then you might as well avoid attempting rooting or even upgrading your own phone.

When Should You Root Your Android:

When you've demonstrated the capacity to find your way out of a code-related quandary. If you know how to work your way around a computer-related problem, regardless of whether it's software or hardware, then you know you could safely attempt rooting your Android.

When You Should Just Leave It To The Experts:

When you have had trouble finding Facebook's privacy options and tweaking those.
When you only own a Facebook, Twitter, and an email account.
When you have considerable fear with modding your Android.

We know that this may sound condescending, but please understand that we're all about mobile computing safety here. When you're considering rooting your Android, it is no small feat to attempt. If you're just going to end up cursing your Android's manufacturer if things go wrong, then don't even get yourself in the situation. When you know that you know that you will not be able to work it out, just stay far, far away from the possibility of voiding your warranty or strangling a customer service representative should they not honor your phone's warranty.

Indeed, the benefits may outweigh the disadvantages of rooting your Android, but only when you know what you're doing. When you know that you wouldn't know how to get around a snag when you root your Android, then maybe you could consider having your Android rooted by these guys:

Rooting Service for Android Smartphones (Metro Manila)
Rooting/AndroidCustomROM/VPN Service (Marikina/Cubao)
U nlock/Openline any Android phone! +FREE ROOT (Cebu City)

And when you know how to get around the whole process, enjoy the tinkering and tweaking!

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Photo Credits: Droid Cell Phone

We've talked at length about Android phones and we're sure that you've had it up to here by now about the run-of-the-mill phone Androids. So, we're going to break the monotony a little and dish up something new: Tablet Androids that you can definitely afford. Tomorrow on Bargain Hunter, we're going to give you leads on the metro's most affordable Tablet Androids.

We all know that funny quote, "God made Heaven and Earth, the rest was made in China," right? Well, here is one more thing that you should know about things being made in China: a majority of today's gadgets, even Apple machines, are actually made in China. In the mobile machine arena, probably only RIM (Blackberry) manufactures their machines in Mexico.

That being said, the only difference between a whitebox (unbranded) Droid and a branded gadget, whether Android-powered, Windows-powered or an Apple machine, are the branding and the level of quality control. All else being equal, a whitebox China Tablet Android is almost as good as your Samsung Tab or Asus eeePad. Almost.

One possibly dismal thing about China-made devices is that you'll get what you pay for. If you've paid less than Php 3,000 for a device that costs around Php 15,000 on standard brands, then expect the material that the factories used, to be of an inferior quality. That does not mean, however that it's not worth buying a China device. I have actually owned two units of a China-made unbranded Dual SIM phone, and it has lasted me from 2009 to 2011. One of those was even handed over to a friend of a friend. Thus, if you know how to take care of your China whitebox device, it will last you quite a while.

Here are tips to using whitebox China-made devices:

1. Try your best to be conscientious in using your whitebox device. Use a lanyard if it's a phone, and a leather case, if it's a tablet. With a lanyard, you will minimize the risk of getting bad gadget falls. When using leather cases, when the device gets knocked onto other surfaces, it is cushioned.

2. Work on NEVER dropping your device. A good number of us are clumsy, and almost everyone has dropped their gadgets at least once in their lives. However, it IS possible to not drop your device: Just live conscientiously in a moment-by-moment manner. Like, if you feel like the device is about to slip from your hands, you will have at least 5 seconds to think about catching it or moving to another surface. You can also choose to just use your whitebox device in areas that have cushioning around you, like your bed or a couch, that way, when you do drop the device, the area it falls to is soft enough to absorb the shock.

3. Use protective accessories. A touchscreen surface will decrease the longevity of your device. Most touchscreen devices' first breakdowns are tied to scratches or damage to the touchscreen surface, so having a screen protector will definitely keep it from wearing out too soon. Other protective devices include silicone cases, hard cases, and other accessories that will help insulate your device from falls, scratches, and even water spills. These will ensure that your China-made Androids, whether phones or tablets, will be kept safe from the elements.

Is it worth buying a China Android Device? Yes, definitely! If you consider the thousands of pesos' difference between the whitebox devices' prices and the branded devices' prices, you will be able to appreciate the savings on the purchases. Especially if these are not necessarily needs, sometimes, it makes sense to just go unbranded rather than going for the bling of the brand. If you're not convinced, this video showing how overrated an iPhone is may convince you:

Come back tomorrow for a Bargain Hunter update on where to buy dirt-cheap China Android Tablets!

***

Photo Credits: Android Central

Despite the fact that the market is now being populated with Superdroids with hard drive spaces catching up to the iPhone, most mid-range Droids still available on the market (but more often seen in users' hands) have very limited internal user-available storage. Most Android users have to contend with around 100 to 500 megabytes of memory for their apps and data. And even the App to SD function does not suffice, as some apps cannot be moved to the SD card, or retain part of their data on the phone memory. That is why Droid users have to be on the lookout for kludges to this handicap.

Here are our tips:

Find leaner, lighter versions of the app you need. No matter how much you like an app, bloated is bloated. You may have to contend with lower quality graphics, less functionality, and other shortcomings, but if space efficiency is your goal, you'd have to do what you have to do in order to achieve that.

As much as possible, download and run only apps that are only KB's in size. For good measure, don't go beyond 2MB. No, you don't need slick graphics. If the app gets the job done, it gets the job done.

Clear data and caches often. Little do you know that your Gmail, Android Market, Facebook or YouTube data has ballooned in size and is taking up much-needed space. Clear that cache and free up space. If you get annoyed with needing to sign back in ever so often, think of it this way: it's a wee bit of a sacrifice in order to maximize your phone's space.

Multi-task. If you can find substitutes of the app you need in another app, plus more functionality, choose the one with more features. For example, Android Assistant may be a bit bigger in filesize than the Advanced Task Manager (a 1.19MB difference), but it comes with a file manager, a bulk App to SD function, bulk uninstall, bulk install, some kick-butt system usage visuals, among other system admin functions. Is it worth the 1.19MB in filesize difference? You betcha. If all you need is the occasional app-kill functionality for when you've maxed out your phone's memory, then one app should serve the purpose. If you don't need the Android Assistant's awesome graphs, then keep the Advanced Task Manager instead.

Another example is using another app, say, a browser, instead of a native social networking app. Our editor tossed out BOTH her Facebook and Friendcaster apps, even Plurka, with a heavy heart, as her phone's memory was maxing out more often. Instead of separate apps to manage her social networks, she downloaded Dolphin Browser HD instead and configured the Speed Dial to have both Mobile and Desktop versions of her social networks, from Plurk to Twitter to Facebook and even Google +. Since Dolphin Browser HD can show websites in either mobile or desktop format, it serves the purpose of allowing her to occasionally check her social networks when she is AFK. Saves her the MB's in data, as well as keeps everything in one place.

Delete text messages often. Much as you want to keep all the mushy forwarded messages your friends and textpals sent you, let's face it, text messages take up space. If you really want to keep your messages, these two SMS Backup apps seem promising:

Saving your Droid's space is crucial not only in keeping your Droid ready to accept new data, but also to keep it running smoothly. We hope our tips have helped you achieve the task of streamlining your Droid's data usage.

***

Photo Credits: Droid Cell Phone

Just a quick note, as compiling the complete lineup of Cherry Mobile Android offerings is taking our Android Alliance crew member a bit of forever to complete.

We came across this thread on Cherry Mobile earlier, and user Ralph Gerard Uy was asking how to turn the Cherry Mobile Magnum HD into a WiFi hotspot.

It doesn't really matter which model you use: Cherry Mobile Nova, Cherry Mobile Cosmo, Cherry Mobile Magnum, even Samsung, LG, Huawei or ZTE. If your Droid is on Froyo and up, and with 3G functionality, this is going to work:

Part 1. Put your phone on a Data Connection.

Sign up for a data connection with either Globe Tattoo, Sun Broadband Wireless, or Smart Bro, either Prepaid or Postpaid.
If you're on Prepaid, just load your SIM and put it on Unlimited use.

Globe Tattoo:

1 Day -- SUPERSURF50 send to 8888
5 Days -- SUPERSURF220 send to 8888

Sun Broadband Wireless:

Regular SIM:

3 Hours, good for 24 Hours -- i25 send to 247
1 Day -- i50 send to 247
3 Days -- i100 send to 247
7 Days -- i250 send to 247
30 Days -- i999 send to 247

Sun Broadband Wireless SIM:

LOAD [Card+PIN Numbers, no spaces] send to 2225
Then text any of the codes above to 247

You may also load the specific Sun Broadband Wireless (SBW) Cards that already have the durations specified on them.

Smart Bro:

1 Day -- UNLISURF 50 to 2200
2 Days -- UNLISURF 100 to 2200
5 Days -- UNLISURF 200 to 2200

Take note that Smart Bro has a space between the keyword and the denomination, while Globe Tattoo doesn't have spaces between the keyword and the denomination.

Part 2. Configure your phone's data connection and WiFi Hotspot Tethering.

Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks
Look for Mobile Networks
Check both: "Data enabled" and "Always connect to mobile" options
Go back to Settings > Wireless & Networks
Look for Tethering & portable hotspot
Check "Portable Wi-Fi hotspot

That's it, your phone is already a mobile WiFi hotspot!

Here is a visual illustration of those instructions (Click the photo or this link to get to the Slideshow):

You may also configure your hotspot's connection security settings by going to "Portable Wi-Fi hotspot settings," setting an SSID name (the label that will show on the guest devices' WiFi search functions) and the WPA2 PSK (passkey). This way, you'll ensure that only you and the people who know your passkey will be able to use your data connection.

Setting up a your Droid to be a portable WiFi hotspot is so easy, it's unbelievable. Hope you learned something new from us at Android Alliance Ph today!

Edit: And oh. We almost forgot. We had upgraded our Cherry Mobile Nova from Eclair to Froyo. The how-to and experience can be read here.

Edit 2: If you're experiencing problems with your mobile connection, especially on Sun Broadband Wireless, go to Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks > Network Mode, and tweak the settings there. Here are the following settings per network:

Globe Tattoo: GSM/WCDMA auto
Sun Broadband Wireless: WCDMA only
Smart Bro: GSM/WCDMA auto

If you're in an area where 3G signal is not strong, and you're fine with a slower connection, as long as you can go online, you can choose "GSM only," which will connect you via GPRS. Remember, for Sun Broadband Wireless, the best connection type to choose is WCDMA.

***

Photo Credits: Mashable

One of the more intimidating things that an Android user can do with his or her phone is tinkering with the OS itself. Rooting, the process of changing the Android OS installed on your phone with a custom Android version that you can download online, is scary for most users. It could void your warranty, or worse, you're at the risk of bricking your phone.

On the other hand, there's another way to upgrade the OS of your phone with a little less risk of bricking it: using a ROM that your phone's company provides on its website.

Surprisingly, for a local cellphone company, Cherry Mobile has it together in some ways by providing the best support that they can. Sure, hundreds of irate customers walk through their support centers every day screaming invectives at the poor customer service reps, but you'll have to admire the company for working on being as thorough as they can be with their support.

Take for instance providing a Cherry Mobile Nova-specific ROM upgrade from Eclair to Froyo. We came across this post by The Technoclast: Update Your Cherry Mobile Nova To Android 2.2.1 Froyo. From there, we downloaded the ROM file provided by Cherry Mobile, and then updated our Cherry Mobile Nova unit.

In less than 15 minutes of our day, our formerly Eclair unit now became Froyo. No need to go to the Cherry Mobile Support Center and line up among the irate customers. No need to get irate ourselves because the wait is too long and the ~~toy~~ phone is in the technicians' hands. It was a fast, slick, straightforward process.

Here is what we did:

We backed up all the notes, contacts, diary entries that we've created on the phone. Thankfully, Color Note has a backup function, so all other notes from other apps went there. Google automatically syncs contacts, but we still backed up our contacts to the SD Drive.
We made a list of all the apps we've installed on the phone.
Fired up the software. Watched the video. Followed the instructions on Cherry Mobile's website. Waited.

The phone blinked a new Welcome message in no time. We went through the process of re-registering our Android back on Google, and after that, the headache of reinstalling all the apps began.

The point is, it's simple, and it's doable.

Just make sure that:

You've backed up all that you can back up.
Your phone's battery is at least 15%.
Your computer is not in danger of running out of battery or going onto the Blue Screen of Death.
Neither computer nor phone shuts down in the middle of the process.

The computer we used for updating, though it was a mere Fujitsu Stylistic C500 running Windows XP, was able to get through the whole process. It gave the warning message "running low on virtual memory" a couple of times, but in spite of that, everything went well.

The process was faster than expected.

And mind you, a GIRL on our team was the one who worked on this process.

The bottom line is, a software update is doable. Just make sure you have the right conditions, follow instructions, and nothing should go wrong. Good luck!

***

Thanks to The Technoclast for making the tutorial and showing (and convincing us) how easy and straightforward it is to upgrade the Cherry Mobile Nova. Now you have two accounts of people successfully upgrading their Cherry Mobile Nova from Eclair to Froyo!

If you look in the Technoclast's post's Facebook comments discussion, you'll note that other people followed the guide and were successful too.

Video Credits: The Technoclast

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How To Use Your Android As A Budgeting Tool

A [Triumphant] Rooting Survivor's Tale: I Rooted My Cherry Mobile Nova And Lived To Tell It!

Rooting Your Android: Pros, Cons, Caveat Emptor

How To Take Care Of A China-Made WhiteBox Android Device (Or Any Other Mobile Device)

How To Keep Your Android Internal Storage Good And Spacious

How to Turn Your Android Into a Mobile WiFi Hotspot

No Fear! Upgrading Your Cherry Mobile Nova From Eclair To Froyo

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